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The Cradle is an online news magazine covering West Asian geopolitics from within.
⭕️ Palestinian factions in Lebanon’s refugee camps are speculative about reported plans by Mahmoud Abbas to push for their disarmament during his upcoming visit to Beirut.
With no official communication confirming such intentions, some factions remain unmoved by what they describe as media speculation rather than a concrete policy initiative.
Last week, Abbas was reportedly set to visit Lebanon on 19 May and call on all Palestinian factions to disarm, including his own Palestinian National Liberation Movement, more commonly known as Fatah.
❗️Hamas says Netanyahu only asked for 10 Israeli captives in latest offer
Hamas official Taher al-Nono revealed Thursday that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s latest proposal requested the release of only 10 Israeli captives, signaling, in his words, a lack of genuine concern for the issue and a continued push for war. “Any exchange must be comprehensive and tied to a complete end to the war,” Nono stated. “We will not return to the interim phase.”
Nono added that Hamas has informed Egyptian mediators of its readiness to hand over Gaza’s administration to a mutually agreed-upon committee. He emphasized that Israel has yet to offer any meaningful concessions and continues to reject all ceasefire proposals put forward by mediators.
❗️Trilateral meetings underway at Russia–Ukraine talks in Istanbul
– The Turkiye–US–Ukraine meeting is scheduled to begin at 10:45, followed by the Turkiye–Russia–Ukraine meeting at 12:30.
– Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan has arrived at the Dolmabahce Presidential Office to lead the Turkish delegation in the trilateral session.
❗️Israel has killed at least 52 Palestinians in the Gaza Strip since dawn today.
(Medical sources to Al Jazeera)
❗️Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) Commander-in-Chief Major General Hossein Salami announced that Iran will soon unveil a major achievement in defense technology, marking a significant breakthrough in recent weeks. The statement was made during a ceremony commemorating the first anniversary of the martyrs of service in Tehran’s Imam Hussein Square.
Salami also strongly criticized US President Donald Trump, accusing him of launching a psychological war to spread despair among Iranians. He described Trump as “the killer of Martyr Qassem Soleimani,” stressing that the Iranian people view the US with deep hostility.
❗️Al-Aqsa Martyrs Hospital spokesperson to Al Jazeera:
– Brain, nerve, and chest surgeries have been suspended due to the collapse of the healthcare system.
– Most of the wounded arriving at the hospital have suffered amputations or severe burns.
– Medical staff are unable to provide care due to extreme shortages in supplies and medication.
– Gaza’s hospitals are overwhelmed, and 300,000 patients with chronic illnesses have no access to necessary treatment.
– The continued closure of crossings is exacerbating the crisis.
– Hospital officials are urgently calling on the international community to pressure Israel to open humanitarian corridors.
❗️Israeli Broadcasting Authority, citing former Mossad chief Ephraim Halevy:
– “Israel does not prioritize the hostages.”
– “Israel’s strategic position has suffered a severe blow.”
❗️Spokesperson for Gaza’s Civil Defense, Mahmoud Basal, told Al Jazeera that Israeli forces are abducting civilians from shelters in northern Gaza following a night of intense bombardment and continuous assaults. Details about those taken remain unclear, as the targeted areas are largely inaccessible due to ongoing attacks.
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Trump says he wants cheap drones like Iran’s—low-cost and in large numbers.
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Trump's Persian Gulf bonanza: Planes, cash, and an extremist named Julani
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❗️BREAKING | Sirens sound in Tel Aviv, Jerusalem, and their surroundings.
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HRW reveals Syrian security forces continue 'extorting, mistreating' civilians
Syria’s security and military forces are made up of numerous extremist factions with a track record of war crimes and violent sectarianism
The Nakba was not a moment in history, nor was it an Israeli 'war of independence.'
It was a method of expulsion, theft, and erasure that began before 1948 and continues into 2025 across the entirety of Palestine.
US Treasury 'surprised, confused' by Trump's order to lift Syria sanctions
Washington’s sanctions have targeted Syria for around 14 years, decimating the country’s economy and the daily lives of ordinary Syrians
❗️Iran’s UN envoy slams disinformation on Gaza war
Iranian Ambassador to the UN, Amir-Saeed Iravani, accused Israel and the US of promoting false narratives aimed at flipping the roles of victim and aggressor in the Gaza war.
He warned that these disinformation campaigns seek to legitimize Israeli actions and obscure the humanitarian catastrophe unfolding in the Strip.
❗️Newly released data shows the UK approved $169 million worth of arms exports to Israel between October and December 2024 — just months after the Labour government announced a partial freeze over concerns the weapons could be used unlawfully in Gaza.
The approvals covered 20 separate licenses, including military aircraft, radar systems, targeting equipment, and explosive devices, raising questions about the effectiveness and intent of the suspension.
❗️Footage shows Israeli warplanes striking the Al-Baaz family home in Deir al-Balah, central Gaza, with heavy munitions.
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❗️Director-General of the Ministry of Health in Gaza:
“The occupation is using modern, internationally prohibited weapons to target civilian infrastructure. We urgently call for an international investigation into the types of banned weapons being used, especially as we are seeing a disturbing rise in the number of deformed fetuses, a direct result of these attacks.”
“We are also facing a severe shortage of medical supplies, personnel, and intensive care capacity. On top of that, the lack of water and sanitation security is placing an enormous burden on the ministry and deepening the humanitarian catastrophe.”
❗️US senator says Trump foreign policy officials may have floated 'option' of assassinating President Ahmad al-Sharaa
“Jordan's king warned the US against assassinating Syria's Sharaa before his meeting with Trump.”
This statement by a US senator reveals the deep hostility toward Sharaa in some circles of the Trump administration. Trump previously said that he has been lobbied directly by foreign leaders to “give Sharaa a chance,” while his own advisors are sceptical.
❗️Several parked vehicles with Palestinian license plates were torched this morning by Israeli settler militias near the Ariel settlement in the occupied West Bank.
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⭕️ HTS administration in Damascus and DP World have signed an $800 million memorandum of understanding to develop Syria’s Tartous port:
– DP World is a logistics company owned by the UAE’s Dubai World investment firm.
– The agreement includes joint efforts to develop, manage, and operate a multi-purpose terminal in Tartous, along with the creation of industrial and free trade zones.
– The signing follows President Trump’s announcement during his Gulf tour, including a stop in the UAE, that he intends to lift sanctions on Syria.
❗️The spokesperson for Al-Aqsa Martyrs Hospital in central Gaza tells Al Jazeera:
– The situation in Gaza is catastrophic in every sense.
– Israeli forces are targeting ambulances across the Strip.
- Most of the wounded arriving at the hospital have suffered limb amputations.
WATCH | Footage of scenes from the Qassam Brigades' "Lions of Al-Muntar" ambushes that targeted Israeli soldiers and vehicles in the Shujaiya neighborhood in Gaza City on 25 April.
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⭕️ Israel & Syria discuss Abraham Accords in secret UAE-brokered meeting (Israel's Channel 12):
Israel's Channel 12 reported this evening that Israel has held secret talks with Syrian officials in recent days, which included discussions about the possibility of the new Syrian government joining the Abraham Accords and normalizing relations with Israel.
This comes one day after US President Donald Trump called on the new Syrian President, Ahmad al-Sharaa, to join the accords.
The channel added that the United Arab Emirates is playing the role of mediator in these talks, alongside broader regional movements whose nature has not been specified.
According to the report, one of the meetings was recently held in Azerbaijan, where Israel was represented by the Head of Operations Directorate in the Israeli army, Major General Oded Basiuk, in the presence of representatives of the new Syrian government.
Representatives from Turkiye also participated in the meeting.
WATCH | The truth about Iran’s nuclear Program – it’s not what you think.
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Julani in a suit: How France turned a pariah into a partner
Syria's interim President Ahmad Sharaa’s rise is less a redemption arc than a calculated western project – with France seeking to outmaneuver Russia and reclaim its colonial stake in Syria.
Turkiye 'expects' US-backed Kurds to integrate into new Syrian army
US proxy militias in northeast Syria have stated they will not disarm in response to the dissolution of the PKK in Turkiye
❗️Armed Israeli settler blocks the Deir Sharaf checkpoint west of Nablus in the occupied West Bank, preventing hundreds of vehicles from passing and assaulting their owners.
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❗️Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan stated during today's NATO talks that Turkiye expects the YPG to be integrated into Syria's military structure.
"In order for stability to be achieved in Syria, there must be a comprehensive government, a single legitimate armed force," he said.