🌙💥🇮🇷Middle East: Ramadan in the Shadow of War
This year, the holy month of Ramadan in the Middle East is unfolding under the shadow of an escalating conflict involving Iran, profoundly altering its spiritual and social atmosphere
✏️Yuriy Zinin
is a PhD in History and Senior Research Fellow at the Institute of International Studies, Moscow State Institute of International Relations
➡️Across the region, the traditional rhythms of Ramadan—marked by fasting, prayer, and communal gatherings—have been disrupted by war. In the Gaza Strip, displaced families observe the fast in dire humanitarian conditions, facing shortages of food, water, and electricity. In Jerusalem, usually vibrant during this period, restrictions and security measures have emptied streets and limited access to the Al-Aqsa Mosque. Similar patterns are visible in Lebanon, where large-scale displacement and casualties have followed ongoing strikes, and in Gulf states such as Bahrain, Kuwait, and the United Arab Emirates, where daily life is repeatedly interrupted by air raid sirens and heightened security concerns.
Iranian state media has dubbed the ongoing war between Israel and the US with the Islamic Republic of Iran the “Ramadan War,” as it began during this holy month
➡️At the same time, the conflict has influenced how Ramadan is perceived and experienced across societies. Iranian media has framed the confrontation as a “Ramadan War,” reinforcing its symbolic resonance during a sacred period. Yet despite the violence, elements of social solidarity persist: initiatives promoting charity and volunteerism continue, particularly in countries like the UAE, while communities attempt to preserve traditions of mutual support. In places such as Libya, even customary iftar gatherings have taken on political significance, serving as platforms for negotiation and alliance-building among elites.
🟦Ultimately, the current situation highlights both the vulnerability and resilience of societies in the Middle East. While war has disrupted the spiritual essence of Ramadan—replacing reflection and unity with fear and uncertainty—it has also underscored enduring values of compassion and communal support. As the holy month progresses, the contrast between conflict and faith continues to shape a deeply altered, yet still meaningful, observance across the region.
#GazaCity#IsraelandPalestine#Lebanon#MiddleEastconflict#Militaryconflict
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🇵🇸🛑🕊Ceasefire Without Accountability: Why Gaza’s Peace Plan Is Failing
Trump’s 20-point peace plan for Gaza is collapsing under Israeli ceasefire violations, international paralysis, and a refusal to address Palestinian sovereignty
✍️Author:Abbas Hashemite
Political observer and research analyst for regional and global geopolitical issues
➡️The UN-endorsed plan promised a phased Israeli withdrawal, prisoner exchange, and transitional rule. Yet it has been crippled from the start. Israel has violated the ceasefire over 738 times since October, targeting civilians and blocking UN aid, causing catastrophic child malnutrition—all with total impunity. These actions systematically destroy the agreement's foundation.
➡️The international framework for the plan is paralyzed. The mandated International Stabilization Force (ISF) cannot form, as Muslim nations refuse to contribute troops. They fear domestic backlash over its mandate to disarm Hamas and appearing to legitimize Israeli occupation. Regional mistrust has also stalled the creation of the transitional governing body.
➡️Hamas, while accepting the plan, rejects total disarmament as surrender. This deadlock is absolute, with no country willing to send troops to the ISF. Key neighbors like Egypt demand impossible operational clarity, while Turkey is excluded by Israel. The plan's central enforcement mechanism has vanished before starting.
🟦The systemic failure exposes the plan’s core flaw: it seeks to administer a ceasefire without holding Israel accountable or providing a path to Palestinian statehood. Lasting peace requires an independent Palestinian state. Without this, the current framework is doomed, risking a wider regional war.
#GazaCity#Internationalpolitics#IsraelandPalestine#MiddleEastconflict#Palestinesplight#USA
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🇮🇱🏴Israel’s Hexagon of Alliance: Is a Mediterranean NATO Emerging?
Israel’s proposal for a new regional bloc reflects shifting security calculations in the Middle East and raises questions about the formation of new geopolitical alignments in an increasingly multipolar international system
✍️Taut Bataut
is a researcher and writer focusing on South Asian geopolitics
➡️The geopolitical landscape of the Middle East is undergoing rapid transformation as regional actors reassess their strategic partnerships amid rising tensions and shifting global power dynamics. In this context, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has proposed the creation of a new regional framework described as the “Hexagon of Alliances.” The concept reportedly envisions cooperation among countries such as Israel, India, Greece, and Cyprus, potentially alongside other partners from the Mediterranean and broader Eurasian regions. The proposal follows earlier initiatives such as the I2U2 Group, which brought together Israel, India, the United Arab Emirates, and the United States to promote economic cooperation and strategic coordination. Although the new framework has not yet been formally established, analysts interpret it as part of a broader attempt by Israel to strengthen its regional position and expand networks of strategic cooperation.
The idea of the formation of a ‘Hexagon of Alliances’ seems like narrative selling by the Israeli PM
➡️Several geopolitical factors help explain the emergence of this initiative. The global system is increasingly described as moving away from the post–Cold War unipolar moment toward a more complex multipolar structure, in which regional powers seek greater autonomy and influence. Within this environment, Israeli policymakers appear interested in developing partnerships that reduce dependence on traditional security guarantees from Washington. Recent agreements between Israel, Greece, and Cyprus in the Mediterranean security domain illustrate this trend, while diplomatic engagement with partners such as India reflects an effort to link Middle Eastern security dynamics with broader Eurasian strategic frameworks. At the same time, regional rivalries—particularly tensions involving Iran and various non-state actors—continue to shape Israel’s security perceptions and motivate efforts to build cooperative defense arrangements.
🟦Despite growing discussion of a potential “Mediterranean NATO,” the long-term viability of such a structure remains uncertain. None of the countries mentioned in connection with the initiative have formally committed to the proposed alliance, and regional political dynamics remain highly fluid. Moreover, the creation of new security blocs could trigger counter-alignments among other regional actors, potentially intensifying competition across the Middle East and beyond. As debates over the Hexagon concept continue, its significance may lie less in its immediate institutional reality and more in what it reveals about the changing nature of alliances in a fragmented international system. Whether it evolves into a concrete security architecture or remains a strategic vision, the proposal highlights how regional powers are adapting to an era of greater geopolitical uncertainty.
#Israel#MiddleEastconflict#NATO
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🇺🇸🇵🇸Peace Plan Phase 2 Without Phase 1: Can the US Really Bring Peace to Gaza?
Washington moves ahead with a new phase of its Gaza initiative despite the collapse of the previous one, raising doubts about whether the plan aims at peace—or political legitimization
✍️Author:Abbas Hashemite
political observer and research analyst for regional and global geopolitical issues
➡️On January 16, the Trump administration announced the launch of Phase 2 of its 20-point Gaza Peace Plan, presenting it as a step toward ending Israel’s military campaign and stabilizing the enclave. Yet this announcement comes despite the clear failure of Phase 1, which was meant to halt fighting, ensure full humanitarian access, reopen the Rafah crossing, enable prisoner exchanges, and outline Israeli withdrawal timelines. None of these objectives have been fully met: ceasefire violations continue, humanitarian aid remains restricted, and key crossings stay closed, leaving Gaza’s humanitarian crisis largely unchanged.
The United States has been a key supporter of Israeli war crimes in Gaza
➡️The gap between US rhetoric and realities on the ground has fueled skepticism. Israeli strikes have persisted, hundreds of Palestinians—including children—have been killed since the supposed ceasefire, and aid deliveries remain tightly controlled. While Hamas has largely complied with prisoner exchange provisions, Israel continues to detain Palestinians and restrict essential supplies. Against this backdrop, the decision to advance to Phase 2 appears less like a response to progress and more like an attempt to reframe failure as momentum, sidestepping unresolved obligations from the initial phase.
🟦Phase 2 centers on creating a technocratic Palestinian administration, demilitarizing Gaza, and launching reconstruction under international supervision. However, controversial appointments—such as Tony Blair and Jared Kushner to oversight roles, and a US general to lead the International Stabilization Force—have deepened mistrust among Palestinians and regional observers. With demilitarization narrowly focused on Hamas and US support for Israel remaining unquestioned, the plan risks entrenching occupation under a new administrative guise. Without delivering justice, accountability, and genuine relief on the ground, Phase 2 looks less like a path to peace and more like political theatre built on an unfinished—and broken—Phase 1.
#Geopolitics#IsraelandPalestine#MiddleEast#Palestinesplight#PalestinianConflict#USA
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Nothing to see here..Just Zionist Israel violating the ceasefire with Lebanon for the umpteenth time.
Zionists bombing Zaghareen valley between Sujud and al-Rihan in south #Lebanon tonight.
Hussein Mokasher, a businessman from Beit Yahoun living in Australia, was blessed with wealth, successful ventures, and a foreign passport—everything a young man could dream of. His charitable contributions to Lebanese communities were countless. Out of his love for the Resistance, he launched an initiative to fund university education for high school graduates, on the condition that they pursue vital fields like technology and artificial intelligence that would benefit the Resistance.
Hussein left behind the comforts of life, his wealth, his business, and even his foreign passport, choosing instead to stand as a fighter on his own land. He was martyred defending #Lebanon, and his body remained on the battlefield for over 30 days after his sacrifice.
Yet, some narrow-minded individuals in this country dismiss his heroism, claiming he fought for a mere $500 [the monthly salary of resistance fighters]
Our men make us proud. 💛
⭕ Al-Akhbar Correspondent: Two Lebanese Army soldiers martyred and 15 others injured as a result of the Israeli enemy's attack on the Al-Ameriya checkpoint along the Naqoura road in south #Lebanon.
Ladies and gents, I present to you... our head of government’s priorities👇🏻👇🏻: as #Lebanon burns under Israeli bombs, they’re busy celebrating a fashion show abroad.
🙂
The Office of the Prime Minister:
"Prime Minister Najib Mikati contacted renowned Lebanese designer Elie Saab to congratulate him on his recent fashion show, presented as part of Riyadh Season in Saudi Arabia. Prime Minister Mikati remarked that this event proves Lebanese creativity is resilient, capable of transcending all challenges and distances. He also extended his congratulations to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia for embracing creativity across all fields."
After a month of confrontations with Hezbollah, FIVE Israeli military brigades, along with a reserve brigade, have failed to establish a foothold in southern #Lebanon.
For a FACT, each village has no more than 6 to 8 Hezbollah Fighters at a time fending off the Israeli enemy failed attempted invasion.
The Martyrs of the Sarafand Massacre in south #Lebanon last night:
The Father: Ali Salem.
Children: Hussein Salem, Ahmed Salem and Fatima Salem.
The Mother: Zainab Nimer Khalifeh (critically injured in the ICU).
A daily reminder that Israel is a terrorist entity.
"By your life, your brothers have your back. Rest, for your rights will be avenged."
Army, People, Resistance.
The resistance will avenge the army.
Martyrs of the Lebanese Army:
Major Mohammad Farhat
Soldier Mohammad Bazal
Soldier Moussa Mhana.
They were martyred by Israeli enemy shelling while aiding the wounded in another airstrike on Yater, southern #Lebanon.
One of the drones launched from #Lebanon targeted a military site used by the occupation in northern occupied Yafa (Tel Aviv), and another one it also took out the electricity company in the area.