International

Israel claims to have killed hundreds of militiamen in Rafah and Yabalia in recent weeks

The Israeli Army claimed today that it had eliminated hundreds of alleged Palestinian militiamen in its operations in recent weeks throughout the Gaza Strip.

The armed forces placed at least 200 of these deaths in the city of Yabalia and its refugee camp (in the north of the enclave) in Division 98 operations, on the ground since May 11, according to a military statement.

On the other hand, another 130 alleged fighters died east of Rafah (south) from the entrance of Division 162, on May 7.

“So far, soldiers have eliminated more than 200 terrorists, destroyed terrorist infrastructures and underground tunnels from both land and air,” the Army said about the operations in Yabalia.

In Rafah they also reported the discovery of “significant tunnel routes” that are being explored and destroyed.

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In addition, today it was learned that the bodies of the four Israelis recovered during the weekend in Gaza (Ron Benjamin, Itzhak Gelerenter, Amit Buskila and Shani Louk) were found in a tunnel in the Yabalia camp.

The Israeli armed forces attacked the north of the Gaza Strip again shortly after starting a criticized offensive against the southern town of Rafah on May 6.

Thus, while Israel maintains military pressure from north to south in the devastated Palestinian territory, the armed forces propose that the offensive will last at least another six months with the aim of preventing Hamas from operating as a governing body in the Strip, the Israeli media Haaretz says today.

The Israeli Army estimates that about 950,000 people have fled Rafah since the offensive began in the south, while between 300,000 and 400,000 civilians still remain in the town, where 1.4 million displaced people were overcrowded before the military entered.

The UN agency for Palestinian refugees (UNRWA) placed the number of evacuees from Rafah at 810,000 on Monday.

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The Government of Hamas in Gaza, for its part, today accused the Israeli authorities of aggravating the food and health crisis in the enclave by keeping closed the crossing of Rafah to Egypt, which was taken by the armed forces shortly af starting its operation.

The closure of the border crossing for two weeks “threats to exacerbate the food security crisis, particularly in northern Gaza, and prevents the departure of thousands of injured individuals who need to be evacuated to receive treatment abroad,” Gaza authorities said in a statement.

More than 35,500 people have been killed by Israeli fire in the Gaza Strip since October 7, and about 80,000 have been injured. In addition, it is estimated that about 10,000 bodies continue under the rubble without ambulances or rescue teams being able to access them, according to data from the Ministry of Health of the Strip.

International

Florida judge sets 2027 trial in Trump’s $10 billion lawsuit against BBC

A federal judge in Florida has scheduled February 2027 for the trial in the lawsuit filed by U.S. President Donald Trump against the BBC, in which he is seeking $10 billion in damages for defamation.

Trump accuses the British broadcaster of airing a misleading edit of a speech he delivered on January 6, 2021, which, he says, made it appear that he explicitly urged his supporters to attack the U.S. Capitol in Washington.

The president filed the suit in December in federal court in Florida, alleging defamation and violations of a law governing business practices when the program was broadcast ahead of the 2024 election.

Trump is seeking $5 billion in damages for each of the two claims.

Lawyers for the BBC unsuccessfully asked the court to dismiss the case, arguing that Trump had not suffered a “legally recognizable harm,” since the investigative program Panorama, which included the edited footage, aired outside the United States.

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International

Head-of-state diplomacy key to guiding China–U.S. ties, Beijing says

Head-of-state diplomacy plays an irreplaceable strategic guiding role in China–United States relations, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian said on Thursday during a regular press briefing, when asked about high-level exchanges between the two sides.

Lin added that in a recent phone call, U.S. President Donald Trump once again expressed his intention to visit China in April, while Chinese President Xi Jinping reiterated his invitation.

Both sides remain in communication regarding the matter, the spokesperson said.

Lin noted that the essence of China–U.S. economic and trade ties lies in mutual benefit and win-win outcomes.

“Both parties should work together to implement the important consensus reached by the two heads of state, injecting greater certainty and stability into China–U.S. economic and trade cooperation, as well as into the global economy,” he said.

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International

Trump administration to end special immigration operation in Minnesota

The administration of Donald Trump is bringing to a close its special operation targeting illegal immigration in the northern state of Minnesota, border czar Tom Homan announced Thursday, following weeks of unrest and the fatal shootings of two activists by federal agents.

Thousands of federal officers had been deployed to Minnesota in December to carry out large-scale raids against undocumented immigrants.

The operations triggered strong reactions from residents and advocacy groups, leading to daily confrontations and the deaths of two people who were shot by federal agents.

“I proposed, and President Trump agreed, that this special operation should end in Minnesota,” Homan said during a press conference in the state capital, Minneapolis.

“A significant drawdown began this week and will continue into next week,” he added.

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Homan indicated that similar enforcement efforts could be launched in other cities.

“Next week we will redeploy the agents currently here back to their home stations or to other parts of the country where they are needed. But we will continue to enforce immigration laws,” he said.