For today, links to reports from the Associated Press, Reuters, National Public Radio, and Agence France-Presse, followed by commentary and analysis from Consortium News, from Australia, from Global Research, and from the New York Times and the Washington Post; other articles are accessible by clicking on their sources’ names or initials below. (Today’s Ukraine entry is HERE.) — MCM
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After blast kills hundreds at Gaza hospital, Hamas and Israel trade blame as rage spreads in region, by Najib Jobain, Samya Kullab, Ravi Nessman and Matthew Lee | AP KHAN YOUNIS, Gaza Strip — A massive blast rocked a Gaza City hospital packed with wounded and other Palestinians seeking shelter Tuesday, killing at least 500 people, the Hamas-run Health Ministry said. Hamas blamed an Israeli airstrike, while the Israeli military blamed a rocket misfired by other Palestinian militants. As rage spread . . . READ MORE . . .
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Biden pledges solidarity with Israelis and suggests ‘other team’ to blame for Gaza hospital blast, by Aamer Madhani and Colleen Long | AP TEL AVIV, Israel — President Joe Biden vowed to show the world that the U.S. stands in solidarity with Israelis during his visit there today, and offered an assessment that the deadly explosion at a Gaza Strip hospital apparently was not carried out by the Israeli military. He didn’t offer details on why he believed the Israelis were not responsible for the blast, and the White House . . . READ MORE . . .
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Biden, in Israel, says hospital blast caused by militants, by Nidal Al-Mughrabi and Steve Holland | Reuters GAZA / TEL AVIV — U.S. President Joe Biden arrived in Israel today pledging solidarity in its war against Hamas and backing its account that a blast that killed huge numbers of Palestinians at a Gaza hospital had been caused by militants. The fireball that engulfed the Al-Ahli al-Arabi hospital delivered . . . READ MORE . . .
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Tensions rise over an explosion at a Gaza hospital that killed 500 people. Reported by Michel Martin and Ruth Sherlock | NPR It was a massive explosion at Baptist Al Ahli hospital — a Christian hospital and one of the oldest in Gaza. Doctors there tell NPR they are still uncovering bodies. Click HERE to listen and, later, read.
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The devastation after the Gaza hospital explosion that killed hundreds of people. Reported by Daniel Estrin | NPR Hundreds of people have been killed in a huge explosion at a hospital in Gaza according to Palestinian officials and the World Health Organisation. Click HERE to listen and, later, read.
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Gaza death toll rises to 3,478: Hamas health ministry. From AFP. At least 3,478 people have been killed in the Gaza Strip since Israel began bombarding the coastal enclave, the Hamas-controlled health ministry said today. More than 12,000 others have been wounded in Israel’s response to a brutal assault launched by Hamas militants on Israel on Oct. 7.
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What does President Biden hope to accomplish on his trip to Israel? A Martínez of NPR talks with Henri Barkey, a professor and Middle East specialist, about the risks and potential rewards of President Biden’s visit to Israel. NPR’s A Martinez talks to Henri Barkey, a professor and Middle East specialist, about the risks and potential rewards of President Biden’s visit to Israel. Click HERE to listen and, later, read.
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The impact of the war between Israel and Hamas is reverberating throughout Europe. Reported by Eleanor Beardsley | NPR With at least three people killed by suspected Islamists, France and Belgium are on high alert as fears grow that tensions over the Israel-Hamas war could spill into Europe. Click HERE to listen and, later, read.
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Decency Becomes Indecent, by Patrick Lawrence | Consortium News There have been many, very many singular moments among America’s purported leaders and assorted officials and commentators since Hamas staged its daring assault on southern Israel on the morning of Oct. 7. Let us consider a few of these moments and draw some conclusions. Let us look closely at what is being said and what the American public is now urged . . . READ MORE . . .
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Israeli intelligence suddenly able to intercept Hamas communications, by Caitlin Johnstone | caitlinjohnstone.com.au Another strange thing about Israel’s claim that its intelligence services didn’t detect preparations for the Hamas attack on Oct. 7 is that it is now releasing what it claims are intercepted conversations of Hamas fighters talking to each other about matters of high importance. Israel has released an audio clip of two voices it claims . . . READ MORE . . .
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Second Nakba: The start of monumental destruction of the Middle East? by Peter Koenig | Global Research Israeli intel, as well as that of Egypt, the UK, the U.S., Brussels – EU – knew about the impending attack, planned by Israel in coordination with Hamas. A Jewish charity leader says Netanyahu ordered the Israeli military to stand down for 7 hours during the Hamas invasion. For Israel, it justifies . . . Click HERE for article linked videos. Click HERE for a definition of Nakba.
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Why a Gaza invasion and ‘once and for all’ thinking are wrong for Israel, by Thomas L. Friedman | The New York Times What should Israel do to ensure that an attack like the one launched by Hamas never happens again? Whatever the answer is, it’s not mobilizing 360,000 traumatized Israeli reservists to launch into an urban war in one of the most densely populated places in the world. President Joe Biden must sharpen his stance on the crisis. He must realize that . . . READ MORE . . .
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In the Israeli-Palestinian debate, you might be wrong. So be humble, by Shadi Hamid | The Washington Post The search for truth, even if one finds it, should not involve rigidity. We are all a product of our environments. When it comes to Israel and Palestine in particular, we bring our own preconceptions to any debate — our own selective read of history and our own developed sense of injustice. This is not about a disagreement over facts; it’s about . . . READ MORE . . .