Key moments in the Middle East this week

Blinken In Israel: Blinken says he will press Netanyahu on Gaza aid measures | Oneindia

Antony Blinken, the U.S. Secretary of State, has initiated a series of discussions with Israeli leaders to address the issue of increasing humanitarian aid into Gaza. Simultaneously, he has been urging Hamas, the Palestinian militant group, to accept a proposed deal aimed at securing the release of hostages and achieving a ceasefire. Following his visits to Riyadh and Amman earlier in the week, Blinken is now in Israel, the final stop of his broader Middle East tour. Reports indicate that Blinken is currently meeting with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in Jerusalem. This marks Blinken's seventh visit to the region, which has been engulfed in conflict since October 7th when Hamas launched an attack on Israel. Blinken's main focus during his time in Israel is to pressure the Israeli government into taking specific actions to enhance the flow of humanitarian aid into Gaza. He emphasised the need to address the suffering of the people in Gaza amidst the ongoing crossfire instigated by Hamas, while also striving to secure a ceasefire and the release of hostages. #BlinkenInIsrael #GazaAid #Netanyahu #IsraelHamasWar #Ceasefire #GazaCeasefire #AidMeasures #PressingForAction #MiddleEastDiplomacy #HumanitarianEfforts ~PR.152~ED.194~GR.124~HT.96~

McDonald's Posts Disappointing Q1 Results Amid Ongoing Boycotts

McDonald's Posts , Disappointing Q1 Results , Amid Ongoing Boycotts. 'The Independent' reports that McDonald's posted weaker- than-expected results in the first quarter of 2024, as a result of a boycott over the company's perceived support for Israel. . 'The Independent' reports that McDonald's posted weaker- than-expected results in the first quarter of 2024, as a result of a boycott over the company's perceived support for Israel. . According to McDonald's, higher sales in the United States helped the fast-food giant overcome weakness in markets where the brand is being boycotted. According to McDonald's, higher sales in the United States helped the fast-food giant overcome weakness in markets where the brand is being boycotted. The company saw same-store sales rise by 1.9% worldwide between January and March, below the Wall Street forecast of 2.1%. Increased menu pricing and delivery demand saw same-store sales in the U.S. increase by 2.5%. In international markets, sales fell by 0.2% for the first time since 2020. Despite this, McDonald's said the company's revenue increased 5% to reach $6.17 billion, while net income went up 7% to $1.93 billion, in-line with Wall Street estimates. 'The Independent' reports that Muslim-majority markets like Indonesia, Malaysia and the Middle East have been boycotting McDonald's for months. The boycotts started after a McDonald's franchise in Israel announced in October that it would provide free meals for Israeli troops amid the ongoing war in Gaza. In the months since then, the company has tried to limit the fallout by taking over all 225 McDonald's in the country with the purchase of Alyonal Limited, its Israeli franchise. Our hearts remain with the communities and families impacted by the war in the Middle East. We abhor violence of any kind and firmly stand against hate speech, and we will always proudly open our doors to everyone, McDonald's statement, via 'The Indepndent'. Our hearts remain with the communities and families impacted by the war in the Middle East. We abhor violence of any kind and firmly stand against hate speech, and we will always proudly open our doors to everyone, McDonald's statement, via 'The Indepndent'

India Responds to US Campus Protests, Advocates for Democratic Principles| Oneindia News

India emphasized the importance of balancing freedom of expression with public safety amidst escalating protests against Israeli military actions at US universities. External affairs spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal urged democracies to maintain this balance, stressing that actions at home define reputations globally. The statement coincides with intensified crackdowns, including New York City police raiding Columbia University to disperse pro-Palestinian demonstrators. #IndiaonUS #IndiaUS #Students #USUniversities #ColumbiaUniversity #USStudentnews #Worldnews #Oneindia #Oneindianews ~PR.274~ED.155~GR.122~HT.318~

Turkey Puts Brakes on Trade With Israel Amid Escalating Palestinian Crisis: Report| Oneindia News

Turkey halts all trade with Israel due to ongoing violence against Palestinians in Gaza. The move follows previous export restrictions and aims to pressure Israel into facilitating humanitarian aid. Turkey pledges to rigorously implement the measures until the flow of aid to Gaza is ensured. #Turkey #Palestine #Gaza #Turkiye #IsraelGazawar #IsraelPalestine #Worldnews #Israelwarlive #Oneindia #Oneindianews ~PR.320~ED.102~GR.123~HT.318~

Israeli Attack Near Damascus Injures 8 Syrian Soldiers, After Iranian Consulate Incident | Oneindia

Israeli airstrikes near Damascus injured eight Syrian soldiers, following a pattern of strikes aimed at thwarting Iran's influence in Syria. The attacks escalated after Israel's conflict with Hamas in Gaza. Earlier strikes targeted Iranian positions, triggering tensions. Israel's recent attack on an Iranian consulate in Damascus resulted in casualties, fueling Iran's vow of retaliation and raising concerns of further violence in the region. #IsraeliAirstrike #Damascus #SyriaAttack #SyrianAttack #Iran #Hezbollah #Tehran #Worldnews #Oneindia #Oneindianews ~PR.320~ED.102~HT.98~GR.122~

Police Clash with Pro-Palestinian Protesters at University of California, Los Angeles |Oneindia News

Watch as tensions escalate at the University of California, Los Angeles, as law enforcement officers clash with pro-Palestinian demonstrators. Police tear down barricades and detain dozens of protesters in an effort to control the anti-Israel demonstrations. Stay tuned for the latest updates on this developing story. #UCLA #ProPalestineProtest #ProPalestinianProtesters #UniversityofCalfornia #LosAngeles #AntiIsraelProtest #Oneindia ~PR.274~HT.178~ED.101~