Gaza is back in headlines as fighting with Israel spikes and ceasefires stall; a Palestinian territory/City at the center of the conflict.
Israel has announced the approval of 2,162 new Jewish homes in the occupied West Bank, including a new settlement near Jerusalem and expansions near Nablus and Hebron. Officials say the project aims to strengthen Israeli control on the land, while Palestinians warn it deepens occupation and threatens future peace.
Since April and into May 2026, multiple US universities have faced commencement and campus controversies over invited speakers and events related to Israel, free speech and protest. NYU is keeping Jonathan Haidt as its Yankee Stadium commencement speaker despite student government opposition; Rutgers has rescinded an invitation to alumnus Rami Elghandour; Georgetown Law replaced Morton Schapiro after student objections; and campus groups are clashing over guest appearances and platforming.
Bulgaria has won the 2026 Eurovision Song Contest in Vienna with Dara's 'Bangaranga' on 17 May; Israel's Noam Bettan has finished second with 'Michelle', taking 343 points to Bulgaria's 516. The final has followed weeks of protests, five broadcaster boycotts and tightened voting rules after concerns about disproportionate promotion.
Fatah's eighth general conference in Ramallah is underway with 2,580 delegates electing the movement’s Central Committee and Revolutionary Council. Abbas has pledged reforms and elections, while questions about succession, internal divisions and funding pressures loom as Hamas calls for Palestinian unity.
Israel has enacted a law to establish a special military tribunal to try Palestinians accused of taking part in the Hamas-led October 7 attacks. The court could hand down the death penalty and will conduct public trials, with processes that rights groups warn may undermine due process. Trials are expected to cover hundreds of suspects and cost billions.
The Guardian and Independent reports show the Iran conflict informing US-China talks, with Trump’s Beijing summit shaped by Middle East tensions, while Britain weighs foreign-policy calls and domestic concerns.
The Democratic National Committee has not released its internal autopsy on the 2024 loss, despite donor and ally pressure. DNC Chair Ken Martin continues to withhold the report, while Kamala Harris faces renewed scrutiny as she eyes a potential 2028 bid. The debate over transparency and accountability intensifies within the party.
Nickolay Mladenov has told the UN Security Council that implementation of the US-led Board of Peace Gaza roadmap has stalled because Hamas has refused to disarm and Israel is maintaining control of roughly 60% of Gaza. Daily strikes and constrained aid are persisting, reconstruction finance is drying up, and diplomacy is not completing the transition to the second phase.
The US Treasury has listed UN special rapporteur Francesca Albanese under an "International Criminal Court-related Designation Removal" after a federal judge issued a preliminary injunction blocking earlier sanctions. The Trump administration has appealed and the State Department has said it intends to restore her designation if the court reverses the injunction.
Palestinian Fatah has begun its 8th General Conference with around 2,580 delegates across Ramallah, Gaza, Cairo and Beirut to elect the Central Committee and Revolutionary Council, amid questions about succession to President Mahmoud Abbas and the movement’s future.
Prince Harry has written in the New Statesman about rising antisemitism in Britain, saying it is deeply troubling and that legitimate protest over Middle East events must not translate into hostility toward Jewish communities. The piece follows a surge in antisemitic incidents in London and growing concerns amid pro-Palestinian protests. The coverage spans reactions from police, faith leaders and Jewish communal bodies as Britain grapples with safety and free expression.
More than 50 vessels from the Global Sumud Flotilla have been intercepted by Israeli forces off Crete and Marmaris while attempting to reach Gaza. Activists are detained or deported; the flotilla still aims to highlight aid shortfalls amid the Gaza war and a fragile ceasefire.
Iran has **already** begun allowing certain Chinese vessels to pass through the Strait of Hormuz under new Iranian-managed transit protocols, as Tehran negotiates with Beijing amid a broader U.S.-Iran war. Reports from Tasnim and Fars say crossings began after an understanding on Iranian management protocols, with more than 30 ships noted and China’s involvement highlighted during a high‑level dialogue between Trump and Xi.
New York City Mayor Mamdani has posted a Nakba Day video featuring a Palestinian survivor. The one‑sided framing has drawn swift pushback from Jewish groups and lawmakers who say the portrayal omits counterpoint history and risks inflaming antisemitism. The video was released as Nakba Day rallies unfold in New York and amid broader debate over how history is presented in public messaging.
Israeli strikes have killed at least seven Palestinians in Gaza City and earlier strikes have killed nine in separate raids, medics and hospitals have reported. Egypt has restarted mediator talks in Cairo over the fragile ceasefire, while indirect negotiations on disarmament and troop withdrawals have stalled.
The United States is exploring a formal request to Israel to transfer part of the Palestinian Authority’s withheld tax revenue to Trump’s Board of Peace, funding a Gaza reconstruction plan and related PA reforms. The figure cited is around $5 billion withheld by Israel, with a broader plan estimated at $70 billion.
Fatah has held its eighth General Conference and has re-elected Mahmoud Abbas as movement chair while voters have elected a new Central Committee. Marwan Barghouti has topped the vote, Majed Faraj and Jibril Rajoub have won seats, and Yasser Abbas has secured a place on the Central Committee.
Croatia has not granted consent for the proposed Israeli ambassador, with President Zoran Milanović saying the nominee has not received his approval amid tensions over Israel’s Gaza campaign. The Israeli government will move the ambassador-designate to serve as charge d’affaires until Zagreb grants consent, a stance that reflects a broader diplomatic rift.
Since January, the US‑led Board of Peace for Gaza has received pledges totalling billions but has had virtually no funds transferred into its World Bank‑administered account; donors are instead routing money into a JPMorgan account with limited transparency, and only a small share of pledged aid has reached Gaza as fighting and political disputes continue. (28 May 2026)
The United States has imposed sanctions on activists tied to Gaza flotilla campaigns and related networks amid ongoing clashes over aid deliveries to Gaza. The measures accompany broader penalties accusing backers of Hamas and other groups, as Israeli operations continue and Gaza’s humanitarian crisis persists after a ceasefire.
Lawmakers have given an initial nod to dissolving the Knesset, triggering a process that could lead to an election within weeks. Ultra-Orthodox coalition partners have pressed for a draft exemption from military service, shaping the timing and fate of the government.
Israel has intercepted the Global Sumud flotilla in international waters and detained about 430 activists. National security minister Itamar Ben‑Gvir has posted footage showing bound activists kneeling while he taunts them; the video has provoked condemnation from multiple governments, Israeli ministers and rights groups, and rapid deportations of the detainees.
Ayatollah Khamenei’s directive has tightened the stance on Iran’s stockpile of enriched uranium, complicating U.S.-Israel efforts to end the war with Iran. Israeli officials say Trump has pledged to move uranium out of Iran, while Tehran insists the stockpile will not leave the country. Negotiations remain unsettled amid mutual distrust and ongoing ceasefire tensions.
The Democratic National Committee has released a 192‑page autopsy of the 2024 election that it had kept secret. Chair Ken Martin has said the report "does not meet my standards" and has apologised for withholding it; the draft is incomplete, annotated as unverified in places, omits Gaza/Israel, and is prompting internal criticism and calls for his resignation.
The Guardian and other outlets report that Israeli detention facilities are under scrutiny as footage of abuse of Palestinian detainees surfaces. Officials have faced international condemnation following a high-profile video showing detainees in distress, prompting comment from leaders and human-rights bodies.
The Board of Peace has warned that the Gaza ceasefire’s second phase hinges on Hamas’s disarmament and a civilian transition, with Israel’s obligations and humanitarian access under scrutiny. Mladenov has urged action to prevent a permanently divided Gaza, while Hamas rebuffs accusations and calls for entry of a technocratic administration.
A NYT/Siena poll shows 74% of Democratic voters oppose additional US military and economic aid to Israel, with sympathy leaning toward Palestinians. The results highlight a changing public posture toward Israel amid the Gaza war, Iran tensions, and domestic focus.
Gary Smith, general secretary of the GMB, has warned Reform UK’s drive to roll back employment rights during a speech at the union’s annual congress in Blackpool. He says Reform is targeting collective bargaining and protections on sick pay and unfair dismissal, while polls show Labour and Reform tied among unionised workers.
France has barred Israeli minister Itamar Ben-Gvir from entering its territory, citing his actions toward passengers on the Global Sumud Flotilla. The decision comes amid global reaction to a video showing Ben-Gvir taunting flotilla detainees, which drew condemnation from foreign leaders and even Netanyahu’s coalition partner.
Australians and other international activists detained during a Gaza flotilla have started arriving home. Several claim mistreatment, including beatings and denials of food and water, while Israel denies wrongdoing. Detainees plan to consult lawyers to pursue evidence for possible ICC action.
The UN World Food Programme has intensified emergency food and nutrition aid as hunger risks rise amid conflict, climate shocks, and funding shortfalls across multiple regions, including Sudan and South Sudan. Delivery faces security and transport hurdles with the rainy season approaching.
The Israel-Hezbollah conflict has intensified with Israeli strikes across southern and eastern Lebanon amid a renewed ceasefire and negotiations in Washington. Hezbollah is engaging with drone and rocket attacks, while evacuation warnings and civilian displacement increase in Nabatieh and other towns. The United States and Iran are pursuing a broader deal as clashes continue near the Lebanon border.
Canada has pressed Israel for an independent investigation into the mistreatment of activists aboard a Gaza-bound flotilla. Ottawa has also reaffirmed its opposition to Israeli settlement expansion and West Bank violence, amid reports of abuse and detentions in international waters.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has told the Israeli military to expand control of the Gaza Strip to 70 percent, saying Israel already controls about 60 percent. Mediators are preparing renewed disarmament talks in Egypt while UN and aid agencies warn that further seizures will worsen Gaza's dire humanitarian crisis.
Israel’s coalition has advanced a bill to dissolve the Knesset in a first reading, paving the way for early elections. Lawmakers expect votes on a dissolution date between September 8 and October 20, with final readings required. The move comes amid coalition tensions and debates over other judiciary-related reforms.
Former first lady Jill Biden has said she was "frightened" watching President Joe Biden uring the June 2024 debate with Donald Trump, saying she thought he might be having a stroke. Her comments have been excerpted from her memoir View From the East Wing and are appearing in a CBS News interview and wide press coverage this week (May 279, 2026).
The United States has reimposed sanctions on Francesca Albanese, the UN Special Rapporteur on the Palestinian territories, returning her to the ICC-related designation list after a brief removal that followed a federal judge’s injunction. The move comes as appeals processes continue to play out.
Violence persists as Israeli airstrikes hit Gaza and Lebanon amid ongoing clashes with Hamas and Hezbollah. US remarks on ceasefires suggest a shift toward de‑escalation, while a planned international peacekeeping force struggles to form amid mixed commitments from regional partners.
Irish activists have disrupted a Dublin friendly between Ireland and Qatar by throwing tennis balls on the pitch to protest upcoming Nations League games against Israel. The protests have intensified pressure on the Football Association of Ireland to boycott the Israel fixtures, with dates set for September and October. Ireland’s coach and players have called for peaceful protest while insisting the matches will go ahead.
War-driven destitution has spurred a rise in early marriages in Gaza, with parents saying they marry off daughters aged 13–16 for protection and aid. AP findings cite multiple girls reporting rape and abuse; 2024–25 data show under-18 marriages rising despite earlier declines.
A Berlin exhibition by Forensic Architecture exposes how colonial violence left lasting scars on Namibia’s landscape. Archaeology and community collaboration are documenting burial sites linked to Shark Island and other camps, while developers push an adjacent green hydrogen project that threatens heritage and burial grounds.
France has opened a preliminary investigation into suspected torture and war crimes after French activists on the Global Sumud flotilla have alleged physical, sexual and psychological abuse during their May 18 detention by Israeli forces. The probe has been launched by the national counterterrorism prosecutor (PNAT) after a foreign ministry referral and will be handled by France's crimes-against-humanity unit.
Edgar Morin, the globally influential French thinker known for cinema verité and a transdisciplinary approach, has died at 104. Macron has praised him as a defender of humanity and humanism personified. Morin’s work spanned autobiography, sociology, philosophy, ecology, and more, shaping debates on globalization and the climate and influencing generations of scholars.
Israeli forces have continued bombardment in Gaza despite a ceasefire in effect on paper, with attacks killing and injuring civilians across Khan Younis and Gaza City. Hamas officials have arrived in Cairo to discuss implementing the first phase of the ceasefire and a future police-led order, while warnings of further Israeli operations persist.
The House Armed Services Committee has defeated an amendment to remove Section 224, but the measure is on track to reach the floor of the House as proponents push to block an executive agent for US-Israel defense cooperation.
Protests by ultra‑Orthodox communities have paralysed central Israel, with police declaring the rallies illegal and clashing with demonstrators. A demonstrator and a bus passenger have been injured in Jerusalem, while traffic and rail services are disrupted across major routes and stations.
Israel's Defence Ministry has reported a record $19.2 billion in defence exports for 2025, with Europe and Asia-Pacific as major buyers. More than half of deals are worth $100 million or more, despite criticism over Gaza and broader regional conflicts. G2G sales exceed $10 billion, while missiles, radar, and optronics are among the largest categories.
The Times of Israel reports that a defamation suit against The New York Times is being considered, following a May article alleging sexual abuse by Israeli authorities in detention. Legal experts say any suit would be difficult, with US standards on defamation and potential discovery risk. Israel's government remains tight-lipped about the process.
Bangladesh’s Foreign Minister Khalilur Rahman has been elected the 81st president of the UN General Assembly, the Asia-Pacific region’s one-year term, starting September 8. He defeated Cyprus’s Andreas Kakouris in a secret ballot, amid a global multilateral landscape under scrutiny as Secretary‑General Guterres’s successor is chosen.
New government documents show divisions within Labour over Gaza and Palestinian statehood. Wes Streeting says he has faced a brick wall in pushing for action, while Peter Mandelson and Pat McFadden criticise his approach. The release includes messages referencing war crimes and calls for sanctions, with Britain later recognising a Palestinian state in September 2025.