First, links to reports from the Associated Press, Reuters, National Public Radio, and Agence France-Presse; others are accessible by clicking on the organizations’ names or initials below. Finally for today, commentary from Indian Punchline. (Today’s UKRAINE entry is HERE.) — MCM
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Israel expands ground operation in Gaza and bombs Hamas tunnels after knocking out communications, by Isabel Debre, Julia Frankel and Samy Magdy | AP JERUSALEM — Israel today expanded its ground operation in Gaza with infantry and armored vehicles backed by massive strikes from the air and sea, including the bombing of Hamas tunnels — a key target in its campaign to crush the territory’s ruling group after its bloody incursion in Israel three weeks ago. The bombardment, described by Gaza residents as . . . READ MORE . . .
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Gaza under blackout as Israel reports ‘good progress’ in war against Hamas, by James Mackenzie | Reuters JERUSALEM — Gaza was largely cut off from the outside world today after Israel expanded air and ground operations and suggested its long-promised ground offensive against the Hamas . . READ MORE . . .
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Communications have been cut off in Gaza, making rescue efforts even more difficult. Reported by Scott Simon and Greg Myre | NPR All signs point toward a massive Israeli ground invasion of Gaza as the humanitarian crisis in the coastal territory grows more dire. Click HERE to listen and, later, read.
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Hundreds of Gaza buildings destroyed in Israel air strikes: rescue services. From AFP. “Hundreds of buildings and houses were completely destroyed and thousands of other homes were damaged,” said Mahmud Bassal, a spokesman for the Gaza Civil Defence. The intense bombardments had “changed the landscape” of northern . . . READ MORE . . .
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Iran’s foreign minister: Armed groups are poised with ‘their finger on the trigger.’ Reported by Arezou Rezvani and Steve Inskeep | NPR Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian says groups allied with Iran are prepared to strike if Israel’s war against Hamas continues. In an interview in New York City with Morning Edition‘s Inskeep, Amir-Abdollahian said he had met with “leaders of the resistance in Lebanon and also Palestinian groups” in recent weeks and heard of plans that are “more powerful and deeper than what you’ve witnessed.” Click HERE for a two-minute video and read transcript of some of the interview; seven-minute audio of the segment may not be available. (The next link is to a shorter report on same interview heard Thursday on All Things Considered.)
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Iran’s foreign minister on the Hamas attack and the war that has followed. Reported by Steve Inskeep | NPR Iran’s Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian talked with NPR about the attack Hamas launched against Israel on Oct. 7 and the war it has triggered. Click HERE to listen and read.
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As the Israel-Hamas war rages, the U.S. wants to offer Israel advice — and get advised. Reported by Quil Lawrence | NPR U.S. military advisers recently dispatched to Israel in advance of a possible incursion into Gaza include retired Marine Gen. Mark Schwartz, a Marine special operations commander with experience in urban warfare, in places like Fallujah and the fight against ISIS in the Iraqi city of Mosul. “The relationship . . . Click HERE to listen and read.
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Conditions in Gaza hospitals remain in crisis. Reported by Ari Daniel | NPR For three weeks, medical staff at hospitals in Gaza have been working nonstop. Doctors say they’re making life and death decisions about who they can treat while dealing with their own personal loss. Click HERE to listen and, later, read.
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NEWER About 150 women are giving birth in Gaza each day with no clean water or electricity. Reported by Selena Simmons-Duffin | NPR Approximately 50,000 women are pregnant in Gaza’s population of 2.2 million and 150 of them give birth each day. Medical care and clean water are dire needs, says the UN population agency. Click HERE to listen and, later, read.
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NEWER The former head of Israel’s domestic intelligence service on its security challenges. Scott Simon of NPR looks back and ahead at Israel’s security challenges with Ami Ayalon. He’s the former head of Israel’s domestic intelligence service. Click HERE later to listen and still later to read.
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Communications in Gaza black out as Israel proceeds operations on the ground. Reported by Daniel Estrin | NPR Israel has expanded air strikes and ground operations in Gaza, knocking out communications for residents there — as the violence spiralS nearly three weeks after the Hamas attack in Israel. Click HERE to listen and, later, read.
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The impact of the Israel-Hamas crisis on Prime Minister Netanyahu’s political future. Reported by Jackie Northam | NPR For many Israelis, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu bears responsibility for the Oct. 7 attack by Hamas. Critics say he took his eye off the ball when it came to the nation’s security. Click HERE to listen and read.
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Some Jewish American peace activists pay a personal price for backing ceasefire. Reported by Jasmine Garsd | NPR Jewish Americans who are critical of how Israel and the U.S. are responding to Hamas’ attack say they’re being ostracized by the mainstream U.S. Jewish community. Click HERE to listen and read.
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NEWER Tel Aviv returns to a new normal, with faith in the government taking a blow. Reported by Steve Inskeep | NPR A look at how daily life has changed in Israel since the Hamas attacks. Click HERE to listen and, later, read.
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NEWER U.S. diplomacy lost traction in Middle East. Isolating Iran no longer possible, by M.K. Bhadrakumar | Indian Punchline The two most compelling realities in the rejection of American leadership are: one, a strong united regional solidarity cutting across sectarian divides to seek a settlement on Palestine, like at no time before, and, two, the Saudi-Iranian rapprochement. The latest developments involving Hamas and Israel undermined the U.S. efforts to persuade Saudi Arabia to recognise Israel. The Saudi . . . READ MORE . . .