May 18 Israeli navy intercept flotilla boats trying to breach the blockade of Gaza By Suzan Fraser, Melanie Lidman, Associated Press Organizers say the boats were intercepted 250 nautical miles from Gaza's shores. Continue reading
May 17 Drone attack starts fire at UAE nuclear power plant By Jon Gambrell, Samy Magdy, Associated Press No one claimed responsibility, and the UAE did not blame anyone for what it said was an “unprovoked terrorist attack.” It has recently accused Iran of launching drone and missile attacks as tensions have risen over the Strait of Hormuz,… Continue reading
May 16 Israel says it killed a top Hamas leader By Samy Magdy, Sam Mednick, Associated Press Izz al-Din al-Haddad, a leader of Hamas’ military wing. He was one of the last surviving architects of the October 7, 2023, attacks that triggered the war in Gaza. Continue reading
May 15 Israel and Lebanon agree to 45-day extension of ceasefire, U.S. State Department says By Sheikh Saaliq, Adam Schreck, Associated Press A shaky truce between Israel and the Hezbollah militant group in Lebanon had been due to end on Sunday. Continue reading
May 14 Lebanon and Israel kick off new negotiations amid fighting with Hezbollah By Abby Sewell, Bassem Mroue, Kareem Chehayeb, Associated Press The Trump administration has been pushing for a breakthrough between the two neighbors that have been officially in a state of war since Israel was created in 1948. Continue reading
May 14 Ultranationalist Jews recite racist slogans during march into Jerusalem's Old City By Julia Frankel, Associated Press Normally a bustling marketplace for Palestinian residents of east Jerusalem, the area was devoid of Palestinians, many of whom had barricaded themselves inside their homes and closed their shops for the day. The procession often leads to violent confrontations between… Continue reading
May 14 Flotilla heads for Gaza after Israel intercepted last convoy By Murat Kocabas, Suzan Fraser, Associated Press More than 50 vessels departed from Marmaris on Thursday in what organizers call the final leg of their journey to Gaza. On April 30, Israeli forces intercepted a previous flotilla near Crete, initially detaining about 175 activists and transferring two… Continue reading
May 14 Pope Leo condemns use of AI warfare and the 'spiral of annihilation' it brings By Nicole Winfield, Paolo Santalucia, Associated Press Leo’s speech at Rome’s La Sapienza University marked the first time a pope has visited the campus since Pope Benedict XVI called off a planned speech there in 2008 in the face of protests from faculty and students. Continue reading
May 13 Board of Peace envoy Mladenov says ceasefire hinges on Hamas' disarmament By Julia Frankel, Sam Metz, Associated Press Nickolay Mladenov, the top diplomat overseeing the U.S.-brokered ceasefire in Gaza, on Wednesday acknowledged that the truce was stalled, saying the deadlock over disarming Hamas had paralyzed reconstruction of the war-battered territory. Continue reading
May 12 Israeli lawmakers set up a special tribunal and allow for death penalty for Hamas-led 2023 attackers By Julia Frankel, Associated Press Rights groups have criticized the measure, saying it makes the death penalty too easy to impose while also doing away with procedures safeguarding the right to a fair trial. Continue reading