For today, links to five reports: from the Associated Press and Middle East Eye, and to two articles of commentary from Middle East Monitor; others are accessible by clicking on their names or initials below. (GAZA 6-6-25 is HERE, or scroll down. WEST BANK, LEBANON and UKRAINE entries for this date are HERE, HERE and HERE, or scroll down.) — MCM
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Israel backs an anti-Hamas armed group known for looting aid in Gaza. Here’s what we know, by Julia Frankel, Sam Mednick, Samy Magdy and Lee Keath | AP JERUSALEM — Israel is supporting armed groups of Palestinians in Gaza in what it says is a move to counter Hamas. But officials from the U.N. and aid organizations say the military is allowing them to loot food and other supplies from their trucks. READ MORE . . .
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FROM JUNE 6 Gaza marks the start of Eid with outdoor prayers in the rubble and food growing ever scarcer, by Wafaa Shurafa | AP DEIR AL-BALAH, Gaza Strip — Palestinians across the war-ravaged Gaza Strip marked the start of one of Islam’s most important holidays with prayers outside destroyed mosques and homes early Friday, with little hope the war with Israel will end soon. READ MORE . . .
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UK and France abandon plans to recognise Palestinian state at conference, by Alex MacDonald | Middle East Eye The UK and France will abandon previous plans to recognise a Palestinian state at an upcoming conference, according to diplomats. READ MORE . . .
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FROM JUNE 6 Israel has sold record amount of debt in U.S. since war on Gaza erupted: report. From Middle East Eye. Israel has sold a record amount of debt in the U.S. since its war on Gaza erupted on Oct. 7, 2023, according to a report by Bloomberg on Friday. READ MORE . . .
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FROM JUNE 6 Ex-CIA officer running Gaza aid security advised Boston Consulting Group, by Dania Akkad | Middle East Eye Former CIA paramilitary officer Phil Reilly, who heads a private military company that is guarding Israel’s newly set up food distribution sites in Gaza, was a senior advisor at the U.S. consultancy that is the latest partner to withdraw from the controversial aid project. READ MORE . . .
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FROM JUNE 6 Netanyahu’s latest gamble: A ‘third-force’ headed by a criminal gang leader, by Iqbal Jassat | Middle East Monitor The genie is now out of the bottle, despite Benjamin Netanyahu’s vain efforts to suppress news of his devious third-force created to counter the Palestinian resistance. READ MORE . . .
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FROM JUNE 4 Israeli lies and western complicity: How deceit became a weapon of war, by Jamal Kanj | Middle East Monitor Throughout its long history of ethnic cleansing and occupation, Israel has remained consistent in its tactics. READ MORE . . .
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