Reporting in Arabic, Al Jazeera revealed that the danger of Israel's latest decision to confiscate land in central Jenin lies in its targeting of Area A — territory under full Palestinian civil and security control according to the Oslo Accords. The move is widely seen as an attempt by the occupation to abolish the Oslo division entirely and impose direct military control over the entire West Bank. Analysts note that this is a precedent that could pave the way for further land grabs in other Area A zones, effectively rendering the Palestinian Authority's nominal sovereignty meaningless. No official reaction from the Palestinian Authority has been reported yet, but local resistance factions have condemned the seizure.
A leaked State Department cable, obtained by Al Jazeera and Al Quds Al Arabi, detailed that the Trump administration threatened to cancel the visas of the entire Palestinian UN delegation if Ambassador Riyad Mansour does not withdraw his candidacy for Vice President of the UN General Assembly. The cable, dated Wednesday, instructed US diplomats in Jerusalem to deliver the message. The Palestinian mission has not publicly responded, but the move is seen as part of Washington's broader campaign to isolate Palestinian representation at the UN and diminish international legal and diplomatic efforts to challenge Israeli policies.
The treatment of activists from the Global Sumud (Steadfastness) Flotilla — who were attempting to break the siege on Gaza by sea — sparked an unprecedented international backlash after far-right Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir posted a video showing detainees handcuffed, blindfolded, and forced to kneel on the ground.
According to Middle East Eye, European Council President Antonio Costa said he was "appalled" and called the behavior "completely unacceptable." The EU issued a statement demanding the "protection and dignified treatment" of the activists, as reported by Anadolu Agency.
Spain's Foreign Minister José Manuel Albares summoned the Israeli charge d'affaires, calling the treatment "monstrous," "inhumane," and "disgraceful," and demanded a public apology, Middle East Monitor reported. Italy's Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni and Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani issued a joint statement describing the images as "unacceptable" and summoned the Israeli ambassador, according to MEM.
Canada's Prime Minister Mark Carney denounced the "abominable treatment" and demanded assurances for the safety of Canadians involved, MEM reported. Poland's Foreign Minister Radoslaw Sikorski demanded "justice for our citizens and consequences for you," according to MEM. Australia's Foreign Minister Penny Wong condemned the "shocking and unacceptable" treatment, MEE reported. Sweden called Ben-Gvir's actions "indefensible" and said the incident reinforces the push for sanctions on extremist Israeli ministers, per Anadolu. Finland also said it would seek an explanation from the Israeli ambassador, according to Anadolu.
In the US, Senators Jeff Merkley and Chris Van Hollen condemned the abuse, with Van Hollen saying Washington should have sanctioned Ben-Gvir "long ago," as MEE reported. Meanwhile, US Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee said Ben-Gvir "betrayed dignity," even as the Trump administration sanctioned flotilla organizers the day before, highlighting a contradictory policy, Al Jazeera English reported.
Cuba at the UN also denounced the treatment, with its envoy saying, "We reject the impunity with which Israel commits new violations of international law and human rights," per Anadolu.
According to Adalah, the Legal Centre for Arab Minority Rights in Israel, activists captured from the flotilla were subjected to electric shocks, physical and psychological abuse, Middle East Eye reported. Three activists have been hospitalized with serious injuries, and dozens more are suspected to have broken ribs and breathing difficulties from Israeli detention. Detainees were forced into stress positions — walking bent fully forward and kneeling for prolonged periods — and several women reported that their head coverings were forcibly removed.
Al Quds Al Arabi and Middle East Eye reported that the South Korean presidential office announced that some of the Korean nationals detained by Israel after the seizure of the flotilla have been released. A presidential spokesperson welcomed the release, after Seoul had previously expressed "deep regret" over the detention.
The US Treasury Department removed Francesca Albanese, the UN Special Rapporteur on human rights in the occupied Palestinian territory, from its sanctions list, Al Jazeera English reported. The deletion from the specially designated nationals list was carried out after a US federal judge ruled that the sanctions violated her free speech rights, as reported by Anadolu. Albanese was among several individuals sanctioned by the Trump administration for advocacy against Israel's genocidal war in Gaza.
Middle East Monitor reported that UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres "strongly condemned" Israel's decision to establish military facilities at the UNRWA Sheikh Jarrah compound in occupied East Jerusalem, which Israel had seized in January. A statement from his spokesperson stressed that the compound "remains United Nations premises" and said the measures constitute a breach of the inviolability of UN premises and undermine the agency's mandate in the occupied Palestinian territory.
Middle East Monitor reported that a coalition of 46 Jewish organizations, including Jewish Voice for Peace, Rabbis for Ceasefire, IfNotNow, and Jews for Racial and Economic Justice, launched the Jewish Diaspora Movement (JDM) on May 18. The movement describes itself as "a participatory network advancing an ethical future for Jews, Jewishness, and Judaism" rooted in diasporic traditions and solidarity, explicitly rejecting the framework of Israeli state power and ethno-nationalism.
According to +972 Magazine, a Haifa court found two Palestinian citizens of Israel guilty of "indirect incitement to terrorism" for chanting slogans at an anti-war protest. Lawyers warned the verdict sets a dangerous precedent for criminalizing political expression.
Al Jazeera Arabic reported that the Israeli army announced on Wednesday that 7 soldiers were wounded in southern Lebanon. Hezbollah said it carried out 24 military operations over the past day targeting Israeli forces, military vehicles, and positions across southern Lebanon, including in the towns of Debel, Rachaf, and Biyyada. The group said it used drone strikes and rocket barrages in response to continued Israeli ceasefire violations. According to Middle East Eye, despite a truce deal that came into effect in April, Israeli assaults have led to dozens of civilian deaths and widespread destruction in southern Lebanon. The Lebanese Health Ministry has reported that 3,073 people have been killed since March across Lebanon, according to Al Jazeera English's live blog.
Al Quds Al Arabi and Al Jazeera Arabic reported that Iran's Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei confirmed that Tehran has received Washington's "latest views" and is reviewing them. Pakistan's Interior Minister is in Iran to "facilitate the exchange of messages" and provide additional explanations, according to Anadolu Agency. Iran has emphasized it will not surrender to the US, and that "diplomacy is wiser than war," per the Al Jazeera English live blog.
Middle East Eye reported that President Donald Trump told reporters, "We're in the final stages of Iran. We'll see what happens. Either have a deal or we're going to do some things that are a little bit nasty, but hopefully that won't happen." He also said he would not provide sanctions relief until a deal is complete, as reported by Anadolu. Saudi Arabia welcomed Trump's willingness to "give diplomacy a chance" and urged Tehran to reach an agreement.
Middle East Eye cited US officials and Israeli sources telling CNN that ongoing US-Iran negotiations have frustrated Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who argued that delays in attacking Tehran only benefit Iran. According to the report, Trump and Netanyahu had a tense hour-long conversation on Tuesday, reflecting diverging views on how to approach the war. Netanyahu pushed for resuming attacks, while Trump continued to push for a diplomatic agreement.
Middle East Monitor reported that Israel's Channel 12 said the two leaders held a "lengthy and dramatic" phone call overnight Tuesday, their second contact in days, as they appeared to be "on the verge of a decision" regarding the Iran war. No details were provided about the content.
Middle East Eye reported that the semi-official Iranian news agency Tasnim announced the execution of two individuals, Ramin Zaleh and Karim Maroufpour, under charges of "disrupting the country's security" and membership in a "terrorist" organization.
Middle East Eye reported that 137 countries are supporting a draft UN Security Council resolution on the Strait of Hormuz, introduced by the US and Bahrain. The resolution aims to "protect international waterways, commercial shipping and energy supplies, maintain global economic and trade stability, as well as ensure the safety and security of seafarers."
Al Jazeera Arabic reported that an Iranian naval body has defined a maritime zone under its control in the Strait of Hormuz. The political deputy of the IRGC Navy stated, as quoted by Middle East Eye, "The Americans, despite a thousand tricks and acts of deception, could not reopen it."
Middle East Monitor reported that the UN Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) warned that the closure of the Strait of Hormuz could trigger a severe global food price crisis within 6 to 12 months, calling the disruption "the beginning of a systemic agrifood shock." The FAO noted the shock is unfolding in stages: energy, fertilizer, seeds, lower yields, commodity price increases, then food inflation.
Al Jazeera Arabic cited a Telegraph analysis arguing that Iran's closure of the strait exposed a critical US weakness in naval mine warfare, and that Washington may need to rely on NATO allies' capabilities to reopen the waterway after decades of neglecting this dimension of military capacity.
Al Quds Al Arabi reported that gold prices stabilized on Thursday as hopes for a US-Iran peace deal outweighed inflation fears from rising oil prices and interest rates. Spot gold was at $4,543.96 per ounce. Similarly, the dollar hovered below its six-week high on hopes of a diplomatic resolution, as reported by Al Quds Al Arabi.
Al Quds Al Arabi reported that the Russian Defense Ministry announced on Thursday that it has transferred nuclear warheads to field storage sites in Belarus as part of large-scale nuclear weapons drills. The ministry said, "Within the framework of exercises of the nuclear forces, nuclear munitions were delivered to field storage sites in the area of a missile brigade in the Republic of Belarus." This marks a further escalation in Russia's nuclear signaling amid heightened tensions with NATO.
Al Jazeera Arabic and Al Quds Al Arabi reported, citing South Korean news agency Yonhap, that President Xi Jinping may visit North Korea next week. A Chinese security and protocol team recently visited Pyongyang, and speculation is growing that Xi could facilitate talks between Trump and Kim Jong Un.
Al Jazeera Arabic reported that President Trump announced his intention to speak by phone with Taiwan's President Lai Ching-te, defying longstanding diplomatic norms. He described arming the island as a "good negotiation chip" with China. The move is likely to provoke a strong reaction from Beijing, which considers Taiwan a breakaway province.
Al Jazeera English reported that two US Capitol Police officers, Harry Dunn and Daniel Hodges, filed a lawsuit against Trump over a $1.8 billion fund that they argue will likely be used to "reward" rioters who attacked the US Capitol on January 6.
Al Jazeera English reported that Bolivian President Rodrigo Paz announced a cabinet reshuffle and other measures as anti-government protests escalate across the country.
Al Jazeera English reported that hundreds marched in Buenos Aires against President Javier Milei's austerity policies and cuts to healthcare funding.
While previously reported, the Al Jazeera English live blog continues to note ongoing Houthi operations against Israeli-affiliated shipping, though no new claims were reported in today's articles beyond what was previously covered.
Anadolu Agency reported that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy expressed hope for resuming trilateral peace talks with Russia in the coming weeks, after his team held "good contacts" with the US.
Al Quds Al Arabi reported that analysts expect Saudi Arabia to burn larger quantities of imported fuel oil to generate electricity this summer, following disruptions to natural gas supplies from oil fields closed after the war on Iran restricted the kingdom's oil exports.