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The Cradle is an online news magazine covering West Asian geopolitics from within.
Trump says fifth round of nuclear talks with Iran ‘very, very good’
Recent reports say Israel is betting on the talks to collapse and is making preparations for an imminent strike on Iranian nuclear facilities
UPDATE | Israel rejects US-mediated prisoner-exchange deal, dismissing Hamas demands as unacceptable
Israel has rejected a new prisoner exchange deal proposal delivered via US channels and mediated by Palestinian-American businessman Bishara Bahbah, who has unexpectedly become a key backchannel between Hamas and the Trump administration.
The proposal, coordinated with US envoy Steve Witkoff, was based on the Witkoff outline and called for a 60-day ceasefire, during which 10 living captives would be released in two phases. It also included negotiations over Gaza’s post-war governance and Hamas’s commitment to halt military activity. According to Channel 14 and Israel Hayom, Israeli officials dismissed the plan outright, saying no responsible government could accept it and that Hamas has shown no genuine willingness to compromise. Israel objected in particular to Hamas’s demand for a symbolic public handshake between senior Hamas official Khalil al-Hayya and Witkoff, and the proposal’s call for a military withdrawal and massive humanitarian access.
According to Al Mayadeen, Hamas’s own counterproposal called for a 70-day ceasefire with the release of five living and five deceased captives in the first week, as well as the daily entry of 1,000 aid trucks.
UPDATE | The death toll from Israel’s massacre at the Fahmi al-Jarjawi School in Gaza City’s Daraj neighborhood has risen to 36, with many victims burned alive.
Half of those killed were women and children, and eleven members of a single family lost their lives in the attack.
⭕️ Israel’s National Security Council has raised its travel warning for Canada to level 2, citing a rising threat of 'attacks against Israelis and Jews,' including shootings, Molotov incidents, and violent rhetoric around protests.
Israelis in Canada are advised to conceal identifying symbols and exercise heightened caution, especially around pro-Israel events in cities like Toronto and Waterloo, where anti-Israel demonstrations are expected. The shift marks a notable change in Israel’s view of Canada’s security environment, once considered safe, amid growing hostility since 7 October, 2023.
⭕️ A new commercial rail route connecting China to Iran has officially launched with the arrival of the first Chinese cargo train at the Aprin dry port near Tehran on 25 May.
The shipment originated from Xi’an, China, and marks the beginning of direct rail transit between the two countries. Aprin’s CEO highlighted the port’s strategic role in lowering transport costs and reducing reliance on coastal freight hubs.
On 12 May, railway officials from Iran, China, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, and Turkey met in Tehran to advance a transcontinental rail network linking Asia to Europe. The six nations agreed on competitive tariffs and operational standards to streamline regional rail services and boost trade connectivity.
(Tasnim News)
CEO of US-Israeli aid scheme announces resignation, citing ethical concerns
The GHF said the resignation was ‘disappointing’ and condemned those who have been critical of the controversial plan, which aims to further displace Palestinians in Gaza
❗️US envoy to Syria Thomas Barrack announced “the end of Western intervention in the region,” claiming future solutions will be regional and “rooted in mutual respect.”
In a post on X, Barrack admitted that Syria’s collapse stemmed from imperial projects like Sykes-Picot, imposed by the West for its own gain, and vowed “not to repeat such errors”. Ironically, He praised transitional president Ahmad al-Sharaa’s “serious steps,” including efforts to address foreign fighters and normalize ties with Israel—moves widely seen as aligned with US interests. During a meeting in Istanbul, Barrack confirmed Washington’s intent to ease sanctions, including suspending the Caesar Act for 180 days, to facilitate foreign investment under the guise of reconstruction and peace.
⭕️ Trump hints at progress in US-Iran nuclear talks
US President Donald Trump told reporters on Sunday that American negotiators held “very good” talks with an Iranian delegation over the weekend, signaling a potential breakthrough in long-stalled efforts to prevent Tehran from developing a nuclear weapon.
Speaking from Morristown, New Jersey, before returning to Washington, Trump said “actual progress” had been made during the Rome-based talks between US envoy Steve Witkoff and Iranian officials, though he offered no further details. “I have a feeling I might tell you something good in the next couple of days,” he added.
Morning update: 26 May
– Israeli forces bomb a school-turned-shelter in Gaza, killing at least 19 people, after a day of bombardment that killed at least 30 Palestinians.
– The victims include two Red Cross workers who were killed in an Israeli air strike in Khan Younis in southern Gaza in what a witness called a “targeted assassination”.
– Euro-Med Human Rights Monitor said it verified the killing of thousands of Palestinian families in Gaza by the Israeli military.
– Israel’s army chief said the attack on Gaza is “not an endless war” and the military will “work to shorten it in accordance with the fulfilment of its goals”.
– A dual US and German citizen was arrested on charges that he travelled to Israel and attempted to firebomb the US Embassy in Tel Aviv.
– The Palestinian Authority welcomed Malta’s intention to recognise a Palestinian state.
BREAKING | At least 20 killed after Israel bombed the Fahmi al-Jarjawi School sheltering displaced families in Daraj, Gaza City. Victims were burned alive. Footage shows the charred bodies of children.
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❗️Lebanese Civil Defense transported two injured people after Israel targeted a motorcycle parked in front of a house in Majdal Zoun, southern Lebanon.
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⭕️ Gaza Government Media Office: Israel now controls 77% of the Gaza Strip
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"The Israeli occupation has seized control of 77% of the Gaza Strip through ethnic cleansing, forced displacement, and systematic genocide.
We warn of the consequences of Israel’s ongoing effective control over the vast majority of the Strip and its use of force to reshape the region’s demographic makeup.
The continued ethnic cleansing and takeover of most of the Strip requires a bold international response — before Gaza’s identity is wiped off the map entirely."
The hidden battle: India’s water war against Pakistan
New Delhi’s escalation over the Indus River isn’t just environmental – it’s strategic, existential, and signals a new front in the war of attrition with Islamabad.
By Abbas Al-Zein
Israeli settlers escalate violence, forced displacement across occupied West Bank
Illegal settlers have been setting fire to wheat crops, attacking livestock herders, and violently forcing Palestinian families out of their homes
⭕️ Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, despite opposition from the High Court, has ordered the removal of 6 out of the 10 members of the committee responsible for approving the appointment of the new Shin Bet chief, David Zini.
The High Court had previously ruled that Netanyahu’s decision to dismiss the current Shin Bet Director, Ronen Bar, was unlawful.
(Yedioth Ahronoth)
❗️German MP Says Public Criticism of Israel Has 'Zero' Impact on Gaza War
Armin Laschet, head of the foreign affairs committee in Germany’s Bundestag, told broadcaster ZDF that public condemnations of Israel’s actions in Gaza by Western allies have had “zero” effect in curbing the violence or protecting Palestinian lives. He dismissed last week’s joint statement by the UK, Canada, and France as ineffective, arguing that Germany’s “quiet diplomacy” is more productive than “pithy slogans.”
Laschet defended Germany’s pro-Israel stance, but noted that supporting Israel does not preclude criticism. “You can criticize the prime minister, the war aims, and demand aid deliveries,” he said. Germany has faced mounting criticism for silencing pro-Palestinian voices, banning protests, and distancing itself from artists who speak out.
❗️Israel's Channel 14 correspondent says army's goal is to 'destroy' south Gaza's Khan Yunis
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Channel 14 correspondent Hallel Biton Rosen announces Israeli forces from the 98th and 36th divisions have begun maneuvering in Khan Yunis, the objective:
"The destruction of the 'terror city' modeled after Rafah. Estimated duration – several weeks."
⭕️ Israel summons Ambassador to US over controversial comments on Netanyahu critics
Israel’s Foreign Ministry has summoned its ambassador to Washington, Yechiel Leiter, for a disciplinary hearing after he accused opponents of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of spreading “blood libels” during a podcast with right-wing US outlet PragerU.
The recall, initiated by the Civil Service Commission's Discipline Department, follows criticism of Leiter’s politicized remarks—unusual for a diplomatic role—where he denounced Israeli media and left-wing critics as extremists trying to oust Netanyahu. Leiter, a political appointee and former adviser to Netanyahu, also dismissed claims that the prime minister is prolonging the Gaza war to stay in power as “insanity.”
(AFP)
❗️Israeli settlers storm Al-Aqsa mosque under police protection
In a provocative move, groups of Israeli settlers entered the courtyards of the Al-Aqsa Mosque in occupied Jerusalem on Monday, escorted by Israeli police. Video footage shows settlers singing during the incursion.
❗️The Israeli army announced Monday that it struck over 200 targets in Gaza within the past 48 hours, claiming they included “terrorists, weapons depots, sniper and anti-tank positions, tunnel shafts, and other terrorist infrastructure.”
Among the targets was the Fahmi al-Jarjawi school-turned-shelter in Gaza City, bombed overnight, killing at least 30 people, many of them children, some reportedly burned alive.
❗️US is pressing on Israel to end Gaza war: Haaretz
Haaretz reported Monday that the United States is ramping up pressure on Israel to bring the war in Gaza to an end, citing sources familiar with the discussions.
According to the report, US pressure was conveyed in part by Steve Witkoff, an envoy of former President Donald Trump, during a meeting in Rome with Israeli Minister of Strategic Affairs Ron Dermer over the weekend.
⭕️ US citizen arrested over attempted attack on embassy building in Tel Aviv
The US Justice Department has charged Joseph Neumeier, a 28-year-old dual U.S.-German national, with attempting to firebomb a US embassy-affiliated building in Tel Aviv using Molotov cocktails. Prior to traveling to Israel in April, Neumeier posted threats online, writing “Death to America” and vowing to burn the embassy. On 19 May, he approached the site with a backpack, spat on a guard, and fled, leaving behind three incendiary devices.
He was tracked to a hotel, detained by Israeli authorities, and deported to the US, where FBI agents arrested him at JFK Airport on Sunday. His posts also included threats to assassinate former President Donald Trump. US Attorney Pam Bondi said Neumeier faces charges carrying 5 to 20 years in prison and pledged to prosecute him to the fullest extent of the law.
❗️New ceasefire proposal under review by Hamas and Israel, mediated by Edan Alexander Negotiator
Hamas and Israel are reviewing a new ceasefire proposal submitted by Palestinian-American activist Bishara Bahbah, who previously mediated the release of Israeli captive Edan Alexander, according to Lebanon’s Al Mayadeen. The plan reportedly includes the release of 10 Israeli captives (five living and five bodies) in two stages over a 70-day truce, with releases scheduled on the first and seventh days. In return, Hamas is demanding the daily entry of 1,000 humanitarian aid trucks into the Gaza Strip.
The proposal also calls for Hamas to refrain from military action and rearmament, with US-guaranteed negotiations to end the war. According to Haaretz, discussions are expected to cover the formation of a transitional government in Gaza, long-term rebuilding efforts, and the possibility of extending the truce if negotiations continue.
⭕️ CEO of US-Israeli aid scheme announces resignation, citing ethical concerns
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Jake Wood has resigned as Executive Director of the US-backed Israeli aid scheme, the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF), citing the impossibility of delivering aid independently without breaching core humanitarian principles. In a statement shared by CNN, he expressed heartbreak over Gaza’s hunger crisis and said GHF could not operate with humanity, neutrality, and independence under current conditions. He called on Israel to expand aid access and urged all parties to pursue new, non-discriminatory delivery methods.
BREAKING | "This is the occupation's target bank." — Massacre in Gaza City a short while ago: Dozens killed and injured, most of them children, after Israeli warplanes bombed a house next to a camp for the displaced on Al-Thawra Street.
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❗️Some highlights from Hezbollah Secretary-General Naim Qassem on the occasion of Resistance and Liberation Day:
– The resistance has evolved from a project into a permanent pillar of Lebanon following the expulsion of the Israeli occupation.
– The resistance was born out of necessity to confront threats and is the natural support for the army.
– Resistance is the only option for liberation.
– The resistance continues—it is the choice of the people and of those who believe in it.
– The Lebanese side has committed to the ceasefire agreement, and Israel must withdraw from its lands and abide by it.
– The [Lebanese] state is responsible, and if it fails to perform its duties, other options exist. The resistance does not remain silent in the face of injustice, nor does it surrender. It is patient and gives time, but action must be taken.
– Israel will fall, and the injustice it is committing in Gaza will not last.
– The US is violating Lebanon's national sovereignty and will not be able to impose the conditions of the occupation, no matter the cost in sacrifices and confrontations.
– Lebanon's resistance is defensive in nature, a refusal to occupation and surrender, and it adapts—sometimes it fights and deters, sometimes it holds firm and prevents, and other times it endures while staying ready.
– The resistance is rooted in Lebanon’s very fabric—it cannot be removed because it is tied to the essence of the nation.
– Trump must free himself from the grip of Israel if he wants to achieve his goals. He should seize the opportunity and rid himself of the burden that is Israel.
– Yemen forced the US to stop its attacks, and it sacrificed for Gaza, Palestine, Arab and human dignity, and the US was unable to do anything with it.
– The US will not be able to achieve Israel's conditions through pressure, no matter how great the sacrifices.
– Two options: victory or martyrdom. Threats and surrender are out of the question.
❗️The PIJ's Quds Brigades releases footage of an ambush by its fighters targeting Israeli military vehicles advancing into the Shujaiya neighborhood in north Gaza, using a repurposed Israeli explosive and an IED.
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❗️Gaza Civil Defense spokesman to Al Jazeera:
'Gaza needs 1,000 trucks of aid per day'
– "Death in the Gaza Strip is gradual, and the first to die are premature infants, followed by older children."
– "Patients' resilience is low due to food shortages."
– "The Strip needs 1,000 aid trucks daily."
– "Traditional food distribution mechanisms are no longer available."
– "Most citizens in the Strip have not received a single bag of flour."
– "A safe way must be found to provide aid, and international organizations must be tasked with distributing it."
⭕️ Four-year-old Mohammad Mustafa Yassin has died in Gaza City from prolonged, severe malnutrition as a result of Israel’s total blockade of the occupied Gaza Strip.
His death brings the number of Palestinians who have died from hunger-related causes to 58 over the past 80 days.
Many other children in Gaza are suffering from acute malnutrition and face the risk of dying under Israel’s ongoing and barbaric siege.
❗️German police assault a pro-Palestine activist during a demonstration against Israel's genocidal war in Berlin.
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