Hello from The National in Abu Dhabi. Here is your morning newsletter with all the top stories from the Mena region.

GAZA/ISRAEL

At least 14 Palestinians have been killed and scores injured in an Israeli air strike on a house in Nuseirat camp in central Gaza overnight. Yesterday Israeli tanks entered Jabalia camp in the north of the enclave as the military expanded attacks on the southern city of Rafah, forcing thousands more to flee. A UN security services member was killed in an attack on a vehicle in Gaza. Follow the latest developments here.

The highly anticipated report from President Joe Biden's administration on whether Israel is violating international humanitarian law is “untruthful”, human rights groups said, adding that Congress is moving in the wrong direction as the Rafah invasion unfolds. The White House said Israel can and must do more to protect Palestinian civilians in Gaza, but it insisted that Israel's military action does not amount to genocide.

A top US official expressed “total outrage” after Israeli settlers in the occupied West Bank attacked vehicles carrying aid headed for Gaza.

Tanja Fajon, Slovenia’s Minister of Foreign and European Affairs, told The National that her country, a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council, is advocating other European nations join it in recognising a Palestinian state.

Egypt’s intervention in support of South Africa’s genocide case against Israel in the International Court of Justice is likely to be the first in a series of punitive measures the country will take in response to the military operations in Rafah, sources said.

The UAE has provided almost 50,000 tonnes of urgent supplies to Gaza since November, when the country launched its aid mission to help those affected by the war. The figures, from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, show that 32,000 tonnes of aid was delivered by 260 flights and 1,243 lorries up until May 13.

LEBANON

“Coming up on your right, you will clearly see Metulla in Israel,” says Cpl Guillermo Estudillo Parejo, a member of the UN's peacekeeping force on Lebanon's southern border, in a tone reminiscent of a tour guide. Join The National’s Nada Maucourant Atallah as she embeds with Spanish peacekeepers given the task of co-ordinating between Israeli and Lebanese authorities.

YEMEN

The US urged the international community to take collective action against Iran for its “destabilising” role in Yemen, highlighting the need for Tehran to halt weapons transfers to Houthi rebels.

KUWAIT

Kuwait's Emir Sheikh Meshal has approved a new cabinet days after dissolving parliament and suspending some articles of the constitution for up to four years.

JORDAN/IRAQ

The Amman and Baghdad governments have initiated contact to restart Iraqi oil exports to Jordan, energy officials said on Monday, after another halt in a deal long affected by political differences between the two.

OMAN

Oman’s economy is expected to gain momentum, but the sultanate faces potential risks from regional geopolitical tensions, a sudden global economic downturn, and sustained high global interest rates, the International Monetary Fund said.

TUNISIA

The Lawyers' Bar of Tunisia has called for a nationwide strike in all courts following a police raid on its premises and the subsequent arrest of prominent lawyer and commentator Sonia Dahmani.

EGYPT

Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El Sisi inaugurated the first phase of a sprawling agricultural development project aimed at boosting food security and reducing its reliance on imports.

PLUS …

The EU's special representative to the Gulf region, Luigi di Maio, believes the EU's harmonisation of Schengen visa rules for GCC citizens is likely to encourage more Gulf students, entrepreneurs and tourists to visit the continent.

James Zogby writes on how Biden's re-election campaign will be hit by how US voters view Israel.

AND …

The National sits down with Lebanese filmmaker Elie El Semaan, who directed Honeymoonish, the first Arab film to reach number one on Netflix's weekly Top 10 chart of the most-watched non-English TV films.

All this and more in The National – subscribe to the print edition, visit TheNationalNews.com, find us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter for round-the-clock updates.

FRONT PAGE