In the West Bank, Israeli settlers attack and injure a Palestinian truck driver before unloading 2 trucks, puncturing their tires, and setting them on fire near the Beit El checkpoint. Israeli settlers also attack 2 Palestinian homes in Qusra and Shaab al-Butum in the Masafer Yatta area. Elsewhere, Israeli settlers set fire to an agricultural structure in Sabastia. Israeli settlers also throw stones at a house and set fire to a vehicle in Burqa. Israeli forces shoot and kill 3 Palestinians during a raid in Tulkarm. Israeli forces also shoot and kill a Palestinian man during a raid in al-Bireh. Elsewhere, Israeli forces shoot and injure a Palestinian man while guarding Israeli settlers raiding Qusra. Israeli forces also assault a Palestinian family in their home in Nabi Salih, arresting a child. Meanwhile, Israeli forces seize a tractor in al-Rifa’iya. Israeli forces also arrest 20 Palestinians during late-night raids in and around Hebron, Tulkarm, Bethlehem, Qalqilya, and Jerusalem. In Gaza, Israeli forces bomb Rafah, Gaza City, Jabalia refugee camp, al-Bureij refugee camp, and Beit Lahiya, killing at least 60 people, including 10 in an UNRWA clinic in Gaza City. The Israeli military orders the evacuation of the al-Manshiya and Sheikh Zayyed neighborhoods of Gaza City. 5 Israeli soldiers are killed by friendly fire and an Israeli defense contractor succumbs to wounds sustained on 5/14. 2 rockets fired from Gaza cause damage in Sderot. In Tel Aviv, Palestinians hold a Nakba Day rally outside of Tel Aviv University, waiving watermelon signs. Israeli police had banned the Palestinian flag from the protest. In Lebanon, Israeli forces bomb Kasrat al-Arush. Hezbollah forces attack a military base near Tiberias. (AJ, AP, HA, HA, REU, REU, UNOCHA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA 5/15; AJ, AJ, AP, HA, HA, HA, NYT, REU, WAFA 5/16; UNOCHA 5/17)
More than 35,223 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli forces in Gaza, including at least 14,520 children and 10,000 women, and around 79,141 have been injured since 10/7/2023. At least 10,000 people are missing in rubble, including 1,700 children. 492 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli forces and settlers in the West Bank and East Jerusalem since 10/7/2023, including 117 children. More than 5,040 people have been injured. Israel reports that 1,139 Israelis and foreign nationals have been killed and 5,400 have been injured in Israel since 10/7/2023, including Israeli soldiers. In addition, 278 Israeli soldiers have been killed and 1,610 injured in Gaza since the ground invasion began on 10/27/2023. Over 1.93 million Palestinians, nearly 85% of the population of Gaza, have been displaced since 10/7/2023. There has been a complete electricity blackout in Gaza since 10/12/2023 due to the Israeli blockade. At least 79,000 housing units have been destroyed and 370,000 have been damaged in Israeli airstrikes since 10/7/2023. 27 trucks carrying aid enter Gaza. The UN says nearly 600,000 Palestinians have been displaced from Rafah since 5/6. (AJ, AP, UNOCHA, WAFA, WAFA 5/15; UNRWA 5/22)
The Palestinian American Medical Association says 19 healthcare professionals, including 10 Americans, have been denied exit from Gaza after concluding a 2-week mission at the European Hospital. White House spokesperson Karine Jean-Pierre says the U.S. is engaging with Israel to facilitate their departure. (AJ 5/15)
The wife of Palestinian doctor Adnan al-Bursh files a request to the Jerusalem Magistrate Court to appoint a judge to investigate al-Bursh’s death in the Ofer Prison last month. Palestinian human rights groups have said al-Bursh was killed by Israel while at the prison after he was taken from Gaza. (HA 5/16)
Hamas political leader Ismail Haniyeh says new Israeli demands in the ceasefire negotiations led to the current stalemate. A Hamas delegation led by Khalil al-Hayya meets with Hezbollah secretary-general Hassan Nasrallah in Beirut, discussing developments in Gaza and ceasefire negotiations. (AJ, AP, HA 5/15)
PA president Mahmoud Abbas arrives in Manama ahead of the 33rd Arab Summit on 5/16. Abbas meets with Iraqi president Abdul Latif Rashid and Russian deputy foreign minister Mikhail Bogdanov. The PA presidency issues a statement expressing appreciation for China’s support of Palestine at international institutions and reaffirms its support of China’s One-China policy. The PA ambassador to Finland Tayseer al-Ajouri submits an official protest to the Finnish government over its abstention in the 5/10 UN General Assembly vote granting Palestine more rights at the assembly and asking the Security Council to favorably reassess Palestine’s application for full UN membership. (WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA 5/15; WAFA 5/16)
Israeli defense minister Yoav Gallant urges the Israeli government to decide on the post-war governance of Gaza, saying he does not support an open-ended military campaign. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu responds that he is “not prepared to exchange Hamastan for Fatahstan.” Netanyahu also denies that there is a humanitarian crisis in Gaza. Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich demands that the Israeli government pass a resolution denying the PA any involvement in the future of Gaza. During a cabinet meeting, Netanyahu orders the formation of a team to institute punitive measures against the PA for the UN resolution that passed on 5/10, granting the PA more rights at the UN. Gallant also instructs the Israeli military to prepare to shut down Al Jazeera operations in the West Bank. (AJ, AP, AX, HA 5/15; AJ, HA, HA, REU 5/16; HA 5/17)
Turkish president Recep Tayyib Erdogan says Turkey will “continue to stand by Hamas, which is fighting for its own land’s independence and defending Anatolia,” saying Israel will eventually target Anatolia to expand its territory. (AJ, AP 5/15)
Irish foreign minister Micheal Martin says Ireland will recognize the State of Palestine before the end of May. (AJ, REU 5/15)
Belgian development cooperation minister Caroline Gennez says Belgium favors a total EU ban on weapons exports to Israel but that some EU members oppose the ban. (AJ 5/15)
Jewish-American political appointee at the U.S. Department of the Interior Lily Greenberg Call resigns in protest over the U.S.’s support for Israel’s war on Gaza, saying President Joe Biden is using Jews to justify pro-Israel policies. (AJ, AJ, HA 5/15; AJ 5/16)
U.S. police arrest several pro-Palestine protesters during a raid at the University of California, Irvine. Protesters end their encampment at Sonoma State University after the university pledges to disclose its contracts and seek “divestment strategies” from Israeli institutions. Sonoma State University president Mike Lee is subsequently placed on administrative leave by California State University chancellor Mildred Garcia. (HA 5/15; AJ, AJ, HA 5/16; NYT 5/17)