Middle East Affairs Monitor - مراقب شؤون الشرق الأوسط

🔥 Breaking News: Protesters Set 🇮🇱Israeli Embassy Ablaze in 🇲🇽 Mexico City 🔥 On May 28, 2024, a protest in Mexico City turned violent as demonstrators set the Israeli Embassy on fire. The protest, named "Urgent Action for Rafah," was a response to the Israeli military operation in Rafah, Gaza. Approximately 200 individuals took part, with some resorting to aggressive actions like attempting to breach barriers and hurling stones at security forces. The situation escalated, leading to fires outside the embassy complex and reports of injuries amidst the chaos.Let us stand together for peace and dialogue in times of conflict. #UrgentActionForRafah #MexicoCityProtest #PeacefulResolution

“UNIFIL peacekeepers from almost 49 countries are on the ground… Too many lives have been disrupted and lost. As peacekeepers, we recommit each day to our work to restore stability.” - UNIFIL Head of Mission and Force Commander Lt. General Aroldo Lázaro 🎧 Full Statement

❗️🪖Gaza War Expected to Drag On Until 2025, Israeli Official Reveals 🇮🇱Israel's national security adviser, Tzachi Hanegbi, announced on Wednesday that the ongoing war in Gaza is expected to continue for at least another seven months, lasting through the end of 2024. Hanegbi, who is also a senior member of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's cabinet, stated that the Israeli war cabinet has defined 2024 as a year of combat. The Israeli military has already taken control of 75% of the Philadelphi Route, a buffer zone along the Gaza-Egypt border, and aims to secure the entire area to prevent weapons smuggling into Gaza. sources: 🔗https://www.aa.com.tr/en/middle-east/israeli-war-on-gaza-to-continue-until-early-2025-says-netanyahu-s-adviser/3234335 🔗https://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-68928996

(2/2) The timing of Abascal's trip, coinciding with Spain's historic recognition of Palestine, has drawn widespread criticism and condemnation. Many have accused the Vox party of aligning itself with the Netanyahu government and the far-right in order to sabotage Spain's efforts towards a peaceful resolution of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

🇪🇸🇮🇱Abascal meets Prime Minister Netanyahu in a sensitive moment (1/2) The leader of Spain's far-right Vox party, Santiago Abascal, made a highly controversial visit to Israel on the same day that the Spanish government officially recognized the state of Palestine. During his hour-long meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at the Prime Minister's Office in Jerusalem, Abascal expressed his strong opposition to Spain's decision to recognize Palestine. He stated that if Vox were to come to power, they would work to "undo" this recognition.

(2/2) The Kurdistan Free Life Party (PJAK), the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK), and Iran are all part of a triangle that seeks to preserve power. This is why Iran supports the PKK strategically. However, the KDP, supported by Turkey, has strained relations with the PKK due to its military presence in KRG territory. Iran and the PKK have close links, although disagreements still exist; Turkey charges Iran of aiding the PKK, and there have been rumors of Iranian support for the PJAK, a Kurdish organization at odds with Iran. The geopolitical environment in the Middle East will continue to be shaped by the changing dynamics between Iran, Turkey, and Kurdish factions.

🔎 INSIDE STORY - What’s the cooperation between PKK and Iran? 🇹🇷⚡🇮🇷 (1/2) Iranian and PKK cooperation appears to be pragmatist, with the goal of weakening Turkish power, according to American and Turkish sources. Both military assistance and intelligence exchange are part of this partnership; Iran receives intelligence about Turkey from the PKK. The PKK's active participation in military operations in Syria and Iraq is consistent with Iran's objective of enhancing Baghdad's authority over the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) and undermining Turkey's influence.

🚨🚨🚨 🇵🇰Dozens Dead in Pakistani Troops vs. Terrorists Clashes at 🇦🇫 Afghan Border In a series of violent confrontations at the Afghan border, Pakistani security forces clashed with terrorists, resulting in multiple casualties. The first exchange of fire occurred on the outskirts of Peshawar, the capital of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, where six militants and two army officers were killed, as reported by Pakistan's military. Subsequent operations in the region targeted members of the Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), a group that has been regrouping in the northwestern area in recent years. The military's efforts have intensified in the volatile northwest, a former TTP stronghold, leading to further deadly shootouts.

🚨🚨🚨 Breaking News 🚨🚨🚨 🇮🇪⚡🇮🇱 Israel's ambassador to Dublin, Dana Erlich, has cautioned that Ireland's intention to formally recognize a Palestinian state could lead to a crisis in bilateral relations, sending the wrong message about Ireland as a tech hub and concerning Israeli investors in the Irish IT services sector.

🇪🇺🇵🇸 EU Foreign Policy Chief Condemns Israeli Air Strike in Gaza In a strongly worded statement, Josep Borrell, the European Union's foreign policy chief, has condemned an Israeli air strike in the Gaza city of Rafah, which has resulted in the deaths of 45 people in a tent camp. The strike, which has been described as a devastating attack on displaced persons, including small children, has sparked widespread outrage and calls for immediate action.