For today, links to reports from National Public Radio, the Associated Press, Agence France-Presse, the Kyiv Independent, Reuters, Tass, and the Kyiv Post; others are accessible by clicking on their names or initials below. (GAZA entry for this date, so far, is HERE.) — MCM

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EU summit begins with future funding for Ukraine in doubt. Reported by Joanna Kakissis and Steve Inskeep | NPR  The two-day European Union summit begins with future aid for Ukraine in doubt. Click HERE to listen and, later, read.

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Putin says there will be no peace in Ukraine until goals are achieved, while offering rare details, by Harriet Morris | AP  MOSCOW — At a year-end news conference, Russian President Vladimir Putin vowed today that there would be no peace in Ukraine until his goals are achieved and said those objectives remain unchanged. Putin dismissed the need for a second wave of mobilization of reservists to fight in Ukraine. He said some 617,000 Russian soldiers are currently there, including . . . READ MORE . . .

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Russia’s Putin holds first call-in Q&A session since he launched invasion of Ukraine. Reported by Charles Maynes and Steve Inskeep | NPR  Russian President Vladimir Putin holds a call-in question-and-answer session for the first time since he launched the full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.  Click HERE to listen and, later, read.

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NEWER  Russia says downed 9 Ukrainian drones near Moscow. From AFP. Russia said today that its air defense systems had downed nine Ukrainian drones headed towards the capital, hours ahead of President Vladimir Putin’s new conference. “On-duty air defense units . . . READ MORE . . .

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Russian units repel six attacks by Ukrainian assault brigades in Donetsk area. From Tass.  MOSCOW — Russia’s battlegroup South thwarted six attacks by Ukrainian assault groups in the Donetsk area over the past 24 hours, the Russian Defense Ministry said today. “The enemy’s total losses in the direction reached . . . READ MORE . . .

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Zelensky addresses EU summit, warns against ‘indecision,’ by Martin Fornusek | The Kyiv Independent  Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky today addressed via video conference EU leaders, who gathered for a European Council summit. The Dec. 14-15 meeting should concern $54 billion in the bloc’s funding for Kyiv and Ukraine’s accession negotiations. The results . . . READ MORE . . .

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How F-16 fighter jets could reshape Ukraine’s aerial battlefield, by Gerry Doyle | Reuters  As U.S.-made F-16 fighter jets for Ukraine arrive at training centres in the United States and Europe, Kyiv’s allies hope the modern aircraft can push Russian planes farther from the frontlines, target radar transmitters more effectively and hunt down more cruise missiles. Commander in Chief of the Ukrainian Armed Forces . . . READ MORE . . .

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Russia’s night drones pose a serious new threat to Ukraine’s troops, by Julia Struck | Kyiv Post  Ukrainian soldiers at the front lines say the Russians have changed tactics. Moscow’s forces are now making use of FPV (first-person view) drones equipped with heat-detecting night-vision to strike in the darkness, a time when the Ukrainians had previously benefitted from . . . READ MORE . . .

 

For today, links to reports from Reuters and National Public Radio; others are accessible by clicking on their names or initials below. — MCM

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NEWER  Israel suffers worst combat losses since October, diplomatic isolation, by Nidal Al-Mughrabi and Fadi Shana | Reuters  CAIRO / GAZA — Israel announced its worst combat losses for more than a month today after an ambush in the ruins of Gaza City, and faced growing diplomatic isolation. Intense fighting was under way simultaneously in the north and south of the enclave, a day  . . . READ MORE . . .

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NEWER  President Biden makes critical remarks on Israel’s response to Hamas attacks. Reported by Franco Ordoñez and Steve Inskeep | NPR  President Biden says the Israeli government needs to keep an open mind to how Gaza is governed after the fighting there stops. Click HERE to listen and, later, read.

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UN calls for immediate ceasefire in Gaza, Biden warns Israel is losing support, by Nidal Al-Mughrabi and Bassam Masoud | Reuters  CAIRO / GAZA —The United Nations on Tuesday demanded an immediate humanitarian ceasefire in the Gaza Strip as U.S. President Joe Biden warned Israel it was losing international support because of its “indiscriminate” bombing of civilians. The 193-member UN General Assembly passed a resolution calling for a ceasefire with 153 countries voting in favour and 23 abstaining. The U.S. and Israel voted against the measure along with eight other . . . READ MORE . . .

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Israel’s offensive has brought war to the hospital in Gaza’s second largest city. Reported by Daniel Estrin | NPR  Israel’s military offensive against Hamas is now focused on Gaza’s second largest city, Khan Younis. The hospital there is overwhelmed with newly wounded people, but many doctors have fled. Click HERE to listen and, later, read.

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NEWER  Attacks on health care are on track to hit a record high in 2023. Can it be stopped? Reported by Ari Daniel | NPR  The year 2022 set a grim record — 1,989 attacks on health-care facilities and their personnel, the worst total number in the decade since the Safeguarding Health in Conflict Coalition began its sobering count. This year is on track to be even more devastating. In many of the world’s ongoing conflicts — like Sudan, Syria, Ukraine and now between Israel and Hamas — health care has been a target. Click HERE to listen and read.

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While war in Gaza continues, support for Hamas is growing in the West Bank. Reported by Brian Mann | NPR  While Israel aims to destroy Hamas so it can’t attack again like it did on October 7, the group’s popularity seems to be growing in the West Bank. Click HERE to listen and, later, read.

 

For today, links to reports from Agence France-Presse, the Kyiv Independent, the Associated Press, National Public Radio, Tass, and Reuters; others are accessible by clicking on their names or initials below. (GAZA entry for this date, so far, is HERE.) — MCM

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NEWER  ‘Ukraine can’t win without help’ — Zelensky urges European and U.S. allies to unblock aid. From AFP. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky today urged allies in Europe and the U.S. to continue to back Kyiv, as disputes in Brussels and Washington hold up new aid packages. He spoke ahead of a meeting with the leaders of Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway and Sweden, in which . . . READ MORE . . .

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NEWER  53 injured in Russian attack on Kyiv, by Olena Goncharova | The Kyiv Independent  A Russian missile attack against Kyiv early today injured 53 people, Mayor Vitali Klitschko said. At least 20 people were taken to  the hospital, including two children. Some 33 civilians received treatment on the ground. Ukraine’s Air Force reported that all 10 ballistic missiles targeting Kyiv were shot down as well as 10 Shahed drones. In the . . . READ MORE . . .

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U.S. credibility is on the line in Ukraine funding debate, by Chris Megerian | AP  WASHINGTON (AP) — One of President Joe Biden’s favorite stories is about his first international summit after taking office, when he declared that “America is back” in the wake of Donald Trump’s erratic and isolationist leadership. “For how long?” responded one of the other leaders in the room. It’s a question that . . . READ MORE . . .

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FROM DEC. 12  Zelenskyy visits Washington for a last-ditch effort to secure U.S. aid. Reported by Deirdre Walsh | NPR  Ukraine’s president is making a last-ditch trip to Washington to try to convince Congress to give more weapons and aid for his fight against Russia. Click HERE to listen and, later, read.

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Russia says its forces repelled 8 Ukrainian attacks in Kupyansk area, by Alexander Reka | TASS  MOSCOW — Units of the battlegroup West repelled eight attacks by Ukrainian assault groups near some settlements in the Kharkov Region and Lake Liman over the past day, the Russian Defense Ministry said in a daily bulletin of the special military operation. Here are details of these and other combat . . . READ MORE . . .

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U.S. issues sweeping sanctions targeting Russia over Ukraine war, by Daphne Psaledakis, Simon Lewis and Timothy Gardner | Reuters  WASHINGTON — The United States on Tuesday imposed sanctions on hundreds of people and entities, including in China, Turkey and the United Arab Emirates, as it targets Russia’s sanctions evasion, future energy capabilities, banks and its metals and mining sector. The U.S. Treasury and State departments targeted more than 250 individuals and entities in . . . READ MORE . . .

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Attacks on health care are on track to hit a record high in 2023. Can it be stopped? Reported by Ari Daniel | NPR  The year 2022 set a grim record — 1,989 attacks on health-care facilities and their personnel, the worst total number in the decade since the Safeguarding Health in Conflict Coalition began its sobering count. This year is on track to be even more devastating. In many of the world’s ongoing conflicts — like Sudan, Syria, Ukraine and now between Israel and Hamas — health care has been a target. Click HERE to listen and read.

For today, links to reports from the Kyiv Independent, Kyiv Post, Agence France-Presse, Tass, the Associated Press, National Public Radio, and Reuters; others are accessible by clicking on their names or initials below. (GAZA entry for this date is HERE.) — MCM

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Massive cyberattack reported on Ukrainian bank, phone operator, by Nate Ostiller and news desk | The Kyiv Independent  A “massive” hacker attack was reported today by Monobank, one of Ukraine’s largest banks, the company’s co-founder and CEO Oleh Horokhovskyi said. The news came as the Ukrainian telecommunications company Kyivstar said earlier . . . READ MORE . . .

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Ukraine’s largest mobile operator knocked out in cyberattack, millions lose phone and Internet service. From Kyiv Post.  Ukraine’s largest mobile operator, Kyivstar, was taken down by a cyberattack today morning, resulting in some 24.3 million subscribers losing their phone and internet service, while shops throughout the country were unable to process credit payments. In Lviv . . . READ MORE . . .

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NEWER  Ukraine says suspects Russia behind massive hacking attack. From AFP. Ukraine pointed the finger at Russia’s secret service over a massive hacker attack today that disrupted services for the country’s main phone operator. Ukraine’s SBU security service said it had . . . READ MORE . . .

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NEWER  Platoon formed from ex-Wagner PMC fighters carries out first assault near Artyomovsk. From Tass. MOSCOW — The commander of a platoon dubbed Kamerton (Tuning Fork), consisting of fighters from the now-defunct Wagner Private Military Company now incorporated into the ranks of the Akhmat special forces group, says it has carried out a successful assault on . . . READ MORE . . .

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NEWER  Zelenskyy appears to change few minds on grim Capitol Hill as aid package for Ukraine risks collapse, by Lisa Mascaro and Stephen Groves | AP  WASHINGTON — His country’s future at stake, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy told senators today that with U.S. aid his fighters can beat back the Russian invasion. But with funding in doubt, his grim trip to Capitol Hill was far from the hero’s welcome he received last winter. His . . . READ MORE . . .

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NEWER  Zelenskiy makes 11th hour plea for Ukraine war funds in Washington, by Patricia Zengerle, Richard Cowan and Trevor Hunnicutt | Reuters  WASHINGTON — Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy met with U.S. lawmakers on Capitol Hill today to make a last-ditch plea to keep military support flowing as he battles Russia, but faced a skeptical reception from some Republicans. Wearing . . . READ MORE . . .

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Ukrainian President Zelenskyy is in Washington to make plea to Congress for funding. Reported by Mara Liasson and Michel Martin | NPR  Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy comes to Washington to meet President Biden. Together, they’ll make a last-ditch plea to Congress for aid as funding has stalled. Click HERE to listen and, later, read.

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FROM DEC. 11  Seeking more U.S. aid, Ukrainian President Zelenskyy will visit Washington. Reported by Deirdre Walsh | NPR  Ukrainian President Zelensky is coming to Washington Tuesday to make a plea for Congress to approve more money to help in the country’s war against Russia. Click HERE to listen and, later, read.

For today, links to reports from the Associated Press, Reuters, and National Public Radio; others are accessible by clicking on their initials below. (UKRAINE entry for this date is HERE.) — MCM

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Israel strikes across Gaza as the offensive leaves both it and the U.S. increasingly isolated, by Jajib Jobain, Samy Magdy and Wafaa Shurafa | AP  RAFAH, Gaza Strip — Israeli forces carried out strikes across Gaza overnight and into today as they pressed ahead with an offensive that officials say could go on for weeks or months, even as global calls for a cease-fire left both Israel and its main ally, the United States, increasingly isolated. The war has already . . . READ MORE . . .

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Israel pounds Gaza as hunger spreads, disease risk grows, by Nidal Al-Mughrabi and Michelle Nichols | Reuters  CAIRO / NEW YORK — Israeli tanks and warplanes pummelled southern Gaza on today, and the United Nations said aid distribution to Gazans facing growing hunger had largely halted because of the intensity of fighting in the Israel-Hamas war, now in its third month. In Khan Younis, southern Gaza’s main . . . READ MORE . . .

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NEWER  Palestinian writer and psychologist discusses dangers of dehumanizing Palestinians. Leila Fadel of NPR  speaks with Palestinian American writer and clinical psychologist Hala Alyan about the dangers of dehumanizing the Palestinian people. Click HERE to listen and, later, read.

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Amid fighting on Israel’s northern border, Hezbollah and Iran seek to avoid war. Reported by Jane Arraf | NPR  Since the Oct. 7 Hamas attack on Israel and Israel’s offensive in Gaza, there has been fighting on Israel’s northern border too, where Hezbollah and Iran are eager to avoid all-out war. Click HERE to listen and, later, read.

For now, links to reports from the Associated Press, Reuters, Tass, and the Kyiv Independent; others are accessible by clicking on their names or initials below. (GAZA entry for this date, is HERE.) — MCM

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Russia targets Kyiv with ballistic missiles. Ukraine says it intercepted all of them, by Karl Ritter | AP  KYIV — Russia fired eight ballistic missiles at Kyiv early today, all of which were shot down, Ukraine’s Air Force said. The thwarted attack still left one person injured by shrapnel and three more suffered severe stress reactions, officials said. A series of loud explosions rang out in Ukraine’s capital just after 4 a.m., as . . . READ MORE . . .

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Russia attacks Kyiv with ballistic missiles, four wounded — Ukraine, by Valentyn Ogirenko and Pavel Polityuk | Reuters  KYIV — Russia attacked the Ukrainian capital with eight long-range ballistic missiles before dawn today and four people were wounded by debris after air defences shot down the incoming salvo, officials said. The strike marked the first major attack on Kyiv in recent months using ballistic missiles, which . . . READ MORE . . .

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NEWER  Ukrainian army in difficult situation in five frontline areas, ex-defense official says. From Tass. MOSCOW — Ukraine’s army has found itself in a difficult situation in five frontline areas in the country’s east, including in Avdeyevka in the Kiev-controlled part of the Donetsk People’s Republic, former Ukrainian Deputy Defense Minister Anna Malyar said today, adding that intense fighting in underway in all five. READ MORE . . .

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NEWER  Russian assaults continue along eastern front line, decrease in southeast, by Daria Shulzhenko and news desk | The Kyiv Independent  The situation in Ukraine’s east remains difficult as Russian troops continue conducting offensive operations along the entire front line, Ground Forces Commander Oleksandr Syrskyi said Sunday. “Collectively, we . . . READ MORE . . .

For now, 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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Israel battles militants in Gaza’s main cities, with civilians still stranded near front lines, by Najib Jobain and Samy Magdy | AP  RAFAH, Gaza Strip — Israeli forces battled Palestinian militants in Gaza’s two largest cities today, with civilians still sheltering along the front lines even after massive waves of displacement across the besieged territory. Israel has pledged to keep fighting until . . . READ MORE . . .

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Fighting intensifies across Gaza, raising alarm over potential exodus into Egypt, by Bassam Masoud and Nidal Al-Mughrabi | Reuters  GAZA / CAIRO — Fighting between Israel and Hamas intensified across Gaza today, fuelling fears flagged by the United Nations at the weekend of a breakdown in public order and a mass exodus of Palestinians into Egypt. Most of Gaza’s 2.3 million people have been driven from their homes and residents say . . . READ MORE . . .

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Regional leaders discuss war in Gaza at annual policy forum in Doha. From NPR. An annual forum of policy leaders in Doha focuses on the Gaza war and how it’s impacting regional security, as Qatar mediates with Hamas for the release of hostages and seeks another truce. Click HERE to listen and, later, read.

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NEWER Tunnels once connected Egypt and Gaza. Here’s what they looked like 10 years ago. From NPR. A Palestinian American writer gives a look at the underground tunnel system that once existed between Egypt and Gaza. Click HERE to listen and, later, read.

For today, links to reports from the Associated Press, National Public Radio, Reuters, and Tass, and to commentary from Scheer Post and the New York Times, and to AP and NPR reports on related developments; other articles are accessible by clicking on their names or initials below. (UKRAINE entry for this date is HERE.) — MCM

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NEWER  Liz Magill, U. Penn’s president, and board chair resign as antisemitism testimony draws backlash, by Marc Levy | AP  HARRISBURG, Pa. — The University of Pennsylvania’s president has resigned amid pressure from donors and criticism over testimony at a congressional hearing where she was unable to say under repeated questioning that calls on campus for the genocide of Jews would violate the school’s conduct policy. The chairman of the Ivy League school’s board of trustees, Scott Bok, also resigned . . . READ MORE . . .

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NEWER  Penn president resigns after testifying about antisemitism on campus. Reported by Ayesha Rascoe and Sequoia Carrillo | NPR  Four days after disastrous testimony on Capitol Hill, University of Pennsylvania president Liz Magill resigns. Click HERE to listen and, later, read.

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NEWER  Israeli tanks reach centre of Khan Younis in new storm of southern Gaza, by Bassam Masoud and Nidal al-Mughrabi | Reuters  GAZA / CAIRO — Israeli tanks battled their way to the centre of Khan Younis today in a major new push into the heart of the main city in the southern Gaza Strip which is sheltering hundreds of thousands of civilians who fled other parts of the enclave. Residents said . . . READ MORE . . .

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NEWER  Heavy fighting across Gaza as Israel presses ahead with renewed U.S. military and diplomatic support, by Najib Jobain, Wafaa Shurafa and Samy Magdy | AP  DEIR AL-BALAH, Gaza Strip — Heavy fighting raged today across Gaza, including in the devastated north, as Israel pressed ahead with its offensive after the U.S. blocked the latest international push for a cease-fire and rushed more munitions to its close ally. Israel has faced rising international outrage and calls for a permanent . . . READ MORE . . .

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NEWER  In Jerusalem’s Old City, not everyone is celebrating Hanukkah. Reported by Eleanor Beardsley | NPR  Hanukkah celebrations in Jerusalem are especially tense this year. Click HERE to listen and, later, read.

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Bombing in areas packed with displaced Gazans. Reported by Eleanor Beardsley | NPR  Heavy fighting continues in Gaza, with Israel’s warplanes attacking from the air, and troops battling on the ground. U.N. officials warn of a humanitarian catastrophe. Click HERE to listen and, later, read.

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NEWER  The State Department approves the sale of tank ammunition to Israel in a deal that bypasses Congress, by Matthew Lee | AP  WASHINGTON — Going around Congress, the Biden administration said Saturday it has approved the emergency sale to Israel of nearly 14,000 rounds of tank ammunition worth more than $106 million as Israel intensifies its military operations in the southern Gaza Strip. The move comes as President Joe Biden’s request for a nearly $106 billion aid package for Ukraine, Israel and other national security . . . READ MORE . . .

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The U.S. has vetoed a Gaza cease-fire resolution in the U.N. Security Council, by Michele Kelemen and Alex Leff | NPR   The UN Security Council vote on the resolution calling for a cease-fire in in Israeli-Hamas war, backed by Arab states, had 13 in favor and one — the U.S. — against, while the United Kingdom abstained. After the vote, the U.S. deputy representative to the UN . . . READ MORE . . .

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NEWER  Netanyahu, Putin discuss Gaza, situation in region, Iran, Russia’s position. From Tass. TEL AVIV — Hamas’s actions in the Gaza Strip and the situation in the region were the focus of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s telephone call today with Russian President Vladimir Putin, the Israeli prime minister’s office said. “The prime minister expressed disappointment with the position of . . . READ MORE . . .

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FROM DEC. 8  Israeli troops round up Palestinian men in northern Gaza as UN warns aid operation is ‘in tatters,’ by Wafaa Shurafa, Julia Frankel and Lee Keath | AP  DEIR AL-BALAH, Gaza Strip — Israel said Friday that the military was rounding up Palestinian men in northern Gaza for interrogation, searching for Hamas militants, while desperate Palestinians in the south crowded into an ever-shrinking area, and the U.N. warned that its aid operation is “in tatters.” The detentions pointed to . . . READ MORE . . .

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FROM DEC 8  Israeli strike badly damages Gaza’s oldest mosque. Reported by Daniel Estrin | NPR  An Israeli strike has badly damaged an iconic and historic mosque in Gaza. As conditions around Gaza worsen amid the offensive, Israel claims it was aiming at Hamas militants. Click HERE to listen and read.

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NEWER  A British Palestinian surgeon gave testimony to a UK war crimes unit after returning from Gaza, by Abby Sewell | AP  BEIRUT — A British Palestinian surgeon who spent weeks in the Gaza Strip during the current Israel-Hamas war as part of a Doctors Without Borders medical team said he has given testimony to a British war crimes investigation unit. Ghassan Abu Sitta, a plastic surgeon specializing in conflict medicine, has . . . READ MORE . . .

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Gaza divides the world, by Patrick Lawrence | ScheerPost / Consortium News  The trans–Atlantic alliance, with the U.S. per usual in the lead, is full-tilt behind Israel’s outright genocide. Support for it is scarce in the non–West, while expressions of support for the Palestinians of Gaza are many if in some cases muted. Ireland is, of course, an exceptional and interesting . . . READ MORE . . .

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The question of anti-Zionism, anti-Semitism, by Charles Blow | The New York Times  Weeks ago, I interviewed several pro-Palestinian activists and scholars in America. Almost all of them described themselves as anti-Zionist, but in our conversations, all of them also condemned antisemitism. Later, I turned to Jonathan Greenblatt, CEO of the Anti-Defamation League, who sees anti-Zionism, by definition, as . . . READ MORE . . .  

For today, links to reports from the Associated Press, Reuters, and Tass; others are accessible by clicking on their names or initials below. (GAZA entry for this date is HERE.) — MCM

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NEWER  Zelenskyy heads to Argentina in bid to win support from developing nations, by Karl Ritter | AP  KYIV — Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy traveled to Buenos Aires to witness the swearing-intoday of Argentina’s new president, Javier Milei. It is the Ukrainian leader’s first-ever trip to Latin America as Kyiv continues . . . READ MORE . . .

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NEWER  Ukraine moves first lorries to Poland by rail through blocked border. From Reuters. KYIV — Ukraine has transported the first batch of lorries to Poland by rail, bypassing the blockage of the land border between the two countries by Polish drivers, Ukrainian state railways Ukrzaliznytsia said today. Protests by Polish truckers started last month against the terms of EU access for Ukrainian. . . READ MORE . . .

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Polish truck drivers are blocking the border with Ukraine. It’s hurting on the battlefield, by Hanna Arhirova, Karl Ritter and Monika Scislowska | AP  KORCZOWA, Poland — Pickup trucks and tourniquets bound for Ukraine’s battlefield are among items stuck in a mileslong line at the border with Poland. Components to build drones to fight off Russian forces are facing weeks of delays. Ukrainian charities and companies supplying the war-torn country’s military warn  . . . READ MORE . . .

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NEWER  Russian forces hit four Ukrainian brigades in southern Donetsk area — defense ministry. From Tass. MOSCOW — Russian forces hit four Ukrainian brigades and combat vehicles in the southern Donetsk area, with Ukraine’s losses amounting up to 80 soldiers, the Russian defense ministry said today. “Units of the Russian Battlegroup East, backed by artillery, hit . . . READ MORE . . .

 

For now, a link to a report from Reuters; others are accessible by clicking on its name below. (UKRAINE entry for this date, so far, is HERE.) — MCM

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Fighting intensifies across Gaza as U.S. vetoes ceasefire, by Bassam Masoud and Nidal al-Mughrabi | Reuters  GAZA / CAIRO — Israel pounded the Gaza Strip from north to south today in an expanded phase of its two-month-old war against Hamas, after the United States wielded its U.N. Security Council veto to shield its ally from a global demand for a ceasefire. Thirteen of the Security Council’s 15 members voted for the resolution calling for an immediate humanitarian ceasefire . . . READ MORE . . .

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TO BE CONTINUED