The Middle East
Latest developments in the Middle East region politically, economically, and security-wise.

Trump Extends State of Emergency Related to Syria for Another Year
The White House announced the extension of the national emergency related to the situation in Syria for another year, under a document signed by U.S. President Donald Trump.

Yemen: Iranian Ship Loaded with a Missile and Drone Equipment Seized Near Bab al-Mandab
The joint security campaign in Lahij Governorate, southern Yemen, announced the seizure of an Iranian ship that was attempting to infiltrate through the territorial waters towards areas under the control of the Houthis, carrying advanced military equipment, including an anti-tank missile of the "Kornet" type, and precision spare parts for drones, in addition to Iranian-made medicines and foodstuffs.

Netanyahu Implicitly Rejects Turkish Involvement in Gaza and Vance Confirms Difficulty of the Upcoming Phase
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu hinted at his rejection of any Turkish role in the Gaza Strip as part of the American plan to monitor the ceasefire with Hamas, indicating that he holds "decisive opinions" on this proposal without explicitly disclosing them.

Israeli Representative Attacks International Court of Justice Decision and Describes UNRWA as "Supporting Terrorism"
In a strong response, Israel's representative to the United Nations, Danny Danon, described the decision issued by the International Court of Justice regarding UNRWA as "shameful," considering that holding Israel responsible for its lack of cooperation with United Nations institutions is ignoring what he called "the transformation of those institutions into platforms supporting terrorism."

Norwegian Foreign Minister: The International Court of Justice's decision regarding UNRWA must be referred to the General Assembly and bind everyone
Norwegian Foreign Minister, Espen Barth Eide, said on Wednesday that the recent decision of the International Court of Justice regarding the neutrality of UNRWA and its role in the Palestinian territories is an important step that came after a Norwegian initiative, expressing his satisfaction with the clarity of the decision and its content.

Hind Rajab's Mother: The Occupation's Admission of the Murder Enhances the Case... And I Demand Justice for Hind and the Paramedics
In emotional statements to "Al Jazeera", the mother of the child Hind Rajab appealed to the international community for urgent action to achieve justice for her daughter and the paramedics who died with her, emphasizing that the admission by Israeli occupation soldiers of committing the murder after a period of denial represents a legal turning point that strengthens the case filed against them.

International Court of Justice: No Evidence of UNRWA Bias… and Israel is Obligated to Facilitate Relief and Meet the Needs of Palestinians
The International Court of Justice issued a series of decisive rulings regarding the humanitarian situation in the Palestinian territories and the role of UNRWA, confirming that there is no evidence of the agency violating the principle of neutrality or practicing discrimination in the distribution of aid.

The Majority of Americans Support Their Country's Recognition of Palestine Despite Trump's Position
80% of Democrats and 41% of Republicans support the recognition, while 53% of Republicans expressed their rejection.

Vance: Implementation of the ceasefire plan in Gaza is "better than expected" and we emphasize the need to disarm Hamas
In a press conference held during his visit to Israel, U.S. Vice President J.D. Vance expressed optimism about the implementation of the ceasefire plan in the Gaza Strip, considering that its execution is "going better than expected".

Israeli Parliamentary Report Warns of Unprecedented 'Tsunami' of Israeli Emigration
A report presented to the Israeli Knesset revealed an unprecedented wave of emigration witnessed in Israel, with more than 125,000 citizens leaving the country between the beginning of 2022 and mid-2024. The report warned of the continuation of this trend

The International Monetary Fund expects a surge in the growth of economies in the Middle East and North Africa in 2025
In a positive shift in economic forecasts, the International Monetary Fund raised its growth expectations for the economies of the Middle East and North Africa to 3.3% for 2025, improving its previous forecast of only 2.6% last May

Washington accuses Iranian-backed militias of threatening the lives of Americans and Iraqis and looting the country's resources
The U.S. State Department accused Iranian-backed armed militias in Iraq of posing a direct threat to the lives of Americans and Iraqis, endangering economic and security interests, according to official statements attributed to U.S. Secretary Marco Rubio.

Israeli Army: The Red Cross is receiving the bodies of hostages in southern Gaza… and we call on Hamas to adhere to the agreement
The Israeli army announced that the International Red Cross is on its way to receive the bodies of hostages in southern Gaza, in a step that comes as part of humanitarian arrangements related to the temporary ceasefire agreement.

Netanyahu dismisses National Security Advisor Tzachi Hanegbi amid calls for an investigation into the events of October 7
Israeli media reported that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu decided to dismiss National Security Advisor Tzachi Hanegbi in a surprising move that comes amid rising criticism of the government's performance during the October 7 attack.

The Israeli President Discussed with Hostage Families the Possibility of Pardoning Netanyahu
The Hebrew newspaper "Haaretz" revealed that Israeli President Isaac Herzog discussed with several families of hostages the idea of granting a presidential pardon to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, amid his trial on corruption and bribery charges.

Washington Pressures Israel and Hamas to Prevent Collapse of Gaza Agreement
The "Wall Street Journal" reported, citing American officials, that the Trump administration is exerting intense pressure on Israel and Hamas to prevent any escalation that could threaten the ceasefire agreement in the Gaza Strip.

Lebanon: Arrest of a Palestinian on Charges of Communicating with the Israeli "Mossad"
A Palestinian named (M. Sh.) was arrested yesterday, October 20, in the southern region, on suspicion of communicating with the Israeli intelligence agency "Mossad".

Request to Arrest Israeli Soldiers Before the International Criminal Court for the Murder of the Child Hind Rajab in Gaza
The Hind Rajab Foundation submitted an official request to the International Criminal Court to issue arrest warrants against 24 Israeli soldiers and commanders involved in the murder of the Palestinian child Hind Rajab, and her rescuers from the Red Crescent team in the Gaza Strip.

Netanyahu Meets with the Head of Egyptian Intelligence to Discuss Trump's Plan Regarding Gaza
The meeting addressed regional issues of mutual interest, including enhancing peace efforts and following up on the mechanisms for implementing proposed initiatives to halt escalation in Gaza.

U.S. Vice President JD Vance Arrives in Israel to Enhance Regional Coordination
U.S. Vice President JD Vance arrived in Israel on Tuesday afternoon, marking his second visit to Tel Aviv since taking office.