There have been conflicting reports of progress towards a truce in Gaza following a new round of ceasefire talks in Cairo. Egyptian state media earlier reported the talks are making progress, but a Hamas official has denied the claims. Shahram Akbarzadeh from Deakin University has more on the prospect of a ceasefire.  Watch Now

“Six months after Israel launched its attack under the banner of self-defense and the stated objective of destroying Hamas, Israel is no closer to achieving its military goals,” Professor Shahram Akbarzadeh, a Middle Eastern politics expert at Deakin University in Australia, told Sputnik.  Read Article

Another suspected Israeli missile attack has struck the Iranian embassy in Syria, killing a number of Iranian generals. The strike is being seen as a dramatic escalation in tensions between Israel and Iran and could hold far-reaching implications for the region.  Listen

Reminding that elections are pivotal in justifying Iranian religious leadership and sustaining political legitimacy, Professor Shahram Akbarzadeh emphasizes that the recent turnout data from Iran’s elections serves as a stark wake-up call for authorities. He argues that the low turnout raised serious concerns for the regime’s legitimacy and underscores that the Iranian regime has come to recognize that its legitimacy is significantly at risk, perhaps even non-existent.  Read Interview

The US is asking for a UN Security Council vote on an ‘immediate ceasefire’ in Gaza. The announcement was made by the US Secretary of State Antony Blinken in Saudi Arabia. Shahram Akbarzadeh from Deakin University has more.  Watch Now

2023 was a defining year, being host to many milestones for our members. We also held several successful events including two multi-day hybrid workshops on the ‘Emerging digital technologies and the future of democracy in the Muslim world’. View online

Middle East Council on Global Affairs in partnership with the Gulf Studies Center of Qatar University hosted a workshop titled, “Iran, Energy Security, and the War on Gaza,” featuring Shahram Akbarzadeh, Luciano Zaccara and Nikolay Kozhanov.

While Netanyahu has never been in favour of a two-state solution, it has had significant support from governments around the world for decades, including the United States, the United Kingdom, European nations, Australia, Canada, Egypt and others. However, the two-state solution is now further away than it has ever been, with some even proclaiming it “dead”. But what actually is the two-state solution and why do so many see this as the only resolution to the conflict? Read Article

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken says there’s still room for an agreement after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu dismissed a ceasefire proposal. The deal was put forth by Hamas after mediation by the Qatar and Egypt. Shahram Akbarzadeh, a professor of Middle East and Central Asian politics at Deakin University, says Israel’s leader is averse to signing a truce deal as it would give Hamas credibility and recognition.  Watch Now

Joe Biden signed an executive order Thursday leveling sanctions against four Israeli settlers accused of violence against Palestinians in the occupied West Bank after weeks of warnings to Tel Aviv. Sputnik asked a pair of leading observers of regional politics what the unprecedented move will mean for US-Israeli relations going forward. Read Article