Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz has asked President Isaac Herzog to pardon former soldier Elor Azaria and erase his criminal record.

Azaria was convicted of manslaughter in 2017 for fatally shooting Abdel Fattah al-Sharif in Hebron while the Palestinian lay wounded and motionless on the ground after an alleged stabbing attempt.

He received an 18-month sentence but was released after serving 14 months.

Katz argued that Azaria had already paid a heavy price and that the conviction sends a negative message to Israeli soldiers serving in combat.

Russia's Foreign Minister Lavrov:

More than 30,000 citizens of Chad have received their education in our country.

We currently provide 300 state scholarships every year.

Starting from the next academic year, we plan to increase the number of scholarships to 360.

Russia's Foreign Minister Lavrov:

African problems require African solutions.

Russia's Foreign Minister Lavrov:

Wherever Ukrainians see an opportunity to inflict harm on the Russian Federation, they will ally themselves with anyone—including African extremists who are trying to overthrow legitimate governments in Africa, and indeed with any other scum of society.

Zelensky:

Ukraine will receive licenses to manufacture highly significant weapons: SCALP missiles, AASM guided bombs, and, jointly with Italy, Aster 30 missiles.

France will also cooperate with us and other partners within the framework of the FREYJA anti-ballistic program—an especially important pillar of our future strength.

Ukraine will be the first country to receive the new, upgraded Franco-Italian SAMP/T NG systems. These are effective anti-ballistic defense systems.

France will also provide two SAMP/T batteries to strengthen our defenses later this year. At the same time, France and Italy will accelerate deliveries of Aster 30 missiles by October of this year.

Ukraine will also purchase the first 16 Rafale fighter aircraft for the Ukrainian Air Force, along with their associated weapons.

Training for our pilots and maintenance personnel will begin in France later this year. After that, the first four Rafale aircraft will be transferred to the Armed Forces of Ukraine.

The Houthis have warned airlines against operating in Saudi Arabian airspace.

Sudan court sentences RSF terror group leader Hemedti to death in absentia for genocide.

A court in Port Sudan — the SAF-controlled de facto capital — sentenced RSF terror group commander Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo ("Hemedti"), his brother Abdel Rahim, and 14 other RSF figures to death by hanging on charges of genocide, war crimes, and crimes against humanity.

The charges center on the RSF's 2023 campaign in El Geneina, West Darfur — where an estimated 10,000–15,000 people, mostly from the Masalit ethnic group, were killed.

The court ordered confiscation of all RSF assets, referral to the Supreme Court, and requested Interpol Red Notices for arrest and extradition.

Trump reposts:

TAKE KHARG ISLAND!

Serbian Minister Snežana Paunović:

If I had been Slobodan Milošević, I would have ethnically cleansed Kosovo in 1998.

Former Iranian President Ahmadinejad seen at Khamenei memorial a day after an NYT report alleged he was working for Israel and was under house arrest.

House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries said he will vote against a proposal to end all U.S. military aid to Israel but will not pressure other Democrats to do the same.

The amendment, introduced by Republican Thomas Massie, would eliminate the $3.3 billion in annual U.S. aid to Israel.

Source: NYT

Trump:

Oil is flowing like never before. The Strait of Hormuz is open to ALL ship traffic except for Iran — because of their lying, violent, malicious leadership, which is taking them down the path of TOTAL DESTRUCTION.

We will have a FULL Blockade, but only on ships coming to and from Iranian ports, or carrying anything to do with Iranian cargo.

I have decided to replace the 20% United States Reimbursement Fee with Trade and Investment Deals that the various Gulf States will be making into the United States. Those Investments will be MASSIVE.

The days of Iran killing hundreds of thousands of people are OVER and, most importantly, IRAN WILL NEVER HAVE A NUCLEAR WEAPON!

Cuba's national electric grid collapses.

Trump:

We love Iraq!

BREAKING: Kuwait's military says it is intercepting hostile aerial targets in its airspace.

Trump is back at it again.

NEW: Kish Island Water & Electricity Company says U.S. strikes targeted water and power infrastructure on Iran's Kish Island.

Trump on Iraq's PM:

He is gonna be there for a long time.

Trump on Iraq's PM:

He is young and handsome.

I don't like that. I'm not happy about it.