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A truck carrying aid for delivery into Gaza drives through the Kerem Shalom crossing in southern Israel, on June 17. Netanyahu then contacted his military secretary and said this was unacceptable, until he was assured the fighting in Rafah would continue. It raises the question of where the “tactical pause” order originated, but it’s expected to continue. Israeli security minister Ben Gvir — a leading right-wing member of the country’s cabinet — condemned the pause. Fighting and deadly strikes: Fierce fighting and airstrikes have rocked Rafah as the Israeli effort to destroy Hamas in Gaza continues.

Persons: Nathan Frandino, Salah, Benjamin Netanyahu, Netanyahu, Ben Gvir —, —, ”, Ahmed Radwan Organizations: Israel Defense Forces, United Nations Relief, Works Agency for Palestine Refugees, CNN, Rafah Civil Defense Locations: Gaza, Israel, Rafah, Kerem, Kerem Shalom

CNN —A United Nations inquiry into the first few months of the war in Gaza has found both Israel and Hamas committed war crimes and grave violations of international law, in the body’s first in-depth investigation into the October 7 attacks and the ensuing conflict. Rockets are launched by Hamas from the Gaza Strip towards Israel on October 7, 2023. Hatem Moussa/APIn the first 2.5 months of the conflict, the commission found, Israel committed war crimes as well as crimes against humanity – the latter defined as a widespread, systemic attack directed at a civilian population. The International Criminal Court announced last month it was seeking arrest warrants for several top Hamas and Israeli leaders, including Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on charges of war crimes and crimes against humanity. “It is imperative that all those who have committed crimes be held accountable,” said commission chair Navi Pillay.

Persons: Hatem Moussa, Israel, –, Israel’s, maiming, Benjamin Netanyahu, ”, Netanyahu, West Bank –, …, Said Khatib, Mahmud Hams, Nir, Itamar Ben Gvir, Bezalel Smotrich, Benny Gantz, Yoav Gallant, Gilad Erdan, Erdan, Anwar Organizations: CNN, United, The United Nations Commission, Rockets, AP, Criminal, Palestinian, West Bank, Getty, Al, Israel Defense Forces, UN, Gaza, National, Finance, UN Human Rights, Palestinian Authority, Hamas, Human Rights, Israel, UN Security Council, Assembly, United Nations Relief, Works Agency, Anwar Amro, UNRWA, Navi Pillay Locations: United Nations, Gaza, Israel, Gaza City, Rafah, AFP, Aqsa, Israel’s, Palestinian, United States, Lebanese, Beirut, East Jerusalem

☆ I work for a House Democrat. My boss hasn't pushed hard enough for a Gaza cease-fire, so I'm secretly organizing a campaign to force lawmakers to do more
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-30 | by ( Bryan Metzger | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +9 min

I work for a House Democrat who has endorsed Biden's plan for a negotiated, two-sided cease-fire — but that's absolutely not far enough. AdvertisementWhen it's constituents saying this, I understand: They don't understand exactly how congressional offices work, they don't know how Congress functions. We have seen an unprecedented influx of constituent sentiment in support of a cease-fire, and in some lawmakers' offices, that sentiment is not being listened to at the most senior level. You don't know who's going to step in and replace you in that job. You don't know if they're going to hire someone who just does not believe in the humanity of the Palestinian people.

Persons: —, Israel, We've, who've, Joe Biden, they've, Biden's, we've, it's, Andrew Derek Strachan, haven't, Kent Nishimura Organizations: Service, Congressional Staff, Capitol Hill, Business, Capitol, United Nations Relief, Works Agency, House Democrat, Congressional, State Department Locations: Gaza, Israel, Rafah, Palestine

☆ Is Gaza your top issue? Here's a guide to each 2024 candidate's stance.
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-30 | by ( Bryan Metzger | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

Read previewIsrael's ongoing war in Gaza — and President Joe Biden's continued support for it — has become a major issue in the 2024 election. After Hamas killed more than 1,200 people in its October 7 attack, Israel launched a counteroffensive aimed at eliminating the group. Here's a guide to where President Joe Biden and former President Donald Trump stand on Israel — and why some are threatening to stay home or cast protest votes in November. I mean, moving shots of bombs being dropped into buildings in Gaza… it's a very bad picture for the world." For these voters — some of whom may have even had family members killed in Gaza — they argue that the war outweighs all other considerations.

Persons: —, Joe Biden's, That's, Joe Biden, Donald Trump, Israel —, Biden, he's, Nathan Howard, Israel Trump, Israel, Israel Hayom, Trump, Benjamin Netanyahu, Doug Mills, Syria —, we're, Biden's, it's, Abdullah Hammoud, Jill Stein, Cornel West Organizations: Service, Business, UN, United Nations Relief, Works Agency, GOP, Israeli, Washington Post, Muslim, Democratic, Biden, Trump, Green Party Locations: Gaza, Israel, Rafah, Tel Aviv, Jerusalem, Syria, Biden's Israel, Dearborn, Michigan

☆ The U.N. Relief Agency Protests Israeli Attacks - The New York Times
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-30 | by ( Philippe Lazzarini | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

The war in Gaza has produced a blatant disregard for the mission of the United Nations, including outrageous attacks on the employees, facilities and operations of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees. As I write this, our agency has verified that at least 192 UNRWA employees have been killed in Gaza. UNRWA-run schools have been demolished; some 450 displaced people have been killed while sheltered inside UNRWA schools and other structures. Since Oct. 7, Israeli security forces have rounded up UNRWA personnel in Gaza, who have alleged torture and mistreatment while in detention in the Strip and in Israel. In April, gunfire hit World Food Program and UNICEF vehicles, apparently inadvertently but despite coordination with the Israeli authorities.

Organizations: United Nations, United Nations Relief, Works Agency for Palestine Refugees, UNRWA, West Bank, Agency, Food Program, UNICEF Locations: Gaza, Israel, West, East Jerusalem

☆ I work for a House Democrat and disagree with my boss on Gaza. So I'm secretly organizing behind their back.
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-30 | by ( Bryan Metzger | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +9 min

We laid 10,000 flowers — one for each civilian in both Israel and Gaza who had been killed at that point. I work for a House Democrat who has endorsed Biden's plan for a negotiated, two-sided cease-fire — but that's absolutely not far enough. But I'm almost positive that the lawmaker I work for doesn't know, and that if they did, there would be genuine repercussions. AdvertisementWhen it's constituents saying this, I understand: They don't understand exactly how congressional offices work and they don't know how Congress functions. Pro-ceasefire staffers marching toward the House steps ahead of a vote on an Israel aid-related bill on May 16.

Persons: —, Israel, We've, who've, Joe Biden, they're, they've, Biden's, we've, it's, Andrew Derek Strachan, haven't, Kent Nishimura Organizations: Service, Congressional Staff, Capitol, Business, United Nations Relief, Works Agency, House Democrat, State Department Locations: Gaza, Israel, Rafah

☆ 'This can no longer be justified': International outcry over Rafah attack piles more pressure on Israel
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-28 | by ( Natasha Turak | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

A Palestinian child plays with the rubble after Israel bombs Palestinians' tents and shelters in Rafah, Gaza on May 27, 2024. The Israel Defense Force initially said it used "precise munitions" and "intelligence" to target two senior Hamas leaders in the area. There are no safe areas in Rafah for Palestinian civilians," Macron's post read, adding: "I call for full respect for international law and an immediate ceasefire." The U.S., meanwhile, called the images coming out of the attack were "devastating" and "heartbreaking," but refrained from demanding a stop to the Rafah operation. The attack comes two days after the International Court of Justice, the United Nations' top court, asked Israel to "immediately halt" its military offensive in Rafah, citing the "disastrous" humanitarian situation.

Persons: Emmanuel Macron, Guido Crosetto, Benjamin Netanyahu, Israel Organizations: United Nations Relief, Works Agency for Palestine Refugees, Global, Israel Defense Force, National Security, Reuters, International Court of Justice, United Nations Locations: Rafah, Gaza, Gazan, Palestinian, U.S, Israel

Rafah, Gaza and Jerusalem CNN —Dozens of people were killed on Sunday after a fire broke out following an Israeli airstrike on a camp for displaced Palestinians in Rafah, Gaza. “Several civilians are still trapped inside the camp, which was attacked without warning,” a Palestinian man filming the fire said. Palestinians mourn over the bodies of relatives killed in an Israeli airstrike in Rafah, the Gaza Strip on Monday. It was among the deadliest strikes by the Israeli military on Gaza’s southernmost city since Israel began its operation there on May 7. Qatar, another key mediator, said Israel’s strike could “hinder” ongoing negotiations, and called the attack a “serious violation of international law.”Palestinians gather at the site of an Israeli strike on a camp housing internally displaced people in Rafah, Gaza on Monday.

Persons: ”, Jehad, ” Avichay Adraee, Yifat, Yerushalmi, “, ” Israel, Staff Yassin Rabia, Khaled Nagar, peered, Abed Rahim Khatib, Mohammad Abu Al Subeh, Abu Al Subeh, “ It’s, ” Abu Nidal Al Attar, Josep Borrell, Borrell, Israel, Emmanuel Macron, Critics, Israel’s, Eyad Baba Organizations: Jerusalem CNN, CNN, Gaza Health Ministry, Hamas, Sunday, Israel Defense Forces, IDF Spokesperson’s Unit, IDF, West Bank, Staff, International Court of Justice, United Nations ’, Ministry of Health, Getty, UN, ” Medical, United Nations Relief, Works Agency for Palestine Refugees, ICJ Locations: Rafah, Gaza, Jerusalem, Tel Aviv, Israel, “, rummaging, Kuwait, Nuseirat, Egypt, Qatar, AFP

☆ Access to Aid in Gaza Was Dire. Now, It’s Worse.
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-27 | by ( Amy Schoenfeld Walker | Elena Shao | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +9 min

Access to Aid in Gaza Was Dire. Israel closed that crossing as well as the Rafah crossing, where a majority of aid had been coming in. Nearly 300 aid trucks had crossed there in a single day just before the incursion. COGAT, the Israeli military agency coordinating aid delivery, has said that increasing the amount of aid going into Gaza remains a priority. But just a quarter of that amount arrives on average each day since the closure of Rafah crossing, according to U.N. data.

Persons: ”, Israel, Biden, Georgios Petropoulos, it's, ” Erez, Erez, Kerem Shalom, Abdel Fattah al, Ahmad Ezzat, Scott Anderson, Anderson, Petropoulos, —, Khan Younis, Mr Organizations: International Court, Justice, Central Kitchen, U.S ., United, Aid, Egyptian Red, UNRWA, Kerem, U.S, United Nations Relief, Works Agency for Palestine Refugees, Food Program Locations: Gaza, Southern, Israel, Rafah, Ashdod, Kerem Shalom, United Nations, “, Erez, Israel GAZA, EGYPT, U.S, Egypt, Kerem, Egyptian, Israeli

☆ Opinion: Israel could defeat Hamas in Gaza more quickly if the US didn’t hold it back, this military expert says
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-17 | by ( Hilary Krieger | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +20 min

CNN: Do you think that Israel can defeat Hamas without conducting a ground invasion in Rafah? The fact is that Rafah’s where the hostages and remaining Hamas military power and leadership are believed to be, their rockets and weapons production and other capabilities, everything. CNN: Couldn’t Israel’s offensive still have the effect of creating more militants who are going to join Hamas and fight against Israel? But it’s also a very winnable war for Hamas at this point because wars are not determined just by military capability. The problem is that the international community pushed Israel into this framework of going slower, going methodically, evacuating every area beforehand.

Persons: CNN —, John Spencer, Spencer, John Spencer Spencer, He’s, ” Spencer, JACK GUEZ, they’ve, we’re, there’s, Couldn’t, David Petraeus, Petraeus, who’s, it’s, You’ve, Dawoud Abo, Israel, I’ve, Israel doesn’t, that’s, — we’re, they’re, would’ve Organizations: CNN, Israel Defense Forces, Hamas, Modern, Institute, IDF, United Nations Relief, Works Agency for Palestine Refugees, Getty, Israel, Nazi, Spencer, Shiva, Dawoud Abo Alkas, ISIS, UN, Gaza, Twitter, Facebook Locations: Israel, Gaza, Iraq, West, Rafah, Spencer, Israeli, Hamas, Gaza City, AFP, Iran, Palestine, Northern Gaza, Afghanistan, United States, Egypt, Sinai, Anadolu, Qaida, Mosul, Panama, Tokyo

☆ Macklemore calls out President Joe Biden with viral pro-Palestine protest song called 'Hind's Hall'
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-11 | by ( Eve Crosbie | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Rapper Macklemore has released a pro-Palestine protest song called "Hind's Hall." Elsewhere in the song, Macklemore takes aim at Biden and the feud between Drake and Kendrick Lamar. AdvertisementMacklemore has called for a cease-fire in Gaza and condemned continuing US aid to Israel in his new song, "Hind's Hall." The song has gone viral on social media with 37 million views on X, 1.7 million views on YouTube, and 2.9 million likes on Instagram. AdvertisementIn the opening bars of his new song, Macklemore praises college students across the US who are protesting Israel's war in Gaza.

Persons: Macklemore, Drake, Kendrick Lamar, —, Hind Rajab, Joe Biden, Biden, freedom's, Gina Wetzler, Annie Lennox Organizations: Palestine, Columbia University, Biden, Service, Hamilton Hall, Protesters, YouTube, United Nations Relief, Works Agency for Palestine Refugees Locations: Gaza, Israel, Palestine, Hamilton Hall, Columbia, Seattle, Dua Lipa, East

☆ Macklemore criticizes Biden in new song supporting pro-Palestinian student protests
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-08 | by ( Scottie Andrew | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +17 min

Across the US, pro-Palestinian protesters have been occupying lawns and buildings on campuses, and many are requesting that their universities divest from Israel. Nic Antaya/Getty Images Pro-Palestinian protesters demonstrate on the New York University campus in New York on Friday, May 3. Before police were deployed to campus, pro-Palestinian protesters and Israel supporters were clashing at the school , according to multiple reports. Joseph Prezioso/AFP/Getty Images Columbia University students gather for a picket organized by the Student Workers Union (UAW Local 2710) on Monday, April 29. Stefan Jeremiah/AP Israeli flags are reflected in the sunglasses of a demonstrator in front of Columbia University on April 22.

Persons: Macklemore, Joe Biden, ” Macklemore, Donald Trump, Columbia’s Hamilton, Hind Rajab, Hind, who’ve, ”, He’s, Biden, Jon Batiste, Selena Gomez, Annie Lennox, “, Melissa Overton, Nic Antaya, Seth Harrison, Jenny Kane, Chip Somodevilla, Mathieu Lewis, Rolland, Craig Hudson, Emma, Roberto Schmidt, Etienne Laurent, Mike Blake, Spencer Platt, Frederic J . Brown, Caitlin Ochs, David Dee Delgado, Charly Triballeau, Kena Betancur, Seyma, Alex Kent, Joseph Prezioso, Suzanne Cordeiro, Diane Handal, Cliff Owen, Qian Weizhong, Mike Stewart, Sarah Reingewirtz, Jay Janner, Brandon Bell, Brian Snyder, Mike Johnson, Timothy A, Clary, Matthew Hatcher, Nuri Vallbona, Jordan Vonderhaar, Zaydee Sanchez, Cameron Jones, Stephanie Keith, Andres Kudacki, Tayfun, Joe Buglewicz, Fatih Aktas, Michael M, Mary Altaffer, Scott Eisen, Columbia's, Stefan Jeremiah, Selcuk, Seattle concertgoers, Seth Rogen Organizations: CNN, Columbia University, Biden, University of California, University of Arizona, Dua Lipa, Scottish, United Nations Relief, Works Agency for Palestine Refugees, Hamas, Protesters, University of Michigan's, New York University, Westchester County Journal, USA, Network Police, Portland State University, AP, George Washington University, Getty, The George Washington University, Israel, AFP, Police, UCLA, Reuters, Fordham, Lincoln Center, Getty Images Police, Hamilton, Reuters Police, Columbia, The City College of New, Getty Images, Columbia Students, Justice, Hamilton Hall, Brown University, Getty Images Columbia University, Student Workers Union, UAW, University of Texas, Low, Sunday, Rueters Georgia State Patrol, Emory University, MediaNews, Los Angeles Daily News, Austin Statesman, Network, Austin, University, Emerson College, Swarthmore College, Bloomberg, University of Southern, Reuters New York, Reuters Columbia, New York Times, Sproul Hall, Yale University, University police, York University, The New School, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Library, Seattle, Trump Locations: Gaza, Israel, University of California Los Angeles, Palestine, Dua, Ann Arbor , Michigan, New York, Westchester, Portland , Oregon, Washington ,, Portland, The, Los Angeles, AFP, The City College of New York, Columbia, Columbia's, Providence , Rhode Island, Texas, Austin, New, Rueters Georgia, Atlanta, Getty Images Texas, Boston, Swarthmore , Pennsylvania, University of Southern California, Berkeley, Sproul, Anadolu, New Haven , Connecticut, Cambridge, Washington

☆ UN’s top court rejects call for Germany to immediately halt arms exports to Israel
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-30 | by ( Ivana Kottasová | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

CNN —The United Nations’ top court struck down a demand by Nicaragua that Germany immediately halt its arms exports to Israel on Tuesday, saying it cannot issue emergency measures against Berlin under the current circumstances. However, the court also rejected Germany’s demand to strike the lawsuit from its list, meaning the case will now move on. The ruling on Tuesday only concerned whether or not Berlin should be ordered to immediately stop selling arms to Israel. Germany “welcomed the ICJ ruling” according to a statement posted by the German Foreign Ministry on X shortly after the announcement. The ICJ is still considering whether Israel is guilty of violating the Genocide Convention, a legal process that could take years.

Persons: “, Nawaf Salam, Salam, Netherlands Carlos Jose Arguello Gomez, Alain, Piroschka Van De Wouw, Germany “, Israel, CNN’s Abel Alvarado, Tamar Michaelis Organizations: CNN, United Nations ’, Berlin, International Court of Justice, The Hague, Reading, Central, Israel, United Nations Relief, Works Agency for Palestine Refugees, Reuters, UN, German Foreign Ministry Locations: Nicaragua, Germany, Israel, The, Netherlands, Berlin, Gaza, Central American, Nicaraguan, Reuters Germany, South Africa

☆ Here’s what aid the House would provide Israel, Ukraine
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-17 | by ( Katie Lobosco | Tami Luhby | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

CNN —House Republicans released the text of three bills Wednesday that would provide aid for Ukraine, Israel and the Indo-Pacific region, with the latter intended to help deter Chinese aggression in the area. Taken together, the House bills add up to about $95 billion in aid – the same amount the Senate bill included – with an adjustment that $10 billion in Ukraine economic assistance is in the form of a repayable loan, CNN has reported. Nearly $14 billion included in the bill would help Ukraine buy advanced weapons systems and other defense equipment. The Senate bill, by comparison, would provide $14.1 billion in assistance to Israel, including funds for missile defense systems and foreign military financing to help Israel reestablish territorial security and deterrence, and $9.2 billion in humanitarian aid. The Senate bill contained very similar provisions to bolster security in the region.

Persons: Joe Biden, Here’s what’s, Russia –, Israel, CNN’s Lauren Fox, Haley Talbot, Melanie Zanona Organizations: CNN — House Republicans, CNN, House Republicans, Ukraine, Israel, House, Foreign, United Nations Relief, Works Agency, Senate Locations: Ukraine, Israel, Russia, Iran, Taiwan

☆ 'Uncommitted' Democrats may dump Biden over the war in Gaza. They say it's not their fault if Trump wins.
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-01 | by ( Bryan Metzger | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +15 min

AdvertisementFor the leading voices in the uncommitted movement, that's missing the point — and it's insulting. The "Listen to Michigan" campaign was originally conceived in a memo drafted by Waleed Shahid, a progressive strategist and former spokesman for the left-wing group Justice Democrats. "There is an entire menu of things that President Biden could do to move in the direction of discontinuing the funding of the killing," he said. What uncommitted voters are ultimately looking for is a sense of seriousness and clarity that they feel has been lacking from Biden. Uncommitted movement organizers do not seem to be taking glee in embarrassing Biden.

Persons: Joe Biden, Biden, Layla Elabed, Abbas Alawieh, Donald Trump, Mitch Landrieu, uncommitted, Trump, Abdullah Hammoud, Waleed Shahid, Jeff Kowalsky, Rashida Tlaib, —, Cori Bush, Missouri —, Elabed, Mayor Hammoud, that's, Hammoud, haven't, I've, James Zogby, We're, Alawieh, Benjamin Netanyahu's, Andy Levin, Zogby, Ronald Reagan, Menachem Begin, Seth Meyers, he's, Benjamin Netanyahu Organizations: Service, Democratic, Democratic National Convention, United Nations Relief, Works Agency, Dearborn, Biden, Movement, Michigan, Democrats, Getty, Democratic Party, Trump, Arab American Institute and, Union, UN, Democrat, Israel Locations: Gaza, Detroit, Michigan, Israel, American, United States, Dearborn, AFP, Missouri, Dearborn Heights, Hamtramck, —, Biden's, Arab, Chicago, Paterson, Rafah, Beirut, New York

☆ Israel to Attend New Ceasefire Talks as UN Says Gaza Hunger Crisis Worsens
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-16 | by ( March | At A.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +3 min

DOHA/JERUSALEM (Reuters) -The main U.N. aid agency operating in Gaza said on Saturday that acute malnutrition is rising more quickly in the north of the enclave as Israel prepared to send a delegation to Qatar for new ceasefire talks. Israel said on Friday it would send a delegation to Qatar for more talks with mediators after its enemy Hamas presented a new proposal for a ceasefire with an exchange of hostages and prisoners. Israel's ground and air campaign has killed more than 31,500 people, mostly women and children, according to the health ministry in Hamas-run Gaza. Israel says it puts no limit on humanitarian aid for civilians in Gaza and blames slow aid delivery on incapacity or inefficiency among U.N. agencies. Air and sea relief deliveries into Gaza have started, but aid agencies say these are no substitute for bringing in supplies by land.

Persons: David Barnea, Benjamin Netanyahu, Ramadan, Olaf Scholz, Jordan, Andrew Mills, Angus McDowall, Alexandra Hudson Organizations: The United Nations Relief, Works Agency for Palestine Refugees, Hamas, Air, Maayan Locations: DOHA, JERUSALEM, Gaza, Israel, Qatar, Rafah, Cyprus, United States, Doha, Jerusalem

☆ First ship carrying aid approaches Gaza Strip as Israel accused of stalling supplies
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-15 | by ( Dalya Al Masri | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +8 min

Video footage from the AFP news agency showed the ship visible off the shore of the Gaza Strip on Friday morning London time. Israel last year agreed to work with Cyprus in setting up an aid corridor across the sea between the European Union member and the Gaza Strip. Trucks carrying humanitarian aid and food supplies at the Kerem Shalom Crossing on the Israel-Gaza border. Bloomberg | Bloomberg | Getty ImagesA spokesperson for the Israel Defense Forces said it continues to expand its efforts to enable the entry of humanitarian aid into the Gaza Strip. Earlier this month, Refugees International released a report that alleges that Israel is obstructing the entry of life-saving supplies into the Gaza Strip.

Persons: —, Juliette Touma, Ahmad Hasaballah, Nebal Farsakh, Farsakh, Israel, Touma, Menahem Kahana, Philippe Lazzarini, Jesse Marks, Jordan, José Andrés, Jose Andres, Sen, Chris Coons, Peter Welch, Andres, Chip Somodevilla Organizations: Afp, Getty, AFP, European Union, Israeli Foreign Ministry, United Nations Relief, Works Agency for Palestine Refugees, CNBC, Palestinian Health Ministry, Palestine Red Crescent Society, West Bank, Bloomberg, Israel Defense Forces, United Arab Emirates, ., IDF, Palestinian, Refugees International, UN, Gaza, Arms, U.S, Capitol Locations: Cypriot, Larnaca, Gaza, Spanish, Cyprus, Israel, Rafah, Egypt, Palestine, Israeli, Kerem, U.S, United States, Israel's, Morocco, Israel's Ben Gurion, WASHINGTON, DC, Washington ,

☆ Israeli forces claim to assassinate a Hamas commander in a strike on a U.N. aid warehouse in Rafah.
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-13 | by ( Anushka Patil | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

The Israeli military confirmed that it had bombed an aid warehouse in Rafah in southern Gaza on Wednesday, saying it had “precisely targeted” and killed a Hamas commander in an attack that the United Nations said also killed at least one aid worker and injured 22 others. The Israeli military said the Hamas commander, whom it identified as Muhammad Abu Hasna, was “involved in taking control of humanitarian aid” and coordinating “the activities of various Hamas units.”UNRWA, the U.N. agency that supports Palestinians, said the strike in Gaza’s southernmost city hit one of its facilities that serves as both an aid warehouse and a food distribution center. The agency, formally the United Nations Relief and Works Agency, is the largest provider of aid on the ground in Gaza and the chief lifeline for the enclave’s 2.2 million residents, more than half of whom have been forced by Israeli military orders or fighting to cram into Rafah. The UNRWA facility was not distributing food to civilians on Wednesday, but more than 50 staff members were working at the facility when it was hit by Israeli forces around noon, according to Juliette Touma, an UNRWA spokeswoman. Physical damage to the facility appeared to be minimal, but the human toll was “quite high” and some of the 22 wounded aid workers were “severely injured,” she said.

Persons: Muhammad Abu Hasna, Juliette Touma, “, ” Organizations: United Nations, UNRWA, United Nations Relief, Works Agency Locations: Rafah, Gaza, Gaza’s

☆ This Ramadan, American Muslims say they feel urgent need to send aid to Gaza as threat of mass starvation looms
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-11 | by ( Monica Haider | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +8 min

On Friday, the European Union announced it’s opening an emergency maritime aid corridor from Cyprus to Gaza with allies including the US. The day prior, President Joe Biden announced the US Military is planning to build a temporary port along the Gaza coast to try to deliver much-needed humanitarian relief. In 2023, the nonprofit Islamic Relief raised more than $30 million in online donations during Ramadan, according to a spokesman for the organization. The charity, Human Appeal, has provided humanitarian relief in Gaza since 1991, according to Samina Taj, the organization’s associate director of communications. Since the start of the war in Gaza, Taj said their teams have mobilized to try to meet the desperate need for aid.

Persons: Nadia Duwaik, Duwaik, Joe Biden, Israel, Rashid, Dawoud Abo, Jad Shaheen, they’re, ”, ” Duwaik, she’s, Awrad Saleh, “, ” Saleh, Khan, It’s, it’s, Allah, Nasma, Shehadeh, ” Shehadeh, Ashraf Amra, Taj, Ramadan, Noor Traina, Traina Organizations: CNN, Ministry of Health, United Nations, European Union, Military, Dawoud Abo Alkas, Anadolu Agency, Getty, West Bank, Palestinian Children’s Relief, United Nations Agency, Islamic Relief, Islamic, The United Nations Relief, Works Agency for Palestinian Refugees Locations: Israel, Gaza, United, Cyprus, al, Gaza City, Palestinian American, West, Palestine, Khan Yunis, Rafah, Bethlehem, New York, East, Egypt, Washington , DC, Libya

☆ Israel Hamas War: Latest Updates
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-09 | by ( Victoria Kim | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +4 min

Distribution of humanitarian aid from the United Nations Relief and Works Agency, or UNRWA, in Rafah, Gaza, earlier this week. But aid workers say that the maritime project is not ambitious enough to alleviate the humanitarian disaster unfolding as Israel continues to bombard the Gaza Strip. The floating pier, General Ryder said, would be built and assembled alongside an Army ship off the Gaza coast. Israeli officials have denied they are hampering the flow of aid, saying the United Nations and aid groups are responsible for any backlogs. “We want to see the amount of aid going via land increase significantly,” General Ryder said.

Persons: Biden, Biden’s, Pat Ryder, General Ryder, Sigrid Kaag, “, Israel, ” General Ryder, “ We’re, ” Organizations: United Nations Relief, Works Agency, Pentagon, U.S ., 7th Transportation Brigade, Base, Army, Defense, U.S . Army, . Security Council, Israel ., United Nations, ” Locations: Rafah, Gaza, Eustis, Va, Norfolk, Egypt, Kerem, Israel, United, U.S, ”

☆ Middle East Crisis Head of U.N. Aid Agency Says Israel Is Trying to Undermine Its Work
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-05 | by ( Victoria Kim | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +4 min

He warned on Monday that the worst might be yet to come in Gaza if humanitarian services collapse. The head of the United Nations agency providing aid for Palestinians in Gaza has said that his organization was being targeted with a “deliberate and concerted campaign” to undermine its operations when its services are most needed. Israel’s accusations in January prompted 16 donor countries, including the United States, to suspend about $450 million in funding. The court, the United Nations’ highest judicial body, has ordered Israel to take immediate steps to facilitate the aid Gaza desperately needs and is weighing whether Israel has committed genocide in its war in Gaza. Israel has a long history of friction with UNRWA, which was founded in 1949 and is one of the oldest U.N. agencies.

Persons: Philippe Lazzarini, Lazzarini, Israel, ”, ” Mr, Benjamin Netanyahu, Matthew Miller, Biden, “ Organizations: UNRWA, United Nations, United Nations Relief, Works Agency, General Assembly, International Court of Justice, Palestinian, U.S . State Department Locations: Geneva, Gaza, New York, Israel, United States

☆ Palestinian Prime Minister Shtayyeh resigns
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-26 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

Palestinian Prime Minister Mohammad Shtayyeh speaks during a press conference after several key donor countries halted funding to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA), in the West Bank city of Ramallah on January 28, 2024, amid continuing battles between Israel and the Palestinian militant group Hamas in Gaza. Palestinian Prime Minister Mohammad Shtayyeh said on Monday he was resigning to allow for the formation of a broad consensus among Palestinians about political arrangements following Israel's war against the Islamist group Hamas in Gaza. The Palestinian Authority, formed 30 years ago under the interim Oslo peace accords, exercises limited governance over parts of the occupied West Bank but lost power in Gaza following a struggle with Hamas in 2007. A senior Hamas official said the move had to be followed by a broader agreement on governance for the Palestinians. So far, almost 30,000 Palestinians have been killed in the Gaza fighting, according to Palestinian health authorities, and almost the entire population has been driven from their homes.

Persons: Mohammad Shtayyeh, Mahmoud Abbas, Abbas, Fatah, Sami Abu Zuhri Organizations: Palestinian, United Nations Relief, Works Agency for Palestine Refugees, West Bank, Hamas, Gaza . Palestinian, Palestinian Authority, Reuters Locations: Ramallah, Israel, Gaza ., Gaza, Palestine, Oslo, Moscow

☆ Israel Presents Video Allegedly Showing UN Aid Worker Taking Body of Israeli on Oct. 7
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-17 | by ( Feb. | At P.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +3 min

JERUSALEM (Reuters) - A video made public by Israeli officials allegedly shows a U.N. relief worker loading the limp body of a shot Israeli man into the back of an SUV and driving away from a southern Israeli village during Hamas' Oct. 7 cross-border attack. Jonathan Fowler, an UNRWA spokesperson, said in response to the video: "It is not possible for UNRWA to verify the footage or photographs and ascertain who the person is. In the CCTV footage, a white SUV drives into Kibbutz Be'eri, one of the communities hardest hit on Oct. 7. A screen shot of the video was posted on X by an Israeli military spokesperson and a clip of it was posted by a Foreign Ministry official. Reuters did not and could not independently verify the identities of the men in the video.

Persons: Faisal Ali Mussalem Al Naami, Jonathan Fowler, Kibbutz, Yoav Gallant, Ari Rabinovitch, Nidal, Giles Elgood Organizations: Washington Post, United Nations Relief Works Agency, UNRWA, UN, Be'eri, Foreign Ministry, Reuters, Israeli Locations: JERUSALEM, Gaza, Israel, Kibbutz Be'eri

☆ Biden and Jordanian king look to move Israel-Hamas war to a new phase
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-12 | by ( Michael Williams | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +7 min

Washington CNN —President Joe Biden and King Abdullah II of Jordan met Monday aiming to figure out how to move the Israel-Hamas war into a new phase in which Israeli hostages are released and fighting stops for a prolonged period of time. “The key elements of the deal are on the table,” Biden said while addressing reporters alongside the king at the White House. “We cannot stand by and let this continue,” the Jordanian king told reporters. The president’s supporters have frequently pointed to the Israel-Hamas war as evidence of Biden’s mental faculties being in good shape. The Jordanian and Egyptian governments have called for a ceasefire in Gaza, while Biden has resisted making a similar call.

Persons: Joe Biden, King Abdullah II, Jordan, ” Biden, I’ve, “, Biden, Abdullah, ”, ” Abdullah, Robert Hur’s, Biden’s amped, King Abdullah, Kamala Harris, Hur, ” Harris, Daniel Goldman, Benjamin Netanyahu, Netanyahu, Antony Blinken, Blinken, CNN’s MJ Lee, Priscilla Alvarez, Betsy Klein, Kevin Liptak Organizations: Washington CNN, White, United Nations Relief, Works Agency for Palestine Refugees, United Nations, Wing, Biden, Democratic, Hamas, Palestinian Authority, Ahli Baptist Hospital, Israeli, US, CNN Locations: Israel, United States, Gaza, Rafah, Jordanian, “, New York, Jordan, Egypt, Amman, Gaza’s Al, Ahli, Iran

☆ UN Agency Says Aid Shipment Blocked in Israeli Port
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-11 | by ( Feb. | At A.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +2 min

JERUSALEM (Reuters) - The main United Nations agency providing aid to Palestinians in Gaza is facing growing administrative hurdles from Israel, with a shipment amounting to a month's supply of food blocked in port, the agency's chief said. UNRWA has dismissed staff accused of involvement in the attack and launched an investigation. He said UNRWA had been informed by a contractor that provided handling services in the port of Ashdod that it could no longer continue working with UNRWA, following instructions from the Israeli authorities. Last week, Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich announced on social media platform X that Israel was cancelling tax breaks previously offered to UNRWA. The decision was not formally communicated to the agency which only learned about it when the statement appeared on the platform, Lazzarini said.

Persons: Israel, Philippe Lazzarini, Lazzarini, Bezalel Smotrich, James Mackenzie, Steve Scheer Organizations: United Nations, United Nations Relief, Works Agency for Palestinian Refugees, UNRWA, Israel, West Bank Locations: JERUSALEM, Gaza, Israel, East, Ashdod, Turkey, East Jerusalem, Lebanon, Jordan, Syria

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