Israeli Military Requests Additional $2.6 Billion for War Effort

GAZA: In a new development, the Israeli army has reportedly asked for an additional 10 billion shekels ($2.6 billion) to expand its military operation in Gaza. The funds are expected to support a large-scale ground incursion that aims to seize 40% of Gaza’s territory in the coming weeks.

Critics say the expansion will fuel more destruction and worsen the humanitarian disaster. “It is inconceivable that, beyond the nearly $31bn already allocated… another $2.6bn could be added to an already inflated defense budget,” an unnamed senior Israeli official told Yedioth Ahronoth.

UNRWA reveals malnutrition, water scarcity, and rising death toll in Gaza as Trump prepares Middle East visit

The United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) has released chilling testimonies from Palestinian children living under Israel’s ongoing blockade of the Gaza Strip. The children’s words offer a harrowing glimpse into their daily lives shaped by water shortages, hunger, and relentless bombardment.

Children Forced to Drink Contaminated Water

Ahmad, a 14-year-old boy from northern Gaza, described the severe lack of clean water.
“These days we have to carry water a really long way. At times it’s clean, at other times it’s not. Despite that, we drink it,” he said in a recorded testimony shared by UNRWA.

The UN agency confirmed that more than 3,700 children in Gaza were admitted for treatment for acute malnutrition just last month—a staggering indicator of the worsening humanitarian conditions. Aid agencies warn that these figures reflect only the tip of the iceberg.

At least 32 Palestinians were killed in Israeli airstrikes on Tuesday alone, according to medical sources cited by Al Jazeera. Another four civilians lost their lives in an Israeli drone strike in Bani Suheila, east of Khan Younis in southern Gaza.

Since dawn, Israel has continued its bombardment of densely populated areas, pushing hospitals and aid groups beyond capacity. Gaza’s health infrastructure remains in ruins, with food, medicine, and fuel supplies critically low.

West Bank Raids and Detentions Intensify

Meanwhile, in the occupied West Bank, Israeli forces detained 25 Palestinians in a series of overnight raids. Local sources reported arrests in Hebron, Jenin, and Nablus. In Tulkarem, soldiers stormed homes, beat residents, and forcibly evacuated families, according to Al Jazeera Arabic.

Security sources confirmed that one man was detained from a store in Hebron, while another was held for hours at the Deir Sharaf checkpoint.

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Trump to Visit Middle East Amid Regional Tensions

As the violence escalates, former US President Donald Trump is preparing to visit Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and the UAE from May 13 to 16, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt announced. The visit comes amid mounting US tensions with Iran and the Houthis in Yemen, as well as Israel’s ongoing war on Gaza.

Observers expect Trump’s meetings to focus on regional security, arms deals, and Israel’s war strategy. However, rights groups urge Washington to press for an immediate ceasefire and the protection of Palestinian civilians.

US Ambassador Reaffirms Commitment to Hostage Families
In Tel Aviv, US Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee met with families of Americans held captive by Hamas.
“I will do everything in my power to ensure Edan Alexander is reunited with his family,” Huckabee wrote on X, formerly Twitter.

Last week, Hamas said it lost contact with Alexander after the Israeli bombardment killed his guard. Hamas has held several US citizens hostage since the October 7 attack, with four confirmed dead. With Israeli raids intensifying across Gaza and the West Bank, and international diplomatic visits looming, the region stands at a volatile crossroads. For Palestinian children like Ahmad, however, the most pressing concern remains survival—finding clean water, securing a meal, and simply making it through another night.