For today, links to reports from Reuters, the Associated Press, National Public Radio and, via Popular Resistance, Consortium News, and to commentary from Middle East Monitor and CN; others are accessible by clicking on their initials below. (UKRAINE entry for this date is HERE.) — MCM
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Hamas negotiators arrive in Cairo for Gaza truce talks, by Nidal Al-Mughrabi and Ahmed Mohamed Hassan | Reuters CAIRO – Hamas negotiators arrived in Cairo today for new talks aimed at reaching a ceasefire in Gaza, where the war between the Iran-backed militant group and Israel is nearing the seven-month mark. Reports in Saudi Arabian media and on Israel’s Channel 12 . . . READ MORE . . .
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Qatar considers future of Hamas office in Doha, and whether to keep mediating, by Andrew Mills | Reuters DOHA — Qatar could close the political office of Hamas as part of a broader review of its role as a mediator in the war between Israel and the militant Palestinian Islamist group, according to . . . READ MORE . . .
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Egypt media cite progress in truce talks as Israel downplays chances of end to war with Hamas, by Sam Mednick and Jack Jeffrey | AP TEL AVIV — A delegation of the Palestinian militant group Hamas was in Cairo on todayas Egyptian state media reported “noticeable progress” in ongoing cease-fire talks with Israel while an Israeli official downplayed the prospects for a full end to the war. READ MORE . . .
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FROM MAY 3 UN official warns that famine in northern Gaza is already ‘full-blown,’ by Ellen Knickmeyer and Russ Bynum | AP WASHINGTON — A top U.N. official said Friday that hard-hit northern Gaza was now in “full-blown famine” after more than six months of war between Israel and Hamas and severe Israeli restrictions on food deliveries to the Palestinian territory. READ MORE . . .
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FROM MAY 3 Striking deals to end campus protests, some colleges invite discussion of their investments, by Kathleen Foody, Karen Matthews, Mike Catalini and Michael Hill | AP NEW YORK — Anti-war demonstrations ceased this week at a small number of U.S. universities after school leaders struck deals with pro-Palestinian protesters, fending off possible disruptions of final exams and graduation ceremonies. READ MORE . . .
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FROM MAY 3 Student describes divestment negotiations with Brown University. Reported by Lauren Hodges, Michael Levitt, Tinbete Ermyas and Juana Summers | NPR While some colleges resort to arrests and suspensions to clear protests, Brown University has struck a deal with its students. NPR’s Juana Summers talks with a student who was in the negotiating room. Click HERE to listen and, later, read.
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FROM MAY 3 Palestinians in the West Bank say U.S. college protests give them hope. Reported by Michele Kelemen | NPR Palestinians in the West Bank are following the protests on US campuses and say this movement is giving them hope. Click HERE to listen and, later, read.
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FROM MAY 3 Meanwhile in Australia, campus protests undisturbed. Reported by Cathy Vogan| Consortium News and CN Live! At Sydney University the anti-genocide encampment is continuing without a thought of police intervention. In Australia authorities are allowing this and others to continue undisturbed, especially after the Jewish Council of Australia said it . . . Click HERE for article and video.
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Enforcing silence on genocide, by Elizabeth Vos | Consortium News Developments on university campuses and in Congress this week showed that the U.S. government’s top priority is not protecting students or civilian lives in Gaza, but to protect Israel’s ability to continue its unimpeded slaughter. Anti-genocide student . . . READ MORE . . .
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Has the two-state solution been jeopardised? by Ihsan Faruk Kılavuz | Middle East Monitor While Israel’s onslaught on Gaza continues in all its horror, attention has once again turned to what settlements could end the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Despite various . . . READ MORE . . .