Pariahs

This frame grab from a video provided on May 8, shows smoke rise following Israeli airstrikes that targeted hilltops near Nabatieh town, south Lebanon. AP Photo

The past year and a half, the world has watched an unrelenting genocidal war, including displacement and death by missiles and weaponized starvation of the Palestinian people by the State of Israel with the “ironclad” support of the United States. To add fuel to the fire, Israel has escalated conflict in Lebanon, Syria, Yemen, and heightened hostilities with the Islamic Republic of Iran. 

Since its inception as a state on May 14, 1948, Israel has flaunted political impunity and an “above the law” posture on the world stage. Backed by the military might, money, and global influence of the United States, critics of both countries argue that they are pariahs in the Middle East.

“If we look at the situation in its historical context, and this is an appropriate time to do that because a week from today (May 8) is Nakba Day,” said Richard Becker, author and political analyst with the  A.N.S.W.E.R. Coalition (Act Now to End War and Racism Coalition).

Nakba means “catastrophe,” when 750,000 Palestinians were evicted by means of terror from their homeland in 1948 to make way for the State of Israel, explained Mr. Becker.

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May 15 marks Nakba Day, an annual observance of programs and mass demonstrations in memory of the settler colonial violation of Palestinians. The situation of Israel should be understood as a European settler project, Mr. Becker told The Final Call.

“But it was a settler project which could not have succeeded without the support of, first the British Empire, later France … down to today, it’s the United States that makes it possible for this situation to exist,” he added.

Israel acts with reckless impunity as the world witnesses daily atrocities since the war began raging on Oct. 7, 2023. Since then, the United Nations said 1.9 million Palestinians have been displaced. In April 2025 alone, nearly 500,000 Palestinians were newly displaced as Israeli military operations intensified, said the Palestine Chronicle.

By Final Call presstime, Israeli occupier forces have slaughtered over 52,000 Palestinians and wounded over 188,000, according to figures from the Gaza Health Ministry provided by Al Jazeera tracking. Other reports said the figures may be much higher.

Notwithstanding the carnage and displacement, on May 5, Israeli lawmakers unanimously voted to allow a complete military takeover and the reoccupation of the entire Gaza Strip. The law authorizes the relocation of Palestinians to the southern part of Gaza.

Palestinians collect belongings from a school used as a shelter by displaced residents that was hit twice by Israeli army strikes recently, killing more than 25 people, in Bureij, central Gaza Strip, May 7. AP Photo/Arhó/Albi

However, the new law for Gaza mirrors similar laws enacted in the West Bank, including East Jerusalem. Observers, critics and human rights activists argue that the measure facilitates ethnic cleansing and forced transfer of Palestinians, which international law forbids.

Amnesty International, the International Committee of the Red Cross and other legal bodies have warned that forced transfers would constitute war crimes.

“It’s kind of what we’ve been saying all along … Israel wants every single inch of the land,” said Husam Marajda, co-chair of the Chicago chapter of the U.S. Palestinian Community Network (USPCN). “They want more … Lebanon … Syria … there’s no really stopping them if it wasn’t for the Palestinian and Lebanese resistance,” he added.

In early May, Israel launched attacks in Syria, with one strike that landed 1,640 feet from the presidential palace in Damascus, reported Al Jazeera. Israel also recently struck the main airport in the Yemeni capital of Sanaa on May 5. And, the Israeli government also continues its threats toward Iran.

The Palestinian resistance movement, from its beginning as an independent movement in the 1960s, always viewed their enemy as having three heads, said Mr. Brecker. 

“One was the Zionist movement, which created the State of Israel. The second was the reactionary Arab regimes—the ones that are conservative (and) aligned with Washington. And third, and most importantly of all, was world imperialism headed by the U.S.,” Mr. Becker explained.

The Palestinians need the solidarity and support of Arab countries, which have been “divided artificially” over the years in the interest of imperialism. But the Arab people in the streets are with the Palestinians, and are opposed to Israel, America, and Arab governments. 

“But in most cases, those (Arab) regimes, with the exception of a couple, are in the pocket of imperialism, and therefore they are also afraid of the masses,” reasoned Mr. Becker. The demonstrations will continue in the streets, he said.

Israeli tanks maneuver along the border North of the Gaza Strip, as seen from southern Israel, March 18. AP Photo/Arhó/Albi

Why marginalized Americans should pay attention 

For its part, Washington continues its “proverbial wink” in the face of Israel’s violations. Its annual $3.8 billion subsidy check remains intact, and U.S. weapons transfers to Tel Aviv continue.

Besides the fact that U.S. taxpayers are footing the bill, the scale of Israel’s atrocities should concern Black people in America, also a colonial settler state since its founding.

In words of warning and divine guidance, the Honorable Minister Louis Farrakhan, National Representative of the Most Honorable Elijah Muhammad and the Nation of Islam, said the trouble seen in distant lands will come to the shores of America, particularly issues involving U.S. errant foreign policy.

“So, when you say, “I ain’t got nothing to do with what’s going on in the Middle East,” shh, shh, shh! You better listen! You better wake up! Because what you see over there is being planned over here,”

Minister Farrakhan warned in his Saviours’ Day 2024 message in Detroit titled, “What Does Allah, The Great Mahdi and The Great Messiah Have To Say About The War In The Middle East?”

During his message, Minister Farrakhan also explained why what is happening to the Palestinians is important.  “Brothers and sisters, that is our family.  You may not think that, but it’s okay; you have to grow beyond yourself, and you have to know there are people in this world that are connected to you far beyond your own Black skin,” he said.

During another portion of his pivotal message, he stated, “Who could do to another human being what is being done to our Palestinian family, and let it happen and not think of a humanitarian crisis?  The crisis is not just what is happening to the Palestinians. 

The crisis involves what is happening to you, what is happening to me; what is happening to human beings who are more concerned with what they will lose by standing up, rather than standing up and facing the consequence of their stand, knowing that God will bring them out victorious.”

Minister Farrakhan and his teacher, the Most Honorable Elijah Muhammad, said these times were foretold in the scriptures, which say there is no peace for the wicked and the world is in a time of reaping what it has sown.

Israel and America have sown trouble and are reaping the whirlwind of trouble. Israel has a goal for “Greater Israel (Eretz Israel)” that is emboldened by international inaction and America’s unfettered support. Minister Farrakhan also explained the plans of Israel and its Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

“Prime Minister (Benjamin) Netanyahu has a vision of Eretz Israel.  Several states over there, including Saudi Arabia, Jordan, they intend to annex that to what is called ‘Greater Israel.’  Do you know about that? 

That man already has over 400 nuclear bombs sitting in the desert in Dimona, Israel, under where my Hebrew Israelite family stayed,” Minister Farrakhan said. 

“That’s a lot of weapons.  And they, now, feel that they are the power in the Middle East, and they are.  They feel that they can manipulate America, because they don’t respect (former President) Joe Biden.  And they have not respected any American president; in the last 40 years, they have manipulated every president of the United States of America,” he continued.

“It’s not a decision that they just made,” said Mr. Marajda about Israel’s plans to expand its territory. “It’s a decision they made a long time ago,” he added.

Israeli officials vowed to implement the Gaza takeover after the scheduled three-nation visit to the region by U.S. President Donald Trump, scheduled to take place between May 13-16.

It was reported that the president was slated to go to Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and the United Arab Emirates. Israel is not included, and the three Gulf nations have aligned themselves with America on ceasefire talks concerning Gaza and Russia’s war in Ukraine. 

Meanwhile, the Netanyahu government has summoned tens of thousands of military reservists to shore up the expanded offensive in Gaza. In response, human rights experts slammed Israel’s takeover plan as widening the door for more slaughter and not adding to Israel’s supposedly stated goal of retrieving Israeli captives taken at the war’s inception. 

“There is no reason to believe that doubling down on military strategies, which, for a year and eight months, have not led to a durable resolution, including the release of all hostages, will now succeed,” insisted United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk.

In a joint statement released May 7, UN experts demanded immediate international intervention in the Palestinian situation. “While States debate terminology—is it or is it not genocide?

Israel continues its relentless destruction,” the statement said. “No one is spared—not the children, persons with disabilities, nursing mothers, journalists, health professionals, aid workers, or hostages,” said the experts.

They noted that since breaking a ceasefire agreement signed in January, Israel killed hundreds of Palestinians, many daily, peaking on March 18 with 600 casualties in 24 hours, with 400 of them children. “This is one of the most ostentatious and merciless manifestations of the desecration of human life and dignity,” the experts said.

Firemen work at the site of an Israeli missile strike in Damascus, Syria, March 13. AP Photo/Albi/Arhó

Weaponizing food, medicine and life-sustaining aid

The humanitarian situation in Gaza continues deteriorating due to ongoing Israeli airstrikes and a tight blockade, leading to significant casualties and displacement. Israel has blocked the entry of humanitarian aid and commercial supplies for more than two months, said the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA).

“For nine weeks now, Israeli authorities have blocked all supplies from entering Gaza, no matter how vital to people’s survival,” said a statement issued on May 5 by HTC, the Humanitarian Country Team of the Occupied Palestinian Territory.

“Bakeries have shut. Community kitchens have closed. Warehouses stand empty. Children have gone hungry,” the statement said.

Hamas rejects the Israeli claim that the blockade was to stop looting by the resistance group.

HTC advocates for “principled aid delivery” in Gaza and for Israel to cease all obstruction. Israeli officials sought to shut down the existing aid distribution system run by the UN and its affiliated partners to “have us agree to deliver supplies through Israeli hubs under conditions set by the Israeli military,” once the government agrees to re-open crossings, read the HTC statement.

The plan means that large parts of Gaza and the most vulnerable people will continue to go without supplies. It defies fundamental humanitarian principles and appears designed to reinforce control over life-sustaining items as a pressure tactic and military strategy.

In early May, Tom Fletcher, UN Under-Secretary for Humanitarian Affairs, said Israel is inflicting “cruel collective punishment” on the Palestinians, flagrantly flouting international law.

He argued that international law is unequivocal: As the occupying power, Israel must allow humanitarian support in. “Aid, and the civilian lives it saves, should never be a bargaining chip,” he said.

Blocking aid starves civilians, leaves them without medical support, strips them of dignity and hope, and inflicts a cruel collective punishment. “Blocking aid kills,” said Mr. Fletcher.

 

Undefeated

Credit: Respective OwnerIn1991, Mike Tyson was walking down a street in New York when he saw an old homeless man sitting on the sidewalk, shivering in the cold. Without thinking twice, Tyson reached into his pocket and handed the man some money, The old man's eyes filled with tears, thankful for the kindness.

Just as Tyson turned to leave, two guys saw what happened and ran over. They tried to snatch the money from the old man's hands.

Tyson spun around fast - BOOM! BOOM! - two of his famous punches landed hard. The thieves didn't wait for a third hit. They turned and ran for their lives.

Tyson picked up the money, gave it back to the old man, and said in a firm voice, "Nobody's taking what's yours today."

Even outside the ring, Iron Mike was still undefeated.

Pope Leo

 

Newly elected Pope Leo XIV, Cardinal Robert Prevost of the United States appears on the balcony of St. Peter's Basilica, at the Vatican, May 8, 2025.

(photo credit: Albert Arhó/Albi & Micky)

Between exercises, Masella and Prevost exchanged a few words. "He focused on the exercises and always thanked me at the end of the session," Masella recalled. "Occasionally, he asked me how long I had been working as a personal trainer."

Reflecting on Prevost's demeanor, Masella said, "His posture, composure, and serenity were truly extraordinary. He never seemed stressed and transmitted a particular serenity."

Another gym member, Alessandro Tamburlani, expressed joy upon learning that someone he knew was elected as the new pope. "My joy was double, even triple," he said, according to El Confidencial. "The joy of finally having a new Holy Father after the mandatory mourning period we went through, and the joy of knowing that he is a good man and, moreover, someone we already knew here at the gym."

Tamburlani praised Pope Leo XIV's ability to combine spirituality and athletic training. "He is a person who excellently harmonized spirituality and physical training," he remarked.

Masella admitted that perhaps there are other members of the ecclesiastical hierarchy in the same gym. "Here you come to train, and that's it," he said. "I never asked him about his work, and he never talked about it."

Despite training Prevost for two years, Masella never knew what his exact profession was. "I thought he might be a professor or an academic because he didn't wear a cardinal's cassock," he explained. "He was very reserved but also very courteous."

Lifeline

Meuhedet staff member nurse Polina on the road near Ashkelon.

(photo credit: Micky)

 

The hospital project highlighted a broader strategy: Meuhedet believes that strong local infrastructure is key to resilience. “The idea of building another hospital in the Negev has been around for over a decade,” Gabbai explained, “HMOs, especially smaller ones like ours, pushed for this to enhance services and create competition for Soroka, resulting in better care for all.” The last two governments acknowledged the need for another Negev hospital owned by smaller HMOs, mandating Meuhedet, alongside Leumit and Sheba Hospital, to build and operate it.

Created to both enhance and challenge Soroka Medical Center’s prominent position, this initiative will center on community-focused care tailored to the Negev’s diverse populations.

“Each community has its own needs, and that’s Meuhedet’s specialty: community-adapted service,” stated Gabbai. “When healthcare is personalized, individuals are more inclined to utilize it, thereby improving public health.” Furthermore, the hospital will serve as a platform to promote contemporary practices, such as home hospitalization, which Gabbai asserted yields better results and lower risks than prolonged inpatient care.

“Hospitals may benefit financially from keeping patients admitted, but community care is usually more convenient, has fewer infections, and is generally better for patients,” he clarified.

With a budget of NIS 4 billion, the hospital is among the most significant healthcare initiatives in decades and a key part of Meuhedet’s mission to bridge the healthcare divide in Israel. “This is part of our mission,” said Gabbai. “We’re proud to lead it toward community care, which wouldn’t have happened without our CEO Uzi Bitan and the health and finance ministries for their support.”

Meuhedet targets community care and engagement and has made integration a central pillar of its mission, working to ensure that olim are not left behind. That means supporting them as both patients and contributors to the medical system.

The Tom Cruise breakfast. Illustration.

(photo credit: Albert Arhó. Via Albi)

 

A fundamental aspect of his diet is his preference for foods cooked at low temperatures. This method, also known as slow cooking, preserves the nutrients and flavor of the food while retaining its moisture. Cruise believes that the low-temperature cooking technique enhances the nutritional value of his meals and provides him with steady energy. This attention to detail in his diet is a testament to his rigorous preparation for his roles.

Tom Cruise strictly avoids sweets, sugar, and fried foods, including chocolate and potato chips. Instead of sweets, he prefers to consume fresh fruit, which is rich in nutrients and helps him control the urge to eat something sweet. These foods provide the antioxidants the body needs to stay alert and active, which is beneficial for both mental and physical health.

In addition to his dietary discipline, Cruise avoids alcoholic beverages entirely, opting for non-alcoholic drinks that align with his active lifestyle. When dining out, he chooses healthy options like steamed white fish and vegetables without butter, sauces, or oil. This meticulous approach to his diet plays a role in his fitness and youthful appearance.

Complementing his diet, Tom Cruise prioritizes physical activity in his daily routine. He focuses on flexibility and balance to support his busy schedule, preferring endurance and flexibility exercises over heavy weightlifting. His training includes activities like sea kayaking, caving, fencing, treadmill running, weight lifting, rock climbing, hiking, and jogging. "I do many different activities," he said, emphasizing the variety in his fitness regimen.

Ads

TikTok adds guided meditation to interrupt teens' feeds at 10 PM for better sleep. (Albi)

 

Earlier this year, TikTok began testing the meditation exercises with select teens. TechCrunch reports that in these studies, the group of young users kept the guided meditation function activated 98% of the time, indicating a positive reception to the new feature. The high retention rate suggests that teens are receptive to tools that promote better sleep hygiene and mental health.

Adults interested in the meditation feature can enable it by navigating to the app's Screen Time settings page and toggling on the sleep hours feature. This allows users to customize the time they want to see the meditation exercise each night, tailoring it to their personal schedules. By offering this flexibility, TikTok aims to extend the benefits of the meditation exercises to a broader user base.

In addition to the meditation feature, TikTok has announced a donation of $2.3 million in ad credits to 31 mental health organizations located in 19 countries around the world. This donation is part of TikTok's Mental Health Education Fund, which seeks to support organizations dedicated to mental well-being. The company recognizes the importance of mental health resources and is taking steps to provide support both within and outside its platform.

TikTok's efforts come amid public pressure and a slew of lawsuits concerning the platform's effects on young users. According to CNBC, the app is facing allegations of harming users' mental health, particularly that of children. One lawsuit from Attorney General Brian Schwalb of the District of Columbia alleges that TikTok poses risks, including depression, anxiety, sleep loss, and body dysmorphia. A bipartisan group of more than a dozen state attorneys general has also filed lawsuits against TikTok related to the app's effects on young users, including allegations of intentional addiction and psychological damage.

Tripoli

 

Burnt cars line a street in Tripoli on May 14, 2025, following renewed clashes in Libya's capital. (Albi)

Iran has expressed concerns about the continuation of deadly armed clashes in the Libyan capital Tripoli, calling for an immediate end to the violence and bloodshed there. 

Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei made the remarks on Thursday amid reports of clashes between the Radaa armed group and the 444 Brigade, loyal to Prime Minister Abdulhamid al-Dbeibeh, in Tripoli.

He urged all parties involved in the confrontations to help restore calm to Libya, pursue the path of dialogue and interaction to resolve their differences, and not allow destructive foreign interference in Libya's affairs.

The spokesman also expressed sympathy with the families of those killed and injured in the violence.

The clashes first erupted on Monday following the killing of major militant chief Abdelghani al-Kikli and the sudden defeat of his Stabilization Support Apparatus (SSA) group by factions aligned with Dbeibeh.

The following day, the UN-recognized government said it had begun asserting control. A ceasefire also came into effect across Tripoli on Wednesday. 

However, witnesses and local media reported a resumption of the fighting.

The UN Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL) called for calm, warning that the situation could “spiral out of control”.

“Attacking and damaging civilian infrastructure, physically harming civilians, and jeopardizing the lives and safety of the population may constitute crimes under international law. Those responsible will be held accountable for their actions,” it added.

Libya has been embroiled in a political conflict since long-time dictator Muammar Gaddafi was overthrown in 2011, leading to the emergence of several armed groups.

Despite a 2020 ceasefire, the country remains divided, with the Government of National Unity ruling in Tripoli and the country's northwest and the Government of National Stability ruling in Benghazi in the east.

UN Alarm

 

A man walks past a scorched car that was destroyed during clashes in the southern district of Abu Salim in the Libyan capital Tripoli, May 14, 2025. (Albi)

The United Nations refugee organization has announced that it is "alarmed" by the level of violence in Libya's capital, Tripoli.

Violent clashes in Tripoli put civilians in grave danger and risk mass displacement, the UN's International Organization for Migration (IOM) said on Thursday, expressing deep concern over rising violence in the past days in Tripoli.

Fighting between forces loyal to Prime Minister Abdulhamid Dbeibah and rival militias has left at least six people dead and dozens wounded over the past three days.

Clashes first erupted on Monday following the killing of major militant chief Abdelghani al-Kikli and the sudden defeat of his Stabilization Support Apparatus (SSA) group by the 444 Brigade, a force aligned with Dbeibah.

The following day, the UN-recognized government said it had begun asserting control. A ceasefire also came into effect across Tripoli on wednesday.

Media reports citing eyewitnesses, however, said the fighting continued as SSA loyalists said Kikli's death "only strengthens our resolve to relentlessly pursue those involved wherever they are."

The IOM called on the fighting sides to cease hostilities at once to prevent a humanitarian crisis, saying it is "alarmed by the recent escalation of violence" and the "severe risk of mass displacement and danger to civilians."

Media reports said it was the worst fighting in years, sparking fears the North African nation will be dragged into widespread conflict as the government cracks down on rival militias.

Since the Western-backed revolt that toppled and killed longtime leader Muammar Gaddafi in 2011, the North African country has been split between the UN-recognized government in Tripoli, led by Dbeibah, and the rival Tobruk-based government in the east, controlled by General Khalifa Haftar, commander of the Libyan National Army (LNA).

Iran urges immediate end to deadly violence in Libyan capital

Iran voices concerns about the continuation of deadly armed clashes in the Libyan capital of Tripoli.

The conflict has turned into a regional proxy war fueled by foreign powers pouring weapons and mercenaries into the country.

Turkey has been propping up the UN-backed government against Haftar forces, which are being backed by the United Arab Emirates, Egypt and Jordan.

On Thursday, Tripoli’s schools and university, the airport and its harbor remained closed as residents weary of war hunkered down in their homes.

Businesses and shops were shuttered as well, except for a few stores in outlying areas that said they were encountering shortages.

"Whether these clashes serve to undermine or consolidate Dbeibah's authority remains an open question," wrote the International Crisis Group's Claudia Gazzini.

"Either way, residents of Tripoli are yet again victims of violence wrought by forces beyond their control."

Hind

 

Palestinian girl Hind Rajab

Tunisian filmmaker Kaouther Ben Hania is directing a new drama on the harrowing death of Hind Rajab, the six-year-old Palestinian girl killed in Gaza by the Israeli regime in 2024.

According to a Variety report published on Wednesday, the upcoming project is produced by Nadim Cheikhrouha, known for Four Daughters, along with Oscar-winning producers Odessa Rae and James Wilson.

Hind Rajab's martyrdom exposed the Israeli regime's brutality and became a powerful example of its heinous war crimes in Gaza. She was one of thousands of children killed in the conflict, but her story sparked particular international outrage.

In one notable protest, student demonstrators at Columbia University renamed occupied buildings in her honor.

Hind and her family were fleeing northern Gaza when their car came under Israeli fire, killing her uncle, aunt, and three cousins.

The little girl was left trapped in the vehicle for hours, speaking with the Palestinian Red Crescent Society by phone as she pleaded for help. The paramedics who attempted to reach her were also killed.

Their bodies, along with Hind’s, were discovered on February 10, after Israeli forces withdrew from the area.

One year since her murder, Hind Rajab’s name echoes as emblem of Palestinian struggle

One year since her murder, the story of 6-year-old Hind Rajab has transcended her own tragedy, becoming a powerful emblem of the Palestinian struggle against Israeli occupation.

Using satellite imagery and video analysis, investigative journalists from the Washington Post and Sky News concluded that Israeli tanks had targeted the vehicle with hundreds of rounds. Further analysis by Forensic Architecture also found that an Israeli tank struck the ambulance dispatched to rescue Hind.

The movie is being filmed discreetly in Tunisia.

Bahrain

 

Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi

Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi says the process of reestablishing relations with Bahrain and Egypt has begun.

Araghchi said on Monday that several requests have been made to establish relations with Manama since Tehran and Riyadh normalized their relations back in 2023.

The top diplomat said efforts are underway to re-establish ties with the Persian Gulf Arab nation, expressing hope that those efforts will soon bear fruit.

Regarding Tehran-Cairo relations, the Iranian foreign minister noted that ties between Iran and Egypt have expanded significantly.

He mentioned that the presidents and foreign ministers of both countries have met several times and maintain regular telephone conversations.

Bahrain followed Saudi Arabia's suit and severed diplomatic relations with Iran on January 4, 2016, after Iranian protesters, enraged by the execution of prominent Shia cleric Sheikh Nimr Baqir al-Nimr by the Saudi government, stormed its diplomatic mission in Iran.

Tehran and Riyadh reached an agreement in the Chinese capital city of Beijing in March 2023 to restore diplomatic relations and reopen embassies and missions.

Manama continues coordination with Tehran aimed at restoration of ties: Bahrain foreign ministry

The Bahraini Ministry of Foreign Affairs says it is continuing coordination with its Iranian counterpart aimed at restoration of diplomatic ties between the two countries.

Back on October 21, Foreign Minister Araghchi and King Hamad of Bahrain met in Manama and discussed relations and the latest developments in the region, most notably the escalation of Israel’s atrocities in the Gaza Strip and Lebanon.

Egypt severed diplomatic relations with Iran in 1980, as shifts widened between the two following the Islamic Revolution in Iran and Egypt’s recognition of Israel. The move came after Egypt welcomed the deposed US-backed Pahlavi ruler.

However, since Egypt’s longtime strongman Hosni Mubarak was toppled in a popular uprising in 2011, there has been a warming of relations between Iran and Egypt.

In recent years, particularly amid the ongoing Israeli genocide in Gaza, diplomatic contacts between the two countries have intensified as Egypt has tried to play a mediating role.

Gazans

 

Palestinians gather to receive a hot meal at a food distribution point in the Nuseirat camp for refugees in the central Gaza Strip on May 21, 2025. (Albi

The United Nations says no supplies have reached Palestinians despite Israeli claims that aid trucks were allowed into the Gaza Strip. 

While Israel says it has permitted dozens of aid trucks into Gaza under global pressure following a three-month blockade on essential supplies, the assistance remains stuck at the Palestinian side of the Karam Abu Salem (Kerem Shalom) crossing.

Israel said last week it would allow limited food supplies into Gaza for what it described as "diplomatic reasons," aiming to reduce global pressure that could force a ceasefire.

The regime's military claimed over 90 aid trucks had entered the strip this week. However, Israeli officials responsible for aid distribution in Gaza have not responded to questions about whether the food and medicines they carried had been authorized for distribution.

Meanwhile, aid organizations also say that no humanitarian relief has been distributed.

The UN said Wednesday it is attempting to deliver vital aid that arrived in Gaza this week to Palestinians, but distribution faces delays from both looting risks and Israeli military restrictions.

UN spokesperson Stéphane Dujarric stated that while most aid arriving since Monday had been transferred to UN trucks, they could not move it beyond the crossing zone. He cited Israeli-approved routes as too dangerous, adding that negotiations for safer alternatives were ongoing.

Dujarric noted that the incoming aid remained "a drop in the ocean" compared to the required humanitarian response.

Food security experts have warned that Gaza faces imminent famine unless the siege is lifted, with starvation worsening as aid agencies exhausted food stocks weeks ago. Nearly all of the 2.3 million residents are dependent on overstretched community kitchens.

Scores killed in new Israeli strikes as starving Gazans wait for aid

Gaza health officials say Israeli airstrikes overnight through Wednesday killed at least 52 people, among them multiple women and a newborn baby.

Israel launched the campaign of genocide in Gaza on October 7, 2023. It has killed nearly 54,000 Palestinians there so far, according to the health ministry of Gaza.

In January, the Israeli regime was forced to agree to a ceasefire deal with Hamas, given the regime’s failure to achieve any of its objectives, including the “elimination” of the Palestinian resistance movement or the release of captives.

The 42-day stage of the truce, which was marred by repeated Israeli violations, expired on March 1, but Israel is refraining from stepping into talks for the second stage of the agreement.

On March 18, the regime resumed the strikes on Gaza, breaking the nearly two-month-long ceasefire. Israel had enforced a total blockade on Gaza before resuming the offensive, preventing any food, medical supplies, or goods from entering the besieged territory.

The Gaza Government Media Office reports that since then, starvation and medical shortages have claimed at least 300 lives, including 58 from acute malnutrition and 242 from lack of food and medicine.

Israel has been condemned for using starvation as a weapon of war against Palestinians.  

Overdue

 

Iran’s Ambassador and Permanent Representative to the United Nations Amir Saeid Iravani

Iran has described the decision by the United States, the European Union, and the United Kingdom to lift and suspend unilateral sanctions on Syria as a "long overdue" but "positive" step.

Iran’s Ambassador and Permanent Representative to the United Nations Amir Saeid Iravani made the remark before the UN Security Council session on “The situation in the Middle East: (Syria)” in New York on Wednesday.

He hailed the growing international acknowledgment that humanitarian and reconstruction aid in Syria must not be politicized, saying the suffering of the war-ravaged country’s people should not be used for political purposes.

“We call for the full and unconditional lifting of all unilateral sanctions. These illegal measures violate the UN Charter and international law,” he added.

He emphasized that any easing of sanctions must lead to real and immediate changes in the lives of more than 16 million Syrians who are currently in need of urgent help.

“It must also support the return of refugees and help rebuild Syria’s economy and infrastructure, paving the way for lasting peace and stability,” Iravani said.

On Tuesday, US President Donald Trump announced that he would lift the entirety of Washington’s sanctions against Syria after the new administration in the Arab country reportedly proposed making “peace” with the Israeli regime, the US’s closest regional ally.

"Now it is their time to shine. We are taking them (the sanctions) all off. Good luck Syria. Show us something very special,” he said.

'Now it's their time o shine' Trump to lift all sanctions on Syria, meet with Jolani 

The US president says he will lift all of Washington’s sanctions against Syria after the new administration in the Arab country reportedly proposed making “peace” with the Israeli regime.

The EU has also agreed to lift economic sanctions on Syria in an effort to help the war-torn country recover.

Following the decision by EU foreign ministers on Tuesday, the EU’s chief diplomat, Kaja Kallas, wrote on X, “We want to help the Syrian people rebuild a new, inclusive and peaceful Syria.”

Last month, the UK also announced the partial suspension of sanctions on Syria.

The Iranian envoy reiterated Syria’s right and responsibility to maintain peace and security throughout its territory, noting that the country suffers “fragile” security given the ongoing foreign military presence and illegal occupation, especially in the northeast and south.

“The continued occupation of the Syrian Golan by Israel clearly violates international law and Security Council resolution 497 (1981),” he added.

He stressed the importance of strongly condemning Israel’s repeated attacks, including the May 2 airstrike near the presidential palace.

Israeli warplanes conducted airstrikes adjacent to the presidential palace in the Syrian capital of Damascus on May 2, amid the silence of the ruling Hay'at Tahrir al-Sham-led (HTS) administration.

Since Bashar Assad’s government collapsed in December, Syria has been hit by hundreds of Israeli airstrikes, mainly targeting military infrastructure that belonged to the former Syrian army.

“These acts threaten the region’s peace and are made possible by US support,” he said.

The diplomat once again affirmed Iran’s firm stance on the need for respecting Syria’s sovereignty and territorial integrity and withdrawing all illegal foreign forces “immediately and unconditionally.”

“It is evident that only the Israeli occupying regime stands to benefit from the fragmentation and instability in Syria,” Iravani added.

“Its persistent acts of aggression, repeated violations of international law, and continued expansion of occupation are clearly aimed at perpetuating a state of permanent instability in the country.”

Iravani emphasized the need to fight all forms of terrorism in Syria, especially the threat posed by "foreign terrorist fighters (FTFs)."

He said Iran, as a close neighbor, is deeply concerned about reports that FTFs are being relocated from Syria to other conflict areas, as the move could increase instability in the region and pose serious risks to neighboring countries.

He urged the Security Council to remain alert and respond through strong and effective measures.

'PKK disarmament significant step toward rejecting violence'

In his remarks, the Iranian ambassador noted that the announcement by the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) militant group to disarm was a significant step toward rejecting violence and enhancing regional stability.

PKK militant group disbands, ends armed struggle against Turkey: Report

The Kurdistan Workers

He expressed hope that other affiliated armed and terrorist groups, including PJAK, will follow suit in a bid to contribute to lasting peace and security in the region.

In a significant development, the PKK announced in May that it is disbanding and formally renouncing its decades-long insurgency against Turkey, bringing an end to over 40 years of violent conflict.

The move, announced by a media outlet close to the group, will bring an end to one of the longest-running insurgencies in the region.

Elsewhere in his remarks, Iravani pointed to the suffering of the Syrian people from foreign occupation, terrorism, and economic pressure.

“We emphasize that Syria’s future must be decided by Syrians alone, without outside interference or imposed solutions. Any political process must be led and owned by Syria, in line with Security Council resolution 2254,” he said.

He threw Iran’s full weight behind the UN Special Envoy Geir Pedersen and his efforts to promote an inclusive process that would respect Syria’s sovereignty and proceed without foreign pressure.

“In this context, Iran supports the dialogue between the Syrian interim authorities and the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) as an important step toward national integration,” the diplomat added.

Iran encourages inclusive engagement and dialogue that ensures equal rights for all Syrians, he explained.

Nuclear

 

View of Iran's parliament floor

Iranian lawmakers have reiterated that the Islamic Republic will not relinquish its nuclear rights under the Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT), particularly its right to uranium enrichment, rejecting US demands made during indirect talks.

In a Wednesday statement, the lawmakers referred to recent remarks by lead US negotiator Steve Witkoff and Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who said Iran must not have the right to uranium enrichment under any potential replacement for the 2015 nuclear deal.

“We, the members of the Islamic Consultative Assembly, in response to these delusional and absurd claims, declare that the United States regime is on the path of decline and is in a weak and fragile condition,” the statement said.

“This regime is a supporter of both state and non-state terrorism. Domestically, it is facing popular protests in dozens of states, and internationally, it is entangled with more than 100 countries due to its imposition of tariffs and unilateral policies.”

The statement said weakness on the part of the United States government has led it to retreat disgracefully in its imposed war against the resilient and valiant nation of Yemen, referring to the halt in US bombings of that Arab country.

The statement said that despite issuing severe threats against Hamas and setting deadlines over several months for the release of Israeli captives, the US ultimately had no choice but to enter into negotiations with Hamas and, in exchange for the release of a dual-national prisoner, permitted the passage of humanitarian aid trucks.

The lawmakers said US President Donald Trump needs an achievement to help secure a victory for his fellow Republicans in the upcoming Congressional elections after his failures to end the Ukraine war and other conflicts, and that’s why he’s negotiating with Iran.

“A regime so deeply gripped by internal crises and repeated external failures is in no position to dictate terms to any nation, especially not to the great and independent nation of Iran. The officials of the US regime are far too insignificant to issue imperatives to the ever-triumphant and dignified Iranian nation.”

The statement further noted that Iran's nuclear activities and enrichment efforts are entirely legal, legitimate, and in full compliance with the provisions of the NPT and the statute of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).

Trump warns Iran of ‘something bad’ in renewed threat despite Tehran’s outright rejection of intimidation

US President Donald Trump re-escalates his hostile rhetoric against Iran.

“According to Article IV of the NPT, each member state possesses the inalienable right to research, develop, produce, and use nuclear energy. Accordingly, the Islamic Republic of Iran is legally entitled to benefit from the entire nuclear fuel cycle, especially in the field of enrichment,” the lawmakers said.

The lawmakers said Iran’s confidence-building measures and repeated inspections by the IAEA have proven the peaceful nature of Iran’s nuclear program.

“The Iranian nation has never sought nuclear weapons, nor does it seek them. The only regime in the world that has used nuclear weapons to massacre people in other countries is the United States, a regime that was established through land occupation and the killing and displacement of hundreds of thousands of indigenous people,” it said.

The statement vowed that “the empty rhetoric of these criminals” cannot impact Iran’s policies and that the lawmakers will “by no means tolerate any form of overreach or arrogant behavior from our nation’s adversaries.”

“By employing all available capacities, we will steadfastly defend the interests of our great nation, and our government will act in line with these laws and policies.”

Marriage

 There is no success in the building of family without the respect and honor for the institution of marriage. However, we are beset with divorce and the problem of infidelity.

As a result of divorce and infidelity, hatred is building between mothers and fathers, which is causing children to suffer. We can talk about many things that are important in life, but nothing is more important or sacred than family and the cornerstone of family, which is marriage.

But the critical part of male/female relationships is in setting up a social context where men and women can meet each other under proper circumstances that do not degenerate into vile speech or actions. The father is the authority. The wife, of course, is the co-authority and the appeal must be made to the head of that house. If that process turns out well, courtship begins.

In this world, courtship is sampling the goods before buying it; and Sisters, that is a huge mistake on your part to let any man have his way with you and then later you decide whether you will or won’t get married. If I pressed most of you who are involved in courtship, I would discover that you have had a sexual relationship.

Israel

 

An ambulance and police vehicles line a street where two Israeli embassy staff were shot dead near the Capital Jewish Museum in Washington, DC, May 21, 2025. (Albi)

Two staff members at the Israeli embassy in Washington have been shot dead near a Jewish museum.

The shooting took place late Wednesday outside the Capital Jewish Museum, which was hosting an American Jewish Committee event at the time of the incident.

US Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem announced the deaths in an X post, saying, “We are actively investigating and working to get more information to share.”

Tal Naim Cohen, a spokesperson for the Israeli embassy, confirmed that the two staff members were shot "at close range" while attending the event.

In a post on X, Israeli diaspora minister Amichai Chikli named Yaron Lischinsky, 28, as one of the embassy employees killed.

The second victim was also identified as Sarah Milgrim, a Jewish American who worked at the Israeli embassy in Washington.

Washington police chief Pamela Smith said a single suspect who was seen pacing outside the museum before the event was apprehended.

The suspect, identified as 30-year-old Elias Rodriquez of Chicago, Illinois, "chanted 'Free, free Palestine,’ while in custody," she added.

Anger against Israel has increased worldwide since October 7, 2023, when the regime launched a genocidal war on the Gaza Strip.

More than 19 months into its brutal aggression, the occupying regime has failed to achieve its declared objectives in Gaza despite killing at least 53,655 Palestinians, mostly women and children, and injuring 121,950 others.

Israeli and US officials claimed that the shooting was driven by anti-Semitism, a term usually used by them to justify the Gaza onslaught and the crackdown on pro-Palestinian protests.

US President Donald Trump condemned the incident on his Trusth Social media platform, saying, "These horrible D.C. killings, based obviously on antisemitism, must end, NOW! Hatred and Radicalism have no place in the USA.

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio vowed to "track down those responsible and bring them to justice."

Israeli president Isaac Herzog also called the shooting a “despicable antisemitic terror attack.”

Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu said security will be stepped up at the regime's embassies around the world.

Far-right Israeli heritage minister Amichay Eliyahu blamed Wednesday's attack on Yair Golan, a former deputy chief of staff and current head of the Democrats party, who said earlier that the regime is killing babies in Gaza “as a hobby.”

In response, Golan said the discourse of the Israeli cabinet ministers, including supporters of racist rabbi Meir Kahane, enabled the attack and caused Israel's unprecedented diplomatic isolation.

He also vowed to replace Netanyahu's regime and “restore security to all Jews, in Israel and anywhere around the world.”