Escalating Conflict in the Middle East: Trump Claims He Issued a Caution to Israel Over Potential Strikes on Iran
Key Insights
- Donald Trump urged Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu against any attack on Iran.
- The United States expressed optimism over concluding a ceasefire in Gaza.
- A warehouse belonging to the World Food Programme was looted in Deir el-Balah, Gaza Strip.
- Thousands of Israelis gathered in Tel Aviv to demand a ceasefire with Hamas.
- The UN accused the Israeli army of firing on a crowd in Rafah, Gaza, though the Israeli military denies it.
- Forty were injured during aid distribution in Rafah, according to an UN official.
- At least sixteen people, including children, were killed in Israeli airstrikes on Gaza.
In the Oval Office on Wednesday, May 28, President Donald Trump cautioned Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu against any action against Iran, stating, "I don't think that would be relevant now." Trump emphasized that he had "very good discussions" with Tehran regarding a potential nuclear agreement with Iran. Moreover, Washington expressed optimism about the possibility of a ceasefire in Gaza, with the U.S. special envoy for the Middle East divulging that the U.S. is preparing to send a new proposal for a ceasefire.
Witnessed by AFP journalists on the scene, a warehouse owned by the World Food Programme was looted in Deir el-Balah, the heart of the Gaza Strip. Hungry Palestinians, in search of pre-positioned food supplies, stormed the warehouse, according to the WFP's statement. The organization is still investigating reports of two deaths and multiple injuries during the incident.
In Tel Aviv, thousands of protesters congregated on Wednesday evening, calling for a ceasefire with Hamas. The demonstration followed a call-to-action by the Families Forum, which had encouraged hundreds to gather at intersections across the country at 06:29 local time, the initiation of the 7-October attack.
In Rafah, southern Gaza Strip, the Israeli army refuted accusations that they had fired on a crowd during a humanitarian aid distribution, organized by a controversial new foundation. A UN official claimed that Israeli soldiers had caused numerous injuries by gunfire. However, Colonel Olivier Rafowicz, spokesman for the Israeli army, stated that soldiers fired warning shots into the air, and not towards the people.
During the inaugural aid distribution by the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation, created a few months ago with American support, chaos ensued as thousands of people rushed towards a distribution center in Rafah. Forty people were injured, an UN official said, with most of the injured reportedly shot. Ajith Sunghay specified that the shots originated from the Israeli army. Criticizing the new model of food aid distribution, Philippe Lazzarini, head of the UN agency for Palestinian refugees, deemed it a "loss of resources" and a "distraction from the atrocities" in the besieged enclave.
The civil defense reported at least sixteen fatalities, including children, from Israeli airstrikes on the Gaza Strip.
- The discussion between Donald Trump and Benjamin Netanyahu in the Oval Office on May 28 extended to the topic of Iran and potential war-and-conflicts, with Trump expressing caution against any action.
- Amidst ongoing war-and-conflicts and general-news in Gaza, car-accidents become a concern as well, such as the incident where a warehouse belonging to the World Food Programme was looted, resulting in reported injuries and deaths.
- Crime-and-justice issues arise in the context of the Gaza Strip as well, as witnessed during the inaugural aid distribution by the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation, where numerous injuries and fatalities occurred, raising questions about the sourcing of the shots and the effectiveness of the new food aid distribution model.
