The Times of Israel is liveblogging Saturday’s events as they happen.
Trump questions why Iran needs nuclear program ‘when you have unlimited amounts of oil and gas’
US President Donald Trump again says Iran’s nuclear program will be addressed in a manner that is either “violent or not violent.”
“I prefer non-violent,” he tells Fox News. “I don’t want it to be a violent thing, but they are not going to have a nuclear weapon.”
He also notes Iran “has a lot of oil,” questioning why “when you have unlimited amounts of oil and gas, why do you need civil nuclear? I just don’t see it.”
“I think nuclear is fine for civil, if you have a country with no oil.”
IDF says it intercepted drone ‘from the east’
The Israel Defense Forces announces that it intercepted a drone “from the east,” in apparent reference to the Iran-backed Houthis in Yemen.
“Alerts were activated in accordance with policy,” says a statement from the military.
UN humanitarian chief dismisses US-backed aid plan for Gaza: ‘Let’s not waste time’
UNITED NATIONS — United Nations aid chief Tom Fletcher says time should not be wasted on an alternative US-backed proposal to deliver aid to Gaza, saying the UN has a proven plan and 160,000 pallets of relief ready to enter the Palestinian enclave now.
“To those proposing an alternative modality for aid distribution, let’s not waste time. We already have a plan,” he says in a statement as Israel blocks the delivery of humanitarian aid to Gaza for the 75th day in a row.
Israeli envoy slams UN humanitarian chief who called ‘to prevent genocide’ in Gaza: ‘Desecration’ of the term
Israel’s UN ambassador Danny Danon says he is “shocked” by comments made earlier this week by the world body’s humanitarian chief about the situation in Gaza, calling them “deeply irresponsible.”
On Tuesday, before the UN Security Council, Tom Fletcher said Israel was “deliberately and unashamedly imposing inhumane conditions on civilians in the Occupied Palestinian Territory.”
“For those killed and those whose voices are silenced: what more evidence do you need now?” asked Fletcher, the under-secretary for humanitarian affairs.
“Will you act — decisively — to prevent genocide and to ensure respect for international humanitarian law?”
In a letter to Fletcher, made public by the Israeli mission, a furious Danon says he is “deeply shocked and disturbed” by the speech.
“You had the audacity, in your capacity as a senior UN official, to stand before the Security Council and invoke the charge of genocide without evidence, mandate, or restraint,” Danon writes.
“It was an utterly inappropriate and deeply irresponsible statement that shattered any notion of neutrality.”
He accuses Fletcher of offering the council a “political sermon,” not a briefing.
“To weaponize the word ‘genocide’ against Israel is not just distortion — it is the desecration and subversion of a term with unique force and weight,” Danon writes, charging that those who use the term sought to “demonize” their targets.
IDF says it is ‘seizing strategic areas’ as it launches first stages of major new Gaza offensive dubbed ‘Gideon’s Chariots’
The IDF says it has launched the first stages of its major offensive in the Gaza Strip, dubbed “Gideon’s Chariots.”
“Over the past day, the IDF launched extensive attacks and mobilized forces to seize strategic areas in the Gaza Strip, as part of the opening moves of Operation Gideon’s Chariots and the expansion of the campaign in Gaza, to achieve all the goals of the war in Gaza, including the release of the hostages and the defeat of Hamas,” the military says in a statement.
“IDF troops in the Southern Command will continue to operate to protect Israeli citizens and realize the goals of the war,” the military adds.
According to Israeli officials, the Gideon’s Chariots offensive would see the IDF “conquering” Gaza and retaining the territory; moving the Palestinian civilian population toward the south of the Strip; attacking Hamas; and preventing the terror group from taking control of humanitarian aid supplies.
במהלך היממה האחרונה צה"ל החל בתקיפות נרחבות והניע כוחות לתפיסת שטחים שולטים בשטח רצועת עזה, זאת כחלק ממהלכי הפתיחה למבצע "מרכבות גדעון" והרחבת המערכה בעזה, להשגת כל מטרות המלחמה בעזה, לרבות שחרור החטופים והכרעת החמאס.
כוחות צה"ל בפיקוד הדרום ימשיכו לפעול בכדי להגן על אזרחי ישראל… pic.twitter.com/WtK8Iy6XyG
— צבא ההגנה לישראל (@idfonline) May 16, 2025