For today, links to reports from the Associated Press, Reuters, and National Public Radio; others are accessible by clicking on their names or initials below. (UKRAINE entry for this date is HERE.) — MCM
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Heavy fighting in Gaza’s Rafah keeps aid crossings closed, sends 100,000 civilians fleeing, by Wafaa Shurafa and Joseph Krauss | AP RAFAH, Gaza Strip — Heavy fighting between Israeli troops and Palestinian militants on the outskirts of the southern Gaza city of Rafah has left crucial nearby aid crossings inaccessible and caused over 100,000 people to flee north, a United Nations official said today. READ MORE . . .
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Israeli tanks encircle eastern half of Rafah, by Nidal Al-Mughrabi | Reuters CAIRO — Israeli tanks captured the main road dividing the eastern and western halves of Rafah today, effectively encircling the entire eastern side of the city in the southern Gaza Strip. Residents described almost constant explosions and gunfire east and northeast of . . . READ MORE . . .
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U.S. says military pier will increase aid to Gaza. Humanitarian groups have doubts. Reported by Leila Fadel and Jane Arraf | NPR A pier for the delivery of food and other supplies to Gaza is complete and is expected to be installed off the coast of Gaza in the coming days. Aid groups say there are a lot of unanswered questions. Click HERE to listen and read.
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FROM MAY 9 Israel strikes eastern Rafah as ceasefire talks end with no deal, by Nidal Al-Mughrabi,Mohammad Salem and Jarrett Renshaw | Reuters GAZA — Israeli forces bombarded areas of Rafah on Thursday, Palestinian residents said, as Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu dismissed U.S. President Joe Biden’s threat to withhold weapons from Israel if it assaults the southern Gaza city. READ MORE . . .
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FROM MAY 9 Netanyahu on U.S. threat to withhold arms: Israel will fight with its ‘fingernails’ if needed, by Joseph Krauss and Josef Federman | AP JERUSALEM — Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Thursday that a U.S. threat to withhold some arms would not prevent Israel from continuing its offensive in Gaza, indicating it might proceed with an invasion of the packed city of Rafah against . . . READ MORE . . .
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FROM MAY 9 At a hospital in Rafah, American medical teams are reporting the worst. Reported by Jane Arraf | NPR Israel’s closure of the main border crossing with Gaza has trapped American medical teams in Rafah while aid officials report an ever worsening crisis. Doctors have to decide who lives and who dies. Click HERE to listen and read.