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

White House says Cuba policy unchanged despite sanctioned fuel shipment

The White House said Monday that it has not changed its policy toward Cuba, despite allowing a sanctioned Russian oil tanker to deliver fuel to the island on humanitarian grounds.

U.S. officials emphasized that the decision was made as an exception and does not signal a broader shift in policy.

The administration added that similar decisions would be evaluated on a case-by-case basis, depending on humanitarian considerations.

The clarification comes amid ongoing restrictions related to U.S. sanctions policy, which continue to limit trade and financial flows involving Cuba.

International

Spain to grant citizenship to Venezuelan opposition leader Leopoldo López

The Spanish government is expected to grant citizenship this Tuesday to Venezuelan opposition leader Leopoldo Lópezthrough an extraordinary procedure known as “carta de naturaleza.”

The decision will be approved by royal decree, an exceptional legal mechanism used in special cases that require expedited resolution due to specific circumstances.

López has been living in Madrid since 2020, after leaving Venezuela following a prolonged political and legal conflict with the government of Nicolás Maduro.

According to government sources, López currently does not have a valid Venezuelan passport and faces difficulties in having his nationality fully recognized in his home country.

As a result, he applied for Spanish citizenship via a fast-track process at the end of 2025, after previously attempting to obtain it through regular procedures.

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The Spanish government justified the move based on López’s international relevance and foreign policy considerations.

López is the leader of the Voluntad Popular party and co-founder of the World Liberty Congress, an initiative launched in 2022 alongside figures such as Garry Kasparov and Masih Alinejad.

International

ICE to remain at airports amid DHS shutdown, Homan says

The U.S. “border czar,” Tom Homan, said Sunday that agents from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) will remain deployed at airports until operations return to “100% normal,” as the shutdown of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) continues.

“We will maintain ICE presence until airports feel they are fully back to normal operations,” Homan said during an interview on Face the Nation on CBS.

Homan justified the deployment on security grounds, noting that the measure was ordered by President Donald Trumpamid widespread absenteeism among agents of the Transportation Security Administration, who have gone without pay for over six weeks due to the DHS shutdown.

According to acting TSA administrator Ha Nguyen McNeill, at least 460 TSA agents have resigned during the shutdown, while daily absenteeism has averaged 11%, exceeding 50% at some airports.

Homan warned that if TSA staffing levels do not recover after the shutdown, ICE agents will continue filling the gap. “ICE is there to support our TSA brothers and sisters. We will remain as long as needed to ensure airport security,” he said.

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The DHS shutdown reached 44 days on Sunday, making it the longest government shutdown in U.S. history. The impasse stems from disagreements between Democrats and Republicans over ICE funding.

A recent bipartisan Senate proposal to fund DHS without including ICE failed after being blocked by House Republicans, who insist on full funding for the agency.

Amid the deadlock, Trump signed an executive order directing Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin to immediately pay TSA agents to address what he called an “emergency situation” and restore order at airports, with payments expected to begin Monday.