The Times of Israel is liveblogging Monday’s events as they happen.
Hamas-run authorities say 20 killed, dozens wounded in strike on Gaza City school-turned-shelter
Hamas-run health authorities in the Gaza Strip say at least 20 people were killed and dozens were wounded when an Israeli strike hit a school housing displaced people a short while ago.
Medics say the dozens of casualties in the strike on the school, at Daraj neighborhood in Gaza City, included women and children, although these figures could not be verified.
Some of the bodies were badly burned according to images circulating on social media, which Reuters cannot immediately verify.
There is no immediate comment from the IDF.
Times of Israel staff contributed to this report.
Trump says US saw ‘real progress’ in latest nuclear talks with Iran, predicts ‘good news’ ahead
US President Donald Trump says American negotiators made “real progress” during “very good” nuclear talks with Iran earlier this weekend.
“I think we could have good news on the Iran front.”
“Likewise with Hamas on Gaza,” he adds, appearing to say that there could also be a positive development in the negotiations between Israel and Hamas for a ceasefire in Gaza.
“We want to see if we can stop that, and Israel. We’ve been talking to them and we want to see if we can stop that whole situation,” Trump tells reporters before boarding Air Force One.
???? BREAKING: Trump has had talks with Iran this weekend. He says "good news" could be coming soon with Iran on the nuclear front.
"I have a feeling I might be telling you something good. We've had some serious progress." pic.twitter.com/JkKKNqPV28
— Eric Daugherty (@EricLDaugh) May 25, 2025
In blow to Israeli-backed aid effort, CEO of group supposed to manage it resigns
The CEO of the new Israeli and US-backed organization that was supposed to begin managing the distribution of humanitarian aid in Gaza in the coming days has resigned.
“I am proud of the work I oversaw, including developing a pragmatic plan that could feed hungry people, address security concerns about diversion, and complement the work of longstanding NGOs in Gaza,” says Gaza Humanitarian Foundation CEO Jake Wood in a statement.
“However, it is clear that it is not possible to implement this plan while also strictly adhering to the humanitarian principles of humanity, neutrality, impartiality, and independence, which I will not abandon,” he adds.
GHF was created earlier this year as Israel tried to advance a new mechanism for distributing humanitarian aid in Gaza, while preventing its diversion from Hamas.
Israel wanted to create a small number of distribution sites in southern Gaza where pre-selected family representatives would be able to pick up a heavy box full of food for their families in a zone secured and operated by American private contractors.
While technically an American company, GHF was established in close coordination with Israeli authorities in order to manage the new aid initiative.
However, GHF still needed support and cooperation from existing humanitarian organizations as it sought to gain credibility on the ground. That backing has yet to come, though, with the UN and other international organizations in Gaza vowing not to cooperate with GHF, arguing that its aid initiative violated humanitarian principles by requiring Gazans to walk long distances in order to retrieve aid and limiting distribution to southern Gaza in what would forcibly displace the Palestinian population.
There were also questions about GHF’s funding, which has not been transparent, along with a memo it sent out to potential donors that named two individuals on its leadership who said they weren’t involved in the initiative and admitted to only being able to initially feed 60% of Gaza’s population.
Wood, a former Marine and social entrepreneur, tried to dispel concerns when he announced that Israel had agreed to GHF’s demands to allow for the establishment of additional distribution sites throughout Gaza and to restart the distribution aid through existing mechanisms last week until GHF is operational on the ground.
A senior Israeli official told The Times of Israel last week that GHF’s target date for beginning operations was this weekend, but that has not happened.
Further complicating matters, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu also said last week that in the third stage of Israel’s aid operations, distribution will be limited to a small area in southern Gaza that is secured by the IDF — in what would go against Wood’s assertion that he would not limit distribution to one part of the Strip.
Wood says he was approached about leading GHF two months ago due to his experience in humanitarian operations and stresses that he sought to “establish it as a truly independent humanitarian entity.”
“Like many others around the world, I was horrified and heartbroken at the hunger crisis in Gaza and, as a humanitarian leader, I was compelled to do whatever I could to help alleviate the suffering,” he adds.
Wood’s resignation marks a major blow to Israel’s effort to resume aid in Gaza on its own terms, and it’s unclear whether GHF will be able to march on.
His resignation is also likely to bury chances for GHF to be able to fundraise from countries abroad, as the reasons he gave for stepping down appeared to echo fears already voiced by the UN and international organizations already operating on the ground that were asked to cooperate with the foundation in order to ensure its success.
The American security contractors that GHF is working with already arrived in Israel earlier this month in order to enter Gaza and begin managing the distribution sites.
While Wood appeared willing to work within the strict provisions set up by Israel, his resignation statement indicated that his flexibility had reached a limit.
“I urge Israel to significantly expand the provision of aid into Gaza through all mechanisms, and I urge all stakeholders to continue to explore innovative new methods for the delivery of aid, without delay, diversion or discrimination,” he says.
“I continue to believe the only sustainable path for the long-term is for Hamas to release all hostages, for there to be a cessation of hostilities, and a pathway for peace, security, and dignity for all people in the region.”
PM meets with visiting US homeland security chief Kristi Noem
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu meets with US Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, shortly after the secretary landed for a visit in Israel, the Prime Minister’s Office says.
During the meeting, Noem “expressed unequivocal support for the Prime Minister and for Israel,� says the PMO.
She also “conveyed deep appreciation� for Netanyahu’s policy “regarding the construction of the border fence along the Egypt border and his management of the war� in Gaza, says the PMO.
US Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee and senior PMO officials also participated in the meeting.
During her visit, Noem will attend a memorial ceremony for the two US embassy staffers killed in Washington DC last week, Yaron Lischinsky and Sarah Lynn Milgrim, as well as participate in Jerusalem Day celebrations.
Earlier today, Netanyahu met with Democratic Senator Jacky Rosen, adds the PMO.