Palestinian Toddler Shot by Israeli Soldiers Dies
Plus: Knife attack in Annecy (France), Blinken visits Saudi Arabia, Lebanon charges five over UN Peacekeeper killing, and election in Kuwait.
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Palestinian Toddler Shot by Israeli Soldiers Dies
A two-year-old Palestinian toddler, Mohammed Tamimi, has died after being shot in the head by Israeli forces.
The incident occurred in Nabi Saleh, a village in the occupied West Bank, as the boy and his father were leaving their home.
Israeli soldiers claimed they opened fire while chasing two gunmen who had previously attacked a nearby Jewish settlement.
Bilal Tamimi, a Palestinian activist and journalist, who was also injured, stated that the Israeli army had set up an ambush and fired at a car approaching Nabi Saleh.
Despite being airlifted to an Israeli hospital for treatment, the child did not survive.
His father, Haitham, was able to visit him before his death.
Tensions have persisted between the Palestinian villagers and the Halamish settlement, leading to frequent demonstrations and violent clashes with Israeli soldiers using tear gas and rubber bullets.
Since the beginning of the year, around 150 Palestinians, including militants and civilians, have been killed by Israeli forces or settlers in the occupied West Bank, East Jerusalem, and Gaza Strip.
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Annecy France Knife Attack
A knife attack occurred in the peaceful French town of Annecy, injuring four toddlers and two elderly individuals.
The government identified the suspected assailant as a Syrian refugee.
A video verified by Reuters captured the incident, showing the attacker jumping a low wall into a children's playground and repeatedly targeting a child in a stroller while a woman tried to defend them.
Two of the wounded children and one adult were in critical condition, while the other victims sustained less severe injuries.
The prime minister, Elisabeth Borne, stated that the suspect, a 31-year-old Syrian national, had obtained asylum in Sweden a decade ago.
He legally entered France and possessed Swedish identification documents and a driving license.
Authorities leading the investigation indicated that terrorism was not considered the attacker's motive, and he was being investigated for attempted murder.
Blinken Visits Saudi Arabia
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken visited Saudi Arabia to address the strained relationship between the two countries, which have experienced disagreements on various issues, including Iran, regional security, and oil prices.
During the visit, Blinken met with Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman to discuss enhancing economic cooperation, particularly in the clean energy and technology sectors.
The trip took place shortly after Riyadh's commitment to further reduce oil production, which added to the existing tensions due to human rights concerns and disputes over Iran between the US and Saudi Arabia.
The goals of the visit encompassed reestablishing influence over oil prices, countering Chinese and Russian influence in the region, and fostering the potential for future normalization of Saudi-Israeli relations.
Lebanon Charges Five Over Killing of UN Peacekeeper Sean Rooney
Five men have been formally accused by a military tribunal in Lebanon of killing an Irish UN peacekeeper.
According to an anonymous senior judicial official, all five individuals have ties to Hezbollah.
The indictment came after a six-month investigation into an attack on a UN peacekeeping convoy near the town of al-Aqbiya in southern Lebanon, known as a Hezbollah stronghold.
The evidence presented includes testimonies from witnesses, as well as audio and video footage from surveillance cameras. Some of the recorded conversations allegedly reveal the gunmen identifying themselves as Hezbollah members.
However, Hezbollah denies any involvement in the killing, claiming it was an unintentional incident between the town's residents and the UN Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL).
Seán Rooney, the Irish peacekeeper, lost his life in the shooting, while Shane Kearney was seriously wounded and evacuated for medical treatment in Ireland. Two other Irish soldiers sustained minor injuries.
Kuwait's election
Results from the third consecutive election in Kuwait revealed that the majority of voters reelected their lawmakers to parliament, highlighting widespread frustration with the ongoing political deadlock.
Out of the 50-member assembly, 37 incumbents retained their seats, while the loosely defined opposition secured 29 seats. Kuwait stands out among Gulf Arab nations with its democratically elected parliament, which holds some power over the ruling family's decisions but can still be dissolved at will.
The political impasse between the appointed government and the assembly has hindered the implementation of even basic reforms in the oil-rich country.
The situation worsened after the death of Sheikh Sabah Al Ahmad Al Sabah, the ruling emir of 15 years, in 2020.
His ailing half-brother, Sheikh Nawaf Al Ahmad Al Sabah, succeeded him with an unclear line of succession beyond Sheikh Meshal Al Ahmed Al Jaber Al Sabah.
The recently appointed prime minister, Sheikh Ahmad Nawaf Al Ahmad Al Sabah, has faced intense criticism.
Sheikh Nawaf dissolved the Cabinet following the election, and the new parliament is scheduled to convene on June 20.
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About me
My name is Dario Sabaghi, and I am a freelance journalist interested in international news focusing on the MENA region.
Check out my work at dariosabaghi.com.
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Cover photo: PLO DEPT OF PUBLIC DIPLOMACY/BBC