For today, links to six reports from Reuters, the Anadolu Agency, the Associated Press, and Middle East Monitor, and to commentary from Middle East Eye; others are accessible by clicking on their names or initials below. (UKRAINE entry for this date is HERE.) — MCM
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Palestinian militants fire rockets into Israel, tanks advance into Gaza, by Nidal Al-Mughrabi and Mohammad Salem | Reuters CAIRO / GAZA — The Palestinian militant group Islamic Jihad fired a barrage of rockets into Israel today as fighting raged in Gaza and Israeli tanks advanced deeper in parts of the enclave, residents and officials said. The armed wing of Islamic Jihad, an Iranian-backed ally of Hamas, said its fighters fired . . . READ MORE . . .
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Another journalist killed in Israeli attack in Gaza as death toll rises to 153 since Oct. 7, by Mustafa Haboush | Anadolu Agency GAZA City, Palestine — A Palestinian journalist died today of wounds sustained in an Israeli airstrike in Gaza City, taking the death toll to 153 since last October, local authorities said. Mohammad Mahmoud Abu Shareeah, a journalist with . . READ MORE . . .
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Israel releases 55 Palestinians it had detained from Gaza, including hospital director. From AP. A Palestinian health official says Israel released 55 Palestinians today whom it had detained from Gaza, including the director of the territory’s main hospital. Mohammed Abu Selmia was released without charge or trial, after being detained in November when . . . READ MORE . . .
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Israel releases director of hospital it says was used as a Hamas base. He alleges abuse in custody, by Mohammad Jahjouh. Samy Magdy, and Julia Frankel | AP KHAN YOUNIS, Gaza Strip — Israel released the director of Gaza’s main hospital today after holding him for seven months without charge or trial over allegations the facility had been used as a Hamas command center. He said he and . . . READ MORE . . . Click HERE for report from Middle East Monitor.
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Israeli finance minister threatens to build new settlements for each country recognizing Palestine, by Abdelraouf Arnaout | Anadolu Agency JERUSALEM — Israel’s far-right Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich threatened today to establish a new settlement in return for each country recognizing Palestine as a state. “For every country that unilaterally recognizes a Palestinian state, we . . . READ MORE . . .
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Why is Argentina becoming a ‘great friend’ of Israel amid its war crimes in Gaza? by Jodor Jalit | Middle East Eye When Hamas launched its offensive against Israel last October, Argentine voters were heading to the first round of the presidential election. Politicians and candidates across the political spectrum quickly took to X to share their thoughts. The centre-left outgoing president, the continuity candidate and others, including two centre-right politicians and the right-wing Javier Milei, currently president, expressed their solidarity with Israel and condemned the Palestinian group. None made any mention of Gaza, Palestine, or the Palestinians. READ MORE . . .