Middle-East Tracker

Middle-East Tracker

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Monitoring News & Updates in 🇫🇷 🇬🇧 about the Middle-East Cyprus, Lebanon, Syria, Iraq, Iran,Palestine, Israel, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Qatar, Bahrain, United Arab Emirates, Oman, Yemen. 🆘 @skyfleet.blue

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American woman convicted of getting military training from Islamic State

al-monitor.comAmerican woman convicted of getting military training from Islamic StateAn American woman who joined the Islamic State group before being caught by anti-IS forces in Syria was found guilty on Tuesday of receiving military training from the jihadists. Halima Salman, 27, was one of hundreds of foreign women who went or were taken to the territory controlled by the Islamic State (IS), and who then married jihadist fighters before being captured and detained pending their repatriation.
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Palestinian voter mobilisation a ‘truly historic development’, analyst says

middleeasteye.netPalestinian voter mobilisation a ‘truly historic development’, analyst saysPalestinian voter mobilisation a ‘truly historic development’, analyst says Ameer Fakhoury, an analyst at Israel's Vanleer Institute think tank, meanwhile describes the mobilisation of Palestinian citizens in this election a "truly historic development". "They went to the polls in extraordinary numbers to confront a political leadership responsible for what they regard as the gravest crimes against their people: devastation in Gaza, ethnic cleansing in the West Bank, and years of persecution and intimidation at home," he told MEE. Fakhoury said the election results are not merely a question of replacing Netanyahu, Israel's longest-serving prime minister. "It is a choice between perpetuating apartheid and beginning political and moral repair." "History has placed Palestinian citizens of Israel in an extraordinary position. Having mobilised first and foremost to protect their own people, they may now also help rescue Jewish Israelis from their country's destructive trajectory," he said. "The question is whether Jewish Israeli political leaders are prepared to accept that possibility - or prefer the continued descent into a militarised, ethnocratic Sparta."
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Veteran commentator says results mark ‘end of the Netanyahu era’

middleeasteye.netVeteran commentator says results mark ‘end of the Netanyahu era’Veteran commentator says results mark ‘end of the Netanyahu era’ Veteran political commentator Meron Rapoport declared the results "the end of the Netanyahu era". "He cannot be the next prime minister, that’s 100 percent sure. His Likud party appears to be the largest in parliament but this has no meaning if his coalition is very far from the 61 seats needed to form a government,” he told Middle East Eye. “It is not clear what kind of government we will have. Maybe there will be new elections if no government can be formed.” Rapoport noted that key opposition leaders Naftali Bennett and Avigdor Lieberman are very hostile to Palestinians and have ruled out sitting in a coalition with them. “But putting ideology aside, if politicians see the chance to form a majority of 70 seats while Netanyahu has 50, I think they will be almost suicidal to go for another election that gives Netanyahu another chance.”
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Israeli opposition leader says Netanyahu has suffered ‘crushing defeat’

middleeasteye.netIsraeli opposition leader says Netanyahu has suffered ‘crushing defeat’Israeli opposition leader says Netanyahu has suffered ‘crushing defeat’ Israeli opposition leader Yair Lapid has said Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu suffered a “crushing defeat” in Tuesday’s election. Former military chief Gadi Eisenkot, meanwhile, said the results showed a “lack of confidence” in Netanyahu.
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Netanyahu’s Likud party is projected to have won the most seats of any single party, report says

middleeasteye.netNetanyahu’s Likud party is projected to have won the most seats of any single party, report saysNetanyahu’s Likud party is projected to have won the most seats of any single party, report says Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s Likud party is projected to win 25 seats in Israel’s parliament, more than any other party, according to an exit poll by Channel 13. Former military chief Gadi Eisenkot’s Yashar party follows with 23 seats. The opposition bloc is projected to hold a narrow lead over Netanyahu’s bloc. The poll projects the following distribution of the 120 seats in the Knesset: Likud: 25 Yashar: 23 Together: 14 Joint List: 10 Democrats: 9 Yisrael Beiteinu: 7 United Torah Judaism: 7 Ra’am: 7 Shas: 6 Jewish Power: 6 Religious Zionism: 6
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Israeli exit polls show huge Palestinian gains block Netanyahu and Eisenkot from forming majority

middleeasteye.netIsraeli exit polls show huge Palestinian gains block Netanyahu and Eisenkot from forming majorityIsraeli exit polls show huge Palestinian gains block Netanyahu and Eisenkot from forming majority Neither Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu nor the Zionist opposition parties have enough seats to form a government following a huge surge in voting from Palestinian citizens of Israel, an exit poll suggested on Tuesday. After polls closed at 10pm local time, Channel 13 said Netanyahu’s bloc is projected to win 50 seats with the opposition set to take 53 – far short of a 61 seat majority. The Joint List and Raam, two slates representing Palestinian citizens of Israel, are projected to pick up 17 seats, which would be a record number of Arab MPs in Israel’s parliament, the Knesset. This is a developing story… Read more:  Israeli exit polls show huge Palestinian gains block Netanyahu and Eisenkot from forming majority
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Exit polls show Eisenkot-led bloc ahead of Netanyahu’s, gains for Palestinian-led parties

middleeasteye.netExit polls show Eisenkot-led bloc ahead of Netanyahu’s, gains for Palestinian-led partiesExit polls show Eisenkot-led bloc ahead of Netanyahu’s, gains for Palestinian-led parties The opposition “Change” bloc led by former Israeli military chief Gadi Eisenkot is projected to win more seats than Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s bloc, according to an exit poll by Israel’s Channel 11. Exit polls also show strong gains for Palestinian-led parties in Tuesday’s election. Eisenkot leads the Yashar party, while Netanyahu heads Likud.
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Israel’s election committee plans to announce official results by Wednesday evening

middleeasteye.netIsrael’s election committee plans to announce official results by Wednesday eveningIsrael’s election committee plans to announce official results by Wednesday evening Israel’s Central Election Committee plans to announce the official results of Tuesday’s election by Wednesday evening, Israeli state-run radio reported. Polling stations are due to close at 10pm local time, but the committee said they will remain open if voters are still queuing to cast their ballots. Israeli news channels will broadcast exit poll projections once voting ends.
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Israeli election turnout crosses 74 percent

middleeasteye.netIsraeli election turnout crosses 74 percentIsraeli election turnout crosses 74 percent Voter turnout in Israel’s election reached 74.3 percent by 8pm local time on Tuesday, surpassing the total turnout of 70.6 percent in the 2022 election, according to the Central Elections Committee. The committee said it was the highest turnout recorded at that hour since it began tracking voting by time of day. More than 5.4 million people had cast their ballots by 8pm, around 655,000 more than in the entire 2022 election. An ultra-Orthodox Jewish man prepares to cast his ballot at a polling station in Bnei Brak on 27 October 2026, during Israel's legislative election (AFP)
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Voters at Bedouin town report waiting over four hours to vote

middleeasteye.netVoters at Bedouin town report waiting over four hours to voteVoters at Bedouin town report waiting over four hours to vote Palestinian Bedouin voters reported waiting more than four hours to cast their ballots in Shaqib al-Salam, a Bedouin town and a local council in the Southern District of Israel, with some leaving as hundreds queued outside a polling station, Haaretz reported. Some travelled dozens of kilometres to vote.
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Israel election commission rejects Netanyahu party bid to extend voting

middleeasteye.netIsrael election commission rejects Netanyahu party bid to extend votingIsrael election commission rejects Netanyahu party bid to extend voting Israel's Central Elections Committee on Tuesday rejected a request by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's party to extend voting beyond 10 pm local time. "High nationwide turnout across all sectors of society reflects strong public engagement in the democratic process, and no need to extend voting hours was identified," a commission statement said.
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Smotrich says ‘Arab turnout unprecedented’

middleeasteye.netSmotrich says ‘Arab turnout unprecedented’Smotrich says ‘Arab turnout unprecedented’ Israel’s far-right Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich has urged right-wing voters to cast their ballots, claiming that unprecedented turnout among Arab voters could help bring a “dangerous left-wing government” to power. “Do not despair! It is still possible to win,” Smotrich said in a post on X. Palestinian politicians have accused right-wing figures of inciting against Palestinian citizens of Israel, who make up 20 percent of the country’s population.
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Ra’am’s Abbas calls for sustained voting to ‘bring down’ Netanyahu

middleeasteye.netRa’am’s Abbas calls for sustained voting to ‘bring down’ NetanyahuRa’am’s Abbas calls for sustained voting to ‘bring down’ Netanyahu Netanyahu is using the political group as a “scarecrow” to mobilise right-wing voters, Mansour Abbas, the leader of Ra’am, or the United Arab List said. Abbas said in a social media post that the United Arab List appeals to our people for their support and votes” and added that his party “will bring down Benjamin Netanyahu, Smotrich, and Ben-Gvir in this election”.
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Russia and Ukraine begin occupied Oleshky ceasefire after Pope Leo’s appeals and Melania Trump’s mediation

yacnews.comRussia and Ukraine begin occupied Oleshky ceasefire after Pope Leo’s appeals and Melania Trump’s mediationRussia and Ukraine halted fire around occupied Oleshky after Pope Leo XIV’s appeals and Melania Trump’s mediation. Aid and evacuations are planned, but officials have withheld details of how they will ensure residents can leave for destinations they choose.
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Netanyahu warns of Arab voter surge in Israel's election as Arab leaders call tactic racist

middleeasteye.netNetanyahu warns of Arab voter surge in Israel's election in desperate bid to woo supportNetanyahu warns of Arab voter surge in Israel's election as Arab leaders call tactic racist Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his far-right coalition partners made a last-ditch push on Tuesday to get their supporters to the polls, warning of surging Arab voter turnout, a tactic Arab politicians denounced as racist and inflammatory. Cars flying Netanyahu's Likud party flags drove through Jerusalem blaring the Islamic call to prayer and urging supporters to cast their ballots because "Arabs are voting", witnesses said. "If we don't wake up now, we'll find ourselves with a government of Mansour Abbas and Ahmed Tibi," Netanyahu said in a post, referring to two leading Palestinian Arab politicians in Israel. Tibi, a candidate from an Arab party, said strong turnout among Israel's Arab minority would "pave the way for an alternative government and change the grave reality". Sami Abu Shehadeh, leader of the Arab Balad party, wrote on X that long lines outside polling stations should bring "pride and joy to anyone who believed in democracy". "We are receiving all these inciting messages from the petty racists, Ben-Gvir, Netanyahu, and their partners. What are they afraid of? This is actually an excellent sight, it is good for democracy."
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Party of main Netanyahu challenger opposes bid to extend Israel voting hours

middleeasteye.netParty of main Netanyahu challenger opposes bid to extend Israel voting hoursParty of main Netanyahu challenger opposes bid to extend Israel voting hours The party of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's main election challenger said it "firmly opposes" a call from the premier's party to extend voting hours on Tuesday, calling it a pretext for a future challenge to the poll's legitimacy. "No exceptional incident has occurred that would justify granting this request, which is intended to lay the groundwork for allegations challenging the integrity of the election, continuing the lies Netanyahu has been spreading since this morning," ex-army chief Gadi Eisenkot's Yashar party said. Employees of the Central Elections Committee for the 26th Knesset are pictured in the Knesset building in Jerusalem on 27 October 2026, on the day of Israel's legislative election (AFP)
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UN inquiry finds Israel committed age-based persecution of Palestinian children in West Bank

middleeasteye.netUN inquiry finds Israel committed age-based persecution of Palestinian children in West BankUN inquiry finds Israel committed age-based persecution of Palestinian children in West Bank Israeli authorities and forces have committed the crime against humanity of age-based persecution against Palestinian children in the occupied West Bank, the UN's top investigative body on  Palestine  and  Israel  has concluded, while also accusing Israel of continuing its  genocide in Gaza  despite a ceasefire agreement. In its fifth  report  to the UN General Assembly, published on Monday, the Independent International Commission of Inquiry on the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, said Israeli forces had "deliberately killed and caused serious bodily and mental harm to Palestinian children on account of their status as Palestinian children". The report said the harm inflicted on children "is not incidental or collateral" to the wider violence, but "forms part of a pattern of intentional violence directed against Palestinian children", amounting to the crime against humanity of persecution.  Read more:  UN inquiry finds Israel committed age-based persecution of Palestinian children in West Bank Children watch as Israeli security forces deploy nearby in the Palestinian village of al-Mughayyir, near Ramallah in the Israeli-occupied West Bank, on 29 September 2026 (AFP)
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Russian ballistic missiles struck a Kyiv university campus and injured five students and staff hours after UN investigators said Russia's grid strikes were war crimes

yacnews.comRussian ballistic missiles struck a Kyiv university campus and injured five students and staff hours after UN investigators said Russia's grid strikes were war crimesRussian ballistic missiles struck a Kyiv university on 26 October, injuring five students and staff. The attack came hours after UN investigators concluded that Russia's deliberate strikes on Ukraine's energy infrastructure constituted war crimes and crimes against humanity.
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Israeli voter: 'A vote against fear, terror and inequality'

middleeasteye.netIsraeli voter: 'A vote against fear, terror and inequality'Israeli voter: 'A vote against fear, terror and inequality' An Israeli voter has told Middle East Eye that current elections in Israel were existential. Fatima Hassan Bakri, a 77-year-old Palestinian citizen of Israel said this was the first time she had "felt the weight of the moment as I cast my ballot, because these elections are different from any other." "This vote is a vote for survival and for our very existence. A vote for our children who emigrate because there are no jobs. A vote against fear, terror and inequality," she said. "I call on every woman to come out and vote with her children. We make up half of society, so we should make our voices heard."
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Likud requests extension to voting hours beyond 10pm

middleeasteye.netLikud requests extension to voting hours beyond 10pmLikud requests extension to voting hours beyond 10pm Netanyahu's Likud party has submitted a request to extend the voting hours beyond 1opm. Times of Israel said that the ultra-Orthodox Shas party had also requested an extension. “The parties are trying to prevent a situation in which citizens waiting in line won’t be able to vote," they party said in a statement.
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UN investigators found Russia's grid attacks were war crimes hours before Russian missiles struck Kyiv's Pivdennyi Bridge again

yacnews.comUN investigators found Russia's grid attacks were war crimes hours before Russian missiles struck Kyiv's Pivdennyi Bridge againThe UN Commission of Inquiry on Ukraine cited Vladimir Putin's own instructions in concluding that Russia's attacks on the power system are war crimes and crimes against humanity. Russian strikes have hit the bridge carrying Kyiv's green metro line on at least four days this month.
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Israeli voter: 'This government is racist'

middleeasteye.netIsraeli voter: 'This government is racist'Israeli voter: 'This government is racist' Getting rid of Netanyahu's "racist" government should be a priority for Israelis, an Israeli voter told Middle East Eye. Kassim Titi, a Palestinian citizen of Israel from the Galilee, said that the Israeli prime minister and his far-right allies Itamar Ben-Gvir and Bezalel Smotrich had fomented severe hatred against Palestinians. He said the "government is racist and led by Ben Gvir and Smotrich." "The way they treat Arabs is not right. We want to live in peace, stability and security and we want equality between Jews and Arabs," he said.
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Ra'am leader accuses Netanyahu of inciting against his party

middleeasteye.netRa'am leader accuses Netanyahu of inciting against his partyRa'am leader accuses Netanyahu of inciting against his party Mansour Abbas, leader of the Palestinian-led Ra'am party, has accused Netanyahu of inciting against his party through claiming they were engaged in electoral fraud. “Benjamin Netanyahu is lying and inciting against Ra’am, using it as a scare tactic to mobilise right-wing voters and drive them to the polls,” he said in a video message.
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Israeli voter: 'Netanyahu is a psychopath'

middleeasteye.netIsraeli voter: 'Netanyahu is a psychopath'Israeli voter: 'Netanyahu is a psychopath' An Israeli voter en route to vote in the city of Or Yehuda, near Tel Aviv, told Middle East Eye that she would be voting for Gadi Eisenkot's Yashar party as "Netanyahu is a psychopath." Orly Neiger, a 60-year-old physiotherapist and mother-of-two, said she believed Eisenkot and his allies were still right-wing, but nevertheless "people who use their heads - unlike those who vote for Netanyahu out of fear". She said she would rather have voted for the centre-left The Democrats party led by Yair Golan, but would be casting her vote for Eisenkot as she had "a good friend who works in the Knesset with Eisenkot, and out of respect for his work, I’ll be voting for their list." "Netanyahu is a psychopath - he’s not a leader," she said. "He’s incoherent, irresponsible, refuses to take responsibility, fails to see all segments of the nation, and is incapable of engaging with the living, breathing people of Israel."
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Netanyahu claims Muslim Brotherhood supporters are 'raiding' polling stations

middleeasteye.netNetanyahu claims Muslim Brotherhood supporters are 'raiding' polling stationsNetanyahu claims Muslim Brotherhood supporters are 'raiding' polling stations Benjamin Netanyahu has claimed Muslim Brotherhood supporters are "raiding" the polling stations in Israel. "We're at war for our home. Muslim Brotherhood supporters are raiding the polling stations and stealing the elections," he wrote on X. "Go out and vote, recover it."
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Monitor warns of delays at polling stations in Palestinian communities in Israel

middleeasteye.netMonitor warns of delays at polling stations in Palestinian communities in IsraelMonitor warns of delays at polling stations in Palestinian communities in Israel Delays and long lines have been reported at polling stations in Palestinian communities in Israel, according to a monitor. Adalah, the Legal Center for Arab Minority Rights in Israel, told Haaretz that there had been systemic delays observed. "There are numerous reports of severe slowdowns at many polling stations," said Yeela Raanan, an Adalah monitor observing election integrity in Bedouin communities. Adalah said police officers had checking voters' identities at polling station entrances and delaying their entry, while polling station committees were also conducting voting procedures slowly and asking irrelevent questions of voters irrelevant questions. Some committees, they added, allegedly closed polling station doors and suspended voting. The group said it had submitted a complaint to Israel's election committee.