38 stories for 2026-02-23
Israeli settlers set fire to a mosque south of Nablus in the occupied West Bank on February 23, 2026, during the Islamic holy month of Ramadan. The attackers also sprayed racist graffiti on the mosque's walls and charred its entrance. The Palestinian Ministry of Endowments and Religious Affairs condemned the attack, describing the perpetrators as Jewish settler gangs.
The head of Israel's Prison Service invited settlers on a tour of a facility holding Palestinian prisoners, where the service provided lunch to the visitors. Palestinian prisoner rights groups have raised alarms about ongoing starvation conditions among detainees, particularly during Ramadan. The tour has drawn criticism from rights advocates monitoring conditions in Israeli detention facilities.
Israeli forces have detained more than 100 Palestinians in the occupied West Bank since the beginning of Ramadan, according to a report. The intensified arrest campaign coincides with Israeli authorities banning the display of religious decorations for the Islamic holy month in Jerusalem. The detentions represent an escalation in military operations in Palestinian territories during this period.
Despite a ceasefire agreement signed in October 2025, Gaza continues to experience Israeli military operations that have killed over 600 Palestinians, according to reporting from February 2026. An infant died after being denied medical evacuation, and a 27-year-old woman was shot by Israeli forces north of the enclave. The World Health Organization reports approximately 15,600 patients remain awaiting medical evacuation from Gaza, including 3,800 children, while about 42,000 people suffer from injuries that have disrupted their daily lives. Palestinians are observing Ramadan amid displacement, destroyed homes, lack of access to basic utilities including gas and fuel, and widespread environmental damage that threatens long-term habitability in southern Gaza.
A report reveals that between 2015 and 2026, Palestinian residents received only 66 building permits in the West Bank, while approximately 22,000 permits were granted for Israeli settlers in the same territory. The disparity underscores the stark difference in construction authorization policies affecting the two populations in the occupied West Bank.
An American teenager has been killed in the occupied West Bank. Details regarding the circumstances of the death remain limited in available reporting. The incident marks a significant development in ongoing tensions in the region.
Foreign ministers from 20 Arab, Islamic, and Western countries issued a joint statement condemning Israeli decisions to expand illegal control over the West Bank. The countries called for an end to settler violence and accountability for those responsible. The statement was coordinated by Saudi Arabia and supported by multiple international organizations.
The Palestinian Foreign Ministry stated the Palestinian Authority is prepared to assume control of government and security in Gaza with Arab and international backing. The ministry called for international intervention to halt violations in Gaza and the West Bank.
According to Al-Araby Al-Jadeed, Britain is pursuing legal action against an alliance described as Palestinian. The report indicates prosecution proceedings have been initiated, though specific charges, defendants, and details of the alleged violations remain unclear from the available excerpt.
Al-Araby Al-Jadeed reports on tactics and strategies of displacement operations aimed at achieving demographic change. The article analyzes methods employed in what is characterized as a systematic approach to altering population composition in affected areas.
International donors have pledged $17 billion toward Gaza's reconstruction, falling significantly short of the estimated $60 billion needed to rebuild infrastructure damaged during ongoing conflict. The funding gap highlights the substantial financial challenge facing Gaza's recovery efforts. Reconstruction needs encompass housing, healthcare, education, and other essential services across the territory.
A convoy of humanitarian assistance from Saudi Arabia's King Salman Center for Relief and Humanitarian Works arrived in Gaza on Sunday, carrying food aid. The delivery represents continued international humanitarian efforts to address civilian needs in the territory.
According to Asharq Al-Awsat, Israeli officers are alleged to have engaged in torture practices against Palestinian detainees. The report indicates that abusive practices against Palestinians have become normalized among Israeli personnel and are increasingly reflected in internal Israeli military relations, following a pattern described as "the strong eating the weak."
Residents of the demilitarized zone between Israel and Palestine face severe hardship as border crossings periodically close, leaving people stranded in what is described as a stateless area. When crossing points shut down, the buffer zone transforms into an uninhabitable space where civilians are forced to survive in liminal conditions, unable to access either territory. The situation creates humanitarian challenges for those caught between the two sides.
Approximately one year ago, the Israeli military began a military operation called "Iron Wall" aimed at restructuring refugee camps in northern Gaza and eliminating the concept of Palestinian right of return. The operation has involved the dismantling of established camp infrastructure in the region.
Israeli military operations in Gaza on February 23 included airstrikes and shelling that killed two Palestinians and wounded three others, according to Palestine Today. A UN report warned of fire risks to displacement camps as humanitarian conditions deteriorate. Occupation authorities have blocked water supply to Gaza City since February 10. Fourteen Arab and Islamic states criticized statements by U.S. Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee made on February 21.
Escalating tensions reported in northern Gaza with plans announced for construction of 1517 settlement units. Al-Akhbar reports on renewed military operations in the northern sector and ongoing settlement expansion activities in the region.
Al-Akhbar reports on rising emigration from Israel in the period following the October 2023 conflict referred to as 'Al-Tufan.' The article presents statistics on Israelis leaving the country, though specific figures and destinations are not detailed in the available excerpt.
Syrian authorities have closed al-Hol camp in Hasakah Province following the withdrawal of Kurdish forces, relocating thousands of families with suspected ISIS affiliations. A second camp, Roj, is reportedly set to close soon with Syrian officials taking administrative control, though no exact date has been announced. The closures affect approximately 8,500 people held in camps housing families of men suspected of Islamic State affiliation in northeast Syria.
Syrian authorities have documented 1,830 corruption cases as part of ongoing anti-corruption efforts. The government has launched a new platform aimed at promoting transparency and accountability. The initiative represents an attempt to address systemic corruption issues within Syrian institutions.
Syrian journalist Alaa Muhammad was found dead in his residence in Ladhiqiyah (Latakia). The circumstances surrounding his death have not been fully detailed in available reports. The killing raises concerns about press freedom and journalist safety in Syria.
Salma Murshaq, a Syrian woman, has died after five years of seeking answers about the killing of her son, Qusaman Salim. Throughout this period, she reportedly faced persistent grief and trauma related to his death, with no apparent resolution or accountability. Her death marks the end of a prolonged search for justice and information regarding the circumstances of her son's killing.
A committee has been established in Raqqa to oversee the secure return of displaced Kurdish refugees to their homes in Raqqa governorate. The initiative aims to ensure safe conditions for returnees and coordinate the repatriation process. The committee's formation represents efforts to address ongoing displacement issues in the region.
ISIS conducted a second attack on al-Sbahiya detention facility west of Raqqa, Syria on February 23, 2026. The assault killed at least four members of the Syrian Arab Army and one internal security officer, with another security personnel wounded. The attacks mark a continuation of ISIS operations targeting government security infrastructure in the region.
The Syrian Network for Human Rights documented the deaths of at least 21 detainees in a prison facility controlled by the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) in Ain al-Arab (Kobani), east of Aleppo, between January 19–22, 2026. The killings were recorded through field documentation by the human rights organization during the specified period.
The Syrian government is shutting down informal oil refineries operating in Deir ez-Zor province, a move that threatens the livelihoods of workers dependent on this sector but is expected to improve public health and environmental conditions in nearby communities. The closure marks a significant disruption to a local economy heavily reliant on informal petroleum processing operations. While the shutdown addresses documented hazards associated with unregulated refining, it leaves workers facing economic uncertainty.
Approximately 3,000 Iraqi nationals remain detained in a Syrian camp due to suspected ties to ISIS, according to an official statement. The detainees are held in a camp facility in Syria pending resolution of their cases related to alleged Islamic State affiliations. The continued detention reflects ongoing security concerns in the region regarding former ISIS members and their families.
According to Al-Araby Al-Jadeed, millions of delivery workers in Egypt operate without legal protections or formal employment status. The report highlights the precarious working conditions faced by this large informal workforce, which lacks access to labor law safeguards, social security benefits, and dispute resolution mechanisms. These workers remain outside Egypt's formal labor framework despite forming a significant portion of the country's gig economy.
Egypt's Public Prosecution has released four supporters of Al-Ahly club who were being held in preventive detention. The release follows what appears to be a legal challenge to their continued incarceration. Details regarding the reasons for their initial arrest and detention remain unclear from available reporting.
An Egyptian court postponed the trial of two journalists and nine staff members from Al-Bawaba News on February 23, 2026. The case involves allegations that the news outlet failed to comply with minimum wage requirements. The trial was rescheduled for March 22, following a defense request to review case files. A separate labor court is scheduled to hear claims from Al-Bawaba journalists regarding unpaid wages.
Israeli military strikes in Lebanon resulted in at least 10 deaths, including a senior Hezbollah official, according to Reuters reporting. The strikes represent continued military operations in the region. No additional details on locations, timing, or circumstances were provided in available reporting.
A Lebanese judicial source reported that the court has expedited cases of Islamist detainees, pushing their files toward hearings before both investigative judges and the permanent military court. The acceleration of these proceedings marks a shift in the handling of cases involving detained individuals with alleged Islamist affiliations in Lebanon's judicial system.
Five bodies of migrants have washed ashore on the east side of Tripoli, Libya, according to local police officials. The discovery highlights the continued dangers faced by migrants attempting Mediterranean crossings from Libya. Libya remains a major departure point for migrants seeking to reach Europe, with numerous incidents of maritime tragedy reported in recent years.
Libyan popular poet Faiz Al-Arifi was arrested in eastern Libya and later released after speaking out publicly. His detention has raised concerns among his tribe and civil society observers about restrictions on freedom of expression and the safeguards protecting it in Libya. The case highlights ongoing questions about the limits of free speech in the country.
Medical services in Iraqi hospitals have deteriorated, leading to increased patient suffering and hardship. The decline in healthcare delivery reflects broader challenges in the country's health system infrastructure and resource availability. Patients face compounded difficulties as hospital services continue to worsen.
Tunisia's Court of Appeals ordered the release of prominent lawyer Ahmad Souwab, according to his family. Souwab had been sentenced to five years in prison and was a critic of President Kais Saied. Meanwhile, Ennahda party leader Rached Ghannouchi, currently imprisoned, issued a message from prison calling for democracy and the rule of law in Tunisia.
Healthcare in remote areas across several Arab countries faces critical shortages of medical resources and personnel, according to reporting from multiple countries. In Lebanon, hospital shortages in eastern regions are raising citizen concerns. In southern Libya, patients travel hundreds of kilometers to major cities for treatment as healthcare facilities lack medicines and doctors. Jordan's "Your Dream Joy" initiative is restoring sight to children in southern border regions. Tunisia is experiencing physician migration due to insufficient medical staff.
The UN International Organization for Migration reported on February 24 that at least 606 migrants have died or gone missing in the Mediterranean Sea since the beginning of 2026. In Libya, seven bodies of undocumented Sub-Saharan African migrants were discovered on shores near Tripoli, and seven more bodies washed ashore in Qaser Al-Akhyar east of the capital after being swept by sea currents. The discoveries underscore ongoing maritime hazards faced by migrants attempting dangerous sea crossings.