For today, links to reports from Reuters, the Associated Press, and National Public Radio, and to commentary from Middle East Eye and Anadolu Agency; others are accessible by clicking on their initials below. (UKRAINE entry for this date and an ASSANGE entry are HERE and HERE.) — MCM
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Israeli forces push deeper in Gaza’s north and south, by Nidal Al-Mughrabi | Reuters CAIRO — Israeli forces killed 35 Palestinians in aerial and ground bombardments across the Gaza Strip today and battled in close combat with Hamas-led militants in areas of the southern city of Rafah, health officials and Hamas media said. Israeli tanks . . . READ MORE with subscription . . .
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How does this end? With Hamas holding firm and fighting back in Gaza, Israel faces only bad options, by Joseph Krauss | AP JERUSALEM — Diminished but not deterred, Hamas is still putting up a fight after seven brutal months of war with Israel, regrouping in some of the hardest-hit areas in northern Gaza and resuming rocket attacks into nearby Israeli communities. Israel initially . . . READ MORE . . .
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Fatah’s view on the ICC prosecutor seeking arrest warrants for Israel-Hamas leaders. Steve Inskeep of NPR talks with Sabri Saidam, a senior official with Fatah, a rival political party of Hamas, who says he welcomes international scrutiny of Israel’s actions in Gaza. Click HERE to listen and, later, read.
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FROM MAY 22 In Rafah: More than 900,000 flee and UN halts delivery of food aid. Reported by Hadeel Al-Shalchi | NPR The UN says more than 900,000 Palestinians have fled from Rafah, which was the last sheltering place for people in Gaza, and where the Israeli military is expanding its incursion. Click HERE to listen and, later, read.
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FROM MAY 22 Spain, Norway and Ireland say they will recognize a Palestinian state. Reported by Miguel Macias and Willem Marx | NPR LONDON — The leaders of Ireland, Spain and Norway announced on Wednesday that their countries would formally recognize Palestinian statehood in the coming days. Israeli Foreign Minister Israel Katz said he would recall the country’s ambassadors from the three countries for consultations. Click HERE to listen and for related article.
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Who is Mahmoud Abbas, Palestinian Authority president — and why does he matter? From Middle East Eye. Mahmoud Abbas, a long-time politician and architect of diplomatic ties with Israel, has been the president of the Palestinian Authority for nearly two decades since the death of former leader Yasser Arafat. Before dominating Palestinian politics, Abbas . . . READ MORE . . .
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West divided over ICC arrest warrants for Netanyahu, Gallant. From Anadolu Agency. While the International Criminal Court arrest warrants against Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defence Minister Yoav Gallant have elicited various responses from Western countries, criticism of the ICC by nations such as the U.S. and the UK indicates that the international community is facing a test of sincerity. READ MORE . . .