From: The Jerusalem Post May 3, 2025

Antisemitism in Australia:
In recent months, Australian Jews have been the target of multiple antisemitic attacks, including vandalism, threats, harassment, and a spate of arson attempts.

Antisemitism in the country has soared in the last year and a half following the October 7 massacre.

In November, the Executive Council of Australian Jewry reported that there was a 316% increase in antisemitic occurrences in Australia between October 1, 2023, and September 30, 2024.

Dr. Colin Rubenstein, the Australia/Israel & Jewish Affairs Council (AIJAC) executive director, said that the electoral win constitutes an opportunity for the Labor government to “push back more strongly against unprecedented levels of antisemitism, hate speech, and incitement to violence.”

Rubenstein also called for a return to the longstanding bipartisan position on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, including “an acceptance that premature recognition of a non-existent Palestinian state will be detrimental to peacemaking.”

Alex Ryvchin, cochief executive of the Executive Council of Australian Jewry, said there has been “a lot of anger in the community about the federal government’s handling of what has become an antisemitism crisis.

From: Haaretz May 3, 2025
‘Comprehensive air blockade’: Houthis call on international airlines to cancel flights to Israel as they threaten to ‘repeatedly’ target Ben-Gurion Airport

Israeli, US, UK air defences failed to stop Houthi ballistic missiles that hit Ben Gurion airport, wounding six.

Yemen’s Houthi rebels have fired a missile at Israel’s main airport, wounding six and forcing many foreign airlines to suspend flights for several days after US and Israeli air defence systems failed to stop the strike.

Yemen's Houthis called on all airlines operating routes to Israel to "take into consideration" their threat to "impose a comprehensive air blockade on Israel by repeatedly targeting Ben-Gurion Airport," following a missile strike that hit the airport in central Israel on Sunday.

The Houthis said all international airlines should cancel scheduled flights to Israel in order to "preserve the safety of their aircraft and agents."

From: The Jerusalem Post May 3, 2025
Why is it so hard to stop the Houthis in the Middle East?

The Houthis struck Ben-Gurion Airport this morning, leaving questions on how to deter the Yemeni terror organization.
The Houthis launched a missile at central Israel on Sunday that caused an explosion near Ben-Gurion Airport.

This led to some airlines canceling flights.
Clearly, a missile, or a missile fragment, or even fragments of an interceptor, falling near a major airport is a strategic threat.

Israel has generally allowed the Houthis to launch long-range missiles at it over the last 12 months, assuming these will be intercepted.

While Israel launched a handful of retaliatory raids using warplanes in 2024, it has basically stepped aside when the US began launching its own airstrikes on the Houthis beginning on March 15. The US campaign against them involves at least two aircraft carriers now.

However, Sunday’s attack could be a game-changer.

Although Israeli politicians issued the usual threats, it is unclear if the Houthis can be easily stopped or deterred.
For over ten years, the Iranian-backed Houthis have been able to surprise the Middle East with their capabilities.

The group burst onto the scene in Yemen, transforming from a poor cluster of rebels into a major body that poses a significant threat to the region’s security. They began with drones and missile threats and expanded to attacks on shipping.

The Houthis had already acquired the Shahed 136 drones from Iran, likely as early as 2020. This same drone model was then exported by Iran to Russia.
The Houthis were able to extend the range of their drones and missiles beyond 2,000 km. so they could reach Israel.

The group was able to withstand the Saudis and the Saudi-led coalition for seven years.
It then withstood the US-backed Prosperity Guardian campaign that was supposed to protect shipping in the Red Sea in 2024.

The Houthis increased attacks on Israel in the fall and winter of 2024.
Israel responded several times. However, they kept up their threats.

The group briefly stopped attacking during the ceasefire in Gaza from January to March.

When the US began strikes on March 15 and Israel began strikes on Gaza on March 18, the Houthis renewed their attacks.
They launched four missiles in three days; two on May 2, one on May 3, and one on May 4.

The Houthis still have their missile capabilities.
It is difficult to hunt down missiles that are wheeled out of caves in mountains. It is hard in general to find mobile missile launchers.

This is part of a long history that shows that groups like the Houthis can do without airports. The fact that they did not have air power did not stop them.

The Vietnamese, for instance, were able to move artillery across Laos and Cambodia and into position to strike the US in Vietnam.
They also defeated the French in Vietnam at Dien Bien Phu in a similar manner.

The Houthis are a hard nut to crack. Air power is likely not enough to stop them.
1. Can their supply lines be cut off instead?
2. Can their rocket storage facilities be found?

Time will tell if there is a way to deter them.

Also, any illegal Iranian shipments to the Houthis may have been harmed by the massive recent explosion at the port of Shahid Rajaee in southern Iran.

There is a bit of an aside here regarding Israel.
President Gamal Abdel Nasser’s Egypt was so tied down in the war in Yemen that it likely contributed to his defeat at the hands of Israel in the 1960s.

Iran is not tied down in Yemen, though, so it is not clear what will become of the Houthi threat.

Antisemitism led to WWII we should always remember.

The Jewish people are among the three original "People of the Book" of Islam, which recognizes them, Christians, and Sabians as followers of the pre-Islamic revelations of Allah. Ties between the two communities have been marked by periods of cooperation, of ambivalence, and of open conflict.

Putin has a strange relation with Jews the old Tsaars did not like them the pogroms started in Russia.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu declared firm support for President Donald Trump’s stance on Iran, which he declared in a post from March, hours after a deadly Houthi attack targeted Israel’s main airport.

Netanyahu posted on X (formerly Twitter) that “attacks by the Houthis emanate from Iran” and warned that Israel will respond at a time and place of its choosing — directly targeting “their Iranian terror masters.”

His post explicitly endorsed the statement by Trump in March, calling it “absolutely” correct.

“President Trump is absolutely right! Attacks by the Houthis emanate from Iran. Israel will respond to the Houthi attack against our main airport AND, at a time and place of our choosing, to their Iranian terror masters,” the prime minister wrote.

https://www.breitbart.com/politics/...ack-vows-strike-on-tehran-backed-forces/

The Jerusalem Post May 4, 2025
Houthi missile interception failure due to technical error, IDF sources tell 'Post'

IDF sources told 'Post' that since the beginning of the war, the Israel Air Force intercepted dozens of Houthi missiles at a success rate that exceeded 95%

The IDF's failure to shoot down the Houthi missile that struck the Ben-Gurion Airport area on Sunday morning was due to a technical error like October 7
Further, this means that the error was not due to human error nor to any special new weapons which the Houthis might claim to have acquired.

The statement comes after three people were mildly wounded on Sunday as a result of a Houthi missile that crashed in the area of Ben-Gurion Airport's Terminal 3. The missile hit near the parking lots of Terminal 3, the airport’s largest. The crater was just hundreds of metres from the tarmac.

The Jerusalem Post May 4, 2025
Houthi missile strike

Magen David Adom medics and paramedics provided medical treatment to a 50-year-old man and a 54-year-old woman who were lightly wounded due to the blast, and a 32-year-old woman who was wounded on the way to the shelter.

The access road to Terminal 3 suffered damage as a result of the crash.
Although this is the first time a Houthi missile has hit Ben-Gurion Airport, this is not the first time one has struck Israeli territory.

Following the attack on Sunday morning, Defense Minister Israel Katz responded, saying, "Whoever harms us will be struck sevenfold in return.

U.S. President Donald Trump responded to Sunday's Houthi missile attack, in which he warned against Houthi retaliation and laid blame on Iran for supplying weapons and funding Houthi terrorist activity and that Iran will suffer dire consequences.

U.S. National Security Council spokesperson James Hewitt says the United States military has launched “over 1,000 strikes” on Yemen’s Houthis, and will continue, in coordination with Israel.

Day 577 — The terrorists are shaking in their boots as they swig champagne

Israel estimated in late March that the Houthis only have a few dozen ballistic missiles left in their stockpile.

Reports of heavy Houthi losses from ongoing U.S. airstrikes may explain the group's determination to continue launching missiles as long as it retains any operational capability.

Al Jazeera May 5, 2025
Hamas welcomes Houthis’ ‘comprehensive air blockade’ of Israel

A statement from Hamas on Telegram says the “heroic action” displays the depth of the Houthis’ commitment to defending the people of Gaza.

“Dear Yemen, with its honourable stances that reflect the authenticity of its people and the courage of its leadership, it’s restoring in this heroic battle respect for the values of brotherhood and the bonds of religion and Arabism,” it said.

The Houthis “affirmation that a free Yemen will not accept the occupation’s violation of Arab lands, particularly in Lebanon and Syria, is a responsible affirmation of our shared destiny and the necessity of unifying efforts to confront the dangerous Zionist schemes targeting the entire nation”, read the statement.

The Houthis said earlier that they will impose “a comprehensive aerial blockade” on Israel by repeatedly targeting its airports in response to Israel expanding its “aggressive” war on Gaza.

We've proven our ability to deal blows to American, British and Israeli prestige.
There are no red lines in our conflict with the Zionist entity, the United States and Britain," al-Bukhaiti told Qatar's Al Araby news outlet.

"Our strike on the Ben Gurion airport is proof of our ability to hit fortified targets inside Israel," he added.

BBC May 5, 2025

Israeli army starts calling up reservists for planned expansion to Gaza offensive — Like Prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu's sons Yair 33 and Avner 30
The Israeli military has begun calling up tens of thousands of reservists to "intensify and expand" its operations in Gaza.

The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said it was "increasing the pressure" with the aim of returning hostages held in Gaza and defeating Hamas militants.

Critics say the recent military offensive, after a ceasefire broke down, has failed to guarantee the release of captives, and question Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's objectives in the conflict.

Under the plan, the military said it would operate in new areas and "destroy all infrastructure" above and below ground.
Israeli media report that the Israeli security cabinet has approved the renewed military expansion in Gaza.

But reports suggest it will not happen until after President Donald Trump's trip to the region next week.

International negotiations have failed to reach a new deal for a ceasefire and the release of the remaining 59 hostages being held by Hamas — 24 of whom are believed to be alive.

No Israeli hostages have been released since Israel resumed its offensive on 18 March after the collapse of a two-month ceasefire with Hamas.
Since then, Israel has seized large areas of Gaza, displacing hundreds of thousands of Gazans again.

Israel has said its aim was to put pressure on Hamas, a strategy that has included a blockade on humanitarian aid that has been in place for more than two months.

The Times of Israel May 5, 2025
They came to serve: The lone soldiers defending Israel after October 7

More than 1,100 new immigrants join the IDF this spring as antisemitism abroad and the trauma of the Hamas onslaught drive a new generation to enlist

In the aftermath of October 7, Israel’s community of lone soldiers — young men and women serving in the IDF without parental support — has grown in both size and significance, as enlistment surges and motivations deepen.

After completing their mandatory service, many lone soldiers stay on as reservists — a role that has taken on renewed visibility since the outbreak of the war, with over 300,000 reservists being called up for duty since Hamas’s October 7 onslaught.

Today, Israel is home to an estimated 7,000 lone soldiers.
Roughly half are volunteers from abroad; the rest are Israeli-born soldiers without parental support, such as orphans or those from broken homes.

Many of the Israeli lone soldiers come from Haredi households that disapprove of their decision to enlist.

A total of 709 lone soldiers were drafted in the March-April recruitment period, but the IDF did not specify how many were international volunteers and how many were Israeli-born.

Israel okays ‘conquering Gaza, holding the territories,’ as IDF chief said to warn ‘we could lose’ the hostages

Plan approved unanimously by ministers envisages gradually expanded military operation; implementation only after Trump visit to region next week; revamped aid delivery also okayed

https://www.timesofisrael.com/israe...said-to-warn-we-could-lose-the-hostages/

International • 09:18 • Modified at 09:23
'Israel may want to conquer all of Gaza in extensive offensive'
Author s : BNR Web Editors and ANP
Israel's scaled-up offensive in Gaza could go so far as to take the entire enclave, an Israeli official said. Israel's security cabinet approved a plan to intensify attacks on the Gaza Strip last night. The expansion of operations also includes a new plan for the distribution of aid, the official said.

The plan is expected to be implemented after US President Donald Trump's visit to the region next week, The Times of Israel reports. In the meantime, the focus will be on reaching a ceasefire and hostage deal with the Palestinian militant organization Hamas.

Israel has now called up tens of thousands of reservists in preparation for an expansion of the offensive in Gaza. They are replacing the troops in Israel itself and on the West Bank. These troops are in turn being deployed in Gaza.

Relief supplies
The security cabinet also approved a plan to resume the delivery of aid to Gaza. Earlier reports that the US and Israel were close to an agreement on resuming humanitarian aid in the Gaza Strip were met with scepticism by humanitarian organizations.

Yemen's Houthi rebels continue to target Israeli airports. According to military spokesman Yahya Saree, the Houthis have Ben-Gurion International Airport, near Tel Aviv, in particular in their sights. The Houthi spokesman also called on international airlines to "cancel flights to the enemy airport."

Tel Avi Airport
At least one rocket from Houthi rebels hit Ben-Gurion Airport near Tel Aviv over the weekend, wounding eight people, according to Israeli emergency services. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced a series of retaliatory strikes.

Read also
'The Middle East is on fire and we hear too little about it: Gaza is hell on earth'
Later on Monday, Yemeni rebels said the United States had carried out about 10 attacks in and around the capital, Sanaa. The rebel health ministry said 14 people were injured. The Houthis have expressed solidarity with Palestinians in the Gaza Strip, who have suffered greatly from ongoing Israeli attacks.

Israel slippin' — Houthis invulnerable — Day 577 Yemen Houthis' missile striking near Ben-Gurion Airport

From: Haaretz May 5, 2025
Houthis say Israeli and US jets are attacking Yemen's port of Hodeida

Houthi health ministry says at least 21 wounded by Israeli strike targeting cement plant

Six strikes targeted Yemen's Hodeida port, the Houthi-affiliated Al Masirah TV reported on Monday, blaming the strikes on Israel and the United States, a day after the Iran-aligned group launched a missile that struck near Ben-Gurion Airport.

The IDF confirmed reports earlier on Monday that it had attacked the Houthi-controlled Hodeida port in western Yemen to destroy a "central supply source" and terror infrastructure. The army's statement said that the Hodeida port "is used for the transfer of Iranian weapons," along with other military equipment.

The army added that it attacked a cement factory east of the city, which is "which functions as a significant economic resource for the Houthis.
Moreover, it is used for the construction of underground tunnels and terrorist infrastructure for the terrorist regime."

Hamas says it rejects Israeli cease-fire offer, as it does not include end of war

A Hamas official told Al Mayadeen on Monday that it rejects an Israeli offer for a cease-fire, as it does not include a full end to the war that it started on October 7, 2023.

The official added that Israel's continued killing, destruction and starvation of the Gaza Strip prove it is not genuinely interested in negotiating a truce.

The official also said the militant organization is under heavy pressure, including from the United States, to cede its demand to end the war, but it remains steadfast in its position.

From: The Times of Israel May 5, 2025
Trump on Gazans: 'They’re starving — we’ll help them get food, Hamas is taking everything'

US President Donald Trump said on Monday that the United States is going to "help the people of Gaza get some food."
"People are starving, and we're going to help them get some food.

A lot of people are making it very very bad — Hamas is making it impossible because they're taking everything that's brought in," Trump said in the Oval Office.

Trump says his administration will help get food to “starving” Gazans during a two-month-and-counting Israeli aid blockade, but he says Hamas has made it “impossible” by diverting humanitarian assistance for its fighters.

Israeli officials to date have claimed that Gazans are not yet starving and that enough aid entered the Strip during a six-week ceasefire to sustain the Strip for an extended period time, even though they have also argued — like Trump — that Hamas has been stealing aid.

The president adds that Palestinians in Gaza are “being treated very badly by Hamas.”

Enough! Talk — Finish the Job

From: Haaretz May 5, 2025
Witkoff, at Independence Day event, pledges to work for 'Israel's peace, prosperity and unity'

US President Trump's special Mideast envoy, Steve Witkoff, spoke Monday at an Independence Day celebration at the home of Israeli ambassador Yehiel Leiter.

"Israel has been and always will be the cherished friend of the US," Witkoff said.
"This year has been challenging and our celebration bittersweet while 59 hostages remain cruelly held by Hamas."

"On behalf of President Trump, I pledge that we will work tirelessly this year so that next year's Independence Day is not just a wish for happiness, but a reality of peace, prosperity and for Israel unity,"

Speaking about his involvement in regional diplomacy, Witkoff said that:
Gaza: "there are many efforts underway, humanitarian aid initiatives for Gaza, which we applaud," as well as

Abraham Accords: "the expansion of the Abraham Peace Accords, which we think will have some or a lot of announcements very, very shortly, [and] which we hope will yield great progress by next year."

Iran: Witkoff also reiterated the US position that Iran "shall never get a nuclear weapon."

Speaking about the October 7 war, and, motioning toward Ari Spitz, an IDF soldier who lost both legs and part of an arm in Gaza, Witkoff added that:
"over the past 20 months, countless Israelis have sacrificed so much. In their honor, I urge the Israeli people to choose —
1. unity over division,
2. vision over disagreement,
3. and hope over despair.
4. When you do, Israel's future will shine brighter than ever."

The problem is Palestinian as well as Israeli Leadership you can make deal with moderates not with extremists on both sides !

International • 19:31 • Modified at 19:31
'Gaza Strip completely destroyed after this war', Israeli ministers now also support Trump's proposal to relocate Palestinians
Author : Fleur Nuijten
Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich says the Gaza Strip will be "completely destroyed" after the war against Hamas. "You have to interpret that as a very serious threat in violation of international humanitarian law," says Middle East correspondent Tara Kenkhuis.

Two months ago, Trump's plan to move Palestinians to Egypt or Jordan was announced. 'The whole world condemned that, but Israeli ministers don't care and have been saying openly since yesterday that they are in favor of such a plan,' says Kenkhuis.

Whether this will actually be implemented will largely depend on Trump's visit to the region next week, according to the Middle East correspondent. According to Kenkhuis, it also seems that the release of this news is intended to put pressure on Hamas. According to a top Hamas official, it is no longer interesting to negotiate with Israel about a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip. By choosing this moment, it is possible that Hamas will indicate during the visit that it is prepared to negotiate again.

Severely weakened
In the meantime, Hamas has been seriously weakened. They have lost many important people, especially at the top. 'At the same time, American intelligence services have also estimated that they have a lot of new recruits in the lower ranks .' This is due to the ongoing violence of the Israeli army, which has caused many men to rejoin Hamas in the past 1.5 years. 'But the main thing is that they are incredibly weakened, have lost many weapons and have exhausted supplies,' says Kenkhuis.

Hostages
In addition, Hamas is not the one that is preventing the exchange of prisoners and hostages. For example, the previous ceasefire included the provision that all hostages, both survivors and deceased, would be returned in the next phase. 'But Israel subsequently violated that ceasefire and that is why it did not go ahead.'

Netanyahu's popularity plummets
Netanyahu in particular benefits from this stalemate. 'As long as he is at war, the Israeli prime minister can continue to postpone elections and make sure that he does not call elections until he is at a popularity level where he thinks he can win the next election or avoid the legal cases against him,' Kenkhuis explains.

Read also
Israel seeks to conquer more and more Gaza unless Hamas backs down
At the moment, that is not yet the case. 70 percent of the Israeli population is extremely angry that the government continues to wage war in Gaza and does not prioritize the repatriation of the hostages. 'There are weekly protests for that, so his popularity is plummeting.' Netanyahu himself says that the repatriation is an important goal, but that destroying the enemy is the most important goal. According to the Middle East correspondent, that is an ambition that can be achieved strategically and tactically at the moment, 'although it has not been achieved for 1.5 years.'

The point, she says, is that the government does not see that the Palestinian resistance does not end there. 'The international consensus of an independent Palestinian state is the only way to stop the Palestinian resistance', but Netanyahu does not see that, according to Kenkhuis.

International • 22:10 • Modified at 22:10
Trump: 'Houthi rebels in Yemen surrender'
Author : ANP
US President Donald Trump said the Houthi rebels in Yemen had surrendered to the US, prompting the US to "immediately" stop bombing the Houthis.

The rebels saw the attacks as an expression of solidarity with Palestinians under attack by Israel.
The rebels saw the attacks as an expression of solidarity with the Palestinians under attack by Israel. ( ANP/Xinhua News Agency )
With these attacks, Washington wanted to prevent the rebels from attacking ships and Israel. The Iran-backed Houthis reportedly agreed to stop disrupting key shipping routes in the Middle East. The rebels saw the attacks as an expression of solidarity with the Palestinians under siege by Israel.

Houthis: We will continue the fight
Authorities in mediator Oman later said they had reached a ceasefire between the US and the Houthis. A Houthis leader, however, made it clear that he would continue fighting. The group's operations in the Red Sea and against Israel will not stop, "regardless of the consequences," until the Israeli blockade of Gaza and aggression against the Palestinians are lifted, a member of the rebels' political council said.

Read also
'Israel may want to conquer all of Gaza in extensive offensive'
Earlier Tuesday, the Israeli military carried out an airstrike on Yemen's main airport near the capital Sanaa, which is controlled by the Houthis. According to Israel, the airport has been completely rendered unusable. The attack is in retaliation for the shelling of the airport near Tel Aviv on Sunday, which left several people injured.

From: Al Jazeera May 6, 2025
US-Houthi deal ‘creates momentum’ for US talks with Iran.

Clara Broekaert, a research fellow at The Soufan Center, says the Trump administration is hoping to show “a certain amount of goodwill” and “evidence of [its] diplomatic skill” ahead of the US president’s visit to the Middle East this month.

As we’ve been reporting, Trump will travel to Saudi Arabia, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates in mid-May.

But on the US-Houthi deal, Broekaert noted “one very clear missing component” of Trump’s announcement is what the agreement means for ongoing strikes between Israel and the Yemeni group. “It seems to be a much more limited deal, primarily focused on commercial vessels going through the Red Sea,”

The Houthis have yet to confirm details of the agreement, and have said they would continue attacks on Israel in solidarity with Gaza.

‘Israel is really becoming a nuisance’ for Trump:

Akiva Eldar, an Israeli political analyst, author and journalist, says the announcement of a US-Houthi ceasefire without Israel being informed beforehand marks a major development in bilateral relations.

“There is a completely different era now, and I think for Netanyahu this is a big surprise,” Eldar told Al Jazeera.

He highlighted how Trump recently surprised Israel by announcing the US is in talks with Iran and news reports saying National Security Adviser Mike Waltz was removed because he was “trying to negotiate some kind of strike on Iran with Israel without the approval of the president”.

“Those days when Netanyahu and the Israeli government were like the tail wagging the dog are over,” Eldar said.

Trump’s visit next week to the Middle East does not include a stop in Israel “because for him Israel has nothing to offer the United States" …
Israel is really becoming a nuisance. The message is in the itinerary,” he added.

Israel trip: Then again... Trump is full of surprises! — Good, Bad and Ugly

Trump says he is not planning to visit Israel as part of upcoming trip

US President Donald Trump told reporters at the White House that he is not planning on visiting Israel at the tail end of a trip next week to:
1. Saudi Arabia,
2. Qatar
3. and the United Arab Emirates.

While the White House hadn’t confirmed that Israel would be part of his upcoming trip, there have been widespread rumours in diplomatic and national security circles that he would extend his trip to visit the US ally.

Trump hails ‘productive’ call with Turkiye’s Erdogan as visits planned.
US President Donald Trump says he wants to work with his Turkish counterpart to end Russia’s war in Ukraine.

United States President Donald Trump says he has had a “very good and productive” telephone conversation with his Turkish counterpart, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, and they have discussed a wide range of topics, including how to end Russia’s war in Ukraine, Syria and Israel’s war on Gaza.

The Republican president, who described his relationship with Erdogan as “excellent” during his first tenure at the White House, said the two countries would cooperate on ending the war in Ukraine.

Trump said in a post on Truth Social, his social media platform:
“I look forward to working with President Erdogan on getting the ridiculous but deadly, War between Russia and Ukraine ended – NOW!”

Turkiye’s Directorate of Communications said in a statement posted on X “Noting that he supports President Trump’s approach toward ending wars, President Erdogan expressed appreciation for the efforts exerted:
1. to maintain the negotiation process with Iran
2. and stop the war between Russia and Ukraine,”

Erdogan also raised the urgent need for a ceasefire in Gaza, warning that its humanitarian crisis had reached a “grave level”, the directorate said.

The Turkish president also stressed the importance of the “uninterrupted delivery of humanitarian aid and the urgent end to this tragic situation”.

Regarding bilateral ties, Erdogan said Ankara remained committed to strengthening cooperation with Washington, particularly in the defence sector.

Germany’s new chancellor, Friedrich Merz, voices ‘concern’ on Gaza, to send foreign minister to Israel.
Merz, has voiced “considerable concern” about the Gaza conflict and said he would send his foreign minister to Israel this weekend.

The conservative Merz, 69, long a strong supporter of Israel, said that Israel has a right to fight the Palestinian group Hamas but must follow international law.

Merz, who took office on Tuesday, said Germany’s new foreign minister, Johann Wadephul, would travel to Israel at the weekend and that “we are currently preparing this trip together”.

Speaking to public broadcaster ARD, Merz said: “We view the developments of the last few days with considerable concern.”
“Israel has the right to defend itself against the brutal attack by Hamas terrorists on October 7 and everything that followed,” said Merz.

“But Israel must also remain a country that lives up to its humanitarian obligations, especially as this terrible war is raging in the Gaza Strip, where this confrontation with Hamas terrorists is necessarily taking place.”

He added that “it must be clear that the Israeli government must:
1. fulfil its obligations under the international law of war
2. and that humanitarian aid in the Gaza Strip must be provided”.

Mr. Merz — Hold the terrorists accountable. Tell them to stop their terror1. “hostages back,
2. Hamas out”
3. Aid flows in
4. all your “considerable concern” disappear

From: The Times of Israel May 6, 2025
Acknowledging ‘difficult’ call-up of reservists, IDF spokesman says military needs everyone, ‘including Haredim,’ to mobilize

IDF Spokesman Brigadier General Effie Defrin, in his press conference, says the call-up of tens of thousands of reservists for the intensified Gaza offensive is “difficult and complicated, but is being done:
1. to return our hostages
2. and to defeat [Hamas]
3. and end the war.”

He says that currently, for the missions at hand, the IDF has enough forces. But he adds that the military “needs everyone to mobilize,” and that the IDF will work to “draft all parts of society, including the Haredim.” Why aren't the Prime Minister's sons "mobilizing”

NOS News
•
today, 08:32
•
Amendedtoday, 16:14
Veldkamp wants European investigation into Israel: 'Blockade violates treaty'
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Minister Veldkamp of Foreign Affairs believes that Israel no longer respects human rights and democratic principles with its ongoing humanitarian blockade of Gaza. These principles were agreed upon in a treaty between Israel and the European Union. Veldkamp therefore wants the European Union to launch an investigation into compliance with the treaty.

"The blockade is against international humanitarian law," Minister Veldkamp told NOS. "You have the right to defend yourself, but the proportions now seem completely lost. This is really a line in the sand. We want to send a clear political signal to Israel."

Veldkamp refers to the decision of the Israeli government to expand the operation in Gaza and statements by Israeli cabinet members to reoccupy or even completely destroy the Gaza Strip.

'New aid system not neutral'
The announcement of a new aid system for Gaza does not change that for Veldkamp. "Although many details are still unclear, it does not look like this system complies with the humanitarian principles of neutrality, impartiality and independence," can be read in a letter to Kaja Kallas, the EU's foreign policy chief.

Veldkamp also writes in the letter that Hamas must immediately release all hostages and that there is no place for Hamas in any future administration of the Gaza Strip.

European Union Correspondent Kysia Hekster:
"With this step, the Netherlands is now also explicitly choosing a much tougher course towards Israel within the EU. Negotiations are currently underway on an action plan that forms the basis for the cooperation agreement between the European Union and Israel. This action plan has had to be extended since January.

Veldkamp now says: we will only continue negotiations after European research has shown that Israel complies with the demands we set for human rights. In practice, the Netherlands can therefore single-handedly halt the negotiations that are underway. It is a strong political signal to Israel and to the other EU countries. As far as the Netherlands is concerned, for the time being it is: this far and no further."

The EU-Israel Association Agreement was concluded to improve political and economic cooperation. Part of that agreement is an action plan, which describes the cooperation between Israel and the European Union.

Veldkamp indicates that the Netherlands will no longer support the extension of that plan and other collaborations as long as the investigation into compliance with the agreements on human rights and democratic principles is ongoing. The Netherlands can block the extension of that component with a veto.

For the first time
It is the first time that Veldkamp condemns Israel's attacks on Gaza in these terms. He previously said that he was only conveying the concerns of the Netherlands, but that there were not many other European countries that were currently open to investigating whether Israel was violating the agreements.

Now Veldkamp says there is more support from other European countries for a tougher course. Today he leaves for an informal meeting of EU ministers in Warsaw, where he will discuss the new position.

The European Commission says it will respond to Veldkamp's request for an investigation tomorrow. EU foreign policy chief Kallas wrote in a press statement today that she was concerned about the proposed new aid system for Gaza and reiterated the EU's call for Israel to lift the blockade of the Gaza Strip "immediately."

Pressure increased
The pressure to do more against Israel's attacks on the Gaza Strip has increased in recent times. For example, a majority of the House of Representatives voted in March for a motion to investigate the treaty between Israel and the EU. A month ago, five major aid organizations demanded that the Dutch cabinet do more to persuade Israel to change course.

According to Veldkamp, ??diplomatic pressure behind the scenes was until recently the best way to free the Israeli hostages and get humanitarian aid into Gaza. "But I notice in my contacts that the chance of a ceasefire has shrunk considerably," says Veldkamp. "I see that the Netanyahu government is now choosing a different political course."

'Weak minister'
PVV leader Geert Wilders, who supports Israel's policy, responds briefly to the news on X. "Weak minister chooses the side of anti-Israel demonstrators."

"MP Wilders chooses his own words," Veldkamp says in response. "This was to be expected." According to him, the cabinet, which also includes PVV ministers, speaks about Israel with one voice.

In a second tweet , later in the day, Wilders wonders whether Veldkamp's "ridiculous anti-Israel measures" have been taken by the entire cabinet.

Trump ditched Israel with surprise Houthi truce. That doesn’t bode well on Iran
Days after Yemeni group caused untold economic damage by hitting Ben Gurion Airport, the US president blindsided his allies; this has no doubt unsettled Jerusalem amid nuclear talks

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