Iran and Israel halt strikes after new wave of hostilities

Iran’s unified command of armed forces declared an end to renewed military operations against Israel but threatened harsher attacks if Israel persisted in targeting Lebanon. Israeli media reported Israel had paused strikes on Iran following a request from U.S. President Donald Trump, who earlier called Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu after the first exchanges of fire since an April ceasefire. The escalation followed Iran’s missile strikes on Israel, prompting Israel to close Gaza’s Kerem Shalom and Rafah crossings until further notice. The Israeli Defense Ministry’s Coordinator of Government Activities in the Territories (COGAT) justified the closure as a security measure, though humanitarian organizations condemned it as an illegal act of collective punishment. Medical Aid for Palestinians (MAP) director Fikr Shaltoot stated the closure risked worsening starvation, with nearly a thousand Palestinians killed since the ceasefire and aid already limited. Trump’s intervention came after he reportedly called Netanyahu ‘crazy’ in a prior call, though a White House spokesperson confirmed only that a Monday conversation occurred. The EU separately announced plans to adjust energy taxes, lowering electricity costs to offset rising oil prices driven by the conflict. Iran also reaffirmed its support for Hizbullah amid doubts over a broader peace deal, while a UN agency chief warned of an impending food crisis due to the war’s impact. Israel later announced it would gradually reopen Kerem Shalom for aid deliveries starting Tuesday, though other crossings’ status remained unclear.