Hundreds of thousands of Palestinians have thronged a rally in downtown Gaza to mark the 35th anniversary of the founding of the Hamas militant group, as leaders predicted a year of "open confrontation" with the hardline Israeli government expected to take office in the coming days.
Hamas, an armed Islamic group that has ruled the Gaza Strip since 2007, worked hard to mobilize the large turnout at the city's Katiba park, viewing it as a show of strength at a time when it appears to be struggling for popularity.
Full StoryAfter the final whistle of every match Morocco won in its history-making World Cup run, crowds poured out of homes and cafes in the biggest city of Western Sahara, celebrating for hours.
The revelers included some Sahrawi people, members of an ethnic group that has sought independence for Western Sahara since Morocco annexed the disputed territory in 1975. Other Sahrawis rooted for Morocco's defeat on the soccer field or refused to take part in the celebrations.
Full StoryHind Sabouni bristles with pride as she recalls her country's history-making World Cup run as it eliminated one European soccer powerhouse and former colonial power after another — Belgium, Spain and Cristiano Ronaldo's Portugal — to become the first African and Arab nation to reach the semifinals.
For the 26-year-old English teacher in Morocco's capital, and many of her countrymen both inside the North African nation and throughout the diaspora, it's about to get more complicated. Next up is France: The defending champion and Morocco's former colonial ruler for much of the first half of the 20th century.
Full StoryMorocco's support for the Palestinians during the Atlas Lions' historic World Cup run shows the cause has not been "buried", says Palestinian Football Association chief Jibril Rajoub.
Like several other Arab nations, Morocco has agreed full diplomatic ties with Israel -- but this has not stopped its players from making clear their loyalties regarding the decades-old conflict.
Full StoryThree Iraqi soldiers were killed Wednesday when a roadside bomb hit their vehicle in farmland north of Baghdad, the defence ministry said.
There was no immediate claim for the bombing which targeted a patrol in the Tarmiya district, around 30 kilometres (20 miles) outside the capital.
Full StoryAmnesty International on Tuesday said Spanish and Moroccan authorities contributed to the deaths of tens of people who attempted to cross into Spain's North African enclave of Melilla in June.
The human rights organisation accused Madrid and Rabat of "excessive use of force" and an "abject failure" to provide the truth about what occurred.
Full StoryIsrael's parliament elected a close ally of prime minister-designate Benjamin Netanyahu as its new speaker Tuesday to oversee the passage of legislation that will help his formation of a government.
Yariv Levin, a senior member of Netanyahu's right-wing Likud party, was chosen as speaker to replace Mickey Levy from outgoing Prime Minister Yair Lapid's Yesh Atid party.
Full StoryFrance and Morocco have a relatively relaxed post-colonial relationship but ties are still not without tensions that risk being exposed when their national football sides clash in a World Cup semi final in Qatar.
The relationship France has with Morocco is not nearly as traumatic as with neighboring Algeria, which fought Paris in a bloody seven-year War of Independence that scars both nations to this day.
Full StoryIt's a rare moment in the Middle East when the public's voice roars louder than those of the governments. But Morocco's surprise string of wins at the World Cup in Qatar have stirred a joy and pride among Arab fans that have, at least for a moment, eclipsed the region's many political divisions.
Perhaps most striking is the love fest between Palestinians and the Moroccan team, despite the Moroccan government's normalization of ties with Israel as part of the 2020 Abraham Accords.
Full StoryHuman Rights Watch on Monday accused the European Union's border and coast guard agency of being complicit in migrant abuses by Libya by allowing the North African country's coast guard to intercept migrant boats crossing the Mediterranean Sea for southern Europe.
Following a data-based investigation report released by the New York-based watchdog last Thursday, it concluded that the agency, known as Frontex, uses its aerial surveillance technology to help Libyan forces locate migrant boats — rather than other rescue organizations or merchant ships also patrolling the Mediterranean.
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