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Dr Margaret Connolly, sister of Irish President Catherine Connolly, is among at least six of the 15 Irish participants in the Gaza-bound Global Sumud Flotilla who have been detained by Israel, according to organisers. The flotilla group said it has released videos from Connolly and five others, which appear to have been recorded before their detention. Shahidul Alam determined as Sumud flotilla enters Palestinian time zone In her video, published on the Global Flotilla website, Connolly said, “If you are watching this video, it means I have been kidnapped from my boat in the flotilla by the Israeli occupying forces, and I am now being held illegally in an Israeli prison. “I am very proud to be part of this flotilla - it is the largest so far.” With inputs from Al Jazeera

Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) has said it carried out strikes against what it described as US- and Israel-backed “counter-revolutionary terrorist groups” operating in northern Iraq. According to a statement by the IRGC’s Hamzeh Sayyed al-Shuhada Command, shared by Iran’s Fars News Agency, the groups were attempting to smuggle a large consignment of sealed American weapons and ammunition into the country. The statement said the targets were struck in Kurdistan Province. What happens if the Strait of Hormuz crisis never ends? The command further said a large quantity of arms and ammunition was discovered and seized. On the other hand, US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent has said he will call on G7 finance ministers to adhere to the sanctions regime aimed at restricting funding for what he described as Iran’s “war machine”. With inputs from Al Jazeera

Saudi Arabia has declared Monday, May 18, as the first day of Dhul Hijjah after the crescent moon was sighted in the Kingdom, paving the way for key Islamic observances including Arafah Day and Eid-ul-Azha. According to the announcement, Arafah Day — considered the most significant day of the Hajj pilgrimage and one of great spiritual importance for Muslims worldwide — will be observed on Tuesday, May 26, corresponding to the 9th of Dhul Hijjah. Eid-ul-Azha will begin the following day, Wednesday, May 27, marking the 10th of Dhul Hijjah. Several countries have already confirmed the dates of the Islamic festival. Malaysia and Indonesia announced on Sunday evening that Dhul Hijjah will commence on May 18 and Eid-ul-Azha will fall on May 27. Tunisia was the first country to officially declare that Dhul Hijjah would start on Monday, May 18, with Eid-ul-Azha to be celebrated on Wednesday, May 27. Turkey, which follows astronomical calendar calculations instead of moon sighting, also confirmed May 18 as the first day of Dhul Hijjah, placing Eid-ul-Azha on May 27. Source : Khaleej Times

Iran has warned it is prepared to return to direct military confrontation with the United States if ongoing negotiations fail to yield outcomes it deems acceptable, Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said. In a series of state-backed messages aimed at audiences at home and abroad, Araghchi also highlighted the economic repercussions of the US-Israel conflict with Iran, saying the fallout is extending into American households. Israel begins fresh strikes on Lebanon after ceasefire extension He noted that US energy prices and inflation have risen markedly since the conflict began on February 28, a development he linked to the effective closure of the Strait of Hormuz - a key maritime route that typically carries around one-fifth of global oil and gas supplies. “Americans are told that they must absorb rocketing costs of war of choice on Iran,” Araghchi wrote on X, alongside an image showing rising yields on US Treasury bonds. “Beyond the surge in gas prices and stock market volatility, the real strain will be felt as US debt and mortgage rates climb. Auto loan delinquencies are already at a more than 30-year high,” he added. With inputs from Al Jazeera

The traditionally low-profile relationship between Israel and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) has come into public focus this week, highlighting underlying sensitivities as the Iran war continues to affect the wider region. The issue surfaced after U.S. Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee revealed that Israel had deployed Iron Dome air-defense systems and personnel to the UAE to help defend against potential Iranian attacks, signaling deepening security cooperation. The situation drew further attention when Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu disclosed that he had quietly visited the UAE during the conflict. His remarks were quickly rejected by the Gulf state, prompting a formal denial. As Netanyahu and the Trump administration ballyhoo their alliances as part of an effort to bolster the region’s anti-Iran factions, the Gulf states prefer to downplay these partnerships — a sign of how public ties to Israel remain deeply controversial in the region. Why would the UAE deny Netanyahu’s visit? Netanyahu’s revelation about his reported visit to Abu Dhabi stirred controversy, especially following confirmation of military coordination between the দুই দেশ. Reports also suggested that Israeli security officials had visited the UAE. The UAE’s official WAM news agency dismissed “reports circulating” about the visit, stating that ties with Israel “are public and conducted within the framework of the well-known and officially declared Abraham Accords, and are not based on non-transparent or unofficial arrangements.” The agency also denied that any Israeli military delegation had been hosted. “It complicates Abu Dhabi’s wartime-frame posture by forcing it into the open — which is why the denial was issued so quickly and worded so carefully,” said Hesham Alghannam, a Saudi Arabia-based scholar at the Malcolm H. Kerr Carnegie Middle East Center. Although the UAE normalized relations with Israel in 2020, its leadership has preferred to maintain a degree of discretion regarding the partnership. Public sentiment toward Israel remains largely negative across Arab and Muslim countries, a situation that has worsened following the Gaza war. The conflict began after Hamas attacked Israel on Oct. 7, 2023, killing about 1,200 people and taking 251 hostages. Israel’s subsequent military campaign in Gaza has devastated the territory and killed more than 72,700 people, according to the Gaza Health Ministry, which does not differentiate between civilians and fighters. The conflict has also spread regionally, with Israel targeting Iran-backed groups in Lebanon and Yemen and conducting strikes in Syria and Qatar. “We are the ugly duckling of the Middle East,” said Dan Diker, president of the Jerusalem Center for Security and Foreign Affairs. Diker said regional officials he has engaged with under the Abraham Accords have consistently preferred to keep cooperation away from public attention. What is the Israel-UAE alliance based on? Israel and the UAE have expanded military cooperation during the Iran war. Israel benefits from a strategic foothold closer to Iran, while the UAE gains access to advanced Israeli defense technology, including the Iron Dome system. Economic ties have also strengthened, with bilateral trade increasing steadily since the normalization of relations in 2020. For Israel, partnerships with Arab states help reduce its regional isolation and enhance its legitimacy. For the UAE, the relationship strengthens its influence in Washington. The UAE became the third Arab country, after Egypt and Jordan, to establish full diplomatic relations with Israel. Why did Netanyahu publicize his visit? Netanyahu is facing strong domestic opposition ahead of elections and is seeking to reinforce his image as a key regional player. The Iran war has not significantly boosted his popularity, but showcasing closer ties with Arab nations could strengthen his standing and improve relations with U.S. President Donald Trump. Israel is also in discussions with Azerbaijan about joining the Abraham Accords, as it seeks to expand normalization efforts. However, analysts caution that publicizing such ties may not produce the intended effect. Regional heavyweights like Saudi Arabia have taken a more cautious approach during the conflict. Saudi Arabia has maintained communication with Iran and supported diplomatic mediation efforts, rather than aligning openly with Israel. “The aim is not to take a posture on Israel, per se. It is to refuse entanglement in a war whose dynamics Riyadh did not set and cannot control,” Alghannam said. “Riyadh discussing the full range of options openly, with partners, without locking into one track, is itself a strategic signal,” he said. “The regional security architecture will be designed regionally, not inherited from whatever Washington and Tehran negotiate bilaterally.”

An Israeli airstrike in Gaza killed a senior Hamas military commander described by Israel as one of the key planners of the October 7, 2023 attacks that triggered the ongoing war, officials said. The Israeli military said Izz al-Din al-Haddad, head of Hamas’ armed wing, was killed in a strike on Friday. Hamas also confirmed his death, with spokesperson Hazem Qassem acknowledging the development on social media. According to Israel, al-Haddad was among the top commanders involved in planning and executing the Hamas-led assault on southern Israel that left about 1,200 people dead and saw more than 250 taken hostage. Israel said he assumed leadership of the group’s military wing after the killing of his predecessor Mohammed Sinwar and accused him of using Israeli hostages as human shields during the conflict. Al-Haddad’s family members said He was killed along with six others, including his wife and daughter, in the strike. His two sons had been killed earlier in the war. He was buried in Gaza City on Saturday. The Israeli army chief described the killing as a major operational success and said operations against Hamas leaders would continue. Meanwhile, the fragile ceasefire between Israel and Hamas remains under strain, with both sides accusing each other of violations. Gaza has witnessed near-daily Israeli attacks since the truce began in October, with more than 850 people killed during this period, according to Gaza’s Health Ministry. The ministry also said that over 72,700 people have been killed in Gaza since the war began, amid widespread devastation across the enclave. Elsewhere, tensions also escalated in the occupied West Bank, where a Palestinian man was shot dead by Israeli forces in the Jenin refugee camp on Saturday, according to Palestinian health officials.  

The Gaza Health Ministry said hospitals across the territory received 13 bodies, including one person who died from earlier injuries, and 57 wounded individuals over the past 24 hours, according to a report published by the official Palestinian news agency Wafa. Since the ceasefire began on October 11 last year, the death toll from Israeli attacks has reached 870, while the number of injured has risen to 2,543, the ministry added. During the same period, 771 bodies have also been recovered. Israel begins fresh strikes on Lebanon after ceasefire extension Medical officials said several victims are still trapped under rubble and on roads, as ambulance and rescue teams continue to face challenges in reaching affected areas. Officials further reported that one Palestinian died in a building collapse, bringing the total number of fatalities from building collapses to 30. With inputs from Al Jazeera.

The Israeli army has announced a fresh wave of attacks targeting alleged positions of Hezbollah in southern Lebanon, just hours after a so-called ceasefire was extended for another 45 days. The development follows the army’s issuance of forced evacuation orders for nine towns in southern Lebanon. Israeli air strikes have hit the towns of Kaouthariyet al-Saiyad and al-Ghassaniya, according to reports from journalists on the ground. Iraq exported 10m barrels of oil via Hormuz in April   Earlier, the Israeli military had ordered residents to leave nine towns in the region, including the two targeted locations. With inputs from Al Jazeera

Iraq exported 10 million barrels of oil through the Strait of Hormuz in April, the country’s newly appointed oil minister Basim Mohammed said at a news conference. Mohammed said Iraq plans to engage with OPEC to boost its oil production and export capacity. He added that Baghdad is targeting a production capacity of five million barrels per day. Iraq sends first oil convoy to Syria through al-Yarubiyah in 14 years With inputs from Al Jazeera

Israel and Lebanon have agreed to extend their fragile ceasefire by 45 days following two days of negotiations in Washington, the US State Department said. State Department spokesman Tommy Pigott said the discussions are expected to help advance a lasting peace between the two countries, including mutual recognition of sovereignty and territorial integrity, and ensuring security along their shared border. US President Donald Trump had announced the truce on April 16, but exchanges of fire between Israel and Hezbollah have continued since then. According to Lebanon’s health ministry, Israeli air strikes killed 22 people, including eight children, across southern parts of the country on Wednesday. The State Department said political negotiations will resume in June, while a parallel security dialogue involving military delegations from both sides is scheduled to begin at the Pentagon on May 29, Pigott added. Since the ceasefire took effect, there have been almost daily reports of cross-border fire between Israel and Hezbollah in southern Lebanon. Israel has recently stepped up air and artillery strikes in the region, saying the attack target Hezbollah fighters and infrastructure. However, Lebanon’s health ministry has accused Israel of striking civilians and paramedics, an allegation denied by Israel.