Middle East

Four Palestinians and Two Israelis Killed in West Bank Confrontation

A confrontation between armed Israeli settlers and residents of the Palestinian village of Tell, near Nablus, resulted in the deaths of six people, including four Palestinians and two Israelis, on 24 July 2026. The two Israeli nationals were confirmed to be Benayahu Mellet, a civil defence squad member, and Maj....

2 months agoJuly 28, 2026By CapeFlats.co.zaMiddle East

United Nations Reports Alarm Over West Bank Settler Violence Levels

A significant surge in violent incidents involving Israeli settlers against Palestinian communities in the West Bank has reached record levels throughout 2026. Data released by the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) confirms that these occurrences have escalated sharply since the beginning of the year, with...

2 months agoJuly 28, 2026Cape Flats NewsMiddle East

Israeli settlers torch mosques and farmland in West Bank violence

Israeli settlers have torched two mosques in the West Bank villages of Qusra and Kour, escalating a volatile cycle of violence that has left four Palestinians and two Israelis dead since 24 July 2026. The attacks, which occurred throughout the weekend, also involved the burning of vehicles, the destruction of...

2 months agoJuly 27, 2026Cape Flats NewsMiddle East

Houthi forces strike Saudi energy facilities after coalition airstrikes

Yemen’s Houthi movement claimed responsibility for a series of missile and drone attacks targeting Saudi Aramco energy facilities in the cities of Jizan and Yanbu on Friday, 25 July 2026. The strikes follow an intensification of hostilities in the region, occurring shortly after Saudi-led coalition forces conducted airstrikes on Houthi-held...

2 months agoJuly 26, 2026Bobby BoucherMiddle East

New York City mayor clarifies stance on ICC arrest warrant for Netanyahu

New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani confirmed on 22 July 2026 that his administration lacks the independent legal authority to enforce an International Criminal Court (ICC) arrest warrant for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. The announcement follows intense public debate regarding whether local officials could move to arrest the Prime...

2 months agoJuly 23, 2026Bobby BoucherMiddle East

Hamas Dissolves Gaza Emergency Committee to Hand Authority to Technocrats

Hamas officially announced the dissolution of its Government Emergency Committee in Gaza on 6 July 2026, marking a significant shift in its administrative structure in the territory. The move, which included the resignation of committee head Mohammed al-Farra, is intended to facilitate the transfer of authority to the National Committee...

2 months agoJuly 7, 2026By Layla HadidMiddle East

Israel and Hezbollah implement ceasefire amid diplomatic standoff

A ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah officially came into effect on Friday, 19 June 2026, at 16:00 local time, following a sharp escalation in regional violence. The agreement follows a period of intense military engagement that resulted in the deaths of four Israeli soldiers during a tank attack, prompting retaliatory...

3 months agoJune 20, 2026By Siphiwe DlaminiMiddle East

Israeli Officials Outraged by Imminent US-Iran Peace Deal

United States President Donald Trump has announced the finalisation of a peace agreement with Iran, a development that includes the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz and the immediate lifting of the US naval blockade. The framework, which was mediated by Pakistan, stipulates a permanent cessation of military operations across...

3 months agoJune 15, 2026By Layla HadidMiddle East

Israeli Airstrikes Kill At Least Eight In Gaza As Violence Persists

At least eight people were killed in Israeli airstrikes on Gaza City during the early hours of 4 June 2026, according to the Gaza civil defence agency, underscoring the ongoing violence in the region despite a ceasefire agreement in place since October 2025. Details Of The Strike And Official Response...

4 months agoJune 4, 2026Bobby BoucherMiddle East

Iran Threatens Shocking Battlefield Moves Amid US Standoff

As the deadline for a fragile ceasefire approaches, diplomatic tensions between Iran and the United States are intensifying. US Vice President J.D. Vance is reportedly preparing to travel to Islamabad for possible negotiations. The situation remains uncertain as both sides exchange warnings and set conditions for talks. Iranian Leaders Issue...

5 months agoApril 21, 2026By Layla HadidBreaking News on Iran, Middle East

Israel Defies Ceasefire, Expands Troop Presence In Lebanon

The Israeli military has released a map showing its continued presence in southern Lebanon. This comes despite a ceasefire agreement and calls for a full withdrawal. The deployment covers several kilometers beyond the border. Israeli Forces Maintain Positions In Lebanon The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) have outlined a new “forward...

5 months agoApril 21, 2026By Layla HadidIsrael invades Lebanon, Middle East

US Warship Blasts Iranian Cargo Ship, Breaks Ceasefire

A US Navy destroyer fired on an Iranian-flagged cargo ship in the Gulf of Oman, disabling its engine before Marines boarded the vessel. The incident was confirmed by US Central Command. The operation reportedly followed hours of warnings to the ship’s crew. US Central Command stated that the guided-missile destroyer...

5 months agoApril 20, 2026By Layla HadidBreaking News on Iran, Middle East

Trump Orders Immediate Naval Blockade To Unblock The Strait Of Hormuz

Washington has ordered an immediate naval blockade of the Strait of Hormuz. The dramatic escalation follows the collapse of twenty-one hour negotiations between American and Iranian delegations in Islamabad. President Donald Trump announced the aggressive maritime intervention on Truth Social after talks failed to produce a breakthrough on nuclear enrichment...

5 months agoApril 12, 2026By Siphiwe DlaminiLive Updates, Middle East

Trump Issues Warning To NATO Allies, Begs China To Join

President Donald Trump has warned European NATO members of a “very bad future” if they reject his plea for help with securing the Strait of Hormuz. Countries that receive oil through the Strait of Hormuz “must take care” of securing it, Trump reiterated over the weekend, calling on the UK,...

6 months agoMarch 16, 2026By Layla HadidLive Updates, Middle East

Trump’s Hormuz Threats Met With Defiance From Iranian Security Chief

Ali Larijani has rejected US military threats. The exchange marks a sharp escalation in rhetoric between Washington and Tehran. Larijani dismissed Trump’s warning on Telegram with characteristic bluntness. Even those greater than you could not eliminate the Iranian nation. Be careful not to be eliminated! The message signals Tehran’s refusal...

6 months agoMarch 10, 2026By Layla HadidLive Updates, Middle East

South Africans Return Home Amid War in the Middle-East

South African citizens are returning from the Middle East as limited flight operations resume following severe regional airspace closures. The Department of International Relations and Cooperation issued an urgent plea for all nationals to evacuate the region immediately. Major carriers including Emirates and South African Airways have begun restoring services...

6 months agoMarch 9, 2026By Layla HadidMiddle East

War Enters Second Week As Strikes Intensify, Iran Stops Attacks On Arab Neighbors

The US-Israeli conflict with Iran has entered its eighth day. Washington continues targeting Iranian military installations while Tehran responds with missile and drone strikes across the region. “unconditional surrender” President Donald Trump has ruled out accepting any negotiated settlement that falls short of complete capitulation from Tehran. “a waste of...

7 months agoMarch 7, 2026By Layla HadidLive Updates, Middle East

Trump Rejects Ground Invasion as Iran Vows Escalation

US President Donald Trump has rejected the possibility of deploying American ground troops to Iran. “a waste of time” He made this remark during an interview with NBC, responding directly to warnings from Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi. The minister had cautioned that any invasion would bring catastrophe upon invading...

7 months agoMarch 6, 2026By Siphiwe DlaminiLive Updates, Middle East

South Africans Abroad Adapt to Evolving Threat Landscapes

South Africans living in the United Arab Emirates are facing tense nights as missile interceptions become a regular occurrence. Meanwhile, a couple from Cape Town narrowly avoided harm during a religious pilgrimage in Saudi Arabia. These incidents have left families in South Africa deeply worried about the safety of their...

7 months agoMarch 4, 2026By Layla HadidMiddle East

A United Nations Compound Bulldozed

Israeli authorities moved decisively on Tuesday to demolish several structures inside the East Jerusalem compound of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees, a moment that sent shockwaves through diplomatic and humanitarian circles. Witnesses described bulldozers escorted by Israeli forces entering the Sheikh Jarrah site and flattening...

8 months agoJanuary 21, 2026Bobby BoucherMiddle East

Saudi Arabia And UAE Clash For Power And Influence In South Yemen

A Saudi-led military coalition has launched what it described as a limited airstrike on Yemen’s key southern seaport of Mukalla, intensifying already volatile tensions between former allies in the country’s long-running conflict. The strike targeted what the coalition claimed was an illicit weapons shipment arriving by sea, allegedly destined for...

9 months agoDecember 31, 2025By Layla HadidMiddle East

Gaza Will Never Be Left, Israeli Defense Minister Katz, From Denials to Admission

Israel’s Defence Minister Israel Katz set off a political and diplomatic storm after declaring that Israel would “never leave Gaza,” a statement that immediately reverberated across domestic politics and the international arena. Delivered during a ceremonial event marking the construction of new housing units in the occupied West Bank settlement...

9 months agoDecember 24, 2025By Siphiwe DlaminiMiddle East

South Africa Scrutinizes Claims Of Israeli Linked Manipulation In Visa Loophole Case

South Africa’s government is confronting fresh questions about vulnerabilities in its immigration regime after an incident involving more than one hundred and fifty Palestinians prompted an emergency humanitarian response and a high level security assessment. What began as a routine landing by a chartered aircraft escalated into a diplomatic and...

9 months agoDecember 10, 2025By Siphiwe DlaminiMiddle East

Houthi Detain UN Staff In Yemen As Espionage Allegations Escalate

A fresh wave of tension has swept through Yemen’s capital, Sanaa, after Houthi rebels detained several United Nations employees on Sunday. United Nations spokesman Jean Alam confirmed that members of the militant group raided a UN compound in the Hada district, apprehending 20 staff members representing various UN agencies. Among...

11 months agoOctober 21, 2025By Siphiwe DlaminiMiddle East

Israel National Security Minister Gvir Pushes Again For Gaza War

Israel’s fragile ceasefire with Hamas faces renewed strain as National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir called for an immediate return to large-scale military operations in the Gaza Strip. His remarks came after Israeli forces and Hamas exchanged fire in Rafah, sparking fears that the short-lived truce could collapse entirely. Calls...

11 months agoOctober 19, 2025By Siphiwe DlaminiMiddle East

Ramaphosa Stands Firm On Gaza Genocide Case Despite US-Brokered Peace Deal

President Cyril Ramaphosa has reaffirmed that South Africa’s genocide case against Israel at the International Court of Justice (ICJ) will continue, despite the recent peace agreement between Israel and Hamas, which was facilitated by the United States. His remarks underline Pretoria’s resolve to see the case through to its conclusion,...

11 months agoOctober 16, 2025By Siphiwe DlaminiMiddle East

Hamas Releases All of the Israeli Hostages Under Trump-Brokered Ceasefire

The long-awaited exchange of captives between Hamas and Israel has officially begun, signalling a tentative breakthrough after months of bloodshed. Hamas has started releasing 48 Israeli hostages, 20 of whom are believed to still be alive. The Israeli military confirmed that the Red Cross has already received seven captives handed...

11 months agoOctober 13, 2025By Layla HadidMiddle East

Hope Or Deception Will Trump’s Gaza Ceasefire Survive The Next Attack

Negotiations over a possible ceasefire in Gaza have entered a critical stage, with reports suggesting that United States President Donald Trump has presented a plan involving a large-scale withdrawal of Israeli forces and the release of hostages held by Hamas. The proposal, according to several international media outlets, could mark...

11 months agoOctober 9, 2025By Siphiwe DlaminiMiddle East

Ramaphosa Slams Israel over Seized South Africans in Gaza Aid Flotilla

President Cyril Ramaphosa has urged the Government of the State of Israel to immediately free South African citizens and other foreign nationals detained during the interception of the Global Sumud Flotilla, a mission that set out to deliver humanitarian aid to Gaza. The flotilla, comprising several vessels sailing under different...

12 months agoOctober 2, 2025By Siphiwe DlaminiMiddle East