Middle East Eye

🎥 US naval forces attacked the Iranian-flagged container ship Touska near the Strait of Hormuz before seizing it, in a sharp escalation in one of the world’s most critical waterways. The US warship disabled the vessel by striking its engine room after issuing warnings, before US soldiers boarded and took control. Washington claimed the ship had ignored orders and was violating its naval blockade and sanctions, framing the action as enforcement. Iran rejected that claim, calling the seizure unlawful and a breach of a ceasefire, and warned it would respond.

🎥 An image showing an Israeli soldier using a jackhammer to smash a statue of Jesus on a cross in southern Lebanon has gone viral, triggering widespread condemnation and backlash. Members of the Christian community say the statue is in the village of Debel, a Maronite Christian town about six kilometres northwest of Ain Ebel and roughly five kilometres from the Israeli border community of Shtula. The image sparked immediate outrage online, including among some former allies of US President Donald Trump. Under Israeli rule, Christians in Israel and the occupied West Bank have faced a growing wave of attacks, from daily harassment to the destruction of religious sites.

🎥 Police in Berlin carried out a forceful crackdown across Friday, Saturday and Sunday, moving in on peaceful pro-Palestinian protests and arresting demonstrators, including minors. Footage from multiple days shows officers forcing people to the ground, dragging them away and aggressively restraining them. The demonstrations remained non-violent before police intervened. During one arrest, a protester said they were being targeted for being Palestinian and because authorities are committed to partaking in the genocide.

📰 An image showing an Israeli soldier using a jackhammer to smash a statue of Jesus on a cross in southern Lebanon went viral on social media on Sunday. Israel has occupied several areas in southern Lebanon since launching its war on the country on March 2. A ceasefire came into effect on Friday. Members of the Christian community say the statue is in the village of Debel, a Maronite Christian town about six kilometres northwest of Ain Ebel and roughly five kilometres from the Israeli border community of Shtula. The image sparked immediate outrage online, including among some former allies of US President Donald Trump. 🔗 https://www.middleeasteye.net/news/israeli-soldier-filmed-smashing-jesus-statue-lebanon?utm_source=telegram&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=social_traffic

🎥 US Representative Rashida Tlaib delivered a forceful public statement rejecting claims that a ceasefire is currently in effect in Lebanon, accusing fellow lawmakers of repeating what she described as inaccurate language. She said civilian areas continue to be hit by strikes and argued that the situation on the ground contradicts reports of de-escalation.

📰 Hamas has rebuffed a proposal by the US-backed “Board of Peace” to disarm the group, citing ongoing Israeli violations of the first phase of the ceasefire. Palestinian sources with direct knowledge of the talks told Middle East Eye that Hamas views the plan, presented earlier this month, as a “trap” designed to ignite civil war in the Gaza Strip and destabilise Palestinian society. The group fears the proposal would leave Palestinians in Gaza defenceless while allowing Israeli-backed armed gangs to operate freely and spread disorder. “Hamas completely rejects this,” a Gaza-based source said, adding that opposition is even stronger within its military wing, the Qassam Brigades, which considers disarmament “collective suicide”. “They know that giving up their weapons is not an option and will not happen,” the source added. 🔗 https://www.middleeasteye.net/news/hamas-rebuffs-trap-disarmament-plan-israeli-violations-stall-ceasefire-process?utm_source=telegram&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=social_traffic

🎥 During their Coachella set, The Strokes concluded their performance with a large-screen visual montage that drew widespread attention for its political tone. The display included imagery referencing historical instances of US foreign intervention, including governments the CIA has overthrown, leaders the US has assassinated and the war crimes the US is committing in Iran.

🎥 Schools and businesses were shut in the northern Israeli town of Kiryat Shmona on Sunday, in protest against a ceasefire with Hezbollah in Lebanon, which entered into effect on Thursday. Lebanon and Israel announced a 10-day truce on Thursday after the Lebanese and Israeli ambassadors to the United States held direct talks in Washington DC for the first time in decades. Despite the truce, Israeli troops have maintained positions in Lebanese villages, part of stated Israeli plans to keep control over what it describes as a “buffer zone” that reaches five kilometres deep into south Lebanon.