The world soccer governing body, FIFA, reportedly plans to again prohibit fans from displaying Iran's pre-revolutionary flag at the 2026 World Cup, renewing a controversy that shadowed the tournament in Qatar four years ago and drawing immediate backlash from the Iranian diaspora and opposition figures.
Morning update Good morning Middle East Eye readers, Tensions across the region remain high after Israeli forces intercepted more Gaza-bound aid boats, triggering protests and diplomatic criticism from several countries. At the same time, Iran says US behaviour is damaging efforts to reach a diplomatic solution, while military activity continues in Lebanon and concerns grow over the wider regional fallout from the conflict. Political pressure is also building in Washington as more Americans oppose further escalation with Tehran.
Protesters rally in Athens after Israeli interception of Gaza flotilla Hundreds of people gathered outside Greece’s foreign ministry in Athens on Monday to protest the Israeli interception of the Global Sumud Flotilla near Cyprus. Demonstrators condemned the seizure of the Gaza-bound aid convoy, which organisers said was attempting to deliver humanitarian assistance to Palestinians in Gaza. Israeli forces intercepted the flotilla on 18 May after it sailed from Turkey the previous week.
TEHRAN (Tasnim) – A nationwide general strike was staged in Italy on Monday during which participants condemned the country’s increased military spending and voiced support for Palestine in the face of Israel’s genocidal war on the Gaza Strip.
Iranian vice president says 70 percent oppose internet curbs amid blackout A senior Iranian official has acknowledged widespread public dissatisfaction to internet restrictions, as a prolonged blackout continues across the country. Mohammad Jafar Ghaempanah, vice president for executive affairs under President Masoud Pezeshkian, said a survey by the Presidential Center found that 70 percent of Iranians are dissatisfied with the curbs. Speaking in comments carried by Mehr news agency, he signalled the need for a policy shift, warning against reliance on restrictions.
Video: Berlin police storm Nakba Day march and pepper spray demonstrators Berlin police stormed a Nakba Day remembrance march in the German capital, charging into crowds and attacking demonstrators with pepper spray during the peaceful event. Footage from the scene showed officers aggressively pushing through marchers as people shouted against police violence. The crackdown adds to Germany’s escalating repression of pro-Palestinian dissent as Berlin continues backing Israel despite mounting international condemnation over Israel’s genocide in Gaza and increasing attacks on Palestinian civilians.
(260517) -- VIENNA, May 17, 2026 (Xinhua) -- Protesters hold a concert during a rally against the Eurovision Song Contest in Vienna, Austria, May 15, 2026.
Israel booed at Eurovision final as Bulgaria wins competition Submitted by Alex MacDonald on Sun, 05/17/2026 - 09:36 Israel finished in second place in contest widely boycotted over Gaza genocide Winner Darina Nikolaeva Yotova, representing Bulgaria with the song Bangaranga, attends a press conference after winning the final of the Eurovision Song Contest at the Wiener Stadthalle in Vienna, Austria, on 16 May 2026 (Georg Hochmuth/APA/AFP) Off Bulgaria won the final of the Eurovision Song Contest 2026 on Saturday, while Israel faced boos after finishing in second place. This year's final was among the least attended and least watched in the contest's history after five countries - Spain, Iceland, Ireland, the Netherlands and Slovenia - withdrew over Israel's participation. A boycott campaign also led many viewers to avoid the event.
TEHRAN (Tasnim) – Tens of thousands of people have demonstrated across Europe to commemorate the 78th anniversary of the Nakba, or "Catastrophe," which refers to the displacement of Palestinians by Zionists in 1948.
Israeli minister praises Eurovision result amid boycott protests Israeli defence minister Israel Katz congratulated Israeli performer Noam Bettan after the singer finished second in the Eurovision Song Contest in Vienna, while criticising European governments that opposed Israel’s participation. In a post on X written in Hebrew and Spanish, Katz said Bettan’s performance was a response to what he described as an “incitement and defamation campaign” led by Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez and others. Spain joined Ireland, the Netherlands, Slovenia and Iceland in refusing to broadcast or participate in the contest in protest against the European Broadcasting Union’s decision to allow Israel to compete during the ongoing genocide in Gaza.
Video: 250,000 protestors march in London to commemorate Nakba Day Some 250,000 protestors marched in London to commemorate the 78th anniversary of the Nakba on Saturday, according to organisers. The event marks the anniversary of the expulsion of 750,000 Palestinians and the killing of 13,000 others in 1948, when Zionist militias occupied Palestinian territory to establish the state of Israel. It was organised by a coalition of groups, including the Palestine Solidarity Campaign and Stop the War and is part of a series of marches that have been organised in protest of Israel's genocidal war in Gaza since October 2023.
Eurovision final begins amid protests over Israel’s participation The final of the Eurovision Song Contest began on Saturday under tight security amid continuing criticism over Israel’s participation. The contest has faced pressure for a third consecutive year because of Israel’s military actions in the Gaza Strip and elsewhere, with Spain, the Netherlands, Ireland, Iceland and Slovenia boycotting the event in protest. A demonstration against Israel’s participation was planned ahead of Saturday’s final, while pro-Palestinian groups held an outdoor concert on Friday under the slogan “No Stage for Genocide”.
Police detain 43 people as London rallies on Nakba Day Two major demonstrations took place in London on Saturday, including a pro-Palestine Nakba Day rally and a far-right “Unite the Kingdom” march led by Tommy Robinson. The Metropolitan Police said 43 people were arrested across both protests, though it did not specify how many arrests were linked to each event. Former Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn, who attended the pro-Palestine rally, wrote on X: “We are a mass movement for peace – and we are never, ever going away.
Quarter of a million join Nakba Day rally as far-right protest also takes place in central London View this post on Instagram A post shared by Middle East Eye (@middleeasteye)
'There is little which is Jewish about Israel': Haim Bresheeth on antisemitism and Gaza Thousands will be marching in London on Saturday to mark the Nakba, the ethnic cleansing of Palestine in 1948, and protest more than two and a half years of Israel's ongoing genocide in Gaza. Among the marchers will be Haim Bresheeth-Zabner, the British-Israeli author and filmmaker and son of Holocaust survivors. Nearby, Tommy Robinson's far right Unite the Kingdom march will also be taking place, with fears of possible violence and clashes given the pro-Israel and anti-Muslim views of Robinson's followers.
Thousands to march in parallel Nakba Day and far-right rallies in central London Submitted by Daniel Tester on Sat, 05/16/2026 - 09:56 Police have deployed 'unprecedented' numbers to tackle multiple rallies with extra powers to target activists Protesters gather to call for the ban on the Palestine Action group to be lifted during a demonstration in Trafalgar Square in central London on 11 April 2026 (Carlos Jasso/AFP) Off Tens of thousands of people are set to gather in central London on Saturday for a march marking the 78th anniversary of the Nakba , which coincides with a separate protest organised by far-right activist Tommy Robinson . The Metropolitan Police said it would deploy over 4,000 officers to police the two marches in an “unprecedented” public order operation, with protesters kept on separate routes. The Nakba Day march is an annual demonstration organised by a coalition of groups, including the Palestine Solidarity Campaign, commemorating the expulsion of more than 750,000 Palestinians from their land and the killing of over 13,000 others by Zionist militias to make way for the creation of Israel in 1948.
Around 250,000 join Nakba Day rally as far-right protest also takes place in central London Submitted by Daniel Tester on Sat, 05/16/2026 - 09:56 Arrests made as police officers deployed in 'unprecedented' numbers to tackle multiple rallies, with extra powers to target activists Protesters march along Piccadilly in central London in support of Palestine and against the far right during a demonstration organised by the Stop the War Coalition on 16 May 2026 (Ben Stansall/AFP) Off Organizers said that around 250,000 people gathered in central London on Saturday to attend a march marking the 78th anniversary of the Nakba , which coincided with a separate protest organised by far-right activist Tommy Robinson . The Metropolitan Police, which deployed over 4,000 officers to police the marches in what it described as an "unprecedented" public order operation, announced that it had made 31 arrests in relation to the protests by 4. 30pm.
TEHRAN (Tasnim) – Thousands of teachers in Mexico staged demonstrations on National Teachers' Day on Friday, demanding improvements in salaries and pension conditions.
Tens of thousands expected at major Nakba Day demonstrations in London Tens of thousands of people are expected to gather in London on Saturday for two major demonstrations, one marking the Nakba in Palestine and another led by far-right campaigner Tommy Robinson, Al Jazeera reported. According to the Press Association, around 4,000 police officers will be deployed, including 660 brought in from forces outside the London Metropolitan area. The Press Association reported that, for the first time under new protest restrictions, organisers and speakers could face prosecution if events are used to promote extremism or hate speech.
The film-maker, who won the Grand Prix for A Hero in 2021, condemned both the killing of protestors and the conflict’s bombing campaigns during a Cannes press conference Oscar-winning Iranian director Asghar Farhadi has described the deaths of civilians in Iran as “extremely cruel and tragic” during a press conference at the Cannes film festival. Farhadi, whose new Paris-set drama Parallel Tales premiered on the Croisette on Thursday night, was asked about working free from censorship in France, the war involving Iran, the US and Israel, and the repression of protesters in his native country. Continue reading...
