LiveLive Updates May 20, 2026Share to FacebookShare to XArticle printing is available to subscribers onlyPrint in a simple, ad-free formatSubscribeComments: Zen reading is available to subscribers onlyAd-free and in a comfortable reading formatSubscribeMay 20, 2026UpdatesGermany warns Israel against eviction of Palestinian village in West BankThe German government has warned the Israeli government against evicting the residents of the Palestinian village of Khan al-Ahmar in the West Bank.The announcement of such plans by Israel's Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich had been "noted with the utmost concern and we firmly reject these statements," a spokesman for the Foreign Office in Berlin said.There must be no evictions, the spokesman added. Berlin is calling on the Israeli government to abandon those plans.Unilateral measures as part of a comprehensive intensification of settlement policy in the West Bank "violate international law," the spokesman criticized. He added: "They also carry the risk of causing even greater instability in the region, in the West Bank itself and stand in the way of a two-state solution."Smotrich said Tuesday that he had been informed of a request by the International Criminal Court in The Hague to issue an arrest warrant against him, adding that in response, he would immediately sign an order to clear the Palestinian village of Khan al-Ahmar in the West Bank.Iran's president says 'all paths remain open from our side'Iran's President Masoud Pezeshkian said on a post on X media that Iran has "explored every avenue to avert war," and that "all paths remain open" on Tehran's side. He urged that "mutual respect" in diplomacy between the United States and Tehran is "far wiser," and "more sustainable than war."Pezeshkian also said that "forcing Iran to surrender through coercion is nothing but an illusion."Iran has consistently honored its commitments and explored every avenue to avert war; all paths remain open from our side. Forcing Iran to surrender through coercion is nothing but an illusion. Mutual respect in diplomacy is far wiser, safer, and more sustainable than war.Show moreTrump says 'We may have to hit Iran even harder, but maybe not' U.S. President Donald Trump said on Wednesday that negotiations with Iran were "in the final stages", while warning of further attacks unless Tehran agrees to a peace deal. "We're in the final stages of Iran. We'll see what happens. Either ⁠have a deal or we're going to do some things that are a little bit nasty, but hopefully that won't happen," he told reporters."Ideally I'd like to see few people killed, as opposed to a lot. We can do it either way."Speaking later at the U.S. Coast Guard Academy, Trump reprised his either/or rhetoric - "We may have to hit them very hard... but maybe not" - and reiterated his determination not to allow Iran to acquire a nuclear weapon.Tehran reviewing truce proposal sent by U.S. to Iran, Tasnim news agency says Iran's semi-official Tasnim news agency said on Wednesday evening that the United States has submitted another proposal as part of negotiations aimed at ending the war, and that Tehran is currently reviewing it. According to the report, the U.S. move comes in response to a proposal Iran presented three days earlier. "Iran is currently reviewing the text, and no response has yet been delivered," the agency added.U.S. envoy to Israel says Ben-Gvir 'betrayed dignity' of IsraelUnited States Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee said on a post on X that the Gaza-bound flotilla was a "stupid stunt", but "Ben-Gvir betrayed the dignity of his nation," referring to the video uploaded earlier Wednesday by National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir showing detained activists of the intercepted Gaza-bound flotilla being bound and dragged in Israel's Ashdod Port.Universal outrage & condemnation from every high-ranking Israeli official from @IsraeliPM @IsraelMFA @gidonsaar @IsraelPresident @yechielleiter @IsraelinUSA for despicable actions by Ben Gvir. Flotilla was stupid stunt, but Ben Gvir betrayed dignity of his nation.Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu: