For today, links to nine reports: from Middle East Eye, Reuters, the Associated Press, and the Cradle; others or at least headlines are accessible by clicking on their names or initials below. (GAZA 5-8-25 is HERE, or scroll down. WEST BANK and SYRIA entries for today are HERE and HERE, or scroll down. NOTE: There is no UKRAINE entry today.) — MCM
– – –
Israel ‘sending soldiers to commit war crimes in Gaza’, says former army chief. From Middle East Eye. The Israeli military’s former chief of staff, Moshe Yaalon, has accused his successor, Eyal Zamir, of “sending soldiers to commit war crimes” in Gaza and torn into Israel’s government for “losing touch with Jewish morality”. In an interview Thursday, he . . . READ MORE . . .
– – –
Israel will not be involved in new Gaza aid plan, only in security, says U.S. envoy. From Reuters. JERUSALEM – A U.S.-backed mechanism for distributing aid into Gaza should take effect soon, Washington’s ambassador to Israel said today, but he gave few details. Ambassador Mike Huckabee said several partners had already committed to taking part in the aid arrangement . . . READ MORE . . .
– – –
U.S. to use Gaza aid plan as ‘bait to force displacement’: UNICEF. From the Cradle. The U.S. plans to establish a new non-governmental foundation to distribute aid in the Gaza Strip without the Israeli military’s involvement, U.S. officials announced today, but a UN agency active in Gaza has criticized the plan, which . . . READ MORE . . .
– – –
FROM MAY 8 A U.S.-backed group seeks to take over Gaza aid distribution in a plan similar to Israel’s, by Sam Mednick, Julia Frankel and Sarah El Deeb | AP TEL AVIV — A group of American security contractors, ex-military officers and humanitarian aid officials is proposing to take over the distribution of food and other supplies in Gaza based on plans similar to ones designed by Israel. READ MORE . . .
– – –
FROM MAY 8 Israel’s plan to evacuate Gaza would be illegal forceful displacement, Norway and Iceland say, by Gwladys Fouche | Reuters OSLO — Israel’s plans to evacuate Palestinians from Gaza would amount to illegal forceful displacement, would lead to more violence and would undermine efforts to create a Palestinian state, the foreign ministers of Norway and Iceland said on Thursday. The pair are part of a group of Western European nations which on Wednesday . . . READ MORE . . .
– – –
FROM MAY 8 The EU will hold talks this month on reviewing ties with Israel as concern mounts over Gaza, by Lorne Cook | AP BRUSSELS — The European Union’s top diplomat said Thursday the bloc’s foreign ministers will hold formal discussions this month on a demand to review an EU pact governing trade ties with Israel . . . READ MORE . . .
– – –
FROM MAY 7 U.S. in talks with Israel to lead ‘temporary post-war administration’ of Gaza: report. From the Cradle. Israel is holding “high-level” talks with the U.S. government about Washington possibly leading a “temporary post-war administration of Gaza,” according to officials familiar with the matter who spoke with Reuters. The British news outlet reports . . . READ MORE . . . Click HERE for report from Reuters.
– – –
FROM MAY 8 Burn patients face excruciating recovery as medicines dwindle under Israeli blockade of Gaza, by Mohannad Jahhouh and Sam Mednick | AP KHAN YOUNIS, Gaza — Israel’s blockade, imposed since March 2, has forced hospitals and clinics across Gaza to stretch limited stocks of medicines even as needs increase. For burn patients, the lack of supplies is particularly excruciating. READ MORE . . .
.