Sri Lanka’s newly appointed Ambassador to Israel, Saman Chandrasiri, formally presented his Letter of Credence to President Isaac Herzog at Beit HaNassi, the President’s Residence in Jerusalem.

According to the Embassy of Sri Lanka in Israel, President Herzog extended a warm welcome to Ambassador Chandrasiri, wishing him success in his assignment. He fondly recalled the visit to Sri Lanka by his late father, former President Chaim Herzog, and highlighted the longstanding friendship between the two nations.

Acknowledging Sri Lanka’s contribution to Israel’s economy, President Herzog praised the role of Sri Lankan workers and described labour relations between the two countries as a mutually beneficial partnership. He also noted Sri Lanka’s popularity among Israeli travellers, who value its natural beauty, hospitality, and memorable experiences.

Ambassador Chandrasiri conveyed greetings from President Anura Kumara Dissanayake and the people of Sri Lanka, expressing interest in expanding cooperation in agricultural technology, defence, and trade. He emphasized that strong people-to-people ties provide a solid foundation for broadening collaboration in areas of mutual interest.

Bringing 25 years of public service experience, Ambassador Chandrasiri has served in the Ministry of Defence and the Department of Immigration and Emigration. Prior to his appointment, he worked as Manager – Training and Development, focusing on capacity-building, migration management, and international cooperation. He has also acted as a liaison with diplomatic missions in Colombo and served as a resource person for the Sri Lanka Armed Forces and Sri Lanka Police. He holds a Bachelor of Science Special Degree in Business Administration from the University of Sri Jayewardenepura. (Newswire)

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Applications open today for Sri Lankan workers seeking employment in Israel’s restaurant and renovation sectors, the Sri Lanka Bureau of Foreign Employment (SLBFE) announced.

The Bureau said its official web portal www.slbfe.lk will allow qualified applicants to register online. 

For the restaurant sector, the portal opens at 12.00 noon today to register 4,000 applicants. Eligible candidates are men aged 25–40, with at least one year’s experience in a restaurant kitchen, eight years of schooling, and good English proficiency. 

Applicants must also be physically and mentally fit, and only those who have not previously worked in Israel, nor have immediate family members employed there, can apply.

For the renovation sector, registration will open tomorrow at 2.00 pm, with 12,000 slots available across four fields: plastering and gypsum board work, electrical box installation and block wall construction, carpentry, and ceramic tiling. 

Each category will take 3,000 applicants. Eligible candidates are men aged 25–45, with ten years of schooling and basic English knowledge, subject to the same restrictions on prior employment in Israel.

The Bureau noted that those who previously failed the final test for construction jobs cannot reapply, though applicants from other Israeli job categories may apply for these four fields. 

Selection will be conducted by qualified Israeli representatives, who will test applicants’ professional skills. 

The SLBFE urged job seekers to apply only for sectors where they have genuine experience and qualifications. (Newswire)

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Sri Lanka has set in motion arrangements to send 10,000 workers for employment in Israel during 2026, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Employment Vijitha Herath announced.

He made the statement while granting travel permits to 164 workers scheduled to depart for jobs in Israel’s construction and infrastructure sector, stressing that the initiative is being carried out under a systematic and transparent procedure.

So far, 2,500 Sri Lankans have already been deployed to Israel this year, while job opportunities are prepared for another 6,500 workers. 

In addition, a further 1,000 positions are expected to open in a new sector, helping meet the overall target of 10,000, the minister said. 

Minister Herath emphasized that through official registration at the Foreign Employment Bureau, Sri Lankans can now secure overseas employment opportunities at low cost and with greater reliability, turning their foreign employment aspirations into reality. (Newswire)

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Andy Burnham has officially become the United Kingdom’s new Prime Minister, pledging a tougher approach to the war in Gaza while signalling a shift in the country’s stance on the conflict. 

Before taking office, Burnham acknowledged that the Labour Party had “not got it right” in its response to the conflict and apologised to those who felt the party’s position had fallen short. He described the humanitarian situation in Gaza as unacceptable and pledged to increase pressure on the Israeli government. 

Burnham has indicated that his government will consider stronger measures, including additional sanctions against Israel, as part of efforts to help bring an end to the suffering in Gaza. 

The former Mayor of Greater Manchester was sworn in as Prime Minister on Monday after meeting King Charles III, becoming Britain’s seventh prime minister in a decade following the resignation of Keir Starmer. 

While Burnham has pledged a firmer stance on Gaza, his first priorities in office are expected to focus on domestic issues including the cost-of-living crisis, economic growth and reforms to public services. (Newswire)

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United States Vice President JD Vance has accused some members of Israel’s government of trying to influence US public opinion ⁠to oppose a deal to end the war with Iran.

In remarks made during an interview with US podcaster Joe Rogan that aired on Wednesday, Vance offered unusually pointed criticism of one of Washington’s closest allies.

Vance defended a deal the US reached last month to end the war with Iran, adding, “I know beyond a shadow of a doubt that there have been people within the Israeli government who are ‌trying to, like, actually shift us away from that policy because they want to continue the military campaign.”

Vance, whom many view as a potential future presidential candidate, has previously criticised Israel in what has become a widening public rift between the two countries.

“There’s a literal foreign influence campaign being funded to tank the very deal that I was pursuing,” Vance told Rogan, citing a report published by Time Magazine on Monday, which said a former Trump campaign manager was hired on behalf of Israel to run a digital campaign to influence US views of Israel and the Iran war.

“You have seen this very discreet, extremely well-funded campaign to try to derail the negotiation and try to derail the deal,” said Vance.

“There are some people within their system that we know beyond a shadow of a doubt that are manipulating and trying to change American public opinion to keep the war going on indefinitely,” he added.

Al Jazeera’s Patty Culhane, reporting from Washington, DC, said the Israeli-linked influence campaign Vance referenced is likely “meant to influence Trump’s MAGA [Make America Great Again] base”, which is increasingly divided over US policy towards Israel.

“That explains why Vance went on the Joe Rogan podcast,” said Culhane. “[Rogan is] one of the most popular podcasters in the country and is very much a key voice in influencing the young men that make up the MAGA base.” 

Influence campaigns ‘affect political judgement’

The US vice president also claimed an Israeli-linked influence campaign had targeted him personally over his diplomatic outreach to Iran.

“People are attacking me viciously for quite literally trying to accomplish the negotiation objective that the president set for the country,” he said.

Vance acknowledged that both allies and adversaries alike seek to influence US policy, and said, “It doesn’t bother me that Israel tries to do this.”

However, he said, “What does bother me is when those operations, those influence campaigns, actually affect ⁠American political judgement.”

Vance defended the US-Iran interim peace agreement reached last month, which was intended to end the war, but has faced significant opposition in Israel.

The agreement appears to have largely unravelled over escalating attacks by the US and Iran during the last week.

Asked if he ‌thought that the US would have engaged in the most recent war with Iran were it not for Israeli influence, Vance said, “Yes, yes I do.”

“I think the president, separate from any influence from Israel, ‌believes very strongly – and again, I agree with this – that Iran should not have a nuclear weapon,” Vance said.

Vance has previously slammed Israeli critics of the Iran deal, saying in June that US President Donald Trump is Israel’s only ⁠ally, in a sharp rebuke that referenced the billions in US ⁠military aid to Israel.

‘Quite shocking’

Former Israeli diplomat Alon Pinkas said Vance’s latest remarks were “unprecedented” and show that the US and Israel “are not on the same page” right now.

“No sitting US vice president has ever accused Israel of openly running a campaign to undermine American policy,” Pinkas, now a columnist at The New Republic, told Al Jazeera.

“There have been disagreements in the past, there has been friction. But for a sitting vice president to come out so vociferously, clearly, and crudely against an Israeli influence campaign against the US is truly unprecedented,” Pinkas said. “It is quite shocking.”

Al Jazeera’s Culhane also said Vance’s remarks were “unheard of”.

Separately, Vance weighed in on the controversy surrounding the late convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, saying Epstein had unspecified high-level connections to both US and Israeli intelligence agencies.

Israel’s government did not immediately comment on Vance’s remarks. (Al Jazeera)

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Opposition MP D.V. Chanaka has raised concerns over what he described as a possible cyberattack affecting remittances sent by Sri Lankan workers in Israel through a State-owned bank.
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‎Chanaka claimed that a large number of Sri Lankans employed in Israel had been unable to access money remitted during April and May, with the funds allegedly remaining blocked.
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‎“There are many Sri Lankan workers in Israel who continue to work despite risks to their own safety. On average, one worker sends around US$3,000 per month,” Chanaka said.
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‎He said workers had been advised to use services of Global Remit Ltd. through a leading State bank to transfer their earnings to Sri Lanka, but alleged that the remitted funds had not reached their intended recipients.
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‎“When they inquire from the bank, they are told to contact the embassy. When they contact the embassy, they are told to speak to the bank. The money has not reached the recipients,” he said.
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‎Chanaka raised the possibility of a cyber-related issue, saying it was unclear where the alleged problem had originated.
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‎“We do not know whether this is due to a cyberattack on the Government, the bank or another entity, but something has happened to these funds,” he said. (Newswire)

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US President Donald Trump has said a deal between Israel and Iran is close, claiming both sides could stop attacks within days.

Speaking to reporters late Monday, Trump said the United States was in the “final throes” of what he described as a “very, very good deal”, adding that the Strait of Hormuz could reopen within two to three days once an agreement is signed.

He also suggested Israel and Iran may refrain from further attacks for at least a week, following their most serious escalation since a ceasefire in April.

Trump said continued US pressure, including a naval blockade, was pushing Iran towards an agreement, claiming military strikes alone would not achieve the same outcome.

In comments to Axios, he also said he had warned Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu over the continuation of the conflict, telling him he could soon be “on your own”.

On his Truth Social platform, Trump urged both sides to stop “shooting” and said final negotiations were under way, warning that progress could be derailed by “ignorance or stupidity”.

The remarks came after renewed violence on Sunday, triggered by Israeli strikes on Beirut. Iran responded with missile attacks on northern Israel, while Israel later struck Iranian air defence systems and a petrochemical facility. Iran also hit a facility in Haifa and targeted Israeli airbases. No deaths have been reported. (Newswire)

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Iran said it has suspended military operations against Israel but warned it would resume them if strikes continue, including in southern Lebanon, where Israel is conducting ongoing operations.

“The powerful Armed Forces of the Islamic Republic of Iran, in support of the oppressed people of Lebanon, delivered a painful response to this regime (Israel),” Iran’s military said in a statement cited by Tasnim news agency.

“Should the aggressions and hostile acts continue – including in southern Lebanon – far more severe and crushing measures than before will be forthcoming,” it said.

The Israeli Prime Minister’s Office said in a message to government ministers on Monday that Israel “will not accept the regime in Tehran’s attempt to create a new equation,” whereby strikes on targets in a Hezbollah stronghold in Beirut “are met with Iranian attacks on population centres in Israel,” an Israeli official told CNN earlier.

“We will continue to operate throughout Lebanon, as required, to remove the Hezbollah terror threat to our citizens,” the message said. (CNN)

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Israel struck Iran on Monday after being targeted by missiles, while a U. S. military base in Saudi Arabia came under fire in the most serious exchange of hostilities since an April ceasefire, raising the possibility of a return to heavy fighting and complicating mediation efforts to end the war. 

Iranian state television reported the sound of explosions being heard in Isfahan, Tabriz and Tehran, without immediately elaborating. 

Earlier, Iran had launched missiles at Israel in the first such bombardment since a fragile ceasefire took effect in early April, raising the possibility of a return to heavy fighting and complicating mediation efforts to end the war. 

Tehran had warned of retaliation after Israel struck Beirut’s southern suburbs without warning earlier Sunday in defiance of Washington’s request days ago to stand down. Israel said the Iranian-backed Hezbollah fired at northern Israel earlier in the day.

Saudi Arabia sounded missile alert sirens Monday morning in an area home to an air base that hosts U.S. forces.

The Israeli strikes came in apparent defiance to President Donald Trump who urged Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu that he doesn’t think Israel needs to respond further.

Speaking to The Financial Times, U.S. President Donald Trump, before the Israeli strike on Iran, insisted he dictated terms to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on how the war should be prosecuted.

“He won’t have any choice,” Trump told the newspaper in a telephone interview. “I call the shots. I call all the shots. He (Netanyahu) doesn’t call the shots.” (AFP)

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Lebanon and Israel said on Wednesday (Jun 3) that they had agreed to the implementation of a ceasefire following negotiations in Washington aimed at ending the conflict that flared up alongside the war in Iran.

The ceasefire is contingent on a complete cessation of fire from the Iran-aligned Hezbollah militia and the evacuation of all of its operatives from the South Litani Sector, according to a joint statement released with the United States.

“The two sides agreed with the guidance of the United States to swiftly advance the creation of pilot zones in which the Lebanese Armed Forces will take exclusive control of the territory to the exclusion of all non-state actors,” they said.

Israel and Lebanon had previously agreed to a cessation of hostilities in April that was then extended in May, but violence has continued.

Israeli drone strikes killed at least six people in southern Lebanon and targeted a car south of Beirut ​on Wednesday, Lebanese security sources said. Israel said it intercepted a hostile aircraft likely fired by Hezbollah.

A US-mediated agreement announced on Monday had led Israel to step back from attacking the Hezbollah-controlled southern suburbs of Beirut, and the Iran-backed group to halt cross-border strikes.

Israel invaded Lebanon in March in pursuit of Hezbollah which fired across the border in support of Tehran.

Iran has said it will not agree to a deal to end the conflict launched by the United States and Israel in late February unless the ceasefire also extends to Lebanon.

Lebanon and Israel on Wednesday agreed to further direct negotiations to build confidence and resolve other outstanding issues.

The pair will reconvene to hold political and security-related talks during the week of Jun 22 with a view towards a comprehensive agreement, according to the statement. (CNA)

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Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Thursday that he has directed Israel’s military to take over 70% of Gaza’s territory.

During an interview at a conference in the occupied West Bank, Netanyahu said that Israel is “tightening” its grip on Hamas. “We are now in 60% of the territory of the Gaza Strip. We were at 50%. We moved to 60%,” he said. “My directive is to move to — take it step by step — first of all 70. Let’s start with that.” As Netanyahu spoke, the audience called for him to take over all of Gaza’s territory.

In late April, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) issued maps to international aid groups that showed the military already controlling approximately 64% of Gaza. 

The seizure of more of Gaza would force approximately 2 million Palestinians into a shrinking fraction of the coastal enclave’s shattered territory.

Under a October 2025 ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas, Israeli forces withdrew to a demarcation line known as the “yellow line” that left them in roughly 53% of Gaza.

On Tuesday, Hamas accused Israel of moving the line, saying this “constitutes an explicit and ongoing undermining of the ceasefire agreement, a serious violation of its provisions, and an exposed attempt to impose new facts on the ground by force, with the aim of entrenching military control over the Strip and undermining any real chance of stabilizing the situation or making de-escalation efforts succeed.”

Both Israel and Hamas are supposed to be abiding by the terms of the US-brokered ceasefire agreement, which went into effect in October. But progress on the plan, which was promoted by President Donald Trump, has stalled, risking a scenario in which Gaza’s territory becomes permanently divided.

Nickolay Mladenov, a Bulgarian diplomat who serves as the official in charge of implementing the agreement, warned earlier this month that without progress, the yellow line could turn “into a fence or wall, a permanent separation of Gaza.”

Mladenov acknowledged a reality on the ground in Gaza in which “civilians are still being killed” and “families live in fear” of Israeli airstrikes.

Israel has repeatedly carried out strikes in Gaza since the ceasefire, accusing Hamas of violating it by rearming and rebuilding its forces. Those strikes have killed more than 850 people in Gaza since the ceasefire began, according to the Palestinian Ministry of Public Health. Earlier this month, Israel assassinated Izz al-Din al-Haddad, the leader of Hamas’ military wing. Eleven days later, Israel assassinated his successor in a subsequent strike.

“We vowed to eliminate everyone who led the October 7 massacre, and that is what will be done: They are all condemned to death everywhere,” Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz said Thursday on social media.

Hamas has also refused to disarm or decommission its weaponry, Mladenov said, a key element of the ceasefire plan upon which much of the future of Gaza rests. Israeli forces are supposed to gradually withdraw from occupied territory in Gaza after Hamas disarms and when an international security force secures parts of the enclave.

Though some countries have signaled a willingness to contribute to the security force, there is no clear timeline for its deployment. And in the absence of progress on the ceasefire agreement, Israel has gradually seized more of Gaza, entrenching its hold on the devastated territory. (CNN)

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The Government of Sri Lanka has expressed deep concern and profound distress over footage posted by Israeli Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir, which appears to depict the dehumanizing treatment of detainees of  “Global Sumud Flotilla’’. 

Issuing a statement, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Sri Lanka said it is already engaging with the Israeli Foreign Ministry through diplomatic channels to secure immediate consular access to the affected Sri Lankan national including guarantees for her safety, wellbeing, and dignity and swift and safe repatriation to Sri Lanka.  

The Government of Sri Lanka remains fully committed to ensuring the protection of its citizens abroad, the ministry added. 

Sameera Mehboobdeen had departed Sri Lanka in April to join the Global Sumud Flotilla, an international mission involving activists from nearly 100 countries aimed at breaking the blockade of Gaza.

More than 50 vessels set sail from Marmaris, Turkey, recently in what organizers described as the final leg of the journey to Gaza’s shores.

The Israeli Navy began intercepting the flotilla on Monday, weeks after a previous attempt was thwarted and two activists were detained. 

However, a recent video showing Israel’s National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir taunting detained Gaza flotilla activists has sparked searing international condemnation, as well as a rare public reprimand from Israel’s prime minister.

Two videos released by Ben Gvir’s office show activists who were aboard a flotilla aiming to deliver aid to Gaza being arrested by police, with some seen held in the stress position in a make-shift holding space at the port of Ashdod on Wednesday. (Newswire)

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Video showing Israel’s far-right National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir taunting detained Gaza flotilla activists has sparked searing international condemnation, as well as a rare public reprimand from Israel’s prime minister.

Two videos released by Ben Gvir’s office show activists who were aboard a flotilla aiming to deliver aid to Gaza being arrested by police, with some seen held in the stress position in a make-shift holding space at the port of Ashdod on Wednesday.

In one video a woman is seen shouting in English: “Free Palestine!” before being pushed to the ground, as officers are heard telling her, “quiet, quiet”.

“Good job,” Ben Gvir says, adding, “Welcome to Israel. We are the landlords here.”

Another video shows dozens of people with their hands fastened behind their backs as they kneel with their heads to the ground.

“They came with a lot of pride, like great heroes. Look at them now. Look, see how they look now. Not heroes and nothing at all. Terror supporters,” Ben Gvir says with the Israeli flag in hand, pointing to those detained.

The first boats in the flotilla departed from Barcelona last month, with campaigners calling their action a “civilian intervention at a moment of escalating violence and humanitarian crisis.”

As the boats made their way toward Gaza, Israeli forces launched a series of interceptions.

Flotilla spokesperson David Heap told CNN on Wednesday that approximately 60 of its boats had been intercepted, and more than 400 activists detained.

Lawyers from Israeli human rights organization Adalah were able to see some of the detainees at the port of Ashdod before they were transferred to Ketziot prison in southern Israel’s Negev desert.

International condemnation of the videos of the detainees was swift coming.

Italy’s Prime Minister Georgia Meloni, seen by Israel as one of the EU’s more sympathetic leaders, was among the first, describing the incident as an “unacceptable” violation of the activists’ human dignity.

The prime minister of Spain, a sharp critic of Israel’s offensive in Gaza, said the images showed Ben Gvir “humiliating the people on the international flotilla,” adding, “We will not tolerate anyone mistreating our citizens.” The Spanish leader said he would push the European Union to sanction Ben Gvir, emulating Spain’s ban on the minister’s entry into the country.

UK Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper said she was “truly appalled” and added the British government was in touch with the families of the British nationals involved. The UK has also demanded an explanation from Israeli authorities, Cooper said.

Canada, Portugal and Italy announced they would summon the Israeli representatives in their respective countries over the incident, while France, Ireland and Turkey also added to the mounting condemnation.

In a clear sign that Ben Gvir, a politician known for his provocative stunts, had gone too far for his government colleagues, Israel’s Foreign Minister Gideon Saar, followed by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, publicly rebuked him.

Saar accused the National Security Minister of staging a “disgraceful display,” in which he had “knowingly caused harm” to the state of Israel.

Netanyahu, while clear in his defense of the activists’ detention, said Ben Gvir’s actions were “not in line with Israel’s values and norms,” adding, “I have instructed the relevant authorities to deport the provocateurs as soon as possible.”

The US ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee also called out Ben Gvir for his “despicable actions.”

“Flotilla was stupid stunt, but Ben Gvir betrayed dignity of his nation,” the ambassador said on X. (CNN)

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The Israeli Navy on Monday began to intercept the activist mission sailing to the Gaza Strip to challenge Israel’s naval blockade, just weeks after a previous flotilla was thwarted and two of its activists were detained.

More than 50 vessels departed from the port in Marmaris, Turkey, last week in what the organizers of the Global Sumud Flotilla described as the final leg of their journey to Gaza’s shores.

It is reported that Sri Lankan participant Sameera Mahboobdeen is part of the fleet, and her fate is unknown. 

Naval commandos boarded the first of Global Sumud Flotilla’s vessels at sea off the coast of Cyprus, a livestream showed on Monday, which then abruptly ended.

By noon, six vessels had been intercepted.

“Military vessels are currently intercepting our fleet and (Israeli) forces are boarding the first of our boats in broad daylight,” the Global Sumud Flotilla said on X.

“We demand safe passage for our legal, non-violent humanitarian mission.”

Turkey condemned Israel’s interception of the flotilla, stating it “constitutes a new act of piracy.”

“Israel must immediately cease its intervention and unconditionally release the detained flotilla participants,” the Turkish Foreign Ministry statement said, adding that “the process is being closely monitored in cooperation with other countries.”

Meanwhile, Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani said that his country’s embassies in Israel, Turkey, and Cyprus have asked Israel to ensure the safety of the Italian citizens on the flotilla.

Earlier, Israel warned the “participants in this provocation to change course and turn back immediately.”

“Once again, a provocation for the sake of provocation: another so-called ‘humanitarian aid flotilla’ with no humanitarian aid,” the Foreign Ministry posted on X. The Israeli military declined to comment on the ongoing operation.

Israel has previously dismissed the flotillas as publicity stunts, after their organizers rejected calls to transfer the small amount of symbolic aid they had been carrying with them to Israel or international organizations to be taken into the Strip and distributed via official channels.

The Global Sumud Flotilla will be the third initiative in a year aiming at breaking an Israeli blockade on Hamas-ruled Gaza, which has suffered severe shortages of food, water, medicine, and fuel since the Palestinian terror group invaded Israel in October 2023, sparking two years of war in the coastal enclave.

The flotilla is being led by Turkish aid organization IHH, which is designated in Israel as a terror organization and which organized the 2010 Mavi Marmara flotilla to Gaza.

Israeli forces intercepted the second flotilla in international waters off Greece on April 30 and sent most of the 175 activists to Europe, but arrested two of them, who were held for 10 days before being deported. 

Organizers said the latest efforts involve a regrouped fleet following Israel’s interception, joined by additional boats. Nearly 500 activists from 45 countries are said to be taking part.

Previous efforts to breach the blockade have also failed. The last time an activist boat succeeded in reaching the strip was in 2008. (Newswire/ Times of Israel)

The Israeli Navy has begun to intercept the activist mission sailing to the Gaza Strip to challenge Israel's naval blockade. pic.twitter.com/YXeSwxPDOd

— Emanuel (Mannie) Fabian (@manniefabian) May 18, 2026

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Civil society groups, political representatives and activists in Sri Lanka on Wednesday (13) called for urgent public and diplomatic support to ensure the safety of Sri Lankan participant Sameera Mahboobdeen and other members of a humanitarian mission set to sail towards Gaza from Turkey on Thursday (14).

The appeal was made by the Free Palestine Movement – Sri Lanka (FPM), which said the Global Sumud Flotilla, expected to include more than 50 vessels, aims to deliver medical supplies and humanitarian assistance to Gaza amid ongoing conflict and restrictions on the territory.

Speaking at a press conference in Colombo, FPM representatives urged the government and the public to remain engaged on the safety of Sri Lankan participants, saying the mission involves significant risks as it attempts to reach Gaza by sea.

They also referred to past flotilla incidents in which vessels were intercepted in international waters, highlighting concerns over the security of those taking part.

Several speakers, including political representatives and activists, called on authorities to ensure support for Mahboobdeen in the event of any interception and to facilitate her safe return.

Samagi Jana Balawegaya MP Mujibur Rahman and other participants stressed the importance of public awareness and government involvement in safeguarding Sri Lankan nationals involved in the mission.

The group also criticised aspects of Sri Lanka’s foreign engagement related to Israel, while reiterating their broader call for attention to the humanitarian situation in Gaza.

The Global Sumud Flotilla is scheduled to depart from Turkey on Thursday (14). (Newswire)

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The United Arab Emirates has denied reports claiming that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu or any Israeli military delegation visited the country.

In an official statement, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said relations with Israel are conducted transparently under the Abraham Accords framework and that allegations of unannounced visits or undisclosed arrangements are unfounded.

The ministry urged media outlets to ensure accuracy and avoid spreading unverified or misleading information, stressing that UAE–Israel ties remain open and clear. (Newswire)

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Israel’s Ambassador to Sri Lanka, Reuven Azar and Sri Lanka’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Vijitha Herath, engaged in a discussion today (30).

According to the Embassy of Israel in Sri Lanka, the meeting focused on enhancing cooperation and reaffirming the longstanding friendship between the two nations. 

“Israel deeply admires the longstanding friendship between our two nations and remains fully committed to further strengthening bilateral ties. We look forward to expanding cooperation across various sectors for the mutual benefit of both our peoples,” the Israeli Embassy said in a statement. (Newswire)

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Since the start of the conflict, the number of attacks on healthcare in Lebanon has climbed to 149, leaving 100 dead and 233 injured, according to the World Health Organization (WHO). 

UN officials stressed that attacks on civilians, health workers, and infrastructure are “unacceptable” and violate international humanitarian law. 

“All parties in this conflict have to observe their obligations under these laws,” United Nations spokesperson Stéphane Dujarric said at Wednesday’s briefing.

He further said that the alarming toll underscores the grave risks faced by civilians, emergency responders, and humanitarian workers amid escalating violence.

On Tuesday, three civil defence rescue workers were killed in Tyre District when two strikes hit a building they had entered to assist victims of an earlier attack. The incident highlights the vulnerability of first responders, who continue to operate under life-threatening conditions.

Israeli authorities today issued a new displacement order south of the Litani River, covering 16 areas and directing residents to relocate to Saida. Women and children remain disproportionately affected, with reports of mounting psychological distress, family separation, and heightened risks of gender-based violence in overcrowded shelters, he said. 

Stéphane Dujarric went on to note that humanitarian agencies warn that the crisis is deepening.

He revealed that the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) and the World Food Programme (WFP) have stated that the sharp escalation in violence has reversed recent food security gains. 

The latest Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) projects that 1.24 million people, nearly one in four assessed, will face Crisis-level hunger (IPC Phase 3 or worse) between April and August 2026. IPC Phase 3 indicates households resorting to skipping meals or selling possessions to afford food.

Noting that despite urgent needs, the humanitarian response remains severely underfunded, he said that the Lebanon Flash Appeal has received just over $117 million, only 38 per cent of the required $308 million. (Newswire)

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Israeli authorities have used access to water as a weapon against Palestinians, systematically depriving people in Gaza of water in a campaign of collective punishment, according to a report released by Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF). 

MSF urges the Israeli authorities to immediately restore water for people at the required levels in Gaza. Israel’s allies must use their leverage to pressure Israel to stop impeding humanitarian access, including water infrastructure needs. 

The deliberate denial of water to Palestinians is an integral part of Israel’s genocide. MSF’s report, Water as a Weapon: Israel’s Destruction and Deprivation of Water and Sanitation in Gaza, documents how the Israeli authorities’ repeated weaponisation of water is not an isolated act, but part of a recurrent, systematic and cumulative pattern. It is occurring alongside the direct killing of civilians, the devastation of health facilities, and the flattening of homes, forcing mass displacement. Together, they constitute a deliberate infliction of destructive and inhumane conditions on Palestinians in Gaza.

“Israeli authorities know that without water life ends, yet they have deliberately and systematically obliterated water infrastructure in Gaza, whilst consistently blocking water-related supplies from entering,” says Claire San Filippo, MSF emergency manager.

“Palestinians have been injured and killed simply trying to access water,” says San Filippo. “This deprivation, combined with dire living conditions, extreme overcrowding, and a collapsed health system, creates a perfect storm for the spread of diseases.” 

Israel has destroyed or damaged nearly 90 per cent of water and sanitation infrastructure in Gaza, including desalination plants, boreholes, pipelines, and sewage systems. MSF teams have documented the Israeli military shooting at clearly identified water trucks or destroying boreholes that were a lifeline for tens of thousands of people. Violent incidents have often occurred as water was being distributed to people, injuring Palestinians and aid workers, and damaging equipment.  

“My grandson was in Nuseirat, in July [2025]. He went to get some drinking water,” says Hanan, a Palestinian woman in Gaza City. “He was standing in line with other kids, and they [the Israeli forces] killed him. He was 10 years old… Getting water is not supposed to be dangerous.” 

The cumulative effect of the water scarcity engineered by Israeli authorities is that it simply is not possible to provide people with sufficient water. After the local authorities, MSF is the largest producer and a main distributor of drinking water in Gaza, yet between May and November 2025, one in every five of our water distributions ran dry as our trucks were unable to carry sufficient water for all the people who required it. Israeli military displacement orders have locked our teams out of areas where we had provided water to hundreds of thousands of people, leading to essential services stopping and the loss of lifesaving infrastructure.

Israeli authorities have hindered the entry of essential water and sanitation materials into Gaza. Since October 2023, electricity, fuel, and supplies like generators, their spare parts, and engine oil – critical to power water treatment and distribution – have been cut or tightly restricted. One-third of our requests to bring in critical water and sanitation supplies have been rejected or left unanswered. These supplies include water desalination units, pumps, chlorine and other chemicals to treat water, water tanks, insect repellent, and latrines. Many of the items that were approved by the Israeli authorities were then subsequently turned away at the border.

“We need water,” says Ali, a Palestinian displaced and living in a camp in Deir Al-Balah. “It does not make sense. It’s like we are asking the world for the essentials of life.”

The consequences of this deprivation of access to water are far-reaching on people’s health, hygiene, and dignity, particularly for women and people with disabilities. Access to basic hygiene, including clean water, soap, diapers, and menstrual hygiene products, has become extremely difficult. People are forced to dig holes in the sand as toilets, which flood and contaminate the surroundings and groundwater with faeces.

The lack of access to water and hygiene, coupled with life in dire and undignified conditions like overcrowded tents and makeshift shelters, also leads to increases in diseases, including respiratory infections, skin diseases, and diarrhoeal diseases. Skin diseases comprised nearly 18 per cent of MSF general healthcare consultations in 2025, while between May and August 2025, we found that nearly 25 per cent of people had experienced gastrointestinal illness in the previous month. 

About MSF- 

MSF is the largest producer of drinking water in the Gaza Strip after the local authorities. In March 2026, through gradual improvements despite the extremely restricted conditions, MSF produced or distributed over 5.3 million litres of water in Gaza each day, the equivalent of the minimum needs of over 407,000 people – one in five inhabitants of the Strip. During the month of March, MSF distributed over 100 million litres: that is 1,507 km of 20-litre jerrycans lined up, the equivalent of stretching from Riyadh to Amman, or London to Rome. 

Full report: https://www.doctorswithoutborders.org/latest/israel-must-stop-using-water-weapon-collective-punishment-gaza (Newswire)

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Israel and Lebanon agreed to extend their ceasefire by three weeks following a meeting in the White House with top U.S. officials, President Donald Trump said Thursday.

“The Meeting went very well!” Trump said in a Truth Social post announcing the extension of the temporary truce.

“The United States is going to work with Lebanon in order to help it protect itself from Hezbollah,” Trump wrote, referring to the Iran-backed militia group.

“The Ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon will be extended by THREE WEEKS,” he wrote.

The agreement provides breathing room for Israel and Lebanon to continue diplomacy by pushing off the looming expiration of an initial, 10-day ceasefire brokered last week.

Trump’s post on Thursday afternoon said that “High Ranking Representatives” of the two countries met with him, Vice President JD Vance, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, U.S. Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee and U.S. Ambassador to Lebanon Michel Issa in the Oval Office. (CNBC)

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