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… on a quiet day, I can hear her breathing

‘War criminals’ belong in courtrooms, not at UN rostrum: Turkish president
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Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan delivers a speech during the closing ceremony of the 21st MUSIAD Expo International Trade Fair and the 29th International Business Forum in Istanbul, Turkiye, on September 26, 2026. [Arif Hüdaverdi Yaman – Anadolu Agency]
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said Saturday that “war criminals” belong in courtrooms rather than at the UN rostrum, stressing that those committing genocide must be held accountable, Anadolu reports.
“War criminals belong not at the UN rostrum, but in courtrooms where they will answer for the crimes they have committed and the blood they have shed,” Erdogan said at the closing program of the 21st MUSIAD EXPO International Trade Fair and 29th International Business Forum in Istanbul.
“If those committing genocide are not held accountable before justice and history, the same atrocities will happen again,” he warned.
Erdogan reiterated Turkiye’s support for Palestinians, saying: “The Palestinian people are not alone or abandoned.”
“Our sisters and brothers in Gaza are not alone in their quest for rights and justice,” he stressed.
READ: Turkish president calls on UN member state to pressure Israel for Gaza reconstruction
“We will continue, to the best of our ability, to tell the truth and be the voice of the oppressed,” he added.
Erdogan further said the region with Turkiye at its center is experiencing a “full-blown storm of crises,” while the global system is facing an impasse in terms of “legitimacy, representation and justice.”
Turning to the economy, he said Turkiye has recorded uninterrupted growth for the past 24 quarters and is currently the world’s 16th-largest and Europe’s sixth-largest economy.
He added that the number of Turkish exporting companies increased from 33,000 in 2002 to 168,000 in 2025.
“With the new Medium-Term Program we announced 20 days ago, we will continue resolutely in line with our sustainable and balanced growth targets,” Erdogan said.
READ: Turkiye rejects East-West divide, says Mecca defense pact not aimed at Iran or Israel: President
This work by Middle East Monitor is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.
Donald Trump sings and dances, says that it’s fun to kill everyone … unless he gets distracted or falls asleep.
UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham admits to blatently lying and engaging in deception to become leader of the UK Labour Party and Prime Minister.
Keir Starmer objects to criticism of the IDF. He asks how could anyone object to them starving people to death, forced marches like the Nazis did, bombing Gaza’s hospitals and universities, mass-murdering journalists, healthworkers and starving people queuing for food, killing and raping prisoners and murdering children. He calls for people to stop obstructing his genocide for Israel. New Labour UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham continues Labour party policy of active support and complicity in Israel’s genocide.
26 September 2026
262 Palestinian journalists killed by Israel since Gaza war: Media office
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Family and wife of Palestinian journalist Abd Shaat mourn and try to find solace in his remaining belongings inside their makeshift tent following his funeral in Gaza City, Gaza, on January 22, 2026. [Anas Zeyad Fteha – Anadolu Agency]
The Israeli army has killed 262 Palestinian journalists and injured 433 others since its offensive began in the Gaza Strip in 2023, Gaza’s Government Media Office said Saturday.
Palestinian journalists, particularly those in Gaza, have been subjected to “the worst and most horrific campaign of targeting, assassination and systematic destruction known in modern history,” the office said in a statement marking the International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian Journalists.
The slain reporters included 26 women journalists, while Israeli forces have also arrested 50 journalists and media workers since the start of the war, with 23 remaining in detention under “harrowing conditions,” the office said.
The losses inflicted on the media sector exceed $800 million, the statement noted.
READ: Remains of 101 Palestinians recovered from rubble in Gaza City, civil defence says
Israel completely or partially destroyed 12 print media offices, 23 offices of digital media outlets, 12 local radio stations, 16 TV and satellite channels, 27 printing presses and offices of five press freedom organizations, it said.
The office appealed to the international community, the UN, the International Federation of Journalists, and the Federation of Arab Journalists to intervene immediately and urgently to provide legal and on-the-ground protection for Palestinian journalists.
Since October 2023, Israel has continued its war in Gaza, which has killed nearly 74,000 people and injured around 175,000 others, while causing extensive destruction to 90% of civilian infrastructure.
Despite a ceasefire agreement that took effect on Oct. 10, 2025, Israel continues to carry out airstrikes and gunfire in the enclave, killing 1,408 Palestinians and injuring 4,916 others, including journalists.
READ: 37 Palestinian journalists held in Israeli jails, rights group says
This work by Middle East Monitor is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.
Donald Trump sings and dances, says that it’s fun to kill everyone … unless he gets distracted or falls asleep.
UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham admits to blatently lying and engaging in deception to become leader of the UK Labour Party and Prime Minister.
Keir Starmer objects to criticism of the IDF. He asks how could anyone object to them starving people to death, forced marches like the Nazis did, bombing Gaza’s hospitals and universities, mass-murdering journalists, healthworkers and starving people queuing for food, killing and raping prisoners and murdering children. He calls for people to stop obstructing his genocide for Israel. New Labour UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham continues Labour party policy of active support and complicity in Israel’s genocide.
26 September 2026
Netanyahu blocking inquiry into Oct. 7 events, says former Israeli intelligence officer
This work by Middle East Monitor is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu gives a speech in Jerusalem on August 13, 2025.[Photo by RONEN ZVULUN/POOL/AFP via Getty Images]
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu “is doing everything” to prevent the establishment of an official commission of inquiry into the events of Oct. 7, 2023, former military intelligence officer Barak Seri said, Anadolu reports.
In a Saturday post on the US social media company X, Seri said Netanyahu was “warned and alerted” ahead of the attacks, but that “he ignored it all.”
“This is why Netanyahu is personally blocking the establishment of an inquiry commission,” he said.
Earlier Saturday, Israeli newspaper Yedioth Ahronoth reported that Netanyahu received warnings about a possible Hamas attack ahead of Oct. 7, 2023, but did not convene a meeting to discuss them.
READ: Hamas slams Netanyahu’s UN speech: He should be in prison to face trial for crimes
Citing unnamed security officials, the outlet said Netanyahu did not share the warnings with the Shin Bet, Mossad or the Military Intelligence Directorate, known as Aman.
Meanwhile, US magazine The Atlantic reported that former Egyptian intelligence chief Abbas Kamel secretly visited Israel 11 days before the Oct. 7 events to alert Tel Aviv about a possible Hamas attack.
There has been no official Egyptian comment on the claim.
Following the Oct. 7 events, Israel launched a brutal offensive on the Gaza Strip, killing nearly 74,000 people, injured around 175,000 others and turned the entire enclave into ruins.
Despite a ceasefire that took effect in October 2025, Israel has continued its daily attacks on Gaza, killing more than 1,400 Palestinians and injuring nearly 5,000 others, according to Gaza’s Health Ministry.
READ: Netanyahu failed to relay UAE warning of possible Hamas attack to security chiefs: NYT
This work by Middle East Monitor is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.
Donald Trump sings and dances, says that it’s fun to kill everyone … unless he gets distracted or falls asleep.
UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham admits to blatently lying and engaging in deception to become leader of the UK Labour Party and Prime Minister.
Keir Starmer objects to criticism of the IDF. He asks how could anyone object to them starving people to death, forced marches like the Nazis did, bombing Gaza’s hospitals and universities, mass-murdering journalists, healthworkers and starving people queuing for food, killing and raping prisoners and murdering children. He calls for people to stop obstructing his genocide for Israel. New Labour UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham continues Labour party policy of active support and complicity in Israel’s genocide.
26 September 2026
Israeli army raids university campus in occupied West Bank
This work by Middle East Monitor is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.
Israeli forces raid Birzeit University in north of Ramallah, in West Bank, Palestine on September 26, 2026. [Issam Rimawi – Anadolu Agency]
Israeli army forces raided the campus of Birzeit University north of Ramallah in the central West Bank on Saturday, according to Palestinian media.
The army published a video on its digital platforms documenting the raid, Palestine TV reported.
Israeli soldiers filmed the Martyr’s Memorial on the campus before withdrawing from the site. No arrests were reported.
Birzeit University condemned the raid, which took place as students were taking their final exams for the summer session. It called the raid a “violation of the sanctity of the university and international conventions and laws that protect educational institutions.”
READ: Israeli army detains more than 150 Palestinians in West Bank raids
The raid involved “intimidation and terrorizing of students,” the university said, warning that targeting educational institutions disrupts the academic process.
Birzeit University is frequently targeted in Israeli raids, some of which have involved arrests and injuries.
The university has around 13,400 students across nine faculties and 174 academic programs, according to data for the 2025/2026 academic year.
Since Israel’s war on the Gaza Strip began in October 2023, the Israeli army and occupiers have intensified attacks across the West Bank, killing more than 1,206 Palestinians, injuring more than 13,300 and arresting nearly 26,000, according to Palestinian figures.
READ: UN says Israel’s 942 checkpoints, barriers in occupied West Bank restrict Palestinian movement
This work by Middle East Monitor is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.
Donald Trump sings and dances, says that it’s fun to kill everyone … unless he gets distracted or falls asleep.
UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham admits to blatently lying and engaging in deception to become leader of the UK Labour Party and Prime Minister.
Keir Starmer objects to criticism of the IDF. He asks how could anyone object to them starving people to death, forced marches like the Nazis did, bombing Gaza’s hospitals and universities, mass-murdering journalists, healthworkers and starving people queuing for food, killing and raping prisoners and murdering children. He calls for people to stop obstructing his genocide for Israel. New Labour UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham continues Labour party policy of active support and complicity in Israel’s genocide.
26 September 2026
Israeli forces use phosphorus shells in southern Lebanon attacks
This work by Middle East Monitor is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.
Smoke rises after Israeli forces carried out air and artillery attacks on towns in Nabatieh, southern Lebanon, despite a ceasefire, on September 21, 2026. [Ramiz Dallah – Anadolu Agency]
Israeli forces used phosphorus munitions while shelling several towns in southern Lebanon on Friday, state news agency NNA reported.
Artillery struck the outskirts of Zawtar al-Sharqiyah, Mayfadoun and Nabatieh al-Fawqa in the Nabatieh district.
Phosphorus shells were used in Nabatieh al-Fawqa, while Israel later renewed attacks on Zawtar al-Sharqiyah with similar munitions.
In the Tyre district, artillery fire also targeted Wadi Zibqin and the outskirts of Haris and Haddatha.
READ: Israeli army sets fire to government hospital in southern Lebanon
Lebanese army specialists dismantled two unexploded Israeli aerial bombs in Majdal Selm and Al-Ghandouriyah in the Marjayoun and Bint Jbeil districts and moved them to a safe location.
The Israeli offensive in Lebanon has killed at least 4,386 victims, wounded 12,407 and displaced more than 1 million others since early March, according to Lebanese authorities.
The attacks continue despite a June framework deal that provides for a gradual Israeli withdrawal from occupied Lebanese territory in exchange for the deployment of the Lebanese army there and the disarmament of Hezbollah.
READ: Israeli army prepares for new phase of fighting in southern Lebanon: Report
This work by Middle East Monitor is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.
Donald Trump sings and dances, says that it’s fun to kill everyone … unless he gets distracted or falls asleep.
UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham admits to blatently lying and engaging in deception to become leader of the UK Labour Party and Prime Minister.
Keir Starmer objects to criticism of the IDF. He asks how could anyone object to them starving people to death, forced marches like the Nazis did, bombing Gaza’s hospitals and universities, mass-murdering journalists, healthworkers and starving people queuing for food, killing and raping prisoners and murdering children. He calls for people to stop obstructing his genocide for Israel. New Labour UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham continues Labour party policy of active support and complicity in Israel’s genocide.
26 September 2026