Middle East Eye

🎥 Palestinians showcase the small amounts of tinned food they received after an aircraft airdropped aid over al-Mawasi in southern Gaza.

📰Labour MP Diane Abbott has allegedly been banned from standing as a candidate in the next general election, in a move that activists say could be motivated by her long record of Palestine solidarity. Abbott, the first black woman to be elected to the British parliament and the longest-serving black MP, was blocked from standing in the next election for comments she made about antisemitism in a letter to the Observer in April 2023. The MP for Hackney North and Stoke Newington immediately apologised for the remarks, but was placed under investigation and had the whip removed. It emerged on Tuesday that the investigation had been concluded in December, with Abbott being instructed to complete an antisemitism course in February and having the whip restored. Labour leader Keir Starmer had said recently that the inquiry was ongoing 🔗https://www.middleeasteye.net/news/uk-diane-abbotts-barring-motivated-record-palestine-advocacy-campaigners-say?utm_source=telegram&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=social_traffic

🎥 Chinese President Xi Jinping welcomed his Egyptian counterpart Abdel Fattah el-Sisi to Beijing on Wednesday, as the Chinese capital hosts a number of Arab dignitaries for a forum it hopes will deepen ties with the region. Several Arab leaders are visiting Beijing this week, seeking to present a "common voice" on Israel’s war on Gaza and improve cooperation.

📰 Egypt will raise the price of subsidised bread by 300% from June, PM Mostafa Madbouly said, announcing a change that will affect tens of millions of the majority-poor population. Subsidised bread will cost 20 piastres, up from five piastres, representing 16% of the 125-piastre cost of making the bread, according to Supply Minister Ali Moselhy. The decision will affect an estimated 65 million Egyptians who rely on bread as their main food staple, said economic analyst Maged Mandour. Raising bread prices has been historically sensitive in Egypt, often sparking national outrage. Bread prices have remained at the same official price since 1988, and attempts to change them in the past were met with fatal national riots. “Bread, freedom, social justice” was the main chant of Egypt’s 2011 revolution that forced late President Hosni Mubarak out of power. 🔗 https://www.middleeasteye.net/news/egypt-sisi-raises-price-subsidised-bread-300-percent?utm_source=telegram&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=social_traffic

🔴 RECAP: #Israel #Palestine (as of 00:00 GMT 30 May) 1- Israeli forces continued its military operations in Rafah, the southernmost city in Gaza 2- Israel’s military announced that it had seized the Philadelphi corridor 3- Hamas claimed a series of attacks on Israeli forces, including attacks on tanks, military bulldozers and Israeli soldiers 4- Algeria submitted its draft Security Council resolution that calls for Israel to stop its assault on Rafah 5- A CNN analysis of Sunday’s deadly Israeli air strike in Rafah found that US-made munitions were used in the attack 6- Gadi Eisenkot, a minister in Israel’s war cabinet, said it will take “three to five years for a significant stabilisation” in Gaza, followed by “many more” years to form a new government there 7- Israel targeted a residential neighbourhood in the Syrian city of Baniyas 🔗 Click the link below to follow MEE’s live coverage ⤵️ https://www.middleeasteye.net/live/gaza-live-least-fifteen-children-killed-israeli-strikes

🎥 US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said the Israeli attack on a displacement camp in Rafah, which killed at least 45 Palestinians, was "horrific" and urged Israel to "immediately investigate and determine exactly what happened and why it happened, and if accountability is necessary, to make sure that there is". 🔴Live updates: https://www.middleeasteye.net/live/gaza-live-least-fifteen-children-killed-israeli-strikes?utm_source=telegram&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=social_traffic

📰 Israeli army spokesperson Daniel Hagari said on Wednesday that the army has gained “operational control” over the strategic Philadelphi corridor, a 14-kilometre buffer zone along the border between the Gaza Strip and Egypt. “Big news. The IDF has secured the “Philadelphi Corridor” which separates Egypt from the Gaza Strip. This means that we can block the influx of weapons and ammunition from the Sinai into Hamas’ hands,” former Prime Minister of Israel Naftali Bennett said on X in response to the announcement. The Israeli military had seized portions of the Palestinian side of the corridor earlier this month, sparking outrage from Egyptian officials, who said Israel was violating the terms of the two countries’ 1979 peace treaty.

🎥 Palestinian flag banners were hung around the entrance to the Spanish centre for Arabic cultures (Casa Arabe) in Madrid on the day that Spain formally recognised the State of Palestine. Casa Arabe operates as the strategic centre for Spain's relations with the Arab world. Spain, Ireland and Norway formally recognised a Palestinian state on Tuesday, and believe their initiative has a strong symbolic impact that could encourage others to follow suit. The decision by the three nations has been slammed by Israel and provoked sharp disagreement within the European Union.

🎥 The leader of Spain's far-right Vox party, Santiago Abascal, visited Israel and met with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Tuesday, the same day Spain, Ireland, and Norway recognised Palestinian statehood. Abascal denounced Madrid's recognition of a Palestinian state and reiterated his support for Israel's right to defend itself. 🔴 https://www.middleeasteye.net/live/gaza-live-least-fifteen-children-killed-israeli-strikes?utm_source=telegram&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=social_traffic

📰 If you’re a social media user, you’ve likely noticed an AI-generated image about Gaza gaining traction the past day. But why has the viral ‘All eyes on Rafah’ graphic sparked anger? We take a look ⤴️