Gaza, 3-25-24

For today, links to reports from the Associated Press, Reuters, Agence France-Presse, and National Public Radio; others are accessible by clicking on their names and initials below. (UKRAINE entry for this date is HERE.) — MCM

   

NEWER  UN demands cease-fire in Gaza during Muslim holy month of Ramadan, its 1st demand to halt fighting, by Edith M. Lederer | AP  UNITED NATIONS — The United Nations Security Council today issued its first demand to halt the fighting in Gaza, calling for a cease-fire during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan in a vote that drew an immediate protest from the Israeli prime minister. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu canceled a planned visit to Washington by a high-level delegation and  . . . Click HERE to read and watch live UN coverage.

–   –   –

NEWER  UN Security Council demands immediate ceasefire in Gaza after U.S. abstains, by Michelle Nichols | Reuters   UNITED NATIONS — The United Nations Security Council today demanded an immediate ceasefire between Israel and Palestinian militants Hamas and the immediate and unconditional release of all hostages after the United States abstained from the vote. The remaining 14 council member voted for the . . .  READ MORE . . .

   

NEWER  Israel will not end war until hostages released, defense minister says in Washington. From AFP.  Israel will not end its war against Hamas until militants free hostages, Defense Minister Yoav Gallant said today in Washington after Israel cancelled another U.S.-bound delegation over a UN Security Council ceasefire call. “We have . . . READ MORE . . .

    –

Destruction, lawlessness and red tape hobble aid as Gazans go hungry, by John Davison, Michelle Nichols, Emma Farge, Emily Rose and Farah Saafan | Reuters  CAIRO — In mid-March, a line of trucks stretched for 3 kilometers along a desert road near a crossing point from Israel into the Gaza Strip. On the same day, another line of trucks, some 1.5 kilometers long, sometimes two or three across, was backed up near . . . READ MORE . . .

   

Israel kills dozens in Gaza attacks and besieges two hospitals, Palestinian medics say, by Nidal Al-Mughrabi | Reuters  CAIRO — Israel’s military killed dozens of people in new attacks in Gaza, Palestinian medics said today, and its forces maintained a blockade of two hospitals where they say Hamas . . . READ MORE . . .

   

Health ministry in Hamas-run Gaza says death toll at 32,333. From AFP. The health ministry in Hamas-run Gaza said today that at least 32,333 people have been killed in the territory during more than five months of war between Israel and Palestinian militants. The toll includes . . . READ MORE . . .

   

FROM MARCH 24  Palestinians describe bodies and ambulances crushed in Israel’s ongoing raid at Gaza’s main hospital, by Wafaa Shurafa and Samy Magdy | AP  RAFAH, Gaza Strip — Palestinians who fled an ongoing Israeli raid of Gaza’s main hospital described mass arrests and forced marches past bodies in interviews on Sunday, while the United Nations said Israel is now blocking its main agency helping Palestinians from sending food aid to the enclave’s devastated north. Israel’s military . . . READ MORE . . .

   

Israel warns 4 European countries against Palestinian statehood recognition. From Reuters. Israel tells four European countries that their plan to work toward recognition of a Palestinian state constitutes a “prize for terrorism” that will reduce the chances of a negotiated resolution to the conflict. Spain said on Friday that it had agreed with Ireland, Malta and Slovenia to take first steps toward . . . READ MORE . . .

   

Israeli officials are in Washington amid talk tactics in Gaza may threaten U.S. aid. Reported by Leila Fadel and Jennifer Ludden | NPR  Israel’s defense minister is in the U.S. today, as the two countries sharply disagree over what should happen next in Gaza. President Biden is pushing for a cease-fire. Click HERE to listen and, later, read.

   

Nearly 6 months after Hamas attacked Israel, has Israel accomplished its goals? Steve Inskeep of NPR talks with Raphael Cohen, an expert in military strategy at Rand Corporation, a nonpartisan think tank, about whether Israel is winning the war against Hamas. Click HERE to listen and, later, read.

   

FROM MARCH 24  Military draft bill creates rift in Israeli government. From Reuters. JERUSALEM — A member of Israel’s war cabinet said on Sunday he would quit the national emergency government should proposed legislation that continues to exempt ultra-Orthodox Jews from mandatory military service be passed into law. “The nation cannot accept it,” said centrist cabinet minister Benny Gantz, “the Knesset . . . READ MORE . . .