For today, links to reports from the Associated Press, Reuters, Middle East Monitor, Agence France-Presse, and National Public Radio; others are accessible by clicking on their names or initials below. (UKRAINE entry for this date is HERE.) — MCM
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NEWER Biden speaks with Netanyahu as Israelis appear closer to Rafah offensive, by Zeke Miller and Aamer Madhani | AP WASHINGTON — President Joe Biden and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu spoke this morning, a White House official and a National Security Council spokesperson said, as Israel appeared closer to launching an offensive on the southern Gaza city of Rafah — a move staunchly opposed by the U.S. on humanitarian grounds. The call came hours before Biden was to host King Abdullah II of Jordan for . . . READ MORE . . .
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Israeli army tells Palestinians to evacuate parts of Gaza’s Rafah ahead of an expected assault, by Sam Mednick, Josef Federman and Bassem Mroue | AP JERUSALEM — The Israeli army ordered some 100,000 Palestinians today to begin evacuating from the southern city of Rafah, signaling that a long-promised ground invasion there could be imminent and further complicating efforts . . . READ MORE . . .
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Israel strikes Gaza city of Rafah after evacuation order, say residents, by Mohammed Salem and Nidal Al-Mughrabi | Reuters RAFAH, Gaza Strip —Israel’s military carried out airstrikes in Rafah today, residents said, hours after Israel told Palestinians to evacuate parts of the southern Gaza city where more than a million people uprooted by the war have been sheltering. Fears are growing of a full-blown . . . READ MORE . . .
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Hundreds of Palestinians evacuate from eastern Rafah amid Israeli evacuation orders. From Middle East Monitor. Hundreds of Palestinians began evacuating from areas east of Rafah amid Israeli plans to invade the city in the southern Gaza Strip, according to witnesses, Anadolu news agency reported. The Israeli army today issued immediate evacuation orders . . . READ MORE . . .
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UK’s Sunak ‘concerned deeply’ about possible military incursion into Rafah. From AFP. British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said today the UK was “concerned deeply” about a possible offensive in Rafah after Israel told Palestinians to evacuate part of the southern Gaza city. He cited . . . READ MORE . . .
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FROM MAY 5 The Israel-Palestinian media disconnect. From NPR. There is a split-screen of media coverage of the Israel-Hamas war. Israeli channels focus on the Oct. 7 attack, the soldiers and the hostages, while Palestinian media highlights daily suffering. Click HERE to listen and read.
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Woman denies being an ‘outside agitator’ in Columbia University protests. Michel Martin of NPR talks with Associated Press reporter Jake Offenhartz about New York Mayor Eric Adams’ claims of “outside agitators” being present at Columbia University protests. Click HERE to listen and read. Click HERE for related May 1 AP report by Offenhartz.