Gaza, 12-4-24

For today, links to nine reports: from Reuters, National Public Radio, Middle East Eye, and the Associated Press, and to commentary from CraigMurray.org.uk, via Consortium News, and Middle East Eye; others are accessible by clicking on their names or initials below. (UKRAINE entry for this date is HERE.) — MCM

   

NEWER  Israel’s defence minister says there ‘is a chance’ for hostage deal with Hamas. From Reuters. JERUSALEM — Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz said today that Israel had pressured Hamas to the extent that a hostage deal with the Iranian-backed group might be possible. Speaking . . . READ MORE . . .

   

Israeli forces advance in Khan Younis area of southern Gaza, 20 killed across enclave, by Nidal Al-Mughrabi | Reuters  Israeli tanks pushed into northern parts of the Khan Younis area in the south of the Gaza Strip today and Palestinian medics said Israeli air strikes had killed at least 20 people across the enclave. Residents said . . . READ MORE . . . Click HERE for report from Middle East Eye.

   

FROM DEC. 2  Made in Gaza: ‘From Ground Zero’ gives voice to filmmakers trapped in war zone, by Sarah Agha | Middle East Eye  BRISTOL, UK  It is hard to imagine a more challenging environment for shooting a film than the devastated and besieged Gaza Strip in 2024. But that is the setting for a groundbreaking new anthology by Palestinian filmmakers. READ MORE . . .

   

Israel threatens a wider war on Lebanon if a truce with Hezbollah fails. Leila Fadel of NPR talks with Rima Korjieh, Lutheran World Relief project officer in Lebanon, about families returning to their homes after the ceasefire with Israel was announced. Click HERE to listen and, later, read.

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Jewish settlers attack Palestinian towns and clash with Israeli troops. From AP. Jewish settlers mounted a string of attacks on Palestinian towns in the occupied West Bank overnight, burning homes and clashing with Israeli troops. READ MORE . . . Click HERE and HERE for report from Reuters and Middle East Monitor.

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An Israeli strike kills a person in Lebanon, further shaking the tenuous ceasefire, by Sally Abou Aljoud and Bassam Hatoum | AP  NABATIYEH, Lebanon — Israeli forces carried out several new drone and artillery strikesin Lebanon on Tuesday, including a deadly strike that the Health Ministry and state media said killed one person, further shaking a tenuous ceasefire meant to end more than a year of fighting with Hezbollah. READ MORE . . .

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FROM NOV. 30  Lebanon’s teetering ceasefire, by Craig Murray | CraigMurray.org.uk / Consortium News  BEIRUT — Only Israel has opened fire since the start of the “ceasefire”, and Israel has done so repeatedly. Nobody has fired back. Since the ceasefire was agreed . . . READ MORE . . .

   

Biden and Starmer are destroying international law to protect Israel’s genocide, by Jonathan Cook | Middle East Eye  For more than a year, those calling for an end to Israel’s slaughter of civilians in Gaza have been relentlessly vilified: as apologists for Hamas, as antisemites, even as supporters of a genocide against Israel and the wider Jewish people. READ MORE . . .