Israel

Israel launched fresh strikes in the Gaza Strip Friday after negotiators pursuing a long-stalled truce agreement left talks in Cairo without having secured a deal.

AFP journalists in the Gaza Strip early Friday witnessed artillery strikes on Rafah on the territory's southern border with Egypt, while witnesses reported air strikes and fighting in Gaza City further north.

Greece has secured a spot in Saturday's Eurovision 2024 grand final in the Swedish city of Malmo.

Marina Satti delivered an energetic performance of her song "Zari" during the second semi-final of the annual extravaganza on Thursday, despite reportedly battling pharyngitis and a high fever in the lead-up to the show.

After a U.S. veto foiled the Palestinians' drive for full U.N. membership, the General Assembly is expected on Friday to grant them some additional rights in the global body — a symbolic win that has already irked Israel.

Israel qualified for this weekend's Eurovision song contest grand finale as thousands of demonstrators marched through Sweden's Malmo on Thursday to protest its participation over the Gaza war.

Intensifying security dialogue between Türkiye and the European Union will be beneficial for all sides, especially in the context of regional conflicts, EU Ambassador to Türkiye Nikolaus Meyer-Landrut has said, emphasizing Türkiye's role as a strategic partner.

Amid the Gaza crisis, Alexis Haritsis, president of Greece's New Left Party, calls for urgent action, declaring, "The eyes of the world are on martyrized Rafah."

He demands a parliamentary debate on Palestinian recognition, accusing Israel's government of genocide and labeling Greece's silence as complicity, insisting, "Greece must stand on the right side of history."

Israel’s invasion of Rafah and the occupation of the border crossing was aimed to obstruct the efforts of mediators and to escalate war

Turkish Trade Minister Ömer Bolat has dismissed Israeli claims of Türkiye easing its trade ban on Israel, labeling them as "absolutely fictional and disconnected from reality."

In a social media post on May 9, Bolat stressed that Türkiye will maintain the trade ban until a lasting ceasefire in Gaza is achieved and humanitarian aid is ensured to the war-torn Palestinian enclave.

A vessel carrying aid to a pier built by the United States off Gaza set sail from Cyprus on Thursday, Cypriot officials said.

The US-flagged Sagamore left the port of Larnaca in the morning. US officials have said the vessel will be used to offload supplies onto a floating pier built to expedite aid into the besieged enclave.

Tensions escalate in the Middle East as Iran issues a stark warning, signaling a potential shift in its nuclear doctrine in response to perceived threats from Israel. Kamal Kharazi an advisor to Iran's supreme leader, issued the statement, raising concerns about the country's intentions regarding nuclear weapons.