Daily Archives: 15 August 2026

Israeli occupier opens fire at Palestinian, Israeli peace activists in southern West Bank

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Palestinians and foreign activists gather to protest in support of their land, which they say is under threat of being seized by Israelis, and to express their determination not to leave their properties in Beit Sahour, Hebron Governorate, West Bank, on August 14, 2026. [Mamoun Wazwaz – Anadolu Agency]

An armed Israeli occupier opened fire Friday at Palestinian and Israeli peace activists during a joint event near Beit Sahour in the southern occupied West Bank, with no injuries reported, an Israeli group said, Anadolu reports.

Combatants for Peace, a left-wing Israeli organization, said in a statement that the shooting took place during a joint activity organized by its activists and Palestinian landowners on the outskirts of Beit Sahour, near Bethlehem.

“Heavily armed settlers opened fire in our direction to force us to leave. The army quickly intervened, not to stop the settlers, but to push our group of activists and journalists out of the area, while the settlers were allowed to stay,” the statement said.

No injuries were reported.

The group said the event was attended by representatives of the Beit Sahour municipality, along with Bishop William Shomali, a senior official of the Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem.

Combatants for Peace published videos it said documented the incident, including one showing an occupier firing into the air before pointing his weapon toward the participants, while gunfire could be heard in another clip.

READ: Palestinian Christian-majority Taybeh in occupied West Bank caught between Israeli army restrictions, occupier attacks

The group said Israeli army forces arrived at the scene around 30 minutes after the shooting began, and the activity ended without injuries.

“Activists went to Beit Sahour to provide a protective presence to the local residents. While we were there, heavily armed settlers fired shots in our direction,” the group said.

It said Palestinians, Israelis and journalists were among the participants, calling for an immediate investigation into the incident.

“Despite the threats, we will continue to show up, ensure Palestinians safe access to their land, and support their resilience through collective action,” the group said.

The event was held to protest attempts to displace Palestinians from their land and rising settler attacks in the West Bank.

Combatants for Peace includes Palestinian and Israeli activists who call for an end to the occupation and achieving peace between the two peoples.

On Wednesday, the UN warned that occupier violence in the West Bank had reached unprecedented levels, saying it had documented more than 1,430 attacks since the start of 2026 targeting around 260 Palestinian communities.

The attacks, alongside demolitions and evictions, displaced 3,800 Palestinians, about half of them children, according to the UN.​​​​​​​

READ: Palestinians, foreign and Israeli activists protest in West Bank town, head to besieged homes by Israeli occupiers

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UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham admits to blatently lying and engaging in deception to become leader of the UK Labour Party and Prime Minister.
UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham admits to blatently lying and engaging in deception to become leader of the UK Labour Party and Prime Minister.
Donald Trump sings and dances, says that it's fun to kill everyone ... unless he gets distracted or falls asleep.
Donald Trump sings and dances, says that it’s fun to kill everyone … unless he gets distracted or falls asleep.
Orcas discuss rotting brain, front Orca says Sundown Syndrome is a dead givaway and he wishes someone would Lock Him Up
Orcas discuss rotting brain, front Orca says Sundown Syndrome is a dead givaway and he wishes someone would Lock Him Up

Continue ReadingIsraeli occupier opens fire at Palestinian, Israeli peace activists in southern West Bank

Iran says it downed US-made MQ-9 drone over southern Hormozgan province

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A U.S. Air Force MQ-9 Reaper drone flies a training mission over the Nevada Test and Training Range, in Nevada, United States. [USAF – William Rio Rosado – Anadolu Agency]

Iran said Friday that its forces had intercepted and destroyed an US-made MQ-9 drone over the southern province of Hormozgan.

“An MQ-9 drone was intercepted and shot down over Iran’s Hormuzgan Province by the IRGC’s new advanced air defense system,” state broadcaster Press TV reported.

Citing three officials, The Washington Post reported Thursday that the US military has lost at least 45 MQ-9 Reaper drones, or roughly 25% of its fleet, during its war with Iran.

The losses involve an aircraft used for surveillance and targeted strikes that can cost between $30 million and $50 million depending on its equipment, according to the report.

The newspaper said the potential cost of the lost Reapers exceeds $1.3 billion.

READ: US says lower oil prices now top priority over Iran nuclear issue

The drones have been heavily used around the Strait of Hormuz but are “relatively easy targets” for Iran and its proxies because they fly slowly and often at low altitudes, it said.

Hormozgan province overlooks the Strait of Hormuz and includes the port city of Bandar Abbas.

The US and Iran agreed to a Pakistan-brokered ceasefire in April and later signed a deal on June 17, launching negotiations toward a final agreement. But the talks later stalled over disagreements on security guarantees and freedom of navigation through the Strait of Hormuz, one of the world’s most strategic routes for global energy supplies and trade.

On July 8-24, the US and Iran exchanged more military strikes, with Washington launching attacks on targets inside Iran. Tehran responded by striking what it described as US military facilities and equipment in several Arab countries, including Jordan, Bahrain, and Kuwait.

READ: US CENTCOM chief pushing for renewed strikes on Iran, claims Israeli media

This work by Middle East Monitor is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License. 

UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham admits to blatently lying and engaging in deception to become leader of the UK Labour Party and Prime Minister.
UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham admits to blatently lying and engaging in deception to become leader of the UK Labour Party and Prime Minister.
Donald Trump sings and dances, says that it's fun to kill everyone ... unless he gets distracted or falls asleep.
Donald Trump sings and dances, says that it’s fun to kill everyone … unless he gets distracted or falls asleep.
Orcas discuss rotting brain, front Orca says Sundown Syndrome is a dead givaway and he wishes someone would Lock Him Up
Orcas discuss rotting brain, front Orca says Sundown Syndrome is a dead givaway and he wishes someone would Lock Him Up

Continue ReadingIran says it downed US-made MQ-9 drone over southern Hormozgan province

3 Palestinian fishermen injured by Israeli naval fire off Gaza City despite ceasefire

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Palestinian fishermen in the az-Zawayda area of Gaza cast their nets along the shore to sustain their livelihoods despite fishing equipment damaged in attacks, as they continue working under the threat of frequent Israeli military strikes in Deir Al Balah, Palestine on March 31, 2026. [Hassan Jedi – Anadolu Agency]

Three Palestinian fishermen were injured Friday when Israeli naval vessels opened fire on them while they were working off the coast of Gaza City, a local union official said, Anadolu reports.

The attack was the latest Israeli violation of a ceasefire agreement in effect in the Gaza Strip since Oct. 10, 2025.

The violations have killed 1,260 Palestinians and injured 4,154 others, according to Palestinian figures.

Zakaria Bakr, coordinator of the Fishermen’s Committees Union in Gaza, said in a Facebook post that Israeli naval vessels fired machine guns at a fishing boat, injuring three fishermen.

Bakr said the incident came amid continuing attacks against Gaza’s fishermen that endanger their lives and deprive them of their livelihoods.

READ: MSF warns restrictions on engine oil and spare parts entering Gaza threaten vital services

Gaza’s fishermen have faced Israeli restrictions on access to the sea since the start of Israel’s war in October 2023.

A UN report on July 2 said the Israeli navy continued to prevent Gaza residents from accessing the sea despite the ceasefire.

The fishing industry has suffered extensive damage, including to Gaza’s port, boats and equipment.

The UN Food and Agriculture Organization has said recovery of the sector requires safe access to the sea.

The Israeli onslaught has killed 73,389 Palestinians and injured 174,266 others since October 2023, according to Gaza’s Health Ministry.

Despite the ceasefire, Israeli attacks have continued across Gaza, causing further casualties and damage to homes.

READ: Trump adviser, Board of Peace envoy to visit Israel for talks on US Gaza plan: Report

This work by Middle East Monitor is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License. 

UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham admits to blatently lying and engaging in deception to become leader of the UK Labour Party and Prime Minister.
UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham admits to blatently lying and engaging in deception to become leader of the UK Labour Party and Prime Minister.
Donald Trump sings and dances, says that it's fun to kill everyone ... unless he gets distracted or falls asleep.
Donald Trump sings and dances, says that it’s fun to kill everyone … unless he gets distracted or falls asleep.
Orcas discuss rotting brain, front Orca says Sundown Syndrome is a dead givaway and he wishes someone would Lock Him Up
Orcas discuss rotting brain, front Orca says Sundown Syndrome is a dead givaway and he wishes someone would Lock Him Up

Continue Reading3 Palestinian fishermen injured by Israeli naval fire off Gaza City despite ceasefire

Protest held over Israeli cruise ship’s arrival at Greek port

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People held a protest at the port of Piraeus near Athens, Greece, on Friday, against the arrival of the Crown Iris cruise ship carrying Israeli tourists.

People held a protest at the port of Piraeus near Athens, Greece, on Friday, against the arrival of the Crown Iris cruise ship carrying Israeli tourists, Anadolu reports.

The arrival of an Israeli cruise ship at a port near Athens in June was also met with protests by pro-Palestinian activists.

Last summer, visits by the same ship, the Crown Iris, to several Greek ports, including Syros, Rhodes, Agios Nikolaos in Crete and Volos, were similarly met with protests.

Since Oct. 2023, Israel’s war on Gaza, backed by the US, has killed around 73,000 Palestinians and injured more than 174,000, most of them women and children. The offensive has also damaged or destroyed nearly 90% of the enclave’s infrastructure.

READ: Pro-Palestinian protesters march through Berlin

This work by Middle East Monitor is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License. 

UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham admits to blatently lying and engaging in deception to become leader of the UK Labour Party and Prime Minister.
UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham admits to blatently lying and engaging in deception to become leader of the UK Labour Party and Prime Minister.
Donald Trump sings and dances, says that it's fun to kill everyone ... unless he gets distracted or falls asleep.
Donald Trump sings and dances, says that it’s fun to kill everyone … unless he gets distracted or falls asleep.
Orcas discuss rotting brain, front Orca says Sundown Syndrome is a dead givaway and he wishes someone would Lock Him Up
Orcas discuss rotting brain, front Orca says Sundown Syndrome is a dead givaway and he wishes someone would Lock Him Up

Continue ReadingProtest held over Israeli cruise ship’s arrival at Greek port