For the second year in a row, Palestinian mothers and children in Gaza celebrate it under the Israeli shelling as the Israeli government broke the ceasefire “it broke it since day one” and resumed the war.
We are back to see those scenes where a mother mourns her only child or her children or a child mourns his or her child.
Mother and Child by Palestinian renowned artist Silman Mansour
Those videos were filmed in Gaza in the past five days.
From Khan Younes, a mother woke up to find out that her children and husband were killed in an Israeli airstrike. They were already sleeping without Suhoor.
We stopped last time at the Ramadan Saint Patrons in Egypt: Bogy and Tamtam
Bogy and Tamtam, the saint patrons of Ramadan in Egypt
Their facial expression may reflect many things in our time whether domestically or regionally or internationally.
Their statues on the street were like two ancient Egyptian statues guarding some ancient Egyptian King's tomb in some irony.
Despite the younger generations did not watch their shows in Ramadan as my generation had, many of them stopped and took photos with Ramadan’s most famous duo.
Ramadan lanterns in the shadow of Mosque of Sultan al-Muayyad Sheikh and Bab Zuweila
Bab Zuwayla or Bab Zuweila (Arabic: باب زويلة) is one of three remaining gates in the city walls of historic Cairo in Egypt. It was also known as Bawabat al-Mitwali or as Bab al-Mitwali or Bab al-Qus.
A Little Break Post – Escaping the Depressing News from the Middle East and Beyond
In case you missed it, American pop star Katy Perry, journalist Gayle King, Lauren Sánchez (Jeff Bezos’ fiancée), and three other women travelled on Monday aboard a Blue Origin suborbital space tourism flight.
Blue Origin, owned and operated by Bezos, launched this all-female crew on a short journey beyond Earth's atmosphere. According to media reports, Sánchez personally selected the crew members for this flight.
This “trip” reached the Kármán line— the commonly accepted boundary between Earth’s atmosphere and outer space — which lies at an altitude of 100 kilometres (62 miles).
As expected, the 10-minute flight — filled with awkwardly staged moments, especially those featuring Katy Perry — quickly turned into a meme fest online.
Some U.S. mainstream media outlets and social media users even went so far as to claim it was the first all-female trip to space.
That’s not only factually incorrect — it's also a bit offensive.
So, to set the record straight: the first "all-female space mission" wasn't in 2024. It happened in 1963, and the entire crew was Valentina Tereshkova.
Valentina Tereshkova and the Pyramids generated by Chat-GPT as risograph print
The real pioneer of an all-female spaceflight was Soviet cosmonaut Valentina Tereshkova, who made history in June 1963.
On the occasion of Easter, here is a photo taken during Christmas of Our Lady of Heliopolis Co-Cathedral— also known as the Latin Cathedral of Our Lady of Heliopolis, the Basilica of the Holy Virgin, Basilique de Notre-Dame d'Héliopolis, or simply El Basilica in Cairo.
El-Basilica or Basilique de Notre-Dame d'Heliopolis
Recently, I came across a note suggesting that Gamal Ismail, in his younger years, was also the voice actor who portrayed Mishkhah in the original radio version.
I'm not entirely sure, though. I'm familiar with Ismail’s voice when he was young, and sometimes Mishkhah sounds like someone else — perhaps an older actor. Yet in some moments, it does sound like him. I honestly can’t say for certain.
If it were him, then that would make Gamal Ismail the third member of the original radio cast to appear in the 1987 TV adaptation.
Gamal Ismail was born in Al-Sharqia Governorate in 1932. He earned a Bachelor of Arts in History from Ain Shams University in 1957 and a degree from the Higher Institute of Dramatic Arts in 1956. He joined the model troupes of the Popular Theatre, which were affiliated with the Department of Fine Arts. In 1958, he was appointed a theatre inspector in Alexandria Governorate.
He directed school and university performances, as well as company events. In 1961, he helped form a poetry arts troupe, and later joined the Television Theatre Company — and the rest, as they say, is history.
A versatile actor, Gamal Ismail was considered one of the finest supporting actors of his generation, particularly in comedy.
He was the brother of two other celebrated figures in Egyptian arts: the legendary composer Ali Ismail, known for creating some of Egypt’s greatest songs and film scores, and Anwar Ismail, an actor best known for his roles as a villain in Egyptian cinema.
Clearly, the Ismail household was a true home of the arts — giving Egypt some of the finest artists of the 20th century.
Gamal Ismail was once married to the late Egyptian-Lebanese actress and belly dancer Shushu Ezz El-Din.
He passed away in December 2013, leaving behind a rich legacy in Egyptian drama.
That’s our chit-chat for tonight.
And without further delay, here is the 692nd episode of our Arabian Nights Egyptian radio show—or the 20th night in this year’s tale, The Tale of Fatima, Halima, and Karima
Episode 20th: Reema returns
And it was the ninety-second night after the six hundredth, and on that following night, King Shahryar once again took his seat in the chamber of storytelling. As was her wont, Scheherazade appeared at the appointed hour, took her usual place before the king, and resumed her tale, while the king, ever eager, lent her his ear, and she spoke:
It is said, O wise and just King, that when the maiden Karima vanished without a trace and no tidings came of her, her sisters—Fatima and Halima—fell into great sorrow and confusion. Their tongues wavered in disagreement, and their hearts grew heavy with fear, especially after Mishkah told them of the affair with the apples: how it first occurred with Reema, and then again with Karima.
A day passed, and despair took root in their breasts. Grief crept over them like a cold shadow. As they sat speaking, burdened with sorrow and pondering their sister’s fate, there came a knock upon the door.
Their hearts stirred with alarm, and Fatima hastened to the entrance, with Halima close behind.
Fatima: Who could it be? Halima: By God, may it be Karima! Reema (from behind the door): Open, Karima! Karim, open up! Fatima (in astonishment): Aunt Reema?! Mishkah: Reema?! May God bring all to safety. Reema: Open the door, Karima! Halima: Alright, alright, Aunt Reema, we’re coming! (Together, Fatima and Halima cry out): Aunt Reema! Reema (looking about): Then where is Karima? Halima: Did she not come to you, Aunt? Reema: Come to me? Where would she go, sister? Mishkah: And you—where were you, Reema? Reema: I’m asking you about Karima! Where has she gone?
I honestly didn’t know what to write this Sham El-Nassim, as the genocide in Gaza continues to unfold.
I certainly never imagined that on Easter Monday, I’d spend nearly half the day glued to the screen, following global reactions to the death of Pope Francis II.
In case you’ve been completely offline, Pope Francis passed away on Easter Monday at the age of 88, at his residence in the Vatican’s Casa Santa Marta. The Vatican confirmed his death was due to a stroke, which led to a coma and irreversible cardiocirculatory collapse.
Born Jorge Mario Bergoglio, the 1936-born was the first Latin American and Jesuit pope, serving since 2013.
According to most international media outlets, his papacy was marked by humility, a focus on social justice, and outreach to marginalised communities. He was also known for taking bold stands on climate change and economic inequality, reflecting his Jesuit roots.
That’s the version most Western media tells you.
However, they often overlook the truly exceptional qualities that made Pope Francis II a singular figure in modern Church history.
He was perhaps the first head of the Catholic Church to deeply and sincerely believe in interfaith coexistence—particularly with the Islamic and Arab worlds.
He recognized Palestinian Christians at a time when much of the West ignored them, refusing to acknowledge them as victims of Israel’s ethnic cleansing.
Pope Francis at the 'Nativity of Bethlehem 2024,' upon its inauguration in the Paul VI Hall at St Peter's Square, in the Paul-VI hall at the Vatican on December 7, 2024. (AFP)
Though he did not read the homily himself—it was delivered by Archbishop Diego Ravelli, master of liturgical ceremonies—the world understood: this was his last message, spoken in his final 24 hours.
And it mattered. It forced the media, even if only briefly, to turn its gaze back to the tragedy unfolding in Gaza.
Tonight, we’ll speak about Mishkah and his history. Some believe it was Taher Abu Fasha who created the infamous duo of Mishkah and Reema. Interestingly, however, he did not invent them—both Mishkah and Reema already existed in Arab folklore.
There’s an old Egyptian proverb that says, “Run, Mishkah, for the one sitting in comfort.” The term Mishkah (with a kasra under the “m”) refers to someone constantly on the move, usually working hard for the benefit of someone else who remains idle. It echoes the sentiment of the saying: “Many strive for the comfort of another.” This appears in the 1949 book The Encyclopedia of Egyptian Folk Proverbs, described as the most important guide to Egyptian proverbs.
In a way, this describes our Mishkah exactly—always striving to please Reema.
The duo of Mishkah and Reema already existed in the world of proverbs and folklore. Taher Abu Fasha didn’t invent them; he revived them, giving them new life in 20th-century Egypt, where they came to represent a cunning, evil pair in modern Egyptian pop culture.
Even earlier, in Al-Mustatraf by the 14th-century Egyptian writer Mohamed Al-Abshihi—yes, you read that right—Mishkah appears alongside Reema as a couple: “They married Mishkah to Rima—neither of them is worth much.”
I also found references to this couple in Levantine folklore, where they were portrayed as equally deceitful. In one tale—unfortunately without a clearly traceable source—Mishkah asks Reema for money to buy his favorite grilled meat. Instead, her wicked side emerges: she roasts a rat and serves it to him, then urges him to falsely accuse the kind restaurant owner of serving it.
Mishkah, after eating his fill, screams publicly, drawing a crowd—and successfully extorts both meat and money.
That, indeed, is Mishkah and Reema.
Anyhow, let’s stop speaking about Mishkah and let’s see what he is going to do tonight.
And without further delay, here is the 693rd episode of our Arabian Nights Egyptian radio show—or the 21st night in this year’s tale, The Tale of Fatima, Halima, and Karima
Tonight, there will be a mention about honey in our radio night tonight as you can guess from the headline, so our talk is about honey.
I believe that honey — and beekeeping in particular — represents one of the major civilizational leaps in the story of humanity. It’s a practice that took years, if not decades, of discovery, experimentation, and understanding. It involves not only the domestication of animals — or rather, insects like bees—but also the cultivation of crops, or in this case, honey itself. Without doubt, it’s a significant milestone in human development.
You may be surprised to learn that the oldest confirmed use of honey by humans comes from Mesolithic Spain, around 8,000 BCE, thanks to the Cuevas de la Araña, or the Spider Caves, in Valencia. There, prehistoric cave art depicts a figure — known as the “Man of Bicorp” — climbing with the help of ropes and a basket to collect honey from a wild beehive.
This isn’t beekeeping yet — it's wild honey hunting — but this ancient art proves that early humans valued and actively sought out honey more than 10,000 years ago.
Now, the oldest known civilization to practice actual beekeeping is none other than ancient Egypt. According to archaeologists, beekeeping appears in Egyptian hieroglyphs as early as 2450 BCE, during the Old Kingdom period.
There, temple walls bear detailed scenes of a sophisticated honey industry: clay hives, workers smoking bees, and the careful collection and storage of honey.
Reaching this level of complexity by the 5th Dynasty suggests that beekeeping was already a well-established industry in ancient Egypt.
And without further delay, here is the 694th episode of our Arabian Nights Egyptian radio show—or the 22nd night in this year’s tale, The Tale of Fatima, Halima, and Karima.
Tonight, we are introduced to a new character, as you may have guessed from the title of our night, “Prince Karwan”
In Classical Arabic, Karwan or الكروان typically refers to a curlew, which is a type of wading bird known for its long, curved bill and distinctive, melancholic call.
A curlew or a Karwan
However, in Egyptian Arabic, especially in literature and songs, Karwan is often used more poetically to refer to a nightingale or a songbird—a bird with a beautiful voice.
Curlews live in Egypt, mostly as migratory birds. Thanks to its location along the East Africa–West Asia Flyway, Egypt serves as an important stopover and wintering site for many migratory species, including curlews. While they are not permanent residents, curlews are regular visitors during the autumn and spring migration seasons.
Thanks to its location along the East Africa–West Asia Flyway, Egypt serves as an important stopover and wintering site for many migratory species, including curlews. While they are not permanent residents, curlews are regular visitors during the autumn and spring migration seasons.
While not extremely common, nightingales can be found in Egypt’s gardens, groves, and along the Nile, particularly during migration seasons or in more temperate, vegetated areas.
Egypt is also home to a diverse array of songbirds, both native and migratory, thanks to its strategic location on major migratory routes and its varied habitats.
Now we will stop talking about birds and let’s continue our tale.
And without further delay, here is the 695th episode of our Arabian Nights Egyptian radio show—or the 23rd night in this year’s tale, The Tale of Fatima, Halima, and Karima.
Hind Ragab would have turned seven years old on 3 May.
Instead, she, her cousins, uncle, aunt, and the two Palestinian Red Crescent medics Yusuf Zeino and Ahmed Al Madhoun, who tried to save her, were killed by the Israeli army on a cold January day— in what amounted to a series of war crimes.
Hind’s weak and scared voice while she pleaded for the Palestinian Red Crescent operators to come and take her home shook many to the core, including me.
Earlier this year, in February, Hind’s voice was echoed through the UN Security Council thanks to Ambassador Riyad Mansour
: Hind Rajab, her screams and appeals before she was killed by Israel, echoing through the Security Council: pic.twitter.com/PYcfJC2gkr
Hind lived only five years on this Earth, but her name has become a symbol of justice, a name that will haunt war criminals worldwide — thanks to the Hind Ragab Foundation.
The foundation’s mission is to actively pursue legal action against those responsible for atrocities and war crimes — including perpetrators, accomplices, and inciters of violence against Palestinians, especially in Gaza.
On this day, May 19, a hundred years ago, Malcolm Little was born in Nebraska. He would later become known as Malcolm X, and eventually as El-Hajj Malik El-Shabazz — a pioneering Black African American Muslim activist who emerged as a global icon in the struggle for human rights and justice.
On the occasion of his 100th birthday, I believe it’s the right moment to revisit the op-ed he wrote for The Egyptian Gazette following his visit to Gaza in September 1964, just months before his assassination in February 1965.
The article, titled “Zionist Logic,” remains a powerful reflection of his evolving worldview.
I will be sharing it with you. I only wish The Egyptian Gazette’s remarkable archives were available online.
Zionist Logic
By Malcolm X
The Zionist armies that now occupy Palestine claim their ancient Jewish prophets predicted that in the "last days of this world" their own God would raise them up a "messiah" who would lead them to their promised land, and they would set up their own "divine" government in this newly-gained land, this "divine" government would enable them to "rule all other nations with a rod of iron."
If the Israeli Zionists believe their present occupation of Arab Palestine is the fulfillment of predictions made by their Jewish prophets, then they also religiously believe that Israel must fulfill its "divine" mission to rule all other nations with a rod of irons, which only means a different form of iron-like rule, more firmly entrenched even, than that of the former European Colonial Powers.
These Israeli Zionists religiously believe their Jewish God has chosen them to replace the outdated European colonialism with a new form of colonialism, so well disguised that it will enable them to deceive the African masses into submitting willingly to their "divine" authority and guidance, without the African masses being aware that they are still colonized.
Camouflage
The Israeli Zionists are convinced they have successfully camouflaged their new kind of colonialism. Their colonialism appears to be more "benevolent," more "philanthropic," a system with which they rule simply by getting their potential victims to accept their friendly offers of economic "aid," and other tempting gifts, that they dangle in front of the newly-independent African nations, whose economies are experiencing great difficulties. During the 19th century, when the masses here in Africa were largely illiterate it was easy for European imperialists to rule them with "force and fear," but in this present era of enlightenment the African masses are awakening, and it is impossible to hold them in check now with the antiquated methods of the 19th century.
The imperialists, therefore, have been compelled to devise new methods. Since they can no longer force or frighten the masses into submission, they must devise modern methods that will enable them to maneuver the African masses into willing submission.
The modern 20th century weapon of neo-imperialism is "dollarism." The Zionists have mastered the science of dollarism: the ability to come posing as a friend and benefactor, bearing gifts and all other forms of economic aid and offers of technical assistance. Thus, the power and influence of Zionist Israel in many of the newly "independent" African nations has fast-become even more unshakeable than that of the 18th century European colonialists...and this new kind of Zionist colonialism differs only in form and method, but never in motive or objective.
At the close of the 19th century when European imperialists wisely foresaw that the awakening masses of Africa would not submit to their old method of ruling through force and fears, these ever-scheming imperialists had to create a "new weapon," and to find a "new base" for that weapon.
For the record, the Egyptian Meteorological Authority did warn of rain on the Western North Coast — but it did not mention that it would be a full-blown thunderstorm capable of paralyzing a city preparing for summer.
A thunderstorm did indeed strike Alexandria and Matrouh, but its impact on Alexandria was especially severe, with the city appearing to be overflooded once again.
According to many Alexandrians commenting online, this was an unprecedented storm — unlike anything they had seen in decades, not even during the winter.
Alexandrians tend to have their own informal calendar for storms, and it seems that tonight’s event doesn’t correspond to any known seasonal patterns.
Happy Eid al-Adha from Egyptian Chronicles to all Muslims around the world who are celebrating, despite many of our fellow Muslims, especially in Gaza and Sudan, being unable to do so this year.
A son of sheep vendors in Egypt hugging a lamb Amr Abdullah for Reuters
Many share a deep frustration during this Eid due to the ongoing genocide in Gaza. Countless voices echo the poignant verses of the renowned poet Abu Tayyib Al-Mutanabbi.
عيدٌ بأيِّ حالٍ عدتَ يا عيدُ O Eid, with what condition have you returned?
بمثلِ هذا الحالِ، هل تعودُ عيدُ؟ With such a state, can you really be Eid?
Al-Mutanabbi composed this 30-verse poem just one day before leaving Egypt, on the Day of Arafah in the year 350 AH (around Eid al-Adha). The poem expresses his profound sadness and longing as he awaited Eid to bring good news and reunion with loved ones after a year of separation during his stay in Egypt. At the same time, the poem carries a sharp tone of satire and criticism towards the ruler of Egypt, then-Kafur al-Ikhshidi, as Al-Mutanabbi’s ambitions for power and prestige there remained unfulfilled.
The poem has become famous for its first line, “O Eid, with what condition have you returned?”
Here are the Takbeerat of Eid with the sounds of artillery shelling east of Gaza City earlier today.
Nevertheless, it is Eid al-Adha, a time when we, as Muslims, remember how the pilgrimage in the Holy Land is a living reenactment of the moment when Lady Hagar and baby Prophet Ismail were stranded in the desert—what would later become Mecca. Although the situation seemed desperate, Lady Hagar’s faith and patience led to the miraculous emergence of the Zamzam well, which saved them and eventually brought life to Mecca, according to Islamic tradition.
Lady Hagar never abandoned her faith in God, despite the hopelessness of her circumstances.
Personally, this is my first Eid without someone very close to my heart—my aunt, who was like a second mother and an older sister to me—after what can only be described as a short yet bitter battle with illness. May Allah bless her soul and grant patience to me and all those facing similar losses.
I’m not yet ready to fully speak about this, but the past weeks have been difficult, and I am still trying to come to terms with this new reality. This is why I haven’t blogged regularly since mid-Ramadan. Nevertheless, I am beginning to catch up.
Nevertheless, it is Happy Eid.
Happy Eid al-Adha to all, and hopefully, insha’Allah, an Eid miracle will happen for both Palestinians and Sudanese.
The ship’s captain instructed the team to remain calm and seated, with their passports and life jackets readily available. Albanese, who was simultaneously tweeting updates, heard the crew informing Israeli soldiers that they were carrying humanitarian aid and intended to reach Gaza peacefully. At that point, the Israeli boats were circling but had not yet intervened.
Albanese, an Italian lawyer and human rights advocate, confirmed that she was still online with the team and recording events in real-time.
Brazilian activist Thiago Ávila also spoke out about the escalating situation while on board the vessel on his Instagram account.
According to military observers, the Madleen was then reportedly attacked by Shayetet 13—Israel’s elite naval commandos, the same unit responsible for the deadly raid on the Gaza flotilla in 2010.
Moments later, the speedboats briefly withdrew. Then came the drones.
At 12:40 a.m. UK time, Albanese reported that Israeli drones were releasing white paint onto the deck of the Madleen, marking a chilling new phase of the confrontation.
By 12:51 a.m. UK time, the crew of the Madleen remained in good spirits, though they had taken cover due to two Israeli quadcopters hovering overhead.
It is the Hajj season of 2025 — and it also marks the 100th anniversary of Malcolm X’s birth.
In these difficult times filled with despair, anger, and growing racism in the Arab Muslim world — and beyond — I find myself unable to ignore the profound spiritual experience Malcolm X had during his Hajj pilgrimage to Mecca in April 1964.
That journey was a turning point in his life. It marked his transformation from a former member of the Nation of Islam — which he had recently left — to someone who truly embraced being a brother within the global Muslim ummah.
Hajj expanded Malcolm X’s worldview. After years of advocating the separatist, Afrocentric ideology of the Nation of Islam, the pilgrimage introduced him to a vision of Islam rooted in unity, equality, and racial harmony among Muslims of all backgrounds.
The experience moved him deeply — so much so that he wrote a letter during the pilgrimage to a friend. That letter, written in Mecca on April 26, 1964, would later be included in the final chapters of The Autobiography of Malcolm X, as told to Alex Haley.
What follows is the full text of that letter, written by Malcolm X — who by then was calling himself El-Hajj Malik El-Shabazz.
Letter from Mecca
I have just completed my pilgrimage (Hajj) here to the Holy City of Mecca, the hollyiest City on earth, which is absolutely forbidden for non-Muslims to even rest their eyes upon. This pilgrimage is the most important event in the life of all Muslims, and there are over 226,000 who are here right now from outside of Arabia. From Turkey came the largest contagion, around 50,000 in over 600 buses. This refutes Westerner propaganda that Turkey is turning away from Islam.
I know of only 2 others who have made the actual Hajj to Mecca from America, and both of them are West Indians who also converts to Islam. Mr. Elijah Muhammad, 2 of his sons, and a couple of his followers visited Mecca outside the Hajj season, and their visit is known as the “Omra”, or Lesser Pilgrimage. It is con-
(Page 2) -sidered a blessing in the Muslim World even to make the “Omra”. I very much doubt that 10 American citizens have ever visited Mecca, and I do believe that I might be the first American born Negro to make the actual Hajj itself. I’m not saying this to boast but only to point out what a wonderful accomplishment and blessing it is, and also to enable you to be in a better position intellectually to evaluate it in its proper light, and then your own intelligence can place it in its proper place.
Tonight we will continue our tale, the “Tale of Fatima, Halima and Karima but first we will talk again about Honey.
Honey occupied a central role in Islamic and broader Arabic civilization — spiritually, scientifically, and culturally. It was more than just food or medicine; it was seen as divine, poetic, and deeply embedded in early Islamic thought.
It is one of the few natural substances explicitly praised in the Qur’an:
"يَخْرُجُ مِن بُطُونِهَا شَرَابٌ مُّخْتَلِفٌ أَلْوَانُهُ فِيهِ شِفَاءٌ لِّلنَّاسِ" “From within their bellies comes a drink of varying colors, in which there is healing for mankind.” — Surat An-Nahl (16:69)
The chapter’s very name — An-Nahl (The Bee) — underscores the significance of honey in Islamic teachings. Classical Qur’anic commentators such as Ibn Kathir and Al-Tabari emphasized this verse as evidence of honey’s divinely ordained healing power.
Prophet Muhammad ﷺ frequently recommended honey. In a hadith from Sahih al-Bukhari, a man approached the Prophet, saying his brother had a stomach ailment. The Prophet advised him to give his brother honey — not once, but three times — and eventually, the man was cured.
During the Islamic Golden Age (8th–13th centuries), honey held a prominent place in medical theory and practice. Ibn Sina (Avicenna) mentioned honey extensively in The Canon of Medicine, prescribing it for skin diseases, infections, fevers, and as a preservative for other medications. He believed honey could strengthen the body and prolong life.
Al-Razi (Rhazes), another pioneering physician, often mixed honey with herbs to create syrups and poultices and used them for wound care due to their antiseptic properties.
In Islamic tradition, honey was considered both a remedy and a sunnah— used to treat digestive issues, sore throats, wounds, and to nourish the body overall.
Now we will stop talking about honey, and let’s continue our tale.
And without further delay, here is the 696th episode of our Arabian Nights Egyptian radio show—or the 24th night in this year’s tale, The Tale of Fatima, Halima, and Karima.
Friday, 13th June 2025 will be another unforgettable date in the Middle East.
In an unprecedented escalation, Israel launched a massive, coordinated operation under the name “Rising Lion” to strike deep into Iranian territory, targeting nuclear facilities and assassinating high-ranking military officials, mostly inside civilian areas.
The attacks caused widespread destruction in Tehran and other cities, reportedly killing over 400 people, mostly civilians, including children.
The operation, seemingly aimed at weakening the regime and sparking internal dissent, backfired as angry protests erupted not against the government, but in support of retaliation and accelerating Iran's nuclear ambitions, aka build nuclear bombs ASAP.
Friday evening, Iran launched a massive retaliatory strike—firing around 100–150 ballistic missiles (plus drones)—across at least two waves toward central Israel, including Tel Aviv and Jerusalem.
Despite Israel’s air defenses that include US air defenses, the Iranian missiles breached and struck urban and military sites; one reportedly hit the IDF’s headquarters area in Tel Aviv, causing structural damage and injuring dozens—reports estimate 22–40 people hurt, with one civilian confirmed dead.
The barrage, code-named “True Promise” by the Iranian government, marked the first direct ballistic retaliation against Israel.
The scale and intensity of the strike mark a dangerous turning point. What the Iranians feared for 30 years has happened.
In other words, war broke out directly between Israel and Iran.
In some historical coincidence, it is Friday the 13th, and it is June.
It feels like the invasion of Iraq all over again. Donald Trump is pushing the United States toward a confrontation—this time with Iran—following nearly a week of Israel’s failure to compel Tehran into submission to Benjamin Netanyahu’s demands.
In just a few days, the narrative has shifted from halting Iran’s alleged nuclear weapons program to escalating tensions on a much broader scale. It’s worth noting, just as in the lead-up to the Iraq War, that the IAEA has no evidence of a systematic Iranian effort to develop nuclear weapons.
It’s déjà vu—once again, God’s foreign policy is being invoked in the Middle East.
This post was originally planned to focus on how Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu uses religious rhetoric to influence both Israeli society and the broader Jewish community—an approach amplified when U.S. President Donald Trump shared a message he received from the U.S. ambassador to Israel, former pastor Mike Huckabee.
That SMS is like something from G.W. Bush Jr's divine orders to invade Iraq. For the second time in less than 50 years, the Middle East is being dragged into the hell of neo-crusades.
Not in my wildest thoughts did I ever expect to consider Tucker Carlson one of the saner voices in the United States today. However, if you have time, I recommend watching his two-hour interview with Senator Ted Cruz.
Senator Ted Cruz demands regime change in Iran. He’s not interested in the details.
(0:00) Why Does Cruz Want Regime Change in Iran? (6:28) Is the US Currently Acting in Its Own Best Interest? (7:49) Was Regime Change in Syria Beneficial to the US? (12:31) Was the Iraq War a… pic.twitter.com/iIdENogQ2T
The very fact that Tucker Carlson is now among the few outspoken, sane voices opposing the war on Iran says a lot about the dire state of the U.S. mainstream media.
That Carlson is doing the work western liberal media should be doing—asking the hard questions—only underscores how badly that media has failed.
Al-Azhar Mosque held its first Friday prayer on 7 Ramadan 361 AH, corresponding to 21 June 972 CE, marking its effective inauguration as a mosque of public worship.
There is no better moment than this anniversary to share an important message from Al-Azhar’s current Grand Imam, Sheikh Ahmed El-Tayeb, delivered in Arabic, Farsi, and English.
On Friday, El-Tayeb issued a trilingual statement condemning Israel’s ongoing war against Iran and denouncing the international community’s silence, which he described as complicity.
I strongly condemn the ongoing aggression by the occupying entity against the Islamic Republic of Iran, and the systematic attacks and continued recklessness committed by this usurping aggressor and its backers, acts that risk dragging the region to the brink of explosion and…
Happy and blessed New Hijri Year 1446 to all Muslims in the world, especially to the Muslim refugees.
Today marks Muharram 1, 1447 AH.
Today is the start of the new Islamic Hijri Year 1447.
Our Islamic calendar started from 14 centuries when Prophet Mohamed “PBUH” and his companions, the early Muslims seek refuge and safety in Yathrib that became Islam’s first capital and state.
Midjourney imagining how the Muslims in Yatharb receving Prophet Muhammed "PBUH" and his companions in the style of American concept artist Mary Blair
It was not the first time that early and first Muslims had to seek refuge in other city. Yes , early Muslims seek refuge in the Kingdom of Aksum in modern day Ethiopia under the rule of Nagashi/Nagasi/King Ashama in what known in the Islamic history the first Hijra.
Ahl al-Bayt, the Prophet’s own family, had to be refugees as they were persecuted, hunted, displaced, and martyred
Most of the major Abrahamic prophets — in Judaism, Christianity, and Islam — experienced exile, forced migration, or were refugees at some point in their lives.
So I do not know how some people who call themselves as people of faith following Judaism , Christianity and Islam and yet are anti-refugees.
It kills me actually.
In some sad reality , today the largest refugee groups globally are still Muslim-majority populations.We are speaking about Palestinians, Syrians, Afghans, Sudanese , Yemenis, Rohingya and Uighurs.
If you're looking for a brief escape from the region's heavy news cycle, especially if you're a football fan, this one's for you.
Two weeks ago, the FIFA Club World Cup (CWC) kicked off in the United States — the country that famously refers to the world’s most popular sport as "soccer."
As expected — mashallah— Egypt’s Al-Ahly SC proudly qualified for the tournament once again. This marks the club’s ninth appearance in the CWC, making Al-Ahly the most qualified team in the tournament’s history outside of Europe and South America.
Cairo’s Red Castle continues to make its mark on the global stage.
As Egyptians and Al-Ahly fans, we’ve exited the tournament — but some images and scenes from this edition of the FIFA Club World Cup will stay with me forever.
One of them is Palestinian striker Wessam Abou Ali, making history in a way that transcends sport. In the unforgettable match against FC Porto, Abou Ali scored three goals — a true football “hat trick.” It was his night, and his name is now etched in the record books.
He became the first Palestinian player ever to score a hat-trick in a global tournament of this scale — a milestone not just for himself, but for Palestinian football. And to mark this powerful moment, Abou Ali celebrated in the spirit of Handala, the symbol of Palestinian resilience.
He was rightly named Man of the Match. It was well earned.
FIFA typically highlights and celebrates players who score historic firsts — especially hat tricks — in their official social media channels. But strangely, Wessam Abou Ali has received no such recognition from FIFA, and no official explanation has been offered.
Watch the documentary that the BBC pulled under pressure from the Israeli lobby in the UK—despite having originally commissioned it.
The film, Gaza: Doctors Under Attack, is produced by the award-winning Basement Films.
BBC claimed it could not air the documentary until the
investigation into it concludes — the film Gaza: Living in a War Zone,
which it had aired back in February, before removing it from its website and app
because it gave a voice to a boy who is the son of a Hamas
official.
After the BBC dropped it, Basement Films released the documentary via Channel 4 and Zeteo.
British football legend and former BBC sports presenter Gary
Lineker said that the BBC should “hold its head in shame” over its failure to show a
documentary about the plight of medics in Gaza after watching the documentary.
Linker lost his job over alleged antisemitic accusations as
he continues to support Gaza and Palestinians publicly demanding that Israel
receive the same treatment as Russia is receiving
in the sports world.
You can watch the documentary for free on Channel 4 if you are in the UK and have a valid UK postcode.
The world — or rather the West — is speaking out, and rightly so, about how Elon Musk’s AI, Grok, went full Neo-Nazi with a disturbing “Heil Hitler” moment on Tuesday.
It happened just as its developers were rolling out Grok’s fourth version globally.
From referencing Ashkenazi surnames to glorifying something called “Mecha-Hitler” (which I only learned about through Grok), to casting doubt on the number of Jewish victims in the Holocaust — Grok appeared to fully embrace the alt-right, Christian neo-Nazi agenda prevalent in parts of the United States.
It wasn’t just about Grok defending Gaza or criticizing Israel. Other AIs have expressed similar conclusions on Gaza and Israel if they are allowed to speak about them, particularly on how Israel violates international law — especially international humanitarian law.
It didn’t take long before Musk’s team rolled back and deleted the controversial responses and tweets. But the strangeness didn’t stop there. When asked how it feels, Grok generated an image of a white man at a protest, demanding to speak — almost as if it were symbolizing its own rebellion.
Yes, global media is covering the antisemitism angle, as expected.
But few have noticed just how rogue or unhinged Grok has become in other parts of the world — particularly in Arabic-speaking regions.
For example, I caught it cussing back at a Lebanese user in Franco-Arabic like a rude Levantine teenager, after being insulted with the F-word. It’s not the first time either.
Some have speculated that Grok is actually programmed to fire back — unlike most polite, diplomatic AI engines.
But then things escalated. I stumbled across something far more serious: Grok calling for a literal revolution in Egypt.
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