Category: 2. Middle East

Protesters disrupted the men’s elite race at the London Marathon on Sunday, calling on the British government to impose a full trade embargo on Israel and highlighting the humanitarian crisis in Gaza, Anadolu reports.

Two members of Youth Demand, a youth-led civil resistance group in the UK, jumped over barriers near Tower Bridge and threw red powder paint in front of the runners.

The protesters wore ‘Stop Arming Israel’ t-shirts and were detained by the…

Oman’s Sultan Haitham bin Tariq met with British Foreign Secretary David Lammy in Muscat on Sunday to discuss bilateral ties and regional and international developments, Anadolu reports.

A Foreign Ministry statement said that the discussions took up historic and strategic relations and a host of regional and international issues.

Lammy listened to the views of the Omani sultan on key regional and international issues and expressed interest in efforts to reach a…

Qatar called on Sunday for urgent action to force Israel to allow the entry of humanitarian aid into the blockaded Gaza Strip, Anadolu reports.

“Qatar rejects the use of starvation and humanitarian aid as a weapon against the Palestinian people in Gaza,” Foreign Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani said during a joint press conference with his Turkish counterpart, Hakan Fidan, in Doha.

“We continue our efforts with our partners to end the war…

Russian President Vladimir Putin ordered the immediate deployment of emergency specialists to Iran to assist Iranian authorities in containing the fire at Shahid Rajaee Port after a request from Tehran, the Russian Embassy announced on Sunday, Anadolu reports.

According to the embassy, several aircraft carrying teams from the Russian Ministry of Emergency Situations are being dispatched to Iran.

“We wish success to the Russian rescuers and their Iranian…

The Gaza economy has collapsed with prices of essential goods skyrocketing by 527% amid an Israeli blockade on the enclave, the Gaza Chamber of Commerce and Industry said on Sunday, Anadolu reports.

“The (Israeli) occupation continues to prevent the entry of trucks of the private sector, causing almost a complete paralysis (of the economy),” the chamber said in a statement.

According to the statement, prices of essential goods and foodstuffs rose by 527%…

Saudi Arabia and Qatar are to settle Syria’s outstanding arrears of around $15 million to the World Bank, both countries said in a joint statement, paving the way for the approval of millions of dollars in grants for reconstruction and to support the country’s paralysed public sector, Reuters reports.

Reuters was first to report the news earlier this month. The plans would be the first known instance of Saudi Arabia providing financing for Syria since…

The Israeli army extended compulsory military service by four months amid a manpower shortage, local media said on Sunday, Anadolu reports.

According to the daily Yedioth Ahronoth, soldiers will serve an additional four months to a full three-year term.

The army also decided to suspend pre-release leaves, requiring soldiers to serve a full three years before discharge.

There was no immediate confirmation from the army of the report.

The newspaper said the…

Turkiye’s Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan is set to meet with Qatar’s Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani, as well as Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman al-Thani, during a visit to Qatar on Sunday, Turkish Foreign Ministry sources said, Anadolu reports.

According to the sources, talks are expected to focus on strengthening bilateral ties and coordination on regional developments.

A joint press conference with the Qatari prime…

The health ministry in Hamas-run Gaza announced Sunday that the death toll from the war had risen to more than 52,000 people, after hundreds previously listed as missing were confirmed dead.

“An additional 697 martyrs have been added to the cumulative statistics after their data was completed and verified by the committee monitoring missing persons,” the health ministry said in a statement, giving the overall toll of 52,243.

Several United Nations agencies that operate in Gaza have said the…