May 20 (Reuters) - The United States has removed Francesca ​Albanese, a U.N. expert on the ‌Palestinian territories, from its list of sanctioned individuals, according to the U.S. Treasury Department website.

The removal comes a week after a federal judge temporarily blocked the sanctions, finding that the Trump administration likely violated her free-speech rights by imposing the measures ​after she criticized U.S. ally Israel’s war in ​Gaza.

(Reporting by Christian Martinez in Los Angeles and Ryan Patrick Jones in Toronto)

BRUSSELS, May 20 (Reuters) - The European Commission found the treatment of the Gaza flotilla activists shown in a video released by Israel's National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir is "completely unacceptable", a spokesperson said on Wednesday.

"Every detained person must be treated with safety, dignity and according to international law," spokesperson Anouar El Anouni said in a post on X. "We call on the Israeli government to ensure the protection and dignified treatment of these activists, including several EU citizens," he added.

US President Donald Trump said Wednesday that talks with Tehran were "on the borderline" between a deal to end the Middle East war and a resumption of strikes on Iran.

Trump has given conflicting signals since announcing on Monday that he had called off renewed attacks to give time for negotiations, veering between optimism about an agreement and threats of more action.

"It's right on the borderline, believe me," Trump told reporters at Joint Base Andrews near Washington when asked where the talks with Iran stood.

ANKARA, May 20 (Reuters) - Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan told U.S. President Donald Trump in a call on Wednesday he welcomed the extension of a ceasefire between the U.S. and Iran, adding he believed contested issues between the sides could be resolved, according to the Turkish presidency.

NATO member Turkey, which neighbours Iran, has been in close contact with Washington, Tehran, and mediators Pakistan to seek an end to the war. It has called for an end to the conflict and passed messages between the sides.

By Emily Rose

JERUSALEM, May 20 (Reuters) - Israeli police on Wednesday forced activists who were aboard a Gaza-bound aid flotilla to kneel on the ground in rows with their hands tied behind their backs while a minister looked on, drawing criticism from foreign leaders and even from inside Israel's own government.

The activists were detained after their flotilla was intercepted by Israeli forces in international waters on Tuesday and later taken to an Israeli port.

By Jana Choukeir and Humeyra Pamuk

DUBAI/WASHINGTON, May 20 (Reuters) - 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.

Six weeks since Trump paused Operation Epic Fury for a ceasefire, talks to end the war have shown little progress. Trump said this week he came close to ordering more attacks, but held off to allow time for negotiations.

NEW LONDON, Connecticut, May 20 (Reuters) - President Donald Trump said on Wednesday that the United States may have to attack Iran even harder but will wait and see if a deal is reached, reprising the "either/or" rhetoric he has used since announcing a ceasefire six weeks ago.

"We'll see what happens," Trump said during a commencement address at the U.S. Coast Guard Academy. "We hit them very hard. We may have to hit them even harder - but maybe not."

"We will not let Iran have a nuclear weapon. It's very simple," Trump told the cadets.

OTTAWA, May 20 (Reuters) - Israel's treatment of detained Gaza flotilla activists is "abominable," Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney said Wednesday, using unusually harsh language to condemn a close ally.

Ottawa earlier said it would summon the Israeli ambassador to protest after National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir shared a video in which he taunted the activists, who were forced to kneel on the ground in rows with their hands tied behind their backs.

CAIRO, May 20 (Reuters) - Iran is seeking to establish a mechanism with Oman to ensure sustainable security in the Strait of Hormuz, Iranian foreign ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei told state TV on Wednesday.

He said Iran was ready to develop protocols for safe shipping traffic in cooperation with other coastal states, without providing further details.

JERUSALEM, May 20 (Reuters) - Israel moved closer on Wednesday to a snap election after lawmakers gave an initial nod to dissolve parliament, with opinion polls showing Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu would lose the first national vote since the 2023 Hamas attacks.

Lawmakers voted almost unanimously for an early ballot in a preliminary reading of a bill to disband the 120-seat Knesset. If it receives final approval, a process that could take weeks, Israel could hold an election several weeks ahead of an October 27 deadline.