Israeli army kills Palestinian teen during raid in West Bank The Israeli army shot dead a Palestinian teenager on Wednesday during an incursion in Hebron, south of the occupied West Bank. The Palestinian Health Ministry identified the victim as 16 year-old Ibrahim Abdel Fattah al-Khayyat.
Report: Centcom leader set to brief Trump on new Iran strategy on Thursday US President Donald Trump is expected to receive a briefing on new plans slated for potential military action in Iran on Thursday from Centcom leader Brad Cooper, according to a report by Axios. Centcom has prepared a plan for a "short and powerful" wave of strikes against Iran that will likely target infrastructure, the article reported, citing three sources familiar with the matter. The aim is that as a result, Iran will return to the negotiating table.
Israeli military chief says "there is no ceasefire" with Lebanon The Israeli army Chief of Staff Eyal Zamir said that "there is no ceasefire" with Lebanon, as the military continues to launch demolitions and attacks in the country. "In Lebanon, the mission assigned to us by the political echelon is to position ourselves along the line to prevent direct fire on the communities. We have achieved this; this is the line we are on.
Iran condemns Bahrain for stripping dozens of citizenship Iran condemned Bahrain for revoking the citizenships of 69 people who were accused of expressing "sympathy" for Tehran during the US-Israeli war on the country. "The Bahraini government cannot use such narratives to distract public opinion in the country and the region from its direct responsibility for supporting and backing the US-Israeli aggressors against the Iranian people," Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baqaei said in a statement, as reported by the state-owned IRIB. Bahrain said it stripped 69 people of their citizenship on Monday, including family members, over expressing "sympathy and praise for Iran’s hostile and criminal acts".
Greece 'complicit or incapable' of protecting waters from Israel, former minister says Greece's former finance minister has slammed Greek authorities after Israeli forces seized the Global Sumud Flotilla near the country's shores. "Just spoke to friends on the Global Sumud Flotilla. Israeli vessels & drones are harassing them off the coast of Crete," Yanis Varoufakis said in a post on X.
US proposes new coalition to get ships moving through Hormuz: Report The US has pitched a new international coalition, dubbed the "Maritime Freedom Construct", to enable navigation through the Strait of Hormuz, the Wal Street Journal reported. The proposed coalition would "share information, coordinate diplomatically and enforce sanctions", according to an internal State Department cable.
Latest updates on aid vessels bound for Gaza Israeli forces are currently storming one of the boats bound for Gaza, as volunteers onboard the vessels alert of disrupted communication. The Israeli Army Radio quoted a military source as saying that a decision was made to carry out the operation to seize the flotilla away from the Gaza coast because of its size, which involved about 100 boats and 1,000 activists. "Communications with 11 vessels have been lost and israeli media claims that 7 boats have been intercepted," the Global Sumud Flotilla said in a post on X.
Israeli troops seize aid vessels bound for Gaza Israeli forces have begun seizing control of aid vessels bound for Gaza, far from its shores in Greek waters west of Crete, more than 1,000km from Israel Israeli forces have begun seizing control of aid vessels bound for Gaza, far from its shores in Greek waters west of Crete, more than 1,000km from Israel pic. twitter.
Ultra-Orthodox protests over draft law spread across Israel Ultra-Orthodox Jews have staged protests across Israel against military conscription, with police using stun grenades to disperse demonstrations in Jerusalem. The issue remains politically sensitive, with the community opposing enlistment while courts have pushed for mandatory service to be enforced. Recent arrests of yeshiva students accused of draft evasion have fuelled the unrest, including protests in Ashkelon.
Israeli military intercepts Gaza-bound aid vessel off Greek coast Submitted by Tamara Turki on Wed, 04/29/2026 - 23:20 Activists say Israeli-identified speedboats approached, aiming lasers and semi-automatic weapons, and ordered them onto their knees Pro-Palestinian activists wave onboard a boat of a new humanitarian flotilla bound for the Gaza Strip making a symbolic leave from Barcelona's Port Vell on 12 April, 2026. (File/AFP) Off Organisers of a humanitarian aid mission bound for Gaza say one of their vessels has been approached by apparent Israeli speedboats near the coast of Greece. “Our boats were approached by military speedboats, self-identified as ‘Israel’, pointing lasers and semi-automatic assault weapons ordering participants to the front of the boats and to get on their hands and knees,” the Global Sumud Flotilla aid mission said in a statement “Boat communications are being jammed and a SOS was issued.
Putin, Trump discuss Iran war, Ukraine ceasefire in call Russian President Vladimir Putin and US President Donald Trump held a phone call in which Putin put forward ideas to resolve the conflict over Iran’s nuclear programme. He also proposed a temporary ceasefire in Ukraine to coincide with the anniversary of the end of World War II next month, a Kremlin aide said.
Gaza-bound aid ship intercepted by Israeli forces Organisers of a humanitarian vessel heading to Gaza said Israeli military speedboats approached the ship as it attempted to break the blockade. “Our boats were approached by military speedboats… pointing lasers and semi-automatic assault weapons,” the Global Sumud Flotilla said, adding communications were jammed and an SOS was issued. Israeli Army Radio, citing a source, said Israel had begun seizing control of aid ships bound for Gaza far from its shores.
Trump calls UAE exit from OPEC ‘great’, says it could lower prices US President Donald Trump praised the United Arab Emirates’ decision to leave OPEC, calling it “great” and saying it could help ease volatile energy markets. He said the move may contribute to lowering oil and gasoline prices amid disruptions linked to the Iran war. “I think ultimately it’s a good thing for getting the price of gas down, getting oil down, getting everything down,” Trump told reporters.
Trump's image on US passports sparks backlash as critics decry 'vanity project' Submitted by MEE staff on Wed, 04/29/2026 - 20:02 Plans to include the US president's image inside passports fuel accusations of monarchical symbolism US President Donald Trump speaks as Britain's King Charles III and Queen Camilla look on during a State Dinner in the East Room of the White House in Washington, DC, on 28 April 2026 (Brendan Smialowski/AFP) Off Plans to issue specially designed US passports featuring an image of President Donald Trump have triggered a wave of online criticism this week, with opponents calling the move a “vanity project” and drawing comparisons to monarchies that the US was founded to reject. A State Department official said on Tuesday that the redesigned passport would become the default document issued at the Washington Passport Agency for in-person renewals once it becomes available, while online applications and other locations would continue to use the existing design. According to a mockup circulated alongside the announcement, Trump’s face and gold signature would appear on the inside cover of the passport.
Iran says US blockade not disrupting oil supply Iran’s Oil Minister Mohsen Paknejad said the US naval blockade of Iranian ports has not affected the country’s fuel supply or distribution. In comments carried by state media, he said oil workers are operating around the clock to prevent disruptions. The blockade, in place since April 13, has raised concerns Iran could run out of storage capacity and be forced to reduce production.
Trump says Iran is 'choking like a stuffed pig', as he mulls extending blockade Submitted by MEE staff on Wed, 04/29/2026 - 18:56 The US president appeared to reject an Iranian proposal to end the war that would have deferred talks on its nuclear programme US President Donald Trump speaks during an event with the Artemis II astronauts in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington, DC, on 29 April 2026 (Andrew Harnik/Getty Images/AFP) Off US President Donald Trump on Wednesday rejected an Iranian peace proposal to lift competing blockades of the Strait of Hormuz and defer nuclear talks to a later date, as the US-Israeli war on the Islamic Republic shows no sign of ending. Several US media outlets reported that the White House is mulling extending its naval blockade of Iran for months and that US oil executives were briefed on the plan in a meeting with Trump. Oil prices, which have become a metric for the prospects of a peace deal, surged on the news.
Iran officials skip FIFA congress after airport incident in Canada Iranian football federation officials will not attend the FIFA congress in Canada after what state media described as “inappropriate behaviour” by immigration officials at Toronto airport. Tasnim reported that three officials arrived with valid visas but returned on the next available flight. The federation’s president and deputy secretary-general reportedly flew back to Turkiye following the incident, which was described as an insult to a branch of Iran’s armed forces.
Trump says Iran ‘has to say we give up’ to reach deal US President Donald Trump said Iran must fully concede in order to secure an agreement with Washington. “The question is whether or not they’re going to go far enough… There will never be a deal unless they agree there will be no nuclear weapons,” he said. Trump also described the US blockade of Iranian ports as “genius” and “foolproof”.
Karim Khan describes threats from David Cameron and Lindsay Graham in new interview Submitted by Imran Mulla on Wed, 04/29/2026 - 18:38 ICC prosecutor says he has been exonerated by investigation into sexual misconduct claims and is 'perplexed' the case has not been closed International Criminal Court prosecutor Karim Khan poses during an interview with AFP at the Cour d'Honneur of the Palais Royal in Paris, on 7 February 2024 (AFP) Off The British chief prosecutor of the International Criminal Court, Karim Khan, has spoken publicly for the first time since he went on extended leave last May pending the outcome of a United Nations investigation into sexual misconduct allegations against him. In an interview with journalist Mehdi Hasan on Zeteo, Khan insisted he is innocent of all allegations against him, and said he has faced significant pressure and threats over his pursuit of arrest warrants for Israeli officials - including from David Cameron, the then British foreign secretary, and US Senator Lindsey Graham. Many of Khan's comments appear to corroborate Middle East Eye's previous exclusive reporting on efforts to undermine the prosecutor.
Iran accuses Bahrain of rights violations over citizenship revocations Iran’s government has accused Bahrain of violating the rights of 69 people whose citizenship was revoked over alleged support for Iranian attacks. Bahrain’s Interior Ministry said the individuals were stripped of nationality for sympathising with Iran and “colluding with foreign entities”. Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmail Baghaei called the move discriminatory and accused Bahrain of trying to deflect attention from its support for US and Israeli actions.
