South Korean nationals detained in Israeli raid on Gaza-bound flotilla released South Korea's presidential Blue House said on Thursday that some national who were held in Israeli custody were released. A presidential spokesperson welcomed their release, after Israel seized Gaza-bound aid vessels in international waters earlier this week.
US senators condemn Israel's 'inhumane' and 'abhorrent' abuse of flotilla activists US senators Jeff Merkley and Chris Van Hollen are the latest officials to criticise Israel for its mistreatment of detainees who were onboard the Global Sumud aid flotilla. In a post on X with a video attached showing far-right minister Itamar Ben Gvir abusing detainees, Van Hollen described his conduct as "abhorrent," adding that Washington should have sanctioned him "long ago". Meanwhile, Merkley described Ben Gvir's treatment of the detainees as "disgusting and inhumane".
Trump says he 'could run for Prime Minister' in Israel Trump claims that he has an approval rating of 99% in Israel, and that he “could run for Prime Minister”. A poll done in February by the Israeli think tank, the Jewish People Policy Institute, found that 73% of Israelis rate Trump as a better-than-average US president. Trump claims that he has an approval rating of 99% in Israel, and that he “could run for Prime Minister”.
Report: 137 countries back draft resolution on Hormuz Strait at the UN In the most most widely backed proposal before the UN Security Council, 137 countries are supporting a draft resolution on the Strait of Hormuz, Al Jazeera reported. According to Al Jazeera, the resolution - introduced by the US and Bahrain - seeks 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".
US-Iran talks frustrate Israel's Netanyahu: Report Ongoing US-Iran negotiations have frustrated Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu, as he argues that the delay in attacking Tehran only benefits Iranians, US officials and Israeli sources told CNN. According to one source, US President Donald Trump and Netanyahu had a tense conversation on Tuesday that reflected difference views on how to approach the war on Iran. During their hour-long talk, Netanyahu pushed for a resumption of attacks on Iran.
Hezbollah claims attacks on Israeli forces invading southern Lebanon Hezbollah said early on Thursday that its fighters targeted invading Israeli forces in southern Lebanon, firing rocket barrages and aerial drones. In a statement, the group said its fighters launched rockets at Israeli military vehicles and soldiers in the Lebanese towns of Debel, Rachaf and Biyyada. Aerial drones were later deployed to target additional army gatherings in Debel and the surrounding area of Haddatha.
Global Sumud activists endure electric shocks, abuse in Israeli detention: Report The Legal Centre for Arab Minority Rights in Israel, Adalah, said that activists who were captured by Israel from the Gaza-bound Global Sumud aid flotilla were subjected to electric shocks as well as physical and psychological abuse. Three activists have been hospitalised as a result of serious injuries, according to the group. Dozens of others are suspected to be suffering from broken ribs and breathing difficulties sustained through Israeli detention.
Australia condemns Israel for 'shocking' treatment of detained Gaza-bound flotilla activists Australia is the latest country to slam Israel for what it has described as "shocking and unacceptable" treatment of flotilla activists. The country's foreign affairs minister, Penny Wong, condemned the actions of Israel’s far-right national security minister, Itamar Ben-Gvir, who was filmed abusing activists. “They came with so much pride, like great heroes.
US lifts sanctions on UN expert Francesca Albanese The US Treasury Department has lifted sanctions on Francesca Albanese, the UN special rapporteur for the occupied Palestinian territory, according to information published on the department’s website. The move comes a week after a federal judge temporarily blocked the sanctions. The court found that the Trump administration had likely violated Albanese’s free speech rights by sanctioning her over criticism of Israel’s genocidal war on Gaza.
US pushes for greater energy exports to India after Iran war The Trump administration is seeking to expand energy exports to India as Washington looks to boost US energy sales following the US-Israeli war on Iran and the continuing blockade of the Strait of Hormuz. US ambassador to India Sergio Gor said India has shown interest in diversifying its energy sources, opening the door to increased American exports. “India has been receptive to diversification, and what that means is buying more American energy,” Gor told Bloomberg News in a phone interview.
Israeli airstrikes target 8 towns in southern Lebanon Israeli forces carried out a series of attacks across southern Lebanon, targeting at least eight towns with air strikes and heavy gunfire, according to Lebanon’s National News Agency. The Israeli army launched a large-scale ground incursion using machine guns in Khiam, while warplanes bombed Tayr Debba in the Tyre district. Air strikes also targeted Yater, Sarbin and Hadatha in Bint Jbeil district, as well as Kfardounine and Froun.
Iran announces 'controlled maritime zone' for ships transiting Strait of Hormuz Iran’s Persian Gulf Strait Authority has announced the creation of a controlled maritime zone in the Strait of Hormuz requiring vessels to obtain authorisation before passing through the waterway. In a post on X, the authority said the zone extends from Kuh-e Mubarak in Iran to south of Fujairah in the UAE at the eastern entrance of the strait, and from the tip of Qeshm Island to Umm al-Quwain at the western entrance. It added that any transit through the zone “requires coordination with and authorization from the authority”, indicating tighter Iranian oversight of one of the world’s most important shipping routes.
Death toll in Gaza surpasses 881 since ‘ceasefire’ At least 881 Palestinians have been killed and 2,621 wounded since the supposed “ceasefire” between Israel and Hamas took effect on 11 October 2025. Meanwhile, at least 776 bodies have been recovered from beneath destroyed buildings. Medical sources said hospitals in Gaza received one body and 16 injured people over the past 24 hours.
Trump says Iran talks in 'final stages' to end war, as Tehran weighs proposal Submitted by Sean Mathews on Wed, 05/20/2026 - 20:44 US president delivered another vague and contradictory message while Iran said US must end 'piracy' for any deal to be reached US President Donald Trump raises his fist as he attends the United States Coast Guard Academy commencement ceremony on Cadet Memorial Field in New London, Connecticut, on 20 May 2026 (Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images/AFP) Off President Donald Trump said that negotiations with Iran were "in the final stages” as Iran said it was studying a new US proposal to end the war. "We're in the final stages of Iran. We'll see what happens.
Iran stock market reopens after nearly three-month shutdown Iran’s stock market reopened this week after a closure lasting nearly three months, with trading resuming under controlled conditions and investor restrictions. While trading sessions on Tuesday and Wednesday allowed some investors to access liquidity, broader economic difficulties remained apparent. More than one-third of the market’s major participants were absent in an effort to shield shareholders from the impact of the US-Israeli war on Iran, Al Jazeera reported.
Trump administration charges Cuba's Raul Castro with murder Submitted by Yasmine El-Sabawi on Wed, 05/20/2026 - 19:15 This sets the stage for Castro to potentially be brought to the US to face trial in the way President Nicolas Maduro was abducted from Venezuela Cuba's President Raul Castro, centre, talks to Nicaragua's President Daniel Ortega, left, and Ortega's wife Rosario Murillo during a wreath-laying ceremony at the mausoleum of 19th-century Cuban independence hero Jose Marti in Santiago de Cuba, Cuba, on 26 July 2013 (Alejandro Ernesto/Reuters) Off The US has unsealed an indictment against Cuba's former president, Raul Castro, charging him with conspiracy to kill US nationals, destruction of aircraft, and four counts of murder related to the 1996 shootdown of two American aid planes close to the island. Five other defendants are named: Lorenzo Alberto Perez‑Perez, Emilio Jose Palacio Blanco, Jose Fidel Gual Barzaga, Raul Simanca Cardenas, and Luis Raul Gonzalez‑Pardo Rodriguez. The move sets the stage for 94-year-old Castro to be brought to the US to face trial, potentially via the same "law enforcement operation" that the Trump administration employed to capture former Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro.
Israeli strike in south Lebanon wounds three people An Israeli air strike on the town of Mahrouna in southern Lebanon wounded three people, according to Lebanon’s National News Agency. Civil defence teams responded to the attack and transported the injured to hospitals in the Tyre district.
Some shipping industry professionals eye leaving Dubai for Greece Submitted by Sean Mathews on Wed, 05/20/2026 - 19:19 Western expats reassess their commitments to the city-state due to the US-Israeli war on Iran A man stands holding a smartphone in front of the Dubai skyline, with the Burj Khalifa, the world’s tallest building, seen from Creek Harbour, on 3 April 2026 (Fadel Senna/AFP) Off Some shipping industry workers based in Dubai are looking to relocate from the UAE as a result of the US-Israeli war on Iran , one ship owner and two industry sources familiar with the matter told Middle East Eye. Western expats working in the maritime industry are eyeing the Greek capital, Athens, and Cyprus as potential alternatives to Dubai, given those countries’ dominant positions in shipping and the favourable tax policies they offer the industry, the sources said. The search for alternatives to Dubai underscores how some expats, particularly westerners with easy access to Europe, do not expect the Gulf to return to its pre-war position anytime soon.
Qatar says flotilla abuse exposes decades of Palestinian suffering under occupation Qatar’s foreign ministry has condemned the abuse of Gaza flotilla activists abducted by Israel in international waters. In a statement, the ministry said it “condemns the brutal treatment” of dozens of protesters captured at sea, calling it “inhumane treatment that constitutes a flagrant violation of international humanitarian law”. The ministry added that the incident “clearly reveals the scale of violations endured by Palestinians languishing under the weight of occupation and apartheid for decades”.
'Welcome to Israel': Ben Gvir's treatment of Gaza flotilla detainees sparks backlash Submitted by MEE staff on Wed, 05/20/2026 - 18:57 European leaders, Israeli officials and social media users criticised footage posted by Israel’s national security minister Israeli Minister Itamar Ben Gvir seen taunting flotilla activists in video posted online (screengrab/X) Off A video posted by Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir showing detained Gaza flotilla activists kneeling in front of Israeli law enforcement officers with their hands restrained has triggered international condemnation and a wave of outrage online. Israeli forces intercepted all 77 ships participating in the latest flotilla mission, the Global Sumud Flotilla (GSF ), organisers said on Tuesday, more than a day after the interceptions began. According to flotilla organisers, the Israeli navy deployed a “fully equipped naval fleet” to stop and board the vessels before detaining hundreds of international volunteers.
