Fdd's overnight brief

Israel

Israeli officials say that it is a matter of weeks until aid must re-enter the Strip. Officials are now debating the best way to get supplies back into the territory without strengthening Hamas. Some far-right officials want Israel to play a greater role in distributing the aid itself, not shying away from perceptions that Israel is an occupying power in the Gaza Strip even at the cost of taking on greater humanitarian responsibilities.- Wall Street Journal

Two of Israel’s regional partners, Jordan and Egypt, are confronting growing anger among their populations as the Israeli military expands its war against Hamas in Gaza and Israel’s far-right politicians float relocating Palestinians from the enclave. – Wall Street Journal

Palestinian leaders in the Israeli-occupied West Bank met this week for the first gathering of its kind in years. Their mission: to allow Mahmoud Abbas, the aging Palestinian Authority president, to appoint a longtime loyalist to a newly minted senior position. – New York Times

Qatar’s prime minister said on Sunday that efforts to reach a new ceasefire in Gaza have made some progress but an agreement between Israel and Hamas to end the war remains elusive. – Reuters

U.S. President Donald Trump said on Friday that he pushed Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to allow food and medicine into the devastated Gaza Strip. – Reuters

The United Nations’ highest court opens hearings Monday into Israel’s obligation to “ensure and facilitate” urgently needed humanitarian assistance to Palestinian civilians in the occupied territories, bringing the ongoing conflict in Gaza back into focus in The Hague. – Associated Press

Hospitals in the Gaza Strip received the remains of 51 Palestinians killed in Israeli airstrikes in the past 24 hours, the local Health Ministry said Sunday, bringing the Palestinian death toll from the 18-month-old Israel-Hamas war to 52,243. – Associated Press

Israel decided not to participate in the oral hearings at the International Court of Justice regarding the advisory opinion on the status of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA), due to begin on Monday, Israel’s Foreign Ministry confirmed on Sunday. – Jerusalem Post

Hamas published a teaser video on Saturday showing terrorists digging through a destroyed tunnel to ‘rescue’ an unidentifiable Israeli hostage covered in dirt. – Jerusalem Post

The report that Hamas would be willing to accept a five-year ceasefire deal is not new and hasn’t been conveyed recently by mediators to Israel, an Israeli official informed The Jerusalem Post on Sunday. – Jerusalem Post

Russia and Ukraine

In their first meeting since a shouting match in the Oval Office, President Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky sat face-to-face on simple chairs on marble floors near the Baptistery Chapel of St. Peter’s Basilica. – Wall Street Journal

One of the central points of tension in President Trump’s strained efforts to end the war in Ukraine is a Black Sea peninsula that Russian President Vladimir Putin has placed at the heart of his national project. – Wall Street Journal

Russia’s top military commander said on Saturday that Moscow’s forces had retaken the last village that Ukraine was holding in the Kursk region of western Russia, though Ukrainian officials denied that their brazen campaign in the area had finally come to an end. – New York Times

Ukraine’s leadership has drafted a counterproposal to a Trump administration peace plan that has drawn criticism for conceding too much to Russia. While the counteroffer digs in on some of Kyiv’s earlier demands, it hints at possible concessions on issues that have long been seen as intractable. – New York Times

President Donald Trump urged Russia on Sunday to stop its attacks in Ukraine while his top diplomat said the United States might walk away from peace efforts if it does not see progress. – Reuters

Russia will continue to target sites used by Ukraine’s military, Russia’s foreign minister said in an interview broadcast on Sunday, as Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy reported that Russia had already conducted 70 attacks. – Reuters

The secretive Russian satellite in space that U.S. officials believe is connected to a nuclear anti-satellite weapon program has appeared to be spinning uncontrollably, suggesting it may no longer be functioning in what could be a setback for Moscow’s space weapon efforts, according to U.S. analysts. – Reuters

Russian President Vladimir Putin telephoned his top commanders in Kursk to congratulate them on “victory” and the end of the operation to expel Ukrainian forces from the region in western Russia, Russian news agencies quoted the Kremlin as saying on Sunday. – Reuters

Russian President Vladimir Putin hailed on Saturday what he said was the complete failure of an offensive by Ukrainian forces in Russia’s Kursk region after Moscow said they had been expelled from the last village they had been holding. – Reuters

The Kremlin blamed Ukraine for a car bomb that killed a senior Russian military officer near Moscow on Friday, hours before U.S. President Donald Trump’s envoy Steve Witkoff was due to meet President Vladimir Putin in Moscow. – Reuters

A man suspected of killing a Russian general with a car bomb pleaded guilty to terrorism charges and said he was paid by the Ukrainian Security Service, Russian authorities said Sunday. – Associated Press

Marc A. Thiessen writes: The bottom line? Selling arms to Ukraine advances Trump’s objectives, from trade to national security. It costs taxpayers nothing (if anything, we earn interest on the loans), creates good manufacturing jobs for American workers, strengthens our capacity to build weapons critical for America’s self-defense and could be the final piece of the puzzle in a deal ending the war in Ukraine. – Washington Post

Afghanistan

Pakistan’s military said on Sunday that it had killed 54 militants trying to infiltrate the country from Afghanistan, highlighting the challenges its forces face on multiple fronts as tensions with India also rise rapidly. – New York Times

A former commander in the Taliban has pleaded guilty to taking an American journalist and two Afghan nationals hostage in Afghanistan and Pakistan in 2008 and 2009, the U.S. Justice Department said on Friday. – Reuters

Marvin G. Weinbaum and Naade Ali write: Whatever the motives behind the decision to remove heretofore protected Afghan refugees, their expulsion is a tragedy for a people who have suffered so much over the last 40 years. They will be faced with a return to a country ill-prepared to receive them and suspicious of their presence. For many of them it also portends repression and hardship. The United States will once again have broken faith with the Afghan people. – Middle East Institute

Turkey

Turkish authorities on Saturday detained 47 more members of the Istanbul municipality over accusations of corruption, broadcaster NTV and other media reported, amid a widening legal crackdown against the opposition and the city’s jailed mayor. – Reuters

Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan said on Sunday that talks with Hamas in recent days had shown the group would be more open to an agreement that goes beyond a ceasefire in Gaza and aims for a lasting solution to the crisis with Israel. – Jerusalem Post

Arman Mahmoudian and Jeff Rogg write: Turkey is no substitute for Iran in the Middle East. In its unreformed form, HTS will likewise be no better for Syria’s future than Assad was. In short, Sunni radicalism cannot be a replacement for Shia radicalism. The United States must ensure the Turkish military does not fill the void left by the Russian or Syrian militaries. It also must pressure HTS to renounce any connections to terrorism and maintain a demilitarized border with Israel. Syria must not become the safe haven and starting point for another revisionist axis. – The National Interest

Yemen

Thirty bodies were recovered in Yemen after a U.S strike on Sadaa hit a detention centre hosting African migrants, Yemen’s Houthi-run Al Masirah TV said on Monday. – Reuters

The U.S. military said on Sunday it will not reveal specific details about its military strikes in Yemen, citing what it called the need “to preserve operational security” while also saying the strikes had “lethal effects” on Houthi rebels. – Reuters

The Israeli military said a missile that was launched from Yemen was intercepted in the early hours of Saturday before crossing into Israeli territory. – Reuters

Yemen’s Houthi rebels on Monday alleged a U.S. airstrike hit a prison holding African migrants, killing at least 35 people. The U.S. military had no immediate comment. – Associated Press

In the month since the US launched a major military campaign targeting the Houthi rebel group in Yemen, the militants have successfully shot down at least seven multi-million-dollar American drones, hindering the US’ ability to move into “phase two” of the operation, multiple US officials familiar with the matter told CNN. – CNN

Middle East & North Africa

Tunisians took to the streets on Friday in a mass protest demanding democracy, freedoms, and an end to arbitrary detention of critics and opponents, escalating pressure on President Kais Saied’s government. – Reuters

Lebanon may be able to sign a so-called staff-level agreement with the International Monetary Fund within months, according to its economy minister, a step that would pave the way for talks over a funding package for the war-ravaged nation. – Bloomberg

Twenty alleged senior members of the Iranian regime have now been found living in Canada, immigration officials confirmed amid an election debate on how best to deal with the Islamic republic. – Global News

Neville Teller writes: Despite these setbacks, Iran is attempting to establish a connection with post-revolution Syria. So far, the new Syrian administration has shown little enthusiasm for opening bilateral relations with Iran. It is clearly favoring an independent and regionally integrated approach. Despite its loss of status, Hezbollah retains a good deal of political clout, especially among the Shi’ite population. But many in Lebanon blame Hezbollah, and by extension Iran, for dragging the country into regional conflicts and provoking Israeli retaliation. As the Lebanese state grows stronger and Hezbollah weaker, Iran can see its power in Lebanon slipping away. Meanwhile Assad’s successor as Syria’s president is clearly not inclined to allow Iran much influence in his postrevolutionary country. The old order is changing. – Jerusalem Post

China

With the White House imposing 145% tariffs this year on Chinese goods, Chinese manufacturers are fanning out around the world in search of new markets to offload products that would have served U.S. demand. – Wall Street Journal

As U.S. officials tracked Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, they found an alarming connection to China: a company, closely linked to the Chinese military and backed by government funding, was providing high-resolution battlefield images to Russian fighters. – Wall Street Journal

Huawei Technologies is gearing up to test its newest and most powerful artificial-intelligence processor, which the company hopes could replace some higher-end products of U.S. chip giant Nvidia. – Wall Street Journal

Increasingly, the Beijing-controlled organizations are being used to monitor and intimidate those planning to testify about alleged abuses, according to interviews with U.S. officials, Western diplomats and members of NGOs being targeted. Several activists described being photographed or harassed while on U.N. premises. – Washington Post

President Donald Trump’s effort to revitalize U.S. manufacturing with sweeping tariffs on Chinese goods may hit a snag: American factories depend on machines and components from China. – Washington Post

Chinese President Xi Jinping is set to visit the financial hub of Shanghai this week, said two people familiar with planning the visit to China’s vital economic region at a time when the trade war with the U.S. has raised the stakes for growth. – Reuters

China’s State Council approved 10 new reactors on Sunday in a vote of confidence for nuclear power to remain central to the nation’s clean energy transition. It’s the fourth year in a row that China has approved at least 10 new reactors. The nation has 30 under construction, nearly half the global total, and is expected to leapfrog the US to become the world’s largest atomic energy generator by the end of the decade. – Bloomberg

Hal Brands writes: It’s hard to say where this will lead, or what sort of country Trump’s tenure will leave behind. But it has raised the disturbing prospect that the new cold war could become a brawl between two bellicose, disruptive states trying to topple the liberal international order. So many nations would lose in that scenario, regardless of whether Beijing or Washington won. Perhaps the most sobering lesson regarding Cold War 2 is this: The future of that rivalry will depend on whether Donald Trump responsibly wages the great-power contest he declared almost a decade ago, or goes about wrecking those things we once expected a US president to defend. – Bloomberg

Sana Hasmi writes: Taiwan’s survival hinges not only on continued U.S. support but also on its ability to prove it is indispensable in a changing global landscape. The days of assuming unwavering American backing are over. Taiwan must urgently strengthen its defenses, deepen regional partnerships and reframe its strategic messaging to ensure its future is secure. While Taiwan cannot control Xi Jinping’s refusal to engage or the uncertainty surrounding Trump-era policies, it must take responsibility for its future with agility, foresight and determination. Self-determination begins at home — with bold, decisive action, not endless debate. Washington’s stance will remain crucial, but Taiwan’s fate will ultimately be determined by its ability to act. The time for cautious optimism has passed — Taiwan must take bold steps to secure its future. – The Hill

Asia

Japan and Vietnam agreed to boost bilateral trade and uphold global rules on the free flow of goods as Japan’s Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba met Vietnamese leaders in Hanoi while both countries engage in talks with Washington to avoid tariffs. – Reuters

Malaysia’s top court on Monday granted the Attorney-General’s application to appeal a ruling giving jailed former Prime Minister Najib Razak access to a document he says allows him to serve his remaining prison sentence under house arrest. – Reuters

Australia’s Labor government on Sunday pledged to bolster the country’s universal healthcare system with a free medical advice line and telehealth service if it wins the May 3 general election, in which cost-of-living pressures loom as a key issue. – Reuters

New Zealand will have in place by July legislation regulating operators of ground-based space infrastructure, aimed at deterring foreign interference, the country’s Space Minister Judith Collins said. – Reuters

U.S. and Philippine soldiers shot down drones with Stinger missiles during live-fire drills on Sunday, part of annual joint military exercises taking place at a time of simmering tensions with Beijing over the South China Sea. – Reuters

Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos has ordered an investigation into alleged foreign interference in next month’s elections after a top security official’s warning that Chinese state-sponsored groups may be attempting to influence the outcome of the vote. – Reuters

The Vietnam War ended on April 30, 1975, when the South Vietnamese capital of Saigon fell to Communist forces. But millions of people still face daily battles with its chemical legacy. – Associated Press

Philippine Marines, National Police officers and Coast Guard members landed on three contested South China Sea features today to assert Manila’s maritime jurisdiction following a similar China Coast Guard action earlier this month. – USNI News

Karishma Vaswani writes: Rather than failing to offer credible security guarantees, the US should engage with governments in Asia and address their defense ambitions. Under the Biden administration, a bilateral initiative called the Nuclear Consultative Group in 2023 was launched with Seoul, which helped to quell some anxiety. Efforts like this should be expanded to other allies like Japan. Convincing countries to stick with US deterrence strategies would be wise. Smaller nations watch what bigger countries do, not what they say. The US still has the opportunity to play global stabilizer and shouldn’t cede that role to China. – Bloomberg

Africa

Somalia’s Prime Minister, Hamza Abdi Barre, reshuffled his government on Sunday, appointing a new defence minister as his government tries to stem an Islamist insurgency. – Reuters

Twelve Nigerien soldiers have been killed in an attack in the west of the Sahel country and two suspects have been arrested, the army said in a statement seen by Reuters on Saturday. – Reuters

Congo and Rwanda vowed to come up with a draft peace deal by May 2 and refrain from providing military support to armed groups, according to an agreement signed in Washington on Friday as part of diplomatic efforts to end violence in eastern Congo. – Reuters

At least 11 people were killed after a drone strike by the Rapid Support Forces hit a displacement camp in Sudan’s River Nile state, the governor said in a statement, in an attack that also took out the regional power station for the fourth time. – Reuters

Tanzania has lifted a ban on imports of agricultural produce from Malawi and South Africa, it said late on Friday, days after imposing it in retaliation for similar measures imposed by the two southern African nations. – Reuters

Gunmen have killed at least 20 people in an attack in a gold mining village in Nigeria’s northwestern Zamfara state, residents and Amnesty International said. – Reuters

Gabon’s Constitutional Court on Friday confirmed Brice Oligui Nguema won the Central African nation’s April 12 presidential election, official results showed. – Reuters

Justice Malala writes: Successes like those of the 2000s will not be repeated unless African leaders urgently rejuvenate their vision for the continent. They need to strengthen the AU, empower regional bodies such as the Economic Community of West African States and act in unity to address the continent’s challenges. In a vastly changed world, with challenges everywhere, Africa’s leaders need to put serious effort into making the expression “African solutions for African problems” a reality. – Bloomberg

Alon Ben-Meir writes: The Sudanese people have endured indescribably torturous death, destruction, displacement, and disease. The mediators must remember that history will repeat itself unless the agreement between the warring parties addresses Sudan’s foundational divides, inequality, and ethnic disparities, not just silencing guns. – Jerusalem Post

North America

Eleven people were killed and at least 20 others injured when a man drove through a crowd at a street festival in Vancouver, authorities said. A 30-year-old from Vancouver was arrested at the scene. – Wall Street Journal

President Trump’s repeated economic and political threats are prompting a chunk of voters in French-speaking Quebec to put aside their provincial nationalism, a shift that could shape the outcome of Monday’s Canadian election. – Wall Street Journal

President Donald Trump’s administration warned on Saturday that it will restrict livestock imports from Mexico if that country’s government does not intensify its fight against a damaging pest called New World screwworm. – Reuters

Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum called on Friday for part of a controversial telecommunications bill to be changed or eliminated, after critics said the legislation could limit free speech and permit government censorship. – Reuters

A 30-year-old man was charged with multiple counts of murder on allegations he killed 11 people when he rammed a crowd of people at a Filipino heritage festival in Vancouver, as hundreds attended vigils across the city for the victims and the Canadian prime minister visited the site on the eve of a federal election. – Associated Press

Mary Anastasia O’Grady writes: This gets to the disingenuousness of the “moderate” Mr. Carney. He promises to make Canada an energy superpower by “investing.” But he’s talking Green New Deal boondoggles. He says he won’t lift regulations that make it difficult to build oil and gas infrastructure or remove the emissions cap. To make matters worse, the Liberals’ recently released platform abandons the Trudeau commitment to bring the federal deficit down to 1% of GDP by 2026. Instead a Carney government would increase it to 2% next year and get it down only to 1.4% of GDP by 2028. If Canadians sign up for such a dreary future, it will be because solving the Trump crisis takes precedence and they see Mr. Carney’s worldliness as an advantage. – Wall Street Journal

Cybersecurity

A $220 million fine against Meta Platforms by Nigeria’s competition watchdog for violating local consumer, data protection and privacy laws has been upheld following an unsuccessful appeal, Nigeria’s Competition and Consumer Protection Tribunal said on Friday. – Reuters

The South African telecommunications company MTN Group said on Thursday it suffered a cyberattack that exposed the personal information of an unknown number of customers. – The Record

More than a year after a cyberattack on the government of Long Beach, California, the city is informing residents that information on nearly half a million people was leaked. – The Record

Sebastien Laye writes: In a time when NATO has long lost any meaning, I advocate rebuilding our global sphere of influence around a grand technological and economic alliance, leaving only rogue states to the techno-authoritarian model championed by the Chinese. With these countries, and altogether open to a dialogue with China, we could continue our efforts to establish norms on the responsible use of AI in militaries or AI in nuclear command and control. – Washington Examiner