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US-backed GHF says Gaza aid sites remain shut as Israeli attacks kill 22

According to medical sources, at least 34 people have died as a result of Israeli attacks on Eid-al-Adha in Gaza, according to medical sources. The Palestinian-based aid organization, which has partnered with the US, has declared all of its distribution centers closed until further notice.

Local health officials reported that 16 of the dead bodies were transported to the Khan Younis hospital on Friday, while 11 of the dead were transported to Al-Shifa Hospital in northern Gaza, five to Al-Ahli Hospital in Gaza City, and two to Al-Aqsa Martyrs Hospital in Deir el-Balah.

According to Al Jazeera’s Tareq Abu-Azoum, who was reporting from Deir el-Balah, which is typically characterized by joy, “This is how Eid looks here in Gaza.” He continued, “This year, the day is a very grim reminder of what they have lost and how they are forced to face unimaginable circumstances” amid bombardment, displacement, and loss.

The number of journalists killed in Gaza since the start of the war has increased to 226, according to Gaza’s Government Media Office on Friday, as a journalist was hurt in an Israeli attack on Ahli Hospital on Thursday.

The office urged “all journalistic organizations in all nations of the world to condemn these systematic crimes against Palestinian journalists and media professionals in the Gaza Strip.”

We also urge them to put forth “serious and effective pressure” to stop the killing of journalists and journalists in the Gaza Strip.

Aid locations continue to be closed.

The attacks come as the US-backed organization tasked with distributing aid in Gaza announced that its centers will remain closed until further notice, despite the territory’s growing hunger crisis.

After Israel imposed a severe blockade on the territory in March, preventing access to food, medicine, and fuel, aid organizations have warned that all residents of Gaza are facing the threat of famine. Israel allowed some aid to Gaza last month despite international pressure, but aid organizations have warned that the amounts are insufficient.

People were advised to avoid the aid distribution hubs by the previously unknown group The Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF), “for their safety,” when traveling there.

Details about reopening will be revealed later, according to GHF, which started providing aid last week in a Facebook post on Friday.

Following a number of deadly violence-related incidents near the sites, where Israeli forces opened fire on Palestinian aid seekers, earlier this week, operations at the organization’s aid distribution centers were stopped. On Thursday, only two organizations distributed aid.

Thousands of people gathered at the distribution site on Sunday morning. Israeli forces instructed them to disperse as they approached and return later. At around 3 a.m., Israeli forces opened fire when the crowds reached the Flag Roundabout, which is located 1 km (0, 6 miles) away, according to witnesses.

“There was fire from all directions, from naval warships, tanks, and drones,” said Amr Abu Teiba, a participant in the gathering.

According to Goher Rahbour, a surgeon employed by Gaza’s Khan Younis, the bullets used on Sunday were M16 assault guns, which is in line with what the Israeli military uses.

According to Rahbour, “I performed on two patients and M16 bullets were removed from abdominal injuries.” They incredibly clearly stated to me that they were Israeli forces when I spoke with these patients.

Additionally, the surgeon claimed that hospitals were running low on resources. He claimed that “there is a lack of everything: surgical instruments, swabs, and antibiotics.”

Humanitarian organizations, including the UN, have harshly criticized the GHF’s strategy.

According to the GHF, gatekeepers on its sites have not opened fire on crowds.

Previous Israeli military actions have been documented as warning shots.

At least 54 Palestinians, 677 Palestinians, and 125 or 530 Palestinians have been killed or injured by Israel’s war there, according to Gaza’s health ministry on Thursday.

During the Hamas-led attacks on October 7, 2023, an estimated 1, 139 people died in Israel, and more than 200 were taken prisoner.

On the heels of a US-backed proposal for a 60-day truce and the influx of humanitarian aid, mediators from Qatar and Egypt announced new efforts to secure a ceasefire on Thursday.

However, previous ceasefire efforts have been scuppered by Israel’s rejection of crucial terms.

What are ‘crypto kidnappings’ and why are they on the rise?

Michael Valentino Teofrasto Carturan was enjoying the fruits of his highly lucrative investments in cryptocurrency by renting a posh New York townhouse for $40, 000 per month. However, his 17-bedroom Manhattan home was converted into a torture chamber, where he spent 17 days being held by kidnappers.

In an effort to break into Carturan’s Bitcoin wallet, which allegedly contained some $ 28 million worth of cryptocurrency, John Woeltz and William Duplessie, Carturan’s captors, who wanted access to his cryptocurrency accounts, used brutal tactics. They threatened him with a chainsaw, shocked him with electrical wires, and hung him from the roof of the building, among other torture measures.

They forced him to use crack cocaine when everything else failed. In the end, they failed. Carturan escaped the townhouse after more than two exhausting weeks, and Woeltz and Duplessie were later detained and charged with kidnapping and assault.

William Duplessie appears in Manhattan Criminal Court on May 30, 2025, as a preliminary indictment is being prepared to be filed. [Jefferson Siegel/Pool via Reuters]

One of the most recent “wrench attacks,” including what are known as “crypto kidnappings,” that combine high-tech cybertheft with traditional thuggery, was Carturan’s ordeal, which was one of the most recent. They have been occurring in a number of nations around the world.

Have there been any other crypto kidnapping arrests made elsewhere?

Yes . According to French prosecutors, on May 31 a top figure in France’s cryptocurrency industry was attempted to be kidnapped by 26 people.

The police’s investigation into the “attempted kidnapping by an organized gang” of Paymium’s daughter and grandson on May 13 and “other unsuccessful plans,” including a failed attempt on the same targets the day before, and another attempt on June 2 near the western city of Nantes culminated in this investigation.

In connection with the Paris attack, the Paris public prosecutor’s office reported that “eighteen people have been placed in pre-trial detention, three have requested a deferred hearing, and four have been placed under judicial supervision.” The suspects range in age from 16 to 23.

In recent months, France has been the target of numerous attacks on well-known crypto entrepreneurs. However, kidnappings involving crypto-linked activities have also taken place in other nations.

crypto kidnapping
A masked gang in Paris, France, near the location where a woman’s dog was attempting to kidnap her daughter and grandson [Gonzalo Fuentes/Reuters]

Where else have people been kidnapped using crypto?

In central France in January, a group of criminals abducted David Balland, cofounder of the cryptocurrency firm Ledger, and his wife in addition to the recent attempted kidnappings in Paris.

The kidnappers sent Ledger a video of the mutilation in a particularly gruesome turn of events: they cut off one of Balland’s fingers. However, the French gendarmerie released both victims within two days.

In that case, nine suspects are the subject of a criminal investigation.

The wife of Stephane Winkel, a crypto investor and influencer, was kidnapped from the couple’s Belgian residence in December 2024. After her kidnapper allegedly crashed his car during a dramatic police chase, she was saved.

High-profile kidnappings of crypto executives and traders have also occurred in Canada and Australia, where they were forced to pay ransoms worth between $40, 000 and $1 million in digital assets.

The recent spate of crypto kidnappings is not yet clear about any connection.

Describe cryptocurrency.

The very first cryptocurrency was Bitcoin, which was introduced in January 2009 and started trading. People can use alternative payment methods and central banks thanks to this type of money exchange. With hundreds of millions of users worldwide, it is now a functioning, decentralized financial system.

In 2009, a transaction involving Bitcoin, valued at $ 0.004 per Bitcoin, was made. Bitcoin’s price ended yesterday at nearly $ 101, 576 per bitcoin, or nearly $ 2.5 trillion more than it was in 2009.

Internet libertarians, who believed that money should be free from government interference, initially favored the use of the digital currency. The price has quickly increased, and it quickly gained more mainstream acceptance.

Donald Trump, president of the United States, recently announced plans to mint a number of cryptocurrencies, making them eligible for a “Crypto Strategic Reserve,” increasing their value even more.

Although cryptocurrency thefts are not new, they have always involved hacking digital accounts that have large amounts of the currency. For instance, online thieves stole $ 570 million from Binance, the world’s largest crypto exchange, in 2022, according to estimates.

However, as Bitcoin and other digital assets’ value rises, criminals are shifting their focus from online hacking to actual-world extortion, through kidnappings and torture.

How do criminals use cryptocurrencies to target victims of kidnappings?

Victims are not difficult to locate.

Some crypto tycoons, many of whom are young men, regularly show off their wealth on social media or at conferences to make it easier for thieves to find targets.

Despite the 2016 Kim Kardashian kidnapping incident, many people have continued to flaunt their wealth. The US reality TV star was robbed of millions of dollars worth of jewelry in her hotel room in Paris. The men, who were later caught and given prison sentences, were later referred to as the “grandpa robbers” due to their ages.

There is little to distinguish them from the fabulously wealthy like the Kardashians, despite the fact that that was not a crypto attack.

However, large crypto-asset holders who are more cautious about displaying their wealth on social media and in public have been exposed to criminal activity as a result of data breaches at cryptocurrency exchanges.

In May 2025, Coinbase Global reported that hackers had managed to extort thousands of customers’ personal information, including the addresses of almost 70, 000 of them in the previous few months, putting them at risk of being attacked or extorted.

Criminals have also bribed insiders at crypto exchanges for customer data, besides hacking crypto millionaires’ accounts for this kind of information. Then, using this information, kidnappings or home invasions can be conducted against the highest-value targets.

Why are there more and more crypto kidnappings?

Kidnapping is one method of obtaining money from a digital wallet as opposed to a traditional bank account.

Since there is no third-party financial institution to safeguard the funds held in a digital wallet, hackers simply need to gain access to a cryptocurrency account password.

Transactions on an open-ledger blockchain, the system that makes cryptocurrencies possible, are also permanent, meaning they are irreversible.

Additionally, thieves don’t need to bring the stolen cryptocurrency with them, unlike they do with cash, jewelry, and gold. Money can be moved from one account to another in just a few clicks.

Additionally, cryptocurrency is much easier to launder because it can do so without traditional law enforcement, making it a popular choice for online drug dealers.

Therefore, criminals have a greater opportunity to gain immediate access to vast wealth if they can force a victim to give up their account, leading to an increase in physical attacks and kidnappings.

Can you protect yourself from a crypto kidnapping?

Yes, that’s possible. According to a report from NBC News, at least three insurance providers that offer services to cryptocurrency investors are developing kidnap and ransom (K&amp, R) policies specifically for abductions.

Fear of violence was a central topic at this year’s Las Vegas Bitcoin Conference, according to Becca Rubenfeld, chief operating officer of AnchorWatch, a crypto insurance company that plans to launch K&amp, R protection later this year.

They are tense, Rubenfeld told NBC, “They’re]cryptocurrency holders are. “I’m not saying that because I’m trying to sell insurance,” he said, “but overall, the mood is very good for me.”

Ransom insurance and kidnapping are not typical topics for prominent corporate executives.

What other security measures do crypto investors take?

Security experts are also advising investors to avoid sharing information about their crypto holdings with friends online and to use pseudonyms and updated digital wallet addresses for each transaction.

European Union backs ICC after US sanctions on court judges

According to European Commission Chairman Ursula von der Leyen, the United States “deeply regrets” the sanctions being applied to four judges at the International Criminal Court (ICC).

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio placed sanctions on four judges, who the US claims are “illegitimate and baseless” with regard to the US and its allies, on Thursday.

Von der Leyen responded to the news on Friday, stating that the Hague-based court possessed “full support” from the EU.

Von der Leyen stated on X on Friday that the ICC “gives victims a voice” and “the holds perpetrators of the world’s gravest crimes to account.” It must be free to take any pressure off of it.

Volker Turk, the head of the UN’s human rights divisions, described the US decision as “profoundly disturbing.”

“Attacks against judges for the performance of their judicial functions, at national or international levels, go against the principles of the US’s longstanding rule of law and equal protection of the law,” Turk said.

He continued, calling for the removal of the sanctions, adding that “these attacks are deeply corrosive of good governance and the proper administration of justice.”

The court, which represents the 27 EU member states’ national governments, was described as “a cornerstone of international justice” by Antonio Costa, president of the European Council, and stressed that its autonomy and integrity must be safeguarded.

The court’s decision to launch an investigation into alleged war crimes committed by US troops in Afghanistan led to the US State Department’s release, according to the US State Department.

Solomy Balungi Bossa of Uganda, Luz del Carmen Ibanez Carranza of Peru, Reine Alapini-Gansou of Benin, and Slovenian Beti Hohler are the four sanctioned judges.

Slovenia, a member of the EU, “rejects pressure on judicial institutions” and urged the EU to use its blocking statute.

Slovenia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated in a post on X that “a citizen of an EU member state will propose the immediate activation of the blocking act.”

The mechanism allows Brussels to impose sanctions against European businesses that the EU considers to be unlawful. In the past, Washington has used the power to thwart trade agreements with Cuba and Iran.

The judges are now included in a list of people who have been specifically sanctioned by the US. Any US assets they may have will be blocked, and they will be placed on a screening service that is used by many banks around the world to make it difficult for those who have been sanctioned to hold bank accounts, open bank accounts, or transfer money.

Since Trump took office for a second term on January 20th, the US has placed restrictions on an ICC official for the first time.

Trump issued a broad executive order shortly after taking office that slapped anyone who participated in ICC investigations. Critics warned that broad language like that could obstruct the flow of justice by preventing witnesses from presenting evidence.

However, according to Trump, such measures were required by the 2024 arrest warrants issued for former Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant and Netanyahu.

Can AI be held accountable? AI ethicist on tech giants and the AI boom

What will AI’s future hold and how will efforts to regulate its effects be? Rumman Chowdhury, an AI ethicist, speaks with Marc Lamont Hill.

Tech companies and international organizations are working to create more sophisticated artificial intelligence. There are growing concerns about AI spreading misinformation and being used in government surveillance and war as this technology becomes more widespread in daily life. Where do efforts to control AI now leave room for improvement? And how is global politics being impacted by the growing influence of tech billionaires?

What has Musk accused Trump of in relation to the Epstein files?

Elon Musk, the tech tycoon and owner of Tesla and Starlink, has claimed that Donald Trump is one of the names in the still-unreleased Epstein files and that this is the real cause of key documents being kept from the public.

Many of the so-called “Epstein files” compiled by US federal investigators were made available to the public in January 2024. Some did, however, remain sealed.

Musk, who contributed large sums to Trump’s presidential campaign and was appointed to lead a newly established federal agency, the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), a strong boost to Trump’s presidency.

Following growing public outcry over fiscal policies and a sharp decline in Tesla’s stock, Musk resigned from the position in May 2025.

Since then, Musk has gotten more and more vocal about criticizing Trump, calling his “One Big Beautiful Bill” a “disgusting abomination” for ending subsidies for electric vehicles and increasing the nation’s debt. He also has been accused of having connections to Epstein.

What is known about the allegations made by Musk and the Epstein files.

The Epstein files are what?

The “Epstein files” are a collection of documents that US federal authorities gathered as part of their investigation into former financier Jeffrey Epstein, who was previously convicted of sex abuse.

Flight logs, contact lists, court records, and other materials that document his activities and connections with prominent people are included in these files.

The first significant release of the documents occurred in January 2024 when a federal judge ordered Ghislaine Maxwell, Epstein’s associate, to stop the records from being released.

Following up with an official declassification of additional documents, many of which had already leaked, including redacted flight logs and contact books, in February 2025, the Department of Justice and the FBI conducted a formal declassification of those documents.

However, many documents are still sealed or heavily redacted, which makes the public want to know exactly what information is.

The FBI is reviewing tens of thousands of documents, according to US Attorney General Pamela Bondi, with additional releases pending necessary redactions to protect victims and ongoing investigations.

What has Musk said about the Epstein-Foxes?

Donald Trump was named in the unreleased Epstein files on Thursday, according to Musk in a public statement.

Musk stated in a post on his social media platform X that “@realDonaldTrump is in the Epstein files.” That is the real justification for their indiscretion. He disproved this claim with no supporting evidence.

Trump has reacted, or not?

Trump has not directly refuted Musk’s assertions regarding the Epstein files.

Trump, however, said he was “very disappointed” by Musk’s criticism of the fiscal bill during a meeting with German Chancellor Friedrich Merz on Thursday and that his opposition to the elimination of electric vehicle subsidies was due to that meeting.

“Elon was “wearing thin,” I asked him to leave, and I took away his EV Mandate, which had made everyone pay for Electric cars that he had known for months that I had planned to buy! He then “went crazy”! Trump&nbsp, wrote in a Thursday social media post.

Trump also threatened to revoke federal contracts and subsidies for Musk’s businesses, including those at Tesla and SpaceX, claiming that this would save the US government billions of dollars.

What are our current understandings of Trump’s relationship with Epstein?

In the 1980s and 1990s, Trump and Epstein frequently appeared together at social gatherings in Palm Beach, Florida and New York. Their interactions were later reported in newspapers and social media, while Epstein’s purchase of a mansion close to Trump’s Mar-a-Lago compound in Palm Beach led to their eventual reconciliation.

Trump and Epstein are seen dancing and socializing at a Mar-a-Lago party, according to a 1992 NBC News video.

Trump was quoted as describing Epstein as a “terrific guy” who liked the company of attractive women “on the younger side” in a 2002 New York Magazine profile.

Jeff and I have been friends for 15 years. Fantastic person. He’s a lot of fun to have around. Trump even claimed that he enjoys attractive women just as much as I do, and that many of them are younger.

According to flight logs obtained during the Maxwell case, Trump frequently traveled with family members on Epstein’s private jet between 1993 and 1997.

The “Black Book,” a contact list created in 2015 by Gawker, a now-defunct US blog covering celebrities and the media, was later used as evidence in court. It included Trump’s office, home, and Mar-a-Lago.

What’s going on now?

Since Musk’s criticism of Trump’s fiscal policy and subsequent allegations about the Epstein files, Musk’s relationship with the president has significantly deteriorated.

Tesla’s stock value dropped 14% as a result of Trump’s threats to terminate its contracts with Musk’s businesses. Since then, Muss has demanded that Trump be replaced with US Vice President JD Vance.

Spain’s Yamal and Portugal’s Ronaldo face off in UEFA Nations League final

Portugal vs. Spain: Who is it?
What: UEFA Nations League final
Where: Allianz Arena, Munich, Germany
When: Sunday, June 8, 2025 – 3pm kickoff (13:00 GMT)

How to follow our coverage on Al Jazeera Sport starting at 12 p.m. (10:00 GMT).

As Portugal and Spain prepare to face off for the UEFA Nations League trophy, the pair have one of the most highly anticipated international finals in a long time.

Cristiano Ronaldo and Lamine Yamal, two of football’s greatest talents, are also pitted against each other in the final.

Both had a significant role in helping their teams survive Sunday’s showdown in Munich despite their careers being at different ends.

Ronaldo vs. Yamal is a mouth-watering prospect, and Al Jazeera Sport takes a closer look at the game.

Portugal’s route to the Nations League final: how did it do it?

Ronaldo scored the winning goal in Portugal’s first semifinal victory on Wednesday, beating the host nation Germany 2-1.

Before Francisco Conceicao equalized just past the hour mark, the Germans took the lead early in the second half thanks to Florian Wirtz, who had already given the Germans the lead. Five minutes later, the winner was scored.

How did Spain fare against France in the semifinal?

After going 4-0 and 5-0 down, Spain and France unleashed one of the greatest scorers in a 5-4 thriller.

Yamal outscored Kylian Mbappe, Ousmane Dembele, and Desire Doue, who both came off the heels of Paris Saint-Germain’s Champions League triumph, scoring twice and acting the star.

Lamine Yamal of Spain and Kylian Mbappe of France made headlines in the Nations League semifinal on Thursday [Annegret Hilse/Reuters]

The UEFA Nations League final’s significance is how?

These final three games of the competition’s final three games, which are scheduled for 2024-2025, will be crucial game time before the 2026 FIFA World Cup, without a doubt, as well as the semifinalists who were defeated.

The tournament itself, which offers competitive games to keep club-focused players interested during the world’s international breaks, has replaced the much-maligned and ever-more meaningless list of friendlies between continents with qualification over a two-year period.

The outcome of the two semifinals has heightened anticipation for the already notable final, and given the Nations League’s reputation as a warm-up competition between the more prestigious World Cups and UEFA European Champions, both of which occur every four years, a new level.

After winning against France in the final, Yamal made the comment that he was playing against Ronaldo. He is a legend in football. I’ll do what I’m supposed to do, win the game, and that’s it.

Is this Lamine Yamal’s shining moment?

The showdown between former Real Madrid and Manchester United legend Ronaldo will receive a lot of attention from the outside world in the course of the game.

Yamal will turn 18 next month, and the Catalan club’s star players have already sparked conjectures with their recent successes, helping them to a domestic treble this year, with their latest addition. The Barca-born forward also excelled for Spain in the semifinal match against France from last summer’s Euro 2024 success, just days shy of his 17th birthday.

Ronaldo, who is regarded as one of the greatest footballers of all time, gives Yamal a unique and potentially final chance to show himself against a player who is closing down his career at 40 years old.

Is Yamal up for Ballon d’Or?

With Ronaldo and Argentinian legend Lionel Messi emerging as the game’s top current stars and Yamal’s stock steadily rising this year, it has been questioned whether there is a change of guard.

Both are strong contenders to win the Ballon d’Or trophy, which honors the best player in the world each year. After guiding Manchester City to their unique five-trophy winning year in 2023, Spanish international Rodri is the current holder.

Dembele, Mbappe, and Vinicius Junior, a member of Real, will also be competing for the 2025 award, but the final on Sunday could favor Yamal ahead of the ceremony’s oct in September.

Nations League - Semi Final - Germany v Portugal - Allianz Arena, Munich, Germany - June 4, 2025 Portugal's Cristiano Ronaldo celebrates scoring their second goal with Portugal's Nuno Mendes
Despite uncertainty surrounding his future at Portugal, Cristiano Ronaldo, center [Angelika Warmuth/Reuters]

What is the most recent development for Ronaldo’s team?

Ronaldo’s future as a player and whether he would compete in the upcoming FIFA Club World Cup in the United States have been the focus of much discussion heading into the UEFA Nations League’s final three games.

Lionel Messi will lead the host nation’s Inter Miami, who will face Egyptian side Al Ahly on June 14, in a new name and 32 teams for the annual international club competition.

Following a social media post from the front after the final day of the Saudi Pro League, Ronaldo’s time at Al Nasr in the tournament appears to be over.

Where will Ronaldo go from here next? A number of participants in the Club World Cup are being linked to a move for a player who continues to make headlines internationally. This would give FIFA’s desperate attempt to boost the competition.

What transpired between Portugal and Spain last time?

In their final encounter of the Nations League group stage, Spain defeated Portugal 1-0 in a match in 2022 to claim a victory.

In the 88th minute of the match, Alvaro Morata scored the only goal of the game at the Estadio Municipal de Braga.

UEFA Nations League - Portugal v Spain - Spain's Alvaro Morata celebrates scoring their first goal with Nico Williams
Alvaro Morata, right, and Nico Williams celebrate after scoring in a 2022 Nations League game against Portugal [Pedro Nunes/Reuters]

Portugal and Spain square off in a head-to-head match

Although this will be Yamal and Ronaldo’s first game together, the on-field conflict between Spain and Portugal dates back to a friendly in 1921.

In the overall series of 17 of the 34 matches, Spain won with a score of 2-1 in December of that year.

Portugal have only won six games against their neighbors, the last of which was a friendly in 2010.

Six of the seven subsequent games ended in draws.

In the 2023 Nations final, who did Spain defeat?

After drawing one goalless in Rotterdam, Netherlands, in June 2023, Spain defeated Croatia 5-4 on penalties in the 2021 edition of the tournament.

France, who they face in Thursday’s second semifinal, defeated the Spaniards 2-1 in the 2021 final. Their victory in 2023 put an 11-year search for silverware to an end.

In the inaugural final, Portugal defeated who?

In the 2019 final, Portugal defeated the Netherlands 1-0.

The Portuguese won the game on their own soil at Porto’s Estadio do Dragao, and Goncalo Guedes scored the only goal of the match in the 60th minute.

Possible lineups for Portugal and Spain:

Potential Portugal XI: Diogo Costa, Joao Neves, Ronaldo, Inacio, Mendes, Ruben Neves, Bernardo Silva, Trincao, Fernandes, Neto, Ronaldo