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STORY: “"It's time for this war to end” U.S. President Joe Biden on Friday said Israel has proposed a new Gaza ceasefire in exchange for the release of hostages. “Hamas needs to take the deal. For months, people all over the world have called for a cease-fire. Now it's time to raise your voices and demand that Hamas come to the table, agree to this deal, and end this war that they began.” The new proposal Biden laid out is made up of three phases. First: a six week ceasefire, in which Israeli forces would withdraw from Gaza - and hostages would be exchanged for hundreds of Palestinian prisoners. Palestinian civilians would return to Gaza and 600 trucks would bring humanitarian aid into Gaza each day. Second: negotiations for a permanent end to hostilities. And the third phase: a major reconstruction plan for Gaza. While pressing Hamas, the president also called on those in Israel who were pushing for an "indefinite" war to change their minds. "I know there are those in Israel who will not agree with this plan. And will call for the war to continue indefinitely. [FLASH] Well, I've urged leadership in Israel to stand behind this deal, despite whatever pressure comes.” Talks between the two sides - mediated by Egypt, Qatar and others - have repeatedly stalled, with both sides blaming the other for the lack of progress.

STORY: :: Biden calls on Hamas to agree to Israel's ceasefire offer :: May 31, 2024 Biden: "Now, after intensive diplomacy carried out by my team and my many conversations, leaders of Israel, Qatar and Egypt and other Middle Eastern countries, Israel has now offered ... a comprehensive new proposal. It's a roadmap to an enduring ceasefire and the release of all hostages. [FLASH] Hamas needs to take the deal. For months, people all over the world have called for a cease-fire. Now it's time to raise your voices and demand that Hamas come to the table, agree to this deal, and end this war that they began. [FLASH] It's time to begin this new stage. The hostages are coming home. For Israel to be secure and the suffering to stop. It's time for this war to end." Hamas said on Thursday it had told mediators it would not take part in more negotiations during ongoing aggression but was ready for a "complete agreement," including an exchange of hostages and prisoners if Israel stopped the war.

Mothers of Israeli soldiers fighting in the Gaza Strip protested on Wednesday in Tel Aviv, calling for an end to the war between Israel and Hamas. Protesters blocked roads and shouted anti-government slogans, while covering their bodies with blood-red paint, symbolizing the ongoing bloodshed in the conflict. (AP video shot by Moshe Edri)

Driving through Aita al-Shaab, shops and homes have been flattened, with a trickle of people walking amidst the destruction to collect their belongings. This small village is one of the hardest hit areas by Israeli airstrikes in southern Lebanon. The country has been in the throes of violence since the start of the Israel-Hamas war. (AP video shot by Mohammad Zanaty)

STORY: :: Rafah, Gaza Displaced Palestinians in Rafah made their way through mangled tents and scattered belongings on Tuesday... after an early morning Israeli airstrike killed Palestinians sheltering there, according to Gaza health officials. "We want to go but we don't know where to go,” says Manal Tanboura. “They told us this was a safe place." Israel's military denied striking a tent camp west of Rafah on Tuesday, after Gaza health authorities said Israeli tank shelling had killed more than 20 people there. Witnesses told Reuters tanks had advanced to the heart of Rafah for the first time during Israel's three-week-old assault on the southern city. :: May 26, 2024 The latest bombardment comes days after an Israeli attack set off a fire at a Rafah tent camp... :: May 27, 2024 ...that killed at least 45 people. The incident sparked global condemnation and calls for the implementation of a World Court order for Israel to stop its assault. Israel said it had targeted Hamas commanders and had not intended to cause civilian casualties. :: Israeli Army REAR ADMIRAL DANIEL HAGARI: "This is a devastating incident..." An Israeli army spokesperson said the military was investigating the possibility that munitions stored near a compound targeted in Sunday's airstrike may have ignited the blaze. "Our munition alone could not have ignited a fire of this size." :: Dublin, Ireland Meanwhile, in a diplomatic move purportedly aimed at speeding up efforts towards a ceasefire... IRISH TAOISEACH SIMON HARRIS: "Ireland formally recognizes the state of Palestine..." Spain, Ireland and Norway officially recognized a Palestinian state. :: Madrid, Spain Spain's Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez said the country is recognizing a unified Palestinian state, including the Gaza Strip and the West Bank, under the Palestinian National Authority with East Jerusalem as its capital. "The recognition of Palestine is not against anyone, least of all Israel…” // “Our decision reflects our absolute rejection of Hamas…” Israel says it wants to root out Hamas fighters holed up in Rafah and rescue hostages it says are being held in there. According to the U.N.'s Palestinian refugee agency, UNRWA, around a million people have fled the Israeli offensive in Rafah since early May, many of them repeatedly displaced by shifting waves of the war. :: Ashkelon, Israel :: October 7, 2023 Israel's assault on Gaza began after the Oct. 7 Hamas-led attacks that killed around 1,200 people and saw more than 250 hostages seized, according Israeli tallies. :: Deir al-Balah, Gaza :: May 24, 2024 More than 36,000 Palestinians have been killed in Israel's offensive, according to Palestinian health officials.

STORY: :: Madrid, Spain :: May 28, 2024 :: Pedro Sanchez, Spanish Prime Minister :: “The state of Palestine must be viable with the West Bank and Gaza connected by a corridor and with East Jerusalem as its capital and must be unified under the legitimate government of the Palestine National Authority (PNA)” :: “Although it is not up to Spain to define the borders of other countries, our position is aligned with the U.N. Security Council resolutions 242 and 338 and with the position of the European Union. Therefore we will not recognize change in the 1967 lines other than those agreed to by the parties." :: "The recognition of Palestine is not against anyone, least of all Israel, a friendly nation that Spain values and holds in high regard and with whom we aim to foster the strongest possible relationship. Furthermore, our decision reflects our absolute rejection of Hamas, a terrorist organization who is against a two-state solution." The Spanish government will formally approve the recognition later on Tuesday. The development came as Norway said it would maker a similar announcement. European Union members Ireland, Slovenia and Malta have indicated in recent weeks that they plan to make the recognition, arguing a two-state solution is essential for lasting peace in the region.

STORY: :: Israeli police and Jewish pilgrims appear to clash at a religious festival site :: Authorities had closed the site this year due to rocket fire from Lebanon :: Police said they turned away thousands of pilgrims, though hundreds had managed to reach the area :: Meron, Israel :: Israeli Police Handout :: Released on May 26, 2024 :: Admma Videos circulating on social media from Israeli Police and ADMMA appeared to show clashes between Israeli officers and worshippers on site. Reuters was able to locate videos from the shape of the mountain and building on the background match Google Earth topography imagery and nearby buildings, greenery, floor surface and fence panels match the satellite imagery corroborating video shows the same scene. Reuters was not able to confirm when the videos were filmed. Since the 2021 tragedy at the tomb of a 2nd-century sage during the annual Lag B'Omer celebration, police have limited the number of attendees. The all-night sessions of prayer, mystical songs and dance had in previous years drawn crowds in the tens of thousands. This year's festival was canceled since the site at Meron in the Galilee region has been targeted by rocket fire from Lebanon. Many northern Israeli towns have been evacuated since Iran-backed Hezbollah in Lebanon began firing at them following Hamas' Oct. 7 assault on southern Israel, which sparked the war in Gaza. Both sides have traded blows since. Despite the closure, police said they turned away thousands of pilgrims over the weekend, though hundreds managed to reach the site, where things got out of hand. The visitors damaged property and hurled objects at officers, police said. Nineteen officers were injured. Israeli media reported that several people among the unauthorized crowd were hurt. At least one officer was suspended for pushing an older man to the ground, and police said it was examining other incidents from the site.