Alex MacDonald

Loubna Mrie · ‘We were tricked’: Assad and the Alawites For a long time, it had seemed that Assad might outlast everything. Then, almost overnight, it was over. And with his...

Some hard truths being laid out here for post-Assad Syria watchers: www.lrb.co.uk/the-paper/v4...

Syrian democracy campaigners wary of upcoming 'selected' elections One third of 'interim' People's Assembly to be appointed by president while rest will be selected by handpicked local bodies

"Since the start of the revolution in 2011, the people of Syria have been dreaming of having fair and democratic elections...our struggle to make that dream come true continues.”
www.middleeasteye.net/news/syrian-...

Iraqi parliament debates law restricting right to protest Rights groups have criticised new legislation that could see bans on nighttime protests and demonstrations near certain public buildings

"[New law] will introduce new restrictions including on insults to religious sects, a ban on nighttime protests and restrictions on gatherings on public roads, near hospitals, schools and government buildings."

www.middleeasteye.net/news/iraq-de...

Will the UK recognising the State of Palestine make any difference? Amid Israel's war on Gaza, PM Keir Starmer has promised to recognise the Palestinian state in September - but with conditions attached

TL;DR - probably not: www.middleeasteye.net/news/will-uk...

Christopher Nolan criticised for shooting The Odyssey in occupied Western Sahara Campaigners and filmmakers are angry over the Oscar-winning director's new film using territory occupied by Morocco since 1975

ICYMI, I wrote something about Christopher Nolan's new film which is enraging Sahrawis and rights groups after shooting scenes in Morocco-occupied Western Sahara. www.middleeasteye.net/news/sahrawi...

Former Sun Editor Convicted Of Breaching Sexual Offences Act Former Sun Editor Convicted Of Breaching Sexual Offences Act

Keir Starmer's new communications chief: www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/2016/03/07/d...

Christopher Nolan criticised for shooting The Odyssey in occupied Western Sahara Campaigners and filmmakers are angry over the Oscar-winning director's new film using territory occupied by Morocco since 1975

"I plead with Christopher Nolan and the producers to reconsider this move and understand the political ramifications of their actions. Art should defy injustice, not perpetuate it."
www.middleeasteye.net/news/sahrawi...

The 'New Corbyn Party' versus The Green Party I'd feel left out if I didn't share my own take on the biggest spat on the British left so here's some nonsense

I've taken the bold decision to publish some of my non-MENA related thoughts on a Substack if anyone is interested, mainly focusing on British politics: open.substack.com/pub/alexmacd...

Ten children a day losing a limb in Gaza, warns UN-backed body A generation of Palestinian children left disabled by Israeli attacks, with over 40,500 suffering from new war-related injuries since October 2023

Hard to know what to say anymore: www.middleeasteye.net/news/ten-chi...

In July 2023, before the current conflict began, Israel held more than 1,100 Palestinians captive in administrative detention, the highest number since 2003:

Mark Snow, ‘The X-Files’ Theme Song Composer, Dies at 78 “There will never ever be another like you,” Snow’s friend, Sean Callery, wrote on Facebook.

He's been taken: share.google/EbEgAsjoJzWZ...

Turkey passes first 'far from ideal' climate change bill as heatwave ravages country Environmental campaigners warn new law lacks independent oversight and is undermined by continuing mining projects

ICYMI, I wrote something on Turkey's new climate bill which has been criticised as underwhelming by environmentalists:
www.middleeasteye.net/news/watered...

Since October 2023 you think you've become inured to Gaza reporting and yet some stuff can still shock you: www.haaretz.com/israel-news/...

How supporters of 'Woman Life Freedom' in Iran rejected Israel's assault Women who gave voice to the Kurdish feminist slogan say Israel cannot bring liberation from 'gender apartheid' or the regime

"One seeks to co-opt it; the other, to crush it"

My latest article on how 'Woman Life Freedom' campaigners rejected Israel's assault on Iran as a means of liberating Iranians: www.middleeasteye.net/news/support...

Pro-Palestine socialist Zohran Mandani wins NYC mayor primary Mamdani ran a campaign focused on cost of living, affordable housing and tackling wealth inequality in largest US city

New York looking set to have its first Muslim socialist mayor? www.middleeasteye.net/news/pro-pal...

US strikes on Iran’s nuclear sites only set back program by months, Pentagon report says Findings by Defense Intelligence Agency suggest Trump’s declaration that sites were ‘obliterated’ may be overstated

While conversely more Iranians than ever are probably convinced of the need for nuclear weapons: www.theguardian.com/world/2025/j...

Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Planning for His Possible Assassination, Picks Successors (Gift Article) Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has not only picked replacements in his chain of military command in case they are killed in Israeli strikes, he has also named three senior clerics to replace him should he,…

“It’s hard to explain the mood. We are scared, but we are also giving each other solidarity, love and kindness. We are in it together. This is an attack on our country, on Iran.”
www.nytimes.com/2025/06/21/w...

Iranian negotiator thought killed by Israel is alive, says state media Senior advisor to supreme leader was wounded and taken to hospital after an Israeli missile struck his home, according to reports

Iranian state media saying Ali Shamkhani ain't dead:
www.middleeasteye.net/news/ali-sha...

Jailed Iranian women activists issue letter condemning Israeli attacks Pro-Kurdish and leftist prisoners warn that 'foreign powers' will not be able to liberate Iran

"Traitors to Iran and traitors to the peoples of the Middle East and traitors to the people's years of freedom-seeking struggles against oppression will know that their betrayal and disdain will be recorded in the memory of the Iranian people and in history"
www.middleeasteye.net/news/jailed-...

'Unprecedented' civilian death toll in Yemen from US air strikes in 2025 Report says two months of bombing in 2025 resulted in almost as many civilian deaths as prior 23 years of US strikes

New report suggests Trump's military campaign has killed almost as many civilians in 52 days as in the previous 23 years of US military action against Yemen:
www.middleeasteye.net/news/unprece...

The Iranian people were starting to win their battle for liberty and prosperity. Then Israel attacked | Esfandyar Batmanghelidj Something was shifting in Iran, but now missiles and the return of foreign interference may tear up the green shoots of progress, says Esfandyar Batmanghelidj, founder of the Bourse & Bazaar…

"Until a few days ago, something was shifting in Iran. Tentatively but noticeably, the country was moving in a better direction, pushed and pulled by 90 million souls yearning for greater security, prosperity and liberty."

www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...

Benazir Bhutto, Indira Ghandi, Margaret Thatcher, all have been in charge of nuclear armed countries...

'The explosions didn’t stop': Tehran's residents fearful and angry after Israeli strikes Iranian capital is left reeling while residents feel mixture of anger, fear and even satisfaction over Israeli bombardment

ICYMI, I worked on a piece with a colleague in Tehran on how locals are coping with the Israeli strikes that have so far killed dozens of people in the Iranian capital: www.middleeasteye.net/news/israel-...

'The explosions didn’t stop': Tehran's residents fearful and angry after Israeli attacks on Iran Iranian capital is left reeling while residents feel mixture of anger, fear and even satisfaction over Israeli bombardment

My colleague in Tehran spoke to some locals about their hopes and fears in the wake of Israel's ongoing attacks on the city: www.middleeasteye.net/news/israel-...

In other news, Twitter is currently advertising overt Neo-Nazi memorabilia - 1488 being a reference to the white supremacist "14 words" and 88 a reference to HH or "Heil Hitler":

Saudi Arabia, UAE and Jordan have all condemned the Israeli attack on Iran, Saudis even calling them "brotherly" nation. Certainly makes a change from less than decade or so ago when anti-Iran lobbyists thought they were on the cusp of a regional alliance in case of war with Iran

Welp, going to be a busy day!

Cambridge students hit out at injunctions 'criminalising' Palestine encampment Activists relaunch pro-Palestinian campaign over what they say is the university's failure to divest from Israel

"Our university is isolating itself with its blatant defence of Zionist violence, and we will not allow it to go unchecked as it bankrolls scholasticide and mass murder"

www.middleeasteye.net/news/Cambrid...

YouTube and Spotify accused of 'censorship' after blocking left-wing folk group in Turkey Grup Yorum call for three-day boycott and give away discography for free following blocks on their content

"The lack of transparency and official announcements from these platforms exacerbates the perception of complicity."

'A new era': What does the PKK's disbanding mean for Turkey's pro-Kurdish movement? Decades of conflict is - supposedly - over, but can leftists and Kurds in Turkey achieve their goals through parliament, civil society and the street instead?

Wrote a long piece about the future for the DEM Party, pro-Kurdish movement and the Left in Turkey following the PKK's announced disbandment:
www.middleeasteye.net/news/what-do...