For today, links to reports from the Associated Press, Reuters, and Agence France-Presse, followed by a link, via Consortium News, to commentary by a member of the University of Arizona faculty; other articles are accessible by clicking on the sources’ names below. — MCM
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Palestinians flee northern Gaza after Israel orders 1 million to evacuate as ground attack looms, by Isabel Debre, Edith M. Lederer and Wafaa Shurafa | The Associated Press JERUSALEM — Palestinians began a mass exodus from northern Gaza Friday after Israel’s military told some 1 million people to evacuate toward the southern part of the besieged territory, an unprecedented order ahead of an expected ground invasion against the ruling Hamas militant group. The U.N. warned that so many people fleeing en masse would be calamitous, and urged Israel to reverse the order. Families in cars, trucks and donkey carts packed with blankets and possessions streamed down a main road out of . . . READ MORE . . .
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Countries urge Israel to hold off on Gaza assault with civilians in firing line, by Henrietta Chacar, Michelle Nichols and Humeyra Pamuk | Reuters JERUSALEM / NEW YORK / TEL AVIV — Countries urged Israel today to hold off on plans for an all-out assault on northern Gaza, where more than a million civilians largely defied its order to evacuate before it goes after Hamas militants who slaughtered Israelis a week ago. Hamas, which controls the densely populated Palestinian territory, vowed to fight until the last . . . READ MORE . . .
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Israel made raids into Gaza ‘over past 24 hours’: army. From Agence France-Presse. Israeli ground forces made raids into Gaza over the past 24 hours, the military said today, ahead of an expected ground offensive on the densely populated Palestinian territory. The raids came amid incessant Israeli air strikes on the Gaza Strip, with Palestinian militants firing back with rockets. READ MORE . . .
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A history of the Gaza Strip, by Maha Nassar | University of Arizona / Consortium News The focus of the conflict in the Middle East has again returned to the Gaza Strip, with Israel’s defense minister ordering a “complete siege” of the Palestinian enclave. Israel’s military operation, which involves extensive bombing of residences, follows a surprise attack on Oct. 7 by Hamas militants who infiltrated Israel from Gaza and killed more than 900 Israelis, which set off reprisal airstrikes . . . READ MORE . . .