Quincy Institute / Responsible Statecraft

Prime Minister Netanyahu directed the IDF to expand control of Gaza to 70%, well beyond the terms of the existing truce, as Israeli strikes killed at least 14 in southern Lebanon. The US and Iran reached a tentative 60-day ceasefire memorandum of understanding, pending President Trump's approval, while CENTCOM denied Iranian claims of downing a US aircraft. Israel cut ties with UN Secretary-General Guterres after the UN added the IDF to a conflict-related sexual violence blacklist.

Hezbollah conducted 10 attacks against Israeli forces in southern Lebanon on April 30, the highest single-day total since the April 16 ceasefire, killing one IDF soldier and wounding two others. The escalation coincided with a US War Powers Resolution deadline on May 1 requiring congressional authorization for the Iran conflict, which the Trump administration argues is paused by the ceasefire. Israeli strikes in Lebanon killed at least 15 people, including a Lebanese Army soldier and his family, while the IDF reduced artillery fire in Gaza under US pressure. The UK raised its terror threat level to 'severe' after an antisemitic stabbing in London, and the US delivered 6,500 tons of military equipment to Israel.