Live: UK halts trade deal talks with Israel, summons ambassador over Gaza

On 28 March, the Zionist German Jewish weekly Judische Allgemeine Zeitung happily announced that Tel Aviv would become Berlin's newest twin city, with all factions of the Berlin House of Representatives agreeing to the decision.

A few days later, Der Tagesspiegel, one of Berlin's so-called "quality newspapers," declared that "the two metropolises have a lot in common."

What an abysmal disgrace: the representatives of the self-proclaimed parties of the "democratic centre" in the Berlin House of Representatives - Christian Democrats, Social Democrats, and Greens - have decided, together with the "Left" and the fascist Alternative für Deutschland (AfD), to move even closer to the genocidal butchers in Tel Aviv.

They do so even as large parts of the world are gradually distancing themselves from this regime.

Choosing a twin city is far more than a symbolic act, especially when that city is the capital of a state ruled by war criminals responsible for an ongoing genocide.

Read more: Welcome to Berlin, the capital of Zionist repression

At least 66,000 children in Gaza now suffer from severe malnutrition due to Israel's two-month blockade of food and aid, the UN agency for Palestinian refugees (Unrwa) agency reported on Tuesday.

• One meal every few days: Unrwa spokesperson Adnan Abu Hasna stated: "Hundreds of thousands of Palestinians eat one meal every two or three days."

• Famine deaths rise: Medical sources confirm at least 57 starvation-related deaths since October, with numbers expected to climb as crossings remain shut.

• Aid distribution crisis: Israel's new plan to channel aid through private firms faces condemnation. The UN-led Humanitarian Team warns it "pushes civilians into military zones" and violates humanitarian principles.

• UN rejects compromised aid: Secretary-General Antonio Guterres insists the organisation will only support aid delivery adhering to "humanity, impartiality, independence, and neutrality."

• Death toll: Since 7 October 2023 Israel has killed at least 52,567 Palestinians in Gaza – mostly women and children – with thousands more trapped under rubble.

Beijing has voiced firm opposition to Israel’s ongoing assault on Gaza, as Israeli officials signal plans to expand operations and forcibly displace much of the territory’s population.

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian said China remained “highly concerned about the current Palestine-Israel situation,” and urged all sides to uphold the ceasefire.

“We oppose Israel’s ongoing military actions in Gaza,” he said. “We hope all parties continuously and effectively implement the ceasefire agreement.”

Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich said his country will "finally" occupy the Gaza Strip as Benjamin Netanyahu's government orders the war on the Palestinian enclave to be expanded.

The far-right minister said Israel will not withdraw from Gaza even if Israeli captives will be freed in return, noting that their release is only possible if Hamas is "subdued".

"We are finally going to occupy the Gaza Strip. We will stop being afraid of the word ‘occupation,'" Smotrich told Channel 12 journalist Amit Segal during a news conference.

“We are finally taking control of all humanitarian aid, so that it does not become supplies for Hamas. We are separating Hamas from the population, cleansing the strip, returning the hostages - and defeating Hamas,” he said.

Israel's plan to expand its assault in Gaza is different to previous operations, with a political source telling Ynet that Netanyahu told ministers: "We are moving from the method of raids to occupying the territories and remaining in them."

Read more: Israel to 'occupy Gaza' as cabinet approves expanded war

Donald Trump’s Middle East envoy, Steve Witkoff, has signalled fresh moves to expand the Abraham Accords, saying new announcements could come “very, very shortly” and said Washington hopes the accords will bring “great progress by next year”.

The Abraham Accords normalised relations between Israel and several Arab states, drawing criticism for ignoring Palestinian rights and legitimising Israeli occupation.

Speaking at an Israeli Independence Day event hosted by ambassador Yehiel Leiter, Witkoff also praised “humanitarian aid initiatives for Gaza”. It's unclear what Witkoff was referring to since Israel has imposed a total aid blockade on Gaza since it restarted its assault on the besieged enclave in March.

At least 11 Palestinians have been killed in Israeli attacks on Gaza since dawn, reported Al Jazeera Arabic.

Two people were killed and several others wounded after an Israeli drone strike hit Beit Hanoun in the northern Gaza Strip. 

Israeli settlers entered the courtyards of Al-Aqsa Mosque in occupied Jerusalem early Tuesday, escorted by Israeli police, Wafa reported.

The settlers reportedly moved in groups, toured the compound in what local sources described as a provocative display.

Among those present was far-right rabbi Shimshon Alboim, who leads a group advocating for the mosque’s demolition to build a Jewish temple.

Witnesses said Israeli police imposed tight restrictions on Palestinian worshippers at the mosque, seizing identity cards at the gates and limiting access.

The Jerusalem Islamic Waqf confirmed that extremist "Temple Groups" have launched a petition urging far-right minister Itamar Ben-Gvir to allow settlers unrestricted access to Al-Aqsa Mosque on 26 May, the so-called "Jerusalem Day".

The date marks Israel’s 1967 capture and occupation of East Jerusalem, which far-right Israelis celebrate with nationalist marches through Palestinian neighbourhoods. Critics denounce the event as a provocative assertion of occupation, citing the forced displacement of Palestinians.

That Israeli army have maintained their assault on Tulkarm city and its refugee camp for 100 days, with the nearby Nour Shams camp under attack for 87 days.

The prolonged offensive in the occupied West Bank has caused severe damage to infrastructure and civilian property.

• Night raids and arrests: Witnesses reported to the Paletinian news agency Wafa that the Israeli army has intensified military activity overnight on Tuesday. Israeli forces arrested Civil Defence officer Ahed Fathallah Al-Hamshari and Wissam Issam Odeh, while former detainee Hadi Al-Hamshari’s home was raided and vandalised.

• Demolition orders issued: Israeli authorities have told Palestinians residents of plans to demolish 106 homes across Tulkarm and Nour Shams camps, with 15 buildings already destroyed in Nour Shams’ Manshiyya neighbourhood. Overnight, 19 more buildings—housing over 50 families—were marked for demolition, with residents given two hours to evacuate.

• Humanitarian access blocked: Despite prior coordination, Red Crescent teams and civilians face obstruction, with soldiers firing live rounds and sound grenades at those attempting to retrieve belongings.

• Governor condemns "sadism": Tulkarm Governor Abdullah Kamil accused Israeli forces of "true sadism," warning of forced displacement under false security pretexts. He urged international intervention to halt the aggression.

• Mounting casualties and displacement: The offensive has killed 13 Palestinians, including a child and two women (one eight months pregnant), with over 4,200 families, which amounts to around 25,000 people being displaced. At least 396 homes have been fully destroyed, and 2,573 partially damaged.

• Military expansion: Israeli forces have seized homes along Nablus Street, converting them into barracks while deploying bulldozers and armoured vehicles across the area.

The UN’s special rapporteur on the occupied Palestinian territory has taken aim at Western media for their reporting on Israel’s war on Gaza.

“Mainstream western media: any sense of journalism ethics left in your veins?” Francesca Albanese wrote on X.

Her post came in response to a claim that Israeli outlet Haaretz is confronting the war’s brutality more directly than many Western news organisations.

Albanese has repeatedly criticised both the media and international bodies for what she sees as double standards in coverage and response to the crisis.

A senior Hamas figure said on Tuesday the group won’t re-enter truce negotiations while Israel continues its deadly assault on Gaza.

“There is no sense in engaging in talks or considering new ceasefire proposals as long as the hunger war and extermination war continue in the Gaza Strip,” Basem Naim told AFP.

He urged global powers to pressure Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to stop the “crimes of hunger, thirst, and killings” in the enclave.

Naim’s comments came a day after Israel approved a military plan to expand operations, which includes the displacement of “most” Gaza residents. An Israeli official said it involves “the conquest of the Gaza Strip and the holding of the territories”.

Since 2 March, Gaza has faced a total Israeli blockade, with food, water and medical supplies nearly gone. The Israeli military resumed its war on the besiged Strip on 18 March, ending a fragile two-month truce.

France’s Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot has sharply criticised Israel’s latest military push in Gaza, saying Paris “very strongly” condemns the campaign.

“It’s unacceptable,” Jean-Noel Barrot told French radio on Tuesday, accusing Israel of breaching humanitarian law.

His remarks follow Israel’s announcement that it will expand operations and force the displacement of “most” Gaza residents. An Israeli official said the plan involves “the conquest of the Gaza Strip and the holding of the territories”.

The move has drawn global condemnation, with the UN and aid agencies warning of an intensifying humanitarian disaster. More than two months into a full blockade by Israel, famine looms over the enclave.

At least seven Palestinians have been killed in Israeli bombardment of Gaza since the early hours of Tuesday, according to Al Jazeera Arabic. 

An anti-boycott, divestment and sanctions bill scheduled for a vote on Monday has been pulled from the US Congress after severe backlash from several “America First” Republican lawmakers and social media podcasters.

“I’m told we are no longer voting on this. It’s been pulled,” Republican Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene posted on X on Monday, in reference to the bill that particularly targets Israel.

Congressman Thomas Massie, a libertarian Republican who is critical of Israel’s influence on Capitol Hill, also confirmed the bill "has been pulled from the schedule for this week”.

The bill, dubbed the International Governmental Organization (IGO) Anti-Boycott Act, would effectively criminalise boycotting Israel.

It was drafted by Republican Mike Lawler and Democrat Josh Gottheimer in January, and co-sponsored by 22 other lawmakers from the Republican and Democratic parties.

Read more: Bill that would punish Americans boycotting Israel pulled from US Congress

Jordan’s King Abdullah II is in Washington, where he’s held talks with US Secretary of State Rubio, according to a short statement from the State Department.

The meeting covered a range of issues, including the deepening crisis in Gaza, growing tensions in the occupied West Bank, and the conflict in Syria.

“Bilateral and regional issues, including the situation in Gaza, as well as developments in the West Bank and Syria,” were discussed, the statement said.

It added that the United States remains committed to joint counterterrorism efforts and values Jordan’s role in bolstering regional stability.

“[Marco Rubio] emphasised the United States’s continued interest in working together on counterterrorism and expressed appreciation for Jordan’s cooperation in advancing regional security, stability, and prosperity,” the statement said.

After doctors narrowly saved Maram Manaa’s daughter from a life-threatening asthma attack, she pleaded for proper treatment to stop the attacks from returning.

The Palestinian mother of three waited anxiously at her daughter’s bedside in a field hospital in central Gaza. 

When the doctor finally returned, he was holding a plastic water bottle. 

It had been fashioned into a makeshift spacer, connected to an inhaler far too strong for a child that age.

“This is all we’ve got,” he told her.

Read more: Palestinian girl ‘gasping for air’ as mother uses makeshift device to save her