Fdd's overnight brief

Israel

The White House has sent an Israeli-backed ceasefire proposal to Hamas, press secretary Karoline Leavitt said Thursday, in the latest bid to quell fighting, free hostages and enable the flow of humanitarian aid to struggling Gaza. – Washington Post

A U.S. plan for Gaza seen by Reuters on Friday proposes a 60-day ceasefire and the release of 28 Israeli hostages alive and dead in the first week, in exchange for the release of 1,236 Palestinian prisoners and the remains of 180 dead Palestinians. – Reuters

Israel’s government has approved 22 new Jewish settlements in the occupied West Bank, its finance minister said on Thursday, a move condemned by Israeli human rights groups that may strain ties with key allies that have threatened sanctions. – Reuters

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has told families of hostages held in Gaza that Israel has accepted a new ceasefire proposal presented by U.S. President Donald Trump’s Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff, Israeli media reported on Thursday. – Reuters

Hamas terrorists who invaded southern Israel during the October 7, 2023, onslaught attempted to capture a sensitive military intelligence base located some 16 kilometers from the border with the Gaza Strip. – Times of Israel

The National Security Council on Thursday renewed and sharpened its warning to Israelis to stay away from the popular Sinai Peninsula. – Times of Israel

A ballistic missile launched at Israel by the Iran-backed Houthis in Yemen was successfully intercepted by air defenses, the military said Thursday night, in what has recently become an almost daily occurrence. – Times of Israel

Hamas said Thursday it does not accept the outline of US envoy Steve Witkoff’s proposed ceasefire and hostage deal at face value and demands certain changes, according to people familiar with the matter. – Jerusalem Post

The Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF) on Thursday opened its third food distribution center, located in central Gaza. Two other food centers previously opened near Rafah in deep southern Gaza, and one more is still due to open in Khan Yunis in mid-southern Gaza. – Jerusalem Post

At a UN Security Council briefing on the Middle East, Acting US Alternate Representative to the United Nations John Kelley criticized antisemitism and reaffirmed US support for Israel, while condemning Hamas for violence and obstruction of humanitarian efforts in Gaza. – Arutz Sheva

The IDF on Thursday struck several military sites throughout Lebanon belonging to the Hezbollah terrorist organization, the IDF Spokesperson’s Unit said in a statement. – Arutz Sheva

In one of the largest evacuation orders since the start of the war in Gaza, the IDF called on residents of several neighborhoods in the northern part of the Strip to flee immediately, warning of an expanded military offensive in the area. – Ynet

The leadership of Hamas in the Gaza Strip has been left in doubt after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said that de facto leader Mohammad Sinwar had been eliminated in a targeted airstrike — even though the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) have not officially confirmed killing him and Hamas has issued no statement. – Newsweek

Itamar Marcus writes: This embrace of terrorists who murdered civilians — including an infant — is not isolated, but part of a fundamental Palestinian Authority policy of glorifying terror and terrorists as “heroic” as documented for decades by Palestinian Media Watch. This celebration of murderers is not only a celebration of brutality and terrorism, but direct incitement to more terror, as Palestinians, especially children and teenagers, see the high status achieved by terrorists. – Algemeiner

Assaf Orion writes: Alongside these changes, Israel should join with Washington in exploring the next steps in its bilateral relations with Lebanon, including border talks, more robust security arrangements, a permanent ceasefire, and the bright horizon of a formal, lasting peace. […] The UNIFIL 3.0 alternative offers a pragmatic path forward: leaner, smarter, and more integrated with the new ceasefire mechanism. Getting there will require political will, coordinated diplomacy, and a readiness to block another default renewal or, if necessary, end the mission. – Washington Institute

Danielle Pletka and Brett Schaefer write: Any organization with UNRWA’s record would normally be ostracized. But the UN system has, instead, rushed to defend it. In a joint statement, the UN and its aid partners insist that they must deliver aid and supplies as they see fit irrespective of Israeli security concerns and irrespective of the repeated theft and diversion of aid by Hamas under their watch. According to the Secretary General, “There is no alternative to UNRWA.” In fact, there is. If the priority is truly to help the innocent in Gaza, the UN should be willing to work with Israel to deliver aid even if it sidelines UNRWA. – Real Clear World

Russia and Ukraine

After incremental gains for months, Russian forces are advancing on Ukrainian battlefields at the fastest pace this year. They are bombarding Ukrainian cities with some of the biggest drone and missile strikes of the war. They have even opened another front in northern Ukraine. – New York Times

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said on Thursday that Russia was engaging in “yet another deception” by failing to hand over its peace settlement proposal ahead of a potential meeting between Moscow and Kyiv. – Reuters

There is no sign Russia is preparing to restart the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant in Ukraine, an official from the U.N. nuclear watchdog said on Thursday, after Ukraine complained about reports Russia was preparing to connect it to its grid. – Reuters

Some Republicans in Congress and White House advisers are urging U.S. President Donald Trump to finally embrace new sanctions on Moscow as frustration mounts over Russian President Vladimir Putin’s military assault on Ukraine. – Reuters

The Kremlin said on Thursday it was still waiting for a response from Ukraine on Russia’s proposal to hold the next round of peace talks in Istanbul on June 2 to begin discussions on draft memorandums for a peace accord. – Reuters

Russia’s spy agency accused Serbia of selling weapons to Ukraine through third countries, potentially straining a relationship with a traditional ally that relies on Moscow for energy supplies. – Bloomberg

The International Monetary Fund reached a deal with Ukraine to disburse the next portion of a $15.5 billion loan package for the war-battered nation. – Bloomberg

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said China has stopped selling drones to Kyiv and other European nations while continuing shipments to Russia. – Bloomberg

The US representative to the United Nations told the UN Security Council on May 29 that the deal now on offer to end the war in Ukraine is the best possible outcome for Russia and that President Vladimir Putin should take it. – Radio Free Europe / Radio Liberty

Russia’s military has committed war crimes and crimes against humanity in its drone attacks on civilian targets in the southern Ukrainian region of Kherson, a new United Nations report has found. – Radio Free Europe / Radio Liberty

So far, Russia has resisted Western calls for a cease-fire in its war on Ukraine. And so far, US President Donald Trump has resisted calls by Kyiv and European countries to impose additional sanctions on Moscow in response. – Radio Free Europe / Radio Liberty

Editorial: It would not be the outright defeat that Russia deserves. It would not be a victory, however. Mr. Putin set out to conquer Ukraine and install a puppet government, and he has failed. Instead, Ukraine’s young democracy has survived and sent a message to other would-be conquerors: Wars of aggression rarely result in the thorough victories that aggressors like to imagine. – New York Times

Marc Champion writes: Yet the clock is ticking. Europe’s still moving at peacetime’s too-bureaucratic pace, while the US has been kicking into reverse. Both need to change. It’s Putin who will decide what he does and when, and the hesitancy of the West simply creates a window for him to act, whether in Ukraine or beyond. As Rupert Smith, a retired British General and former Deputy Supreme Allied Commander Europe put it, “you fight with what you’ve got in your hand on the day.” On current trajectories, that may not be enough to deter the Kremlin from pressing on with its great power plans. – Bloomberg

Dmytro Kuleba writes: The era of peace in Europe thus appears to be over. The war in Ukraine is much more likely to continue than it is to stop. Putin has no reason to let up, and Zelensky has no reason to give in: the Ukrainian president believes that conceding part of Ukraine now would eventually lead Kyiv to lose all of it. For him, under these circumstances, the cease-fire at the end of the tunnel is the light of an oncoming train. Nothing but death is predetermined. Trump and others have the power to change their opinions and tactics. But the best Europeans can do now is accelerate their efforts to arm Kyiv—and themselves. – Foreign Affairs

Tetiana Kotelnykova writes: When Russian President Vladimir Putin announced that his forces would observe a three-day cease-fire in Ukraine to mark the May 9 celebration of Victory Day, the supposed pause of the war was immediately disrupted by reports of continued Russian missile attacks on civilians in Ukraine. It was a familiar pattern. Previous cease-fire attempts have similarly collapsed within hours, including the 30-hour “Easter truce” in April, which saw nearly 3,000 violations by Russian forces, according to Ukrainian officials. – Foreign Policy

Turkey

Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan said Russia’s proposal to hold another round of peace talks with Ukraine in Istanbul on June 2 had heightened Ankara’s hopes for peace. – Reuters

Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan on Thursday discussed the ongoing efforts to achieve a ceasefire in Gaza in a phone call with officials from Palestinian militant group Hamas’ political bureau, a Turkish diplomatic source said. – Reuters

Turkish companies see big opportunities in neighbouring Syria as a lifting of U.S. sanctions clears the way for investment in post-war reconstruction, but they remain wary of challenges, from lingering insecurity to banking and tax headaches. – Reuters

Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan said the Kurdish-dominated and U.S.-backed Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) were using “stalling tactics” despite an agreement with the new Syrian government for the group’s integration into Syrian armed forces. – Reuters

Korean Peninsula

North Korea has supplied at least 100 ballistic missiles and more than 11,000 troops to Russia for its war against Ukraine, according to a new report issued Thursday by the U.S. and key allies that described the transfers as “flagrant violations” of United Nations resolutions. – Wall Street Journal

A South Korean navy plane crashed in the southeastern city of Pohang on Thursday, killing all four crew members on board, according to local media. The navy said the cause of the crash was under investigation. – Washington Post

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un led a party meeting on strengthening the military on Wednesday and inspected an artillery drill on Thursday, state media KCNA said on Friday. – Reuters

South Korea’s left-wing presidential frontrunner Lee Jae-myung proposed on Friday to amend the constitution to make it more difficult to impose martial law, aiming to prevent political crises like the one that erupted last year. – Reuters

South Korean liberal candidate Lee Jae-myung is projected to win next week’s snap presidential election, a result that could reorient a major U.S. ally on policies ranging from China to nuclear weapons and North Korea. – Reuters

The United States is not ruling out a reduction in forces deployed to South Korea as the Trump administration determines what presence it needs in the region to best counter China, two senior American defense officials told reporters traveling with U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth to Singapore. – Associated Press

Russia has given North Korea (DPRK) at least one of its Pantsir-class combat vehicles in a package of military hardware and support to advance Pyongyang’s capabilities following its aiding of Moscow’s war with Ukraine, a report has found. – Newsweek

South Asia

Japan will provide $1.063 billion in support to Bangladesh for budget assistance, railway upgrades and education, Dhaka said on Friday, as interim head Muhammad Yunus visits Tokyo to strengthen ties between the two countries. – Reuters

Bangladesh has recalled its ambassador from Myanmar, a Bangladeshi foreign ministry official said on Thursday, after it acknowledged opening a communications line with a rebel army fighting its neighbour’s military junta. – Reuters

The Trump administration said it will end Temporary Protected Status for Afghans in July – raising the threat of being sent back to Afghanistan, where the Taliban rule according to Islamic law, if their asylum case is unsuccessful. – Reuters

Thousands of supporters of Nepal’s former king rallied in the capital Kathmandu on Thursday, calling for the restoration of the constitutional monarchy that was abolished 17 years ago, amid rising unhappiness with successive elected governments. – Reuters

A team of US officials will visit New Delhi next week as the two nations work to hammer out an interim trade agreement before July 9, an Indian official said on Thursday. – Bloomberg

Howard Husock writes: Rabbi Kozlovsky dreams of a far more elaborate exhibit that will be a “must-see Mumbai tourist attraction.” It will educate visitors “to help make sure events like 26/11 will not happen again” by “awakening them to our responsibility every day of our lives.” He is gratified by the notes he gets from schoolchildren about the small acts of charity their visits have inspired them to undertake. “It is our responsibility . . . to do what we can to help light win out over darkness. We want every visitor to walk out with that message.” – Wall Street Journal

Europe

A rare rebuke of Israel by Germany this week underscored Europe’s growing willingness to pressure the Netanyahu government over its siege and bombardment of the Gaza Strip, which is testing the tolerance of some of Israel’s staunchest allies. – Washington Post

Britain has hardened its position toward Israel over its conduct of the war in Gaza. But as it weighs the next possible step — imposing sanctions on Israeli ministers — it confronts a complex landscape, not least because of the recent deadly shooting of two Israeli Embassy employees in Washington. – New York Times

Portugal’s president named Luis Montenegro, head of the centre-right Democratic Alliance (AD) that won a snap national election on May 18, as the prime minister on Thursday and invited him to form his second minority government, the presidency said. – Reuters

Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban championed Polish nationalist presidential candidate Karol Nawrocki at the CPAC Hungary conference on Thursday and announced a “patriotic plan” that he said should “transform” the European Union. – Reuters

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz on Thursday said Europe was prepared to fight if necessary for its core values of freedom and democracy, in an explicit riposte to the Trump administration’s repeated criticisms of the European Union. – Reuters

Italy lashed out at the Council of Europe on Thursday and defended its police after the European human rights body named Italy among countries where racist conduct among law enforcers was a problem. – Reuters

Poland’s presidential election has come down to a stark ideological choice: a liberal pro-European mayor versus a staunch nationalist conservative. They are polling so close that the outcome is impossible to predict in the run-off round on Sunday. – Associated Press

The Netherlands worked out the costs of meeting NATO’s new capability targets, providing a taste of the billion-euro budget challenge European members of the alliance face to boost their military posture in the face of a more aggressive Russia. – Defense News

The European Union has unveiled a sweeping security strategy for the strategically vital Black Sea aimed at countering Russian threats in the region. – Defense News

Theodore Bunzel and Elina Ribakova write: The tumult of the past few months has placed Europe at a geopolitical fork in the road. In the face of a hostile United States, an aggressive Russia, and an economically predatory China, Europe could fall prey to strategic drift and incrementalism—or it can take the path of bold reform and emerge as a more forceful economic and geopolitical player over the long haul. Moving from tentative steps to leaps will require overcoming Europe’s own internal impediments to change, including, for some member states, political instability and strained budgets. – Foreign Affairs

Viktoriya Voytsytska writes: For Europe, embracing American LNG means more than just filling a supply gap; it signifies a definitive break from a relationship that has consistently undermined its security and autonomy. While the EU is actively working to phase out Russian fossil fuels, now is the opportune moment to introduce a 100 percent tariff on Russian LNG, mirroring recent measures taken against Russian and Belarusian fertilizers. […] The time for half-measures is over; American LNG must fully replace its Russian counterpart, transforming energy independence into a cornerstone of a more secure and free Europe. – National Interest

The Americas

Alexandre de Moraes, a Brazilian Supreme Court justice, is a political Rorschach test of sorts. Over the past several years, he has undertaken an aggressive campaign to rid the Brazilian internet of what he says are threats against Brazil’s democratic institutions, ordering the removal of hundreds of social media accounts in the process, nearly all of them right-wing. – New York Times

Argentina’s security minister said on Thursday that 12 suspects were arrested for criminal acts linked to the Tren de Aragua gang, a group that the country classifies as a terrorist organization. – Reuters

Jamaican officials on Thursday hailed the United States’ decision to lower its travel advisory for the Caribbean nation to “Level 2” from “Level 3,” two months after Secretary of State Marco Rubio visited the island and pledged to reconsider the guidance. – Reuters

A wealthy businessman in Guyana who was sanctioned last year by the U.S. and who plans to challenge the South American country’s president in upcoming elections is facing new accusations. – Associated Press

Argentine President Javier Milei will arrive in Israel on June 9 for a three-day visit, during which he is expected to address the Knesset and reaffirm his pledge to relocate Argentina’s embassy to Jerusalem. However, the move may be delayed until after Argentina’s congressional elections in October. – Ynet

Arturo McFields writes: America is back — not only bringing order and safety to the U.S.-Mexico border, but strengthening its relations with Latin America. Drug cartels are feeling greater pressure, Iran is no longer visiting the region with warships and China is desperate to maintain its partnerships in the Americas. These changes are helping to build stronger ties with the U.S., Israel and Taiwan. – The Hill

Robert C. O’Brien writes: To bolster American economic security and counter China’s growing global influence, the Trump administration should expand its cooperative relationship with the Mexican government, prioritizing a trade deal that secures critical supply chains, such as steel, and strengthens North America’s economic resilience. By such a move, President Trump can further achieve his vision of a stronger, self-reliant America. – National Interest

Cybersecurity

Nvidia is facing fresh accusations from U.S. lawmakers that the company is too close to China, criticism that could signal new challenges for the richly valued chip maker. – Wall Street Journal

The U.S. Treasury is placing under sanctions a Philippines-based company accused of providing internet infrastructure to a swathe of virtual currency investment scams, better known as “pig butchering.” – Reuters

The ISA (Shin Bet), in collaboration with the National Cyber Directorate, has successfully thwarted 85 cyberattack attempts orchestrated by Iranian actors targeting Israeli citizens, including senior figures in the defense, political, academic, and media sectors. – Arutz Sheva

Northrop Grumman is investing $50 million into Firefly Aerospace to speed their joint production of the Antares 330 rocket and the newly named Eclipse medium launch vehicle, Firefly announced today. – Breaking Defense

The Treasury Department on Thursday sanctioned Philippines-based Funnull Technology and its administrator Liu Lizhi for allegedly providing infrastructure that supported thousands of cryptocurrency investment scams, also known as “pig butchering.” – Cyberscoop

A China-based hacking group abused Google Calendar in a new cyber-espionage campaign targeting government entities, researchers have found. – The Record