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The Cradle is an online news magazine covering West Asian geopolitics from within.
❗️UNRWA Commissioner General Philippe Lazzarini:
"An assault on children. An assault on education. A sad day in occupied East Jerusalem.
This morning, heavily armed Israeli Forces entered three UNRWA schools in Shu’fat Camp in occupied East Jerusalem, forcing 550+ girls and boys who were in classrooms out of their schools.
One UNRWA staff member was detained.
As a result, UNRWA was forced to evacuate all children across the six schools it runs in East Jerusalem.
Now, nearly 800 girls and boys - some as young as 6 years old - are left in shock and trauma.
Storming schools and forcing them shut is a blatant disregard of international law. These schools are inviolable premises of the United Nations. By enforcing closure orders issued last month, the Israeli authorities are denying Palestinian children their basic right to learn.
UNRWA schools must continue to be open to safeguard an entire generation of children."
❗️According to Israel Hayom, Israeli officials believe Trump lacks the Senate support needed to advance a Saudi civilian nuclear deal unless it includes an Israeli component, noting that any agreement bypassing Israeli consent is unlikely to pass.
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❗️US drops Israel normalization as condition for Saudi nuclear deal
In a major policy shift, Washington has abandoned its previous demand that Saudi Arabia normalize ties with Israel as a precondition for advancing civilian nuclear cooperation, Reuters reports, citing informed sources. The move comes just days ahead of Donald Trump’s scheduled visit to Riyadh on May 13, where he is expected to attend a Gulf leaders’ summit.
Qatar gets US greenlight to bankroll public sector salaries in Syria
Gulf states that were involved in funding extremist armed groups during the regime change war in Syria have recently pledged to pay off Damascus's World Bank debt
Ansarallah leader says US war failed to stop Yemen, reaffirms support for Palestine
The Yemeni Armed Forces has stated it will continue to enforce an air and sea blockade against Israel until the mass killing of Palestinians in Gaza comes to a halt
Pakistan says India deployed fleet of Israeli drones as border tensions escalate
India is the world's largest purchaser of Israeli weapons
❗️The Trump administration slapped sanctions on a third Chinese 'teapot' (independent) refinery, Hebei Xinhai Chemical Group Co, along with three Chinese port terminal operators, for buying Iranian oil.
(US Treasury)
❗️Highlights from leader of Ansarallah Abdul Malik al-Houthi's latest speech:
– "Our country has resumed its full stance—militarily, officially, and popularly—to support the Palestinian people since the resumption of the genocide."
– "Our supporting operations from 14 March to 7 May have reached more than 131, carried out with 253 ballistic, cruise, hypersonic missiles and drones."
– The Israeli enemy’s targeting is not limited to one group over another; rather, it targets everyone through various forms of comprehensive destruction."
– The Zionist plan toward Arabs and Muslims is clear, and their view toward all is the same—even toward those who normalize relations and align with them."
– “Religious Zionism and secular Zionism compete in achieving outcomes within the framework of the Greater Israel plan."
– "Despite the immense capabilities in the hands of the Israeli enemy, it receives all forms of support from America and Western countries."
– "This week, we conducted several operations using 10 missiles and drones targeting Jaffa, Ashkelon, the Negev, Umm al-Rashrash, and occupied Haifa."
– "The resonance of the operation targeting Ben Gurion Airport was very wide on the global level and in expert and analyst commentary."
❗️A number of wounded Israeli soldiers from the Gaza Strip have arrived at Israeli hospitals following yet another 'very serious security incident' that took place in Rafah, southern Gaza.
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⭕️ Circulating video shows an Israeli soldier saying that destroying images of Al-Aqsa Mosque expresses a wish to one day destroy the actual mosque and build the Third Jewish Temple in its place.
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❗️Israeli occupation forces killed Rami Sami al-Kakhn in the Old City of Nablus during their military raid, and abducted his body.
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❗️Gaza Ministry of Health:
“106 martyrs (including 1 recovered) and 367 injuries arrived at Gaza Strip hospitals during the past 24 hours."
"The death toll and injuries since March 18, 2025 has reached 2,651 martyrs, and 7,223 injuries."
❗️According to the Israeli Broadcasting Corporation (Kan), Israel and Turkiye are holding a third round of high-level negotiations in Baku, Azerbaijan today, 8 May over recent developments in Syria, where Ankara plans to establish several military bases.
Israel is expected to demand that no military threats or strategic weapons exist near its borders.
⭕️ A federal appeals court has upheld an order requiring the transfer of Rumeysa Ozturk, a Turkish student at Tufts University, from a Louisiana detention center back to New England for hearings on potential rights violations.
Ozturk was detained for six weeks after coauthoring an op-ed critical of her university’s response to Israel’s brutal war on Gaza. She must now be transferred to Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) custody in Vermont by 14 May.
⭕️ Saudi Arabia has so far refrained from officially joining the BRICS group of nations, despite participating in a meeting in Brazil last week. The BRICS website lists Saudi Arabia, the world’s top oil exporter, as a member, although the kingdom has not formally joined. Brazil's foreign ministry said to refer to the Saudi government when asked about the kingdom's listed status as a member on the website.
In January, US President Donald Trump warned that if BRICS moved forward with plans to create a new currency or backed any alternative to the US dollar, the bloc’s member states would be hit with 100% tariffs.
(Reuters)
❗️Earlier today, as part of the newly announced 'Gates of Hell' series operations, Hamas's Qassam Brigades reported that its fighters targeted 7 Israeli soldiers with an explosive device near the Omar Ibn Al-Khattab Mosque in the Al-Tannour neighborhood, east of Rafah city in the southern Gaza Strip, and "observed the remains of several enemy soldiers scattered at the scene."
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US 'delinks' Saudi nuclear program from normalization with Israel: Report
Hebrew media reports indicate that Trump has 'lost patience' with Netanyahu and is seeking to advance US interests in West Asia independently of Israel
❗️Israeli Army Radio (GLZ):
– Trump has decided to cut off communication with Netanyahu. This may change later, but it is the current situation.
– Trump’s inner circle told Israeli Strategic Affairs Minister Ron Dermer that what Trump hates most is being portrayed as naive or manipulated, and Netanyahu was manipulating the US president.
US ceasefire in Yemen: Retreat masquerading as restraint
The US ends its Red Sea campaign not by victory, but by necessity – under relentless pressure from an underestimated Yemeni resistance.
By Mawadda Iskandar
❗️Chairman of the Euro-Mediterranean Human Rights Monitor Ramy Abdu:
"The US-Israeli plan to assign the distribution of limited aid in Gaza to international companies is not a humanitarian initiative — it is a calculated maneuver to repackage the siege, regulate starvation, and weaponize food as a tool of subjugation and forced displacement.
The plan is run by former US military personnel and aid organizations under tight surveillance. It is executed through fixed-time distribution centers, with no involvement of Palestinians themselves — a blatant violation of the obligation to ensure the immediate, effective, and unimpeded delivery of humanitarian assistance as enshrined in international law.
This is not about relief, but about control — buying Israel more time, expanding its military grip on the ground, and pushing civilians into displacement through exhaustion and hunger, reducing them to broken spirits and empty stomachs waiting for a weekly ration.
This is not a relief plan — it is a new form of siege, mass starvation, and forced displacement, masked in the language of 'humanitarian work.'
What is urgently needed is the immediate and unrestricted entry of life-saving aid and essentials that ensure a dignified existence, allowing people to rebuild their future on their own land — as they have always proven their ability to excel and contribute to humanity.
The Palestinian people are not objects of pity. They do not want humiliating handouts — they demand their full right to life, freedom, dignity, and to remain on their land."
UPDATE | Qassam Brigades reports that its fighters struck a 12-member Israeli engineering unit preparing to demolish a house in eastern Rafah, using two anti-personnel and anti-armor shells.
The attack caused a powerful explosion, resulting in deaths and injuries.
Syrian officials visited Israel for secret security talks: Report
A backchannel between Israel and Syria's extremist-led government was opened with help from the UAE
❗️Qassam Brigades reports from the field that its fighters are engaged in fierce clashes at zero distance with Israeli soldiers and vehicles east of Rafah, in the southern Gaza Strip.
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⭕️ Chinese Premier Li Qiang will visit Malaysia in May for joint ASEAN-GCC summit opposing US tariffs
Li will be in Kuala Lumpur for the ASEAN-GCC-China summit on 27 May, following the ASEAN Summit scheduled for 26 May, to rally the countries against US tariffs. China has yet to officially announce its representative for the meeting. The Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) includes six Arab nations, among them key oil exporters Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, and Qatar. The Malaysia meetings will follow the US-China trade talks in Switzerland this weekend.
(Reuters)
Trump 'losing patience' with Netanyahu, advances US plans without Israeli involvement: Report
Trump announced a ceasefire with the Ansarallah-led Yemeni government, allegedly without consulting Netanyahu
❗️Trump ‘disappointed’ with Netanyahu
Trump is reportedly frustrated with Israeli PM Netanyahu and plans to move forward on "Middle East objectives" without waiting for Israel, Israel Hayom reports, citing two senior sources close to Trump.
Trump is upset over Netanyahu’s delays on a potential Saudi deal, saying he’s holding back “necessary decisions.” He’s also still bitter over what he sees as Netanyahu’s attempt to push the US into military action with Iran.
Israeli officials were caught off guard by the recent US-Yemen ceasefire that excluded any consideration of Israel. Netanyahu and senior ministers have been emphasizing in recent statements that Israel “can defend itself by itself.”
❗️Pakistan’s military announced today that it had downed 25 Israeli-manufactured IAI Harop drones, launched by India, across multiple regions of the country, including areas near critical military sites.
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⭕️ Syrian officials visited Israel in April, according to Haaretz
A delegation of Ahmad al-Sharaa's HTS-led interim government secretly visited Israel in late April, after Israel opened a direct line of communication with Syria, Syrian sources told Haaretz. The delegation included a senior defense official and figures from the Quneitra province.
Reuters reported yesterday that the UAE has launched a secret diplomatic channel between Israel and Syria.
UPDATE | Palestinian Red Crescent reports 41 injured during the Israeli occupation forces' storming of the Old City of Nablus, (occupied West Bank) including 4 wounded by live bullets.
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❗️Gaza communal kitchens shut as supply runs out
Dozens of community kitchens in Gaza shut their doors on Thursday due to a lack of supplies, closing off a lifeline used by hundreds of thousands of people in a further blow to efforts to combat growing hunger in the enclave.
Amjad al-Shawa, director of the Palestinian Non-Governmental Organizations Network (PNGO) in Gaza, told Reuters that most of the enclave's 170 community kitchens had shut down after running out of stock due to Israel's continued blockade of Gaza.
Shawa said the decision by the WCK, announced late on Wednesday, and the closure of community kitchens on Thursday would cause a drop of between 400,000 and 500,000 free meals per day for the 2.3 million population.
"Everyone in Gaza today is hungry. The world must act now to save the people here," said Shawa.