Middle East & North Africa
US Turning Its Back on Human Rights: How Leaving the Human Rights Council Damages US-EU and UN relations
In 2018, the Trump administration withdrew from the United Nations Human Rights Council. US Ambassador to the United Nations (UN), Nikki R. Haley, highlighted at the June General Assembly that this decision was due to the growing concern that the Human Rights Council was driven by “political bias” rather than humanitarian rights due to the “disproportionate focus and unending hostility towards Israel.”
Syrian Transitional Government and SDF Announce Merger Amid Sectarian Violence and Constitutional Shift
The Syrian Democratic Forces merged with the transitional government amid sectarian violence, as President al-Sharaa signed a five-year interim constitution.
PKK Leader Öcalan Urges the Kurdish Militant Group to Disband
Abdullah Öcalan, the leader and founder of the Kurdistan’s Worker Party (PKK), issued a statement from prison calling for the group to lay down their arms and completely dissolve itself. Öcalan’s comments were read at a news conference in Istanbul by Kurdish lawmakers, who met with the leader earlier. The call to dissolve addresses all branches of the primarily Türkiye-based militant group, including its offshoots in Syria and parts of Iraq and Iran.
Op-Ed: International Silence as Israel Expands its Occupation of Syria While Destroying its Defence Capabilities
The international community remains silent when it comes to Israel’s violations of international law in Syria. The Golan Heights occupation and annexation, as well as the destruction of Syria’s defense capabilities render Syria weak and vulnerable during this time in its governmen’s transition. This elephant in the room has been conveniently ignored at international meetings regarding Syria’s future under HTS. How much longer will Israel continue to evade international law in Syria?
Israel’s Hold on Philadelphi Corridor Rattles Ceasefire
Israel’s refusal to withdraw from the Philadelphi Corridor threatens to derail ceasefire negotiations, as humanitarian conditions in Gaza worsen and talks over an extended truce remain stalled.
Global Gateway: The Realities of Morocco’s Renewable Energy Development
Unlike other countries in the MENA region, Morocco is not a gas-producing nor oil-producing country. The North African nation heavily relies on fossil fuel imports to provide energy to its population, with 90 percent of the country’s energy needs for both commercial and residential use met through imported natural gas and other fossil fuels, according to the World Bank.
Ceasefire in Jeopardy as Israel Delays Prisoner Release Amid Controversial Hostage Returns
A dispute over prisoner releases threatens to unravel the fragile ceasefire between Israel and Hamas, as both sides exchange accusations over hostage mistreatment and ceasefire violations.
Arab Leaders to Meet in Riyadh to Counter Trump’s Gaza Displacement Plan
As the Arab League Summit inches closer, Arab leaders are looking to gather to discuss alternative solutions to Trump’s plan to relocate Palestinians out of Gaza.
Op-Ed: Why does the US continue Aiding Israel Amid Human Rights Violations?
Upon receiving her presidential nomination at the Democratic National Convention, Vice President Kamala Harris said she and President Joe Biden were working “around the clock” to negotiate a ceasefire deal between Hamas and Israel. Harris has since made dozens of statements claiming that the administration has been “dedicate[d] to ending this war and bringing the hostages home.”
These statements are misleading.
Afghan Women Face Bleak Future as Taliban Bans Midwife and Nursing Training
A new decree from the Taliban is set to ban women from pursuing education in midwifery and nursing, with some students having already been barred from classes.
Peace in the Middle East: A Fantasy or Possibility?
The endless cycle of conflict in the Middle East demands a shift from moral debates to pragmatic solutions — a practical, incentive-driven framework may be the only path forward.
Op-Ed: Hidden Atrocities: The Silence on Palestinian Detainees in Israel
The Israeli Information Center for Human Rights in the Occupied Territories – has been documenting, researching and publishing data, testimonies, video evidence and reports on human rights violations in Israel-occupied territories since its founding in 1989. In August 2024, the organization released an 118-page report accusing the Israeli government of carrying out systematic abuse and torture of Palestinian detainees, particularly in the aftermath of the Hamas attack on October 7, 2023.
Lebanon’s Hezbollah Announces Naim Qassem as New Leader
Lebanese militant group Hezbollah recently announced the election of 71-year-old Naim Qassem — Hezbollah’s long-time deputy secretary general — as the group’s new chief leader last week.
US-Led Coalition in Iraq to Enter Transition Period in Fall of 2025
Discussions of a transition period for the anti-ISIS US-led coalition in Iraq have been underway. If given the green light, this anticipated transitional period would introduce reductions in the 2,500 troops stationed in Iraq between September 2025 and the winter of 2026.
Leaked Documents Reveal Israel's Intentions for Retaliation Against Iran Amid Rising Tensions
US investigators are inspecting how a pair of highly classified intelligence documents leaked online. The two documents that surfaced on the messaging platform Telegram last Friday purportedly detail a US assessment of Israel's plans to strike Iran.
Yahya Sinwar’s Death and the United States’ Push to End the Middle East Crisis
On Oct. 16, 2024, Yahya Sinwar, the leader of the Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas), was killed by the Israeli military.
Israel and UN at Odds After Peacekeepers Targeted
Israel has targeted United Nations (UN) peacekeepers in Southern Lebanon in recent attacks, injuring several and forcing entry into UN bases.
Opinion: Iran’s Response to Israel was Expected, Preventable, Retaliatory
On Tuesday, October 1, Iran launched around 180 missiles into Israel. These strikes are a direct response to escalations between Israel, Hamas and Hezbollah, one of Iran’s regional proxies. Iran stated that the missile attacks were a result of a string of recent killings by Israel, particularly Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah in Beirut and Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran this July.
Diplomacy and Division: The US Role in the Middle East Conflict and Its Political Fallout
Conflict in the Middle East has thrust the United States into a diplomatic and strategic high-wire act that is becoming increasingly central to the 2024 presidential election.