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'

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~

Israel reopens Gaza crossing but UN says not enough aid getting through

Israel-Hamas ceasefire talks at a standstill?