The Israeli army announced that nine soldiers were injured after an explosive device exploded in the Gaza Strip.

The occupation army added that among those injured by the explosive device explosion were two officers with the rank of colonel and lieutenant colonel.

Earlier today, the Hebrew website Hadashot Be'Zaman reported that a serious security incident occurred in the Shuja'iyya neighborhood, east of Gaza City, during the early hours of the morning, followed by the evacuation of Israeli soldiers by military helicopters, according to the Palestinian Information Center.

The website confirmed the evacuation of a number of soldiers and officers injured by an anti-tank missile fired at the Shuja'iyya neighborhood, and that helicopters carried out evacuation operations to Tel Hashomer Hospital.

He noted that an Israeli military vehicle was directly targeted by an anti-tank missile, resulting in a high number of casualties. The Israeli army also dispatched helicopters to the Shuja'iyya neighborhood at the time of the incident and fired artillery shells.

Video footage showed the moment a number of wounded soldiers were evacuated by helicopter from Shuja'iyya, early this morning.

The Israeli occupation forces continue their aggression on the city of Tulkarm and its camp for the 104th consecutive day, and on the Nour Shams camp for the 91st day, amid an ongoing escalation in the field, including repeated raids, arrests, and home evictions.

Our correspondent said that the occupation forces are continuing their escalation on the ground in the Tulkarm and Nur Shams camps, where several explosions were heard during the night and early morning hours inside them, coinciding with the heavy firing of live ammunition, sound bombs, and the launching of drones, amid a state of strict siege that prevents us from knowing the precise details of what is happening inside the two camps.

Over the past week, Nur Shams camp has been subjected to widespread demolition of residential buildings in the neighborhoods of Al-Manshiya, Al-Maslakh, Al-Jami', Al-Eyada, and Al-Shuhada. This comes as part of the occupation's plan to demolish 106 homes and residential buildings in Tulkarm and Nur Shams camps. Tension remains high in the camp, with residents anticipating a new wave of demolitions.

In a related development, intensive Israeli military activity was observed on the city's streets at night, particularly in the eastern neighborhood, specifically in the areas of Al-Salam Roundabout, Al-Maslakh Roundabout, Abu Safiya Roundabout, Al-Haddadin Street, and the vicinity of the Martyr Thabet Thabet Governmental Hospital.

Local sources reported that the occupation forces forced residents of the eastern neighborhood to evacuate their homes, which belong to the Abu Safia and Abu Aqel families and are located adjacent to the Abu al-Foul neighborhood in Tulkarm camp. They also threatened to demolish the wall of the memorial to the martyr Amir Abu Khadija if it was not removed by the residents. The occupation forces assassinated the martyr Abu Khadija on March 23, 2023.

The occupation forces also arrested Ibrahim Al-Sheikh Ali from inside a café in the Al-Maslakh roundabout in the eastern neighborhood, and took him to an unknown location.

In the Dhnaba suburb, east of the city, occupation forces deployed around the Sharia School and Halima Khreisha School, where they searched vehicles and checked the identities of their passengers. They also opened fire on surveillance cameras in the area.

Meanwhile, the city is witnessing intense, 24-hour activity by occupation forces, patrolling the main streets, particularly Courts Street, the central market, and Shuweika Roundabout, obstructing the movement of citizens and vehicles, provocatively honking their horns and deliberately driving against traffic.

The occupation forces also continue to seize homes and residential buildings on Nablus Street and the adjacent northern neighborhood, converting them into military barracks after forcibly evacuating their residents. They have stationed their vehicles in the vicinity, while the occupation forces have continued to seize some buildings for more than two months.

The ongoing Israeli aggression and escalation against the city of Tulkarm and its two refugee camps resulted in the deaths of 13 citizens, including a child and two women, one of whom was eight months pregnant. Dozens were also injured and arrested, and the infrastructure, homes, shops, and vehicles were completely and partially demolished, burned, vandalized, looted, and robbed.

The aggression also resulted in the forced displacement of more than 4,200 families from the Tulkarm and Nur Shams camps, comprising over 25,000 citizens. It also resulted in the complete destruction of more than 400 homes and the partial destruction of 2,573 others. Furthermore, the entrances and alleys were sealed off with earth mounds, transforming them into isolated areas devoid of any sign of life.

The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) confirmed on Saturday that "Palestinians are dying in the Gaza Strip, which has been under a complete Israeli blockade for the third consecutive month," as part of a genocide that has been ongoing for more than a year and a half.

The OCHA office said in a statement posted on its X account that 70% of Palestinians in the Gaza Strip are located within areas where Israeli forces are present, under evacuation orders, or both.

He stressed that the United Nations and its partners are ready to intensify aid to the Gaza Strip as soon as the Israeli blockade, which has been in place since March 2, is lifted.

Describing the situation in the Gaza Strip, OCHA said: "Palestinians are dying under a complete Israeli blockade for the third consecutive month."

An Israeli soldier who served at the Sde Teiman detention camp revealed the horrific conditions faced by prisoners from the Gaza Strip inside the prison, noting that the camp was described as a "cemetery," even by its officials, according to what was reported from "higher levels."

This came in an anonymous article published in the Israeli newspaper Haaretz, written by a soldier who served in Sde Teiman and gave testimony in an investigation broadcast by the Israeli Broadcasting Authority as part of the "Real Time" program, which focused on the rape of a prisoner. He noted that the investigation did not reveal the atrocities that took place in Sde Teiman.

He said in his article: "The Sde Teiman camp, as anyone who has been there knows, is a sadistic torture camp. Dozens of detainees entered it alive and left it in bags. There are testimonies from guards, doctors, and detainees." He added: "I saw hell there."

He continued: "I saw a detainee die before my eyes. He was sitting next to other detainees, covering his face with a cloth. Suddenly, we realized he was dead. I saw the commander of the facility gather the staff and try to calm the daily routine of abuse, violence, and the inhumane conditions in which the prisoners were held. I heard him say, 'They tell me from above that they call Sde Teiman the cemetery.'"

The soldier continued his testimony, saying, "I saw people enter this facility with war wounds, then be left to starve for weeks without any medical care. I saw them urinate and defecate on themselves because they were not allowed to use the bathroom. I still remember the smell to this day. Many of them were not fighters, just Gazans who were detained for interrogation and then released after being severely abused. It is no wonder some of them died there, and it is a miracle that some survived."

The writer explained that he had submitted his testimony to the Israeli Broadcasting Authority, including many details, but that it was not presented in the broadcast version of "Real Time."

He concluded by saying: “Everyone who served in Sde Teiman knows the truth: about the torture, about the surgeries performed without anesthesia, and about the horrific sanitary conditions. Yet none of this was broadcast. What happened there is no secret, but most Israelis know nothing about it, because the Israeli media largely ignored it. Palestinians are being taken out of our detention centers in bags, and most of those around me have never heard about it until now.”

In a moment of anger and outrage, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu admitted that he was waging a war that could turn into a historic opportunity to eliminate a huge number of Palestinians. Speaking to a group of reserve army officers, he said that the destruction in Gaza was not a response to Palestinian "terrorism" but rather part of a deliberate plan aimed at displacing the people of the Strip.

This came after the officers criticized the Netanyahu government's policies, complaining about a war that "threatens the lives of the kidnapped soldiers and has no strategic goal other than to serve your party and personal interests." Netanyahu became enraged at them, banging his fist on the table and saying, "We are destroying Gaza completely, and they should not have a safe place to return to and live... They must leave," according to Haaretz.

In the same context, a transcript of the Knesset Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee revealed that members of the ruling right-wing party justified the policy of systematically starving the population of the Gaza Strip and preventing them from receiving medicine.

Meanwhile, the Israeli army said yesterday that it had intercepted a Houthi missile launched from Yemen and vowed to respond forcefully.

New details are emerging regarding the US plan to distribute aid to Gaza, sparking controversy over its effectiveness and raising questions about its true objectives and meaning.

Details revealed by US Ambassador to Israel Mike Hagabi reopen the debate after he revealed information related to the so-called "Gaza Humanitarian Foundation."

The announced document stipulates the exclusion of Hamas from the aid plan and the participation of the Israeli army in securing the perimeter of four aid distribution centers, but not its presence inside them. Each center is designated to serve 300,000 residents of the Gaza Strip.

Reactions rejecting the American plan

Condemning the move, there were successive reactions from UN agencies operating in the Gaza Strip and the Palestinian NGO Network. The network considered it a form of control and domination of the Strip and an exploitation of its humanitarian situation. Meanwhile, the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) called for the opening of the crossings, stressing the impossibility of implementing the aid distribution mechanism without it.

UNICEF, through its spokesperson, considered that using humanitarian aid as a bait to force people to flee, especially from the north to the south, would leave them facing the prospect of death or displacement.

For its part, Hamas rejected US Ambassador Mike Hagaby's accusations of controlling aid, stating, "Every detail of the plan he presented reflects a new form of justification for the involvement of two million Palestinians in plans to displace them from the Gaza Strip after months of a brutal war of division." It rejected the militarization of aid and demanded the lifting of the blockade.

Fear of displacement of the population of the north

In this context, Jonathan Crickx, Head of Communications and Spokesperson for UNICEF, believes that the plan does not meet essential elements such as neutrality and objectivity.

Speaking to Al Arabiya TV from Rafah, Kriks expressed his fear that Gazans would be forced to move from north to south, noting that the plan does not include establishing aid distribution centers in the northern Gaza Strip.

"Thousands of Gazans, including children, will be forced to relocate," he said. "How will thousands of orphans receive aid? How will a mother carry food parcels and walk for several kilometers with her children?" he asked.

Thomas Friedman

Dear President Trump,

There are very few initiatives you've taken since taking office that I agree with—except those related to the Middle East. Your travel there next week and your meeting with the leaders of Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, and Qatar—and your lack of plans to meet with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in Israel—suggest to me that you're beginning to recognize a fundamental truth: This Israeli government is acting in ways that threaten core American interests in the region. Netanyahu is not our friend.

Yet he thought he could make you his victim. That's why I admire how you signaled to him, through your independent negotiations with Hamas, Iran, and the Houthis, that he had no leverage over you—that you would not be his victim. This clearly panicked him. I have no doubt that the Israeli people, by and large, still consider themselves steadfast allies of the American people, and vice versa. But this ultranationalist, messianic Israeli government is no ally of America. It is the first government in Israel's history that does not prioritize peace with more of its Arab neighbors, nor the benefits that enhanced security and coexistence would bring. Its priority is annexing the West Bank, expelling the Palestinians of Gaza, and rebuilding Israeli settlements there.

The idea that Israel has a government that no longer acts as an ally of America, and should not be considered one, is a shocking and bitter pill for Israel's friends in Washington to swallow—but they must swallow it.

Because the Netanyahu government, in pursuing its extremist agenda, is undermining our interests. To your credit, you have not allowed Netanyahu to bypass you as he did other American presidents. It is also essential to defend the American security architecture built by your predecessors in the region. The current U.S.-Arab-Israeli alliance structure was established by Richard Nixon and Henry Kissinger after the 1973 October War, with the goal of excluding Russia and making America the dominant global power in the region, a process that has served our geopolitical and economic interests ever since. Nixon and Kissinger’s diplomacy crafted the 1974 disengagement agreements between Israel, Syria, and Egypt. These agreements laid the foundations for the Camp David Peace Accords, which paved the way for the Oslo Peace Accords. The result was a region dominated by America, its Arab allies, and Israel.

But this entire structure was largely based on a US-Israeli commitment to a two-state solution—a commitment you yourself sought to reinforce in your first term with your own plan for a Palestinian state in Gaza and the West Bank alongside Israel—on the condition that the Palestinians agree to recognize Israel and accept that their state would be demilitarized. Yet this Netanyahu government prioritized the annexation of the West Bank when it came to power in late 2022—long before Hamas’s brutal invasion on October 7, 2023—rather than the US security and peace architecture for the region.

For nearly a year, the Biden administration has been begging Netanyahu to do one thing for America and Israel: agree to open a dialogue with the Palestinian Authority on a two-state solution one day with a reformed government—in exchange for Saudi Arabia normalizing relations with Israel. This would pave the way for Congress to pass a US-Saudi security treaty to counterbalance Iran and thwart China.

Netanyahu refused to do so, because Jewish extremists in his government said that if he did, they would bring down his government—and with Netanyahu on trial on multiple corruption charges, he could not give up the protection of being prime minister to prolong his trial and avoid a possible prison sentence.

Therefore, Netanyahu placed his personal interests above those of Israel and America. Normalization of relations between Israel and Saudi Arabia, the most important Islamic power—based on an effort to forge a two-state solution with moderate Palestinians—would have opened the entire Muslim world to Israeli tourists, investors, and innovators, eased tensions between Jews and Muslims worldwide, and consolidated the American advantages in the Middle East that Nixon and Kissinger had established for another decade or more.

After Netanyahu persuaded everyone for two years, reports emerged that the Americans and Saudis had decided to abandon Israel's participation in the deal—a real loss for both Israelis and the Jewish people. Reuters reported Thursday that "the United States is no longer demanding that Saudi Arabia normalize relations with Israel as a condition for progress in civilian nuclear cooperation talks."

And now things could get worse. Netanyahu is preparing to re-invade Gaza with a plan to mobilize the Palestinian population there.

In a tight corner, bordered by the Mediterranean Sea on one side and the Egyptian border on the other, while it is rapidly and extensively advancing its de facto annexation of the West Bank, Israel (and especially its new chief of staff, Eyal Zamir) will incur more war crimes charges, which Bibi expects your administration to protect him from.

I have absolutely no sympathy for Hamas. I believe it is a sick organization that has done grave damage to the Palestinian cause. It bears grave responsibility for the humanitarian tragedy in Gaza today. The Hamas leadership should have released its hostages and left Gaza long ago, removing any pretext for Israel to resume fighting. But Netanyahu's plan to reconquer Gaza is not aimed at creating a moderate alternative to Hamas, led by the Palestinian Authority, but at a permanent Israeli military occupation, the unstated goal of which is to pressure all Palestinians to leave. This is a recipe for permanent rebellion—a Vietnam on the Mediterranean. At a conference on May 5 sponsored by the religious Zionist newspaper Besheva, Bezalel Smotrich, Israel's far-right finance minister, spoke as if he didn't care: "We are occupying Gaza to stay. There will be no more entry and exit." The local population will be squeezed into less than a quarter of the Gaza Strip.

As Haaretz military expert Amos Harel noted: “Since the army will try to minimize casualties, analysts expect it to use extremely aggressive force, which will cause significant damage to Gaza’s remaining civilian infrastructure. The displacement of residents to humanitarian camps, coupled with the ongoing shortage of food and medicine, could lead to further mass civilian deaths… and more Israeli commanders and officers could face personal legal action.”

In fact, if implemented, this strategy could not only lead to more war crimes charges against Israel, but would also threaten the stability of Jordan and Egypt. These two pillars of America's Middle East alliance fear that Netanyahu will seek to displace Palestinians from Gaza and the West Bank to their own countries, which would undoubtedly fuel instability that would spill over their borders even if the Palestinians did not do so.

This hurts us in other ways. As Hans Weksel, a former senior policy advisor at U.S. Central Command, told me, "The more hopeless things seem for Palestinian aspirations, the less willing there is in the region to expand U.S.-Arab-Israeli security integration, which would have provided long-term advantages over Iran and China—and without requiring comparable U.S. military resources in the region to sustain it."

Regarding the Middle East, you have some good independent instincts, Mr. President. Follow them. Otherwise, you need to prepare yourself for this urgent reality: Your Jewish grandchildren will be the first generation of Jewish children to grow up in a world in which the Jewish state is considered a pariah state. I'll leave you with the words of a Haaretz editorial from May 7: "On Tuesday, the Israeli air force killed nine children, aged 3 to 14. ... The IDF stated that the target was a 'Hamas command and control center,' and that 'steps were taken to reduce the risk of harm to uninvolved civilians.' ... We can continue to ignore the number of Palestinians in the Strip killed—more than 52,000, including some 18,000 children; to cast doubt on the credibility of the numbers; to employ all the mechanisms of repression, denial, indifference, distancing, normalization, and justification. None of this will change the bitter truth: Israel killed them. It was our hand that did it. We must not turn a blind eye. We must wake up and shout at the top of our lungs: Stop the war."

From the New York Times

Baha Rahal

The Trump plan, whose outlines are beginning to emerge despite not being officially announced, heralds a new era reminiscent of Iraq after the fall of Saddam Hussein. Trump intends to appoint a Bremer-style military commander for the Gaza Strip, named David Beasley. Beasley is an American general who will preside over the administration of the Gaza Strip for an indefinite period. Beasley will enjoy international and Arab support and the capabilities that will enable him to govern Gaza under promises of reconstruction, aid deliveries, and rebuilding what was destroyed by the war of genocide there.

The plan, which ostensibly promises to lift the siege, allow aid in, and halt the war of extermination, conceals a deeper reality, even more dangerous than expected, upon closer examination. Trump is the author of the idea of expelling Gaza's residents and of theories about seizing control of Gaza, including its underground and aboveground areas, and transforming it into an American investment zone and a tourist destination with multiple resorts and facilities, while displacing the indigenous population under humanitarian pretexts and false claims. This is the real danger being promoted as the sole Trumpian lifeline, extended to rescue the people of Gaza from the threat of death by starvation and bombing.

It's a plan promoted as the only possible solution, a lifeline, without which Netanyahu and his army would have continued their brutality against the people, continuing their killing and starvation. Given the famine, the failure of the Arab plan, and indeed the failure of any other plan to confront Trump's plan, the real danger lies in its content, not in slogans cloaked in a humanitarian guise. Trump is the one who said he intends to turn Gaza into a "Riviera," vowed that he would own it, and deemed it uninhabitable, urging the people of Gaza to leave and live in another country. As is well known, the deal-maker, Trump, aspires to more than that, so that his control of Gaza does not conflict with his regional project known as the Abraham Accords and the normalization plan.

In light of this complex landscape, it appears that the Trump plan is not just a fleeting initiative, but rather a long-term strategic project aimed at redrawing the map of Gaza politically, geographically, and economically. It is considered the most dangerous threat to the two-state solution and the establishment of a Palestinian state on the June 4, 1967 borders. It is the most dangerous plan, under the pretext of humanitarianism and an apparent disagreement with the occupation government. Given the state of Arab weakness, the widespread hunger in Gaza, and the Palestinian inability to move forward towards unity and partisan and factional partnership that would salvage the reality, the Trump plan portends an unknown fate and a bleak future.

Jihad Harb

The media is awash with leaks and news, speculating about what US President Donald Trump will announce this evening or early next week ahead of his Middle East visit. Various headlines, contradictory proposals, and projects range from a partial solution related to the delivery of aid without a ceasefire to a comprehensive agreement spanning several years. All of this news suggests, in my opinion, that there are four possible scenarios that could be present in Trump's anticipated announcement, a reality TV fantasy practiced by the US president and used in his interviews with world leaders, as well as in his announcements and deals. The first scenario is to simply announce a specific mechanism for distributing food to Palestinians in the Gaza Strip, one that aligns somewhat with Israeli proposals and plans. This scenario is supported by the confidential statements made by the new US ambassador to Israel, Mike Huckabee, and the proposed production of a new food distribution institution headed by American David Beasley.

The second scenario involves reaching a prisoner exchange agreement with modifications related to the number and nature of the prisoners, while ensuring the release of Israeli citizen Idan Alexander, who holds American citizenship, and the entry of aid in the same manner as the first phase of the ceasefire agreement signed on January 17, as a transitional period allowing for the transition to the second phase of the ceasefire agreement signed under US auspices. This is supported by the proposal of US envoy Steve Witkoff and the Egyptian proposal, which also extends the US president's desire to stop the war.

The third scenario is announcing American intervention in the Gaza Strip by announcing the appointment of an American administrative governor to administer the Gaza Strip. This would involve forming a government of Palestinian figures to govern the Strip, with Arab countries assuming security responsibility for the demilitarization of the Gaza Strip. Although this proposal has been circulated behind closed doors and through multiple communications, the Arab Republic of Egypt's proposal to form a community support committee (a "local government"), followed by the Cairo Summit declaration on the reconstruction of the Gaza Strip and its civil and security arrangements, constitute an alternative to this scenario.

The fourth scenario involves reaching a "comprehensive" solution related to a relatively long-term truce of five or seven years, including multiple security aspects such as refraining from arms smuggling and manufacturing, the reconstruction of the Gaza Strip, and removing Hamas from power or transforming it into a political party without a military wing. This scenario is supported by Hamas's proposal and the US administration's flexibility in discussing such options.

The realization of any of these scenarios is linked to several inherently contradictory factors. These include the US president's desire to achieve political and economic gains abroad as quickly as possible, his way of thinking, and his personal nature, such as his reluctance to bear the financial burdens of any possible solution or potential scenario. The US president's pragmatism, such as concluding an agreement with Hamas similar to what happened with the Houthis in Yemen, announcing the US administration's support for aid in the Saudi civil nuclear program, initiating negotiations with Iran, and attempting to reach an agreement with the Taliban in 2020, all for the sake of America First. The US president's personal nature, which does not tolerate direct opposition or evasion, may lead to Netanyahu's downfall, following his obstruction of the implementation of the truce agreement sponsored by Trump at the beginning of the year after its first phase was completed. Netanyahu's attempt to obstruct the possibility of announcing the expansion of the Abraham Accords, which he desires during his Middle East visit, is a personal pledge he made to his constituents to stop the war in Gaza, achieve peace, and support stability in the Middle East, on the path to the Nobel Peace Prize.

These include the balance of power on the ground in the Gaza Strip and the Israeli government's ability to achieve its declared goals of eliminating Hamas and its rule and recovering Israeli prisoners, versus Hamas's ability to prolong the war and continue fighting. The interests of regional countries such as Egypt, Jordan, and Saudi Arabia also conflict with Israel's desire to occupy the Gaza Strip and displace its population. In addition, the positions of regional countries and blocs and their international commitments, such as the European Union, which will begin discussing Israel's commitment to the terms of their partnership agreement, which is of great importance to Israel in light of the famine afflicting Palestinians in the Gaza Strip as a result of Israeli measures.

Thus, the fantasy of presidential announcements, a reality TV-style event in the White House, does not allow for any prediction of the expected announcement regarding the Gaza Strip and the direction it might take or be achieved. In other words, with Trump, you cannot predict, anticipate, or even speculate, or apparently close your eyes.

Hamada Faraana

Striking political transformations are taking place in our Arab region. These are neither formal nor procedural, but are moving toward influencing the entire political landscape.

Saudi Arabia, with Chinese mediation, conducted negotiations with Iran, mitigating or reducing the state of conflict and intensity between the two countries, and imposing a state of balance in the forms of interaction between the two capitals, in the service of their common interests. The result of this is that Saudi Arabia did not submit to ideas and proposals for normalizing relations with the Israeli colony, and stipulated that this be done through responding to the interests of the Palestinian people, the two-state solution, and the establishment of an independent state. This means the emergence of political independence, freedom of choice, and self-confidence in Riyadh.

The US President decided to open negotiations with Iran without prior consultation with Netanyahu, who was surprised by the start of the US-Iranian negotiations. These negotiations included a series of bilateral meetings in several countries, with the goal of reaching agreements that were being arranged and formulated.

The United States reached a ceasefire agreement with the Yemenis without Netanyahu's knowledge and without prior consultation with the Israeli colonial institutions.

The Qatari Prime Minister held talks in Washington, and it appears that some formula has been agreed upon regarding Palestine and a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip. Trump calls Netanyahu to update him on what has been agreed upon. Netanyahu's Minister of Strategic Affairs arrives in Washington and meets with President Trump. News is circulated that Trump has severed ties with the head of the colony's government, due to his failure to respond to the ceasefire plan and the release of prisoners.

Trump dealt Netanyahu two blows: 1- Opening negotiations with Iran, 2- Reaching a ceasefire agreement with the Houthis in Yemen. He also previously opened direct negotiations with Hamas, without the knowledge of the Israelis, but these negotiations were unsuccessful at the time and may happen again in the future.

Washington is threatening Tel Aviv that it will negotiate with Hamas without Israeli participation, making the situation even more tense. This is despite the strong support Washington has provided to the colony since the beginning of the October War against the Gaza Strip, in response to the Palestinian Al-Aqsa Flood Initiative, both under former President Biden and current President Trump.

The US President will arrive in our Arab region next week, visiting three Gulf Arab capitals. He hopes to reap financial gains from arms sales and attract more investment to these capitals in the US market.

The merchant Trump seeks financial gains for the Americans, and is not restrained by the American policies that support the colony. He wants to say and clarify to all those who fall into narrow-mindedness that the colony's policy controls American policy. He wants to clarify that the facts and truths are completely the opposite: that the colony implements US policy and serves its interests, that Tel Aviv is a tool serving American interests, and that the colony cannot undertake an action that Washington does not want and that does not serve American interests and influence in the Arab world.

Clear, dialectical transformations are taking place for those seeking to scrutinize, understand, and comprehend, and the coming days are open to many variables based on these transformations.

History is a mirror, and only by drawing lessons from history can the world avoid repeating past calamities.

BEIJING, May 7 (Xinhua) -- Eighty years ago, the victory of the World Anti-Fascist War marked a turning point in human history, opening a new chapter in building a better international order and pursuing lasting peace.

Today, the world has undergone dramatic transformations. Technology has connected distant corners of the globe, and globalization has brought nations closer than ever before. Yet, alongside these advances, new and complex challenges have emerged. Global uncertainty is rising, marked by power politics, unilateralism and division in ever-evolving forms.

As the world reflects on the lessons of history, humanity must confront some urgent questions: How can we safeguard the hard-won peace? How can we collectively address pressing global challenges? And most importantly, how can we forge a shared future for all?

As noted by Chinese President Xi Jinping at the general debate of the 70th session of the United Nations General Assembly back in 2015, history is a mirror, and only by drawing lessons from history can the world avoid repeating past calamities.

"We should view history with awe and human conscience. The past cannot be changed, but the future can be shaped. Bearing history in mind is not to perpetuate hatred. Rather, it is for mankind not to forget its lesson. Remembering history does not mean being obsessed with the past. Rather, in doing so, we aim to create a better future and pass the torch of peace from generation to generation," Xi said then.

VICTORY OF THE JUST

On the night of May 8, 1945, Germany signed the surrender document in Karlshorst, Berlin, marking the end of World War II (WWII) in Europe. Meanwhile in Asia, China's final major campaign against Japan -- the Battle of Western Hunan -- reached its decisive phase.

Japan's surrender aboard the USS Missouri in Tokyo Bay on Sept. 2, 1945, concluded WWII, humanity's deadliest conflict. More than 80 countries and regions, involving roughly 2 billion people, were drawn into the war, with the total casualties at over 100 million and economic losses exceeding 4 trillion U.S. dollars. Against fascist aggression, more than 50 countries, including China and the Soviet Union, formed a united front.

A ceremony presenting flower baskets to fallen heroes to mark Martyrs' Day is held at Tian'anmen Square in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 30, 2024. (Xinhua/Yin Bogu)

The world will never forget that as the main theater in the East of the World Anti-Fascist War, China made a national sacrifice of over 35 million casualties in its fight against the majority troops of Japanese militarism. During 14 years of fierce anti-fascist fighting, China engaged and tied down over two-thirds of the Japanese Army, inflicting 70 percent of Japan's wartime military casualties. These efforts significantly contributed to the victory of the World Anti-Fascist War.

People from different countries stood with China in the common struggle. China will always remember the international support it received. For example, the U.S. "Flying Tigers" opened up the Hump Route for transporting emergency supplies; foreign doctors such as Norman Bethune from Canada and Dwarkanath Kotnis from India risked their lives to save others; German businessman John Rabe helped protect civilians during the Nanjing Massacre in 1937.

Equally significant was the Soviet Union's sacrifice and contribution on the European theater of World War II. From the Battle of Moscow to the Battle of Stalingrad and the Battle of Kursk, the Soviet people bore tremendous hardship and played a decisive role in defeating Nazi troops.

China's guards of honor take part in the rehearsal of the Victory Day parade in Moscow, Russia, April 29, 2015. (Xinhua/Pavel Bednyakov)

During the global anti-fascist war, China and the Soviet Union supported each other. Soviet air force volunteers fought alongside Chinese soldiers, during which over 200 of them lost their lives in China. Many Chinese, including Mao Anying, late Chinese leader Mao Zedong's eldest son, engaged in fighting against Nazi troops during the toughest time of the Soviet Union's Great Patriotic War. This shared sacrifice forged a deep bond between the two sides.

The victory of the anti-fascist war shattered attempts of the fascists and militarists to dominate the world, ended the colonial divisions of the world by imperial powers, and laid the foundation for a new vision of global peace and cooperation.

REBIRTH OF THE WORLD

This year also marks the 80th founding anniversary of the United Nations. The opening words of the UN Charter -- "We the peoples of the United Nations determined to save succeeding generations from the scourge of war, which twice in our lifetime has brought untold sorrow to mankind" -- stand as a powerful testament to the hard-won lessons of two catastrophic world wars.

More than just a historical reflection, these words convey humanity's ardent desire for lasting peace.

Born from the ashes of World War II, the United Nations represents humanity's efforts to move away from a world governed by the law of the jungle and a world order of Western-dominated hierarchies.

From the Westphalian and Vienna systems to the Versailles-Washington system, the old order divided the world into dominant powers, and nations they colonized and oppressed.

In a historic shift, the UN Charter enshrines the principle of sovereign equality, affirming for the first time in international law that all nations, irrespective of size, strength or wealth, are equal. That became the cornerstone for the postwar international order.

File Photo taken on June 26, 1945 shows Dong Biwu (front), representative of the Communist Party of China, signing the Charter of the United Nations, San Francisco, U.S. (Xinhua)

Anchored in the UN Charter, principles such as sovereign equality, non-interference in other's internal affairs, peaceful settlement of disputes and prohibition of the use or threat of force have evolved into bedrock norms of international relations. The UN system's creation has established not merely institutional platforms for cooperation, but transformed the very architecture of global governance.

Under the guidance of the spirit of the UN Charter, national liberation movements swept across the globe. Many countries in Asia, Africa and Latin America cast off the shackles of colonialism and gained national independence and sovereignty.

International law thus began to genuinely safeguard the rights and interests of developing countries. A more open and inclusive international community has replaced the West-centric paradigm of an exclusive "civilized nations club," a solid and far-reaching step toward lasting peace for humanity.

China has actively participated in founding the United Nations and shaping the postwar international order. On June 26, 1945, China was the first country to sign the UN Charter. Before that, the Chinese delegation strongly defended the interests of small- and medium-sized countries, and insisted that "independence" be enshrined in the UN Charter as the goal of the International Trusteeship System despite pressure from the West. Such efforts exemplified China's unwavering commitment to defending international fairness and justice.

The postwar international order has consolidated the victory of the World Anti-Fascist War, established the fundamental norms of modern international relations, curtailed military expansionism, and advanced global peace and development.

Since its inception 80 years ago, the United Nations has grown into the most universal, representative and authoritative intergovernmental organization in the world, carrying humanity's shared aspirations for a better future.

CALL OF THE ERA

Over the past 80 years, the absence of global-scale wars has allowed the world to enjoy sustained peace. Emerging economies, including China, have risen collectively, while economic globalization has deepened, turning the world into an interconnected "global village" through expanding cross-border exchanges and cooperation.

At the same time, a new wave of technological and industrial transformation is reshaping economies, societies and international relations. The benefits of this largely peaceful era have created a level of global prosperity unprecedented in human history.

However, beneath the surface of peace flow some turbulent undercurrents. Unilateralism and protectionism are on the rise, with some politicians in the West obsessed with dividing the world along ideological lines, forming exclusive blocs and fueling a "new Cold War" mentality.

Even more, the United States openly disregards international norms, engages in economic coercion, imposes punitive tariffs and elevates domestic law above international law.

Such hegemonic behavior undermines the UN-centered international system, challenges the international order underpinned by international law, and threatens the very foundation of global peace and development.

A China-Europe freight train bound for Moscow of Russia waits for departure at a logistics center in Beijing, capital of China, April 16, 2025. (Xinhua/Zhang Chenlin)

As UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has warned, "Everywhere we look, peace is under attack."

The world is once again at a crossroads. Should the world uphold multilateralism and seek common ground, or allow unilateralism to grow unchecked? Should the world support more democratic international relations, or accept that power politics rules everything? Should the world follow international law and basic diplomatic norms, or return to a world where the strong dominate the weak?

History offers the clearest lessons. Firstly, peace must be defended. The terror of Nazi tyranny and the atrocities in Nanjing Massacre showed that war destroys civilization, while peace allows it to grow.

Secondly, unity is essential for the survival of human civilization. When fascism and militarism were tearing the world apart, the signing of the Declaration by United Nations by 26 nations in 1942 showed that ideological divisions can be overcome, and shared human values can bind nations together.

Thirdly, the tide of history cannot be reversed or resisted. The fall of colonialism, the end of the Cold War and the rise of developing countries all show that the logic of "might makes right" does not last. A multipolar world is the way forward.

Fourthly, rules are not tools for the powerful to abuse. Instead, they are the foundation of fairness and justice. The principles in the UN Charter, including sovereign equality and bans on aggression, remind humanity that without rules, the world risks sliding into chaos.

As a victor in World War II as well as a founder and defender of the post-war order, China has consistently stood on the right side of history and on the side of civilization and human progress.

From advancing high-quality Belt and Road cooperation to launching the Global Development Initiative, the Global Security Initiative and the Global Civilization Initiative, and from promoting a community with a shared future for mankind to offering ideas and solutions for global and regional challenges, China supports true multilateralism through concrete actions. It is working to make global governance fairer and more balanced, while contributing stability and positive momentum to world peace and development.

The majority of the world has come to recognize China as a pivotal force in safeguarding world peace and stability. As noted by UN Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator Tom Fletcher, initiatives China proposed around peace and security, global development and cultural cooperation closely align with the UN's core mission of peacemaking, humanitarian efforts and global security.

The concept of "a community with a shared future for mankind" is another key idea that highlights global solidarity and "the world coming together, not pulling apart," Fletcher told Xinhua, adding that such a concept has created "partnerships that we really need if we're to meet the challenges ahead of us, including climate change."

As partners who fought side by side in World War II, China and Russia continue to work together today to uphold global strategic stability. They coordinate closely within multilateral frameworks such as the United Nations, the Shanghai Cooperation Organization and BRICS, jointly opposing hegemonism and power politics, and promoting a more multipolar world and economic globalization through true multilateralism.

Meanwhile, emerging markets and developing countries are rising as a collective force. The awakened Global South is gaining strength, confidence and a greater voice in global governance. The forces for peace and development have never been more robust.

French writer Victor Hugo once observed: "Memories are our strength. When night attempts to return, we must light up the great dates, as we would light torches." The significance of marking the 80th anniversary of the victory of the World Anti-Fascist War lies in illuminating the path ahead, and reaffirming humanity's unwavering commitment to enduring peace.

At this new crossroads in history, what humanity needs is not the drumbeat of a new Cold War, but the call for cooperation; not claims of civilizational superiority, but a spirit of shared prosperity; not a return to the law of the jungle, but a renewed commitment to a shared future.

Only by following this path can the world prevent the tragedies of history from repeating themselves and turn the vision of lasting peace and sustainable development into reality.■

* Xi's upcoming visit to Russia is expected to inject new momentum into the China-Russia comprehensive strategic partnership of coordination for a new era.

* Under the guidance of the two heads of state, China and Russia will further jointly advocate the correct historical view of World War II, and work together to maintain global strategic stability, so as to make the due contributions of responsible major countries to the advancement of international fairness and justice.

* China and Russia collaborate through platforms like the SCO and BRICS, which has not only promoted a multipolar world, but also empowered the Global South with a greater voice in global governance and a bigger role in shaping the rules on major international issues.

BEIJING, May 6 (Xinhua) -- At the invitation of Russian President Vladimir Putin, Chinese President Xi Jinping will pay a state visit to Russia from Wednesday to Saturday and attend in Moscow the celebrations marking the 80th anniversary of the Victory in the Soviet Union's Great Patriotic War.

More than 80 years ago, the peoples of China, the Soviet Union and other countries fought side by side and secured victory in the World Anti-Fascist War, opening a new chapter in human history.

As the world is undergoing accelerating changes unseen in a century, the international community demands greater global efforts to face common challenges, and to build a community with a shared future.

Xi's upcoming visit is expected to inject new momentum into the China-Russia comprehensive strategic partnership of coordination for a new era. Moreover, it will demonstrate the two major countries' commitment to working with the rest of the world to safeguard the outcomes of the victory in World War II, uphold international fairness and justice, and maintain world peace and stability.

LONG-LASTING FRIENDSHIP

History and reality show that China and Russia are good neighbors that cannot be moved away, and true friends who share weal and woe, support each other and achieve common development, Xi said in his phone conversation with Putin in February.

The coming visit marks Xi's 11th trip to Russia since he became Chinese president. The two heads of state have met more than 40 times on different occasions over the years. Their close communication provides strategic guidance, under which China-Russia relations have matured into a resilient and stable partnership characterized by deepening political trust, closer strategic alignment and sustained practical cooperation.

In 2024, bilateral trade rose to 244.8 billion U.S. dollars, making China the largest trading partner of Russia for 15 consecutive years. In December 2024, the China-Russia east-route natural gas pipeline was fully completed. Cooperation in emerging sectors such as the digital economy, e-commerce, bio-medicine, scientific and technological innovation, as well as green energy continues to expand.

Tourists from Belarus and Russia pose for photos at the Yuyuan Garden area in east China's Shanghai, Feb. 1, 2025. (Photo by Chen Haoming/Xinhua)

The two countries' long-lasting friendship has grown increasingly popular among the two peoples. The mutual visa exemption agreement for group tours has encouraged more robust two-way travel. Hundreds of cultural events have been held in succession with the framework of the China-Russia Year of Culture.

Andrey Denisov, first deputy chair of Russia's Federation Council Committee on Foreign Affairs and former Russian ambassador to China, said the strategic guidance of the two heads of state is a key factor in ensuring the steady and long-term development of the China-Russia comprehensive strategic partnership of coordination for a new era.

The two leaders are expected to hold extensive and in-depth discussions on both bilateral cooperation and multilateral issues, and the Russian side has high expectations for that, he added.

INDELIBLE CONTRIBUTION

Over 80 years ago, China and Russia, as the main battlefields in Asia and Europe during World War II, made tremendous sacrifices and indelible contribution to the final victory.

In a signed article published by the Russian Gazette newspaper ahead of his visit to Russia in 2015, Xi quoted Russian historian Vasily Klyuchevsky as saying, "If we lost the memory of our past, our mind and soul would be lost in the darkness," in a bid to express his remembrance of the history of the World Anti-Fascist War and earnest expectations for the two nations to join hands to maintain world peace and stability.

The bitter lessons drawn from World War II have taught mankind that the strong preying on the weak, the law of the jungle, warlike or hegemonic policies, the winner-takes-all mindset and zero-sum game do not benefit coexistence, peace or development of mankind, Xi wrote in the article.

Su-25 attack aircrafts fly over Red Square during the Victory Day military parade, which marks the 79th anniversary of the Soviet victory in the Great Patriotic War, in Moscow, Russia, on May 9, 2024. (Xinhua/Bai Xueqi)

Noha Bakir, a professor of political science at American University in Cairo, said China and Russia, drawing lessons from history, shoulder the important responsibility of safeguarding international stability and cooperation amid today's complex global landscape.

By studying, restoring and spreading the true history, people can better understand World War II and the post-war international order, thus they will resist the attempts to distort historical facts, he added.

Andrey Fesyun, deputy director of the Institute of Asian and African Studies at Moscow State University, said that under the guidance of the two heads of state, China and Russia will further jointly advocate the correct historical view of World War II, and work together to maintain global strategic stability, so as to make the due contributions of responsible major countries to the advancement of international fairness and justice.

SPEARHEADING PROGRESS

Eighty years ago, representatives from multiple countries, including China and the Soviet Union, gathered in the U.S. city of San Francisco, and signed the Charter of the United Nations, laying the cornerstone of the post-war international order.

The preamble to the charter solemnly states the commitment "to practice tolerance and live together in peace with one another as good neighbors, and to unite our strength to maintain international peace and security."

China and Russia have natural responsibilities to make joint efforts to steer and promote global governance in a direction that meets the expectations of the international community and promote the building of a community with a shared future for mankind, said Xi when meeting with Putin in March 2023. And it was during Xi's first visit to Russia in 2013 as Chinese president that he first proposed the vision of building a community with a shared future for mankind.

As permanent members of the UN Security Council and major countries in the world, China and Russia have been working closely on the world stage. Beijing and Moscow firmly uphold the international system with the United Nations at its core, the international order underpinned by international law, as well as the fundamental norms governing international relations based on the purposes and principles of the UN Charter. They are also advocates of true multilateralism.

Media staff work at the press center of the 16th BRICS Summit in Kazan, Russia, Oct. 23, 2024. (Xinhua/Shen Hong)

The two nations have also joined hands to promote political solutions to international and regional hot-spot issues. They have strengthened communication and coordination within multilateral mechanisms such as the United Nations, the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO), BRICS and the Group of 20, and are jointly committed to advancing a multipolar world and the democratization of international relations.

Adhere Cavince, a Kenyan scholar on international relations, said that China and Russia collaborate through platforms like the SCO and BRICS, which has not only promoted a multipolar world, but also empowered the Global South with a greater voice in global governance and a bigger role in shaping the rules on major international issues.

Ilgar Velizade, head of the South Caucasus Club of Political Scientists from Azerbaijan, said that the growing strength of multilateral cooperation mechanisms such as the SCO and BRICS represents a powerful embodiment of the purposes and principles of the UN Charter.

If countries engage in an active, constructive and sustainable dialogue focused on common interests, the world will be safer, the global economy more sustainable and humanity's future far more promising, he said.■

The Houthis announced they launched a "ballistic missile" toward Ben Gurion Airport in Tel Aviv on Friday, shortly after the Israeli military announced it had intercepted a missile fired from Yemen.

Houthi military spokesman Yahya Saree said, "The Yemeni armed forces' missile force carried out a qualitative military operation targeting Lod Airport, known in Israel as Ben Gurion Airport... with a hypersonic ballistic missile," and launched a drone that "targeted a vital enemy target" in central Israel.

Deputy Chairman of the Executive Committee of the Palestine Liberation Organization and Vice President of the State of Palestine, Hussein al-Sheikh, said that the priority of the President of the State of Palestine, Mahmoud Abbas, and the Palestinian leadership in their current actions is to stop the criminal war against our Palestinian people.

The sheikh added, in a tweet on the "X" website on Friday, that the priority is also "urgent relief, the release of hostages and prisoners, and then moving to a new phase leading to the Israeli withdrawal from the Gaza Strip, and entering into a comprehensive political process based on international legitimacy and the implementation of the two-state solution."

A year has passed since the government of engineers in Palestine, and what its head, Dr. Muhammad Mustafa, announced upon his appointment, in terms of the titles of the very hot files that he would take on, and which would be of interest to him, was enough to give the Palestinian elites a sense of optimism about the coming Palestinian era under this government, and that it is an opportunity for all the ideas of integration that build a state that will avenge the Gaza Strip five months after the start of the war of extermination launched by the enemy, which knows no red lines or taboos and insists on putting the donkey, not the horse, before the cart.

Dr. Mohamed Mustafa:

The son of the intelligent province of Tulkarm, the polite student of Kuwait, the engineer of Arab Iraq, the Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Palestine Investment Fund and the senior administrator at the World Bank who knows the secrets of this international institution and its shameful mysteries, Muhammad Mustafa - Abu Musab, is the most amazing reader and the fastest writer and responder to the messages and requests that reach him and transfer them for immediate implementation, due to the large number of his responses to us in the Accountants Syndicate, we thought he would never neglect any message, unlike what is usual from other officials, in one of our emails to him before he assumed the premiership, he responded to us seven minutes after receiving that message with a message containing one hundred and eleven words, agreeing to our request and sending us the number of the person he assigned to implement it so that we could contact him and receive what we requested.

The Engineering Government in Palestine - headed by an engineer and including 7 engineers:

Alongside the Prime Minister are a number of engineers, including Sami Hijjawi, who holds a doctorate in civil engineering, is a former mayor of Nablus and the head of the Engineers Syndicate in Nablus, who is fit to carry the message of the municipalities and unions that ran Palestine before the Authority and before the supervisory state. Engineer Mohammed Al-Amour, who at the time of his appointment was the head of the Palestinian Businessmen Association, is fully aware of the evils of the competition of enemy products in the Palestinian market, and who moved the headquarters of the Businessmen Association from a small rented apartment to a large office and headquarters that has so far cost nearly seven hundred thousand dollars, owned by this association, with very generous donations, most of which came from him and the members of the board of directors. Then there is Wael Zaqout, who also holds a doctorate in civil engineering and the environment, an expert in land policy and property rights, and the originator of the idea of turning sand into gold, inspired by his experience in Dubai. And other engineers, including Amjad Barham, a mathematician who is very close to the engineers, and the head of the Federation of Palestinian University Workers' Unions, who is able to carry the messages of the staff and students of all Palestinian universities. In the end, this government did not achieve what the Palestinian people were striving for, and of course this is not due to their shortcomings, but rather to the crimes of the enemy of this government, and the enemy of everything Palestinian. They did well to keep this government in place, with what is rumored about new additions to this ministry, because of our great confidence that it is capable of correcting its course and developing its performance.

Arab experiences as models of governments,

We have before us two examples of these governments in northern and southern Palestine: The government of engineers in Egypt 1978-1980, which was formed by the handsome genius Dr. Mustafa Khalil, the very famous engineering doctor, which unfortunately failed miserably to achieve Egypt's interests and sacrificed the morale of the brotherly Egyptian people in all its segments, and greatly confused people's thoughts. When Mustafa Khalil was Prime Minister of Egypt, Engineer Sayed Marei was also the Speaker of the People's Assembly, so Egypt became a government and parliament under the leadership of well-intentioned engineers who did not take much notice of their enemy and did not fear his treachery, and believed that building oneself takes precedence over destroying the enemy or at least the constant clash with the permanent enemy. The second model is the model of the two lawyer governments formed by the Syrian hero, lawyer: Marouf Al-Dawalibi.

Mustafa Khalil's government: Mustafa Khalil was born in 1920, which means he was only two years younger than Gamal Abdel Nasser. He graduated from the Faculty of Engineering in Cairo in 1941. When the revolution broke out in Egypt in 1952, he had returned to Egypt with a doctorate degree as a teacher at Ain Shams University. His qualifications at that time made him close to the symbols of the revolution, so Gamal Abdel Nasser appointed him Minister of Transportation in 1956. After that, he was a minister in the governments of Ali Sabri and Zakaria Mohieddin in the sixties of the last century and later Deputy Prime Minister. Then he was Secretary-General of the Socialist Union in Egypt from the age of 1970 until 1976, which led Egypt towards humane socialism that does not deviate from the religion of Egypt at all, as they said in defense of Arab socialism, which knows that the essence of this nation is its Islam. He stuck to Sadat and carried the engineers' ideas about the necessity of achieving development without much consideration for the values of the Egyptian people and the revolution of the Egyptian people. He fragmented the Socialist Union and divided it into right, left and center, to be three parties Headed by Mamdouh Salem, Khaled Mohieddin, and Ibrahim Shukry, he wanted to exploit Egypt’s minds and considered them the real wealth. He saw that Egypt lives on only 4% of its area along the Nile, and he claimed that development requires huge capital, and this can either come through loans with interest rates reaching 14%, which he rejected. He believed in economic openness with the wealth of Egyptians, expatriates and residents, and the wealth of Arabs and foreigners who wanted to invest in Egypt. He brought openness, and with it, national factories and public sector factories were dwarfed, and an imported bar of soap became twenty-three times the price of a beautiful scented Egyptian bar of soap. There are many examples in other goods. Unfortunately, he accompanied Sadat on his visit to Jerusalem and became close to him with the ideas shared by the two men. After that, he transformed from a railway engineer and university professor to an engineer to complete the Camp David Accords and then the peace treaty after sessions with Carter himself. So, the engineering genius transformed from one extreme to the other, from what he was in the era of Nasser to what he transformed into in the era of Sadat. He bound Egypt with good or bad opinion, and later subjected it through He changed it to the terms of the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund, which transformed the value of the Egyptian pound from a fist of gold to a fist of dust.

The two lawyers' governments in Syria - the Ma'rouf al-Dawalibi governments:

Politician, jurist, Speaker of the Syrian Parliament and Prime Minister for two terms, none of the above is more important than the character of this man when he was a young student in Europe, the day he redeemed the Mufti of Jerusalem in the last moments of the fall of Berlin and fled to France, and made a fool of all of France, its presidency, airports, ports and land borders, when it, along with the rest of the allies, was demanding the head of the Palestinian Mufti. Then he gave up his Syrian passport and stuck a picture of the Mufti of Jerusalem on it, and smuggled him to Cairo, to arrive at the royal palace at night, and that palace was lit up, and Farouk of Egypt was kind enough in 1945 to receive Hajj Amin al-Husseini in front of the eyes of the British who dominated the government in Egypt. Until that date, we had some dignity and a degree of chivalry. Marouf al-Dawalibi returned with a doctorate from the Sorbonne in law and entered the Syrian parliament representing fierce Aleppo. In 1950, Marouf al-Dawalibi took over as Minister of National Economy in Syria and preserved the national currency and was dedicated to preserving Syria's wealth, which made all the honorable and free people of Syria cling to that heroic man. In 1954, he formed his first ministry, which lasted only one day, before Amin al-Shishakli overthrew the government in Syria and arrested Marouf al-Dawalibi, who was never afraid of presidents, in all his previous positions, when he was a representative and when he was a minister. In 1961, he formed his second government and remained in it for a short period as well, until another coup occurred. May God have mercy on that hero who defied the French as a student and laughed at them in their capital, and served his country honestly without fear of a president or anyone else. This is how the hero Muhammad Marouf al-Dawalibi was a role model for everyone who wanted to be prime minister.

Washington's ambassador to Israel, Mike Huckabee, said on Friday that a US-backed aid distribution mechanism for Gaza will soon be implemented, ahead of President Donald Trump's visit to the Middle East, but he did not provide any details.

2.2 million Palestinians in Gaza are facing a worsening humanitarian crisis due to the Israeli occupation forces' strict blockade of the devastated Gaza Strip, preventing any aid from entering to the starving and deprived citizens. This has been done with the full support of the administration of US President Donald Trump since March 2, 2025, and in full view of the entire world.

The occupation authorities also violated the ceasefire that came into effect on January 19, and resumed the war of extermination on Gaza on March 18, 2025.

Both Israel and the United States have indicated in recent days that they are preparing to restore some aid through mechanisms they control, bypassing international humanitarian organizations, particularly UNRWA and the World Food Programme.

Ambassador Mike Huckabee, a longtime pro-Israel and pro-settlement advocate, said on Friday that several partners had already committed to participating in the aid arrangements, but declined to name them, saying details would be released in the coming days.

Huckabee also rejected the notion that Washington was "pulling back" from its close ties with Israel, or trying to bypass the Israeli government, describing the relationship as "very close," the day after a report claimed the Trump administration was no longer demanding that Saudi Arabia recognize Israel as part of a nuclear agreement with Riyadh.

According to American and Israeli media, Huckabee, who is known for calling the occupied West Bank Judea and Samaria and for denying the existence of an occupation, told reporters at the US embassy in Israel: "Under Trump, the special relationship is stronger than ever."

Huckabee, who declared last month upon his arrival in Israel that Israel had the right to starve its citizens in Gaza, said it was "completely inaccurate" to describe the humanitarian aid initiative being launched in Gaza as Israeli, considering media reports describing it as such "inaccurate."

Huckabee confirmed that the process of creating an aid mechanism is "ongoing," but said that Israel's participation would be "limited" only to secure aid distribution areas.

"They are not bringing food or distributing it," he said, adding that the Israelis "support" the plan. "They care a lot about the humanitarian aid provided to Gaza, but they also care that Hamas does not steal the aid."

The Times of Israel quoted informed Israeli officials as saying that the Israeli government and military were extensively involved in developing the details of the US plan, even though a new international organization—the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation—was managing the initiative, and the Israeli military was not the one distributing the aid.

Huckabee said that "any ceasefire requires security," and that the focus in all cases will be on delivering food to the people of Gaza, and that "humanitarian aid" does not depend on a ceasefire.

He stated that "the key elements of the plan are the efficient and safe distribution of food, and preventing the terrorist organization Hamas from seizing and stealing it." He accused Hamas of being "100 percent responsible for the horrific situation" in the Strip, accusing the group's leaders of "starving their people" and preventing a solution. He urged unanimous international condemnation of "their torture of hostages in the tunnels." Huckabee said the aid initiative includes many groups, nonprofits, and agencies, and it is not possible to name all of them.

But he acknowledged that alongside a "good initial response," many challenges remained, and that it required "an exceptional amount of planning."

Huckabee declined to specify a timeline for the start of aid distribution, stressing that it would hopefully be very soon. However, the US ambassador acknowledged that the initiative "will not be perfect—especially in its early stages."

Four civilians, including a child, were killed and others wounded on Friday when Israeli warplanes bombed a store on Ma'touq Street in the al-Rimal neighborhood, west of Gaza City.

Wafa News Agency reported that the attack resulted in the martyrdom of the child Ahmed Rabhi Ayyad, Muhammad Rushdi Abu Amr, Majed Rami Abu Nasr, and Jalal Rabah Abu Amr.

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Chinese President Xi Jinping called on Wednesday for concerted efforts to defend the legacy of World War II victory, at a time when the specter of hegemonic and power politics continues to loom large over the world.

Xi was invited upon his arrival in Moscow for a state visit to Russia and to participate in the celebrations marking the 80th anniversary of the Soviet Union's victory in the Great Patriotic War.

In a written statement issued upon his arrival, Xi said that China and Russia will work together to safeguard the victory of World War II and resolutely oppose hegemonic and power politics.

He explained that China and Russia, two major countries in the world and permanent members of the UN Security Council, will cooperate to firmly safeguard the UN-centered international order based on international law, practice genuine multilateralism, and promote the building of a more just and equitable global governance system.

Xi's visit comes at the invitation of Russian President Vladimir Putin, and marks his 11th visit to Russia since becoming President of China.

During his stay, Xi is expected to engage in in-depth discussions with Putin on bilateral relations and cooperation, as well as major international and regional issues of common concern.

According to the Chinese Foreign Ministry, Xi's attendance at the celebrations marking the 80th anniversary of the Soviet Union's victory in the Great Patriotic War is an important part of his visit. This will be Xi's second time attending Russia's Victory Day celebrations on May 9 as Chinese president.

A massive military parade is scheduled to take place in Moscow's Red Square tomorrow (Friday). Flags bearing the word "Victory" fluttered along the streets of Moscow, and billboards and decorated windows depicting the history of the Soviet Union's Great Patriotic War lined the roads.

On the night of May 8, 1945, Germany signed the surrender document in Karlshorst, Berlin, bringing World War II to an end in Europe. However, due to the time difference, Moscow had already entered the war on May 9, the date that Russia and the former Soviet Union celebrate as Victory Day.

At the same time, China's major military campaign against Japan, the Battle of Western Hunan, was reaching its decisive stage. Japan's formal surrender aboard the battleship USS Missouri in Tokyo Bay on September 2, 1945, brought World War II to an end.

In this photo taken on May 7, 2025, Chinese President Xi Jinping arrives in Moscow, Russia. (Xinhua)

In a signed article published in the Russian newspaper Gazette prior to his arrival, Xi urged the international community to adhere to a correct historical perspective on World War II.

"China and the Soviet Union were the main theaters of that war in Asia and Europe, respectively," Xi wrote. "The two countries formed the mainstays in the struggle against Japanese militarism and German Nazism, and made decisive contributions to the victory of the World Anti-Fascist War."

He added that any attempt to distort the historical truth of World War II, deny the results of victory, or distort the historical contributions of China and the Soviet Union is doomed to failure.

The year 2025 marks the 80th anniversary of the founding of the United Nations, a body that emerged from the ashes of World War II. The UN Charter begins with a solemn pledge: "To protect succeeding generations from the scourge of war."

In light of the severe adverse conditions facing the world today due to practices of unilateralism, hegemony, bullying, and coercion, Xi stressed the importance of multilateralism.

"The more turbulent and complex the international situation becomes, the more we need to uphold and defend the authority of the United Nations," he wrote in his signed article.

"Establishing an international system with the UN at its core was not an easy task, and all countries in the world must vigorously maintain it," said Ekaterina Zaklyazminskaya, a leading researcher at the Institute of Modern China and Asia of the Russian Academy of Sciences.

"Russia and China support true multilateralism, which is crucial at this time," she added.

Alexei Rodionov, professor of Chinese studies at Saint Petersburg State University, said the world is irreversibly moving toward a multipolar system, with Russia and China playing key roles in this transformation.

He added that China maintains a balanced position on international issues, which is why more countries now view it as a key reference in global diplomacy and politics.

Members of the Knesset called for the systematic starvation of the residents of the Gaza Strip, including children, and for the denial of supplies of medicine and painkillers. This came during deliberations on the humanitarian crisis in the Gaza Strip during a meeting held yesterday, Thursday, by a subcommittee of the Knesset Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee, which deals with media and foreign relations.

During the meeting, Dr. Sharon Shaul, from the Natan organization, which works in humanitarian aid worldwide, said, "I believe that none of the people sitting around this table are concerned that a suffering child cannot receive painkillers or even minimal medical treatment."

MK Amit Halevi of the Likud party interrupted her, angrily saying, "I'm not sure you're speaking on our behalf that we want to treat every child and every woman, and I hope you don't support that statement," Haaretz reported of the committee discussion on Friday.

"I hope you, too, are not concerned that a four-year-old with an amputated hand should not receive pain medication, and I hope you have that compassion," the doctor insisted.

But MK Limor Son Har-Melech, from the Otzma Yehudit party, pointed her finger at the doctor and said, "The only treatment that should be given is to you," while another MK said, "You are the sickest doctor I have ever seen."

The newspaper quoted MK Moshe Tor-Paz of the Yesh Atid party as saying following the meeting, which he initiated, "As far as I know, the State of Israel does not intend to use starvation. I believe that even if there are non-combatants, there is nothing in the Jewish ethics that I know that allows for starving non-combatants, and my impression is that the Israeli government is not planning to starve Gaza."

The newspaper emphasized that Halevi and Son Har-Melech dominated the discussion in the committee, and that "many around the table certainly believed that torturing and starving Gazan children was not only legitimate but also desirable."

Shifra Tzur Aryeh, who identified herself as a resident of the "Gaza envelope," rebuked the Knesset members for even holding this discussion, shouting, "Who are you pitying?" and that "it is forbidden to pity Gazans."

Yizhar Lifshitz, whose father was killed on October 7 and taken to Gaza, said, "Even though there are almost no innocent people in Gaza, any moral person can understand that starving children is not something to brag about. There is a certain threshold we should not cross. Is seeing mothers holding their dead children in their arms what will bring the kidnapped people back to us?"

"This is terrible that you're bringing this up," Son Har Melch responded. "This is terrible, terrible, terrible that you're bringing up starvation terms while our children are being brutally slaughtered."

Participants in the meeting spoke about the threat of famine and the suffering of children in Gaza.

Statistics expert Arnon Houri-Yevin, who developed a model to calculate food quantities in Gaza based on Israeli military data, said that there is "an average of enough food in Gaza," but added that he has no doubt that "the weak and poor population in the Strip is suffering from severe malnutrition. According to the model, we are now in a situation where tens of thousands are either without food at all or have less than 300 calories per day."

Halevi responded in a rebuking tone, claiming, "No one is hungry in Gaza. It's a shame you keep repeating this lie. No one is missing anything." Son Har Melch claimed, "No one is starving. Stop repeating Hamas's lies."

A number of civilians were killed and others injured on Friday in a series of raids and artillery shelling launched by the Israeli occupation forces on various areas of the Gaza Strip.

In the northern Gaza Strip, Israeli artillery targeted the outskirts of the town of Beit Lahia, causing material damage and panic among residents.

In Gaza City, young man Diaa Jihad Ibrahim Tayeh died of wounds he sustained in a previous attack on Al-Karama School in the Tuffah neighborhood, east of the city.

Another citizen was killed when a drone targeted the Tal al-Hawa neighborhood, south of the city.

In Khan Yunis Governorate, south of the Gaza Strip, Civil Defense crews recovered the body of 3-month-old Mohammed Hisham Sobhi Shihab from under the rubble of his family's home, which was bombed two days earlier in the Al-Zana area. His parents were killed in the same bombing, and his two brothers were injured.

Citizen Baraa Majdi al-Agha was also killed and others were injured in a drone strike targeting a group of citizens near the Islamic University east of Khan Yunis.

In the city of Rafah in the southern Gaza Strip, occupation forces blew up a number of residential buildings in the city center, causing widespread property damage.

A citizen suffered burns on Friday when Israeli occupation forces fired sound bombs at him in the town of Beit Ummar, north of Hebron.

Media activist Mohammed Awad said that the occupation forces raided the town as worshippers were leaving Friday prayers, and began firing sound bombs at citizens and shops, which resulted in a 50-year-old citizen sustaining burns to his left foot.

A Hamas delegation held talks in Doha on Wednesday and Thursday with Egyptian and Qatari mediators regarding a truce in Gaza. However, no progress was achieved, according to what Agence France-Presse reported on Friday, citing two sources close to the movement.

One of these sources stated that "the Egyptian negotiators met twice with a Hamas leadership delegation headed by Khalil al-Hayya (head of the negotiating delegation), with the participation of Qatari negotiators, on Wednesday and Thursday in Doha."

The second source confirmed that "the Doha meetings were serious, but no tangible progress was achieved."

"We do not expect an agreement to be reached before Trump's visit," said a source close to Hamas.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Monday that the cabinet had approved, during a lengthy meeting on Sunday, expanding the ongoing genocide in Gaza, affirming his determination to reoccupy the besieged enclave.

He added, "The Chief of Staff's recommendation is to defeat Hamas, and he believes that this will help secure the release of the detainees (prisoners), and I agree with him on this."

This comes amid mounting international warnings of an impending humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza, due to the severe blockade and ongoing genocide that has lasted for nearly 20 months. This has resulted in the deaths and injuries of more than 171,000 people, the majority of whom are women and children, and more than 11,000 missing.

In early March 2025, the first phase of a ceasefire and prisoner exchange agreement between Hamas and Israel concluded. The agreement had been in effect since January 19, but Israel reneged on it and resumed its genocide on the 18th of the same month.

Since March 2, Israel has closed the Gaza Strip's crossings to the entry of food, relief, medical aid, and goods, causing a significant deterioration in the humanitarian situation, which has reached catastrophic levels.

The Israeli occupation forces continue their aggression against the city of Tulkarm and its two camps for the 103rd consecutive day, and for the 90th day against the Nur Shams camp, amid ongoing field escalation, including raids and home demolitions.

Israeli occupation forces continue their tight siege of the Tulkarm and Nur Shams refugee camps, where they have witnessed raids into neighborhoods, including heavy gunfire directed at homes and vehicles, along with the use of sound bombs and drones.

Israeli bulldozers continued demolishing homes in Nour Shams camp, specifically in the al-Jami' neighborhood, as part of a plan to demolish 106 buildings and homes in the two camps, including 58 buildings in Tulkarm camp and 48 homes in Nour Shams camp, according to the plan announced by the occupation last Thursday.

This attack included the complete destruction of buildings in the camp, which contained dozens of apartments. The residents were forcibly displaced, and the buildings were distributed throughout the neighborhoods of Al-Manshiyya, Al-Maslakh, Al-Iyada, Al-Jami', and Al-Shuhada. The infrastructure was also completely destroyed.

Jenin camp, in particular, has witnessed raids and destruction of infrastructure, as part of a systematic policy aimed at oppressing the population and displacing them from their lands.

Israel has dropped 100,000 tons of explosives since the start of the war on Gaza 19 months ago, resulting in the martyrdom or disappearance of more than 62,000 Palestinians and the commission of more than 12,000 massacres, the government media office in the Gaza Strip said Thursday.

This came in a statement issued by the Government Media Office, detailing the most important statistics of the war of extermination waged by Israel.

The office stated that "Israel has dropped more than 100,000 tons of explosives on the Gaza Strip since the start of the war of extermination on October 7, 2023, resulting in the death and disappearance of more than 62,000 Palestinians, including more than 10,000 who remain under the rubble, some of whom remain missing."

He stressed that "Israel committed more than 12,000 massacres, including 11,926 against Palestinian families, completely exterminating 2,200 families and erasing 6,350 people from the civil registry."

In the context of the crimes targeting cemeteries, the office stated that "the occupation has stolen 2,300 bodies from cemeteries in the Gaza Strip and established seven mass graves inside hospitals, from which 529 martyrs have been recovered so far."

Regarding the health disaster in Gaza, he said that more than 2.1 million cases of infectious diseases have been recorded due to forced displacement and the collapse of the health infrastructure, including 71,338 cases of hepatitis.

The statement also included data related to the destroyed religious and relief infrastructure, indicating that the Israeli army completely destroyed 828 mosques and partially destroyed 167, and targeted three churches, in addition to 19 cemeteries out of 60 that were completely or partially destroyed.

As part of its starvation policy, Israel has targeted 66 relief facilities, including 29 food shelters and 37 aid distribution centers, while preventing the entry of 37,400 aid and fuel trucks since completely closing the crossings more than two months ago.

The US ambassador to Israel said on Friday that "there is a new mechanism for distributing aid in the Gaza Strip," noting that Israel will not be part of it.

The US ambassador added in a press conference, "The greatest danger is famine in Gaza, and there will be 400 aid distribution points."

He stressed that US President Donald Trump wants aid to be distributed in Gaza in a safe and efficient manner, according to him.

He pointed out that several partners had agreed to the aid distribution plan, noting that Israel would not be part of the distribution process.

"There are partners who will not accept Israel's participation in bringing aid into the Gaza Strip," he said, noting that further details regarding the distribution will be revealed.

The US ambassador explained that the new humanitarian aid mechanism does not rely on military action, and he hoped it would begin soon.

He pointed out that the Israeli army will participate in providing security at the borders of the areas to which aid will be delivered.

Today, Friday, settlers released their livestock into agricultural crops in several areas of Masafer Yatta, south of Hebron.

Local sources reported that settlers released large numbers of their livestock onto citizens' agricultural crops in the Deira area. Armed settlers also roamed the lands of citizens in the village of Beit al-Rush, southwest of Hebron.

US President Donald Trump will allow Saudi Arabia to acquire nuclear weapons for civilian purposes without normalizing relations with Israel, a newspaper report said Thursday.

This comes as the Israeli newspaper Israel Hayom reported today that relations between US President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu are witnessing escalating tensions, amid what sources close to Trump described as "mutual frustration on a personal level" between the two sides.

Reuters reported Thursday evening that Trump will allow Riyadh to acquire a civilian nuclear weapon without demanding normalization with Israel in return.

In contrast, the Israeli Public Broadcasting Corporation (Kan 11) reported that Tel Aviv had demanded "security guarantees" regarding uranium enrichment on Saudi soil, such as direct American supervision of the nuclear facility, which is supposed to be used for civilian purposes.

In this context, Kan 11 quoted unnamed Israeli sources as saying that "the possibility of normalization between Israel and Saudi Arabia depends on the Saudis."

Israeli opposition leader Yair Lapid commented on the report: "I have warned for years about a Saudi deal that includes uranium enrichment."

He added, "It is unreasonable for Netanyahu to remain silent while a deal is being negotiated that could spark a nuclear arms race in the Middle East and potentially lead to nuclear capabilities falling into the wrong hands."

According to the newspaper, this tension prompted the US president to decide to "proceed with strategic steps in the Middle East independently of Israel," referring to a broad agreement with Saudi Arabia that does not include normalization of relations between Tel Aviv and Riyadh.

Israeli decision-making circles are increasingly concerned about the US president's policies toward the region, amid signs that Israel's status is declining among his administration's priorities, according to Yedioth Ahronoth on Thursday.

The newspaper considered Trump's announcement to halt strikes against the Houthis without coordinating with Israel, which learned of the announcement from the US president's televised remarks, "a far-reaching step," indicating that US policy in the region may conflict with Israeli interests.

Reports indicate that Saudi Arabia links its engagement in a normalization agreement with Israel to a halt to its aggression against the Gaza Strip, and to an official Israeli declaration committing to a political horizon leading to the establishment of a Palestinian state, even if this term is not explicitly used.

On Wednesday evening, Israel's Channel 12 reported that a senior US official informed the families of Israeli prisoners during a closed-door meeting that "the United States is moving forward with a strategic deal with Saudi Arabia, even without Israel's participation."

The official warned that "the price of ignoring this opportunity will be greater than ever."

During the meeting, the US official said, "The ceasefire deal with the Houthis was just a prelude, and if Israel does not rectify its position, the Millennium Deal may be implemented without it."

The official also expressed understanding for the families' rejection of the military escalation in Gaza, warning that it "could threaten the lives of the prisoners." This stance contradicts the current Netanyahu government's policy and reflects a growing disagreement between the two sides over regional policies.

Axios revealed that US President Donald Trump secretly met with Israeli Minister of Strategic Affairs Ron Dermer, a close ally of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, and discussed the nuclear talks with Iran and the war in Gaza, according to two sources familiar with the meeting.

The meeting, which was not announced by the United States or Israel, took place at the White House ahead of the fourth round of US-Iran nuclear talks in Muscat on Sunday and President Trump's trip to the Middle East, which begins on Monday.

Trump will visit Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and the United Arab Emirates on this trip, but will not visit Israel.

This meeting is somewhat unusual, as American presidents do not usually meet with second- or third-rank foreign officials.

The meeting took place two days after Trump's surprise announcement of a truce with the Houthis, which exposed gaps in trust and coordination between the administrations.

This announcement came shortly after Israel carried out strikes on a major port and airport in Yemen in response to a Houthi attack on Tel Aviv International Airport. Israelis were concerned that the ceasefire announced by Trump did not apply to attacks on Israel.

The website reports that an Israeli official stated, "We were shocked that the Trump administration didn't tell us anything. We learned about it on television."

This incident has raised concerns about the potential limits of Israel's influence over the US approach to the nuclear talks with Iran. Netanyahu questions the viability of diplomacy and wants Trump to consider the military option.

Dermer met with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio on Wednesday and expressed Israeli concerns, according to a source familiar with the matter.

On Thursday, Dermer held several meetings at the White House, including one with Trump. Also in attendance were Vice President Vance, Rubio, and White House envoy Steve Witkoff, according to the website.

White House spokeswoman Carolyn Leavitt confirmed Trump's meeting with Dermer, saying it was a "private meeting."

Witkoff and his team are expected to hold another round of nuclear talks with Iran on Sunday in Oman, according to two sources familiar with the matter.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi will head the Iranian delegation.

Trump reiterated on Thursday his desire to reach a nuclear agreement with Iran without resorting to the use of military force.

The Israeli occupation authorities have set the end of Trump's visit as the deadline for reaching a new agreement on prisoner releases and a ceasefire in Gaza, threatening a large-scale military operation to destroy and occupy the Strip and displace its entire population if no agreement is reached.

In recent days, Witkoff has been working with Qatari and Egyptian mediators to pressure Hamas to agree to the release of some hostages in exchange for a temporary ceasefire, but the movement continues to insist that Israel agree to end the war in exchange for the release of all hostages.

American voters want the war in Gaza to end and believe President Trump should withhold US aid, if necessary, to pressure Israel to do so. During last year's election campaign, Donald Trump promised to make major changes to US Middle East policy. He stated that the Gaza war would not have happened if he were president, promised to end it, boasted about pressuring Israel to accept a ceasefire, and then, as president, proposed evacuating Palestinians from Gaza to make way for a Riviera-like resort. Ahead of the 2024 election, we conducted a poll of American voters and found public support for ending the war and using US aid to Israel as leverage to pressure it to end the occupation of Palestinian territories and end the war in Gaza. Now, more than three months into President Trump's second term, Israel has canceled the ceasefire, resumed its bombing campaign, resumed mass deportations of civilians, and reimposed a food and medicine blockade on the Palestinian population in Gaza. Last week, we re-asked the same questions from the 2024 poll in a new survey. The overall results were largely the same, with one key difference: Three months into his term, support for a tougher stance toward Israel was not limited to Democrats, but also included President Trump's Republican voter base, who wanted him to take a tougher stance to pressure Israel to change its behavior. This was one of the key findings of the poll released on April 30 by the Arab American Institute Foundation. The foundation commissioned John Zogby Strategies to conduct a survey of 1,000 American voters to assess their attitudes toward the Trump administration's policies toward Israel's war on Gaza. What the results show is that voters' opinions did not change much between November 2024 and April 2025. What did change, however, is that Israel is losing favor with Republicans, who now want President Trump to take a stronger stance to rein in its behavior. But this doesn't mean that Republican voters no longer support the president's domestic policies, including allegations of anti-Semitism, campus crackdowns, and the deportation of students participating in pro-Palestinian and anti-Israel protests. Here are the key findings: The poll shows that voters' sympathy for Israel remains somewhat higher than their sympathy for the Palestinians. But by a clear margin of 46% to 30%, American voters feel that US policy in the Middle East is too biased in favor of Israel, with 39% of Republicans agreeing and 37% disagreeing. This represents a significant shift from 2024, when only 33% of Republicans agreed with this view, compared to 43% who said the policy was not too biased. By a two-to-one margin, American voters agree that President Trump "should put greater pressure on Israel to end its occupation of Palestinian territories and allow the Palestinians to establish their own independent state." While this percentage is consistent with last year's results, the most notable difference this year is the significant increase in the percentage of Republicans who agree that pressure should be applied to Israel. In 2024, 37% of Republicans supported the idea and 40% opposed it, while now it stands at 49% and only 29% oppose it. When asked whether the United States should continue providing unconditional aid to Israel, or restrict such aid if "Israel continues to act in a manner that endangers civilian lives in Gaza and Lebanon," this year's results were similar to last year's. Only 23% support unconditional aid, while 53% oppose it. The key takeaway from this preliminary data is that while Americans continue to sympathize with Israel, they oppose its policies and want the president—whether Democrat or Republican—to use U.S. aid as leverage to change Israel's behavior. It is also important to note that a significant percentage of Republican voters, including those who identify as "born-again Christians," want the president they elected to take a firm stance against Israel's policies of bombing civilians and occupying Palestinian territories. What all these results demonstrate is that Republicans, and their evangelical Christian base, are also losing patience with Israel's policies.

In a dark cell in Ofer military prison, veteran journalist Ali al-Samoudi, 58, from Jenin, endures his new fate as an "administrative detainee" for six months. This decision was made by the occupation's intelligence services and is not based on a specific charge or a public trial. This scene epitomizes the systematic repression of the Palestinian press, which has become one of the most prominent tools of the ongoing war of extermination for eight months. The rise in the number of administratively detained journalists to 20, out of 50 others currently in detention, is not just a passing number. Rather, it is an indicator of Israel's shift from killing witnesses to imprisoning them, in an attempt to obliterate the Palestinian narrative and perpetuate a narrative of absolute power. The story of Al-Samoudi—who has spent 35 years documenting the occupation's violations through his lens—reproduces the same scenario experienced by dozens of journalists before him: a dawn raid on his home, a random search, the confiscation of his equipment, and then a notice stamped "top secret" announcing his administrative detention on the pretext of "threatening national security," without allowing his lawyer to review the file. This complex judicial mechanism, which allows for detention for six months, renewable indefinitely, has become a strategic weapon to silence voices, especially with the escalation of international reports documenting Israeli forces' use of cluster bombs and targeted attacks against civilians. Administrative detention is not a new phenomenon, but its escalation in recent months reveals a well-thought-out plan: since the start of the last war on Gaza, any camera documenting the destruction in Rafah or Khan Younis has become a "crime" that warrants imprisonment, according to Israeli security logic. Reports from the Palestinian Center for Development and Media Freedoms show that 90% of detained journalists have been subjected to physical and psychological torture, while their families are denied visits under the pretext of the "security situation." The most cruel irony lies in the coincidence of these arrests with the recent International Court of Justice ruling calling on Israel to "prevent acts of genocide," raising questions about the international community's role in protecting the truth. History repeats itself: In 1988, Israel administratively detained journalist Mohammed Odeh for three years without charge. In 2003, Al Jazeera correspondent Tayseer Allouni was abducted from the streets of Ramallah, becoming the first foreign journalist to be tried by military tribunal. Today, Al-Samoudi joins a long list of journalists who have been censored. The question pressing on the global conscience is: How many more lenses must be broken, and how many more pens silenced, before the war on journalism turns into a crime against humanity? The answer lies in the silence of Israeli prisons that swallow up eyewitnesses, and in those shattered cameras that still send distress signals from under the rubble.