A senior US official told CNN that Washington is stepping up surveillance efforts to ensure readiness in case Israeli authorities decide to launch a military operation against Iran. NOTAM A0657/25 issued: Danger area extended to Akrotiri (Cyprus) for military flights on May 21, 2025. Possible link with operations in the Middle East due to strategic location. The United States has reportedly received new intelligence indicating that Israel is preparing to strike Iranian nuclear facilities.
The United States is reportedly stepping up intelligence gathering to be ready to provide assistance if Israeli leaders decide to strike, a senior US official told CNN.
“Now is the time to strengthen the existential bond between Azerbaijan, Israel and the United States,” said Rabbi Isayev of Baku, Azerbaijan, who is visiting Jewish communities in the United States.
Europe is starting to distance itself institutionally from the choices of Benjamin Netanyahu’s government: the Spanish Parliament approves the bill to ban arms trade with Israel. “We must impose sanctions on Israel, the genocidal state that is committing a massacre in Gaza before the eyes of the whole world,” said the Spanish Deputy Prime Minister. From the United Kingdom David Lammy, British Foreign Secretary: “We have today suspended negotiations with the Israeli government on a new free trade agreement.” The United Kingdom also joined France’s initiative to recognize a Palestinian state at a UN conference in June. Britain pledges $5 million in aid to the Gaza Strip and is considering imposing sanctions on Smotrich and Ben-Gvir. From France: “We are determined to recognize the State of Palestine,” said Jean-Noël Barrot, French Foreign Minister.
At the moment, 17 EU countries have agreed to review the partnership agreement with Israel, while 9 EU countries have refused. “We categorically reject the direction taken in the EU statement, which reflects a total lack of understanding of the complex reality that Israel is facing,” a source from the Israeli Foreign Ministry said.
The Italian Foreign Ministry summons the Israeli ambassador over the Jenin attack on the European diplomatic delegation. “Israel must face the consequences of its violations of international humanitarian law,” said the Norwegian Foreign Ministry. “The government is proposing a law to ban imports from Israel,” the Irish Foreign Ministry said. “We are evaluating the possibility of extending an air bridge to bring aid to Gaza,” according to a note from the Belgian Foreign Ministry. “We demand a convincing explanation from Israel following the Jenin incident,” – Belgian Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Spanish Foreign Minister José Manuel Albares: “We have summoned the Israeli ambassador after the Israeli army opened fire during a diplomatic visit.” Finnish Foreign Minister Elina Valtonen: The Israeli army’s shooting during a diplomatic delegation’s visit to the Jenin camp is dangerous and deserves condemnation. The EU condemned Israel’s attack on a foreign delegation in Jenin, in the West Bank.
For the first time in two months, Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu held a conference where he announced the number one head of the Shin Bet. Decision that still raises discontent: “The government’s decision to terminate the Shin Bet chief [Ronen Bar] was made improperly and in violation of the law, at a time when the Prime Minister [Netanyahu] was in conflict of interest [with Bar],” source Israeli Supreme Court of Justice.
Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz visited the Shin Bet headquarters and the Ashdod naval base off the coast of Gaza. Opposition says “Israel risks becoming a pariah state and the Israeli leadership must recognize this.” Kann reports. Former IDF general and Israeli opposition figure Yair Golan said Israel risks becoming a “pariah state” and accused it of “killing children as a hobby.” He later clarified that he was criticizing far-right leaders, not the military
According to Israel Hayom, a pro-Likud outlet: “The large-scale military maneuver that the army is planning in Gaza will last about two months.” “The Israeli army plans to take control of much of the Gaza Strip during this time.” And it goes on to say: ”Israel plans to speed up evacuation of Gaza residents.”
The Israeli delegation has begun returning from Doha, Qatar, meaning that talks to free the hostages have failed. Prime Minister Netanyahu’s office says Hamas has rejected Witkoff’s offer to release the hostages, hence the return of the Israeli delegation from Qatar.
Yesterday, May 21, Mahmoud Abbas, President of the Palestinian National Authority, was visiting Beirut, Lebanon, to meet with his counterpart Joseph Aoun.
And now a look at the military scenarios. A Panamanian-flagged UAE container ship was hijacked in the Gulf of Oman, near the Iranian port of Bandar-e-Jask. The ship was probably the Oceanus Leader. A US MQ4 reconnaissance drone operates off the Gulf of Oman. The drone operation follows the hijacking of a UAE aircraft carrier last night. The drone deactivated its transponders, using the invalid code XXXXXXXX. It is believed to be the work of Iran.
From Yemen, the Houthis have reiterated that the port of Haifa, the airport and Umm al-Rashrash (Eilat) are not safe.
An Israeli strike targeted a vehicle in Yater, southern Lebanon, killing a Hezbollah man. An Israeli targeted assassination in the southern Lebanese town of Ain Baal left one dead. The IDF says he was a significant source of knowledge in weapons manufacturing. The IDF is completing its list of peacetime kills and ensuring that Hezbollah can never recover and continue to suffer.
A fire broke out around the Israeli army training camp in the city of Al-Aissawiya in Jerusalem.
Israeli media reports a serious security incident in Gaza. Military censorship has been imposed. On May 21, there were. Attacks in Khan Yunis intensified. East Khan Yunis was subjected to heavy attacks. A house was also targeted on Al-Karama Street, northwest of Gaza City.
Deaths were recorded in the Israeli bombing of a vehicle in front of Canada Hall, near the European Junction, east of Khan Yunis (Gaza). Artillery shelling targeted the eastern areas of the city of Khan Yunis, southern Gaza Strip. Israeli artillery shelled the Shuja’iyya neighborhood in eastern Gaza. Bombing by ISA aircraft of the house of the “Al-Dar” family in front of the Burj al-Sultan in Jabalia, northern Gaza Strip. A house of the Radwan family was bombed near Al-Salam Mosque in Bani Suhaila town, east of Khan Yunis, southern Gaza Strip. Airstrikes were carried out on houses near Al-Awda schools in Abasan al-Kabira town and Abasan al-Jadidah town, east of Khan Yunis: Jibril Abu Mustafa’s house, Hamza Abu Tayimeh’s house, Abu Hatifa Abu Allian’s house, Yasser Barawi Qudaih’s house, Abu Far family house.
A helicopter dropped leaflets in eastern areas of Khan Yunis, especially in Abu al-Futuh and al-Daqat areas in al-Shahaida, between Abasan al-Kabira and al-Jadidah, east of Khan Yunis.
The IDF has launched a wave of attacks across the Gaza Strip, from north to south, in addition to reporting rockets fired into Khan Yunis. According to Gaza residents, apparently after warning residents that they would act forcefully in the Khan Yunis area, the IDF began operations to clear and destroy infrastructure in the area (the Rafah model). Gazans are reporting continued massive attacks from the air and the ground.
A delegation of more than 30 officials from the United Kingdom and the EU came under fire from Israeli forces in Jenin, West Bank. The IDF has launched an investigation into the attack in Jenin, West Bank.
“Senior IDF officials will soon begin holding talks with representatives of the countries that participated in the diplomatic delegation to Jenin, with the aim of explaining the incident and apologizing,” said Doron Kadosh, a military journalist with Galei Tzahal, Israel. “The Israel Defense Forces say the European diplomatic delegation deviated from the agreed route and entered a prohibited area. The fighters present opened fire in the air in an attempt to drive them away, unaware that they were members of the diplomatic delegation,” Amit Segal, an Israeli journalist for Channel 12. The foreign delegation in Jenin, in the West Bank, included officials from the United Kingdom, France, the Netherlands, Spain, Norway, Italy and Canada. Representatives of several Arab nations were also present in the delegation.
In a joint IDF statement, ISA and Israeli Police: “Overnight (Tuesday), IDF, ISA and Israeli Police forces conducted counterterrorism activities throughout Judea and Samaria and arrested 25 wanted individuals.”
“As part of the activities, IDF soldiers, based on ISA intelligence, operated in the area east of Jenin and arrested the mastermind behind the Al Funduq terror attack on January 6, 2025. In addition, five ISIS-linked suspects were arrested in Qabatiya.”
“In addition, over the past two days, IDF soldiers, together with Israeli police forces, have been operating in al-Khader, near Bethlehem. As part of the operations, the soldiers arrested suspects involved in terrorist attacks in the area of Road 60 and confiscated NIS 250,000 in terrorist funds, along with weapons and ammunition. During a targeted operation in the Hebron area, an M-16 rifle, an M-4 rifle, ammunition and cartridges were recovered. The arrested individuals and the confiscated weapons were handed over to the Israeli police for further investigation.”
Director of UNRWA Affairs in the West Bank: “The terrorist attack against the diplomatic delegation by Israel is a stark example of the excessive use of force. Access to Jenin camp has become almost impossible since Israel began its operations on 21 January.”
Israeli soldiers blow up a house in Balawneh neighborhood, Tulkarm camp. Occupation forces stormed the town of Jaba, south of Jenin.
Antonio Albanese e Graziella Giangiulio
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