The Commission of Prisoners' Affairs and Ex-Prisoners said on Tuesday that the "Skypus" disease is spreading in Megiddo Prison, coinciding with the prison administration's delay in providing the necessary medication to infected prisoners.

During his visit to a number of prisoners in Megiddo, the Commission’s lawyer stated that prisoner Ahmed Mahmoud Abdel Razzaq (32 years old) from Tulkarm is in Megiddo Prison, Section 3, Room 1. He was arrested on 4/25/2024, and is still detained. He has a court date on July 13.

The prisoner is suffering from syphilis, and boils have begun to appear on his body. He has not yet been given any antibiotics or medication. He lost approximately 15 kilograms of weight following his arrest and was beaten during his detention.

Regarding the general situation in the prison, prisoners visited by the Commission's lawyers reported that hot water was not provided daily. As for shampoo, three bottles were distributed per week, in addition to one roll of tissues per prisoner per week.

The prisoners agreed that, depending on the mood of the jailer on duty, prisoners are assaulted, beaten, and humiliated, and sometimes they are suppressed for the most trivial reasons.

Two citizens were injured by live Israeli occupation bullets this Tuesday afternoon, one of them seriously, during ongoing clashes in the Old City of Nablus.

In a further development in the situation on the ground in Nablus, a young man and a paramedic were injured by shrapnel from live bullets fired by Israeli occupation forces in the Old City. The forces are currently firing heavily, preventing ambulance crews from reaching the young man, who sustained serious injuries.

Local sources reported that these forces are preventing ambulance crews and journalists from remaining in the area and are deliberately targeting them.

Local sources, citing medical sources, reported that more than 60 injuries were recorded during the ongoing raid, including suffocation and beatings.

Today, Tuesday, the Israeli occupation forces delivered new demolition notices targeting all 45 homes in the village of Al-Nu'man, east of Bethlehem.

Village council head Jamal Darawi told local sources that occupation forces stormed the village and distributed notices to all homes. He explained that this is the second time in a few months that residents have received these mass notices.

"The occupation army verbally informed us that the next notice would be the last and would be followed by the actual demolition," Darawi added. "We are talking about a catastrophe that threatens the existence of an entire village, home to more than 150 people, most of whom are children and women."

He explained that the notices targeted homes constructed since the 1940s, meaning that they are not new outposts or random construction, but rather homes that existed before the occupation. However, for more than 25 years, the occupation has prevented any construction, renovation, or expansion in the village.

On January 26, the Israeli occupation authorities notified the demolition of all homes in the village of Al-Nu'man, east of Bethlehem.

The occupation's policy aims to displace the village's residents and annex it to the borders of the occupation municipality in Jerusalem. He pointed out that a year and a half ago, the occupation's military court approved the imposition of the "Arnona" property tax on all homes in the village, for the previous six years, with between 30,000 and 60,000 shekels paid for each home.

The village of Al-Nu'man is located east of the Bethlehem Governorate, approximately 4.5 km from the city center. It is bordered to the east by the lands of the village of Al-Khas, to the north by the lands of the town of Sur Baher in occupied Jerusalem, and to the west and south by the city of Beit Sahour.

He pointed out that the village, which consists of 45 homes to be demolished, covers an area of 1,500 dunams, and its homes are built of ancient stone. He explained that to counter the occupation's plans to annex it to the borders of the occupation municipality in Jerusalem, a village council was established for it in 2013.

People close to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu hope that it is still possible to reach understandings with the ultra-Orthodox parties regarding the conscription law and preventing the dissolution of the Knesset. The Knesset plenum is scheduled to vote on the preliminary reading of the bills to dissolve the Knesset tomorrow, Wednesday.

The ultra-Orthodox parties continue to insist on enacting a law exempting ultra-Orthodox citizens from military service and are threatening to support a bill to dissolve the Knesset, thereby bringing down the government. Meanwhile, Netanyahu is pressuring the ultra-Orthodox parties and the chairman of the Knesset Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee, Yuli Edelstein, to reach a compromise. This committee is responsible for drafting the law.

Yesterday, Edelstein reiterated his position that personal sanctions on Haredim who refuse to enlist should take effect immediately after the law is passed, rather than after a year, as the Haredim demand. Sources close to Edelstein said, "If there are no sanctions from the outset, there will be no conscription law." Edelstein indicated that even if he agrees to easing sanctions, the legal adviser to the Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee and the Knesset's legal adviser will overturn such easings.

It is estimated that Netanyahu will try at all costs to prevent the ultra-Orthodox parties from supporting the bill to dissolve the Knesset, fearing "a mechanism that could lead to the dissolution of the coalition, even if the coalition parties do not want it," Yedioth Ahronoth reported Tuesday.

The ultra-Orthodox parties made it clear to Netanyahu yesterday that they insist on supporting the dissolution of the Knesset. The United Torah Judaism bloc, comprised of the United Torah and Agudat Yisrael parties, announced that there had been no change in its position and that they did not believe Netanyahu was capable of presenting a draft bill acceptable to them. They declared that "even those who do not study Torah should not serve in the army."

While Netanyahu believes he can postpone final approval of the dissolution of the Knesset, a senior coalition source said that talks on the conscription law have reached a "dead end" and that there is no way to bridge the gap between the ultra-Orthodox demands and Edelstein's bill.

Haaretz quoted a senior political source involved in the talks surrounding the dissolution of the Knesset as saying, "The vote on Wednesday shouldn't be viewed in terms of a crisis. This is a preliminary reading only. Netanyahu's mission is to buy time and prevent the government from falling until the Knesset goes on recess at the end of July." The source claimed that Netanyahu could influence the pace of the dissolution bill's advancement through the Likud-controlled Knesset committee, and that the bill's progress could take anywhere from a week to several months.

In an attempt to prevent Shas party leader Aryeh Deri from reaching a compromise with Edelstein, two senior rabbis on the Shas Rabbinical Council, Moshe Maya and Shlomo Mahfouz, declared that they would not support a law that would include haredi conscription numbers. They joined a letter issued by Rabbi Moshe Tzadka, who is considered to be leading an extreme line against the conscription of yeshivot (haredi Torah seminaries) and has allied himself with the haredi group Neturei Karta, which recognizes Israel, in the struggle for haredi conscription exemptions.

Meanwhile, US Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee has been trying to persuade ultra-Orthodox politicians, in talks with them over the past few days, not to bring down the government, Channel 13 reported, citing political sources. Huckabee considered that "the stability of the government is necessary to confront Iran." Yisrael Beiteinu party leader Avigdor Lieberman responded by saying, "This is an unprecedented and unreasonable statement."

The channel reported that Netanyahu's office was aware of Huckabee's discussions with the Haredim and that he was "satisfied" with them. Huckabee responded by saying, "The ambassador met with numerous Israeli officials. The content of the discussions remains personal."

Opposition leader Yair Lapid commented on the X platform, saying, "Since I have no doubt that Ambassador Huckabee respects Israel's independence and democracy, I hope and believe that the report that he is interfering in Israel's internal politics and trying to help Netanyahu against the Haredim in the conscription evasion law crisis cannot be true. Israel is not a vassal state."

In a letter to French President Emmanuel Macron ahead of a UN conference on the two-state solution, Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas expressed his support for Hamas to "lay down its weapons" and "cease its rule over Gaza" as part of a future Palestinian state, the Élysée Palace announced Tuesday.

In a letter addressed Monday to Macron and Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, who will co-chair the conference on the two-state solution from June 17 to 21 in New York, Abbas also said he was "prepared to invite Arab and international forces to deploy as part of a stabilization/protection mission mandated by the Security Council."

He added that a future Palestinian state "will have no intention of becoming a military state and is prepared to work toward security arrangements that benefit all parties as long as they benefit from international protection." He wrote, "What Hamas did in October 2023, killing and capturing civilians, is unacceptable," calling on the movement to "immediately release all hostages."

For its part, the Élysée Palace welcomed "concrete and unprecedented commitments that demonstrate a genuine desire to move toward implementing the two-state solution." France is seeking to make the international conference to be held at the United Nations a "pivotal moment" for relaunching the two-state solution, something the Israeli government does not want.

Macron, who will travel to New York on June 18, said he is "determined" to recognize a Palestinian state, but with conditions including the "disarmament" of Hamas and its "non-participation" in government.

In his letter, Abbas emphasized his commitment to "continuing reform" of the Palestinian Authority and indicated that he wants to hold "presidential and legislative elections within a year," under international "supervision."

He continued, "We are ready to do our full part to promote a credible and irreversible path toward ending the occupation, moving toward establishing an independent, sovereign Palestinian state, and implementing the two-state solution, within a clear timetable and with strong international guarantees."

The Ministry of Education and Higher Education said that 16,382 students have been killed and 23,532 injured since the start of the Israeli aggression on the Gaza Strip and the West Bank on October 7, 2023.

The Ministry of Education stated in a statement on Tuesday that the number of students killed in the Gaza Strip since the beginning of the aggression has reached more than 16,245, with 25,959 injured. Meanwhile, in the West Bank, 137 students were killed, 897 others were injured, and 749 were arrested.

It noted that 917 teachers and administrators were killed, 4,347 were injured in the Gaza Strip and the West Bank, and more than 196 were arrested in the West Bank.

It noted that 443 government schools, universities, and their affiliated buildings, as well as 91 UNRWA-affiliated schools, were bombed and vandalized in the Gaza Strip. Sixty university buildings were completely destroyed, and 20 educational institutions sustained severe damage. In the West Bank, 152 schools and eight universities were stormed and vandalized.

It is noteworthy that for the second year in a row, high school students in Gaza have been prevented from taking the exam.

In another context, the Ministry of Education announced a suspension of classes in schools in Nablus due to the ongoing raid by occupation forces since the morning hours.

It noted that six UNRWA schools in Jerusalem have remained closed since May 8, 2025.

Yemeni media reported Tuesday morning that the Israeli Navy carried out a series of raids targeting the ports of the western Yemeni city of Hodeidah. The media noted that the operation was carried out without the participation of the Israeli Air Force.

These attacks came after Israeli warnings to evacuate a number of ports and strategic sites in several Yemeni cities. Following the attack, Israeli Defense Minister Yisrael Katz threatened the Houthis with a land and air blockade, in a statement he issued.

Yemen's Al Masirah TV reported that the attacks targeted sites in the city of Hodeidah, at a time when the Israeli military had called for the evacuation of the Houthi-controlled ports of Ras Isa, Hodeidah, and Salif, warning civilians and workers there to remain in those areas until further notice.

Israeli army: We targeted Houthi military facilities in the port of Hodeidah.

An Israeli military spokesman issued a statement confirming that the Israeli military had launched a missile attack from the sea targeting Houthi positions in the port of Hodeidah, western Yemen, using naval missile ships.

According to an Israeli military spokesman, this attack came in response to the group's ongoing attacks against Israel, including the launching of surface-to-surface missiles and drones toward Israeli territory.

The Israeli military explained in its statement that the naval raid aimed to deepen the blow against the military use of the port of Hodeidah, which had previously been subjected to attacks last year but continues to be used for what the military described as "terrorist" purposes.

The army's statement indicated that the port of Hodeidah is being used by the Houthis to transport weapons, and constitutes a clear example of the exploitation of civilian infrastructure for military purposes, in violation of international law.

For his part, Israeli Defense Minister Katz said, "I congratulate the Navy on the successful strike on the port of Hodeidah." He added, "Israel's long arm, in the air and at sea, will reach everywhere."

He continued, "We warned the Houthis that continued fire toward Israel would be met with a strong response, and we would impose a naval and air blockade on them." He added, "This is what we did today—and we will continue to do so in the future."

Prior to the strikes, the military issued advance warnings to those in the vicinity of the port, with the aim of reducing the risk of civilian casualties.

The IDF renewed its call for port workers to evacuate the area immediately, stressing its determination to continue targeting any entity that threatens the security of Israeli citizens, "regardless of their location or distance."

The website of the Yedioth Ahronoth newspaper reported that the Israeli Navy launched two consecutive attacks on the port of Hodeidah on Tuesday morning, in a development that is the first of its kind since the start of the war.

Unlike previous attacks targeting Yemeni territory that involved warplanes, this attack was limited to the Navy alone, with no air force involvement.

An Israeli official confirmed to i24 that the Israeli military carried out strikes targeting sites in Yemen early Tuesday.

Israeli Channel 12 reported that the Israeli army attacked sites in Yemen.

These developments come amid escalating tensions between the Houthis and Israel. The Houthis continue to target Israel with missiles and drones in support of Palestinians in the Gaza Strip, and they affirm their continued operations "as long as Israel continues its war of extermination against Gaza."

This is not the first time Israel has targeted Yemeni territory. In recent months, it has launched several airstrikes, most notably on May 6, when it targeted Sana'a International Airport, resulting in civilian casualties and significant damage to facilities. Previous strikes targeted Ras Isa Port and targets in Hodeidah.

This escalation reflects the widening scope of the confrontation in the region, amid warnings of worsening security and humanitarian repercussions.

Dozens of civilians were killed and wounded by Israeli occupation forces at dawn and early Tuesday morning, targeting aid distribution centers and populated areas in the Gaza Strip.

Sources in Gaza hospitals confirmed that 20 martyrs waiting for aid near the Netzarim axis in the central Gaza Strip had arrived at hospitals.

Meanwhile, Al-Awda and Al-Aqsa hospitals in the central Gaza Strip announced the arrival of seven martyrs and more than 100 wounded by Israeli forces' fire near an aid distribution center.

Meanwhile, 12 dead and more than 124 wounded people waiting for aid near the Netzarim axis arrived at Al-Quds Hospital in Gaza City.

In the southern Gaza Strip, three members of the same family were killed in an Israeli airstrike on a displaced persons' tent in the Mawasi area of Khan Yunis.

Meanwhile, the child Amir Ibrahim Abu Shalouf was killed by Israeli occupation forces' fire in the vicinity of the Al-Iqlimiya area, south of Khan Yunis.

In the northern Gaza Strip, the bodies of nine martyrs were recovered after the occupation targeted homes in Jabalia al-Balad.

Israeli occupation forces launched a campaign of arrests and raids in various areas of the West Bank at dawn and early Tuesday morning.

In Jenin, Israeli occupation forces arrested young man Ahmed Al-Dhaker during a raid on the town of Faqqu'a. Police forces deployed in several neighborhoods, and Israeli soldiers raided and searched several homes.

Meanwhile, these forces turned a number of homes into military barracks after informing their residents not to return for three days.

Other forces also arrested Muhammad Nader Shraim, Tayseer Diab, Muhammad Nader Kamil, and Nour Muhammad Zakarneh after raiding and searching their homes in Qabatiya.

Meanwhile, the young man, Mujahid Amarneh, was arrested after his home was raided, searched and its contents ransacked in the town of Ya'bad, south of Jenin.

In Nablus, the director of the Red Crescent's emergency and ambulance center in Nablus, Amid Ahmed, reported that ambulance crews treated more than 15 cases of suffocation, including children, as a result of inhaling tear gas during the occupation forces' raid on the Old City.

Meanwhile, occupation forces stormed several neighborhoods in the Old City of Nablus, in addition to the Khan al-Khan market, raiding several homes and shops, searching them, and ransacking their contents, amid a widespread presence of snipers on the rooftops of buildings.

A number of homes were also targeted with bullets and tear gas, while a number of young men were arrested and detained.

Meanwhile, the Nablus Education Directorate announced the suspension of education in the city and the postponement of the unified exam in all schools in the directorate until next Monday.

Later, a 17-year-old boy sustained bruises after being beaten by the occupation forces and was taken to the hospital.

In Qalqilya, Israeli occupation forces stormed the village of Ras Atiya in the south, raided the home of Bassem Arar, ransacked its contents, and arrested him before transferring him to an unknown location.

A group of settlers also raided the eastern entrance to the village of Amatin, setting fire to a vehicle belonging to citizen Tariq Sabour, causing it to burn down. They also wrote racist graffiti on the walls surrounding the area.

In Bethlehem, occupation forces arrested Amir Lutfi Khalil Saad and Yousef Yaqoub Mahmoud Al-Hasasneh from the Deheishe refugee camp in the south, and Izzat Muhammad Khaled Al-Saqa from Doha in the west.

In the early hours of Tuesday morning, Israeli authorities transported the activists on board the Madeleine to Ben Gurion Airport, pending their deportation to their home countries. This happened hours after the Israeli Navy seized the ship and took it to the port of Ashdod.

The ship, carrying humanitarian aid and 12 volunteers as part of the Freedom Flotilla, attempted to break the blockade on the Gaza Strip, but Israeli naval commandos and the Snapir unit intercepted it while sailing in international waters, forcibly boarded it, and then began towing it to the port of Ashdod, according to the Israeli Broadcasting Authority.

The Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs reported that some activists refused to sign legal pledges guaranteeing voluntary deportation, stressing that anyone who refuses will be brought before a judge to decide on their deportation.

The ministry added in a statement that the activists refused to watch a film shown to them, which purportedly documented what it described as "atrocities committed against Jews and Israelis," and described them as "anti-Semitic activists."

Meanwhile, Israeli media outlets quoted Israeli officials as saying that the activists will be detained in a special facility before being deported, while Yedioth Ahronoth newspaper confirmed that the crew will be interrogated and investigated upon the ship's arrival at port.

The Israeli Broadcasting Corporation reported that eight Madeleine activists, including European Parliament member Rima Hassan, refused to sign their deportation documents.

In the same context, the human rights organization Adalah reported that the ship and its crew remained at sea for hours, while the Israeli navy continued to forcibly tow it to the port of Ashdod.

In a security measure, Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir instructed the Prison Service to prevent the entry of any communication devices or media equipment into cells where activists may be detained.

For his part, Israeli government spokesman David Mincer stated that the ship's seizure proceeded "smoothly and without injuries," noting that authorities would work to ensure the activists' return to their countries and families as soon as possible.

Israeli occupation forces notified the demolition of more than 100 homes in Jenin camp on Monday evening.

Local sources said that the occupation forces distributed a map showing 100 homes in several neighborhoods of Jenin camp that the occupation forces have decided to demolish.

The sources indicated that the demolition operations will be carried out within 72 hours of the decision being issued.

The occupation forces have carried out demolitions of several homes in the camp's neighborhoods, the most recent of which was last March, when more than 66 homes were demolished.

Sources in Jenin reported that the ongoing Israeli aggression, which has been ongoing for more than five months, has caused partial or complete destruction to approximately 600 homes and facilities in the camp.

Israeli occupation forces continued their demolition of residential buildings in Tulkarm camp on Monday, for the fourth consecutive day, as they continue their aggression against the city and camp.

According to local sources, Israeli bulldozers continued to demolish dozens of residential buildings in the Balawneh and Akasha neighborhoods of Tulkarm refugee camp, as part of the occupation's plan to demolish 106 buildings in both Tulkarm and Nur Shams refugee camps, including 58 buildings in Tulkarm refugee camp alone, comprising more than 250 housing units and dozens of commercial establishments.

French President Emmanuel Macron said on Monday that Israel's blockade of the Gaza Strip and its prevention of humanitarian aid from entering the Strip are "scandalous," reiterating his call for a ceasefire, the release of prisoners, and the reopening of crossings.

Macron added that France is "vigilant... and stands by all its citizens when they are in danger," after Israeli forces intercepted a boat carrying pro-Palestinian activists, including six French nationals, early Monday morning.

He stressed that France "conveyed all messages" to Israel to ensure the protection of activists and "enable their return to French territory."

Sudan's war, which has been raging for more than two years between the army and the Rapid Support Forces, has recently intensified in the Kordofan region, with its three states, home to most of the oil fields, such as Heglig, Abu Jabara, and Balila.

Al-Obeid, the largest city in the region in central Sudan, was again attacked by drones early Monday, targeting several locations in the city, sparking intense fear and panic among residents. The attack on the capital of North Kordofan coincides with mobilization and violent fighting in the three Kordofan states.

Local sources told Asharq Al-Awsat that the drones targeted the Al-Radif neighborhood in the east of the city, resulting in varying degrees of civilian casualties. One source said that one of the drones was seen flying over the headquarters of the Sudanese army's Fifth Camel Corps Division.

After the army took full control of the capital, Khartoum, fighting with the Rapid Support Forces shifted westward toward the states of North, South, and West Kordofan.

Siege of Al-Ubayyid

The Rapid Support Forces' targeting of the city is part of a series of attacks against the army and its supporting forces following their withdrawal from the towns of Al-Khawi, Al-Dubaibiyat, and Al-Hamadi surrounding Al-Obeid. This has paved the way for the Rapid Support Forces to besiege Al-Obeid from three directions.

The attack reveals major gaps in the army's air defense systems in the city. Media reports previously revealed that the Rapid Support Forces had acquired advanced drones, which were used in recent battles in several areas of the three Kordofan states.

Sources indicated that the nearest area controlled by the Rapid Support Forces is the city of Bara, less than 50 kilometers northeast of El Obeid. In addition, its forces are deployed in large numbers in the towns of El Khowy, El Hammadi, and Kazigil, which are also close to El Obeid.

In West Kordofan, violent clashes continue between the two sides in the town of Babanusa, home to the headquarters of the army's 22nd Infantry Division. The division previously lost three of its important military garrisons in the towns of Nahud, Al-Fula, and Heglig to the Rapid Support Forces.

"Western Rescue" Road

Sources within the Rapid Support Forces reported that their forces control all of Babanusa and are simultaneously besieging the army's military division headquarters from several axes. They added that "the city's complete fall is only a matter of time."

The Western Rescue Road, which links the capital, Khartoum, to the states of Kordofan before ending in the states of Darfur, is of paramount importance in the battles between the army and the Rapid Support Forces. The army aims to use it as an entry point for its forces to penetrate Darfur, while the Rapid Support Forces view it as an advanced defense line for the region and a basis for their ambition to re-enter the capital, Khartoum.

West Kordofan State, which borders South Sudan, includes approximately 15 localities and most of Sudan's oil fields. It has been witnessing the fiercest fighting between the two warring parties.

North Kordofan state is witnessing intermittent fighting, but the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) have escalated their drone attacks on the capital, El Obeid, and the city of Rahad. As the RSF seeks to advance toward El Obeid from areas under its control in the north of the state, particularly the city of Bara, the army is seeking to end the RSF's presence in the north of the state and some areas in the south, in preparation for lifting the siege on South Kordofan.

South Kordofan, the last of the three Kordofan states, is also witnessing fierce fighting between the army on one side and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) and the Sudan People's Liberation Movement (SPLM) led by Abdel Aziz al-Hilu on the other. Battles took place in which the army seized control of the Dabaibat and Hamadi areas with the aim of lifting the siege on the cities of Dilling and Kadugli, before the RSF recaptured them.

El Fasher city

Meanwhile, Mohamed Ahmed al-Khidr, commander of the 6th Infantry Division in El Fasher, the largest city in Darfur, confirmed that the army has been repelling an attempt by the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) to storm the city for more than a year. However, eyewitnesses confirmed to Asharq Al-Awsat that army forces are carrying out special operations against the RSF in areas surrounding the city.

For its part, the Sudan Liberation Movement, led by Al-Hadi Idris, stated that its forces are cooperating with the Rapid Support Forces to evacuate civilians from El Fasher and the surrounding camps to the Selek camp in the Korma area.

Sudan has been embroiled in a war since April 2023 between the army and the Rapid Support Forces, which erupted over a dispute between them before the transition to civilian rule. The United Nations says the conflict has displaced more than 12 million people and pushed half the population into the grip of severe hunger.

Two years after the outbreak of the war, the army succeeded in expelling the Rapid Support Forces from most of central Sudan. The forces shifted their tactics from ground incursions to drone attacks targeting power plants and other facilities deep within army-controlled territory. The army continues to launch airstrikes in Darfur, the stronghold of the Rapid Support Forces, while both sides engage in ground battles for control of the strategic city of El Fasher.

US President Donald Trump spoke with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in Washington on Monday to discuss the US-Iranian negotiations seeking to reach a replacement for the July 2015 agreement, which Trump withdrew from during his first administration (May 2018). The negotiations are currently stalled due to the lack of agreement on the nature and extent of the enrichment that Iran can retain for its peaceful nuclear program.

This call comes as Tehran prepares to present an alternative proposal to the US proposal presented by Trump's envoy and chief negotiator, Steve Witkoff.

It also comes at a time when Trump is seeking to expedite the delivery of aid to Gaza.

Trump has occasionally expressed frustration with Netanyahu. Last week, he said he warned Netanyahu against taking actions that might derail the nuclear talks with Iran.

"I told him it would be inappropriate to do that now because we're so close to a solution. That could change at any moment," Trump told reporters in the Oval Office.

Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmail Baghaei said on Monday that Iran will soon submit a counterproposal to the nuclear deal to the United States via Oman, in response to a US offer that Tehran deemed "unacceptable."

Settlers carried out attacks on lands in the town of Sinjil and the village of Al-Mughayyir, northeast of Ramallah, on Monday evening.

Eyewitnesses in the town of Sinjil reported that settlers attacked lands in the Al-Ma'ashriya and Batn Al-Halawa areas north of the town this evening. They also graze their cows on the crops of citizens there, causing damage to them. They also prevented citizens from entering the areas.

Witnesses added that settlers continue to position themselves on Mount Tal al-Batin in the southern part of the town, despite the fact that it is an archaeological area. They also set up a tent there and assaulted citizens.

Sinjil Municipality Public Relations Director Iman Fuqaha said that the occupation forces have transformed half of Sinjil's land area into military and settlement zones, and have surrounded the town with a barbed wire wall. She noted that farmers have suffered heavy losses as a result of the targeting of the Tell Plain, which is occupied by settlers, who have stolen their wheat crops.

In Al-Mughayyir, settlers continued to set up a tent east of the village, near residents' homes, and assaulted residents there and any other residents on their land.

Hundreds demonstrated in the German capital, Berlin, on Monday to protest Israel's attack on the ship "Madeleine," which was heading to the Palestinian Gaza Strip carrying humanitarian aid.

Protesters outside Berlin's city hall demanded the release of 12 activists on board the ship, including German activist Yasmin Acar.

The demonstrators held up banners denouncing the Israeli blockade of the Gaza Strip and describing Israel as a "terrorist state."

The demonstrators also called on the German government to take action and pressure for the release of activists detained by Israel.

The demonstrators stressed the importance of halting military cooperation with Israel.

They affirmed their support for the Palestinian cause and their exposure of Israeli violations in Gaza.

The Madeleine civilian ship includes 12 activists, 6 of whom are French, and one activist each from Brazil, the Netherlands, Turkey, Sweden, Germany, and Spain.

At dawn on Monday, the Israeli army stormed the ship "Madeleine," which was carrying international activists and activists in solidarity with the Gaza Strip in an attempt to break the blockade imposed on the Strip.

The raid was preceded by a live broadcast from the activists on board the ship, in which they reported that Israeli boats were surrounding the ship, while Israeli soldiers demanded that the activists raise their hands.

Israeli drones also flew over the ship before storming it, dropping an unknown white liquid, according to a live broadcast from on board the ship.

The raid came hours after Israeli warnings to prevent the ship from reaching the shores of the Gaza Strip, deeming it an "illegal" attempt to break the naval blockade, according to a statement from the Israeli Foreign Ministry.

On Sunday, Israeli Defense Minister Yisrael Katz said he had instructed the military to take action to prevent the ship from reaching the Gaza Strip, where it is expected to enter territorial waters within hours.

Another ship belonging to the International Committee to Break the Siege on Gaza, the "Al-Dameer," was attacked by an Israeli drone on May 2nd while attempting to sail towards Gaza, causing a hole in its hull and a fire in its bow.

Since October 7, 2023, Israel, with American support, has been committing genocide in Gaza, including killing, starvation, destruction, and displacement, ignoring international calls and orders from the International Court of Justice to halt it.

The genocide left more than 181,000 Palestinians dead or wounded, most of them children and women, and more than 11,000 missing. Hundreds of thousands were displaced, and famine claimed the lives of many, including children, as well as widespread destruction.

Israeli occupation forces renewed their incursions into areas of the West Bank on Monday, including two towns in Jenin, and continued their demolition of residential buildings in Tulkarm refugee camp for the fourth day, as part of their ongoing assault on the city that has lasted 134 days.

Today, Israeli occupation forces raided the towns of Silat al-Harithiya and al-Yamun, west of Jenin in the northern West Bank. Local sources confirmed that the occupation forces raided and searched several homes and interrogated their owners on the spot.

Sources reported that occupation forces stormed the town of Yamoun, detained two young men, and interrogated them on the spot. This comes amid the occupation's intensified aggression against Jenin's towns and villages, with ongoing raids on homes and businesses and daily arrests of residents.

Sources also told Al Jazeera that occupation forces stormed the Umm al-Sharait neighborhood in the city of al-Bireh in the central West Bank and began searching facilities, while settlers set fire to Palestinian land near the Karmei Tzur settlement in Beit Ummar, north of Hebron.

Continuous demolition

Today, the occupation forces continued to demolish residential buildings in Tulkarm camp for the fourth consecutive day, coinciding with the 134th consecutive day of their aggression against the city and camp.

The Palestinian News Agency, WAFA, reported that the occupation forces demolished dozens of residential buildings in the Balawneh and Akasha neighborhoods in Tulkarm refugee camp, as part of the occupation's plan to demolish 106 buildings in both Tulkarm and Nur Shams refugee camps.

The agency reported that 58 of the buildings included in the plan are in Tulkarm camp, comprising more than 250 housing units and dozens of commercial establishments.

In early May, the Israeli army announced its intention to demolish 106 buildings in the Tulkarm and Nur Shams camps, as part of its efforts to force the displacement of Palestinians.

Tulkarm Governor Abdullah Kamil also said at the time that the occupation intended to demolish 58 buildings in Tulkarm camp and 48 homes in Nur Shams camp in the northern West Bank.

This comes as the Israeli army continues its tight siege of the Tulkarm and Nur Shams refugee camps and their surroundings, preventing Palestinians from reaching their homes under threat of fire.

In the Nur Shams refugee camp in Tulkarm, the Israeli army continues its aggression for the 127th consecutive day amid widespread escalation on the ground, according to the agency.

Over the past few days, Nour Shams camp has witnessed the ongoing demolition of more than 20 residential buildings, as part of the occupation's plan to demolish 48 buildings in the camp, under the pretext of opening roads and changing the geographical features of the two camps.

Palestinian sources reported that Tulkarm and its suburbs are witnessing intense Israeli military activity, with infantry units and army vehicles patrolling the main streets and neighborhoods and obstructing civilian movement.

In this context, the Israeli army continues to seize a number of buildings on Nablus Street and the northern neighborhood of the city, specifically those opposite Tulkarm refugee camp, after forcibly evacuating their residents and converting them into military barracks.

The Palestinian agency noted that some of these buildings have been under Israeli military control for more than three months, with the Israeli army deploying its machinery and bulldozers in their vicinity.

According to the latest data, the Israeli escalation has displaced more than 5,000 families from the two camps, representing over 25,000 residents, and has completely destroyed at least 400 homes and partially destroyed 2,573 others. The entrances to the camps remain blocked with barriers, transforming them into almost lifeless areas, according to the agency.

In parallel with the war of extermination in the Gaza Strip, the Israeli army and settlers have escalated their attacks in the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, resulting in the deaths of at least 974 Palestinians, the injury of approximately 7,000, and the arrest of more than 17,000, according to Palestinian data.

Since October 7, 2023, Israel, with US support, has been committing genocide in the Gaza Strip, leaving more than 181,000 Palestinians dead or wounded, most of them children and women, and more than 11,000 missing, in addition to hundreds of thousands displaced.

The Hebrew newspaper "Israel Hayom" reported that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will hold a phone call with US President Donald Trump on Monday evening, with the call likely to focus primarily on the Iranian issue.

The newspaper quoted an informed source as saying that Netanyahu will hold a security meeting after the call, while Israeli Army Radio reported that Netanyahu is currently holding security consultations following reports that Iran has rejected the latest US proposal.

The Jerusalem Post, citing a source close to Netanyahu, confirmed that the call with Trump will be devoted to discussing developments related to Iran, amid growing tensions in the region.

In a related development, Yedioth Ahronoth reported that Netanyahu will hold a small security meeting at the Defense Ministry headquarters after the call, attended by Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, Ministers Katz, Smotrich, Ben-Gvir, and Dermer, along with the chiefs of staff of the IDF, Mossad, and Shin Bet.

Israeli occupation forces stormed villages and towns in the Sha'rawiya area, north of Tulkarm, on Monday, and arrested two young men east of the governorate.

Local sources reported that a number of occupation vehicles stormed the towns of Baqa al-Sharqiya, Attil, Allar, and Saida, patrolling their streets and main intersections, and obstructing the movement of vehicles and citizens after setting up surprise checkpoints in their centers.

The sources added that the occupation forces arrested the young men, checked their IDs, and subjected them to interrogation and abuse after detaining them. They also raided and searched a number of shops.

The occupation forces also arrested two young men, Rami Ragheb Hamad and Omar Musa Salman, from the town of Ramin, east of Tulkarm, while they were on Al-Wad Road, near the town's main entrance.

Israeli occupation forces also stormed the town of Anabta, east of Tulkarm, and toured its main streets before heading towards the road leading to Nour Shams camp.

On a merciless sea voyage, under skies heavy with surveillance aircraft, a small ship named Madeleine sets sail for Gaza. On the surface, it appears to be any ordinary boat loaded with medicine and aid, but it was brought there by people with free hearts who belie the silence and resist betrayal. After 20 months of a stifling and genocidal siege, Madeleine comes as an act of moral resistance, a resounding cry in the face of global cruelty.

Marmara: Memory of the Siege and the Open Wound

In 2010, the Mavi Marmara shook the world's conscience when Israeli forces stormed it at sea, killing ten Turkish activists on board. The Mavi Marmara, part of the Freedom Flotilla, was attempting to deliver aid to besieged Gaza, but its fate was tragically overshadowed by the news. The bloodshed, however, did not extinguish the message; it only reinforced it: that beyond Palestinians, from all countries, there are people of conscience, willing to die so that Palestinians are not left alone in their pain and isolation.

From that moment on, the Marmara became a symbol not only of martyrdom, but of the international will that refuses to stand idly by in the face of starvation and destruction. A memorial to the Marmara was erected in the port of Gaza, but it was destroyed last year by the Israeli aggression machine.

Madeleine: Sister of Marmara in Faith and Pain

Fifteen years later, the image of the Marmara returns through the Madeleine, a ship that sailed from Europe en route to the shores of Gaza, laden with solidarity, medical supplies, and hearts determined to support us. On board are faces of diverse nationalities, people united not by homeland or language, but by the truth: humanity in Gaza is being trampled upon, and silence is complicity in the crime.

We know, and they know, that they may not arrive, that the Israeli navy may intercept, kidnap, or arrest them. Yet they embark on the seas because they cannot bear the daily betrayal of their governments, carried out in silence.

A balm for the wounds of betrayal

In Palestine, and in Gaza in particular, Madeleine is a moral antidote in a time of genocide. Since October 2023, Palestinians have been living in terrifying isolation: massacres committed live on air, hunger ravaging children, and death declared without real intervention. In this context, Madeleine appears like a mermaid planting a kiss on the forehead of Gaza and telling its people: You are not alone.

The child who lost his parents, the mother who sleeps with the smell of incendiary bombs, and the doctor who drags a body without anesthesia—they all need a kiss from Madeleine. This kiss, even if the ship never actually arrives, reaches the Palestinian conscience and restores some of their faith in humanity.

Humanitarian ships are intercepted... and warships are patrolling the oceans.

What compounds the bitterness of the blockade is the painful irony: while even a simple humanitarian ship is barred from entering Gaza, warships laden with bombs, missiles, and fighter jets cross daily into Israeli ports, loaded from Western warehouses and welcomed as if they were carrying flowers, not weapons of murder.

The Madeleine is searched for resistance tools, pursued by aircraft, and its navigation equipment is jammed, while warships unload their cargoes of death without oversight. It's enough to look off the shores of Haifa and Ashdod to see how many military ships have docked this year, carrying unconditional support for the killing machine in Gaza. Meanwhile, a humanitarian ship is prevented from delivering sterile cotton or crutches to a child whose leg was amputated.

It is not just double standards, but a display of the collapse of the global conscience.

Madeleine as a cry for the global conscience

Every time a ship bound for Gaza is intercepted, the fragility of the global conscience is exposed. The United Nations remains silent, Arab governments make excuses, and Western democracies raise empty slogans. In this sense, Madeleine is a mirror that shows us all: who stands with humanity, and who compromises their lives.

How did delivering medicine to a child become a crime? How did love become a crime? How did standing with the oppressed become a risk?

Whether Madeleine arrives or not, she, like the Marmara, has already landed in the hearts of Palestinians. She is not only a challenge to the blockade, but a call to the world: that Palestine is not just a place of death, but a place of dignity, loyalty, humanity, and the revolutionary love that brings these strangers to the shores of Gaza.

From the Marmara to Madeleine, from the sea to the camp, Palestine can know and appreciate who was with it and who conspired against it.

The aid ship "Madeleine" arrived at the port of Ashdod in central Israel, carrying the 12 activists who were arrested by Israeli commandos after being prevented from reaching the Gaza Strip to break the tight blockade on the territory, according to the Israeli Broadcasting Authority.

Israel Hayom reported that the Prison Service is preparing to detain the Madeleine activists and has prepared separate cells for them at Givon Prison in Ramle.

She added that National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir ordered a ban on the entry of communication devices, radios, and televisions into prisons, and a ban on any Palestinian symbols.

The Israeli human rights organization Adalah called on the Tel Aviv authorities to immediately reveal the whereabouts of the activists who were on board the Madeleine and were forcibly detained.

Last night, the Israeli military seized the aid ship and detained all activists on board, following threats on Sunday to prevent it from reaching the Gaza Strip and demand its return.

The Israeli Ministry of Defense said that all passengers on the ship are safe and will return to their countries.

The Israeli army also broadcast footage of the moment all foreign activists on board the Madeleine were arrested.

Israeli Army Radio quoted a source as saying that the activists on board the ship will be interrogated at a military base in the port of Ashdod, and that they will be shown a film about the events of October 7, 2023.

Widespread condemnation

Hamas described Israel's interception of the Gaza solidarity ship "Madeleine" at sea as organized state terrorism, a violation of international law, and an attack on civilian volunteers acting on humanitarian grounds.

The movement saluted the solidarity activists on board the ship, who affirmed that Gaza is not alone and that the conscience of humanity remains alive. The movement demanded the immediate release of the activists, holding the occupation responsible for their safety.

The United Nations and international organizations called for condemnation of this crime and action to break the blockade. They praised all international initiatives to break the blockade, stressing that the detention of the Madeleine will not halt global solidarity with Gaza.

For its part, the Islamic Jihad movement said that the Israeli occupation forces' storming of the Madeleine ship was a flagrant violation of international law.

The movement added that the ship's storming constituted an international kidnapping, adding the crime of piracy to the crime of genocide. It affirmed its full solidarity with the kidnapped activists, who it said responded to their humanity and conscience and took risks.

A source in the Spanish Foreign Ministry told Al Jazeera that his country had summoned the Israeli chargé d'affaires to protest what happened to the Madeleine.

Iran condemned Israel's interception of the aid ship "Madeleine," describing it as an act of "piracy."

"The attack on this ship constitutes a form of piracy under international law because it occurred in international waters," Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmail Baghaei said at a press conference in Tehran.

Türkiye, for its part, considered the Israeli forces' intervention against the Madeleine ship a clear violation of international law.

The Turkish Foreign Ministry said that Israel "is once again showing that it is acting as a terrorist state."

Amnesty International also considered the Israeli seizure of the Madeleine a violation of international law, stating that the ship was seeking to bring humanitarian aid to break the illegal blockade of the occupied Gaza Strip.

She added that Israel, as an occupying power, has a legal obligation to ensure that civilians in Gaza have access to food and medicine.

For its part, the International Committee to Break the Siege on Gaza described Israel as a "war criminal state" following its interception of the aid ship "Madeleine." It also called for the world to begin preparing more aid ships and sending them to starving Palestinians in the besieged Strip.

For her part, the UN Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in the occupied territories, Francesca Albanese, expressed her support for the Freedom Flotilla Coalition's operation and urged the dispatch of additional boats on Sunday to challenge the blockade on Gaza.

The Madeleine set sail from Italy on June 1, carrying 12 activists from France, Germany, Brazil, Turkey, Sweden, Spain, and the Netherlands, to break the Israeli blockade on the Gaza Strip, which is suffering from a catastrophic humanitarian situation.

The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) has warned that the healthcare system in the Gaza Strip is on the verge of total collapse, as Israel continues its genocide against Palestinians in the Strip for more than a year and a half.

The committee said in a statement on Sunday that most of the Palestinians injured in the recent incidents in Gaza were trying to reach aid distribution sites run by the US-Israeli mechanism.

The committee noted that the past few days have witnessed an escalation in hostilities around the few remaining hospitals still operating in Gaza.

It also called for the preservation of the remaining healthcare facilities in the Strip to avoid further loss of life.

The committee stressed that medical staff face the challenge of saving lives amidst their continued exposure to stray bullets, which endangers the safety of both medical personnel and the injured, and threatens the continuity of the field hospital's operations.

She stressed that the unprecedented rate of arrival of injured people, many of whom require immediate medical attention, has exhausted and depleted medical staff.

The Red Cross concluded in its statement that the health care system in Gaza is on the verge of complete collapse.

The Red Cross stressed that medical staff face the challenge of saving lives under a hail of bullets, threatening their safety and the continued operation of the field hospital.

Over the past two weeks, the Red Cross field hospital in Rafah (southern Gaza) was forced to activate its mass casualty response procedures 12 times after receiving large numbers of people wounded by gunfire and shrapnel, according to the same statement.

The committee indicated in its statement that the number of cases received by the hospital during this period exceeded 916, including 41 people who were declared dead upon arrival.

In the same vein, field hospital director Grace Osomo said, "We continue to receive large numbers of patients daily, and we have to accommodate them wherever possible, including stretchers placed on the floor."

Aid traps

Hours before the Red Cross statement, the government media office in the Gaza Strip announced that the death toll from US-Israeli aid traps had risen to 125, with 736 wounded and nine missing since May 27. This followed the deaths of 13 Palestinians and the injury of 153 others in two attacks on Sunday.

Beyond the supervision of the United Nations and international relief organizations, Tel Aviv began implementing a plan to distribute humanitarian aid on May 27 through the Gaza Humanitarian Relief Foundation, an organization supported by Israel and the United States but rejected by the United Nations.

Aid distribution is taking place in the so-called "buffer zones" in southern and central Gaza, amid growing signs that this plan is failing. Distribution has been repeatedly interrupted by the influx of starving people, prompting Israeli forces to open fire, resulting in civilian deaths and injuries.

The distributed quantities are described as scarce and do not meet the needs of hundreds of thousands of hungry people in the Gaza Strip.

The distribution process is conducted according to a mechanism described by human rights and international organizations as humiliating and degrading, with those in need forced to pass through iron cages enclosed in barbed wire, a scene observers have likened to the practices of the Nazi ghettos in Europe during World War II.

Israeli Army Radio confirmed that this plan aims to expedite the evacuation of residents of the northern Gaza Strip by restricting aid distribution to only four points in southern Gaza.

Thirteen civilians, including children and women, were killed and others injured on Monday as a result of Israeli occupation forces' shelling of several areas in Khan Yunis, south of the Gaza Strip.

According to local sources, seven people were killed and others were injured in an Israeli bombardment of a tent housing displaced persons in the Al-Mawasi area west of Khan Yunis. Others were killed in an Israeli bombardment of the town of Abasan al-Kabira east of Khan Yunis, while a female citizen died from wounds she sustained in a previous Israeli bombardment of Khan Yunis.

He pointed out that a girl was killed by Israeli occupation forces' fire in the industrial area northwest of Khan Yunis, and that two others were killed in an Israeli drone strike on a group of citizens in the Batn al-Sameen area south of the city.

The Israeli occupation has continued its aggression on the Gaza Strip since October 7, 2023, resulting in the martyrdom of 54,880 citizens, most of them children and women, and the injury of 126,227 others.

Israeli occupation forces continued to demolish residential buildings in Tulkarm refugee camp for the fourth consecutive day, coinciding with the 134th consecutive day of their assault on the city and camp, and the 121st day of their assault on Nour Shams refugee camp, amid widespread escalation on the ground.

Local sources reported that Israeli bulldozers continued their demolition of dozens of residential buildings in the Balawneh and Akasha neighborhoods of Tulkarm refugee camp on Monday, as part of the occupation's plan to demolish 106 buildings in both Tulkarm and Nur Shams refugee camps, including 58 buildings in Tulkarm refugee camp alone, comprising more than 250 housing units and dozens of commercial establishments.

Meanwhile, occupation forces continue to impose a tight siege on the Tulkarm and Nur Shams refugee camps and their surroundings, deploying their forces in alleys, neighborhoods, and entrances, preventing residents from reaching their homes to check on them or retrieve their belongings, and firing directly at anyone who attempts to approach.

Over the past few days, Nur Shams camp has witnessed ongoing demolitions of residential buildings, resulting in the demolition of more than 20 buildings as part of the occupation's plan to demolish 48 buildings in Nur Shams, under the pretext of opening roads and changing the geographical features of the two camps.

In a related context, the city and its suburbs, especially the Aktaba and Dhenaba districts, are witnessing intensive movements of occupation vehicles and infantry squads around the clock, as they patrol the main streets and neighborhoods, specifically around Gamal Abdel Nasser Square and the center of the market, obstructing the movement of citizens and vehicles by sounding their horns in a provocative manner and driving against traffic.

Meanwhile, Israeli occupation forces continue to seize a number of residential buildings on Nablus Street and the northern neighborhood of the city, specifically those facing Tulkarm refugee camp. The forces forcibly evacuated their residents and converted them into military barracks, some of which have been under Israeli control for more than three months. Heavy machinery and bulldozers have been deployed in the vicinity.

Nablus Road, which connects the Tulkarm and Nur Shams refugee camps, has also suffered extensive damage due to earth mounds placed by the occupation forces several months ago, obstructing vehicle movement and exacerbating the suffering of residents.

This ongoing aggression has so far resulted in the deaths of 13 civilians, including a child and two women, one of whom was eight months pregnant. Dozens of injuries and arrests have also been reported, as well as widespread destruction of infrastructure, homes, shops, and vehicles.

According to the latest data, the escalation has displaced more than 5,000 families from the two camps, representing over 25,000 citizens. At least 400 homes have been completely destroyed, and 2,573 others have been partially damaged. The entrances to the two camps remain blocked with barriers, transforming them into almost lifeless areas.

Medical sources announced on Monday that the death toll in the Gaza Strip has risen to 54,927, the majority of whom are children and women, since the start of the Israeli occupation's aggression on October 7, 2023.

The sources added that the death toll has risen to 126,615 since the start of the aggression, while a number of victims remain under the rubble, unable to be reached by ambulances and civil defense teams.

She noted that the number of martyrs who arrived at Gaza Strip hospitals within 24 hours reached 41 dead, along with 388 injuries. The total number of dead and injuries since March 18, when the occupation violated the ceasefire agreement, has reached 4,649 martyrs and 14,574 injuries.

The sources indicated that the total number of aid victims who arrived at hospitals from areas designated for aid distribution reached 127 dead, with more than 1,287 injured, including six dead who died today, while 99 citizens were injured.

Today, Monday, the Israeli occupation forces delivered three demolition and construction stoppage notices in the town of Kafr Qaddum, east of Qalqilya.

Local sources reported that the occupation forces stormed the town and handed over to citizen Abdul Rahman Ali a demolition notice for his home located in the eastern part of the town. They also handed over to citizen Daoud Aqel a notice to stop work on an agricultural room he owns, while they handed over another notice ordering the removal of an agricultural barn owned by citizen Abdul Rahman Ali, in the eastern part of the town.

A group of 22 Democratic members of the House of Representatives has introduced a bill calling for a series of sweeping and unprecedented new restrictions on US aid to Israel, requiring specific congressional authorizations for each transfer of several major weapons, and assurances from Israel regarding their use.

This legislation prohibits the administration from transferring or selling a range of weapons to Israel, including various types of bombs, bomb guidance kits, and tank and artillery ammunition, without a separate act of Congress authorizing the individual transfer.

The bill requires Congress, in authorizing arms sales to Israel, to specify "the specific purpose or purposes for which such articles or services may be used." Israel must provide "written assurances satisfactory to the President" that the weapons will be used in accordance with those specific purposes, and in accordance with existing US arms sales law—which already binds Israel—and international law. The proposal, which has no prospect of passage in the current Congress, goes beyond the conditions previously placed on US arms sales to Israel.

With Israel's war of extermination against the people of Gaza continuing, and essential aid being prevented from reaching civilians, the bill's authors see this step as urgent.

The bill was highlighted Thursday during a press conference at the Capitol hosted by Ramirez, who said her determination to pass the bill over the past two weeks has been deepened by the ongoing violence.

“What I know is that the bombing must stop. The hostages must be returned. We must stand up against the hateful anti-Muslim, anti-Palestinian, and anti-Semitic rhetoric that denies our common humanity, and the collective punishment of the Palestinian people must end,” Ramirez said, speaking near the Capitol on a sunny day, surrounded by politicians and activists holding signs reading “Stop the Bombing.”

“But instead of moving toward a just peace, in recent months the Netanyahu government has imposed a humanitarian blockade that has cut off food and aid to more than two million Palestinians,” she added, referring to the bombing of displaced civilians as they sought refuge. “The recently approved plans to take over the Gaza Strip have initiated a ground invasion.”

Jayapal then took the stage, where she highlighted the importance of the bill, given the close relationship between the United States and Israel.

"We have to realize that we are responsible for this horrific situation, because we, the United States government, continue to supply Israel with weapons to continue this destruction. This must stop. How many more children will we see burned in fires?" she asked.

“How many more massacres will we witness while the Netanyahu government uses weapons funded by American taxpayers to kill Palestinians with impunity?”

The third speaker, Jan Schakowsky, a longtime progressive member of the House of Representatives whose Jewish identity makes her particularly concerned about Israel's human rights record, said: "This is an important message to deliver as a Jewish person from the United States, and as someone who travels regularly to Israel as well. I am appalled that we are contributing to the deaths of innocent people in Gaza."

If this law is passed, it will be the first time that the US Congress has preemptively prevented the supply of weapons to Israel.

The bill is spearheaded by Rep. Delia Ramirez (D-IL) and co-sponsored by Reps. Sarah Jacobs (D-CA), Pramila Jayapal (D-WA), Mark Pocan (D-WI), Becca Balint (D-VA), Andre Carson (D-IN), Greg Casar (D-TX), Lloyd Doggett (D-TX), Veronica Escobar (D-TX), and Reps. Maxwell Frost (D-FL), Chuy Garcia (D-IL), Jonathan Jackson (D-IL), Hank Johnson (D-GA), Summer Lee (D-PA), Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY), Ilhan Omar (D-MIN), Ayanna

Pressley (Democrat from Massachusetts), Latifah Simon (Democrat from California), Rashida Tlaib (Democrat from Michigan), Nydia Velasquez (Democrat from New York), Bonnie Watson Coleman (Democrat from New Jersey).

The Maghreb Steadfastness Convoy set off from Tunis this morning, Monday, heading to Gaza in an attempt to break the Israeli blockade of the Strip and in solidarity with the Palestinian people. Hundreds of activists participated.

Activists began gathering on Mohammed V Avenue in Tunis at 6:00 a.m. to complete registration procedures and arrange logistics. The march departed Tunisia at 10:30 a.m., where hundreds of citizens, waving Palestinian and Tunisian flags, saw it off.

On Saturday, the Joint Action for Palestine Coordination Committee in Tunisia announced that a Maghreb land convoy comprising thousands of volunteers will set off for the Gaza Strip on Monday to demand an end to the Israeli war of extermination, an end to the blockade, and the entry of aid.

The coordination committee added in a statement that "the Maghreb Convoy of Steadfastness to Break the Siege on Gaza will depart on Monday from the capital, Tunis, and the cities of Sousse, Sfax, and Gabes to the city of Ben Guerdane, heading towards the Gaza Strip, passing through Libya and Egypt, to express solidarity with the besieged Palestinian people in the Strip and deliver humanitarian aid to them."

One of the participants, Dr. Muhammad Amin Balnour, said that this convoy is part of a "global initiative of approximately 30 countries from Europe, South America, and Southeast Asia, all of which are scheduled to reach Egypt and approach the Gaza Strip."

Balnour continued, "The global initiative is a popular struggle to break the siege imposed on Gaza and stop the ongoing brutal war." Prior to the convoy's departure, Jawaher Shanna, a member of the Joint Action Coordination for Palestine in Tunisia, said, "We are in the final stages."

She added, "The participants will be divided among 12 buses and 100 cars." She continued, "We are awaiting the arrival of our Algerian brothers to set off on the steadfastness convoy to break the siege on Gaza."

On May 31, "Resilience Caravan" spokesman Wael Nawar reported that thousands of people from Tunisia and the Maghreb countries had joined the convoy.

"The convoy will include delegations from Mauritania, Morocco, and Algeria, and thousands from Tunisia and Libya, and will pass directly to Cairo, then Arish, Egypt, and Rafah (southern Gaza Strip)," Nawar said.

He confirmed that "the convoy had registered the participation of more than 7,000 people of various North African nationalities by May 30."

The Madeleine is still on its way from the open sea to the port of Ashdod, on a journey described as "very slow," with no precise estimates of its arrival, according to the Israeli Public Broadcasting Corporation (Kan 11) on Monday.

On board the sailing ship were 12 French, German, Brazilian, Turkish, Swedish, Spanish, and Dutch activists who set sail from Italy on June 1st to "break the Israeli siege" on Gaza, which is suffering a catastrophic humanitarian situation amid Israel's war of extermination on the territory.

According to the report, the 12 activists are expected to be transferred, upon their arrival, from the Israeli military's custody to the police and the Israel Prison Service, pending their deportation by air via Ben Gurion Airport following their interrogation.

Meanwhile, the Israel Prison Service is preparing to receive the activists at Givon Prison in Ramle, designated for "illegal residents." Separate solitary confinement cells have been set up for each individual, equipped with basic supplies including soap, a toothbrush, and a T-shirt bearing Israeli slogans.

This comes under special instructions issued by National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir, who issued strict instructions prohibiting the entry of any Palestinian "symbols or slogans" into the cells where activists will be held, pending their deportation to their countries of origin.

Ben-Gvir's instructions also included banning the entry of communication devices, televisions, and radios into cells, as part of a tightening policy that includes reducing contact with the outside world. The instructions came at the conclusion of a situation assessment session he held with Prison Authority Commissioner Kobi Yaacobi.

Members of the Israeli Prison Service's Nachshon unit will transport the activists from the Ashdod port in vehicles with tinted windows, aiming to minimize any public displays of solidarity during the transfer, according to the newspaper Israel Hayom.

The International Committee to Break the Siege on Gaza described Israel on Monday as a "war criminal state" for intercepting the aid ship "Madeleine" as it approached the shores of the besieged Palestinian enclave, in a post on the X platform.

The committee called on activists around the world to continue supporting the twelve activists arrested by Israel on board the ship "Madeleine" early this morning. The committee said, "Continue writing, publishing, and sharing about the twelve heroes to pressure Israel to release them immediately."

She also called for the world to begin preparing more relief ships and sending them to the starving Palestinians in the besieged Gaza Strip. She emphasized that "if they stop one ship, a hundred more will follow, and if they capture 12, thousands will revolt."

Protesters burned cars and clashed with police in Los Angeles last night as protests against the detention of immigrants continued for a third day, amid a deployment of National Guard troops ordered by President Donald Trump to the streets of the second-largest US city.

The raids, which began in broad daylight in a city with a large Latino population, were expected to spark angry reactions. But opponents say Trump, who has made cracking down on illegal immigration a key plank of his second term, was deliberately inflaming tensions by deploying the California National Guard, a reserve military force that typically reports to the state governor.

"We didn't have a problem until Trump intervened," California Governor Gavin Newsom wrote on Twitter. "This is a serious violation of state sovereignty... inflaming tensions while diverting resources from where they are needed. Rescind the order."

"Regain control to California." At least three Waymo self-driving cars caught fire Sunday afternoon, and two others were vandalized as protesters roamed a limited area of downtown Los Angeles. Traffic was halted on a major freeway for more than an hour, as dozens of people swarmed the road.

California Highway Patrol agents pushed them back with stun grenades and smoke bombs. But after a limited early confrontation between federal agents from the Department of Homeland Security and dozens of protesters at a detention center, all clashes became local law enforcement. By the afternoon, Los Angeles police officers had established lines some distance from federal buildings, preventing contact between the angry protesters and the dozens of armed National Guardsmen from the 79th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, who had assembled in helmets and camouflage.

Trump pledged that the National Guard would enforce "law and order," leaving the door open to the possibility of deploying troops to other cities. When asked about the use of the National Guard, Trump hinted at the possibility of deploying troops more widely in other parts of the country.

Trump told reporters that the forces sent to Los Angeles would enforce "very strong law and order," adding, "There are violent people out there, and we're not going to let them get away with it."

Asked about invoking the Insurrection Act, which allows the deployment of military forces to suppress protests, Trump said, "We're looking at troops everywhere. We won't let that happen in our country."

On Sunday, Democratic governors of US states condemned Trump's deployment of National Guard troops to Los Angeles, noting that the authority to do so rests with the governor. In a joint statement, the governors said the move "is a dangerous abuse of power."

The US Northern Command, part of the Department of Defense responsible for national defense, said that "approximately 500 Marines... are ready to deploy if necessary to reinforce and support" ongoing federal operations.

The National Guard (a reserve military) is often called in during natural disasters such as the Los Angeles fires, and sometimes during civil unrest, but generally with the approval of local officials.

Republicans on Sunday affirmed their support for Trump in rejecting statements by local officials who considered the protests to be mostly peaceful and that deploying the National Guard would exacerbate tensions.

"I'm not concerned about that at all," House Speaker Mike Johnson told ABC News, saying Newsom "showed an inability or unwillingness to do what was necessary there, so the president stepped in."

Commenting on Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth's suggestion that the Marines could be used to support the National Guard, Johnson said he didn't see it as an exaggeration, adding, "We have to be ready to do what's necessary."

Protesters argued that the troops were not sent to maintain order. "I think it's an intimidation tactic," said Thomas Henning. "These protests are peaceful. No one is trying to do any harm right now, yet the National Guard is out there with full magazines and big guns trying to intimidate Americans from exercising our First Amendment rights."

Estrella Corral said protesters were angry about the arrest of hard-working immigrant workers who had done nothing wrong by masked immigration officers. "This is our community, and we want to feel safe," she said. "Trump's deployment of the National Guard is ridiculous. I think it's escalating things."

Marshall Goldberg, 78, said the deployment of National Guard members left him feeling "deeply offended." "We hate what they did to undocumented workers, but this takes it to another level of taking away the right to protest and the right to peaceful assembly," he added.

American activist Kenneth Ross, former president of Human Rights Watch, explained that this is the first time since 1965 that the head of the National Guard has deployed without a request from the state governor. He considered Trump "putting on a show to continue his immigration raids."

Since taking office in January, Trump has implemented his pledge to crack down on undocumented immigrants, whom he likened to "monsters" and "animals."

On Friday, armed and masked immigration agents carried out raids in several parts of Los Angeles, prompting angry crowds to gather and sparking clashes that lasted for hours.

A CBS News poll conducted before the Los Angeles protests showed that a slight majority of Americans still support the anti-immigration campaign.

Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum defended immigrants living in the United States on Sunday.

"Mexicans living in the United States are... honest men and women who went in search of a better life and to provide for their families. They are not criminals," Sheinbaum said.