For today, links to reports from the Associated Press, Reuters, Agence France-Presse, National Public Radio, and Middle East Monitor; others are accessible by clicking on their names or initials below. (UKRAINE entry for this date is HERE.) — MCM
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Israel lacks ‘credible plan’ to safeguard Rafah civilians, says Blinken, by Jonathan Landay | Reuters WASHINGTON — U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said today Israel lacked a “credible plan” to protect some 1.4 million Palestinian civilians in Rafah and warned an Israeli attack could create an insurgency by failing to kill all Hamas fighters in the southern Gazan city. READ MORE . . .
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Israel pushes deeper into Rafah and battles a regrouping Hamas in northern Gaza, by Wafaa Shurafa, Joseph Krauss and Samy Magdy | AP RAFAH, Gaza Strip — Israeli forces pushed deeper into Gaza’s southern city of Rafah today and battled Hamas in parts of the devastated north that the military said it had cleared months ago but where militants have regrouped. Warnings continued against . . . READ MORE . . . Click HERE for report from Reuters.
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Hamas says Biden remarks on Gaza hostages ‘setback’ for negotiations. From AFP. Remarks by U.S. President Joe Biden that a ceasefire in Gaza would be possible if Hamas released its hostages are a “setback” to negotiations, the Palestinian militant goup said today. “We condemn this position by . . . READ MORE . . .
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Rafah’s main hospital has shut down, people try to flee as Israel launches an attack, by Ayesha Rascoe and Aya Batrawy | NPR About half of Gaza’s southern area of Rafah is under Israeli evacuation orders as aid groups race to assist those fleeing. Click HERE to listen and, later, read
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Gaza civil defense says unable to reach Jabalia camp due to intense Israeli fire. From Middle East Monitor. Gaza civil defense has said its teams are unable to access the Jabalia refugee camp and Gaza City where Israel on Sunday launched fresh bombings, Anadolu Agency reports. “The direct . . . READ MORE . . .
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FROM MAY 11 Name and shame: Pro-Israel website ramps up attacks on pro-Palestinian student protesters, by Gabriella Borter, Joseph Ax and Andrew Hay | Reuters WASHINGTON — Weeks after attending a pro-Palestinian demonstration, Egyptian-American student Layla Sayed received a text message from a friend drawing her attention to a website dedicated to exposing people it says promote hatred of Jews and Israel. READ MORE . . .
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FROM MAY 11 The U.S. is used to drawing red lines for adversaries. How does it work for allies? Reported by Scott Simon and Greg Myre | NPR The White House says it will withhold military aid if Israel conducts a major ground operation in Rafah. Red lines are often set for enemies, but how do they work with one of America’s closest allies? Click HERE to listen and read.