First Gaza flotilla activists arrive in Turkey after Israel deportation
Israel said on Thursday it had deported all the foreign activists seized by its forces from a Gaza-bound flotilla, as the first group arrived in Turkey following global outcry over their treatment in custody.
Hundreds of activists from countries around the world were placed in detention in Israel after they were intercepted at sea Monday while making the latest in a string of attempts to break the blockade of the Palestinian territory.
Turkish foreign ministry sources said 422 activists, including 85 Turkish nationals, were flown from southern Israel on three planes chartered by Ankara.
Republicans call off vote on Iran war resolution that was on the verge of passing
Republicans struggled Thursday to find the votes to dismiss legislation that would compel President Donald Trump to withdraw from the war with Iran, delaying planned votes on the matter into June.
The House had scheduled a vote on a war powers resolution, brought by Democrats, that would rein in Trump's military campaign. But as it became clear that Republicans would not have the numbers to defeat the bill, GOP leaders declined to hold a vote on it. It was the latest sign of the slipping support in Congress for a war that Trump launched more than two months ago without congressional approval.
“We had the votes without question and they knew it, and as a result they’re playing a political game,” said Democratic Rep. Gregory Meeks, who sponsored the bill.
Republicans in the Senate are also working to ensure they have the votes to dismiss another war powers resolution that advanced to a final vote earlier this week, when four GOP senators supported the resolution and three others were absent from the vote.
US sanctions Lebanese lawmakers, security officials over Hezbollah influence
A group of Hezbollah-affiliated parliamentarians, state security officials, and allies of the militant group were hit with US sanctions Thursday, for allegedly seeking to preserve the Iran-backed group's influence over Lebanese state institutions and obstruct disarmament efforts.
It’s the first time Washington has sanctioned sitting Lebanese state security officials, one from the country's General Security agency and the other from the military intelligence, both of them accused of providing Hezbollah with “illicit support” and intelligence during the ongoing conflict.
The announcement comes as pressure mounts on Beirut to take more decisive action in disarming the group.
Gaza division could become permanent, warns Board of Peace envoy
The Board of Peace's lead envoy for Gaza warned the UN Security Council on Thursday that the enclave's current division could become permanent, leaving more than 2 million people crowded into less than half its territory, unless a ceasefire takes hold.
US President Donald Trump set up the Board of Peace to oversee his ambitious plan to end Israel's two-year war in Gaza and rebuild the shattered territory. But its implementation has stalled, with Hamas refusing to lay down arms and Israel maintaining troops in a large swathe of Gaza.
"The risk is that the deteriorating status quo becomes permanent – a divided Gaza, Hamas holding military and administrative control over 2 million people across less than half the territory," Nickolay Mladenov, Trump's Board of Peace envoy for Gaza, told the Security Council in New York.
He said this would lead to another generation of Gazans living in tents and preclude Israeli security and any viable path to Palestinian statehood.
“This is a version of the future that Israelis, Palestinians and the region should all fear and all mobilise to avoid," he said.
First Gaza flotilla activists arrive in Istanbul from Israel
The first of hundreds of Gaza flotilla activists began arriving at Istanbul airport Thursday after being arrested then deported from Israel, an AFP correspondent said.
The 422 activists, among them 85 Turkish nationals, were flown from southern Israel on three planes chartered by Ankara, Turkish foreign ministry sources said.
A first group of arrivals could be seen inside the VIP terminal at Istanbul airport on the European side of the city, as a crowd of supporters carrying Palestinian flags gathered to welcome them, the correspondent said.
Members of the Global Sumud Flotilla headed for Gaza and arrested and deported by Israel pose outside a terminal following their arrival at Istanbul Airport on May 21, 2026.
French budget minister announces extra targeted measures worth €710 million
French Budget Minister David Amiel said on Thursday that additional targeted aid measures worth €710 million ($822.61 million) will be introduced to help people and businesses deal with the effects of the war in Iran on fuel prices.
The new amount earmarked would bring the total spending in helping consumers cope with higher fuel prices to almost €1.2 billion, he said in a news conference held in Paris.
Iran war energy shock seeps deeper into Europe's economy
Rubio pushes back over NATO refusal to help on Iran ahead of alliance talks
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio on Thursday renewed criticism of NATO for not supporting the US war on Iran, as he headed to alliance talks in Sweden.
President Donald Trump is "not asking them to send their fighter jets in. But they refuse to do anything," Rubio told reporters. "We were very upset about that."
Hormuz tolling system would make diplomatic deal unfeasible, Rubio says
A diplomatic deal between the United States and Iran would be unfeasible if Tehran implemented a tolling system in the Strait of Hormuz, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio told reporters on Thursday.
'We are against broad tax cuts on fuel', French PM Lecornu says
France opposes broad tax cuts on fuels, Prime Minister Sebastien Lecornu said on Thursday, adding that as long as the Iran war continues, support will remain targeted at those most in need.
"We refuse any general, indiscriminate reduction of fuel taxes", Lecorny told reporters in Paris.
The French Prime Minister expects the conflict in Iran to last.
"The most optimistic scenario is a return to normal between summer and autumn," he said.
The French government does not intend to raise other taxes in the 2027 budget.
France's Prime Minister Sebastien Lecornu addresses a press conference focusing on the consequences of the war in Iran and to announce "measures to support economic activity", at the Hotel Matignon Prime minister residence in Paris on May 21, 2026. STEPHANE DE SAKUTIN / AFP
First Gaza flotilla activists deported by Israel arrive in Istanbul
Campaigners from the Gaza-bound flotilla arrested by Israeli soldiers before being expelled landed at Istanbul international airport Thursday, AFP journalists noted.
Two other flights from Israel chartered by Turkey's foreign minister are also due to arrive there.
'Extremely embarrassing' for govt but no reprimand for Ben-Gvir over flotilla video
Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has called the treatment of detained Gaza flotilla activists by National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir “not in line with Israel's values and norms”, after a video of Ben-Gvir taunting the bound detainees sparked international outcry. However, while “extremely embarrassing” for the Israeli government, there has been little in the way of reprimand for Ben-Gvir, says FRANCE 24’s Noga Tarnopolsky.
Israel deports all foreign activists from Gaza flotilla
Israel said on Thursday it had deported all the foreign activists seized by Israeli forces from a Gaza-bound flotilla, following global outcry over their treatment in custody.
Israel's foreign ministry spokesman, Oren Marmorstein, said on Thursday that "all foreign activists from the PR flotilla have been deported from Israel. ... Israel will not permit any breach of the lawful naval blockade on Gaza."
The legal centre representing the activists said earlier on Thursday that the majority of the flotilla members were "en route for deportation" from Ramon Airport in Israel's far south.
In a statement, Adalah added that the activists had been held at Israel's Ktziot prison, in the Negev Desert near Gaza.
Not appropriate for NATO to play role in Hormuz mission, France says
France on Thursday dismissed the idea of NATO playing a role in an international mission to enable freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz, its foreign ministry spokesperson said.
"Our position is clear and constant. It is that the North Atlantic Treaty applies to the North Atlantic.
It is neither its purpose, nor in reality the appropriate alliance, for it then to be focused on an issue in the Middle East and on Hormuz," Pascal Confavreux told reporters in a weekly briefing.
37 French nationals part of Gaza flotilla being deported to Turkey from Israel, foreign ministry says
UK finance minister Reeves announces support for chemicals, ceramics industries
British finance minister Rachel Reeves announced targeted financial support for the country's critical chemicals and ceramics industries, as she seeks to provide support to help companies hit by the impact of the Iran war.
She said she would provide a £350 million ($470 million)fund for the critical chemicals industry and a £120 million fund for the ceramics industry.
Poland's foreign minister requests ban on Israel's Ben-Gvir entering country
Poland's foreign minister has requested that the interior ministry ban Israel's far-right police minister Itamar Ben-Gvir from entering the country, a spokesperson said on Thursday, after outrage in Warsaw over the detention of Gaza flotilla activists.
"Minister (Radoslaw) Sikorski decided to ask the interior ministry to issue a ban on Minister Ben-Gvir entering the Republic of Poland due to his actions," Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Maciej Wewior told reporters.
Greece calls on Israel to release flotilla nationals immediately
Greece on Thursday urged Israel to release its nationals who were arrested after a Gaza aid flotilla was intercepted, its government spokesperson Pavlos Marinakis said.
UK summons Israeli diplomat over video by Israeli minister of Gaza flotilla activists
Britain on Thursday said it had summoned Israel's chargé d'affaires over a video posted by National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir taunting activists detained after a Gaza-bound flotilla was intercepted.
"This behaviour violates the most basic standards of respect and dignity for people," Britain's foreign ministry said in a statement.
"We are also deeply concerned by the detention conditions depicted and have demanded an explanation from the Israeli authorities. We made clear their obligations to protect the rights of all those involved."
Yesterday's key developments:
- Iran said on Wednesday it was examining a new US proposal to end the Middle East war, as President Donald Trump described the talks as being on the "borderline" between a deal and renewed strikes.
- The US military said Wednesday that it boarded an Iranian-flagged commercial oil tanker in the Gulf of Oman that was suspected of trying to violate the American blockade.
- The US ambassador to Israel sharply criticised far-right National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir on Wednesday, after he posted a video showing detained activists from a Gaza-bound flotilla kneeling with their hands tied and foreheads on the ground.
(FRANCE 24 with Reuters, AP and AFP)
