Sharaa ready for normalization with Israel, assures Trump | LIVE

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Several NGOs, including Doctors of the World, Doctors Without Borders and Oxfam, have warned of the risk of "mass famine" in Gaza if Israel continues to block food aid at the borders of the enclave, reported AFP.

"Regarding malnutrition, we know that the coming period will be critical; we could enter into mass famine if the borders [of Gaza] are not opened quickly," warned Mahmoud Isleem, coordinator of Doctors of the World in the Palestinian territories, during a video press conference.

"We call for unrestricted humanitarian corridors and an immediate ceasefire," he added.

Former hostages urge Netanyahu and Trump to reach agreement to free remaining hostages

More than 65 people freed after being kidnapped in the Oct. 7, 2023 attacks urged Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Donald Trump on Wednesday to find a negotiated solution to secure the release of all hostages still held in Gaza.

"Only the immediate return of ALL hostages through a negotiated settlement will lay the foundation for hope, unity, and renewal for our nation," the 67 signatories wrote in a letter to Benjamin Netanyahu, with a copy to the U.S. president and his Middle East envoy, Steve Witkoff.

"Having ourselves endured the Hamas tunnels, we call on U.S. President Donald Trump, the prime minister, government ministers and all those involved in these negotiations: do not let this historic momentum be interrupted," they said, referring to the release on Monday of Israeli-American Edan Alexander.

UN warns of 'dangerous escalation' between Israel and Houthis

The U.N. envoy for Yemen has expressed concern about the "dangerous escalation" between Israel and the Houthis, as the Israeli army carried out several strikes in retaliation for attacks by the Houthis.

“The events of recent weeks serve as a stark reminder that Yemen is caught in broader regional tensions,” Hans Grundberg told a Security Council meeting.

“The attack by Ansar Allah [the Houthis’ official name] on 4 May against Ben Gurion Airport and the subsequent Israeli strikes against Hodeidah port, Sana’a airport and other locations represent a dangerous escalation, and the threats and attacks, unfortunately, continue,” he added.

On May 4, a Houthi missile struck the perimeter of Ben Gurion International Airport near Tel Aviv for the first time. In retaliation, the Israeli military shut down Sana'a airport and bombed power stations and cement factories on May 6. After announcing the interception of a new missile, the Israeli military called on Wednesday for the evacuation of three Houthi-controlled ports.

Despite his concerns, Hans Grundberg welcomed the recent cease-fire agreement between the Houthis and the U.S. as "a necessary and important de-escalation in the Red Sea." This announcement "is a welcome opportunity that we must use to refocus on resolving the conflict in Yemen," he noted.

UNIFIL protests "direct fire" by Israel on one of its positions

The U.N. peacekeeping mission in Lebanon has protested against a "direct hit" by the Israeli army on one of its positions in southern Lebanon, the first since the ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah.

Israeli army calls for evacuation of Gaza City neighborhood

The Israeli army has called for the evacuation of an area in the Rimal district of Gaza City (northern Gaza), ahead of a "high-intensity" attack.

"Due to Hamas's use of civilian areas for terrorist purposes, the army will attack the area with high intensity," Israeli army Arabic-language spokesman Avichay Adraee wrote on social networks.

General Strike Called in Saida to Mark 77th Anniversary of Nakba

The Joint Palestinian Action Committee has called for a general strike in Saida and the city’s Palestinian camps on Wednesday to mark the 77th anniversary of the Nakba. During the Nakba of 1948, Israel forcibly displaced some 760,000 Palestinians from their land.

The committee urged the closure of schools, institutions, centers and associations, and called for active participation in demonstrations to “commemorate this painful anniversary and denounce the ongoing aggression against the [Palestinian] people.”

Two demonstrations were held today in the Ain al-Hilweh and Mieh Mieh camps around midday, the committee said. Another protest is scheduled for 10:30 a.m. tomorrow in the Ain al-Hilweh.

Gaza

Doctors Without Borders has stated that Israel is creating the conditions for "a deliberate humanitarian catastrophe" in Gaza, and accused it of trying to make aid in the enclave conditional on the forced displacement of its inhabitants.

"We are witnessing, in real time, the creation of conditions for the eradication of Palestinian lives in Gaza," the NGO denounced in a statement.

Qatar places $200 billion order with Boeing, announces Trump

Qatar signed a deal on Wednesday to purchase jets from U.S. manufacturer Boeing for Qatar Airways during President Donald Trump's visit to the Gulf Arab country.

"This is the largest airplane order in Boeing's history," said Donald Trump, stating that the deal was worth "more than $200 billion for 160 airplanes. It's fantastic, it's a record."

U.S. President Donald Trump expressed hope on Wednesday that diplomatic efforts for a nuclear deal with Iran would succeed, after holding talks with Qatar's emir.

"I have a feeling it's going to work out," Trump said in Doha, following last month's resumption of negotiations with Iran.

U.S. President Donald Trump said he believes that diplomatic efforts for a nuclear deal with Iran would succeed, after he held talks with Qatar's emir, AFP reports. "I have a feeling it's going to work out," Trump said in Doha, following the resumption last month of negotiations with Iran seeking to reach a deal.

Witkoff and Rubio in Turkey on Friday

U.S. envoy to the Middle East Steve Witkoff has said he and U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio will travel to Istanbul on Friday for talks on the Russia-Ukraine war, Reuters reports.

Witkoff added that he was unsure whether Russian President Vladimir Putin would be attending the meetings. It is still not confirmed whether U.S. President Donald Trump will also go to Turkey. Reuters had earlier reported that Keith Kellogg, the U.S. special envoy to Russia and Ukraine, would be traveling with Witkoff to Turkey.

Trump praises Sharaa following meeting in Riyadh

Before landing in Qatar, his second stop in the region after Saudi Arabia, U.S. President Donald Trump told reporters on Air Force One that his half-hour meeting in Riyadh with Syrian President Ahmad al-Sharaa went "great," The Guardian reports. This was the first meeting between an American and Syrian president in 25 years.

Trump said of his counterpart: "Young, attractive guy. Tough guy. Strong past. Very strong past. Fighter," adding, "He’s got a real shot at holding it together. I spoke with [Turkish] President Erdogan, who is very friendly with him. He feels he’s got a shot of doing a good job. It’s a torn-up country.

US, Turkey and Syria to parse details of sanction lifting Thursday

Foreign ministers from Syria, Turkey, and the U.S. will meet tomorrow in Antalya, Turkey, to review the details of U.S. President Donald Trump's plan to lift sanctions on Syria, Al Jazeera reports. Trump announced the move yesterday, ahead of today's meeting with Syrian President Ahmad al-Sharaa, during which he asked Sharaa to consider normalization with Israel.

“We will work on how to carry forward the details of the agreement that the leaders set the framework for and agreed upon,” said Turkiye’s Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan, referring to U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shaibani.

“Of course, there is a [congressional] leg to this matter in the United States, there is an administration leg, but there is a will that Mr Trump has put forth from the start,” Fidan added. “Within the framework of this will, and the work we will do, we hope the majority of these sanctions will be lifted as soon as possible.”

Gaza

German chancellor has urged “all concerned parties” to urgently act to prevent famine in Gaza, where Israel has blocked all humanitarian aid from entering since March 2, according to AFP.

“This is a humanitarian obligation for all parties... and I stress to all parties that famine in the region must be avoided as quickly as possible,” said German Prime Minister Friedrich Merz, a staunch ally of Israel, in a speech to lawmakers.

Syrian president open to normalization with Israel, says Trump

Donald Trump said Wednesday that Syrian President Ahmad al-Sharaa had expressed willingness to normalize relations with Israel — something Damascus has not publicly confirmed.

Speaking to reporters aboard a flight to Qatar, the U.S. president said: “I told him, I hope you’ll join [the Abraham Accords] once your situation is resolved, and he said ‘yes’. But they have a lot of work to do.”

Trump arrives in Qatar for Gulf Tour

President Donald Trump has arrived in Qatar, marking the second stop of his Gulf tour. The visit follows his earlier meetings in Saudi Arabia and is part of ongoing diplomatic engagements in the region.

Iran rejects Trump's 'misleading' view on Tehran

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi dismissed U.S. President Donald Trump's recent criticism of Iranian leadership during his visit to Riyadh, calling it a "very misleading" perspective. Araghchi expressed his views to journalists in Tehran, emphasizing the need for accurate understanding.

Israeli drone strike targets Hezbollah commander in Kaakaiet al-Jisr

An Israeli drone strike in Kaakaiet al-Jisr, southern Lebanon, resulted in the death of a Hezbollah member, identified as Hussein Melhem from Qabrikha. The Israeli army's Arabic spokesperson, Avichay Adraee, stated that Melhem was operating as a commander of a local Hezbollah branch in the area. Hezbollah has not yet issued a statement regarding his death.Uni India+2The Times of Israel+2Wikipedia+2

Victim of this morning’s Israeli strike was 'Hezbollah commander,' says Israeli army

Arabic-language spokesperson for the Israeli army, Avichay Adraee, stated in a post on X that the target of an Israeli drone strike earlier today in Kaakaiyet al-Jisr was “a Hezbollah member who operated as a commander” of a local branch of the group in Qabrikha. According to information from our correspondent, the victim was identified as Hussein Melhem, a native of this village in South Lebanon.

Hezbollah has not yet issued a statement regarding the death of this individual.

Trump asks Sharaa to expel 'Palestinian terrorists'

Donald Trump asked Ahmad al-Sharaa to expel “Palestinian terrorists” present in Syria, according to a summary released by the White House following a roughly 30-minute meeting between the two leaders in Riyadh.

The U.S. president “encouraged” the Syrian leader to “expel Palestinian terrorists.” Under the Assad governments, Syria had for decades hosted numerous Palestinian factions, including members of Hamas and Islamic Jihad.

Trump calls for Syria to take responsibility for ISIS prisoners

President Trump has urged Syria to "take responsibility" for prisons holding members of the Islamic State group. The U.S. administration emphasizes the importance of Syrian accountability regarding detainees affiliated with ISIS.

The person killed in the Israeli drone strike that targeted a car in Qaaqaaiyet al Jisr (Nabatieh district) this morning was identified as Hussein Melhem from the village of Qabrikha (Marjayoun), according to our correspondent in the South.

Trump/Sharaa meeting lasted about thirty minutes, with MBS present

The meeting between Donald Trump and Ahmad al-Sharaa, initially described by Washington as brief and informal, in fact lasted around thirty minutes — from 10:07 to 10:40 local time — according to the White House.

Saudi Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman also took part, as shown in a photo published by the official Saudi press agency, which captures a handshake between the U.S. president and the new Syrian head of state.

Trump asked Sharaa to normalize relations between Syria and Israel, according to the White House

Erdogan participated online in Trump/Sharaa meeting

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan participated online in the meeting in Riyadh between Donald Trump and Syrian President Ahmad al-Sharaa, according to the Turkish state news agency Anadolu.

According to Anadolu, Erdogan welcomed the U.S. decision to lift sanctions on Syria during the meeting, saying it would set an example for other countries.

🔴 Trump's meeting with Syrian president underway

A White House official told AFP that the meeting between Donald Trump and Syrian President Ahmad al-Sharaa was underway Tuesday in Riyadh at around 10:15 a.m. (07:15 GMT).

The encounter, described by the U.S. administration as brief and informal, comes a day after the Republican president announced the lifting of sanctions on Syria.

Gaza: Civil Defense reports “at least” 29 killed in Israeli bombings

Spokesperson for Gaza’s Civil Defense, Mahmoud Bassal, reported “at least 25 martyrs and dozens of injured” in Israeli airstrikes on the Jabalia refugee camp in the northern Gaza Strip. Four more people were killed in a strike west of Khan Younis, in the south of the Strip, he told AFP.

On Tuesday, following a brief pause for the release of Israeli-American hostage Edan Alexander, Israeli airstrikes near a hospital in Khan Younis killed at least 28 people, according to Civil Defense. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced yesterday — coinciding with the first day of U.S. President Donald Trump’s Middle East tour — a forthcoming escalation of the war in the Palestinian territory.

Gaza: “Will you act to prevent genocide?” asks Fletcher

“Will you act decisively to prevent genocide in Gaza?” asked U.N. humanitarian chief Tom Fletcher on Tuesday, addressing members of the Security Council and describing the “inhumane” conditions being imposed “shamelessly” by Israel in the Palestinian territory.

“Israel is deliberately and shamelessly imposing inhumane conditions on civilians in the occupied Palestinian territory,” Fletcher said in a speech challenging the Council to take responsibility.

Trump continues Middle East tour

Donald Trump is set to meet Wednesday in Riyadh with interim Syrian President Ahmad al-Sharaa, after announcing a dramatic lifting of sanctions against Damascus — a move Syria hailed as a “decisive turning point.” The U.S. President will then head to neighboring Qatar, where he may face a political scandal involving a luxury jet reportedly gifted by the ruling family in Doha.

The first day of Trump’s Gulf tour — with visits to Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and later the UAE — focused heavily on economic matters, with massive Saudi investment announcements.

Wednesday’s focus will be diplomatic, centered on the meeting with interim Syrian President Chareh. The White House described the encounter as a brief courtesy call: Trump “agreed to greet” the new Syrian leader, who came to power in December at the head of an Islamist coalition that overthrew Bashar al-Assad. But the two leaders are expected to have much to discuss, especially after Trump announced Tuesday that he would “order the lifting of all sanctions against Syria,” in place for decades and tightened during Assad’s rule.

Israel: missile fired from Yemen intercepted, says army

Israeli army said Wednesday morning that it had intercepted a missile fired from Yemen, which had triggered air defense alerts in several parts of Israel. “Following the sirens that went off recently in several areas of Israel, a missile fired from Yemen was intercepted,” the army’s statement said.

Dull explosions, likely caused by the interception, were heard from AFP’s office in Jerusalem. This is the second time in less than 24 hours that Israeli air defenses have intercepted a missile launched from Yemen, according to the army.

Strike on a vehicle in the Nabatiyeh district of South Lebanon

In southern Lebanon, an Israeli drone fired a missile at a vehicle traveling on the road between Kaakaiyet al-Jisr, in the Nabatiyeh district, according to our correspondent. The vehicle caught fire and ambulances were dispatched to the scene. No casualty toll was immediately available.

In Shebaa, in the Hasbaya district, an Israeli drone crashed into a house without causing any casualties.

Gaza: “It’s not up to a president to say ‘this is a genocide,’ but to historians,” says Macron

“What the government of Benjamin Netanyahu is doing (in Gaza) today is unacceptable,” “it is a disgrace,” said Emmanuel Macron yesterday in an interview on TF1. “The humanitarian crisis is the worst we have seen” since Oct. 7, 2023, when 251 people were kidnapped by Hamas, triggering Israel’s military response. “It’s an unacceptable humanitarian tragedy,” the French President reiterated, while also stating that “it’s not up to a president to say ‘This is a genocide,’ but to historians.”

Israeli army orders evacuation of ports controlled by the Houthis in Yemen

Arabic-language spokesperson for the Israeli army, Avichay Adraee, posted on X an evacuation notice for all individuals at three Yemeni ports controlled by the Houthis: Ras Issa, Hodeidah, and Salif. “We urge you to evacuate these ports immediately and until further notice,” he wrote. “These ports are being used by the terrorist organization Houthis to support its terrorist activities. We ask all those in these ports to evacuate them for their own safety,” he added.

This is the second time the Israeli army has issued such an evacuation order for these port facilities, following an initial warning published on Sunday.

An Israeli airstrike this morning on a pickup truck in the Nabatieh district resulted in one death, according to information from our correspondent and the Health Ministry.

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