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

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FROM APRIL 11  Netanyahu says Israel preparing for scenarios in areas other than Gaza, by James Mackenzie and Nidal Al-Mughrabi | Reuters  As the war between Israel and Gaza continues, Israel is also preparing for scenarios in other areas, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Thursday, amid concern that Iran was preparing to strike Israel in response to the killing of senior Iranian commanders. “Whoever harms us, we . . . READ MORE . . .

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UN refugee chief says outflow of Gazans into Egypt would make conflict resolution impossible, by Gabrielle Tétrault-Farber | Reuters  The prospect of Gazans crossing into Egypt from the border town of Rafah to escape a military assault would make the resolution of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict impossible and cause an “atrocious dilemma” for the people fleeing, the UN refugee chief said today. Filippo Grandi, United Nations High . . . READ MORE . . .

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EU sanctions Hamas over sexual violence during Oct. 7 attacks. From AFP. The European Union today imposed sanctions on the armed wings of Hamas and Islamic Jihad for “widespread” sexual violence during the Oct. 7 attacks on Israel. The bloc said . . . READ MORE . . .

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FROM APRIL 11  More aid is supposed to be entering the Gaza Strip. Why isn’t it helping? by Julia Frankel | AP  JERUSALEM — Under heavy U.S. pressure, Israel has promised to ramp up aid to Gaza dramatically, saying last week it would open another cargo crossing and surge more trucks than ever before into the besieged enclave. But days later, there . . . READ MORE . . .

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Why Israel is losing the war of global public opinion over its tactics in Gaza. Michel Martin of NPR talks to Ami Ayalon, former head of Israel’s domestic security service, about Israeli leaders’ political mistakes as the tide of global opinion turns against them. Click HERE to listen and