1. Introduction / Background
Israeli aerial attacks are striking Gaza from north to south, resulting in at least 46 deaths, according to Gaza’s Health Ministry. A school in Nuseirat was hit, killing children. Israel's military ordered the forced displacement of Khan Younis city, warning of an upcoming “unprecedented” attack. Families are fleeing to al-Mawasi, but it has also suffered attacks. Israeli PM Netanyahu stated that a plan for “minimal” aid into Gaza is being developed, but there is uncertainty about when it will arrive.
(https://aje.io/9glnx5?update=3719961)2. Key Highlights – Israel Hamas war updates
- Killed 52 (53,391)
- Injured 121,034
- Home Destroyed
3. Governments’ Response
Israeli forces will "take control of all" of the Gaza Strip, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said 19.05.2025, as his military pressed a newly expanded offensive in the territory. "The fighting is intense and we are making progress. We will take control of all the territory of the Strip," he said in a video posted to his Telegram channel. Netanyahu also said it was necessary for Israel to prevent a famine in Gaza for "for practical and diplomatic reasons" after his government announced it would allow limited food aid into the territory 18.05.2025. (https://www.middleeasteye.net/live-blog/live-blog-update/netanyahu-said-israel-will-take-control-all-gaza-strip?nid=421833&topic=Israel%2527s%2520war%2520on%2520Gaza&fid=544769)
In a televised speech last month, Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas crudely lashed out at Hamas, calling them “sons of dogs” and demanding that they disarm and release the remaining Israeli captives. In his speech, he seemed to forget his previous plea to the “international community” for protection from the occupiers’ aggression in May 2023, when he addressed the United Nations. (https://www.middleeasteye.net/live-blog/live-blog-update/gaza-genocide-how-arab-regimes-became-enemy-within?nid=421833&topic=Israel%2527s%2520war%2520on%2520Gaza&fid=544769)
Israel’s far-right finance minister says humanitarian assistance to be sent into Gaza will not help the Palestinian group. In a press conference, Bezalel Smotrich defended his decision to stay in the government despite previous threats to leave if any aid was allowed to enter. (https://aje.io/9glnx5?update=3720268)
Isaac Herzog has praised the government’s decision to allow the resumption of humanitarian aid to Gaza, calling it “critical for maintaining basic human conditions”, according to Israeli media. (https://aje.io/9glnx5?update=3719957)
4. Military Developments
Israel said 19.05.2025 it would allow baby food into Gaza, marking the first delivery of humanitarian aid since it imposed a full blockade on the territory on March 2. (https://www.middleeasteye.net/live-blog/live-blog-update/israel-allows-baby-food-gaza?nid=421833&topic=Israel%2527s%2520war%2520on%2520Gaza&fid=544769)
Gaza's civil defence agency said Israeli attacks on 19.05.2025 killed at least 52 people, as the military pressed a newly intensified campaign in the war-ravaged territory. (https://www.middleeasteye.net/live-blog/live-blog-update/israeli-strikes-kill-136-over-last-day?nid=421833&topic=Israel%2527s%2520war%2520on%2520Gaza&fid=544769)
Ahmed Sarhan, a leader of the Al-Nasser Salah al-Din Brigades, the armed wing of the Popular Resistance Committees, was killed in an Israeli raid in Gaza on 19.05.2025, the group said, according to Al Jazeera. The group said Israeli special forces tried to capture the commander, but he was killed in a shoot-out after he fought back. Israeli forces detained his wife and child, according to witnesses. (https://www.middleeasteye.net/live-blog/live-blog-update/palestinian-group-says-commander-killed-israeli-raid-khan-younis?nid=421833&topic=Israel%2527s%2520war%2520on%2520Gaza&fid=544769)
The Israeli army ordered "immediate" forced displacement orders in the main southern city of Khan Younis and the nearby areas of Bani Suheila and Abasan on Monday ahead of what it said will be an "unprecedented attack". The army told Palestinian civilians to move to the Mawasi area in the west as it expands its offensive. (https://www.middleeasteye.net/live-blog/live-blog-update/israeli-army-issues-forced-displacement-order-gazas-khan-younis?nid=421833&topic=Israel%2527s%2520war%2520on%2520Gaza&fid=544769)
Israel’s Security Cabinet has approved a plan to construct a separation wall along the eastern border with Jordan, according to Israeli Army Radio. The plan, presented by the Ministry of Defence, includes what it calls “the establishment of a multi-layered ‘defence’ system along a 425-kilometre stretch, from the southern occupied Syrian Golan Heights to the city of Eilat in the south.” The broadcaster also reported that the project aims to strengthen Israel’s control over the Jordan Valley through the creation of settlements and military training camps. https://www.middleeasteye.net/live-blog/live-blog-update/israel-approves-plan-build-separation-wall-along-jordan-border?nid=421833&topic=Israel%2527s%2520war%2520on%2520Gaza&fid=544769)
Anti-war protesters in Israel were met with a heavy police response when they tried to block a road used by the military, which has begun a new assault to take control of Gaza. (https://www.aljazeera.com/video/newsfeed/2025/5/19/israeli-police-break-up-protest-against-new-gaza-assault)
5. Militants’ Activity
The armed wing of Hamas says its fighters “carried out a complex ambush” in the Atatra area of Beit Lahiya in northern Gaza on 16.05.2025. According to a statement on Telegram today, its fighters targeted three Israeli vehicles with two explosive devices and a rocket. (https://aje.io/9glnx5?update=3719917)
6. Impact On the Trade and Travel
7. International Response
Ben Cohen, co-founder of American ice cream company Ben & Jerry, has called on Americans to speak out against starvation in Gaza. (https://www.middleeasteye.net/live-blog/live-blog-update/ben-jerrys-co-founder-urges-americans-speak-out-against-israels-starving?nid=421833&topic=Israel%2527s%2520war%2520on%2520Gaza&fid=544759)
Rights group Amnesty International urged the United States on 19.05.2025 to investigate possible violations of international law in a deadly strike on a migrant detention facility in rebel-held Yemen. Last month's attack, which prompted international alarm and was part of the US bombardment campaign against the Iran-backed Huthis, killed 68 people held at a centre for irregular migrants in Saada, the rebel authorities said at the time. (https://www.middleeasteye.net/live-blog/live-blog-update/us-strike-yemen-migrant-centre-may-constitute-humanitarian-violation?nid=421833&topic=Israel%2527s%2520war%2520on%2520Gaza&fid=544769)
The UN agency for Palestinian refugees said in a post on X that families in Gaza are facing “unimaginable devastation”, with 92 percent of homes damaged or destroyed by Israeli attacks. (https://www.middleeasteye.net/live-blog/live-blog-update/unrwa-says-some-92-percent-gaza-homes-damaged-or-destroyed?nid=421833&topic=Israel%2527s%2520war%2520on%2520Gaza&fid=544769)
Ursula von der Leyen, the European Commission president, says the humanitarian situation in Gaza is “unacceptable” and called for aid to reach civilians in the Palestinian territory immediately. (https://aje.io/9glnx5?update=3720325)
The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs says it has been in talks with Israeli authorities over the aid issue after Israel announced it would allow a limited amount of food and other items into the besieged territory. (https://aje.io/9glnx5?update=3720083)
In a statement, Qatar’s foreign ministry has condemned Israel’s “bombing of Hamad Hospital for Rehabilitation and Prosthetics”, a Qatar-funded facility in Gaza City that provides specialised care for amputees. (https://aje.io/9glnx5?update=3720154)
Sweden’s foreign minister says the move would violate international law as she urged Israel to allow resumption of humanitarian aid to Gaza.
Israel this month approved plans for the expanded ongoing offensive with PM Netanyahu saying earlier today, “We will take control of all the territory of the Strip.” (https://aje.io/9glnx5?update=3720140)
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer has called the situation in Gaza “intolerable”, saying the government is working with allies to coordinate a response to the conflict. (https://aje.io/9glnx5?update=3720120)
8. Comment.
9. latest news in two lines
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