For today, links to a panel discussion from the Middle East Institute, and to links to 10 reports from the Associated Press, Middle East Monitor, Anadolu Agency, Reuters, and National Public Radio, and to commentary from Middle East Eye; others are accessible by clicking on their names or initials below. (UKRAINE entry for this date and the MAPS entry from Oct. 18 are HERE and HERE.) — MCM
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FROM OCT. 18 The killing of Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar: A turning point in the war? Moderator Zena Al-Shaib is joined by Khaled Elgindy, Nimrod Goren, Brian Katalis and Charles Lister of the Middle East Institute. Weeks after the killing of Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah in Lebanon, the killing of Hamas leader Sinwar this week in Gaza marks a significant development. Click HERE for video, which has subtitles.
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A drone targets Israeli prime minister’s house while strikes in Gaza kill over 50, by Adam Schreck and Samy Magdy | AP JERUSALEM — Israel’s government said a drone targeted Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s house today, with no casualties, as fighting with Lebanon-based Hezbollah and Gaza -based Hamas showed no pause . . . READ MORE . . .
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7 Palestinians, including children, killed in Israeli air strike on school sheltering displaced in Gaza. From Middle East Monitor. At least seven Palestinians, including children and women, were killed on Saturday in an Israeli air strike targeting a school run by the UN agency for Palestinian refugees (UNRWA) in western Gaza that was providing shelter to displaced families, Anadolu Agency reports. READ MORE . . .
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Israel must comply with international law, Germany’s Scholz says during Türkiye visit. From Anadolu Agency. BERLIN — German Chancellor Olaf Scholz today renewed his call on Israel to comply with international law while fighting resistance groups Hamas and Hezbollah.. READ MORE . . .
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After Sinwar’s death, Israel aims to lock in strategic gains before U.S. election, by Samia Nakhoul, Tom Perry and James Mackenzie | Reuters DUBAI / JERUSALEM — The killing of Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar, a mastermind of the attack that ignited the war in the Gaza Strip, marked a major triumph for Israel. But Israeli leaders are also seeking to lock in strategic gains that go beyond military victories – to reshape the regional landscape in Israel’s favour and . . . READ MORE . . .
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FROM OCT. 18 Israel and Hamas signal resistance to ending Gaza war after Sinwar’s death, by Julia Frankel and Abby Sewell | AP JERUSALEM — Hamas confirmed Friday that its leader, Yahya Sinwar, was killed by Israeli forces in Gaza and reiterated its stance that hostages the militant group took from Israel a year ago will not be released until . . . READ MORE . . .
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FROM OCT. 18 What’s next for Hamas after its leader Yahya Sinwar’s death? by Abby Sewell | AP BEIRUT — The killing of Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar by Israeli forces in Gaza this week leaves the Palestinian militant group considering new leadership for the second time in less than three months. Will Hamas now . . . READ MORE . . .
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The killing of Hamas leader Yayha Sinwar may escalate war in Lebanon. Reported by Hadeel Al-Shalchi and Scott Simon | NPR The future of Hamas and the war in Gaza now that the organization’s leader is dead. Click HERE to listen and, later, read.
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Palestinian poet Mosab Abu Toha writes about love, life and loss in Gaza. Scott Simon of NPR asks Palestinian poet Mosab Abu Toha about his new collection, Forest of Noise, and about the conflict in Gaza. Click HERE to listen and, later, read.
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FROM OCT. 18 North Gaza is starving as humanitarian aid declines. Reported by Gus Contreras, Ari Shapiro and Tinbete Ermyas | NPR Antoine Renard, the World Food Programme Country director for Gaza, talks about how people in north Gaza are starving and aid shipments reached their lowest level in September. Click HERE to listen and read.
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FROM OCT. 18 The challenges of vaccinating 590,000 kids against polio in the war zone of Gaza. Reported by Ari Daniel | NPR Public health officials are hoping to reach the more than half a million Gaza children who received their first dose a few weeks back. But a shifting battlefield is making everything more challenging. Click HERE to listen and read.
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FROM OCT. 18 Was Yahya Sinwar the obstacle to peace the U.S. made him out to be? by Sean Mathews | Middle East Eye WASHINGTON — The U.S. has dubbed the late Hamas chief Yahya Sinwar an “insurmountable obstacle” to a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip, but Sinwar’s killing is likely to lift the veil on Israel’sambitions to continue its war on Gaza. READ MORE . . .