Israel approves Gaza “conquest” plan

Israel’s security cabinet has voted to expand military operations in Gaza that can be described “conquest” of enclave. The vote came hours after the military said it would mobilize tens of thousands of reservists, strengthening its capacity to operate in the besieged Palestinian territory.

The new plan for Israel’s war in Gaza involves “the conquest of territory and remaining there.” The Israeli military will displace the Palestinian population to southern Gaza while carrying out “powerful strikes” against Hamas.

Over 2,400 Palestinians have been killed in Gaza since mid-March when Israel launched a wave of deadly strikes, shattering a ceasefire which had been in place for nearly two months. More than 52,000 Palestinians have been killed in Gaza since the war began.

The expansion of the fighting will be gradual to give a chance for a renewed ceasefire and hostage release deal before US President Donald Trump’s visit to the region in mid-May. Trump is scheduled to visit Saudi Arabia, the UAE, and Qatar next week.

The cabinet also discussed allowing the resumption of aid deliveries into Gaza under a new framework which was approved, but has not yet been implemented. An Israeli blockade of all humanitarian aid into the strip is now in its ninth week.

Israel’s public broadcaster, Kan 11, reported that a confrontation had broken out during Sunday’s meeting over the resumption of aid deliveries with two far-right members of the cabinet, National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir and settlements minister Orit Strook opposed to any resumption of aid and Israel Defense Forces (IDF) Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir arguing Israel was obligated to facilitate them under international law.

The Israeli media reports about the arguments over the aid “are not wrong.”

Israel says it cut off the entry of humanitarian aid to pressure Hamas to release hostages. But international organizations say its actions violate international law and risks creating a man-made famine, with some accusing Israel of using starvation as a weapon of war – a war crime.

The US and Israeli officials are discussing a mechanism to deliver aid to Gaza that bypasses Hamas. An announcement could be made “in the coming days.”

The delivery mechanism in the works is intended to allow aid to reach the Palestinian population with safeguards to ensure it is not diverted by Hamas or Islamic Jihad.

An unnamed private foundation would manage the aid mechanism and the delivery of humanitarian supplies into Gaza.

The US expects the United Nations and international aid organizations to work with the framework of the foundation’s mechanism to ensure that supplies do not reach Hamas.

Aid agencies working in the occupied Palestinian territory rejected the new framework for aid deliveries Sunday saying the plan appeared “designed to reinforce control over life-sustaining items” and would fail to ensure aid reached Gaza’s most vulnerable residents.

The UN Secretary-General and the Emergency Relief Coordinator have made clear that they will not participate in any scheme that does not adhere to the global humanitarian principles of humanity, impartiality, independence and neutrality.

Pakistan: SBP lowers interest rate by 100bps

After keeping the rates unchanged in March’s monetary policy, the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) has cut the policy rate by 100bps to 11.0%. The policy rate has halved in less than a year, down from 22.0% in June 2024. Intermarket Securities believes the key reasons behind the rate cut are:

Headline CPI coming off to multi-decade low in April, with core inflation dipping to 8.0%YoY, resulting in an improved inflation outlook. 

Weak LSM readings feeding into anemic GDP growth of just 1.5%YoY in 1HFY25 (FY25 GDP growth is projected to be sluggish between 2.5% to 3.5%. The shortfall in tax collection has also widened.

Much talked about buildup in foreign exchange reserves to US$14 billion by June 2025, together with expected continued reserves buildup in FY26 even if the current account slips back into a modest deficit. 

Outlook for softer global growth, backed by recent IMF estimate downgrades and sharply lower oil prices.  

The brokerage house believes equities should find something to cheer after the rate cut, having suffered a difficult April, KSE-100 index shed 5.5% on Pakistan-India tensions. That said, given the pace of monetary easing in the previous twelve months, the brokerage house believes the SBP is likely to take a more cautious approach going forward.

With macroeconomic stabilization having been achieved, fiscal reforms remain important for lengthening the economic cycle. The coming Budget, expected in early June, will be a key checkpoint in this respect.

The brokerage house continues to remain positive on Pakistan equities. Its base-case KSE-100 Index target for end December 2025 is 130,000 points.

 

 

Israel calls up reservists as Gaza offensive escalates

The Israeli army is issuing call-up orders to tens of thousands of reservists as it prepares to expand its military operations in the Gaza Strip, further intensifying an already devastating conflict, reports Saudi Gazette.

The military said the reservists would begin reporting for duty in the coming week, without specifying the scale or focus of the planned escalation.

The decision comes as the humanitarian situation in Gaza continues to deteriorate. Israel has barred the entry of aid, medicine, food, and commercial goods into the enclave since March 02, worsening conditions for the civilian population.

According to Palestinian health authorities, nearly 52,500 people — the majority women and children — have been killed in Israeli attacks on Gaza since the war began in October 2023.

Israel is currently facing multiple international legal proceedings over its actions in Gaza. The International Criminal Court issued arrest warrants in November last year for Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant for alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity. The country is also on trial at the International Court of Justice in a genocide case brought by South Africa.

Gulf leaders to meet Trump in Riyadh

Leaders of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) states will hold a summit meeting with US President Donald Trump during his visit to Riyadh in the middle of this month, according to the American news website Axios.

"During his meeting with Gulf leaders, US President Trump will present his country's vision for engagement in the Middle East affairs in addition to clarifying his policy priorities in the region," the website reported.

There are also plans to invite leaders of other Arab countries to the summit scheduled to be held in Riyadh, Axios reported. The leaders could be invited to a broader meeting, it reported.

US officials confirmed that President Trump's visit to Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and the United Arab Emirates will focus on bilateral issues, particularly investments, arms sales, and cooperation in the field of artificial intelligence, Axios reported.

Trump is scheduled to arrive in Riyadh on May 13 on the first leg of his three-nation Gulf tour that will also take him to Qatar and the UAE.

After the Saudi visit, President Trump will travel to Doha to meet Qatari Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani. He will then travel to Abu Dhabi on May 15 to meet with UAE President Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed.

United States the deadliest opponent of Iran

It will not be wrong to say that the United States has emerged as the deadliest opponent of the Islamic Revolution in Iran. Analysts believe it is largely due to a combination of historical, political, ideological, and strategic conflicts that emerged before, during, and after the 1979 Iranian Revolution.

Here is a list of factors that have caused antagonism that is so deep:

Overthrow of the Shah

Before the revolution, the United States was a close ally of Iran under the Shah, Mohammad Reza Pahlavi, who was seen as a secular, pro-Western ruler. The Islamic Revolution overthrew the Shah and replaced his regime with a theocratic government led by Ayatollah Khomeini. The new regime viewed the US as a symbol of imperialism and corruption, coining the term "Great Satan" to describe it.

Embassy Hostage Crisis

The US alleges that the Iranian revolutionaries stormed the Embassy in Tehran and took 52 American diplomats hostage for 444 days. This incident permanently damaged US-Iran relations and led to the severing of diplomatic ties. It entrenched the perception in the US that the Islamic Republic was hostile and dangerous.

Strategic Interests in the Middle East

The US has long-standing alliances with Israel and Arab Gulf states, which are regional rivals of Iran. Iran opposes US military presence in the Middle East. Iran is often accused of supporting groups that the US terms terrorist organizations. The US sees Iran’s regional influence and proxy network as a major threat to its hegemony in the region.

Iranian Nuclear Program

The US has led global efforts to prevent Iran from developing nuclear weapons, fearing regional destabilization and proliferation. Iran insists its program is for peaceful purposes, but the US has imposed severe economic sanctions to curb it. The collapse of the 2015 nuclear deal (JCPOA) under the Trump administration worsened tensions.

Ideological Conflict

The Islamic Republic’s governance is based on the principle of Velayat-e Faqih (rule of the Islamic jurist), which is fundamentally opposed to Western secular democracy. Iran views the US as a moral and cultural threat, promoting values it sees as antithetical to Islam and Islamic governance. The US views Iran’s system as authoritarian, anti-democratic, and hostile to human rights.

US Support for Opposing Groups

The US supported Saddam Hussein during the Iran-Iraq War (1980–1988), in which hundreds of thousands of Iranians died. The US has supported efforts to weaken or isolate Iran’s allies and proxies across the region. Iran is also termed supporter of anti-US groups and militias across the Middle East.

Conclusion

The US is termed as the deadliest opponent of the Islamic Revolution because: 1) US represents the global power the revolution aims to resist, 2) US actively work to contain, isolate, and punish Iran post-revolution, 2) US has had a direct role in military, economic, and covert actions against Iran and its allies.

Many of the questions remain unanswered because the western media tows the US foreign policy, for which the news agencies are paid handsome return.

 

Singapore: PAP secures 14th successive victory

Singapore's People's Action Party won its 14th successive election on Saturday to extend its unbroken six-decade rule, delivering a strong mandate to its new premier as the city-state braces for economic turbulence from a global trade war.

The PAP, which has ruled since before Singapore's 1965 independence, won 87 of the 97 parliamentary seats up for grabs, with victories by huge margins in many of the 33 constituencies as the opposition failed to extend gains in previous contests.

The election was a bellwether of the popularity of the PAP amid some signs of disenchantment with its tight grip on power in the Asian financial hub, whose six million people have known no other kind of government.

Though the PAP has consistently won about 90% of seats, its share of the popular vote is closely watched as a measure of the strength of its mandate, with Prime Minister Lawrence Wong eager to leave a mark on his first election in charge after one of the PAP's worst performances on record last time.

The PAP had yet to be formally declared winner but took 65.57% of the vote, according to local media, surpassing the 61.2% achieved in the 2020 contest.

 

Araghchi to visit Pakistan and India to mediate

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi is scheduled to visit Pakistan and India next week to discuss bilateral relations, regional developments, and international issues, according to a Foreign Ministry spokesman. 

Araghchi's trip begins in Pakistan on Monday, where he will meet with high-ranking officials to address ways to enhance cooperation between the two nations. The visit takes place against a backdrop of heightened tensions between India and Pakistan, stemming from a recent terrorist attack in Indian-administered Kashmir.

India has accused Pakistan of involvement in the April 22 attack, which resulted in 26 fatalities, a claim Pakistan denies.

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian has already engaged with both Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif via telephone, expressing condolences for the terrorist attack and emphasizing the importance of a united front against terrorism.

In his call with Modi, Pezeshkian condemned the attack and offered support in combating terrorism. He expressed concern over escalating tensions in his call with Sharif, underlining Iran’s desire for regional stability.

Further emphasizing Iran’s role as a potential mediator, Foreign Minister Araghchi spoke with Pakistan’s Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister, Muhammad Ishaq Dar, expressing Tehran’s willingness to facilitate discussions between India and Pakistan to de-escalate the situation. 

Araghchi will continue his trip later in the week with an official visit to India, where he will further promote dialogue and explore avenues for cooperation in the region.