Middle East 2025.05.21, 21:00 hours | Situation Tension

1. Introduction / Background 

Israeli attacks in Gaza have intensified, resulting in at least 98 Palestinian deaths, with strikes hitting residential areas and medical facilities. A surge in famine-related deaths has occurred, with at least 326 people dying from malnutrition and medicine shortages since 02.03.2025 The UN warns that 14,000 babies could starve within 48 hours if aid remains blocked. No humanitarian supplies reached Gaza on 20.05.2025 despite promises of limited deliveries. Britain has halted free trade talks and imposed sanctions on violent settlers, while the EU is reviewing its ties with Israel due to the situation. Israel’s army chief has pledged to escalate military operations despite international pressure, and the U. S. Secretary of State insists Washington will not threaten Israel regarding Gaza.

2. Key Highlights – Israel Hamas war updates

• Killed 42 (53,615)
• Injured — (121,688)
• Home Destroyed

3. Governments’ Response

Far-right Israeli politician Moshe Feiglin has sparked outrage after declaring that "every child, every baby in Gaza is an enemy" during an interview on Israeli TV Channel 14. Feiglin, a former member of Israeli parliament, made the remarks in a live appearance on the network’s morning show, doubling down on his extremist stance. (https://www.middleeasteye.net/live-blog/live-blog-update/far-right-israeli-figure-calls-every-child-gaza-enemy?nid=422779&topic=Israel%2527s%2520war%2520on%2520Gaza&fid=544821) 

The Asra Media Office has voiced deep concern over the deteriorating health of Palestinian prisoner Muammar Shahrour, accusing Israeli jailers of subjecting him to relentless torture and repeated assassination attempts, the Palestinian Information Centre reported.

Israel will annex land in the Gaza Strip if Hamas does not return the Israeli captives and leave the Strip permanently, Minister of Culture and Sport, Miki Zohar, said. According to the Jerusalem Post, Zohar claimed that Israel “cannot afford a famine in Gaza because it would lose international support.” (https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20250520-israel-will-annex-land-in-gaza-if-hamas-does-not-return-captives-leave-mk-says/) 

4. Military Developments

An Israeli drone strike has killed one person in the southern Lebanese town of Ain Baal, according to Lebanon’s Ministry of Health. The attack targeted a vehicle in the area, which lies near the coastal city of Tyre. (https://www.middleeasteye.net/live-blog/live-blog-update/israeli-drone-strike-kills-one-person-southern-lebanon-ministry-says?nid=422779&topic=Israel%2527s%2520war%2520on%2520Gaza&fid=544821)

The US private military contracting firm set to oversee Gaza aid distribution on Israel's behalf is actively hiring for positions on LinkedIn, according to job postings shared with Middle East Eye by current and former US officials. The firm, Safe Reach Solutions, or SRS, says it is actively looking for “Humanitarian Liaison Officers” who will “serve as vital connectors between our operational teams and the broader humanitarian community,” according to one job description. (https://www.middleeasteye.net/live-blog/live-blog-update/mercenary-firm-set-oversee-gaza-aid-israel-goes-linkedin-hiring-spree-0?nid=422779&topic=Israel%2527s%2520war%2520on%2520Gaza&fid=544821)

5. Militants’ Activity

The Israeli military has confirmed the death of an Israeli soldier during combat operations in the southern Gaza Strip. (https://www.middleeasteye.net/live-blog/live-blog-update/israeli-soldier-killed-gaza-1?nid=422779&topic=Israel%2527s%2520war%2520on%2520Gaza&fid=544821) 

Hamas has called for legal action against Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich who affirmed his government’s efforts to destroy the Gaza Strip and force its residents to leave. In a statement issued 20.05.2025, the Palestinian resistance movement said Smotrich’s “unequivocal admission” that Israel commits massacres against the Palestinians in Gaza in order to force them to leave is a “clear and new admission of Israel’s commission of the full-fledged crime of genocide.” (https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20250520-hamas-demands-legal-action-against-israel-minister-who-pledge-to-destroy-all-of-gaza/) 

Hamas has described the Israeli Special Forces' covert operation in Khan Yunis and their attempt to abduct a leader in the Al-Nasser Salah Al-Din Brigades, Ahmed Kamel Sarhan, as evidence of yet another failure by Israel.

State news agency WAM is reporting that an agreement was reached in a phone call between UAE Foreign Minister Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan and his Israeli counterpart Gideon Saar. According to WAM, the aid will initially cater to the food needs of about 15,000 civilians in Gaza. It will also include essential supplies for bakeries and critical items for infant care. (https://aje.io/admu2g?update=3723523) 

6. Impact On the Trade and Travel

7. International Response

Australia’s Foreign Minister Penny Wong has urged Israel to stop the worsening humanitarian crisis in Gaza, warning that thousands of babies face death if food and medical aid remain blocked. (https://www.middleeasteye.net/live-blog/live-blog-update/australia-urges-israel-end-suffering-babies-gaza-face-starvation?nid=422779&topic=Israel%2527s%2520war%2520on%2520Gaza&fid=544821) 

Popular children’s educator and YouTube figure Ms Rachel has delivered a tearful message to world leaders, calling on them to act before thousands of babies die under Israel’s ongoing blockade of Gaza. (https://www.middleeasteye.net/live-blog/live-blog-update/ms-rachel-urges-action-14000-children-face-starvation-gaza?nid=422779&topic=Israel%2527s%2520war%2520on%2520Gaza&fid=544821) 

Doctors Without Borders (MSF) has accused Israel of weaponising humanitarian aid while systematically targeting Gaza’s healthcare system. The medical charity said Israel’s limited flow of supplies into the besieged enclave is being used “as a smokescreen to pretend” the blockade has eased—despite a wave of attacks crippling hospitals and clinics. (https://www.middleeasteye.net/live-blog/live-blog-update/israel-using-aid-mask-attacks-gaza-hospitals-report?nid=422779&topic=Israel%2527s%2520war%2520on%2520Gaza&fid=544821) 

Pakistan and Egypt discussed on 20.05.2025 developments in the Middle East, particularly the “alarming” situation in Gaza, where Israel has renewed its offensive, and urged the international community to ensure “consistent and timely delivery of badly needed” humanitarian assistance to the people of the besieged enclave. Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, in a telephone conversation with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah Al-Sisi, hoped that the upcoming UN conference on two-state solution next month in New York would yield “meaningful outcomes,” his office. (https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20250520-pakistan-egypt-discuss-alarming-situation-in-gaza/) 

Austria on 20.05.2025 criticized Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s recent statement declaring plans for a full occupation of the Gaza Strip. “International law is clear. Gaza must remain Palestinian territory. Forced displacement is unacceptable,” Austria’s Chancellery said in a statement. (https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20250520-austria-says-gaza-must-remain-palestinian-urges-ceasefire-ahead-of-call-with-netanyahu/) 

The Netherlands on 20.05.2025 voiced concern over Israel’s intensified Israeli strikes on Gaza and urged steps to ensure that “massive” humanitarian aid can reach the embattled enclave, long deprived of aid by an Israeli blockade. “Much more is needed. We need a massive access of humanitarian aid to the Gaza Strip, and we are also very concerned about the intensified Israeli war effort,” Dutch Foreign Minister Caspar Veldkamp said, talking to journalists during the EU Foreign Affairs Council held in Brussels. (https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20250520-netherlands-concerned-over-intensified-israeli-strikes-in-gaza-urges-for-massive-humanitarian-aid/) 

Some 14,000 babies could die in Gaza in 48 hours if aid does not reach them in time, the UN’s humanitarian chief, Tom Fletcher said. Though Israel said it would allow “basic aid” into Gaza, only five trucks entered the enclave yesterday, two carrying shrouds to help bury Palestinians killed in Israel’s bombs. Others were in Gaza, but were being held by occupation forces and had not reached Palestinians. This was the first delivery of aid since 2 March, when Israel completely sealed the enclave. (https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20250520-14000-babies-should-die-if-aid-doesnt-enter-gaza-in-48-hours-un-warns/) 

Britain, on 21.05.2025 paused free trade talks with Israel, summoned its ambassador, and announced further sanctions against illegal settlers in the occupied West Bank after Prime Minister Keir Starmer said he was horrified by the military escalation in Gaza. The Israeli occupation army announced the start of a new operation last week and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has said Israel would take control of the whole of the besieged Gaza Strip. (https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20250520-uk-suspends-trade-talks-with-israel-over-gaza-offensive/) 

Hungary’s parliament on 21.05.2025 approved a bill that will start the country’s year-long withdrawal process from the International Criminal Court (ICC), which Prime Minister Viktor Orban’s government said has become “political”, Reuters reports. Orban’s government announced the move on 3 April, shortly after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu arrived in Hungary for a state visit in defiance of an ICC arrest warrant. The ICC’s Presidency of the Assembly of State Parties expressed concern at the move. (https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20250520-hungarian-lawmakers-approve-bill-to-quit-icc-in-support-of-israel/) 

8. Comment.

The Gaza conflict today epitomizes a complex crisis of humanitarian disaster, intense military confrontation, and fragile diplomacy, with urgent needs for ceasefire, aid access, and political solutions to prevent further deterioration in the Middle East region.