Category: 2. Middle East

The Palestine Book Awards (PBA) has officially closed submissions for its 2025 cycle, concluding another successful year with over 80 books entered. Now in its 14th year, the Awards continue to grow in stature, serving as a vital platform for literature that centres Palestinian history, identity and resistance.

This year’s submissions come amid Israel’s ongoing genocide in Gaza and the occupied West Bank. Some of the books are written by authors enduring the…

Syrian Druze spiritual leader Sheikh Hikmat al-Hijri accused the government on Thursday of conducting a “genocidal attack” on his community following days of deadly sectarian clashes that left 101 dead. 

Hijri was referring to the violence between Druze and Sunni Syrians in southern Syria this week as an “unjustified genocidal attack” in a statement. He called for international help to alleviate the situation, saying, “International forces must intervene immediately to maintain…

Syrian Druze spiritual leader Sheikh Hikmat al-Hijri on Thursday condemned what he called a “genocidal campaign” against his community after two days of deadly sectarian clashes left 101 people dead.

The violence poses a serious challenge to the Islamist authorities who ousted longtime ruler Bashar al-Assad in December.

It comes after a wave of massacres in March in Syria’s Alawite coastal stronghold in which security forces and allied groups killed more than 1,700 civilians, mostly Alawites,…

Syrian Druze spiritual leader Sheikh Hikmat al-Hijri on Thursday condemned what he called a “genocidal campaign” against his community after two days of sectarian clashes left 101 people dead.

Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz warned his country would respond “with significant force” if Syria’s new authorities fail to protect the Druze minority.

The violence poses a serious challenge to the Islamist authorities who ousted longtime ruler Bashar al-Assad in December.

It comes after a wave of…

Syrian Druze spiritual leader Sheikh Hikmat al-Hijri on Thursday condemned what he described as a “genocidal campaign” against his community, following two days of deadly sectarian clashes that left 73 people dead.

The unrest poses a serious challenge to the Islamist authorities who ousted longtime ruler Bashar al-Assad in December, and comes after a wave of massacres last month in Syria’s Alawite coastal stronghold.

In a statement, Hijri denounced the violence in Jaramana and Sahnaya, near…

Hundreds of Tunisians took to the streets of the capital Thursday to mark Labour Day, to protest against President Kais Saied and to demand the release of jailed political figures.

The rally, attended by members of different political factions, was called by Tunisia’s powerful UGTT trade union confederation and relatives of detained opposition figures.

“We’re not happy with what’s happening,” activist Souhaieb Ferchichi said. “People keep advocating for their rights despite an atmosphere of…

Israel’s military said Friday it launched air strikes near the presidential palace in Damascus after the country’s defence minister threatened intervention if Syrian authorities failed to protect the Druze minority.

Syria’s Druze spiritual leader has condemned a “genocidal campaign” against his community after sectarian clashes killed 102 people.

The violence poses a serious challenge to the Islamist authorities in Syria who ousted longtime ruler Bashar al-Assad in December.

Israel has since…

ANKARA — Istanbul police detained more than 400 people on Thursday during May Day demonstrations — the largest display of defiance since last month’s mass protests over Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu’s arrest — held under sweeping restrictions.

Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya announced late Thursday that 407 people had been detained in Istanbul, raising the previous tally of 384 provided by the Istanbul Governor’s Office.

The statement did not give the locations of the detentions but most…

Israeli media reported today that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is expected to order the Israeli occupation army to expand its operations in Gaza.

According to the Maariv newspaper, Netanyahu is expected to convene the State Security Cabinet at noon tomorrow for a situation assessment discussion ahead of a larger Cabinet meeting.

In light of the current stalemate in talks on a ceasefire and hostage return deal, the smaller Cabinet forum, which includes…