Middle East roundup: Iranian ambassador praises Pakistan’s role in securing release of 20 Iranian sailors

This live blog follows the latest developments across the Middle East crisis, including regional diplomacy, maritime security, ceasefire negotiations, and economic fallout.

Catch up: Yesterday’s top developments

• Poland summons Israeli charge d’affaires over detention of Gaza aid flotilla members
• UAE official slams Iran's Hormuz control plan as 'pipe dream'
• Mideast war forces EU to slash eurozone 2026 growth forecast
• Turkiye sending flights to Israel to get flotilla activists: FM
• Iranian ambassador praises Pakistan’s role in securing release of 20 Iranian sailors

Lebanon says Israeli strike wounds nine, damages hospital in south

Published: May 21, 2026 | 22:03 GMT | by AFP

Lebanon said nine people were wounded in an Israeli strike on Thursday that damaged a hospital in the country's south, where Israel and Hezbollah have been trading fire despite a ceasefire.

In a statement, the Lebanese health ministry strongly denounced the strike, which "inflicted serious damage on the Tibnin public hospital" and left "nine people wounded, including seven members of the hospital staff, five of them women".

Rubio denounces NATO refusal to help on Iran ahead of alliance talks

Published: May 21, 2026 | 16:10 GMT | by AFP

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio renewed criticism of NATO for not supporting the US war on Iran, as he headed to alliance talks in Sweden.

"There are many countries in NATO that agree with us that Iran can't have a nuclear weapon, that Iran is a threat to the world," Rubio told reporters in Miami before leaving for the talks among NATO foreign ministers in Helsingborg, Sweden.

President Donald Trump "said, fine, I'm going to do something about it," Rubio said.

Iran condemns treatment of Gaza flotilla activists at Ashdod Port

Published: May 21, 2026 | 12:00 GMT | by Web Desk

The Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baqaei has condemned what he described as the "humiliation" of detained humanitarian activists from the "Aid to Gaza" flotilla at Israel’s Ashdod Port, warning that continued international silence over Israeli actions risks "normalizing atrocity."

In a post on X, Baqaei said images of an Israeli minister personally humiliating handcuffed humanitarian activists, including several European citizens, were "profoundly shocking" and evoked "the darkest echoes of history."

The spokesperson accused Western governments of "complicit silence, passive acceptance, and institutionalized inaction" regarding what he described as "occupation, apartheid and genocide." 

He warned that "endless impunity does not moderate lawlessness, it normalizes atrocity and emboldens its perpetrators."

Italy requests EU sanctions on Israeli minister over treatment of activists

Published: May 21, 2026 | 11:30 GMT | by AFP

Italy asked the European Union to sanction a far-right Israeli minister who posted a video showing detained activists from a Gaza-bound flotilla kneeling with their hands tied and foreheads on the ground.

Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani said on X he had requested sanctions against National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir "for the unacceptable acts committed against the flotilla, seizing the activists in international waters and subjecting them to harassment and humiliation, in violation of the most basic human rights".

Poland summons Israeli charge d’affaires over detention of Gaza aid flotilla members 

Published: May 21, 2026 | 10:43 GMT | by Web Desk

Polish Foreign Minister Radosław Sikorski says Poland has summoned the Israeli charge d’affaires over the detention of Gaza aid flotilla activists. 

In a post on X on Thursday, he said, "Poland strongly condemns the actions of Israeli government representatives toward the activists of the Global Sumud Flotilla detained by the Israeli army, among whom are Polish citizens."

"I have instructed the immediate summoning of the Chargé d’Affaires of Israel in Warsaw to convey to him our expressions of outrage and a demand for an apology for the utterly inappropriate behavior of a member of the Israeli government," the post added. 

UAE official slams Iran's Hormuz control plan as 'pipe dream'

Published: May 21, 2026 | 09:45 GMT | by AFP

A top UAE official denounced Iran's claim of control over Emirati waters in the blockaded Strait of Hormuz as a "pipe dream" Thursday, following an announcement by an Iranian body overseeing the strait.

"The regime is trying to establish a new reality born from a clear military defeat, but attempts to control the Strait of Hormuz or infringe on the UAE's maritime sovereignty are nothing but pipe dreams," said the United Arab Emirates' presidential advisor Anwar Gargash in a post on X.

Mideast war forces EU to slash eurozone 2026 growth forecast

Published: May 21, 2026 | 09:43 GMT | by AFP

The eurozone economy will expand less than expected this year, the EU said Thursday, as the Middle East war and subsequent energy shock take their toll.

The European Commission said the single currency area's economy is expected to grow  0.9% in 2026, down from a previous prediction of 1.2%.

The EU also sharply raised its prediction for inflation in the 21-nation eurozone this year to 3.0%, up from 1.9% in the last forecast and well above the European Central Bank's target of two percent.

EU economy chief Valdis Dombrovskis pointed to the conflict in the Middle East, which "triggered a major energy shock, further testing Europe as it navigates an already volatile geopolitical and trade environment".

Households and businesses will have to pay more for energy because of the spike in fuel prices, the EU said, pushing the bloc's economic output down.

Since the European Union is a net energy importer, the 27-nation bloc is extremely vulnerable to any fluctuations in energy prices.

Turkiye sending flights to Israel to get flotilla activists: FM

Published: May 21, 2026 | 09:23 GMT | by AFP

Turkiye on Thursday said it was sending charter flights to Israel to repatriate Gaza flotilla activists, after Israeli forces detained them in scenes that sparked international condemnation.

"We plan to bring our citizens and participants from third countries to Turkey via special charter flights we will organise today," Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan said in a statement.

Around 50 vessels set sail from Turkiye on May 14 seeking to break Israel's blockade of the besieged Palestinian territory and were joined at sea by a handful of others.

Israeli forces began intercepting them off Cyprus on Tuesday, with Israeli officials and the flotilla organizers saying some 430 activists were detained.

They were taken to Ashdod port, where footage posted by Israel's far-right National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir showed them being forced to kneel, their hands tied behind their backs, foreheads on the ground.

The images sparked a wave of global shock and disgust, with Ankara saying it "openly demonstrated to the world the violent and barbaric mentality" of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's government.

Iranian ambassador praises Pakistan’s role in securing release of 20 Iranian sailors

Published: May 21, 2026 | 09:15 GMT | by Web Desk

The Iranian Ambassador to Pakistan, Reza Amiri Moghadam has lauded the efforts of Pakistan's Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif in securing the release of 20 Iranian sailors. 

In a post on X on Thursday, Moghadam said, "I sincerely appreciate the humanitarian and benevolent action of the esteemed Government of Pakistan to pursue the release of 20 Iranian sailors who were in a precarious situation due to the seizure of their ship in Singapore waters."

"In this regard, I would like to thank the tireless efforts of Honorable Prime Minister H.E. Muhammad Shahbaz Sharif and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Pakistan, especially H.E. Mr. Ishaq Dar, Honorable Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister, and other relevant agencies."

The ambassador further said, "These sailors were transferred from Singapore to Islamabad following diplomatic efforts and returned to their beloved homeland a few hours ago."

Ukrainian FM terms treatment of flotilla members 'unacceptable'  

Published: May 21, 2026 | 08:41 GMT | by Web Desk

Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha has termed the treatment meted out to Gaza aid flotilla members "unacceptable".

In a post on X on Thursday, he said, "The footage from Ashdod showing the humiliating and degrading treatment of activists detained following the interception of the Gaza-bound flotilla is deeply disturbing."

"Such treatment is unacceptable and incompatible with respect for human dignity, human rights, and international law."

The Ukrainian top diplomat said, "The public humiliation of detainees can never be justified."

"The detained activists must be released and their safe return ensured, with a full respect for their rights and dignity," he added.

Irish deputy PM says Israeli flotilla actions ‘cannot be consequence free’

Published: May 21, 2026 | 08:05 GMT | by Web Desk

Irish Deputy Prime Minister Simon Harris has said that Israeli government actions toward flotilla members “cannot be consequence free”.

In a post on X on Thursday, he said, “The actions of the Israeli government towards illegally detained members of the Sumud Flotilla, including Irish and EU citizens is despicable and cannot be consequence free.”

“This is a further clear breach of international law,” Harris added.

Iran defines managerial oversight of Hormuz: State media 

Published: May 21, 2026 | 07:47 GMT | by Web Desk

The Persian Gulf Strait Authority has defined the managerial oversight area of the Strait of Hormuz, state-run IRIB reported in a post on X on Thursday.

Pakistan condemns mistreatment of activists onboard Gaza aid flotilla

Published: May 21, 2026 | 06:59 GMT | by Web Desk

Pakistan has condemned the illegal detention and mistreatment of humanitarian activists onboard Global Sumud Flotilla, according to a press release issued by the country's foreign ministry on Thursday.

"The Government of Pakistan condemns in the strongest possible terms the unlawful interception of the Global Sumud Flotilla by Israeli occupying forces in the international waters as well as arbitrary detention and reported mistreatment of humanitarian workers onboard," the statement said. 

Those detained also reportedly include Pakistani humanitarian activist Saad Edhi, it said.

Pakistan demands the immediate release of all illegally detained activists, the statement said. 

Pakistan also called on the international community to ensure safety, dignity, and fundamental rights of those detained.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs is remain in close contact with Pakistani diplomatic Missions in the region to ensure the safe return of any detained Pakistani nationals, the statement said. 

Pakistan is also working to secure Saad Edhi’s release through its mission in Jordan.

Earlier, in a joint statement issued on Tuesday, the foreign ministers of Pakistan, Turkiye, Bangladesh, Brazil, Colombia, Indonesia, Jordan, Libya, the Maldives, and Spain expressed “serious concern” over the safety and security of civilian participants, calling for the “full respect” of their rights and dignity.

Pakistan continues its diplomatic engagement alongside these nine countries in various multilateral forums.

EasyJet says first-half losses deepen on Mideast war

Published: May 21, 2026 | 06:15 GMT | by Web Desk

British no-frills airline EasyJet said Thursday that its losses deepened in the six months to end-March after the Middle East war sent jet fuel prices soaring.

The headline loss after tax came in at £377 million ($506 million) for first half of its financial year, a rise of 27% from the period a year earlier, as the US-Iran conflict also upended travel plans, the carrier said in a statement.

Revenue jumped 12% to £3.954 billion, as passenger numbers rose six percent over the reporting period.

EasyJet said "it has been impacted by the Middle East conflict through higher fuel costs and lower forward visibility".

It confirmed an estimate given in April that the Mideast war had increased fuel costs by £25 million.

Israel frees two South Koreans abducted from Gaza aid flotilla 

Published: May 21, 2026 | 04:53 GMT | by Web Desk

South Korea’s presidential office stated that two South Korean activists involved in the Gaza aid flotilla, who had been detained by Israeli forces, have now been released, Al Jazeera reported.

Presidential spokesperson Kang Yu-jung said that activists Kim Ah-hyun and Jonathan Victor Lee were freed after being seized by Israeli forces in international waters while attempting to transport humanitarian aid to Gaza.

‘Completely unacceptable’: EU’s Antonio Costa appalled by flotilla detainees’ treatment

Published: May 21, 2026 | 22:06 GMT | by Web Desk

European Council President Antonio Costa says he is “appalled by the treatment of flotilla members by Israeli Minister Ben-Gvir,” Al Jazeera reported. 

In a post on X, Costa wrote: “This behavior is completely unacceptable. We call for their immediate release.”

Iran says examining US proposal to end Middle East war

Published: May 21, 2026 | 22:06 GMT | by AFP

Iran said it was examining a new US proposal to end the Middle East war, as President Donald Trump described the talks as being on the "borderline" between a deal and renewed strikes.

Iranian foreign ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baqaei said Tehran had "received the points of view of the American side" and was examining them. He repeated Iran's demands for the release of frozen assets and an end to the US blockade of Iranian ports.

US lifts sanctions on UN expert on Palestinians

Published: May 21, 2026 | 22:51 GMT | by AFP

The United States removed sanctions on Francesca Albanese, a UN expert on the Palestinian territories who has harshly criticized Israel, following a court order.

A notice on the Treasury Department's website indicated that it had removed a sanctions designation on Albanese that had blacklisted her globally, making it impossible for her to use major credit cards or conduct bank transactions.

Albanese, who is Italian, has been a relentless critic of Israel's treatment of the Palestinians in her role as the UN Human Rights Council special rapporteur on the occupied Palestinian territories.

US District Judge Richard Leon last week granted a preliminary injunction against the sanctions.

"Protecting the freedom of speech is 'always' in the public interest," Leon wrote in an opinion accompanying the order.

Australia condemns Israel's 'degrading' treatment of flotilla activists

Published: May 21, 2026 | 23:05 GMT | by AFP

Australia's foreign minister condemned on Thursday Israel's "degrading" treatment of detained activists from a Gaza-bound flotilla, after footage showed protesters bound and on their knees.

"The images we have seen posted by Israeli Minister Ben-Gvir — who Australia has sanctioned — are shocking and unacceptable," Foreign Minister Penny Wong said in a statement.

"We condemn his actions and the degrading actions of Israeli authorities towards those detained."

Trump says negotiations with Iran in 'final stages'

Published: May 21, 2026 | 22:10 GMT | by AFP

US President Donald Trump said that negotiations with Iran were in the final stages of the agreement.  

"It's right on the borderline, believe me," Trump told reporters at Joint Base Andrews, near Washington. "If we don't get the right answers, it goes very quickly. We're all ready to go."

US lifts sanctions on UN expert on Palestinians

Published: May 21, 2026 | 22:51 GMT | by AFP

The United States removed sanctions on Francesca Albanese, a UN expert on the Palestinian territories who has harshly criticized Israel, following a court order.

A notice on the Treasury Department's website showed that it had removed a sanctions designation on Albanese that had blacklisted her globally, making it impossible for her to use major credit cards or carry out bank transactions.

Albanese, who is Italian, has been a relentless critic of Israel's treatment of the Palestinians in her role as the UN Human Rights Council special rapporteur on the occupied Palestinian territories.

US District Judge Richard Leon last week granted a preliminary injunction against the sanctions.

"Protecting the freedom of speech is 'always' in the public interest," Leon wrote in an opinion accompanying the order.

UK foreign minister 'truly appalled' by Israeli video

Published: May 21, 2026 | 20:51 GMT | by AFP

British foreign minister Yvette Cooper on Wednesday said she was "truly appalled" by the video of activists detained by Israel with their hands tied and foreheads on the ground.

Cooper said the footage "violates the most basic standards of respect and dignity in the way people should be treated," adding that London has "demanded an explanation from the Israeli authorities."