English LCCC Newsbulletin For Lebanese, Lebanese Related, Global News & Editorials
For May05/2025
Compiled & Prepared by: Elias Bejjani
#elias_bejjani_news

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Bible Quotations For today
‘Thus it is written, that the Messiah is to suffer and to rise from the dead on the third day
Holy Gospel of Jesus Christ according to Saint Luke 24/44-49: "Then he said to them, ‘These are my words that I spoke to you while I was still with you that everything written about me in the law of Moses, the prophets, and the psalms must be fulfilled. ’Then he opened their minds to understand the scriptures, and he said to them, ‘Thus it is written, that the Messiah is to suffer and to rise from the dead on the third day, and that repentance and forgiveness of sins is to be proclaimed in his name to all nations, beginning from Jerusalem. You are witnesses of these things. And see, I am sending upon you what my Father promised; so stay here in the city until you have been clothed with power from on high.’"

Titles For The Latest English LCCC Lebanese & Lebanese Related News & Editorials published on May 04-05/2025
Municipal and mayoral elections concluded peacefully, and results showed the fall of Michel Aoun's Iscariot, the Iscariot.
Official Statement Issued by the Friends of Monsignor Mansour Labaky
Lebous El-Jardy/May 03/2025
Militant suspected of firing rockets into Israel is handed over to Lebanese army by Hamas
Lebanon holds first local elections in almost 10 years
UAE Lifts Lebanon Travel Ban
Mount Lebanon voter turnout hits 41.61% by 6 p.m., new figures show
Interior Ministry receives 360 complaints during Mount Lebanon elections, most resolved
Prime Minister Salam hails municipal elections as a 'triumph' of democracy
Interior Minister hails 'national democratic celebration' as Mount Lebanon polls close
Beirut Port Blast Families Renew Demands for Justice on 57th Monthly Vigil
Passengers Advised to Arrive Three Hours Before Departure at BIA
Washington Advises Citizens to Avoid Travel to 21 Countries, Including Lebanon
Beirut Port Explosion: Could Judicial Appointments Revive the Investigation?
Heritage: The Mummies of Qadisha/Amine Jules Iskandar/This Is Beirut/May 04/2025

Titles For The Latest English LCCC Miscellaneous Reports And News published on May 04-05/2025
Iran Unveils New Ballistic Missile With 1,200 Km Range
Iran: New Explosions Reported in Mashhad and Qom
Deadly Explosion at Iran's Main Port: Two Suspects Arrested
End of the Mourning Period at the Vatican Following the Death of Pope Francis
Israel Expands Syria Intervention Under ‘Druze Protection’ Pretext
Syria to import electricity from Turkiye, rehabilitate Kilis-Aleppo natural gas pipeline
Gaza rescuers say Israeli strikes kill 16, including 3 children
A missile from Yemen halts flights in Israel hours before vote on intensifying Gaza war
Hamas executes Palestinians for looting as desperation grows under Israeli blockade
Israel Confirms Calling Up Reservists for Gaza War Expansion
Netanyahu vows to retaliate against Houthis and Iran after missile attack
Yemen's Houthis Claim Responsibility for Missile Launched at Israel's Ben Gurion Airport
NGO says it's in talks with Malta to repair Gaza-bound aid ship hit by drones
Protesters want Morocco to sever ties with Israel, so they're targeting strategic ports
Putin says he hopes there will be no need to use nuclear weapons in Ukraine
Albertans rally for separation, saying things won't change under Confederation
Remembering the Canadian soldiers who died on a mission of mercy at the close of the Second World War

Titles For The Latest English LCCC analysis & editorials from miscellaneous sourceson on May 04-05/2025
'I Saw You Come Out of the Church': The Persecution of Christians, March 2025/Raymond Ibrahim/Gatestone Institute/May 04/2025
Hamas’s next front? Sudan’s Islamist army and the African threat to Israel/By AMJAD TAHA, EITAN NEISHLOS/Jerusalem Post/May 04/202
At a turning point? All eyes on Washington, feet still in Gaza/Yossi Yehoshu/Ynetnews/May/04/2025

The Latest English LCCC Lebanese & Lebanese Related News & Editorials published on May 04-05/2025
Municipal and mayoral elections concluded peacefully, and results showed the fall of Michel Aoun's Iscariot, the Iscariot.
LCCC/May 5, 2025
The municipal and mayoral elections in Mount Lebanon Governorate ended quietly, peacefully and with excellent calm. Most of the results were announced, while most of the lists supported by Michel Aoun, who fell into the devil's trap, and his corrupt son-in-law lost. A Christian awakening was delayed, but it came and exposed Michel Aoun, his corrupt son-in-law, and the Iscariots. Lebanon, no matter how much the mercenaries and corrupt people imagine they have taken control of it, they ultimately fail and  disgraced.

Official Statement Issued by the Friends of Monsignor Mansour Labaky
Lebous El-Jardy/May 03/2025
https://eliasbejjaninews.com/2025/05/142981/
We, the friends and supporters of Monsignor Mansour Labaky, strongly denounce the vile campaign of slander and false accusations being spread against him. We consider this a malicious and unjust attack on a respected spiritual and national figure who has dedicated his life to serving Christ, the Gospel, and the Church.
Monsignor Labaky, like his spiritual forefather Saint Paul the Apostle, knows Jesus only as crucified. Despite the crushing weight of lies and pressure, he has stood tall like the cedars of Lebanon, because he is a man of honor and purity. Who, other than the pure in spirit, would endure such defamation in defense of a dignity that was assaulted by slanderers?
No matter how loud the vile howls of certain corrupt media voices grow, and no matter how far the fabricated and malicious rumors spread, the truth remains radiant like the sun—solid, unshaken, and entitled to defend itself, to expose lies, and to uphold justice.
Let us ask honestly:
Are those who falsely accused him and sealed their attacks truly Christians?
Are these the teachings of the Gospel they claim to follow?
We say it clearly:
Shame on such defamation, and shame on those who recklessly slander the great minds and souls of our Church—those who have excelled in knowledge, virtue, and sacred art.
We’ve heard the whispers and read the words of paid misinformation, echoed by mindless pawns who bleat like sheep, attacking a towering figure in the Maronite Catholic Church out of ignorance and malice.
So we ask:
Who are you, you mangy, bitter, foul-mouthed cur, to dare attack Monsignor Labaky?
Who gave you the right to insult men of God? This is not the conduct of a true Christian, especially when targeting a man of Monsignor Labaky’s stature and spiritual legacy.
You are not even worthy to polish his shoes, yet you attack him through your media platforms.
Shame on you—learn manners and humility from the man you defame, you who lack both decency and origin.
Who is this grotesque creature given space by the media to attack one of the sacred symbols of our Church?
This satanic, paid, disgraceful so-called journalist is devoid of faith in our message and our messengers.
Enough of your lies, arrogance, and poison!
To this hated, crooked, and soulless voice of corruption—and to all the Judas-like who share his wickedness—we say:
Do not ever again mention our priests and monks with your venomous tongues.
We demand a public apology, followed by silence and genuine repentance.
And let it be known:  We, the friends of Monsignor Labaky, will pursue legal action against all who participated in this campaign of defamation and slander, to ensure they face just punishment, in accordance with all applicable laws regarding libel, slander, and attacks on religious figures.
Enough is enough. We will respond through the law, through truth, and with unwavering determination—defending the dignity of a man who devoted his life to God and to the service of humankind.

Militant suspected of firing rockets into Israel is handed over to Lebanese army by Hamas
Associated Press/May 4, 2025
BEIRUT — Hamas has handed over a militant suspected of firing rockets into northern Israel, the Lebanese Army said on Sunday. The Palestinian group turned over the suspect, who the Lebanese military only identified by the initials M.G., at the entrance of the Ein el-Hilweh refugee camp, in the southern city of Sidon. The army says the militant was suspected of being involved in two rocket launches into Israel in March. The Mediterranean country's top military body Friday warned Hamas that it would face the “harshest measures” if it carried out any attacks from Lebanon, weeks after several Lebanese and Palestinians were detained on suspicion of firing rockets from Lebanon into northern Israel. Both attacks, months after a U.S.-brokered ceasefire deal went into effect last November, were met with widespread Israeli airstrikes across southern Lebanon and in southern Beirut. Since the Israel-Hamas war began in October 2023, the Palestinian militant group has carried out several attacks against Israel from Lebanon, where it has an armed presence. Israel has since carried out airstrikes that have killed several Hamas officials, including senior military chief Saleh Arouri in Beirut. The low-level fighting in southern Lebanon between the Hezbollah group and Israel escalated months later, with Israel assassinating much of the Hezbollah leadership, including long-time secretary general Hassan Nasrallah. More than 4,000 people were killed in Lebanon. Israel still controls five hilltop points in southern Lebanon and has been critical of Hezbollah not being fully disarmed yet, and claims the group is trying to rearm in the south. Hezbollah says its military presence in southern Lebanon has subsided as per the ceasefire agreement, and has criticized Israel for its continued strikes in the area.

Lebanon holds first local elections in almost 10 years
NAJIA HOUSSARI/Arab News/May 04, 2025
BEIRUT: The first municipal elections in Lebanon began on Sunday after a more than nine-year hiatus. Voting is taking place by region, with the first round in the Mount Lebanon districts, including Beirut’s southern suburbs. According to the Interior Ministry, 9,321 candidates, including 1,179 women, are running in Mount Lebanon, vying for seats on 333 municipal councils. Voter turnout exceeded 35 percent less than three hours before the polls closed at 7 p.m. local time. President Joseph Aoun highlighted the vote’s significance in restoring confidence among the Lebanese people and international community, demonstrating that Lebanon is rebuilding its institutions and is on the right path. The polls are the first of his presidential term and are seen as an indicator of voting trends ahead of parliamentary elections in May 2026. Parts of northern Lebanon will vote next Sunday, May 11, while Beirut and the eastern Bekaa Valley are scheduled to go to the polls on May 18. Voters in the southern regions, severely damaged following clashes between Israel and Hezbollah, will cast their ballots on May 24. Lebanon’s presidential vacuum and security developments since October 2023 have affected the civic election process for almost a decade. Authorities last conducted a local ballot in 2016. Polling stations opened in Mount Lebanon, the first governorate to begin the elections, under the personal supervision of Aoun. After two visits to the Ministry of Defense and Ministry of Interior in the morning, Aoun said he had “full confidence in the success of this constitutional entitlement.”
He said: “What we are witnessing today in Mount Lebanon will motivate the other governorates. “The goal is to revive municipalities as a prelude to reviving the entire nation.”Aoun also urged voters not to let sectarian, “partisan or financial factors” impact their vote. On the eve of the elections, Prime Minister Nawaf Salam took to social media to send a message to voters urging them to vote in large numbers. He described the election as a crucial step toward executing the expanded decentralization mandated by the Taif Agreement, which faced delays for over 35 years and was vital for the growth of municipalities. Sunday’s elections varied in intensity by district, especially in areas with party and family rivalries. Hezbollah, the Free Patriotic Movement, and the Syrian Social Nationalist Party aimed to retain control of municipalities against challenges from the Lebanese Forces, the Kataeb Party, and civil society activists.
Supporters from various parties and political factions hurried to include their candidates on most competing lists. This led voters, like one from the Harb family in Beirut’s southern suburb, to suggest “these elections are a crucial political battle, not a competition focused on development.”
Many dynamics have changed since 2016 regarding political and party balances and the map of alliances in Lebanon. The elections took place in the districts of Metn, Keserwan, Jbeil, Chouf, Aley, and Baabda, which include the southern suburb of Beirut, with security provided by the Lebanese Armed Forces and Internal Security Forces.
Commando regiments and marine commando reserves were placed on full alert.
In recent weeks, Hezbollah has reached out to families in towns within the southern suburbs of Beirut to create lists that would be appointed unanimously and include supporters from those families. It succeeded in some areas and failed in others. The southern suburbs of Beirut, along with the southern and Bekaa governorates, will hold elections later and reflect the level of public support for Hezbollah through the lists endorsed by the party. The towns of Haret Hreik and Ghobeiry engaged in an electoral battle between closed lists of Hezbollah candidates and incomplete lists of families and young activists. The electoral process in Mount Lebanon experienced some disorder at polling stations. The central operations room for municipal elections at the Ministry of Interior reported receiving numerous complaints from various regions involving administrative violations, breaches of electoral law, security issues, conflicts among competitors, and instances of electoral bribery. The Lebanese Association for Democratic Elections reported several violations, including “the failure of voters to use privacy screens and the presence of roaming representatives accompanying voters into polling stations with the intent to influence their electoral decisions.”There was a noticeable shift in this election toward campaigning through smartphones, which promoted candidates and facilitated communication with voters. The presence of candidate posters and banners in streets and neighborhoods has decreased, replaced by social media reels, stories, and closed groups. The municipalities of Burj Al-Barajneh, Tahwitat Al-Ghadir-Laylaki, and Chiyah were contested unopposed.

UAE Lifts Lebanon Travel Ban
Asharq Al Awsat/May 4, 2025
The United Arab Emirates lifted a ban on its citizens travelling to Lebanon allowing trips to the country as of May 7, 2025, the UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs said on Sunday. The decision came at the directives of UAE President Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan in a bid to bolster brotherly relations between the two countries. The decision came after Lebanese President Joseph Aoun paid the UAE an official visit and met Al Nahyan. They discussed ways to bolster bilateral relations and agreed on easing travel restrictions. The UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs emphasized its commitment to the safety and security of UAE citizens abroad. It urged all those planning to travel to Lebanon to fully comply with the guidelines issued by the ministry to ensure a safe and orderly travel experience.

Mount Lebanon voter turnout hits 41.61% by 6 p.m., new figures show
LBCI/May 04, 2025
Lebanon’s Interior Ministry announced that voter turnout in Mount Lebanon’s municipal and mukhtar elections reached 41.61% by 6 p.m. Sunday, with a total of 347,110 voters casting their ballots. Keserwan recorded the highest turnout at 56.73%, followed by Jbeil at 54.05%. Chouf's turnout stood at 41.74%, while Aley reached 39.34%. Baabda recorded 36.01%, and Matn followed closely at 35.60%.

Interior Ministry receives 360 complaints during Mount Lebanon elections, most resolved
LBCI/May 04, 2025
Lebanon’s Ministry of Interior received 360 complaints on Sunday during the municipal and mukhtar elections in Mount Lebanon. According to the ministry, most of the complaints were administrative and have been addressed.

Prime Minister Salam hails municipal elections as a 'triumph' of democracy
LBCI/May 04, 2025
Prime Minister Nawaf Salam praised Sunday’s municipal and mukhtar elections in Mount Lebanon, calling the day “a true embodiment of democracy” and commending the Interior Ministry for its preparedness and efficient handling of the vote. Speaking after polls closed, Salam said, “Today was democratic in every sense. The ministry proved its readiness.”He also highlighted the importance of the elections as an opportunity for accountability and renewal. “Municipal elections are a chance to hold former officials accountable, to inject new energy into local councils, and to advance development efforts across the country,” he said.

Interior Minister hails 'national democratic celebration' as Mount Lebanon polls close
LBCI/May 04, 2025
Interior Minister Ahmad al-Hajjar described Sunday’s municipal and mukhtar elections in Mount Lebanon as a “unifying national democratic celebration,” emphasizing that the voting process proceeded smoothly and without significant security incidents. Speaking after polls officially closed at 7 p.m., he said the election day unfolded without pressure or major disruptions. “The process launched calmly and in an organized manner across the governorate,” he noted. He added that the number of complaints received throughout the day was not high. “Some were administrative in nature, others were security-related, and a few involved allegations of electoral bribery,” al-Hajjar said, noting that the latter were referred to the relevant judicial authorities for investigation.

Beirut Port Blast Families Renew Demands for Justice on 57th Monthly Vigil
This is Beirut/May 04, 2025
On May 4, families of the victims of the 2020 Beirut port explosion gathered once again to mark the 57th monthly vigil since the disaster, renewing their calls for justice and condemning what they described as a prolonged obstruction of justice. “The truth is still being withheld, justice is being denied and the criminals remain free,” the families said in a statement issued following their sit-in. They held both public officials and members of the judiciary directly responsible for blocking the path to justice. “We hold those who hindered the probe directly responsible for the continued injustice.”Reaffirming their unwavering commitment, the families vowed to persist in their peaceful struggle. “We will not stay silent until the full truth is revealed and every individual involved—whether through action, negligence or concealment—is held accountable,” the statement read. Calling again for an independent judiciary, the statement warned against ongoing political interference that threatens to “bury the truth.”They also reiterated calls for an independent judiciary and warned against ongoing political interference that they say aims to bury the truth. “The blood of our children is not a bargaining chip,” they warned. “History will not absolve the accomplice—whether they wear a judge’s robe, a politician’s suit or a diplomat’s tie.”The families addressed Lebanon’s top officials, including President Joseph Aoun, Prime Minister Nawaf Salam and the Minister of Justice, urging them to uphold their responsibilities. They noted what they described as “positive and significant progress” in the investigation in recent weeks. “In the name of those unjustly killed, we pledge not to retreat, not to forget and not to forgive,” the families concluded.

Passengers Advised to Arrive Three Hours Before Departure at BIA
This is Beirut/May 04, 2025
The Directorate General of Civil Aviation has urged all travelers departing from Beirut International Airport (BIA) to arrive no less than three hours before their scheduled flights.In a statement issued on Sunday, the Directorate indicated that this directive comes amid increased congestion, particularly during morning hours, due to the implementation of enhanced security inspection procedures. These new measures, which comply with international aviation regulations, are designed to improve the safety and security of travelers, the statement added. The Directorate also requested that passengers comply in order to avoid delays and ensure sufficient time for baggage check-in and passport control. Finally, the press release stressed that adherence to the updated procedures is essential, not only to maintain smooth airport operations but also to uphold the safety, security and comfort of all travelers.

Washington Advises Citizens to Avoid Travel to 21 Countries, Including Lebanon
This is Beirut/May 04, 2025
The United States has updated its list of countries to avoid, urging its citizens not to travel to 21 countries deemed high-risk due to growing security threats, armed conflicts or unstable conditions. Lebanon is among the countries concerned, alongside newly added North Korea and Burkina Faso. The US alert system is based on a four-level scale, ranging from simple caution (Level 1) to a recommended travel ban (Level 4 – “Do not travel”). The 21 countries currently classified at Level 4, including Lebanon, are: Afghanistan, Belarus, Burkina Faso, Central African Republic, North Korea, Haiti, Iran, Iraq, Lebanon, Libya, Mali, Myanmar, Democratic Republic of Congo, Russia, Somalia, Sudan, South Sudan, Syria, Ukraine, Venezuela and Yemen. These warnings come amid a tense global climate marked by prolonged conflicts, political crises and terrorist threats, prompting US authorities to strengthen their precautionary measures for the safety of their citizens abroad.

Beirut Port Explosion: Could Judicial Appointments Revive the Investigation?
Natasha Metni Torbey/This is Beirut
If confirmed, the signing of a long-delayed judicial appointments decree by Minister of Finance Yassine Jaber could mark a major breakthrough in the stalled investigation into the Beirut port double-explosion of August 4, 2020.
The appointments would fill critical vacancies on the Court of Cassation, allowing the full bench to reconvene. This would enable the court to rule on the numerous recusal motions filed against lead investigator Judge Tarek Bitar. With these legal hurdles cleared, Bitar could proceed to issue a long-awaited indictment—potentially before the explosion's fifth anniversary, according to judicial sources.
For years, the investigation has been delayed by repeated legal challenges against Judge Bitar. The Court of Cassation, unable to meet quorum due to unfilled judicial retirements, has been unable to issue any rulings.
The proposal for these appointments, drafted by the Supreme Judicial Council, was previously blocked by former Minister of Finance Youssef Khalil, who cited concerns over imbalance and lack of clarity in the text.
Current Status of the Investigation
As of now, the only remaining signatures needed to validate the decree are those of Prime Minister Nawaf Salam and President Joseph Aoun. In the meantime, Judge Bitar has continued his work since the formation of the new government, facing no apparent administrative hindrances.
A significant development occurred on Friday, April 25, when former Prime Minister Hassan Diab appeared before the investigative judge at the Palace of Justice—marking a notable shift, as Diab had previously refused to comply with multiple summonses.
Additionally, other senior officials have also been questioned since February 2025, including former General Security Director Abbas Ibrahim and former State Security Director Tony Saliba, who testified on April 11.
This resurgence of judicial activity follows a decision by Prosecutor General Imad Hajjar, who reversed the orders of his predecessor, Ghassan Oueidate. In 2023, Oueidate had prohibited the reception of any documents or actions from Judge Bitar, arguing that Bitar had been removed from the case due to the ongoing recusal motions. However, these motions remain unresolved due to the lack of quorum.
The lifting of this ban allowed Judge Bitar to officially notify the relevant parties. According to Professor Najib Hage-Chahine, a lawyer at the Beirut Bar Association, this marks a tangible step forward in the judicial process.
Closing the Investigation: What Are the Required Steps?
Since being transferred first to Judge Fadi Sawan and later to Judge Tarek Bitar, the case has resulted in numerous summonses. Several political and security figures have been charged, including former ministers Ali Hassan Khalil, Youssef Fenianos, Ghazi Zaiter, Nouhad Machnouk and former Prime Minister Hassan Diab, all facing allegations of criminal negligence. To date, none have agreed to testify.
Other key officials, including those from Customs, security forces and the military, are also facing prosecution, including Raymond Khoury, Adel Francis, Abbas Ibrahim, Tony Saliba, as well as several port officers and officials. Port employees, particularly those linked to Warehouse No. 12—the storage site of the ammonium nitrate responsible for the explosion—have also been implicated.
According to lawyer Hage-Chahine, in order to conclude the investigation, the judge must notify and question all involved parties. Summonses are now being sent in accordance with procedural rules. If some individuals choose not to comply, the law allows the judge to close the investigation in their absence, provided the right to defense is respected. Once this process is complete, Judge Bitar will then forward the indictment to Prosecutor General Hajjar, who will issue a non-binding advisory opinion.
As Lebanon approaches the fifth anniversary of the disaster, attention remains squarely on the judicial process. International media outlets have reported the existence of documents that could provide new insights into the initial shipment of ammonium nitrate, particularly involving networks operating between Lebanon, Syria and other countries. If verified, these documents could shed further light on the circumstances surrounding the double-explosion.

The Mummies of Qadisha (1/2)
By Dr. Amine Jules Iskandar/This is Beirut on 13 April 2025
In the latter half of the 13th century, Mamluk armies attacked the villages of Qadisha. The residents of Hadat sought refuge in a remote cave, which ultimately fell to the enemy in 1283. Known as Assi, the cave was later found to contain numerous bodies, including eight that were naturally mummified.
The Maronite mummies were discovered in the Qadisha Valley on July 13, 1990, by a team of speleologists from the Group for Subterranean Studies and Researches of Lebanon (GERSL). The team included Pierre Abi Aoun, Fadi Baroudi, Antoine Ghaouch and Paul Khawaja.
After two years of exploration and excavation in the Assi cave, located in the Hadat area of the Qadisha Valley, they uncovered their first mummy—that of a four-month-old girl, whom they named Yasmine. In total, they unearthed eight mummies: five children and three adults, and several skeletons.
The Mummies
The eight bodies had been naturally mummified by the cave’s unique environment, characterized by a complete lack of humidity. The dry soil in which they were buried contained no microorganisms—normally essential agents of decomposition. This effectively formed a sealed casing, preventing the air circulation needed for decay.
During the restoration and reopening of the National Museum of Beirut, Fadi Baroudi bared the responsibility on his own fess of safeguarding this treasure during the unstable post-war years. Plexiglass sarcophagi were built, silica gel was added to absorb moisture and, most importantly, an uninterrupted power supply was maintained for the electric dehumidifiers. It wasn’t until 1995—five years later—that the mummies were finally transferred to the National Museum.
In keeping with the customs of the Middle Ages, both in the Levant and in the West, the young girl Yasmine had been shielded from the winter cold by multiple layers of clothing. Beneath her shroud, she is dressed in a blue gown, layered with two beige garments, the outermost being darker and adorned with silk thread embroidery. A silk headband secures her hair, which is further covered by a linen headdress. Yasmine also wears jewelry indicative of her social status. Along with her earring, her necklace of blown glass beads features two coins dating from the reign of Mamluk Sultan Baybars (1260-1277).
The Mamluks
The Mamluks launched their campaign from Egypt, systematically conquering the Latin states of the Levant, one by one—duchy by duchy, lordship by lordship. From the Kingdom of Jerusalem to the County of Edessa and the Principality of Antioch, nothing could halt the relentless advance of the Mamluk armies, except the County of Tripoli. Its fortified cities, deeply entrenched in the Maronite stronghold of Mount Lebanon, withstood their attacks.
The people of this region made up the bulk of the Crusader armies. In Book XXII (Chapter VIII), Archbishop William of Tyre described them as “a people called Suriens (Syriacs), who dwell in the land of Phoenicia, near Lebanon, beside the city of Byblos… They were bold and valiant in arms, often providing great support to our Christians when they fought against our enemies.” To conquer Tripoli, it was essential to breach the Christian stronghold, and the local population had to be eliminated.
The genocide initiated by the Mamluks began in 1260 and lasted until 1289, devastating the entire region of Gebbet, including its capital Bsharre, as well as Hadat, Hasroun, Bqoufa and the other villages of Qadisha. Nothing was spared: from the largest towns to the smallest caves where people had sought refuge, and even the humblest hamlets, all were reduced to ashes.
The extermination did not end there. A second wave of ethnic cleansing occurred from 1305 to 1307 in Kesrouan, which at the time included the area of Metn. Once again, in 1367, the Maronite patriarch Gabriel of Hgoula was burned alive in the main square of Tripoli.
The mummies of Maryam and Sadaqa (Photo: Lebanon Untravelled)
The Attack
To better understand the historical events surrounding the mummies’ discovery, members of the GERSL examined ancient Maronite Syriac manuscripts as well as Muslim documents from the Mamluk era. All accounts describe a brutal and decisive attack. The researchers particularly referenced the Arab historian Ibn Abed-al-Zahir (1223-1292), who chronicled the bloody events of the time.
The historian recounts the capture of a Maronite patriarch at Hadat, who had been in conflict with the Franks. He describes how “the Turkmen deceived him by capturing him, blindfolding him and taking him prisoner.” He further adds that “the Muslims were freed from him and spared from his wickedness.” The important significance of this Maronite patriarch becomes clear later, when the Arab historian compares his capture to a major victory—one even greater than the conquest of a fortified town or fortress.
This attack is also referenced by the Maronites in the marginal notes of two Bibles discovered in the 17th century by Patriarch Estephanos Douaihy at the Monastery of Mor-Aboun (now Saint Anthony of Qozhaya). One note, dated 1283, was written by an anonymous eyewitness. The manuscript in the second Bible, dated 1504, simply reiterates the details from the original 1283 text.
In line with the account of the Arab historian, this Maronite source further reveals that “on August 22, 1283, the Muslim soldiers moved toward Hadat, where the residents had taken refuge in a cave.” This cave, known as Assi, preserved a crucial chapter of our history, keeping it intact in its mummified form, with its vibrant colors and the intensity of its suffering. This cave in the Qadisha Valley chose to awaken our past and allow it to speak to us.
*Dr Amine Jules Iskandar is an architect, a teacher, president of the Syriac Maronite Union – Tur Levnon, and Head of External Relations of the Universal Syriac Union Party. Amine Jules Iskandar has written several articles on the Syriac Maronites, their language, culture, and history. You can follow him @Amineiskandar2

Heritage: The Mummies of Qadisha (2/2)
Amine Jules Iskandar/This Is Beirut/May 04/2025
The eight Maronite mummies from the Assi cave, below Hadat in the Qadisha Valley, revealed the medieval culture of the Maronites. They unveiled their art, artifacts, weapons, prayers and handwritten documents. The bodies seem to speak of their suffering and the fervor of their faith.
The medieval Maronite mummies buried in 1990 in the Assi cave, beneath Hadat, sparked the curiosity of the explorers from GERSL (Groupe d'Études et de Recherches Souterraines du Liban) regarding this troubled period in the second half of the 13th century. Ancient Maronite accounts, copied in the 17th century by Patriarch Estéphanos Douaihy, mention events resembling genocide. However, it is primarily the Bible of the Monastery of Mor-Aboun (now Saint-Antoine de Qozhaya) that recounts in detail the tragedy that took place in the Assi cave, where the population of Hadat had sought refuge.
The Cave
In various accounts, both Maronite and Mamluk, the cave is described as magnificent and compared to a fortress. It was said to be so inaccessible that Muslims had to besiege it for seven years and only conquered it through deception. Only after promising Aman (a guarantee of safety) to the inhabitants were they able to enter—after which they ravaged and burned the village and “took the women into captivity.”However, research conducted by Fadi Baroudi questions the supposed seven-year siege, which seems exaggerated, and instead suggests a duration of several months. He also places the events around 1268, rather than 1283 as mentioned by Patriarch Douaihy. According to Maronite tradition, it was Patriarch Daniel of Hadchit who was abducted during the Mamluk attack of 1283. But records show that he had already died in 1282. Was it then the schismatic Patriarch Luca of Bnohra—at odds with both his own Maronite Church and the Frankish hierarchy—who was present? In 1283, he was replaced by Jeremias of Dmalsa, with the support of Count Bohemond VII of Tripoli. This may explain Luca’s vulnerability despite the inaccessibility of his refuge.
The altitude of the cave is striking, and one wonders how an entire population, including children and the elderly, managed to reach it. How did they equip it with infrastructure for drinking water, with its ducts and cisterns—two in the shape of wells and one main reservoir still intact, measuring 3.5 meters long by 1.4 meters wide and 1.5 meters deep? Its capacity was therefore 8 cubic meters of water. Although a millstone is missing, it appears that a basin was used to manually grind grain. Some parts of the cave are better sheltered than others—some higher, some brighter—but one distinct space stands out as the burial chamber.
Artifacts and Inscriptions
The burial chamber is a treasure trove of information, offering not only mummies, but also pottery shards, coins, textile fragments and over 20 medieval texts. Mamluk influence at that time is surprising—both in imported objects and in the use of Arabic by some Christian scribes. For example, a pottery fragment bears the name of its owner, Boutros of Hadat, in Arabic, and part of a text is signed by the archdeacon of Hadat, Georges, son of David. Other texts and prayers found are in Syriac, which was the vernacular of Mount Lebanon and the official liturgical language of the Maronite Church. These inscriptions—found on clothing, belts or near the mummies—use both cursive (Serto) and monumental uppercase script (Estrangelo). This juxtaposition of Syriac and Arabic is also evident in the coins found on site. Scattered across the area are 13th-century coins, some Crusader and others Mamluk. Also Mamluk in style is a double-toothed wooden comb. One of the mummies, that of a woman, was buried with the wooden key to her house, symbolizing the extinction of an entirely wiped-out family. Elsewhere, a mother was buried with her 18-month-old child resting against her left shoulder.
The Arrows
Just like the texts and coins, the many arrows found at the site also display a juxtaposition of the Christian and Mamluk worlds. Many are of Mamluk craftsmanship, while others are clearly Maronite. The latter are particularly notable for using oiled paper fletching instead of traditional feathers.
One of these Maronite arrows was found completely intact—from the tip to the nock. Its paper, soaked in olive oil, helped maintain stability while reducing the drag typically observed with feather fletching. This discovery helped solve the mystery behind the fame of Maronite archers mentioned in medieval sources. On that note, Jacques de Vitry, recounting the story of Archbishop William of Tyre, described these men in the province of Phoenicia, near the city of Byblos… and called Maronites, as being primarily armed with bows and arrows and skilled in battle. Their renown thus seems closely tied to their unique arrow-fletching technique.
The Motifs
Textiles were found both on the mummies—as clothing—and scattered around the cave as fragmented remains. Made of thick cotton, the garments are embroidered with squares and diamonds, crosses and flowers, which strongly resemble the abstract designs of Armenian Christian carpets later adopted by the Turks and Kurds. As for the figurative imagery, it reflects the influence of Syriac illuminated manuscripts, decorated with animal and plant forms. One such image depicts two peacocks facing each other on either side of a Tree of Life. This theme of mirrored animals, along with the tree or fountain of life, is typical of the Codex Rabulensis, the 6th-century Syriac Maronite Gospel Book that left a lasting mark on Maronite imagery and Christian iconography in general. Its abstract motifs of tiered patterns and its figurative themes were revived in the medieval frescoes, manuscripts and clothing of these Maronite mummies, who have crossed the ages to reconnect us with the suffering and richness of our past.

The Latest English LCCC Miscellaneous Reports And News published on May 04-05/2025
Iran Unveils New Ballistic Missile With 1,200 Km Range
This is Beirut/AFP/May 04, 2025
Iran on Sunday unveiled a new solid-fuel ballistic missile with a range of 1,200 kilometres (745 miles), state television reported, at a time of rising tensions with the West. "The solid propellant Ghassem Basir ballistic missile has a range of at least 1,200 kilometres and is Iran's latest defence achievement," the broadcaster said. Western nations have raised concerns about Tehran's missile capabilities, accusing it of destabilising the Middle East. Iran supports the "axis of resistance" network of militant groups opposed to Israel, including Yemen's Huthi rebels, Hezbollah in Lebanon, Hamas in the Gaza Strip and Shiite armed groups in Iraq. In October last year, Iran and its sworn enemy Israel attacked each other directly for the first time. Israel struck military sites in Iran in response to an Iranian missile attack on October 1, itself launched in retaliation for the killing of Iran-backed militant leaders and a Revolutionary Guards commander. On Sunday, Iranian state television broadcast footage of the new missile during an interview with Defence Minister Aziz Nasirzadeh. "If we are attacked and war is waged against us, we will respond with force and will target their interests and their bases," Nasirzadeh said. "We hold no animosity towards neighbouring states, but American bases are our targets," he said. The new missile was shown after Tehran and Washington held Oman-mediated talks on Iran's nuclear programme on three consecutive Saturdays from April 12. They were the highest level contacts since the United States withdrew in 2018 from a landmark agreement with world powers on Iran's nuclear programme. On Thursday, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio in an interview with Fox News called on Iran to "walk away" from uranium enrichment, saying "the only countries in the world that enrich uranium are the ones that have nuclear weapons".On April 27, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said a credible deal must "remove Iran's capacity to enrich uranium for nuclear weapons" and prevent the development of ballistic missiles. Tehran denies seeking to acquire nuclear weapons, insisting that its nuclear ambitions are entirely peaceful and for civilian purposes. It has ruled out discussions with Washington on its military and defence capabilities, including its ballistic missile programme. US President Donald Trump has threatened to attack Iran if diplomacy fails and has imposed additional sanctions targeting the country's oil sector.

Iran: New Explosions Reported in Mashhad and Qom
This is Beirut/May 04, 2025
An explosion was reported on Sunday in Mashhad, Iran’s second-largest city located in the east of the country, according to local media. The exact circumstances of the blast remain unclear for now, but the incident is part of a series of explosions and fires that have occurred in various regions across the country in recent days. Around the same time, another explosion hit the industrial zone of Qom, in central Iran, injuring at least five people, according to initial reports. These events follow a fire that broke out on Saturday at a power plant in Karaj, in northern Iran, shortly after a 4.0-magnitude earthquake shook the area. Another blaze was also brought under control in the city of Pardis, in Alborz Province. Iranian authorities have cited natural causes, technical malfunctions, or human error to explain the string of incidents. However, the recurring nature of these events has fueled speculation, particularly as some have affected critical infrastructure. Last week, a deadly explosion at a fireworks manufacturing warehouse in Isfahan Province left one person dead and two injured. According to some sources, the site may also be linked to the production of components for drones and explosives used by the regime. These incidents come less than a week after a major explosion at the country’s main commercial port, which left dozens dead and nearly a thousand injured.

Deadly Explosion at Iran's Main Port: Two Suspects Arrested
This is Beirut/AFP/May 04, 2025
Iranian authorities arrested two people including a government official in connection with a deadly explosion last month at the country's main commercial port, state television reported on Sunday. The April 26 blast at a dock in the southern port of Shahid Rajaee killed at least 57 people and injured more than 1,000, officials said, revising down an earlier death toll. The judiciary on Sunday said the toll had been revised because "it was determined that some of the bodies considered separate were in fact one body", adding that it could still change. At the time of the blast, Interior Minister Eskandar Momeni blamed "shortcomings, including noncompliance with safety precautions and negligence".
Shahid Rajaee is near Iran's coastal city of Bandar Abbas on the Strait of Hormuz, a waterway through which one-fifth of global oil output passes. "A government manager and another from the private sector have been arrested," state television said on Sunday, citing a report from the investigating committee. The committee announced on Monday that "false declarations (of goods) were made in some cases".It said on Sunday that "suspects have been identified and the summoning process is underway", without elaborating. The New York Times has quoted a person with ties to Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, speaking on condition of anonymity to discuss security matters, as saying that what exploded was sodium perchlorate -- a major ingredient in solid fuel for missiles. Iran's defence ministry spokesman Reza Talaei-Nik later told state television that "there has been no imported or exported cargo for military fuel or military use in the area".

End of the Mourning Period at the Vatican Following the Death of Pope Francis
This is Beirut/AFP/May 04, 2025
A mass held on Sunday late afternoon at St. Peter's Basilica marked the end of the nine days of mourning observed at the Vatican following the death of Pope Francis, AFP reported. The mourning period began on Saturday, April 26, the day of his grand funeral attended by a massive crowd, as well as heads of state and royalty, who came to pay tribute to the Argentine pope, who passed away on April 21 at the age of 88 from a stroke. During these "novemdiales," solemn ceremonies were held daily at St. Peter's Basilica. On Sunday, during his homily, French Cardinal Dominique Mamberti praised Pope Francis' "intense pastoral life" and the "countless encounters" he had, which "were based on long moments of prayer."It is this cardinal, who holds the title of protodeacon, who will pronounce the famous Latin formula "Habemus papam" ("We have a pope") before the first appearance of the newly elected pope on the loggia of St. Peter's Basilica, following the conclave that is set to begin on Wednesday.

Israel Expands Syria Intervention Under ‘Druze Protection’ Pretext
Ramallah: Kifah Zboun/Asharq Al Awsat/May 4, 2025
Israel expanded its involvement in Syria, launching one of its most intense airstrikes in years on Friday night and into Saturday morning. The broad operation included what Israeli media described as “covert operations,” which ranged from air drops of humanitarian aid to evacuating wounded individuals to Israel, along with other undisclosed activities. The Israeli military carried out an extensive offensive across Syria between Friday and Saturday, targeting military sites, air defense systems, and ground-to-air missile infrastructure. Meanwhile, the army distributed aid to the Druze community in the southwestern city of Sweida and evacuated five wounded individuals to Israel. Reports in Israel indicated that a helicopter landed in Sweida, dropped off the aid, evacuated the wounded, and then took off shortly after. These reports are often used by Israeli media when military censorship prevents the release of details from within the country. The Israeli military announced that its fighter jets launched a series of airstrikes in Syria, less than 24 hours after targeting a site near the presidential palace in Damascus.
The strikes came amid Israeli warnings to Syria’s new rulers not to harm the country's Druze minority, following sectarian clashes. The military said the raids targeted a military facility, anti-aircraft artillery, and ground-to-air missile infrastructure. Israeli public broadcaster Kan reported that Israel is preparing a list of additional military and government targets for future strikes inside Syria. The announcement from the Israeli military came about two hours after Syria's state news agency, SANA, reported that Israeli airstrikes had targeted areas near Damascus, as well as locations in Latakia, Hama, and Daraa in the south. In addition to the airstrikes, the Israeli military confirmed that five Syrian Druze were evacuated to Ziv Hospital in Safed. The army also stated that “Israeli forces are deployed in the southern Syrian region, prepared to prevent hostile forces from entering the area and Druze villages.”This development marked a significant escalation in Israel's involvement in Syria. A military analyst writing for Maariv noted that the Israeli military has expanded its intervention in the conflict between Syrian government forces and the Druze, confirming that helicopters transported aid to the Druze forces and evacuated the wounded to Israel. They mentioned that the Israeli side has refrained from providing further details about the operation. According to the analyst, there are several reasons for Israel’s intervention in Syria, one of which is the belief that the Syrian Druze could help stabilize the northern Golan Heights. According to Israeli strategy, the area between the border and 80 kilometers deep inside Syrian territory should remain demilitarized, which is why Israel has a vested interest in supporting the Druze living in this buffer zone.

Syria to import electricity from Turkiye, rehabilitate Kilis-Aleppo natural gas pipeline
Arab News/May 04, 2025
LONDON: The Syrian Arab Republic will import electricity from Turkiye and rehabilitate a natural gas pipeline connecting two border regions, the country’s energy minister said on Sunday.Mohammed Al-Bashir stated that Damascus is finalizing an agreement to import electricity from Turkiye via a 400-kilovolt high-voltage transmission line that links the two countries. Al-Bashir stated that the government is developing another 80-megawatt transmission line between Turkiye’s Reyhanli district and Syria’s Harem region to supply electricity to towns in northern Syria. “Additionally, we are working to rehabilitate the natural gas pipeline connecting Kilis and Aleppo,” two cities in southern Turkiye and northern Syria, the minister added. “Once operational, (the pipeline) could supply 6 million cubic meters of gas per day to Syria’s power generation stations, significantly improving our energy situation,” he added in a statement to the SANA news agency. The minister said he discussed with the Turkish side the possibility of mining Syria’s mineral deposits, such as phosphate and lithium, and the prospect of exploring natural gas in the country’s national waters. He urged Turkish companies to invest in exploring Syria’s oil and natural gas potential, upgrading power lines and plants, and rebuilding refineries and transportation systems.

Gaza rescuers say Israeli strikes kill 16, including 3 children
AFP/May 04, 2025
GAZA: Gaza’s civil defense agency on Sunday said Israeli strikes on the Palestinian territory killed 16 people, including at least three children. Six people were killed in overnight air strikes in Khan Yunis governorate, in the south of the Gaza Strip, civil defense spokesman Mahmud Bassal said. They included two boys aged five and two, in an apartment in Al-Mawasi. The civil defense later said 10 more people were killed in a strike on a tent also in Al-Mawasi, among them a child and seven women. The Israeli military did not immediately respond for comment when contact by AFP. A spokesperson said they were gathering details. A military statement issued in the morning said the army had “struck more than 100 terrorist targets throughout the Gaza Strip” during the past two days. It said soldiers found “weapons caches” and killed “a number of terrorists” in the south. Israel resumed its military offensive in Gaza on March 18 after a two-month truce in its war against Hamas, which was triggered by the Palestinian militant group’s October 7, 2023 attack. The health ministry in Hamas-run Gaza on Sunday said at least 2,436 people have been killed since Israel resumed its campaign in Gaza, bringing the war’s overall death toll to 52,535. Israel halted aid deliveries to Gaza, saying Hamas had diverted supplies. Israel says the blockade is meant to pressure the militants into releasing hostages held in the Palestinian territory. UN agencies have urged Israel to lift restrictions, saying Gazans have been experiencing a humanitarian catastrophe and warning of famine.

A missile from Yemen halts flights in Israel hours before vote on intensifying Gaza war
Ohad Zwigenberg And Tia Goldenberg/The Associated Press/May 4, 2025
BEN-GURION INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT, Israel — A missile launched by Iranian-backed rebels in Yemen briefly halted flights and commuter traffic at Israel's main international airport on Sunday after its impact on open ground within the perimeter left a plume of smoke and caused panic among passengers. The Houthis have targeted Israel throughout the war in Gaza in solidarity with Palestinians. The attack on Ben-Gurion International Airport came hours before Israeli Cabinet ministers were set to vote on whether to intensify military operations in Gaza. The army began calling up thousands of reserves in anticipation of a wider operation, officials said. Israel's army confirmed this was the first time a missile struck the airport grounds since the war began, though fragments of missiles or interceptors have struck nearby. Israel’s military said several attempts to intercept it were unsuccessful. It left a crater near the airport's access road. Passengers were heard yelling and scrambling for cover in footage shared by Israeli media. Police said air, road and rail traffic were halted. Traffic resumed after about an hour, Israel Airports Authority said. Israel’s paramedic service Magen David Adom said four people were lightly wounded. Multiple international airlines canceled or postponed flights. The war with Hamas in Gaza and then Hezbollah in Lebanon had led a wave of airlines to suspend flights to Israel, but they have since returned to prewar levels.
Israel vows to respond
Houthi military spokesman Brig. Gen. Yahya Saree said in a video statement that the group fired a hypersonic ballistic missile at the airport. Houthi rebels have been firing at Israel since the war with Gaza began on Oct. 7, 2023. The missiles have mostly been intercepted, although some have penetrated Israel's missile defense systems, causing damage. Israel has struck back against the rebels in Yemen, and the U.S., Israel's top ally, launched a campaign of strikes in March against them. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the U.S. was supporting Israeli operations against the Houthis. “It’s not bang, bang and we’re done, but there will be bangs,” he said in a video posted on social media. Netanyahu in a later statement said Israel would respond to the Houthi attack “AND, at a time and place of our choosing, to their Iranian terror masters.”
Israeli ministers will vote on expanding Gaza war
An Israeli official said the security Cabinet would meet Sunday evening to vote on plans to expand the fighting in Gaza. A military official said the country was calling up thousands of reserves. The officials spoke on condition of anonymity in line with regulations. Far-right Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir, in an interview with Israeli Army Radio, said he wanted to see a “powerful” expansion of the war, but did not disclose details. “We need to increase the intensity and continue until we achieve total victory,” he said. He demanded that Israel bomb “the food and electricity supplies” in Gaza. An 8-week ceasefire with the Hamas militant group brought a lull in fighting, allowed more aid into Gaza and freed some Israeli hostages, but it collapsed in March when Israel resumed strikes. The military has since captured swaths of the coastal enclave. Hundreds of Palestinians have been killed, according to local health officials. Israel in March also halted the entry of goods into Gaza as part of efforts to pressure Hamas to negotiate on Israel’s terms for a new ceasefire. That has plunged the territory of 2.3 million people into what is believed to be the worst humanitarian crisis of the war. In a confrontation over efforts to support Gaza, Malta's prime minister, Robert Abela, said his country had offered to send a marine surveyor to look into the damage caused to a ship that was said to be carrying aid and organized by pro-Palestinian activists. Abela said the captain refused. The activists said Friday their vessel was struck by drones, blaming Israel, and the ship remained in international waters off Malta. The Israeli military has not commented.
New Israeli airstrikes kill children
Israeli airstrikes killed at least seven Palestinians, including parents and their two children, ages 2 and 4, early Sunday in southern and central Gaza, Palestinian medics said. The military had no comment. The military said two soldiers were killed in combat in Gaza, bringing the number killed since fighting resumed in March to six. The war in Gaza began when Hamas-led militants attacked southern Israel, killing 1,200 people and taking about 250 hostages. Israel says 59 captives remain in Gaza, although about 35 are believed to be dead. Israel's offensive has killed more than 52,000 people in Gaza, many of them women and children, according to Palestinian health officials, who do not distinguish between combatants and civilians in their count. The fighting has displaced more than 90% of Gaza's population, often multiple times. Hunger has been widespread and the shortage of food has set off looting.

Hamas executes Palestinians for looting as desperation grows under Israeli blockade
Ibrahim Dahman, Eyad Kourdi, Abeer Salman, Oren Liebermann and Tareq Al Hilou, CNN/May 4, 2025
Hamas has executed six Palestinians in Gaza and shot 13 others in the legs for alleged looting, the militant group said in a statement, as desperation grows under a complete Israeli blockade that has now entered its third month. In a statement issued Friday, Hamas said it would carry out more executions against “every criminal we can reach in the next two days.”Since last week, armed gangs have increasingly taken to the streets of Gaza City, going after some of the remaining food supplies and challenging Hamas’ control of the territory, according to CNN journalists in Gaza. Hamas claims some of these “criminal gangs” are collaborating with Israel. “A warning has been issued - those who ignore it bear full responsibility,” Hamas said in the statement. The executions – and Hamas’ vow that more will follow – is a stark reminder that the militant group, even weakened after more than 18 months of war, retains power in Gaza. As food supplies have begun running out across the coastal enclave, Palestinians have grown increasingly desperate to find whatever food remains. On Wednesday night, thousands of people stormed a UN facility and multiple warehouses across Gaza City looking for remnants of meals, such as flour or canned food, according to a journalist who witnessed one such incident.
Hamas claimed some of the alleged looters were collaborating with Israel.
On Saturday, Hamas’ Ministry of Interior and National Security claimed that “a group of outlaws, collaborators with the occupation, has emerged to threaten the lives of citizens, spreading fear and chaos in some neighborhoods, and attacking public and private properties.”Scenes of mass hunger have become far more common as Gaza’s population of 2.1 million Palestinians edges closer to famine. Israel imposed a complete blockade of Gaza on March 2, stopping the supplies of humanitarian aid, including food and medicine, into the besieged territory.
Dr. Ahmad Al-Farra, the head of the pediatric department at Nasser Medical Complex in Gaza warned over the weekend that “a looming health catastrophe is threatening the lives of hundreds of thousands.”“We are facing the danger of a massive wave of deaths due to malnutrition if the current humanitarian crisis continues unaddressed,” he told CNN. Earlier Saturday, two-month-old Janan Saleh Al-Sakkafi died due to malnutrition at Al-Rantisi Hospital, Dr. Munir Al Barsh, Director General of the Ministry of Health in Gaza told CNN. The US State Department said an announcement regarding humanitarian aid is possible “in the coming days” that would allow much-needed food and medicine to reach the Palestinian population without being diverted by Hamas or Islamic Jihad. “Safeguards are finally in place. Israel remains secure, Hamas empty handed, and Gazans with access to critical aid,” a State Department spokesperson said. The spokesperson described the project as an element of “creative thinking” but did not provide any details on how it would function in Gaza. An unnamed private foundation would manage the aid mechanism and the delivery of the humanitarian supplies into Gaza, the spokesperson said. Since taking power in the enclave in 2007, Hamas has executed dozens of suspects including some accused of collaborating with Israel. The Israeli military, meanwhile, is pressing on with chief of staff Eyal Zamir saying on Sunday that the IDF would issue “tens of thousands” of orders to reservists in the coming week, to ramp up its offensive in the enclave.

Israel Confirms Calling Up Reservists for Gaza War Expansion
Asharq Al Awsat/May 4, 2025
Israel's army on Sunday confirmed it was calling up "tens of thousands" of reservists to expand its war in Gaza, army chief Lieutenant General Eyal Zamir said. "This week we are issuing tens of thousands of orders to our reservists to intensify and expand our operation in Gaza," Zamir said in a statement, adding the army would destroy all Hamas infrastructure, "both on the surface and underground.”Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will convene his security cabinet on Sunday to discuss the expansion of the Gaza offensive and a possible resumption of aid into the besieged enclave, two government officials said. In a video message posted on the social media platform X on Sunday, hours after part of a missile launched from Yemen by the Iranian-backed Houthi militia fell close to Israel's main gateway, Ben Gurion Airport, Netanyahu said he was convening the security cabinet to discuss "the next stage" of the war in Gaza. It was unclear if the ministers will give final approval at the meeting. Already in control of almost a third of Gaza's territory, Israel has faced growing international pressure to lift an aid blockade that it imposed in March after the collapse of a US-backed ceasefire that had halted fighting for two months. Ministers have justified the blockade by saying that Hamas has seized aid intended for civilians and kept it for its own fighters or sold it, charges that Hamas has denied. At the same time, Israel has faced warnings of famine in Gaza as supplies run low. Israeli public broadcaster Kan reported last week that a new plan was in the works by which aid will soon be distributed by private foreign companies, rather than UN agencies, in a new designated humanitarian zone in the southern Gaza area of Rafah, to which civilians would be moved after security checks. New aid plans will be discussed at Sunday's security cabinet meeting, two officials said. Aid has been a contested issue within the Israeli leadership and defense establishment for months. The military has pushed back against calls by some politicians who want Israel to seize Gaza for good and have Israeli soldiers hand out aid.

Netanyahu vows to retaliate against Houthis and Iran after missile attack
Sky News/May 4, 2025
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has vowed to retaliate against the Houthis and their Iranian "masters" after the group launched a missile attack on the country's main international airport. A missile fired by the group from Yemen landed near Ben Gurion Airport, causing panic among passengers in the terminal building. "Attacks by the Houthis emanate from Iran," Mr Netanyahu wrote on X. "Israel will respond to the Houthi attack against our main airport AND, at a time and place of our choosing, to their Iranian terror masters."The missile impact left a plume of smoke and briefly halted flights and commuter traffic at the airport. Some international carriers have cancelled flights to and from Tel Aviv for several days. Four people were lightly wounded, paramedic service Magen David Adom said. Air raid sirens went off across Israel and footage showed passengers yelling and rushing for cover. The attack came hours before senior Israeli cabinet ministers were set to vote on whether to intensify the country's military operations in the Gaza Strip, and as the army began calling up thousands of reserves in anticipation of a wider operation in the enclave. Houthi military spokesperson Brigadier General Yahya Saree said the group fired a hypersonic ballistic missile at the airport. Iran's defence minister later told a state TV broadcaster that if the country was attacked by the US or Israel, it would target their bases, interests and forces where necessary. Israel's military said several attempts to intercept the missile were unsuccessful. Air, road and rail traffic were halted after the attack, police said, though it resumed around an hour later. Yemen's Houthis have been firing missiles at Israel since its war with Hamas in Gaza began on 7 October 2023, and while most have been intercepted, some have penetrated the country's missile defence systems and caused damage. Israel has previously struck the group in Yemen in retaliation and the US and UK have also launched strikes after the Houthis began attacking international shipping, saying it was in solidarity with Palestinians over Israel's war with Hamas.

Yemen's Houthis Claim Responsibility for Missile Launched at Israel's Ben Gurion Airport
Asharq Al Awsat/May 4, 2025
Yemen's Houthis claimed responsibility for a missile launched at Israel's Ben Gurion airport on Sunday, the group's military spokesperson Yahya Saree said in a televised statement. Saree reiterated a warning to airlines that the Israeli airport was "no longer safe for air travel". A missile launched from Yemen towards Israel landed near Ben Gurion Airport, the country's main international airport, where footage shared on social media showed a plume of smoke visible from a passenger terminal. The Israeli military said it was investigating the fall of a projectile launched from Yemen, which landed in the vicinity of the airport. A Reuters reporter at the airport heard sirens and saw passengers reacting by running towards safe rooms. Several people at the airport posted videos filmed on smartphones that showed a plume of black smoke clearly visible nearby, behind parked aircraft and airport buildings. Reuters has not verified the videos. The Israeli ambulance service said there were no reports of serious injuries. A man and a woman with light injuries were being taken to hospital and two people were being treated at the scene for the effects of panic. Airport authorities said the projectile had landed by a road near a Terminal 3 parking lot. One photo shared on social media showed a bend in a road covered in debris. Yemen's Houthi group have been launching missiles at Israel, saying they are acting in solidarity with Palestinians in Gaza.

NGO says it's in talks with Malta to repair Gaza-bound aid ship hit by drones
Christopher Scicluna/Reuters/May 4, 2025
VALLETTA - An international NGO that intends to deliver humanitarian aid to Gaza by sea said on Sunday it was in talks with Malta's government about allowing the vessel to enter Maltese waters to repair damage caused by a drone attack. The ship "Conscience" run by the Freedom Flotilla Coalition suffered damage to its front section including a loss of power when hit by two drones just outside Maltese territorial waters in the central Mediterranean early on Friday, the NGO said. The coalition, an international non-governmental group, said Israel, which has blockaded and bombarded Gaza in its war against Palestinian Hamas militants, was to blame for the incident. Israel has not responded to requests for comment. The Conscience had been waiting to take on board some 30 peace activists from around the world before trying to sail to Gaza in the eastern Mediterranean to deliver food and medicines. Prime Minister Robert Abela said on Sunday that Malta was prepared to assist the ship with necessary repairs so that it could continue on its journey, once it was satisfied that the vessel held only humanitarian aid. Coalition officials said on Sunday the ship was in no danger of sinking but they wanted to be sure it would be safe from further attacks while undergoing repairs, and able to sail out again. Earlier on Sunday the coalition had accused Malta of impeding access to its ship. Malta denied the claim, saying the crew had refused assistance and even refused to allow a surveyor on board to assess the damage. "The FFC would like to clarify our commitment to engagement with (Maltese) authorities to expedite the temporary docking of our ship for repairs and surveyors, so we can continue on the urgent humanitarian mission to Gaza," the coalition said in a statement later in the day. A Malta government spokesman said its offer was to assist in repairs out at sea once the boat's cargo was verified to be aid. Coalition officials said the surveyor was welcome to board as part of the deal being negotiated with Malta. Another NGO ship on a similar mission to Gaza in 2010 was stopped and boarded by Israeli troops, and nine activists died. Other such ships have similarly been stopped and boarded, without loss of life. Hamas issued a statement about the incident off Malta, accusing Israel of "piracy" and "state terrorism".

Protesters want Morocco to sever ties with Israel, so they're targeting strategic ports
SAM METZ and AKRAM OUBACHIR/Associated Press/May 4, 2025
TANGIER, Morocco — More than a year of protests over Morocco’s decision to normalize ties with Israel has emboldened activists and widened a gap between the decisions of the government and the sentiments of the governed. The fury has spilled into the country’s strategic ports. Amid shipping cranes and stacked containers, 34-year-old agricultural engineer Ismail Lghazaoui marched recently through a sea of Palestinian flags and joined protesters carrying signs that read “Reject the ship,” in reference to a vessel transporting fighter jet components from Houston, Texas. Activists are urging Moroccan port officials to try to block ships carrying military cargo to Israel, much like Spain did last year. Protests often target Danish shipping company Maersk, which helps transport components used to make Lockheed Martin’s F-35 as part of the U.S. Defense Department's Security Cooperative Participant Program that facilitates weapons sales to allies including Israel. A similar boycott campaign landed Lghazaoui in prison last year, but that didn't deter him from turning out again for resurgent protests last month, after his release. Lghazaoui is one of more than a dozen activists pursued by Moroccan authorities for criticizing the government’s ties with Israel. During a rally in November in Casablanca where Lghazaoui spoke, plainclothes officers beat him and others to prevent them from advancing toward the U.S. Consulate, he said. He later posted about Maersk on social media and was arrested and charged with incitement. Originally sentenced to a year, he served two months in prison and two on parole after the term was reduced. “They try to silence people,” Lghazaoui told The Associated Press. “They were using me to dissuade people or to push people away from what they were doing.”
A push to topple 'normalization’
Morocco is one of four countries that normalized ties with Israel in 2020. That year, Donald Trump brokered the Abraham Accords, which offered incentives for Arab states to establish diplomatic relations with Israel even as its peace talks with Palestinians remained stalled. The deal delivered something Moroccan diplomats had chased for years: U.S. support for Morocco’s claims over the disputed Western Sahara. But its cost — growing public resentment toward normalization — has ballooned throughout the Israel-Hamas war. “I’ve rarely seen such a chasm between public opinion and the monarchy. What the power elites are doing goes completely against what the Moroccan people want,” said Aboubakr Jamai, dean of the Madrid Center at the American College of the Mediterranean. Tens of thousands have taken to the streets of Morocco since the war began. While largely made up of families, students, Islamists, leftists and union members, the protests have also drawn more radical voices. Some have burned Israeli flags or chanted against royal adviser André Azoulay, a Jewish Moroccan. Clad in riot gear, security forces have stood by and watched as protesters denounce “normalization” and Morocco’s expanding trade and military ties with Israel. But authorities have shown that their tolerance for dissent only goes so far. Morocco’s constitution generally allows for freedom of expression, although it is illegal to criticize the monarchy or King Mohammed VI and those who do can face prosecution. Throughout the war, activists who have implicated the monarchy on social media or protested businesses targeted by boycotts due to their operations in Israel have received prison sentences. The constraints mirror Egypt and Jordan, which like Morocco have publicly sympathized with the Palestinians, maintained ties with Israel and imprisoned activists who direct their ire toward the government. However, unlike in those countries, the arrests in Morocco have done little to quell public anger or activists’ demands.
A harbor draws heat
In recent weeks, protesters have set their sights on a new target: the country’s strategic ports and the companies using them to move military cargo. Activists and port workers recently demanded that two vessels crossing the Atlantic carrying fighter jet parts that they suspected would end up in Israel be blocked from docking in Morocco. Port protests gained momentum last month when Morocco’s largest labor union backed the call to block the two ships, and dozens of religious scholars and preachers, many affiliated with the anti-monarchy Islamist movement Al Adl wal Ihsan, issued an edict with a similar message. While not officially allowed to participate in politics, Al Adl wal Ihsan has mobilized large crowds and helped lead pro-Palestinian activism throughout the Israel-Hamas war, drawing in young people who feel official parties don’t speak to them. On a recent Friday, the group said Moroccans took part in 110 demonstrations across 66 cities in support of Palestinians in Gaza. Both Al Adl wal Ihsan and union members marched portside in Tangier and Casablanca, where the vessels eventually docked April 20. In a statement, Maersk acknowledged that ships that passed through the two Moroccan ports carried parts used in the fighter jet. But it denied activists’ claims of directly shipping weapons to conflict zones, stating that they require end-use certificates to verify the final destination of military cargo. A port official in Tangier who spoke on the condition of anonymity because they weren't authorized to speak on the matter said that while cargo docked and unloaded in Morocco undergoes examination, ships docking en route to other destinations do not. The Israeli military did not respond to questions about the shipments. F-35s are typically assembled in the United States, using components sourced throughout the world, including outer wings and display systems manufactured in Israel. Morocco’s Foreign Ministry did not respond to questions about normalization or its port policies, though diplomats have previously argued that relations with Israel allow them to press for a two-state solution and facilitate aid delivery to Gaza.
Domestic fault lines exposed
Some observers in Morocco have questioned whether the focus on Gaza has diverted attention from pressing domestic struggles. Voices from Moroccan nationalist circles on social media have instead highlighted the marginalization of the Indigenous Amazigh population and the dispute over Western Sahara, which they argue are more central to national identity and sovereignty. For others, the prolonged war has prompted clear shifts. The Islamist Justice and Development Party, which once backed normalization with Israel while in power, recently invited senior Hamas officials to its congress in Rabat. However, the officials were unable to obtain visas to enter Morocco. “Palestine will remain our primary cause,” said Abdelilah Benkirane, a former prime minister and general secretary of the Justice and Development Party.

Putin says he hopes there will be no need to use nuclear weapons in Ukraine
The Canadian Press/May 4, 2025
Russian President Vladimir Putin has said that the need to use nuclear weapons in Ukraine had not arisen and that he hopes it will not. In comments aired Sunday in a film by Russian state television about his quarter of a century in power, Putin said Russia has the strength and the means to bring the conflict in Ukraine to a “logical conclusion.” Responding to a question about Ukrainian strikes on Russian territory, Putin said: “There has been no need to use those (nuclear) weapons ... and I hope they will not be required.”“We have enough strength and means to bring what was started in 2022 to a logical conclusion with the outcome Russia requires,” he said. Putin signed a revamped version of Russia’s nuclear doctrine in November 2024, spelling out the circumstances that allow him to use Moscow’s atomic arsenal, the world’s largest. That version lowered the bar, giving him that option in response to even a conventional attack backed by a nuclear power. In the film, Putin also said Russia did not launch a full-scale invasion of Ukraine — what he called a “special military operation” — in 2014, when it illegally annexed Crimea, because it was “practically unrealistic.”“The country was not ready for such a frontal confrontation with the entire collective West,” he said. He claimed also that Russia "sincerely sought to solve the problem of Donbas by peaceful means.”Putin said that reconciliation with Ukraine was “inevitable."
‘He should think about ending his war’
Russia and Ukraine, however, remain are at odds over competing ceasefire proposals. Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said a ceasefire is possible “even from today” if Moscow is serious about ending the war.
Speaking Sunday at a joint news conference with Czech President Petr Pavel, Zelenskyy noted that Russia has ignored a U.S. proposal for a full ceasefire for 54 days and thanked the Czech Republic for backing Ukraine’s call for a 30-day ceasefire. “Putin is very eager to show off his tanks at the (Victory Day) parade,” Zelenskyy said, “but he should think about ending his war.” Zelenskyy again expressed deep skepticism over Russia’s proposal of a 72-hour ceasefire in Ukraine to mark Victory Day in World War II, saying Moscow continues to launch hundreds of assaults despite publicly signaling interest in a partial truce. “Even during Easter, despite promises — including to the United States — Russia carried out more than a hundred assaults,” Zelenskyy said, referring to Russian attacks during the 30-hour Easter ceasefire unilaterally declared by Putin. Zelenskyy has repeatedly called for a more substantial 30-day pause in hostilities, as the U.S. had initially proposed. The Kremlin said the Victory Day truce was on humanitarian grounds and will run from the start of May 8 and last through the end of May 10 to mark Moscow’s defeat of Nazi Germany in 1945 — Russia’s biggest secular holiday. Zelenskyy thanked Pavel for his country’s military support and said Ukraine hopes to receive 1.8 million artillery shells in 2025 as part of a Czech-led initiative to supply military aid to Kyiv. The initiative, launched in 2024 and supported by NATO allies, supplied Ukraine with 1.5 million artillery rounds last year. Zelenskyy also said he had discussed with Pavel "the next steps in the development of our aviation coalition"," namely the creation of an F-16 training school. He said that such a base could not be opened in Ukraine because of Russian attacks.
Attacks on Ukraine continue
A Russian drone attack overnight on the Ukrainian capital, Kyiv, wounded 11 people, Ukraine’s State Emergency Service said Sunday. Two children were among the wounded. The attack woke up Valentyna Fesiuk, an 83-year-old resident of Kyiv's Obolon district. “I was just sleeping when the house shook," said Valentyna Fesiuk, an 83-year-old resident of Kyiv’s Obolon district. "It was at 12:30. An apartment on the 12th floor caught fire," she told The Associated Press. Another resident, Viacheslav Khotab, saw his car burning. "I was covered with broken glass,” he said. “I couldn’t do anything.” The 54-year-old was frustrated with stalled peace negotiations: "They can’t agree on anything, and we are the ones who suffer the consequences.”Daryna Kravchuk, an 18-year-old student in the district, described how “five to six minutes after the air raid was activated, we heard a strong impact, everything started shaking. ... There were three strikes almost in a row after the air raid was activated." “It’s very scary to witness, we have been suffering from this for so long. People are just suffering all the time. ... It’s still very hard to see our country constantly being destroyed,” she told the AP. Two people were killed by Russian guided bombs Sunday, one each in the Dnipropetrovsk and Sumy regions, local officials said. Russia fired a total of 165 exploding drones and decoys overnight, Ukraine’s air force said. Of those, 69 were intercepted and a further 80 lost, likely having been electronically jammed. Russia also launched two ballistic missiles. Russia’s Defense Ministry said its air defenses shot down 13 Ukrainian drones overnight.

Albertans rally for separation, saying things won't change under Confederation
Rob Drinkwater/The Canadian Press/May 04, 2025
EDMONTON — Katheryn Speck said she used to be a Canadian nationalist, travelled the world with a maple leaf on her backpack and once lived in Quebec so she could become fluently bilingual. But on Saturday she was among hundreds of people who rallied at the Alberta legislature to support separation from Canada, with many in the crowd waving Alberta flags and a few even displaying the U.S. Stars and Stripes. "I thought it was a beautiful, fantastic country. But now I'm so disappointed. I'm literally crushed that we'll never be represented in this country and there's never a chance of changing the government," Speck said. Earlier this week, Premier Danielle Smith's government proposed legislation that would lower the bar for holding a referendum. While Smith told reporters she won't presuppose what questions Albertans might bring to a ballot, the move would make it easier for citizens to call for a vote to secede from Canada. The federal Liberals' election win Monday has also prompted some people in the province to demand an exit. Speck said the National Energy Policy of the 1980s eroded her Canadian pride. Now a decade of Liberal policies that she said have blocked pipelines and stymied the province's energy industry have her thinking there's no fix under Confederation. "Once the votes are counted in Ontario, the election is over. We don't matter. We never matter," she said. Hannah Henze, a 17-year-old who attended Saturday's rally, said she might have felt differently about separation if the Conservatives had won. "If (Pierre) Poilievre was in, I feel we'd have a lot more hope than a third or fourth Liberal term, which is just going to ruin our country," Henze said.
Leo Jensen, meanwhile, said Canadians are worried about losing auto manufacturing jobs due to U.S. President Donald Trump's tariffs, but they don't seem concerned about protecting jobs in Alberta's oil and gas sector.
"I don't see how a province like Quebec takes all of our dirty money, but they won't let a dirty pipeline go through Quebec to aid an oil refinery in New Brunswick," Jensen said. A few dozen counter-protesters attempted to drown out the rally, many holding signs saying that separation would violate treaties with First Nations. Piikani Nation Chief Troy Knowlton said in a letter earlier this week that it's understandable many in the West are frustrated their rejection of the federal Liberal party in the election didn't play out elsewhere. But he said Alberta doesn't have the authority to interfere with or negate treaties. On her provincewide radio call-in show on Saturday, the premier said she fully respects treaty rights. "Everything I do is changing Alberta's relationship with Ottawa. First Nations have their own relationship with Ottawa and that's enshrined in treaty. That does not change," Smith said. In March, Smith threatened a "national unity crisis" if the next prime minister doesn't acquiesce to a list of her demands within six months, but reiterated this week that she supports a sovereign Alberta within a united Canada. Rally attendee Susan Westernaier said she believed everything would be better if Alberta separated. "We have the oil, we have the resources. We're fine," Westernaier said, noting she believed Monday's election was rigged.

Remembering the Canadian soldiers who died on a mission of mercy at the close of the Second World War
CBC/May 4, 2025
A little more than 12 hours before the end of the Second World War in Europe, a young Canadian padre, accompanied by an equally young tank commander, set off into the cool, rainy countryside of northern Germany on an errand of mercy. Or so they thought. Honorary Capt. Albert McCreery and Lt. Norman Goldie had only been with the Canadian Grenadier Guards tank regiment for less than a month. t was May 4, 1945. Adolf Hitler's Third Reich was in its final hours and Nazi soldiers alternated between fighting to the death and surrendering. The war diary of the guards regiment records heavy fighting that morning in the forests and laneways north of Oldenberg, including mention of Goldie's troop of tanks being held in reserve in case the defending Germans advanced. Canadian combat chaplains, throughout the war in Europe, found steady employment outfitting jeeps with stretchers and rescuing disabled tank crews. It was from German prisoners that McCreery learned about possibly wounded enemy soldiers in need of aid and comfort — or so he was told. In hindsight of history, it was a typically Canadian thing to do. An account, quoting former guards regiment soldiers published decades after the war, quoted one of them as being skeptical of McCreery's plan, mostly because nobody knew where the wounded enemy could be found Regardless, at 3 p.m. on the last full day of fighting, McCreery and Goldie set off to bring in the wounded Germans.
They never returned.
Phil Ralph, a former Canadian military chaplain, said he's haunted by the story. "His mission is to care for all. And, so he does, a marvellous and unselfish act," Ralph said, referring to McCreery. "In the horror and the misery of combat and war and conflict to keep that level of humanity and compassion, it's quite remarkable.… They're close to what they believe is going to be the cessation of hostilities. "They're still the enemy … but that doesn't deter him."The regimental war diary dispassionately noted that when the pair hadn't reported back, a patrol was sent out to find them, but turned up nothing. According to one later, unofficial, account, McCreery's body was "run through with bullets," and found in a bog two days later. Goldie's remains were never recovered. "Both officers were killed in circumstances which remain obscure," said the Canadian Army's official history, published in 1960. Another account insisted there was nothing ambiguous about their end at all. A tribute to McCreery written for his alma mater, McMaster University, pointed to an official account that claims the unarmed padre was "shot by a German sniper when he went to the rescue of a young German soldier trapped in a blazing tank."Goldie's fate remained a mystery. During that final bloody day, all along the front the Canadian Army suffered 60 casualties — 20 of them fatal, including McCreery and Goldie. The pair are the only two mentioned in the army's official history and could very well represent the last Canadians to die in battle against the forces of German facism.
News of victory was sudden
In the hours following their deaths, rumours of the German surrender raced up and down the Canadian lines. The BBC was the first to broadcast news of the impending German capitulation in the Netherlands, Denmark and northern Germany, and the ceasefire that was to take effect the next morning — May 5, 1945. The broadcast report beat the official signal from British Gen. Bernard Montgomery's 21st Army Group headquarters. News of the surrender came as anticlimatic to troops, some of whom, such as the Canadian Grenadiers, had been fighting furiously that morning. When the announcement was made, there were "no cheers and few outward signs of emotion," the official account read. Many soldiers found it hard to believe. Upon receiving the official signal, the commander of the First Canadian Army, Gen. Harry Crerar, ordered an immediate halt to all operations and late in the evening on May 4 addressed the troops under his command. He spoke about the valour with which they fought through the war, mentioning the slaughter of Dieppe almost three years earlier and the brutal campaign through France, Belgium and the Netherlands. "Crushing and complete victory over the German enemy has been secured," Crerar said. "In rejoicing at this supreme accomplishment we shall remember the friends who've paid the full price for the belief they also held that no sacrifice in the interests of the principles for which we fought could be too great."Jeff Noakes, an historian at the Canadian War Museum, said Canadians tend to remember the celebrations of liberation in the Netherlands but there was a whole different, brutal side in northern Germany where the guards tank regiment was driving toward the North Sea. "There are tanks that were hit by anti-tank weapons at close range, and crew members are killed, or snipers, or ambushes, or larger-scale combats that take place," Noakes said. "It may seem obvious to us now that the war is about to end in early May, but it wasn't at all obvious exactly when the war was going to end to the people who were there on the ground." Their deaths so near the ceasefire underline the tragedy and senselessness of war, and leave a lasting scar on families left behind, Ralph said. Earlier in his career as a military chaplain in Toronto, he said the sister of a Canadian soldier who died in Europe would regularly put him on the spot. "Her brother was killed right near the end of the Second World War. Not quite as dramatic as the padre, but very, very near, the [end]," said Ralph."Every time it came around Remembrance Day, I knew she was going to have a question for me and the question was: 'Pastor, he went all the way through the war. It was almost over. Why now?'"
What do you say? Ralph responded with the only answer possible: "You know, we don't know."

The Latest English LCCC analysis & editorials from miscellaneous sources on May 04-05/2025
ريموند إبراهيم من معهد كايتستون: قائمة بأحداث اضطهاد المسيحيين خلال شهر آذار/2025..رأيتك تخرج من الكنيسة
04 آيار/2025
'I Saw You Come Out of the Church': The Persecution of Christians, March 2025
Raymond Ibrahim/Gatestone Institute/May 04/2025
https://eliasbejjaninews.com/2025/05/142996/
"Our imam had assured us that when you kill a kafir [infidel], Allah rewards one with a Jannah [paradise]... so I wanted to get that Jannah." — Hanifa Hamiyat, a Muslim woman who poisoned and killed three people: a young Christian couple, as well as her own 18-year-old daughter, who accidentally ate the same poisoned food the Muslim woman had offered to the Christians; Morning Star News, March 28, 2025, Uganda.
"Pure genocide" experienced by Christians at the hands of Muslims, headlines.... – Nigera
"During the time I was there, Ali did bad things with me... He also beat me whenever I used to cry for my parents and told him that I wanted to go back home. I was kept locked in a room most of the time." — Saba Masih, age 12, kidnapped, and forced by her kidnapper to convert to Islam and marry him. When her father reported the kidnapping to the police, "the police deliberately misstated Saba's age," writing down that she was 16, even though her father kept insisting she was 12; Morning Star News, February 7, 2025, Pakistan.
[E]ven in Indonesia, which is often presented as an exceptionally moderate Muslim nation, Christians are being persecuted for blasphemy.... — Morning Star News, March 21, 2025, Indonesia.
Coptic Christians, for some inexplicable reason, must have become the most careless and fire-prone people in the world: more Coptic churches than any other kind seem to keep "accidentally catching fire." — Coptic Solidarity, March 17, 2025, Egypt.
On March 8, three Muslim converts to Christianity received a combined total of 42 years in prison for practicing their faith: Narges Nasri, who was pregnant, and two men, Mehran Shamloui, and Abbas Soori.
The Muslim Slaughter of Christians
Uganda: On March 16, Hanifa Hamiyat, a Muslim woman poisoned and killed three people: a young Christian couple, as well as her own 18-year-old daughter, who accidentally ate the same poisoned food the Muslim woman had offered to the Christians for sharing Christ with the daughter. The Christian woman she killed was six months pregnant. When local leaders later questioned Hanifa, she confessed to poisoning the food, saying:
"I never intended to kill my daughter, but my plan was to kill the neighbors because of taking my daughter to church during this holy month of Ramadan. Our imam had assured us that when you kill a kafir [infidel], Allah rewards one with a Jannah [paradise] called Firdausi, so I wanted to get that Jannah."
Separately, on March 23, a Muslim man stabbed his wife to death moments after she had attended her first church service. Two days earlier, on March 21, Nasiimu Mirembe, 41, had embraced Christ after hearing the Gospel from one of her female friends. On Sunday, March 23, she went with the friend to church. On their way, she recognized a Muslim friend of her husband's and was concerned that he might tell him. After the church service, where she was welcomed as a new Christian, as she traveled home with her friend, she saw her husband, Adamu Mukungu, just 600 feet from the church. According to her friend, who remains anonymous for security reasons, Mukungu said to his wife, "I saw you come out of the church. What you have done is very bad, especially during this period of Ramadan." Continues the friend:
"Immediately he started slapping his wife. I started screaming and shouting for help. Mukungu then removed a long knife and started cutting her with it."
On hearing all the crying, several church members rushed to the scene, prompting the Muslim man to flee. His wife died of internal and external bleeding soon thereafter. She is survived by her six children, aged three to 18.
Nigeria: "Pure genocide" experienced by Christians at the hands of Muslims, some headlines:
March 27: "Suspect Fulani Militants Kill 11 in Brutal Assault on Christian Farming Community."
March 6: "Priest Kidnapped and Slain in Kaduna State."
March 14: "Herdsmen Kill One Christian, then Six Others."
March 18: "Christian Found Dead after Kidnapping in Central Nigeria."
March 12: "Death Sentence Upheld for Christian Defending against Attack: Farmer tried to ward off Fulani herdsmen."
March 6: "Ramadan School Closures Affect Christian Students."
Muslim Abduction, Rape, and Forced Conversion of Christian Girls and Women
Pakistan: On March 25, three Muslim men abducted a married Christian woman at gunpoint and gang-raped her in a field. The incident occurred as Shumaila, who works as a sweeper at a university, and her husband Adnan Masih, a brick-maker, were making their way home after a long day's work. Two armed men hiding behind trees ambushed, beat, and robbed them. According to Adnan:
"They snatched my cell phone and some money at gunpoint and then started threatening me to give them more money. When I told them that I was a poor Christian and an ordinary worker at a brick kiln, they started whispering something into each other's ears."
They made a phone call, and a third man quickly arrived on a motorcycle:
"One of them grabbed my wife's arm and pulled her into a nearby sugarcane field while the other two men loosened the string of my shalwar [baggy pants] and used it to tie me to a tree. They then followed their accomplice into the field and took turns raping my wife."
His cries for help went unheard, and after the assault the men left the scene hurling threats:
"I do not have the words that can express the helplessness and agony I felt during that time. After some time, my wife emerged from the field, her clothes torn and tears flowing down her face. She could barely walk due to the assault, but she slowly approached me and untied my hands. Both of us then just sat there together and cried our hearts out, our minds numbed by the trauma and unable to think anything."
When the traumatized couple finally arrived home later than their usual time, their three children and other worried relatives were waiting for them in the courtyard:
"We did not have the courage to tell them what had happened to us, so we just kept silent and went to our room. We then decided to pray and seek justice from God, which helped in comforting us and gave us hope."
The next morning, he called the police helpline and, thanks to a Christian lawmaker who helped draw attention to the case, the three men were arrested.
Separately, on March 5, a young Christian girl was finally reunited with her parents. Two months earlier, on Jan. 5, Muhammad Ali, a 35-year-old married Muslim man, abducted Saba Masih, the 12-year-old daughter of his Christian neighbor. After forcibly converting her to Islam, he "married" her through a fake Muslim certificate stating that the girl was 18-year-old, even though "Saba's physical appearance also doesn't match the age stated in the alleged marriage and Islamic conversion certificates," her father, Shafique Masih, had said. "Whoever facilitated this sham conversion and marriage should be equally punished along with Ali." When he first reported the kidnapping to police, "the police deliberately misstated Saba's age," writing down that she was 16, even though her father kept insisting she was 12. They also wasted time and offered pretexts before acting:
"The police told me that they needed official permission to go to Sindh Province to recover Saba, but three weeks have passed and there's no progress in the matter. I'm visiting the police station on a daily basis to plead with them to act, but it seems now that they are not serious in finding my minor daughter."
Finally, on March 5 police forces raided an outhouse in a village of Shaheed Benazirabad, recovered Saba and arrested Ali: "I cannot express my joy when I hugged Saba after so many days," her mother, Rakhil Shafique, said. "Her father and I haven't been able to sleep properly all this time, but now we will finally take rest." The 12-year-old Saba also shared what happened on that day when Ali, her trusted 35-year-old married neighbor, kidnapped her:
"On the day he took me from my home, he asked me to accompany him to the bazaar where he would buy me presents. After some time, I asked him to take me back home as my parents would be worried about me, but he snubbed me and forced me to sit on a bus."
He took her to another city where a Muslim cleric fabricated a false religious conversion certificate and performed a sham Islamic marriage that stated her age as 18 years:
"Ali then forced me to record a video saying that I had converted to Islam and married him of my free will. I was also forced to state that I'm 18 years old, and that my parents should not take any action against us... During the time I was there, Ali did bad things with me which numbed my mind and body. He also beat me whenever I used to cry for my parents and told him that I wanted to go back home. I was kept locked in a room most of the time."
Egypt: On March 24, another Christian woman, Damiana Farah Ishaq, 28, disappeared "under mysterious circumstances," off the streets of Cairo. A married mother of a two-year-old child, she had left home to purchase some cooking supplies but never returned. When her family tried calling her cell phone, it was turned off. Her distraught husband and parents have appealed to the minister of interior to help find their daughter.
This scenario — a Christian girl or woman goes somewhere, disappears, and then her phone is turned off — has played out several times in Egypt. Less than one month earlier, for instance, on Feb. 28, 17-year-old Irene Emil, also "vanished" off the streets of Cairo. According to her distraught parents, the girl, still in high school, was on her way to church but never reached it. When they tried calling her cell phone, it had been turned off.
In August 2024, Christina Karim Aziz, a 20-year-old Christian girl, also disappeared off the streets of Asyut, where she had gone to apply for a job. Also in Asyut in 2024, another Irene (Ibrahim Shehata), a 21-year-old Christian, "disappeared".... (For more on this topic, see Coptic Solidarity's report, "Jihad of the Womb: Trafficking of Coptic Women & Girls in Egypt.")
Muslim Violence and Hostility against Christians
Pakistan: On March 21, Muhammad Zohaib, a Muslim supervisor at a paper factory, "violently assaulted a 22-year-old Christian man, Waqas Masih, after he refused to convert to Islam."
"The altercation began when Zohaib confronted Waqas about handling paper with Islamic verses printed on it, deeming him 'impure' because of his Christian faith. Zohaib then demanded that Waqas renounce Christianity and embrace Islam. When Waqas refused, Zohaib viciously attacked him with a sharp paper cutter, slashing his neck in a brutal assault. Severely injured and drenched in blood, Waqas managed to tie his shirt around his neck to control the bleeding while awaiting medical assistance.... Doctors performed surgery, stitching his deep wound with 32 stitches. Although Waqas cannot currently speak due to the severity of the injury, doctors believe it will take at least two months for him to fully recover and regain his speech."
Egypt: On March 16, in Alexandria, a Muslim man hurled rocks at a small Christian girl, severely wounding her head and leaving extremely visible bumps and scars. Her crime? She had been eating in public, and he, the pious Muslim, had been fasting for Ramadan and unwilling to see anyone else eat.
The girl's mother, Marcelle, shared the incident on her Facebook page:
"I was on my way to drop my daughter off at daycare around 9:00 in the morning. As we walked, we ate some food we had bought. Suddenly, a man got out of a private car, shouted, 'Oh Allah—I am fasting!' and hurled stones at us three times. One of them hit my daughter's head."
Although the assailant was identified by surveillance cameras, according to the report, "Ms. Marcelle wonders what legal action can be taken to obtain her rights—or whether it's pointless?"
Somalia: After a Muslim woman converted to Christianity, after what she perceived as a miracle in her life, one by one, her husband and extended family abused and ostracized her. On March 20, Fatuma Hussein, 30, was banished by her husband for talking about Christ. He sent her to her parents—without her three young children, aged three, five, and seven. Then, on March 22, learning that Fatuma was talking about Jesus with her sister, her father assaulted her:
"My father started beating me with sticks and threatening to kill me and immediately kicked me out of the family by chasing me away with a sharp sword. He even told my husband to beat and even kill me whenever I am seen around.... I have lost my children, but the peace of God will continue comforting my heart. Please tell Christian families wherever they are to continue praying for me and support me ... I am lonely, but Issa [Jesus] is with me."
Muslim Persecution of Christian Apostates and Blasphemers
Iran: On March 8, three Muslim converts to Christianity received a combined total of 42 years in prison for practicing their faith: Narges Nasri, who was pregnant, and two men, Mehran Shamloui, and Abbas Soori. They were all initially arrested last November for attending a home church. All were found guilty for engaging in activities "contrary to Islamic law." Discussing the fate of these three Christians, a different report notes:
"Christians, especially those who convert from Islam, are often targeted for persecution and mistreatment in Iran. Moreover, attempting to evangelize about Christianity is prohibited and publicly elevating Jesus Christ over Islamic beliefs about God could get an individual a prison or a death sentence... Iran passed legislation in 2021 that would allow authorities to target religious minorities with prison time in the nation. The law penalizes anyone "engaging in propaganda that educates in a deviant way contrary to the holy religion of Islam.'"
Separately, according to a March 31 report:
"Two brothers who were arrested at a Christmas gathering over three years ago have both been sentenced to four years in prison, fined, and exiled from their home province for two years after their release."
Christian converts Mahmoud Mardani-Kharaji, 56, and Mansour, 50, were also convicted under the amended Article 500 of the penal code, which criminalizes "deviant propaganda activities contrary to the holy religion of Islam." The report adds that "Christian converts are routinely pressured to recant their faith or sign commitments to refrain from any further involvement in Christian activities."
Finally, according to a March 21 report, Mehdi Salim, a Muslim prison guard, beat Amirali Minaei, a Christian convert held in Evin Prison. Knowing that Amirali was suffering from a bad heart and "receiving medical care for pre-existing heart conditions before his imprisonment," the guard intentionally punched him in his chest. Afterwards, prison officials refused Amirali access to the prison clinic or a cardiologist. The 31-year-old convert to Christianity began serving his three years and seven months prison sentence in April 2024 for his Christian activities and "propaganda against the Islamic Republic."
Pakistan: On March 17, federal agents arrested a young Christian man under a blasphemy law that mandates the death sentence. Arsalan Gill, 24, was seized late at night as he was returning home from his daytime job as a sweeper and charged with sharing blasphemous content on Facebook. According to his brother, Suleman Gill:
"The next morning when we were finally able to meet him briefly, we asked him about the accusation. He told us that some unknown persons had added him to two groups on Facebook without his knowledge, and he had no idea about the content that was shared on those pages."
Arsalan Gill was charged with multiple sections of the nation's widely abused blasphemy codes, including Section 295-C, which carries a mandatory death penalty, and Section 11 of the Pakistan Electronic Crimes Act 2016, which prescribes imprisonment of up to seven years for preparing or disseminating blasphemous content. Rights activists say that the impoverished Christian was targeted by a "blasphemy business group" which have entrapped hundreds of innocent people, especially Christians, in false cases of online blasphemy. According to attorney Lazar Alla Rakha:
"The modus operandi is the same in all cases registered by the anti-blasphemy unit of the FIA's Cybercrime Wing. This unit is colluding with Islamist lawyers and activists to trap innocent youths in false cases of blasphemy for extorting money and defending the blatant abuse of the blasphemy laws for other vested interests."
In a separate case, although an 18-year-old Christian won bail against blasphemy charges leveled against him, he remains in jail because the presiding judge is being influenced or pressured by Islamist groups. According to Morning Star News:
"[Judge Naveed Khaliq] initially gave the family of Akash Karamat, who has been jailed for 18 months in three blasphemy cases, the impression that he would accept their March 5 applications to accept bail bond of 100,000 rupees each ($358 USD) as per a high court's orders but kept delaying the written order on one pretext or another."
The family of the youth kept going to the court and appealing the judge, but he kept stalling. On March 19, the impoverished parents again waited in the court for several hours before being presented before the judge:
"Finally, the judge asked us to come forward and categorically told us that he would not give a written decision on our applications... Earlier when our attorney submitted an application with the judge for declaring Akash a juvenile, he sat on the decision for six months. Now he has dragged the matter for 15 days, when he could have simply rejected the applications so that we could go to the next forum, i.e. the Lahore High Court."
After saying that it was clear that the judge was under immense pressure from Muslim groups, the father added, "but isn't it his responsibility to decide the matter as per the law even if it is against us?"
Indonesia: Although Pakistan seems to be the primary or even only nation to zealously enforce Islamic blasphemy laws, according to a March 21 report, even in Indonesia, which is often presented as an exceptionally moderate Muslim nation, Christians are being persecuted for blasphemy: "A rash of complaints to police in Indonesia accusing Christians of blasphemy on social media has driven several of them abroad to seek refuge." The report offers several examples:
"Abraham Ben Moses, previously known as Sjaifuddin Ibrahim, a former Muslim lecturer at an Islamic college and now a Christian pastor, was imprisoned for blasphemy from 2018 to 2022 and later again charged with blasphemy for proposing to remove 300 quranic verses that he deemed unfriendly to non-Muslims. His actions sparked outrage among hardline Muslims, leading to a call for a six-year prison sentence and a fine of 1 billion rupees. He avoided prosecution by fleeing to the United States, as did another Christian apologist, Sofia al-Hayat...
"In Indonesia the state is usually absent when Christians are persecuted but shows up large when Muslims in the Muslim-majority country face opposition..."
Bonar Tigor Naipospos, of the Setara Institute for Democracy and Peace, said it was clear why Christians took refuge abroad:
"Here, in Indonesia, they cannot speak freely because they probably receive physical threats and be [sic] criminalized on blasphemous charges."
Muslim Attacks on Churches and Christian Institutions
Indonesia: Local officials in East Borneo Province refused to allow Christians to build a church, even though the congregation had met all legal requirements for a permit. According to the March 31 report:
"The congregation has spent 10 years on the application, obtaining names and ID cards of 90 people approved by local officials, approval of 60 local people and village heads and last September winning recommendations of the local Interfaith Forum."
Hendra Kusuma, chairman of the East Kalimantan Alliance for Advocacy for Freedom of Religion and Belief, accused the government of being more interested in appeasing Muslim groups that are religiously intolerant rather than enforcing rules:
"They are more afraid of a handful of people who reject the church's existence, even though the state guarantees freedom of religion and worship... Not a single party is brave and firm enough to resolve the problem."
A church member, Elizabeth, expressed the congregation's frustration:
"We just want to build a church for worship. We all have the right to embrace our respective religions and worship in our respective places of worship. Our rights should still be given according to the law."
Similarly, on March 10, Muslim residents of Wakaboti demonstrated against the planned construction of another church, although the congregation—which was forced to hold Christmas services in a police hall last December— desperately needs a place to worship in.
On March 5, fasting Muslims demonstrated against the use of a building for Catholic worship in Jalan Ski Air, even though the building is on Catholic owned land. The report adds:
"The Catholic congregation in Arcamanik, which has 1,400 members, needs a proper place of worship. The church has owned the building since the 1980s and is currently processing the official permit that was submitted a year ago."
Finally, according to a March 18 report:
"although a construction permit for Gamaliel Christian School was approved, local authorities of Parepare City stopped construction after a group of Muslims protested the Christian school's presence."
Egypt: On March 17, another fire "broke out" in another Coptic church, St. Athanasius the Apostolic Church in the Qalyub al-Mahta district, causing material damage, but no casualties. Firefighters contained the blaze before it spread to the rest of the building. Although the authorities were quick to rule out arson, this was just the latest of many churches to "accidentally" catch fire in Egypt in recent months and year. (See here, here, here, here, here, and here for examples.
In one month alone, August 2022, 11 churches supposedly "caught fire." In one of these fires, 41 Christian worshippers, including many children, were killed.) That many "accidental" fires suggest one of two things: either the "radicals" have—possibly with insider help, possibly from state security—become more sophisticated and clandestine in their attacks on churches (in one instance, a surveillance camera caught a votary candle suddenly and randomly exploding and creating a fire), or else Coptic Christians, for some inexplicable reason, must have become the most careless and fire-prone people in the world: more Coptic churches than any other kind seem to keep "accidentally catching fire."
*Raymond Ibrahim, author of Defenders of the West, Sword and Scimitar, Crucified Again, and The Al Qaeda Reader, is the Distinguished Senior Shillman Fellow at the Gatestone Institute and the Judith Rosen Friedman Fellow at the Middle East Forum.
*About this Series
While not all, or even most, Muslims are involved, persecution of Christians by extremists is growing. The report posits that such persecution is not random but rather systematic, and takes place irrespective of language, ethnicity, or location. It includes incidents that take place during, or are reported on, any given month.
*Follow Raymond Ibrahim on X (formerly Twitter) and Facebook
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https://www.gatestoneinstitute.org/21584/persecution-of-christians-march

Hamas’s next front? Sudan’s Islamist army and the African threat to Israel - opinion
By AMJAD TAHA, EITAN NEISHLOS/Jerusalem Post/May 04/202
Sudan is no longer just a battlefield. It is rapidly becoming a terror hub, strategically positioned near Israel’s southern flank and the vital shipping lanes of the Red Sea. As Israel marks its 77th Independence Day, it must confront a growing threat: Sudan’s Armed Forces have become the Hamas of Africa, and the armed wing of the Muslim Brotherhood.Backed by extremists, fueled by ideology, and infiltrated by terrorists, this army may soon serve as the launchpad for the next October 7th-style assault, only this time from Africa.
Sudan, once seen as a promising partner under the Abraham Accords, is now collapsing into a stronghold for global jihadists. UAE intelligence recently foiled an illegal shipment of weapons destined for the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF), which are openly aligning with radical Islamist groups. This same network has supported terrorists behind recent attacks in Kashmir, India; smuggled Iranian weapons to Hamas; and previously trained Osama bin Laden’s fighters, all under SAF’s protection. Sudan is no longer just a battlefield. It is rapidly becoming a terror hub, strategically positioned near Israel’s southern flank and the vital shipping lanes of the Red Sea.
The Baraa ibn Malik Brigade, operating under SAF, openly venerates Sayyid Qutb, the ideological architect of jihadism. Its leader, Al-Musbah Abu Zaid, often referred to as the Yahya Sinwar of Sudan, poses with figures like Mukhtar Badri, notorious for anti-Semitic incitement and global terror ties. Al Qaeda’s Abu Hudhayfah al-Sudani has resurfaced, urging a new generation of Sudanese youth to join global jihad. His calls for martyrdom and guerrilla warfare mirror the ideology behind Hamas’s October 7th massacre. At the same time, Daesh (ISIS) fighters are exploiting Sudan’s chaos to launder money, move weapons, and target maritime chokepoints near Israeli shipping lanes. The Red Sea, crucial for global commerce and Israeli security, is now within their sights. While General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan claims to support normalization with Israel, the facts on the ground tell a different story. Islamist figures like Ali Karti, seen by many as the Ismail Haniyeh of Khartoum, and Mohamed Ali al-Jazouli have re-entered Sudanese politics, using SAF as a platform to restore the Muslim Brotherhood’s influence in the region.
Iran as a central actor in Islamist resurgence
Iran is also a central actor in this Islamist resurgence. Port Sudan has quietly transformed into a key node in Tehran’s regional weapons network. Through covert maritime shipments and military contracts, Iran has begun supplying drones to the Sudanese Armed Forces, the same types used by the Houthis to target Israeli-linked vessels in the Red Sea. This is no longer just a tactical partnership. It is a strategic expansion. Port Sudan is poised to become Iran’s logistical hub for arming proxies across Africa, from the Horn to the Sahel. Intelligence sources have already reported increased drone transfers through Iranian front companies operating near the port. History provides a stark warning. In 2009 and 2012, Israel conducted airstrikes on Sudanese convoys smuggling Iranian weapons to Gaza via Egypt’s Sinai Peninsula. Known as Operation Blue and Operation Cloud, these missions exposed a deeply entrenched arms corridor between Iran, Sudan, and Hamas. That corridor is once again active, more sophisticated, more clandestine, and far more dangerous. With Iran using Port Sudan to evade sanctions and arm extremist allies, the Red Sea is no longer just a geopolitical passage. It is becoming a battlefield.
Israel cannot afford to overlook this buildup. The convergence of Sudan’s Islamist revival and Iran’s drone diplomacy could redraw the security map of Africa and redefine Israel’s southern threat calculus. This is not just Sudan’s internal crisis. This is Israel’s southern front. Africa’s Gaza in the making.
What must Israel and its allies do?
Israel and its allies must expose Sudan’s Islamist alliances and block their access to weapons and funding; Reframe Sudan’s war not only as a humanitarian disaster but as a strategic terror threat; and secure the Red Sea through intensified maritime surveillance and deterrence operations because the next wave of Hamas-style terror may not emerge from Gaza. It may rise from the Nile. Israel’s 77 years of resilience must now be matched by foresight. And foresight begins with watching Sudan before it strikes.
**Amjad Taha is an Emirati Political Strategist in the United Arab Emirates. Eitan Neishlos is a Dubai-based Jewish philanthropist.

At a turning point? All eyes on Washington, feet still in Gaza
Yossi Yehoshu/Ynetnews/May/04/2025
Analysis: Government balancing strategic shifts in aid delivery and covert operations with growing domestic unease over hostages, reservist deployments and war objectives.
As clashes in Gaza continue to claim a heavy toll, the Security Cabinet is expected to convene on Sunday to greenlight a large-scale reserve call-up and approve plans for expanded ground operations. While some call-up orders to reservists have already been issued, the primary goal of the meeting is to formalize the next phase of combat in the enclave. The move signals a new round of upheaval — not only for families now facing renewed deployments of parents but especially for the hostages’ families, who are demanding answers from the military and government about their loved ones' fate.
Under the plan, some reservists will replace conscripts stationed outside southern Israel, freeing up forces for combat in Gaza. Others will be sent directly into the Strip. The strategic push follows the collapse of indirect ceasefire negotiations, which failed after Israel refused to proceed to the second phase of the previous ceasefire and hostage release deal. According to a senior IDF official, the military is now preparing to implement what’s been described as a decisive campaign to defeat Hamas: “We’re heading for a significant change in Gaza — a broad, decisive move in areas we haven’t operated in before, using a different approach.”That vagueness is intentional, meant to catch Hamas off guard. Still, leaks are likely. Two other changes — while not operational in nature — are expected to influence the outcome: the end of humanitarian aid deliveries via Hamas and the revival of U.S. President Donald Trump's proposal for “voluntary migration” out of Gaza. On the first front, the IDF is set to implement a plan — approved by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Israel Katz — to allow humanitarian aid into Gaza via a civilian company rather than direct IDF distribution. The number of aid trucks entering Gaza will be significantly reduced from the current level of around 650 per day. Still, IDF Chief of Staff Eyal Zamir assured the Cabinet that enough aid would be provided to avoid famine, in an effort to preserve international legitimacy. That legitimacy, however, is increasingly fragile outside the U.S. In Europe, diplomatic support for Israel has sharply declined and it remains unclear whether the new approach will change minds in European capitals like Paris, London or Berlin.
As for Trump’s vision, hopes for a mass exodus of Gazans face multiple hurdles. There’s no concrete plan in place, Trump is preoccupied with other matters (on Monday, he made headlines for joking about replacing the pope) and his upcoming diplomatic visit to Gulf states is more likely to focus on deal-making than regional realignment.
That visit — expected mid-May — could complicate or delay any wide-scale military operation. If Trump’s goal is to secure regional agreements rather than pick fights with allies like Saudi Arabia or Qatar, the anticipated ground offensive is unlikely to take the form of a full multi-division assault in the immediate term.Meanwhile, a drone strike on a Gaza aid ship has offered a glimpse into efforts to enforce the Israeli blockade. According to reports, the ship, part of the "Freedom Flotilla to Gaza," was struck in international waters near Malta while en route from Tunisia to Gaza. The vessel was carrying humanitarian supplies and international pro-Palestinian activists. A Western security source told Saudi outlet Al Arabiya that the ship was part of a Hamas-led convoy and claimed it was attempting to provoke confrontation with Israeli forces. The source added that Hamas had used false commercial covers to organize the mission.Israel has not claimed responsibility for the drone strike, which reportedly disabled the ship’s generator, triggered a fire and left it adrift. Rescue teams from Malta and Cyprus evacuated all 16 people on board — 12 crew and four civilians — with no injuries reported. If Israel truly was behind the operation, it would mark a continuation of covert military action against Hamas beyond the airstrikes and ground operations. Still, none of these developments change the underlying reality: Israel's national holidays were clouded by anxiety over the fate of the hostages, the growing burden on military families and public unease about the war’s true objectives — both stated and unstated.
It is not only reasonable but essential to demand that decision-makers weigh every cost — strategic, political and human — before moving forward.