Four Palestinian aid seekers killed in Rafah
At least four people were killed after Israeli forces opened fire on Palestinians waiting to collect aid in northern Rafah, southern Gaza.
Israeli soldiers have routinely fired on Palestinians near distribution centres, killing more than 540 people to date.
Israeli outlet Haaretz quoted unnamed sources as saying that troops had received orders to open fire on crowds waiting to receive aid from the US-Israeli administered Gaza Humanitarian Foundation, which has overseen aid deliveries in Gaza since late May.
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Middle East Eye
41 minutes ago
- Middle East Eye
Iran: Executions soar following end of Israeli assault
At the height of Israel's war against Iran, Kambiz Hosseini - an anti-establishment figure working for the Saudi-funded media outlet Iran International - told his followers that Iran's Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei would soon be killed. On 19 June, when Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu declared that Khamenei's death would mean the end of the Islamic Republic, Hosseini urged his followers to wait just a little longer, writing: 'You have waited 46 years, 4 months, and 29 days; wait three more days.' For three days, nothing happened. Then, on the fourth, everything changed. Less than two hours after US President Donald Trump announced a ceasefire between Iran and Israel, Hosseini posted anxiously on X: 'If Khamenei survives in these remaining hours, he will massacre the people! He will take revenge on everyone.' And Khamenei survived. It wasn't only Hosseini and his followers, who supported foreign intervention to overthrow the Islamic Republic, who were worried. Many Iranians inside and outside the country soon witnessed a wave of repression, arrests and executions after the war ended. On the morning of 24 June, just hours after the ceasefire took effect, three people were hanged in Urmia prison. Idris Aali, Azad Shojaei, and Rasoul Ahmad had been accused of collaborating with Mossad before the war and were swiftly executed. 'What threatens the establishment is not a foreign enemy, but the opposition and ordinary people inside Iran' - Mahmoud Amiri-Moghaddam, Iran Human Rights In the days before that, three other prisoners - Mohammad Amin Mahdavi Shayesteh, Majid Mossayebi, and Esmail Fekri - were also executed in different prisons on charges of spying for Israel. At the same time, Iranian state media announced that over 700 people had been arrested across the country for 'espionage', 'spreading anti-establishment propaganda', or 'collaborating with hostile governments'. Mahmoud Amiri-Moghaddam, head of the Oslo-based Iran Human Rights organisation, put the number at least 900 in an interview with Middle East Eye. He also pointed to a new law passed by Iran's parliament during the war, and its details revealed on 28 June, known as the 'intensifying punishment for agents collaborating with hostile states' bill. According to him, this law is meant to increase pressure on citizens and provide legal justification for future executions. 'The real targets are not Mossad agents, but ordinary people. Under this law, anyone can be accused of 'corruption on earth' and executed. Even talking to people outside Iran could now be considered espionage,' he explained. 'What threatens the establishment is not a foreign enemy, but the opposition and ordinary people inside Iran.' Ceasefires and executions For Iranians opposed to the government, ceasefires do not bring relief. The last time the Islamic Republic agreed to a ceasefire was in 1988, ending the eight-year Iran-Iraq war. What followed was the mass execution of thousands of political prisoners, some of whom were nearing the end of their sentences and awaiting release. At the time, the killings didn't receive media coverage due to censorship. Even years later, when the world learned about it, the perpetrators openly defended their actions. Now, many establishment critics fear that history is about to repeat itself. A former political prisoner who survived the 1988 massacre, who asked to remain anonymous, told MEE that although today's circumstances may be different, the repression has already begun. They pointed to the widespread arrests of political activists and dissidents reported in recent days. Among those detained are Hassan and Hossein Ronaghi in Tehran; Noyan Hejazi and Nazanin Abedini in Jouibar; Jalal Khodamoradi in the Kurdish city of Sanandaj; blogger Donya Hosseini from Khuzestan province; and four Kurdish activists in Piranshahr. According to this former prisoner, after intense conflict with a foreign enemy, the establishment always tries to eliminate any opposition at home. 'The regime knows it has been defeated by Israel in many military and intelligence areas, and for this reason, it is unwilling to take the risk of any internal dissent," they said. A member of the People's Mujahedin of Iran in France displays portraits of victims of the 1988 executions in 2019 (Eric Feferberg/ AFP) "It fears this could bring down a 46-year-old dictatorship.' They also recalled the wave of executions after the suppression of the 'Woman, Life, Freedom' movement in 2022, when protesters were swiftly tried and executed without access to lawyers. 'Since 1979, this religious dictatorship has relied on executions to deal with opponents. By incorporating Shia jurisprudence into its system, it has even given religious legitimacy to these killings," they concluded. "More executions are certainly coming, and the regime will resort to killing and intimidating ordinary people to ensure its survival." One of the most evident signs of increasing repression is the return of Basij checkpoints to the streets. New MEE newsletter: Jerusalem Dispatch Sign up to get the latest insights and analysis on Israel-Palestine, alongside Turkey Unpacked and other MEE newsletters The Basij is part of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC). Its members, known as "volunteers", are rewarded with government jobs, university admissions, low-interest loans, and other benefits. How supporters of 'Woman Life Freedom' in Iran rejected Israel's assault Read More » The Basij have been deployed in many incidents the government wishes to distance itself from, such as attacks on Tehran University dormitories and the British and Saudi embassies in recent years. They also carry out arbitrary arrests during protests. Just two days after Israel attacked Iran, the government announced the return of Basij checkpoints. Their reappearance came with attacks by plainclothes agents on non-political public figures critical of the establishment. One such case was Voria Ghafouri, a former Iranian national football player. His cafe in western Tehran was shut down by seven plainclothes officers, without explanation or a court order. Meanwhile, the state has also been sending threatening mass text messages to citizens, warning them against following anti-government media outside Iran. One such message, seen by MEE, warned recipients that if they did not delete likes, comments, or follows from certain pages, they would face legal consequences. One citizen, who received the message, said he didn't even use his phone to read the news. 'I have two mobile lines, one for work and one personal. I got the text message on the phone that I wasn't even using for news,' he said. Public intimidation These intimidation tactics are not just isolated acts of harassment but part of a broader system of fear used to silence dissent and justify more extreme forms of punishment, including executions. According to Amiri-Moghaddam, the establishment often uses vague or fabricated charges like espionage, 'propaganda against the regime,' or 'corruption on earth' to legitimise these crackdowns. Amiri-Moghaddam also warned that if the international community remains silent, Iran's rulers may resort to mass executions. Iran says 71 killed in Israeli strike on Evin Prison Read More » 'The Islamic Republic has always followed one core principle: preserving the establishment. What has consistently threatened its survival is the domestic opposition,' he said. He added that one of the highest waves of executions occurred in the country during the 2015 nuclear negotiations with western countries. 'At that time, we warned EU representatives, but they told us their main focus was the nuclear deal, so they ignored the rest," he explained. He noted a similar pattern in the eight months leading up to the recent war with Israel. With attention on Iran's presidential election, Trump's return to power, and new nuclear talks, Iran used the last year to execute over a thousand people. There were at least 343 executions in Iran in the first four months of 2025 - a 75 percent increase over the same period in 2024, according to Iran Human Rights.
Arabian Post
an hour ago
- Arabian Post
Kazakhstan Moves to Create Sovereign Crypto Reserve
Kazakhstan's National Bank, under its chairman Timur Suleimenov, is taking steps to build a state-held cryptocurrency reserve managed by a subsidiary entity, following international sovereign fund practices. The proposal outlines funding sources that include confiscated crypto-assets and coins mined through ventures with state participation—measures aimed at enhancing governance and stability within the digital asset ecosystem. The National Bank is developing a comprehensive framework for the reserve's formation and administration, emphasising transparency and institutional safeguards. It plans to enshrine in law both the status of the reserve and the protocols for deposit and use, with draft legislation to be submitted to parliament for approval. Suleimenov highlighted that the envisioned affiliate would follow global norms for sovereign funds, ensuring robust accounting, secure storage, and resilient governance structures. The legal amendments under discussion would affirm the reserve's legal standing and empower authorities to handle crypto-assets seized under law as well as profits generated from state-linked mining operations. ADVERTISEMENT The banking chief stressed the importance of centralised institutional oversight, noting the high volatility and vulnerability of crypto-assets. Centralisation, he said, is key to mitigating risks such as market fluctuations or cyber threats. This effort is part of a wider regulatory overhaul targeting cryptocurrency flows. Under proposals by the Ministry of Digital Development, draft laws would impose criminal and administrative liability on grey‑market trades, require licences for investment advisers, and curb unlicensed exchanges and misleading crypto promoters—many of whom target younger investors. Parliamentary deputies have endorsed the overarching concept. One lawmaker, Kuspekov, recommended creating a 'national digital reserve' at the central bank to anchor confiscated digital assets and tighten financial controls. He also urged strengthened due diligence by banks, prohibition of unlicensed crypto platforms, and mandates for licensed investment coaches. These developments follow a surge in legislative activity since May. The National Bank has proposed amendments defining legal status for digital assets, licensing for crypto exchanges outside the Astana International Financial Centre, and a regulatory sandbox for testing digital services. The objective is to restore confidence in Kazakhstan's crypto sector after capital flight estimated at US$15 billion last year. Timur Suleimenov, appointed as National Bank chair in September 2023 and former minister of national economy, has emphasised institutional integrity and macroeconomic resilience. He recently noted that international reserves reached US$104.7 billion at end-2024, bolstered by gains in gold and foreign-exchange holdings. The crypto reserve initiative appears aligned with broader state efforts. Issuance of AIFC‑backed crypto payment cards was piloted in early June by major banks including Halyk Bank, Forte and Altyn Bank—allowing consumers to instantly convert digital assets into fiat currency for everyday purchases. The Ministry of Digital Development has proposed the creation of a crypto reserve as a digital asset repository to support the national digital economy. This official endorsement underscores the government's increasing interest in integrating digital assets within its fiscal infrastructure. Central to this initiative are practical mechanisms that remain under review. The National Bank is working with law-enforcement agencies and other government bodies to outline operational procedures, compliance norms and asset custody arrangements.
Middle East Eye
an hour ago
- Middle East Eye
More Palestinian aid seekers killed
At least 13 aid killers were killed on Monday by an Israeli air strike in the southern city of Khan Younis, according to medical sources at Nasser Medical Complex. Another 50 people were injured in the same attack. This pushes the number of those killed in Gaza by Israeli attacks since the early hours of Monday to at least 48 people.
