Fire and Revenge in West Bank | Midweek in the Middle East

Plus: Saudi Arabia signs $400 Million aid deal to support Ukraine, 64 migrants dead after shipwreck off Italy, and more.

Feb 28

Hey there! Welcome to Midweek in the Middle East, the new dope bulletin from Inshallah. This newsletter's got you covered with all the newsworthy events that went down over the past weekend and the first half of this week, reporting on news that might have been left out of the regular weekly newsletter.

Fire and Revenge in the West Bank

The occupied West Bank was on fire on Sunday, February 26, when Israeli settlers attacked the Palestinian villages in the northern West Bank after two settlers were shot dead by a Palestinian gunman. The settlers' attacks caused the death of one Palestinian man, and more than 100 others were injured in the violence, while dozens of cars and houses were burnt. The incidents came after Israeli and Palestinian officials pledged to de-escalate tensions at a summit in Jordan that ended on Sunday. The Israeli military said it was continuing to search for the Palestinian who shot the two Israelis and that it had moved in hundreds of extra troops. Meanwhile, an Israeli-American man was shot and killed on Monday, February 27, in an attack on a highway north of Beit HaArava Junction, east of the West Bank near Jericho.

Saudi Arabia Signs $400 Million Aid Deal to Support Ukraine

Saudi Arabia signed $400 million agreements with Ukraine after the country's foreign minister made a surprise visit to Kyiv, which was praised by the US. The agreements detail how Ukraine will spend $410 million in humanitarian aid provided by Saudi Arabia, including $300 million worth of oil products as a grant. The visit comes after Saudi Arabia was accused by the US of siding with Russia in its invasion of Ukraine. The US welcomed the visit as an "important step." This was also the first visit to Ukraine by a high-ranking official from an Arab country since the Russian invasion began.

Tragedy at Sea: 64 Migrants Dead After Shipwreck off Italy

Over 100 people, including children, are feared dead after their boat sank off southern Italy. At least 64 migrants have been confirmed dead, with 12 children among the victims. The ship is thought to have carried around 200 people, many from Afghanistan, Pakistan, Somalia, Syria, Iraq, and Iran. The vessel broke apart while trying to land near Crotone on Sunday, and the coastguard reported that 80 people had been found alive, with many more unaccounted for.

Italian authorities have arrested three people and are searching for a fourth suspect. The boat had sailed from Izmir, Turkey. The tragedy has fuelled a debate on migration in Europe and Italy, with calls for immediate action by the bloc to prevent more deaths. The incident highlights the ongoing issue of migrant deaths in the Mediterranean, with more than 20,000 people dying or going missing at sea in the central Mediterranean since 2014.

My latest work

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President's crackdown on migrants prompts hundreds to protest in Tunisia

Protests have erupted in the Tunisian capital, Tunis, with hundreds of people taking to the streets to denounce President Kais Saied for racist comments and hate speech against refugees. The protesters demanded an apology from the president, who has accused sub-Saharan African refugees of causing crime and posing a demographic threat to Tunisia. More than 21,000 sub-Saharan Africans live in Tunisia, including those with legal residencies and student visas, and the country is a key departure point for refugees attempting to reach Europe. The African Union has condemned Tunisia and urged it to avoid "racialized hate speech."

Iran shaken by suspected poisoning attacks targeting schoolgirls

In Iran, hundreds of schoolgirls have been affected by toxic fumes in their classrooms over the past three months. Some have even been hospitalized.

Initially dismissed by officials, these incidents are now being described as intentional attacks on some 30 schools for girls, potentially aimed at closing them down.

The attacks have caused concerns that girls seeking an education may be targeted, which has never been an issue in Iran since the Islamic Revolution over 40 years ago.

The authorities have not named any suspects, and the attacks come during a time of heightened tension in the country following the death of Mahsa Amini and months of protests.

About me

My name is Dario Sabaghi, and I am a freelance journalist interested in international news focusing on the MENA region.

Check out my work at dariosabaghi.com.

You can follow me on Twitter: @DarioSabaghi

Did I miss any important news from the Middle East? DM me on Twitter.

Cover photo: Twitter