Middle East Conflict Escalates Amid Diplomatic Efforts

The Israeli military has admitted that its troops killed a United Nations worker in the Gaza Strip last month after initially denying responsibility. The incident occurred on March 19 when a UN compound in Deir al-Balah was damaged, killing Bulgarian UN worker Marin Valev Marinov and injuring five others. The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) said its initial investigation found that its troops had mistakenly identified the building as containing an "enemy presence" and struck it with tank fire. The IDF expressed regret and apologized for the incident, saying it would provide a full conclusion of its investigation to the UN.

At least 50 Palestinians were killed in Israeli strikes across the Gaza Strip, with nine dying in a morning strike on a police station in Jabalia town and 12 more killed when a family home was bombed. The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said it struck a "command-and-control centre" for Hamas in Jabalia. The Gaza health ministry reported that at least 1,978 people had been killed since Israel resumed its offensive on 18 March. The UN has urged Israel to end its seven-week blockade on humanitarian aid and supplies, warning of a dire humanitarian situation. The IDF has said it is putting military pressure on Hamas to release 59 hostages it is holding.

Jordan's government has banned the Muslim Brotherhood, a week after arresting members suspected of planning rocket and drone attacks. Interior Minister Mazen al-Faraya announced the ban, stating that the group's offices would be closed, assets confiscated, and any activities considered illegal. The Muslim Brotherhood's political arm, the Islamic Action Front, was raided by police, but its secretary general insisted it was an independent party with no links to the alleged plots. The group has denied involvement, despite authorities claiming to have found explosives, covert rocket manufacturing facilities, and evidence of training and recruitment operations.

Thousands, including 80 Holocaust survivors and 10 former Israeli hostages held by Hamas, marched from Auschwitz to Birkenau in Poland on April 24, 2025, as part of the annual March of the Living, marking 80 years since the liberation of the Nazi death camps and honoring the memory of over one million Jews murdered there, while highlighting the resilience of the Jewish people amidst renewed trauma since the October 7 Hamas attack on Israel.

The weakening of Hezbollah after Israel's recent military strikes and the Trump administration's efforts to limit its power have led to a shift in public opinion in Lebanon towards considering peace with Israel. Lebanese citizens and analysts are now openly discussing normalization with Israel, with some citing the need for the country's politicians to take action. The US deputy special envoy for Middle East Peace, Morgan Ortagus, has emphasized the need to disarm Hezbollah to stabilize Lebanon and pave the way for peace. However, the issue of Palestinian refugees in Lebanon remains a significant hurdle to normalization. Lebanese citizens are calling for the US to keep pressure on the country's corrupt politicians to publicly endorse peace, and there is optimism that a potential second Trump term could bring about a major peace deal between Lebanon and Israel.

Israel came to a standstill as the country marked Holocaust Remembrance Day, honoring the 6 million Jews murdered by the Nazis. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and President Isaac Herzog led the ceremonies, drawing connections between the Holocaust and the current threats facing Israel, including the ongoing war against Hamas. The official state ceremony was held under the banner "Out of the Depths: The Pain of Liberation and Growth." Netanyahu stated that Israel is now strong and will do whatever is necessary to return hostages and defeat its enemies. Former US President Donald Trump also issued a proclamation, noting the rise of antisemitism in the US. The day included ceremonies, programs, and survivor testimonies, with Israeli President Herzog traveling to Poland to lead the March of the Living at Auschwitz-Birkenau. Approximately 120,000 Holocaust survivors remain alive in Israel, with a report projecting that just half will be living in six years.

The Israeli Defence Forces (IDF) has admitted responsibility for a deadly tank strike on a UN guest house in Gaza last month, killing a Bulgarian UN staff member and injuring six others. The IDF claimed its troops did not know the building was a UN facility, but the UN had previously stated that the attack was "not an accident" and that Israel was aware of the building's purpose and occupants.

The US Central Command said a deadly blast near a UNESCO world heritage site in Yemen's capital, Sana, was caused by a Houthi missile, not a US airstrike. The blast killed 12 people and injured 30 others. The Pentagon based its assessment on local reporting and videos showing Arabic writing on the missile's fragments. The Houthis deny the US claim, saying the US targeted the neighborhood. The US has been conducting airstrikes in Yemen against the Houthis, an Iran-backed militia, in response to their attacks on Israel and ships in the Red Sea.