Israel says it killed Hamas military chief in Gaza The Israeli military said in a statement that it had targeted and killed Izz al-Din al-Haddad, the head of Hamas’ military wing in Gaza, in an air strike on Gaza City on Friday. Hamas has not officially confirmed Haddad’s death.
'There is little which is Jewish about Israel': Haim Bresheeth on antisemitism and Gaza Submitted by Joe Gill on Fri, 05/15/2026 - 16:12 Israeli-British author and filmmaker warns of UK 'social collapse' over antisemitism and complicity in the Gaza genocide A protester holds a placard at a demonstration organised by Jewish Bloc, Jews For Palestine in central London on 11 November 2023 (AFP) Off Thousands will be marching in London on Saturday to mark the Nakba, the ethnic cleansing of Palestine in 1948, and protest more than two and a half years of Israel's ongoing genocide in Gaza. Among the marchers will be Haim Bresheeth-Zabner, the British-Israeli author and filmmaker and son of Holocaust survivors. Nearby, Tommy Robinson's far right Unite the Kingdom march will also be taking place, with fears of possible violence and clashes given the pro-Israel and anti-Muslim views of Robinson's followers.
LGBTQ campaigners denounce Eurovision 'pinkwashing' ahead of final Submitted by Alex MacDonald on Thu, 05/14/2026 - 16:56 Queer campaigners say LGBTQ community should boycott Saturday's final over Gaza genocide Spectators wearing raincoats in rainbow colours gather at the fan area in front of the City Hall in Vienna on 14 May 2026, prior to the second semi-final of the Eurovision Song Contest (Max Slovencik / APA / AFP) Off Queer activists have accused the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) of "pinkwashing" Israel ahead of the Eurovision Song Contest final on Saturday. Thursday evening's show included a pre-recorded message about the LGBTQ community, often seen as a key audience for the event, detailing the history of the contest and its openness to the community. However, many LGBTQ activists have been among those vocally opposing Israel's involvement and say the country and the EBU, which runs the event, are engaged in laundering Israel's reputation or "pinkwashing".
Israeli military orders residents to flee nine Lebanese towns The Israeli military issued new forced displacement orders for residents of nine towns and villages in southern Lebanon, only hours after Beirut and Israel agreed to extend their ceasefire for another 45 days. The Israeli army warned civilians to leave immediately ahead of planned military action in Qaaqaaiyet al-Snoubar, Kawthariya al-Siyad, Al-Marwaniyah, Al-Ghassaniyah, Tefahta, Arzi, Al-Babliyah, Ansar and Al-Baysariyah.
Video: Israeli settlers spit towards shrine of Virgin Mary in Jerusalem CCTV footage has captured the moment a group of Israeli settlers spat towards the shrine of the Virgin Mary in Jerusalem. The incident occurred on the day of “Flag March,” a national holiday marking the occupation of East Jerusalem by Israeli forces following the 1967 war. CCTV footage has captured the moment a group of Israeli settlers spat towards the shrine of the Virgin Mary in Jerusalem.
Morning update Good morning Middle East Eye readers, There are cautious signs of diplomatic movement in the region after Lebanon and Israel agreed to extend their fragile ceasefire for another 45 days, while Iran confirmed it has received signals from Washington about possible new negotiations. Still, violence continues across southern Lebanon, and uncertainty remains over what Donald Trump will do next as tensions with Tehran continue to shape regional security and global markets.
Israeli forces kill Palestinian in Jenin refugee camp The Palestinian Ministry of Health said a Palestinian man was killed by Israeli forces during a raid on the Jenin Refugee Camp in the northern occupied West Bank. In a statement, the ministry identified the victim as 34-year-old Nour al-Din Fayyad and said he was killed by Israeli live fire during the operation earlier on Friday.
Iranian president praises pope’s stance on war with Israel and US Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian expressed appreciation for what he described as the “moral and logical position” taken by the leader of the world’s Catholics regarding the recent conflict involving Iran, according to Tasnim News Agency. In the message, Pezeshkian said, “The attacks of America and Israel are not only against Iran, but against the rule of law and human values. ” He added that Iran had targeted “the goals and interests of the aggressors in the framework of legitimate defence” and stressed that “The Islamic Republic of Iran still adheres to diplomacy and peaceful solutions.
US charges alleged Kataib Hezbollah figure after arrest in Turkey The Federal Bureau of Investigation confirmed the arrest of Mohammad Baqer Saad Dawood al-Saadi, whom the United States has charged over alleged involvement in a series of attacks and ties to the Iraqi armed group Kataib Hezbollah. According to his defence lawyer, Andrew Dalack, al-Saadi was detained in Turkey before being transferred to the US, where charges were filed on Friday. In a statement, FBI Director Kash Patel said al-Saadi had been arrested by FBI personnel.
Pakistan announces repatriation of sailors detained after US seizure Deputy Prime Minister and foreign minister of Pakistan, Mohammad Ishaq Dar, said the repatriation of 20 Iranian and 11 Pakistani sailors stranded after the United States detained their vessel in waters near Singapore had been completed successfully. According to the Islamic Republic News Agency, Dar said the sailors were flown from Singapore to Bangkok before boarding a flight to Islamabad on Friday. In a statement posted on X, Dar wrote: “Alhamdolillah, I am pleased to share that we have been successful in the repatriation of 11 Pakistani nationals, alongside 20 nationals of our brotherly country Iran, through Singapore, who were aboard vessels seized in the high seas by the United States.
Hundreds march in New York to commemorate 78th anniversary of Nakba Hundreds of people marched through the streets of Manhattan in New York on Friday to commemorate the 78th anniversary of the Nakba. Each year, on 15 May, millions mark the Nakba, or catastrophe, which refers to the ethnic cleansing of Palestine by Zionist militias to make way for the creation of Israel in 1948. “The Nakba never ended, but neither has the Palestinian struggle for freedom.
US officials suspect Iran behind cyberattack targeted fuel systems US officials suspect that Iran may be behind a cyberattack targeting systems used to monitor fuel levels in storage tanks supplying petrol stations in several states, according to CNN. The report said hackers exploited online systems that were not protected by passwords. CNN reported that no physical damage was caused and that the attackers altered only the display systems showing fuel levels rather than the actual quantity of fuel in storage.
Israel on alert as Trump weighs Iran military action According to Yedioth Ahronoth, Israeli officials remain uncertain whether US President Donald Trump will choose renewed confrontation or pursue further diplomatic talks. The report said that a state of anticipation prevails in Israel as Trump continues to threaten possible military action against Iran, while Tehran says it has received messages from Washington indicating a willingness to continue negotiations. Citing unnamed sources, the newspaper said Israel had entered a heightened state of alert amid the possibility of renewed conflict.
Trump says Xi agrees Iran must not obtain nuclear weapon US President Donald Trump said on Friday that Chinese President Xi Jinping agreed that Iran should not possess a nuclear weapon and stressed that the Strait of Hormuz would remain open. Trump’s comments came as Tehran confirmed that United States officials had signalled readiness to continue negotiations, while Iranian foreign minister Abbas Araghchi said Iran remained open to any role China could play in a future settlement. The developments followed confirmation by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps that its naval forces allowed Chinese vessels to pass through the Strait of Hormuz on Wednesday evening.
Tens of thousands expected at major Nakba Day demonstrations in London Tens of thousands of people are expected to gather in London on Saturday for two major demonstrations, one marking the Nakba in Palestine and another led by far-right campaigner Tommy Robinson, Al Jazeera reported. According to the Press Association, around 4,000 police officers will be deployed, including 660 brought in from forces outside the London Metropolitan area. The Press Association reported that, for the first time under new protest restrictions, organisers and speakers could face prosecution if events are used to promote extremism or hate speech.
UAE pushed GCC to join coordinated war against Iran, bloomberg reports Bloomberg reported that the United Arab Emirates unsuccessfully attempted to persuade fellow members of the Gulf Cooperation Council to join a coordinated military campaign against Iran during the early stages of the US-Israeli war. According to the report, Abu Dhabi sought support from Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Bahrain, Kuwait and Oman for a joint response following Iranian retaliatory missile and drone strikes across the region. Bloomberg reported that UAE President Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan held a series of calls with regional leaders, including Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, and argued that Gulf Arab states needed a coordinated response to deter Iran.
Video: Araghchi says US-Iran talks ‘suffering from lack of trust’ Iranian foreign minister Abbas Araghchi said on Friday that ongoing US-Iran negotiations are “suffering from the lack of trust", emphasising that Tehran seeks clear and well-defined terms before agreeing to any deal. Speaking in New Delhi during a Brics foreign ministers’ meeting, Araghchi said the United States had failed to achieve its objectives through military pressure and would not succeed without a mutually beneficial agreement. He added that conflicting statements from Washington have raised doubts about US intentions, though Iran remains open to a “fair and balanced deal.
UN expert condemns Israeli response to sexual abuse allegations Francesca Albanese criticised Israel’s foreign ministry after it described a New York Times article documenting alleged sexual abuse against Palestinians in Israeli prisons as “hideous and distorted lies” and announced plans to file a defamation lawsuit against the newspaper. In a series of posts on X, Albanese described the article as “accurate but barely scratching the surface” and said it was “triggering hysteria” within the Israeli government, "not because of the facts, but because of the audience”. She added, “apartheid Israel fears NYT readers will finally see and no longer ignore.
UAE foreign minister meets Reform UK leader Nigel Farage Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan met Nigel Farage during a visit to the United Kingdom, according to a statement released by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the United Arab Emirates. The Emirati ministry said the two discussed the “latest regional developments and the repercussions of the unprovoked Iranian terrorist attacks targeting the UAE”, as well as strategic relations between the UAE and Britain. The meeting took place as part of a broader visit by bin Zayed to the UK, during which he also met British Foreign Secretary David Lammy.
Iranian diplomat says solidarity with Palestinians is not enough Iran’s ambassador to the United Nations, Amir Saeid Iravani, said support for the Palestinian cause must go beyond expressions of solidarity and include efforts to address what he described as the root causes of Palestinian suffering under Israeli occupation. Speaking at a United Nations event marking the 78th anniversary of the Nakba on Friday, Iravani called for “international mobilisation” and a more “action-oriented approach” from the global community. The Iranian envoy described the Nakba as “a profound regional tragedy” and said Palestinians continued to face denial of “their fundamental rights, including the right to self-determination.
