In the West Bank, Israeli settlers set up an outpost near al-Maniya. Israeli settlers also set fire to crops near Burqa. Elsewhere, Israeli settlers attempt to set fire to a tractor in Arab al-Milehat. Israeli forces shoot and injure a Palestinian man in Nablus. Israeli forces also demolish 39 structures, including 14 residential structures, 10 water tanks, and 7 water wells in Khallet al-Daba’a in the Masafer Yatta area, displacing 49 people, including 26 children. Elsewhere, Israeli forces demolish 2 homes and several agricultural facilities in Khirbet al-Deir. Israeli forces also close all entrances to al-Mughayyir and demolish a home in the village. Meanwhile, Israeli forces demolish a home in al-Funduq. Israeli forces also seize vehicles during a raid on a mechanic shop in Nabi Ilyas. Separately, Israeli forces continue raids in Jenin and Jenin refugee camp for the 105th day in a row. Israeli forces also continue raids in Tulkarm, Tulkarm refugee camp, and Nur Shams refugee camp for the 99th day in a row, demolishing 6 homes in Nur Shams refugee camp and delivering demolition notices for 15 residential units in Tulkarm refugee camp. In East Jerusalem, 500 Israeli settlers tour the Haram al-Sharif compound. In Gaza, Israeli forces bomb Gaza City, Jabalia refugee camp, Khan Yunis, Rafah, Nuseirat refugee camp, Beit Lahiya, and Beit Hanun, killing at least 54 Palestinians. A 4-month-old baby dies of malnutrition. In Lebanon, Israeli forces bomb the Srifa region. In Yemen, Israeli forces bomb Hodeidah port and a cement factory in Bajil using 20 fighter jets, killing at least 2 people and injuring more than 42. (AJ, AJ, AP, HA, HA, NYT, REU, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA 5/5; HA 5/6; UNOCHA, UNOCHA 5/7; NYT 5/8)
More than 52,567 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli forces in Gaza, including at least 18,000 children and 12,749 women, and around 118,610 have been injured since 10/7/2023. In addition, 14,222 Palestinians who have been missing are presumed dead. 958 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli forces and settlers in the West Bank and East Jerusalem since 10/7/2023, including 192 children. More than 8,000 people have been injured. Israel reports that 1,139 Israelis and foreign nationals have been killed and 5,400 injured in Israel since 10/7/2023, including Israeli soldiers. In addition, 411 Israeli soldiers have been killed and 2,634 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. 92% of all housing units in Gaza have been destroyed or severely damaged since 10/7/2023. More than 2,459 Palestinians have been killed in Gaza since 3/18. The Gaza Media Office says hospital services in Gaza will collapse in 2 days without aid. (AJ 5/5)
Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu says the cabinet has approved plans for an intensive attack on Gaza, dubbed “Operation Gideon’s Chariots,” which will include moving all of the population to one area and says that Israeli soldiers will not retreat from areas they take, “the intention is the opposite of that.” Israeli sources say the new plan will only be carried out if a ceasefire deal is not agreed to before U.S. president Donald Trump arrives in the Middle East on 5/15 and that it includes the displacement of Palestinians from Gaza to other countries. Axios reports that the plan is to “occupy and flatten all of Gaza,” displacing all Palestinians into a single area in Rafah. Axios also reports that Trump has given Netanyahu “a green light to do as he sees fit.” Separately, President Trump tells reporters that people in Gaza “are starving. Hamas is making it impossible because they are getting everything brought in. We are going to help the people of Gaza because they have been treated very badly by Hamas.” Israeli heritage minister Amichai Eliyahu gleefully compares the new Israeli plans for Gaza to the Nakba and Naksa. Finance Minister Bezalel Smtorich says Israel will not withdraw from any territory it “captured, not even in exchange for hostages.” Hamas calls Israeli’s decision “an explicit decision to sacrifice the Israeli hostages in the enclave.” UN secretary-general Antonio Guterres says he is “alarmed” by the Israeli plans. French foreign minister Jean-Noel Barrot calls the plans “unacceptable” and a “violation of humanitarian law.” Irish foreign minister Simon Harris condemns the plans, calling what is happening in Gaza “despicable and unconscionable.” China, Finland, and other countries call the plans deeply concerning. (AJ, AJ, AP, AX, HA, HA, HA, HA, NYT, REU, REU, WAFA, WAFA 5/5; AJ, AP, REU, WAFA 5/6; AJ, WAFA 5/7; HA 5/8)
President Trump speaks with Turkish president Recep Tayyib Erdogan, who tells him uninterrupted aid to Gaza is urgently needed. UK prime minister Kier Starmer and French president Emmanuel Macron also discuss the situation in Gaza in a phone call. (AJ, AJ, HA 5/5)
Spanish foreign minister Jose Manuel Albares announces that Spain will donate $564,000 to support UN investigations into possible war crimes committed in Gaza. (WAFA 5/5)
The U.S. Department of Education tells Harvard University that it has frozen billions of dollars in federal grants for future research until the university makes several changes, including addressing concerns about anti-Semitism on campus, widely understood to mean eradicating expressions of anti-Zionism. (HA 5/6)
Palestinian poet Mosab Abu Toha wins the 2025 Pulitzer Prize for Commentary for his series of essays on Gaza published in the New Yorker. (AJ, AP, HA 5/6)
30 pro-Palestine protesters are arrested at the University of Washington after occupying a building, demanding that the school ends its relationship with Boeing. 21 students are later suspended for their participation in the protest. (HA 5/6; AX, AX 5/8)