Summary: President Trump’s Middle East trip resulted in billions of dollars in deals, including arms and tech for Saudi Arabia. It did nothing to curb Qatar’s influence on media or on campuses, and did not result in a deal with Iran to curb its nuclear ambitions nor its support for terrorists. There is a new in-depth report on Hamas’ “Human Shield Strategy.” Hamas and the Taliban each released one American hostage. Hamas still holds 58 captives and continues to reject any hostage deal. Hamas praised Canada, France, and the UK for threatening Israel. For the third day in a row, Gazans are again risking their lives to protest Hamas. The Houthis in Yemen continue to fire rockets at Israeli cities.

-------------------------------------------

Hostage Update: It's been 593 days too many. 

At least 20 are believed to be alive and in desperate condition. Edan Alexander’s release was apparently secured through a secret backchannel between the U.S. and Hamas, brokered by Palestinian-American businessman Bishara Bahbah, chair of “Arab Americans for Trump.” Aid renewal to Gaza was part of the deal to free Alexander. Hamas continues to reject a new hostage deal.

Afghanistan

American, George Glezmann, detained by Taliban in Afghanistan is freed in deal mediated by Qatar https://www.cnn.com/2025/03/20/asia/us-citizen-george-glezmann-released-taliban-afghanistan-qatar-intl

Canada

France, the UK, and Canada have announced Israel must stop any military operations in Gaza or face sanctions. Hamas thanked Canada!

Iran

Additional Iran sanctions imposed at the same time President Trump has offered lifting all economic sanctions on Iran, if the country would commit to never making nuclear weapons and also eliminate its stockpiles of highly enriched uranium. (No mention of ending their support for terrorists) Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said that the nuclear talks between America and Iran are unlikely to be successful.  See https://home.treasury.gov/news/press-releases/sb0139, https://www.cnn.com/2025/05/20/middleeast/iran-supreme-leader-talks-us-conclusion-unlikely-intl and https://www.reuters.com/business/energy/lifting-us-sanctions-iran-could-crush-chinas-teapot-oil-refineries-bousso-2025-05-19/

 Israel

>Israel came in second at the Eurovision competition. Finland and Spain broadcasted anti-Israel messages before Yuval’s performance. Now that the contest is over, Finland accused Israel of engineering Eurovision votes and Spain is saying the audience vote isn’t fair because it was “influenced by the war.”

>What’s it like to dodge missiles in Israel? https://www.youtube.com/shorts/7us38-qlH_Q 

>What has Israel accomplished in response to attacks from Hamas and Hezbollah? https://x.com/HilzFuld/status/1923995551650951594

>Israel sending negotiators to Doha for hostage talks, after US-Israeli captive freed  https://www.timesofisrael.com/israel-sending-negotiators-to-doha-for-hostage-talks-after-us-israeli-captive-freed/   

>Poll: 81 Percent of Israelis Oppose Leaving Hamas in Power in Gaza (Jerusalem Post) 

>Israeli Intelligence to Help Ecuador in War on Cartels (AFP-Le Monde-France)

Lebanon

>Lebanese Army Seizes Captagon Pills, Equipment at Syrian Border (Arab News)

>UN Says Found 225 Hizbullah Arms Caches since Truce (AFP) UNIFIL, the UN peacekeeping force in Lebanon, said Monday that since the Nov. 27, 2024, truce between Israel and Hizbullah it had uncovered more than 225 Hizbullah weapons caches in the south.

Palestinians/Hamas/PA

>Hamas Human Shield Strategy: Civilian casualties are not solely a tragic outcome of Israel's actions, but a deliberate result of Hamas's grotesque military doctrine. Hamas’s Human Shield Strategy https://henryjacksonsociety.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/HJS-Hamass-Human-Shield-Strategy-in-Gaza-Report-WEB.pdf  Both Palestinians and Israelis who have been held captive in Gaza hospitals confirm that they are being used by terrorists for military purposes. Israel has issued 21 million evacuation warnings. Israel tells Palestinians to evacuate, even at the cost of alerting Hamas and risking the hostages, to minimize civilian casualties as much as possible. Israel is continuing to destroy tunnels, target the remaining Hamas leaders, and has resumed aid deliveries -  including some 100 trucks today carrying flour, baby food and medical supplies.

>Footage challenges repeated claims of starvation in Gaza as war ramps up https://www.ynetnews.com/article/r17lo2wbxg#autoplay

>People in Gaza, while evacuating from Khan Yunis, told the journalist filming them: “Record this and let those sons of b**** Hamas leaders see what people are enduring,” and “No, it’s not the Jews—it’s Hamas.” https://x.com/IhabHassane/status/1924602630581432566

>Double standards: PLO thanks Egypt for hosting released terrorists, while ‎backing Egypt’s rejection of Gazan civilians who are in danger https://palwatch.org/page/37152

Qatar

>Experts: Qatar-gifted Air Force One may be security, upgrade disaster https://www.defensenews.com/air/2025/05/12/experts-qatar-gifted-air-force-one-may-be-security-upgrade-disaster/

>America for Sale: Qatar’s $40 Billion Spending Spree Buys Influence and Control of Elite Institutions. Qatar’s Strategic Investments in the U.S. Include Critical Infrastructure in Oil and Gas, Higher Education, Trophy Properties, and Political Access https://www.meforum.org/mef-reports/america-for-sale-qatars-40-billion-spending-spree-buys-influence-and-control-of-elite-institutions

UN

UN Envoy, Francesca Albanese, Took Trips Paid for by Hamas-Linked Groups and Lied about It (Ynet News) 

USA

During President Trumps tour of the Middle East he secured deals worth billions of dollars including selling $142 billion worth of arms to Saudi Arabia, and Qatar promising to invest $38 billion in the U.S. defense sector.

>East Real Estate Diplomacy in a Minefield https://maralsalmassi.substack.com/p/trumps-legacy-deal-no-exit

>How Arabs See Trump's 'Separate Peace' and Deals With Islamists (Gatestone) 

>Trump in Riyadh: "All Civilized People Must Condemn the October 7 Atrocities Against Israel" (Roll Call)

>White House: "The Idea that We Would Abandon Israel Is Absurd"  (Ynet News)

THE MEDIA

>NBC News Is Quietly Rewriting Its Own Reporting on the Israel-Hamas War https://honestreporting.com/nbc-news-is-quietly-rewriting-its-own-reporting-on-the-israel-hamas-war/ 

>The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) published a report revealing how Gazan reporters are being threatened, stalked, and assaulted. https://cpj.org/2025/05/gaza-journalists-speak-out-about-hamas-intimidation-threats-assaults/ This comes after CPJ designated terrorists as journalists, including hostage holders.

To those who celebrate: Happy Passover! As we remember the Exodus and the Israelites' journey from bondage to freedom, let us not forget those hostages who remain in captivity in Gaza today after more than a year and a half. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9NbhiYYHCvY&t=1s
 
HOSTAGE UPDATE: 553 Days, 59 Hostages still in Hamas captivity.
There are 24 hostages presumed to be alive who are still held by Hamas.
Another Saturday, another Hamas hostage video. The terrorists dropped a *teaser* for a hostage propaganda video they plan to release later. Instead of releasing the hostages, feeding the Palestinian people, or ending the war, they produce teaser videos showing hostages being tortured.
 
The Taliban will no longer allow Afghan women to see with both eyes.
https://x.com/realMaalouf/status/1906403177316176266
Note: one of the jobs of the recently shuttered US Institute of Peace was Tracking the Taliban’s (Mis) Treatment of Women. That page is no longer functioning.
 
Smuggling Tunnels from Egypt to Gaza Still Open  (Jerusalem Post)
 
Al Jazeera Analyst Calls on Hamas to Murder Gaza Protestors
https://x.com/EFischberger/status/1907533826722828494
 
➤Iranian Official Reveals: How We Eliminated Regime Opponents in Europe  (Jerusalem Center for Security and Foreign Affairs)
➤The U.S. has a third path on Iran aside from diplomacy, military strikes — maximum support for Iranians to bring down the theocratic regime https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLmEsAFBNkqsMQnt5pypwEX0ul0NyIjd3E&feature=shared
 
➤The lies behind the Gaza casualty figures and the thousands of names removed without explanation https://nypost.com/2025/04/05/opinion/the-lies-behind-the-gaza-casualty-figures/
 ➤Gazans are risking their lives protesting Hamas. Glasgow University rector Ghassan Abu-Sittah calls them traitors. Western media still treats him as a hero. https://honestreporting.com/medias-darling-doctor-ghassan-abu-sittah-anti-hamas-palestinians-stabbed-resistance-in-the-back/
➤CNN Platforms Hamas Apologist While Silencing Gaza’s Real Protest Voices https://honestreporting.com/cnn-platforms-hamas-apologist-while-silencing-gazas-real-protest-voices/
➤Hamas uses DARVO -- Deny, Attack, Reverse Victim and Offender -- in the same way that individual abusers do, to confuse and silence https://www.israelhayom.com/opinions/how-hamas-emulates-tactic-of-violent-abusers-and-weaponizes-it-against-israel/
 
South African Government Accused of Foreknowledge of October 7th Hamas Attack
https://www.iol.co.za/the-star/news/sa-accused-of-prior-knowledge-in-hamas-attack-d9786146-67b7-4997-9783-82d5a23372d2
 
Israel and Turkey Hold Direct Talks on Deconfliction Link in Syria - (Middle East Eye-UK)
 
London will host foreign ministers from nearly 20 countries as part of a summit aimed at ending the Sudanese civil war between the SAF and the RSF. The SAF has accused the UAE – a U.K. ally – of being a key backer of the RSF, while Saudi Arabia is a backer of the SAF.
 
➤Francesca Albanese: Contract with the UNITED NATIONS renewed for 3 more years after denying Hamas’s sexual crimes, accusing Israel of carrying terror attack in Paris, and implying that Israelis eat human flesh.  U.N. investigators into (UN Watch) our complaint find that Francesca Albanese's tweets may look antisemitic, but clear her for reappointment tomorrow to a 3-year term because they were “reassured” by her “detailed explanations.” https://unwatch.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/Letter-from-Coordination-Committee-on-Albanese.pdf
 
➤In a new op-ed, 167 rabbis from across New Jersey and across the ideological spectrum came together to condemn Senator Andy Kim's (D-NJ) votes last week in support of Bernie Sanders' resolutions to block vital arms sales to Israel,

Day 462 Hostages Update: The bodies of Youssef Ziyadne and his son, Hamza Al-Ziyadnah, kidnapped into Gaza by Hamas on October 7 and previously believed to be among the living hostages, were recovered from tunnels in Gaza. U.S. and Israeli intelligence believe only about 20 of the 251 hostages taken by Hamas on October 7, 2023, are still alive.

Secretary of State Antony Blinken said that while "we very much want to bring this over the finish line in the next two weeks," Hamas remains the final obstacle: "We need Hamas to make the final necessary decisions to complete the agreement." The United States must urgently increase the pressure on Hamas and its sponsors in Iran, Qatar and Turkey to release the hostages.

Black Christians Enslaved in Africa: Charles Jacobs & Simon Deng https://www.youtube.com/watch?app=desktop&v=ry8ABIHOPJI Oct 7 is pretty much a monthly occurrence in Nigeria and Sudan. “Hamas is no different than Boko Haram in Nigeria,“ says Mr. Jacobs. ”It’s one front in Israel, but it belongs to a global movement. And people need to know that.”

What's behind the legal action against an IDF soldier in Brazil?  

https://x.com/AmichaiChikli/status/1876030987060027567 and https://jewishinsider.com/2025/01/hind-rajab-foundation-israeli-soldiers-gaza-travel-terror-ties/ and https://www.jpost.com/diaspora/antisemitism/article-836274 “The organization, Hind Rajab Foundation (HRF), has so far failed in its schemes to arrest IDF soldiers, although its complaints have caused a reserve officer to leave Cyprus and another soldier to leave Sri Lanka.” Dyab Abou Jahjah, HRF Chair, has proudly admitted links to Hezbollah.

Lebanon Is Not Serious about Disarming Hizbullah  (Asia Times-Hong Kong)

Lebanon’s PM vows to disarm country’s south after new president threatens Hezbollah (Times of Israel)

Palestinian Authority Security Forces Involvement in Terrorism (Regavim)

Hamas Recruits Thousands of New Fighters in Gaza  (Jerusalem Center for Security and Foreign Affairs) The funds for this recruitment are reportedly from the sale of humanitarian aid packages, which Hamas forcibly seizes and resells.

Fatah brags that it is the leader of Palestinian terror https://palwatch.org/page/36789

2024 Editor's Picks: Top Palestinian Clips From The MEMRI TV Project 

https://www.memri.org/reports/2024-editors-picks-top-palestinian-clips-memri-tv-project

Globe And Mail (Canada) Columnist Twists Israel’s Defenses Against Syria Into “Rapacious” “Land Grab” https://honestreporting.ca/petitions/globe-and-mail-columnist-twists-israels-defenses-against-syria-into-rapacious-land-grab/

U.S. Setting Up New Base in Northern Syria  (The War Zone)

At the Golden Globes on January 4, 2025: 

Gal Gadot, a tireless and brave advocate for Israel and the hostages, was banned from wearing a pin for the release of the hostages as she hosted the Golden Globes 

Guy Pearce choose to prominently wear the "Artists4Ceasefire" Red Hand pin, at the Golden Globe Awards Show

At Columbia University, Johannah King-Slutzky, who requested “humanitarian aid” on behalf of the Hamilton Hall occupiers, is teaching a class on Contemporary Western Civilization AGAIN; but law professor Katherine Franke says she was forced to retire because she discriminated against Israelis.

Inside the “Museum of Terror” created by anti-Israel student groups at Columbia University https://www.thefp.com/p/columbia-university-anti-israel-museum-of-terror

JVP denounced over ties to terrorism  https://www.standwithus.com/post/jewish-voice-for-peace-jvp-report

BREAKING Rep Roy and Rep Mast's bill to sanction the ICC (HR 23) PASSES with a bipartisan vote.

Trump Administration Plans Crippling Sanctions on ICC  (Israel Hayom)

See No Evil...

On a recent interview with WHO, the director said he had no knowledge of Hamas using hospitals (they don't investigate those charges), but Israel is committing war crime by targeting hospitals. 

With regard to aid going to Gaza, the UN only counts Gaza aid trucks from UNRWA and the WFP. In December alone, they neglected to count the aid from 43 other organizations—totaling 2,252 trucks.

Despite Hamas' ongoing attacks and theft of humanitarian assistance, Israel continues to surge significant amounts of aid into Gaza. Tuesday alone, 230 humanitarian aid trucks entered Gaza, while approximately 800 trucks worth of aid were awaiting collection and distribution by aid agencies inside of Gaza.

UNRWA ties to terrorism https://unwatch.org/new-investigation-exposes-un-agencys-shocking-ties-to-terror-groups/

 Last night, Amnesty International issued a slanderous new report accusing Israel of “genocide.” In reality, it’s Israel that has been the victim of a genocidal attack launched by Iranian proxies that have vowed to eliminate the Jewish state. 

 Amnesty International  Launches New Round of Biased Anti-Israel Charges (CAMERA) Amnesty has now said basically any war in which civilians are killed -- i.e., all wars -- are genocide, even wars of self-defense. see also https://ngo-monitor.org/reports/amnestys-genocide-inversion/ 

and https://palwatch.org/page/35734 and https://x.com/elderofziyon/status/1864677855256301910

Day 426 and 100 hostages are still held by Hamas. 

 America must increase pressure on Turkey, Egypt, and Qatar to use the leverage it has to pressure Hamas to accept a deal and free the 100 hostages. Israel Presents Hamas New Ceasefire and Hostage Release Deal. (Walla-Jerusalem Post)

American Hostage Edan Alexander from Tenafly, New Jersey, is in Hamas’ latest 3-minute and 35-second propaganda video. In it, he states that he’s been held for 420 days, which may be an indication it was recently filmed and that he's still alive.  He is one of seven Americans still held captive by the barbaric terrorist group in Gaza.

Day 423 Hostages Update: It was learned that Omer Neutra, originially from NY, was Killed on October 7 and his body was taken hostage by Hamas. He was previously thought to be among the living hostages. 

The IDF has announced the recovery of the body of Israeli hostage Itai Svirsky. Hamas filmed Itai shortly before his death alongside Noa Argamani and Yossi Sharabi. The video was mockingly titled "Guess who of them died? He had been taken into Gaza alive, but was cruelly executed by Hamas after nearly 100 days in captivity. 

Hamas leaders have ordered operatives to execute any hostages if the IDF attempts to rescue them. The statement was made as Hamas leaders claimed to have intelligence about an impending Israeli rescue attempt.

"The Australian Government Is Confused between Good and Evil" (Australian Jewish News)  Former Israeli Justice Minister Ayelet Shaked denied visa

Belgium film festival pulled The Belle of Gaza. The film they canceled tells the story of a Palestinian trans woman who escapes Gaza to seek refuge in Tel Aviv — the most “welcoming and friendly atmosphere” for the LGBTQ+ community in the Middle East.  While the organizers expressed disagreement with the anti-Israel protesters, they ultimately chose to cancel the screening to maintain “a welcoming and friendly atmosphere” at the festival.

German University, University of Leipzig, Cancels Lecture by Israeli Historian Benny Morris “…one of the reasons the college offered for rescinding the invitation—namely, that Muslim students will feel uncomfortable."

Israel’s New Approach to Tunnels: A Paradigm Shift in Underground Warfare 

https://mwi.westpoint.edu/israels-new-approach-to-tunnels-a-paradigm-shift-in-underground-warfare/

Fuel oil smuggling network rakes in $1 billion for Iran and its proxies https://www.yahoo.com/news/fuel-oil-smuggling-network-rakes-041056356.html

Hezbollah broke the ceasefire, launching missiles at Israel. Hezbollah has reminded the world that a ceasefire with a terrorist organization will always be one-sided. And yet: “US follows France in warning Israel over ceasefire violations” https://www.jns.org/iaf-hits-hezbollah-after-terror-group-fires-mortars-at-mount-dov/

Hezbollah is already working to rearm and regroup

AP reports pro-Hamas incitement and support for Hamas's Oct. 7 attack as "anti-war" protest 

https://www.camera.org/article/camera-op-ed-ap-disguises-incitement-as-anti-war-protest/

The IDF eliminated a terrorist who took part in the October 7th massacre in Kibbutz Nir Oz. The terrorist, also worked for the World Central Kitchen. He posted this about himself on Facebook.

Hamas views the Lebanon ceasefire as Israeli capitulation and demands similar terms 

https://palwatch.org/page/35707

Reuters is still employing 5 journalists who were honored by Hamas.

https://x.com/HonestReporting/status/1863708076550893977 More on Reuters unreliable news here: https://www.camera.org/article/on-reuters-reliable-news-and-carpet-bombing/

What's happening in Syria?

The UN General Assembly has adopted a resolution on giving Israel’s Golan Heights to Syria (UN News)

More than 30 churches in Aleppo and 50,000 Christians are now under the control of jihadists from lslamic groups in Syria. Ethnic and religious minorities like the Kurds and Christians are under attack with the Islamist terrorist takeover of their city.  Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) leader Abu Mohammed al-Jawlani's strategy involved coordinating with Turkish-backed groups to ensure success.

There are multiple competing factions fighting in Aleppo and Hama, including

https://x.com/elicalebon/status/1862964509591392557

- Islamist groups such as HTS with its roots in Al Qaeda, and ISIS. HTS endorses a Salafist-jihadist ideology which opposes Israel and the west and seeks to establish an oppressive (Sunni) Islamic state under Sharia law with strict dress codes for women. They also oppose other opposition forces for their secular/democratic ambitions. 

- SDF (Syrian Democratic Forces) are a Kurdish coalition that seeks autonomy in the northeast region. 

- Turkey backs the SNA (Syrian National Army) which also opposes Assad’s regime but in addition, because it opposes the Kurdish forces. Turkey’s objective is to prevent an autonomous Kurdish region across its southern border/northern Syria, where it seeks to relocate millions of Syrian refugees. It also seeks to extend its own influence across the region as it enjoyed before the collapse of the Ottoman Empire at the turn of the 20th century. 

 - The Assad regime is supported by Russia and the Islamic regime in Iran, particularly through its proxy, Hezbollah

Iranian Plane Suspected of Ferrying Arms to Hizbullah Blocked by Israel Air Force over Syria  (Times of Israel)

Iranian-backed militias enter Syria from Iraq to aid beleaguered Syrian army 

https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/pro-iranian-militias-enter-syria-iraq-aid-beleaguered-syrian-army-2024-12-02/

In the UK, the Exeter International Dance Film Festival (EDIFF) removed the film Rave, a short dance piece by Israeli choreographer Dor Eldar, from its 2024 line-up. The October 7 film was initially accepted into the festival’s programme but the festival's management then told Eldar they had decided to cancel the screening, citing pressure from sponsors and artists, and concerns that they did not want to appear “political”.

Campus radicalization: how extremist narratives target new students on UK campuses https://cameraoncampus.org/blog/campus-radicalization-how-extremist-narratives-target-new-students-on-uk-campuses/

Scottish School Textbook Teaches that Israel Is "Apartheid, Colonial Regime"  (Jewish Chronicle-UK)

On Campus

There are just too many examples of skyrocketing antisemitism and efforts to erase Jews from public spaces "because Israel."  So, it's nice to see some progress on campuses.

Occidental College in Los Angeles has agreed to comprehensive reforms to address antisemitism, settling a civil rights complaint. 

Temple University and the U.S. Department of Education, came to an agreement which outlines how Temple can better address antisemitic and anti-Zionist incidents on campus.

George Mason University suspended its chapter of Students for Justice in Palestine (SJP).

University of Minnesota has punished seven pro-terrorist activists for commandeering an administrative building.