Palestine, Israel, Somaliland, Instagram Breach
Muslim Medina.org
Somalia Accuses Israel of Plotting Forced Palestinian Transfer to Somaliland Amid Diplomatic Row
Somalia's Defence Minister Ahmed Moalim Fiqi has claimed that his government possesses reliable intelligence indicating Israel intends to forcibly relocate Palestinians from Gaza to the breakaway region of Somaliland. He labeled the alleged scheme a grave breach of international norms and urged Israeli leaders to reverse their recent recognition of Somaliland's independence, viewing it as an assault on Somali unity.
Both Israel and Somaliland have firmly rejected any connection between their new diplomatic ties and Palestinian resettlement, with Israeli officials stating such ideas were never part of discussions. The controversy has sparked widespread regional backlash, including condemnations from Islamic nations and an emergency summit, highlighting tensions over sovereignty and strategic interests in the Horn of Africa.
Mogadishu Intensifies Criticism: Mogadishu has intensified its criticism of Israel's diplomatic outreach in the Horn of Africa, with Defence Minister Ahmed Moalim Fiqi alleging that Tel Aviv harbors plans to displace Palestinians from Gaza by relocating them to Somaliland.
Alleged Intelligence: In recent statements, Fiqi asserted that Somali authorities have obtained solid evidence pointing to an Israeli strategy aimed at transferring Palestinians to the self-declared independent region. He described any such forced movement as a blatant infringement on global legal standards and called on Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to retract the late-2025 decision to formally acknowledge Somaliland as a sovereign state. Fiqi framed the recognition as not just a diplomatic maneuver but a deliberate challenge to Somalia's territorial integrity.
Broader Accusations: The minister further accused Israel of pursuing a broader agenda to fragment nations in the Middle East and beyond, suggesting that supporting separatist movements aligns with long-term goals of regional dominance. He highlighted potential Israeli interest in setting up a military outpost near the Bab al-Mandeb Strait, a critical waterway linking the Gulf of Aden to the Red Sea, warning that this could heighten instability across the area.
Denials from Both Sides: These claims build on earlier concerns voiced by Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud. Israeli authorities have countered these assertions decisively. Foreign Minister Gideon Saar publicly stated that no arrangements involving the involuntary relocation of Palestinians were included in any deals with Somaliland, emphasizing cooperation in areas like politics, security, and economic development instead. Officials in Hargeisa have echoed this, insisting that their burgeoning ties with Israel are strictly diplomatic.
International Reaction: The dispute has escalated into a wider international controversy. Dozens of countries, along with organizations such as the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), have denounced Israel's move as undermining Somalia's sovereignty. An OIC extraordinary meeting recently adopted resolutions condemning the recognition and reaffirming solidarity with Palestine.
Ongoing Tensions: As diplomatic tensions simmer, Somalia continues to rally support for its unified stance, with President Mohamud appealing directly to Somaliland figures to pursue dialogue with the federal government in Mogadishu rather than external alliances that could prolong division. The situation underscores ongoing geopolitical rivalries in the Horn of Africa.
Fresh Israeli Strikes Claim Three Lives in Gaza as Fragile Ceasefire Falters Amid Winter Crisis
Medical reports from Gaza indicate that Israeli military actions overnight killed at least three Palestinians and injured seven others across multiple locations, including Rafah, Khan Younis, and Gaza City neighborhoods. These incidents mark the latest in a series of alleged breaches of the October 2025 ceasefire between Israel and Hamas. The Israeli military stated its forces eliminated individuals deemed threats, including one attempting to take equipment.
Compounding the hardship, a week-old infant succumbed to hypothermia in central Gaza due to plunging temperatures and inadequate shelter. With Israel restricting essential aid like tents and building materials, displaced families in flimsy encampments face severe risks from ongoing cold weather, as nearly 80% of the enclave's structures remain destroyed from prolonged conflict.
Renewed Violence: Renewed violence in the Gaza Strip has resulted in the deaths of at least three Palestinians, highlighting the precarious state of a ceasefire agreement brokered in October 2025. Health officials in the enclave reported that overnight operations by Israeli forces targeted several areas, wounding an additional seven people and underscoring persistent tensions despite the truce.
Incident Details: The affected zones spanned southern Gaza, including Rafah and Khan Younis, as well as the Zeitoun district southeast of Gaza City and other parts of the blockaded territory. One notable incident involved a drone strike on a man en route to medical care in Khan Younis, while gunfire reportedly claimed two lives east of Zeitoun.
Israeli Position: Israeli defense sources confirmed operations that neutralized three individuals in various neighborhoods, asserting they represented immediate dangers to troops—one of whom was allegedly tampering with military gear.
Winter Humanitarian Crisis: The violence unfolds against a backdrop of deteriorating living conditions exacerbated by harsh winter weather. A newborn, just seven days old, perished from extreme cold in Deir el-Balah, central Gaza, as nighttime temperatures dipped to around 9°C (48°F). Displaced residents, huddled in makeshift tents constructed from thin fabric and plastic, offer minimal defense against wind and rain.
Aid Restrictions: Civil defense teams in Gaza have issued urgent alerts about an impending "disaster," noting widespread tent damage from recent storms and prohibiting the import of sturdier options like mobile homes. Authorities blame ongoing limitations on humanitarian inflows for the crisis, violating terms that mandate increased aid under the ceasefire and broader international obligations.
Long-term Damage: United Nations data reveals that vast swaths of Gaza—approximately 80% of buildings—lie ruined or impaired from over two years of intense fighting, displacing hundreds of thousands and leaving them vulnerable.
Instagram Users Hit by Wave of Password Resets Amid Reports of 17.5 Million Records Leaked on Dark Web
Cybersecurity researchers have flagged a large dataset containing personal details from around 17.5 million Instagram accounts, which surfaced on underground forums earlier this week. The exposed information reportedly includes usernames, full names, emails, phone numbers, and partial addresses, stemming from data allegedly scraped via an API issue in 2024. No passwords were compromised, but the leak has triggered a surge in unsolicited password reset emails for many users worldwide.
Meta has denied any system breach, stating the reset emails resulted from a fixed vulnerability allowing external parties to trigger requests, and assured that accounts remain secure. Experts still recommend vigilance against phishing attempts exploiting the circulated data.
Major Cybersecurity Alert: A major cybersecurity alert has emerged surrounding Instagram, with reports indicating that sensitive personal information from approximately 17.5 million user accounts has been made publicly available on dark web platforms.
Leaked Data Details: The dataset, first highlighted by security firm Malwarebytes during routine monitoring, includes key details such as usernames, complete names, email addresses, phone numbers, partial location data, and additional contact information. Cybersecurity outlets trace the origins to a vulnerability in Instagram's application programming interface (API) exploited in late 2024, allowing unauthorized scraping of profile data on a massive scale.
Dark Web Distribution: On January 7, 2026, a hacker known online as "Solonnik" posted the collection on the notorious BreachForums site, distributing it for free in structured formats. This rapid dissemination has raised alarms about potential misuse, including targeted phishing scams, identity fraud, and social engineering attacks.
User Impact: The incident gained widespread attention when millions of Instagram users began reporting floods of unexpected password reset emails starting around January 8. These notifications, appearing legitimate, sparked panic over possible account compromises.
Meta's Response: In response to growing concerns, Meta—the parent company of Instagram—issued a clarification denying any unauthorized intrusion into its systems. A spokesperson explained that the unusual reset activity stemmed from a now-resolved flaw that permitted third parties to initiate bulk password change requests externally. "There was no breach of our systems, and people’s Instagram accounts remain secure," the company stated.
Expert Warnings: While Meta maintains that user accounts were not directly hacked, independent experts caution that the leaked dataset could still empower cybercriminals. The combination of verified contact details makes it easier to launch sophisticated attacks.
Recommendations: Affected individuals are advised to enable two-factor authentication, monitor for suspicious activity, and avoid clicking links in unsolicited emails. Users can also check exposure status on services like Have I Been Pwned or Malwarebytes tools.
Your Support Keeps Muslim Medina.org Growing!
You can Support Muslim Medina.org to keep growing, help more people or too create new free courses and content by donating or by sharing this website around, it goes a long way. Shukraan!
JazakAllahu khayran!