Israeli authorities release body of slain Palestinian child held since March The Israeli authorities have released the body of a Palestinian child who was killed by Israeli fire in March, Wafa news agency is reporting. According to the report, Salim Sami Salim Faqha was shot dead by Israeli forces near Sinjil, northeast of Ramallah, on 17 March 2026. Another boy was wounded in the attack.
Palestine groups call for London march against British 'complicity' in Gaza genocide Submitted by MEE staff on Thu, 08/20/2026 - 10:41 National march will urge UK to secure an end to Israeli attacks and unrestricted humanitarian access to Gaza Mourners at the funeral of Palestinians killed in an Israeli army strike on Gaza City's port the previous day, in Gaza City on 19 August 2026 (Omar al-Qattaa/AFP) Off Palestine solidarity groups in the UK have called for a national march in London to mark three years of Israel’s genocide in Gaza and demand an end to what they denounce as British complicity. The demonstration will take place on 10 October, three days after the anniversary of Israel’s war on Gaza, according to a joint statement published on Wednesday. The organisers include the Palestine Solidarity Campaign, Palestinian Forum in Britain, Stop the War Coalition, Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament, Friends of Al-Aqsa and the Muslim Association of Britain.
Three Palestinian parties in Israel form joint list ahead of elections Submitted by MEE staff on Thu, 08/20/2026 - 09:42 Hadash, Balad and Ta’al will revive an electoral alliance as Palestinian citizens face rising political pressure and violence Electoral billboards for Palestinian parties in Israel displayed in the northern city of Umm al-Fahm, on 28 October 2022 (AFP/Ahmad Gharabli) Off Three Palestinian -led parties in Israel announced on Wednesday that they will run on a joint slate in the upcoming parliamentary elections. The three parties – the Democratic Front for Peace and Equality (Hadash), the National Democratic Assembly (Balad) and the Arab Movement for Renewal (Ta’al) – said the alliance was driven by the need to counter the “fascist and racist” threats facing Palestinian citizens of Israel . “Our task is to harness our collective political weight and translate it into stronger representation in the Knesset,” the parties said in a joint statement.
Israel issues veiled threat to Turkey following airbase strikes in Syria Submitted by Ragip Soylu on Thu, 08/20/2026 - 09:56 Katz warns Turkey over its involvement in Syria, but Ankara and Damascus reject claims of military build-up at airbase The flags of (L to R) Israel and Turkey fly behind battle tanks on display at the Yad La-Shiryon Tank Museum in Latrun, west of Jerusalem, on 18 August 2022 (Gil Cohen-Magen/AFP) Off Israel issued a veiled threat against Turkey on Thursday, following Israeli strikes on the Abu al-Duhur military airbase in northern Syria , about 70km from the Turkish border. “Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan is dragging Turkey into dangerous adventures in Syria,” Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz said in a social media post. Katz said Israel would not “allow any entity to threaten its security”.
Jason Arday's marathon challenge and football claims found to be true after his death Submitted by Imran Mulla on Wed, 08/19/2026 - 13:06 Claims the late academic made which were widely derided as false in media and online discourse this month appear to be true, an MEE analysis has found A photo of the late Cambridge academic Jason Arday appears floral tributes at the Senate House at the University of Cambridge on 18 August (AFP) Off Claims made by Jason Arday , who was the subject of a relentless media campaign over many aspects of his work and life and who was found dead on Friday, appear to be true, a Middle East Eye analysis has found. These include the Cambridge University professor's claim that he ran 30 marathons in 35 days for charity and that he played semi-professional football, which both became central talking points in recent attacks on the late academic. Certain other claims the sociologist made, which were widely denounced as false, have not been proven untrue, or appear more complex than some media discourse has suggested.
UK to lay out 'measures' against Israel over West Bank settlements Submitted by MEE staff on Thu, 08/20/2026 - 09:37 Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband says London will not allow 'destruction' of two-state solution British Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband speaks as he meets his Spanish counterpart at the Palacio de Viana in Madrid on 29 July 2026 (Leon Neal/AFP) Off The UK government has said it will announce "measures" against Israel over new settlement construction east of Jerusalem that would effectively cut the occupied West Bank in two. In a statement on Wednesday, Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband warned that the project – tenders for which were opened this week – poses a threat to a two-state solution in the region. Miliband indicated that he made it clear to the Israeli foreign minister, Gideon Sa'ar, that the "Israeli government must halt E1 plans immediately, retract the tender and stop all settlement expansion".
Israeli shelling targets southern Lebanese towns Lebanese media is reporting heavy Israeli artillery shelling targeting a number of towns in the country's south. According to the National News Agency, the towns of Wadi al-Salouqi, al-Hujair, and the valleys of Qabrikha, Toulene and Hula were struck.
Explainer: Have European countries been involved in the US-Israeli war on Iran? Submitted by Daniel Tester on Wed, 08/19/2026 - 09:51 From the UK's Diego Garcia to Bulgaria's airfields, dozens of European bases have supported US operations against Iran, even as some leaders publicly kept their distance from the war French President Emmanuel Macron and US President Donald Trump leave after a family photograph during the G7 summit in Evian on 16 June (AFP) Off “This is not Europe’s war,” declared EU chief diplomat Kaja Kallas on 16 March, just over two weeks after the US and Israel began their assault on Iran in late February. The conflict, which has now lasted nearly six months, is unpopular across the continent, where it has caused fuel prices to surge and received criticism over its attacks on Iranian civilians.
France: Mosque closure fuels fear of state overreach on Muslim worship Submitted by Tassa Adidi on Thu, 08/20/2026 - 09:06 Latest shutdown decision, which was accused of incriminating Islamic texts, reignites debate about French government's attempts to control the practice of Islam A man reads the Quran as Muslims wait to break their fast at a mosque during the month of Ramadan in Calais, northern France, on 10 March 2026 (Sameer al-Doumy/AFP) Off In Aulnay-sous-Bois, in the northeastern suburbs of Paris, a recent court decision to uphold the six-month closure of a mosque for inciting violence and terrorism has caused a stir. The Montreuil Administrative Court rejected earlier this month an attempt to suspend the July prefecture order against the Attaqwa Mosque, also known as the Chanteloup Mosque, named after a neighbourhood in the south of the city with a large immigrant population. Located in the heart of a social housing complex, the religious establishment looks like a residential apartment block.
After Gaza, can Muslims defend Al-Aqsa Mosque? Submitted by Amina Shareef on Wed, 08/19/2026 - 15:14 Islam's third holiest site has reached a perilous crossroads, as Israel works tirelessly to change the status quo Israeli settlers protected by Israeli security forces walk through Al-Aqsa Mosque compound in occupied East Jerusalem, on 5 April 2023 (Ahmad Gharabli/AFP) On Al-Aqsa Mosque is in peril. For decades, Muslims have been warned that the status quo surrounding Islam’s third holiest site was becoming increasingly fragile.
Iran's Araghchi says Trump's 'Economic D-Day' is a diversion from US domestic problems Iranian foreign minister Abbas Araghchi responded to threats made by Donald Trump to launch 'economic warfare' against Tehran, saying that this would be a diversion from America's economic problems. "The so-called 'Economic D-Day' is a diversion from America's own crisis: unprecedented debt & surging interest costs," he wrote in a post on X. "Doubling down on failed policies will only bring further defeat - and enmity of Iranians.
Morning update Good morning Middle East Eye readers, Here are the latest developments: US President Donald Trump announced that the US is launching the "MOST CRUSHING ECONOMIC OPERATION EVER TAKEN AGAINST ANY COUNTRY". Trump also warned that any country supporting Tehran in any way will face "TREMENDOUS Economic Consequences", but did not make mentions of a specific country or what actions Washington is expected to take. Israel's defence minister said that president Recep Tayyip Erdogan is "dragging Turkey into dangerous adventures in Syria," indicating that Ankara risks consequences for its ties with Damascus.
Israeli opposition leader and former prime minister criticise Netanyahu over Syria attacks Israeli opposition leader Yair Golan said that the attack on a Syrian air base was a "provocative and dangerous" move that deepens the rift Tel Aviv's allies and brings it closer to a "confrontation" with Turkey. "Once again, military force is being employed for political considerations, and once again Israel pays the price in security," he said in a post on X. "[Benjamin] Netanyahu proves once more that he is an extremist and unreliable figure, one we cannot rely on and certainly not build a stable regional strategy with.
Israeli defence minister warns Turkey against 'threatening its security' Israel's defence minister said that president Recep Tayyip Erdogan is "dragging Turkey into dangerous adventures in Syria," indicating that Ankara risks consequences for its ties with Damascus. "Israel will not allow any actor to threaten its security," Israel Katz said in a post on X. "It would be better for Erdogan to continue his detached-from-reality, fanciful rhetoric against Israel in the Turkish Grand National Assembly than to attempt to test Israel's determination to defend itself.
Mossad chief called Syria over Turkish army presence before airbase strike: Report Mossad had phone call with Syria’s foreign minister on 14 August to discuss Turkey’s military presence in Syria, according to Reuters citing several sources. The call, made just days before Israel struck a military airbase in Irbil, is one of the highest-level contacts to date between Tel Aviv and the administration led by President Ahmed al-Sharaa. The majority of the call surrounded Turkey’s military role in Syria, with Roman Gofman raising concerns to Asaad al-Shaibani over Ankara’s increasing military presence, arms sales and drone deliveries to the Syrian army.
Oil supertankers in Gulf are renting for $500,000 per day: Report Supertanker owners are getting paid $510,000 per day to bring crude oil from the Gulf to Asia, in a sign of high demand for vessels to transit the waterway as fighting rages in the region and alternative routes take supply from the market. Bloomberg reported on Wednesday that earnings from the Middle East-to-China route have jumped to their highest level since June. The rising figure suggests that demand for vessels is high and some are risking the threat of war to take profits.
Shaibani's arrival in Pakistan marks first Syrian diplomatic visit in nearly two decades Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad Al-Shaibani arrived in Pakistan on Wednesday, marking the first visit by a senior Syrian diplomat to the country in 19 years. According to the Syrian Arab News Agency, Shaibani was accompanied by a high-level delegation in Islamabad.
Traffic through Hormuz Strait shows no rise, data suggests Shipping traffic at the Strait of Hormuz did not rise, with a total of nine vessels transiting the strategic waterway on Wednesday - unchanged from the previous day, Kpler data showed.
Hind Rajab's grandmother rejects Israeli army probe into killing, calls for independent international investigation: Report The grandmother of five-year-old Palestinian girl Hind Rajab has rejected an Israeli military probe into her killing, Anadolu Agency reported. Following an announcement by the military admitting to Rajab's killing, Hind’s grandmother told Anadolu that the family has no confidence in Israeli investigations or the Israeli judiciary. The grandmother has instead demanded that an independent international investigation be conducted into the killing of Hind, six of her relatives and two Palestine Red Crescent medics who tried to rescue her.
UK condemns Israel's E1 settlement expansion in occupied West Bank Britain's foreign secretary, Ed Miliband, has criticised Israel's move this week to launch a construction tender for the E1 settlement project in the occupied West Bank as an "unacceptable and destructive act". Miliband indicated that he made it clear to the Israeli foreign minister Gideon Sa'ar that the "Israeli Government must halt E1 plans immediately, retract the tender and stop all settlement expansion". "The impact of settler violence and terrorism has been catastrophic for Palestinian communities.
