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Aid convoy trucks waiting at the Rafah border crossing to enter Gaza from Egypt on Thursday. As Gaza grapples with an escalating humanitarian crisis, the prospect of getting aid through the closed Rafah border crossing with Egypt has taken on particular urgency. Hopes are high that the aid trucks would be able to cross into Gaza on Friday, according to European Union officials coordinating aid from the bloc. The American, U.N. and Egyptian officials are discussing who would carry out those cargo inspections, a person directly familiar with the matter said, requesting anonymity to speak about the delicate negotiations. “All of Gaza is waiting for the aid,” Wael Abu Omar, the spokesman for Hamas’s interior ministry, said Thursday.

Persons: Biden, Israel, ”, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, “, António Guterres, Martin Griffiths, Samar Abu Elouf, Wael Abu Omar, Israel readies, Abood, Okal, ” Iyad Abuheweila, Yazbek Organizations: Diplomats, European Union, World Health Organization, International Committee, The New York Times, Palestinian Locations: Rafah, Gaza, Egypt, Israel, Arish, Palestine, Cairo, U.S, Samar, E.U, Palestinian American, Jerusalem

☆ Biden's pick for Israel envoy faces tough questions from senators on Iran
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-19 | by ( Chelsey Cox | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

WASHINGTON — Jacob Lew, President Joe Biden's nominee for ambassador to Israel, defended his handling of Iran policy in the Obama administration on Wednesday at his Senate confirmation hearing. "This whole thing is about Iran," said Sen. James Risch, R-Idaho, ranking member of the Foreign Relations Committee. As Treasury secretary under former President Barack Obama, Lew played a key role in formulating the 2015 Iran nuclear deal. Several Republicans suggested that Lew had effectively opened the door to grant Iran access to the mainstream banking system. If he were confirmed, Lew said, he would uphold Biden's commitment to deny Iran a nuclear weapon.

Persons: Jack Lew, WASHINGTON — Jacob Lew, Joe Biden's, Obama, Sen, James Risch, Barack Obama, Lew, Donald Trump Organizations: U.S, Treasury, Foreign, Capitol, D.C, Foreign Relations, Republicans, Democratic, CNBC Locations: Israel, Capitol Hill, Washington, Iran, Idaho, U.S

☆ China Ready to Liaise With Russia on Mid-East Crisis - Chinese State Media
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-19 | by ( Oct. | At P.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: 1 min

BEIJING (Reuters) - China is ready to maintain communication and coordination with Russia to cool down the Israel-Palestinian crisis, its Middle East special envoy said after meeting with his Russian counterpart this week, Chinese state media reported. China and Russia share the same position on the Palestinian issue, Zhai Jun said after meeting with Russia's special representative for Middle East and African countries in Doha, Qatar on Thursday. He said China is saddened by the humanitarian crisis, and is ready to play a "positive role in the resumption of Palestinian-Israeli peace talks", as well as the "genuine implementation" of the two-state solution, state media said. (Reporting by Liz Lee and Shanghai newsroom; Editing by Muralikumar Anantharaman)

Persons: Zhai Jun, Liz Lee, Muralikumar Anantharaman Organizations: Middle Locations: BEIJING, China, Russia, Israel, Middle East, Doha, Qatar, Shanghai

☆ China's Xi, seeking end to Israel-Hamas conflict, calls for ceasefire and two-state solution
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-19 | by ( Nectar Gan | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

CNN —A two-state solution to establish an independent Palestine is the “fundamental way out” of the Israel-Hamas conflict, Xi Jinping said Thursday in the Chinese leader’s first public comments on the war since it broke out nearly two weeks ago. Xi also praised Egypt for playing an “important role” in cooling tensions, adding that China supports its efforts to let in humanitarian aid to Gaza, CCTV reported. Israel’s subsequent bombardment and siege of Gaza has killed some 3,500 Palestinians, including hundreds of children, according to local health authorities. Hours before Biden landed in Israel, Russia’s Vladimir Putin arrived in Beijing for the Belt and Road Forum. During their meeting, the two leaders discussed the conflict in the Middle East, which Putin said was a “common threat” that brought Russia and China closer together.

Persons: Xi Jinping, ” Xi, Mostafa Madbouly, Xi, Joe Biden, Abdel Fattah el, Biden, Russia’s Vladimir Putin, Putin, Israel –, Wang Yi, Zhai Jun Organizations: CNN, Egyptian, US, Israel, World Health Organization, Hamas, Biden, Chinese Foreign Ministry, Middle East Locations: Palestine, Israel, Beijing, China, Egypt, Gaza, Rafah, American, Russia, Europe, Ukraine

☆ 'Deep and dangerous abyss': UN envoy warns Middle East is on the brink
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-19 | by ( Lee Ying Shan | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

People inspect the remains of a destroyed building following Israeli bombardment in Khan Yunis in the southern of Gaza Strip on October 18, 2023. The escalating conflict between Israel and Palestinian militants Hamas is pushing the Middle East region into the precipice of a "dangerous abyss," with the risk of the conflict conflagrating, the United Nations' Middle East envoy warned. Tor Wennesland, the UN's Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process, fears that "the world is at the brink of a deep and dangerous abyss that could change the trajectory of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict." On Oct. 7, Hamas militants launched a multi-pronged attack by land, sea and air and infiltrated Israel, killing more than 1,000 people and abducting 200 people, including babies and the elderly. In response, Israel retaliated with airstrikes into the Gaza Strip, the Palestinian enclave ruled by Hamas.

Persons: Khan Yunis, Tor Wennesland, Israel Organizations: United Nations, . Security Locations: Khan, Gaza, Israel, Hamas

China is ramping up its diplomatic efforts in the Israel-Hamas conflict, with President Xi Jinping issuing his first public comments on the war and calling for a cease-fire. These increased diplomatic efforts show that China is seeking a quick end to the conflict, which started Oct. 7 after Hamas launched a brutal surprise attack on Israel, killing more than 1,400 people. Cartoons on Ukraine and Russia View All 104 Images"It's a very cost-effective strategy in the Middle East. China has vested economic interests in the Middle East given its oil imports from the region. The efforts also highlights ongoing attempts from China to be seen more broadly as a peacemaker and a prominent influence among international groups and developing countries.

Persons: Xi Jinping, Mostafa Madbouly, Xi “, Xi, Zhai Jun, it’s, Mor, Axios, Sobol, Antonio Guterres, ” Organizations: Egyptian, Chinese Foreign, Chinese Foreign Ministry, Hamas, Tamkang University, U.S, United Nations Locations: China, Israel, Beijing, State, Palestine, Egypt, Gaza, Taiwan, Ukraine, Russia

But even EU countries clashed over how ambitious to be - and their ministers were locked in talks into the evening on Monday. The faultlines tended to fall between wealthier EU members seeking rapid climate action, and poorer economies concerned about the cost of quitting fossil fuels. Another submission, by Saudi Arabia, did not explicitly mention a fossil fuel phase-out. 'NOT VERY HOPEFUL'The resistance shows how hard it will be to strike an ambitious climate deal at COP28. "I am not very hopeful," Carlos Fuller, U.N. climate negotiator for Belize, said of the fossil fuels phase-out - which Belize supports.

Persons: Wolfgang Rattay, Carlos Fuller, COP28, Jennifer Morgan, Natalie Jones, Kate Abnett, Glwadys Fouche, Katy Daigle, Barbara Lewis Organizations: REUTERS, Rights, Diplomats, Reuters, African Group, International Institute for Sustainable Development, Thomson Locations: Niederaussem, Germany, Rights BRUSSELS, Poland, Czech Republic, COP28, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Belize, COP27, China, Japan, United States, Colombia, Norway, U.N, Paris, Oslo

☆ US decision to send long-range missiles to Kyiv a grave mistake - Russia's envoy
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-18 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Armoured vehicles move during "Noble Blueprint 2023" military exercise at Novo Selo military grounds, Bulgaria, September 26, 2023. Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskiy also confirmed his forces used the ATACMS after his military reported on Tuesday striking two air bases in Ukrainian territory now controlled by Russia. Ukraine had repeatedly asked the U.S. administration for the ATACMS and pledged not to use inside Russia's territory. The Kremlin has said U.S. supplies of ATACMS missiles and Abrams tanks to Ukraine would not change the situation on the battlefield. Reporting by Lidia Kelly in Melbourne; Editing by Christopher Cushing and Lincoln FeastOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Anatoly Antonov, Volodymyr Zelenskiy, Antonov, Lidia Kelly, Christopher Cushing Organizations: NATO, Army Tactical Missile Systems, White House, Ukrainian Special Forces, Thomson Locations: Novo Selo, Bulgaria, Greece, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Turkey, Albania, U.S, Ukraine, ATACMS, Russia, Luhansk, Ukraine's, Berdiansk, Azov, Washington, United States, Melbourne, Lincoln

The vote follows the council’s rejection Monday evening of a Russian-drafted resolution that condemned violence and terrorism against civilians and called for a “humanitarian cease-fire” but made no mention of Hamas. One calls for a “humanitarian cease-fire.” The other would condemn indiscriminate attacks on civilians and assaults on “civilian objects” in Gaza like hospitals and schools that deprive people of the means to survive. To be adopted, a resolution needs at least nine of the 15 council members to vote “yes” and no veto by a permanent member. The council vote was taking place amid frantic diplomatic efforts to prevent the Israeli-Hamas conflict from spreading. The five permanent Security Council nations are also invited, he said.

Persons: “, ”, Rosemary DiCarlo, Tor Wennesland, Islamic Jihad, Joe Biden, Benjamin Netanyahu, Mahmoud Abbas, Biden, Abdel Fattah el, King Abdullah II of Jordan, U.N, Osama Mahmoud, Antonio Guterres, Mahmoud Organizations: UNITED NATIONS, . Security, Hamas, United Arab, Islamic, Arab, United Nations, Security Council Locations: Israel, Gaza, Brazil, Russian, Russia, United Arab Emirates, China, U.N, Palestinian, Ukraine, United States, Britain, France, U.S, Cairo

☆ UN Security Council to vote Wednesday on Israel-Gaza conflict
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-17 | by ( Michelle Nichols | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

[1/2] A view shows houses and buildings destroyed in Israeli strikes, in Jabalia in the northern Gaza Strip, October 11, 2023. REUTERS/Anas al-Shareef Acquire Licensing RightsUNITED NATIONS, Oct 17 (Reuters) - The United Nations Security Council will now vote on Wednesday on a Brazilian-drafted resolution that calls for humanitarian pauses in the conflict between Israel and Palestinian militants Hamas to allow humanitarian aid access to the Gaza Strip. The 15-member council had initially been due to vote Monday on the Brazilian draft, but it was postponed 24 hours to allow more time to negotiate. It was unclear if the United States, a veto-power who traditionally shields its ally Israel from any Security Council action, would allow the resolution to pass. Instead of calling for a ceasefire, it calls for humanitarian pauses in the conflict to allow aid access to Gaza.

Persons: Anas, Riyad Mansour, Israel's U.N, Gilad Erdan, Joe Biden, Israel, Michelle Nichols, Kanishka Singh, Lisa Shumaker Organizations: REUTERS, UNITED NATIONS, United Nations Security Council, Hamas, United Arab, Islamic Jihad, Jihad, Israel, Thomson Locations: Jabalia, Gaza, Israel, United Arab Emirates, Russia, Palestinian, United States, Israel's

☆ Gaza: Desperately needed aid piles up as WHO warns water is running out
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-17 | by ( Jessie Yeung | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +23 min

Dor Kedmi/AP Fire and smoke rise above buildings in Gaza City during an Israeli air strike on October 13. Tamir Kalifa/The New York Times/Redux Palestinians walk amid the rubble following Israeli airstrikes in Gaza City on October 10. Erik Marmor/AP Six-month-old Sama Alwadia is rescued from the rubble in Gaza City on October 9. Ramez Mahmoud/AP A plume of smoke rises in the sky over Gaza City during an Israeli airstrike on October 9. Ibraheem Abu Mustafa/Reuters Palestinian citizens inspect damage to their homes caused by Israeli airstrikes in Gaza City on October 8.

Persons: Joe Biden, Antony Blinken, Blinken, Israel “, Margaret Harris, ” Harris, ”, Martin Griffiths, Haifa Kaoud, Hesham, Khan, Fatima Shbair, Shir Torem, Wahaj Bani Moufleh, Mohammed Abed, Abir, Hatem Ali, Antonio Macías, Macías, Francisco Seco, Mohammed Saber, Eli Albag, Liri, Mohammed Talatene, Sergey Ponomarev, Violeta Santos Moura, Dor Kedmi, Mahmud Hams, Saher, Hatem Moussa, Abraham Cohen, Valentin Ghnassia, Ghnassia, Alexi J . Rosenfeld, Yuri Cortez, Yousef Masoud, Ibrahim Hams, Bashar Taleb, Baz Ratner, Jack Guez, Abed Rahim Khatib, Yahya Hassouna, Mapal Adam, Abed Zagout, Tamir Kalifa, Agha, Ibraheem Abu Mustafa, Reuters Itzik, Miriam Shafir, Dor Shafir, Savion Kiper, Maya Alleruzzo, Mohammed Salem, CNN Sergey Ponomarev, Eden Guez, Atef Safadi, Ohad, Mohammed Soboh, Said, Noam Elimeleh Rothenberg, Belal Khaled, Samar Abu, Amir Cohen, Ilai Bar Sade, Erik Marmor, Ali Jadallah, Oren Ziv, Ronen Zvulun, Majdi, Ilia Yefimovich, Ramez Mahmoud, Roi Levy, Alleruzzo, Tali Touito, Jalaa Marey, Oded, Khan Younis, Ahmad Hasballah, Mohammed Fayq Abu Mostafa, Tsafrir, Ahmad Gharabli, Mustafa Hassona, Ilan Rosenberg, Eyad Baba, Itai Ron, Hadas Parush, Mohammad Shtayyeh, Jonathan Conricus, “, Gilad Erdan, Erdan, Francesca Albanese, Albanese, Israel Organizations: CNN —, World Health Organization, United, MAXAR Technologies, Palestinian, CNN, Maxar Technologies, United Nations, WHO, UN Office, Humanitarian Affairs, Qahera, United Nations Relief, Works Agency, AP, West Bank, Getty, Aris Messinis, Haim, New York Times, Reuters, Mount, Mount Herzl Military, Nova, Anadolu Agency, Israel Defense Forces, Nova Festival, Ben Gurion, Shifa, Rockets, Israel's, Reuters Police, Reuters Rockets, UN, Council, WAFA, Palestinian Interior Ministry Locations: Gaza, Egypt, Israel, Rafah, United States, UN, Cairo, Haifa, Khan Younis, Cyprus, Nablus, West, Lebanon, AFP, Abir Sultan, Kfar Saba, Al, Gaza City, Tel Aviv, Israeli, Be'eri, Rehovot, Mount Herzl, Jerusalem, Kibbutz Be'eri, Sderot, Modiin Maccabim, Kfar Aza, Ashkelon, Mount Herzel, Samar, Samar Abu Elouf, Yassin, Palestinian, Beitar Ilit, Ramat Gan, Kiryat Shmona, Itai, Beit Hanun, Rishon Lezion, ” Haifa, United Kingdom, France

☆ How Joe Biden got on board with a wartime trip to Israel – and what he hopes to accomplish
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-17 | by ( Phil Mattingly Kevin Liptak Kayla Tausche Mj Lee Jennifer Hansler Alex Marquardt | Phil Mattingly | Kevin Liptak | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +9 min

CNN —It took an explicit commitment from his Israeli counterpart to open Gaza for humanitarian aid for President Joe Biden to agree to make an extraordinary wartime trip to Tel Aviv. He spent Monday deliberating over the trip at the White House with his top national security and intelligence advisers. Satterfield will be meeting with Israeli officials on Tuesday to start to figure out the specific contours of the plan. There remains a good amount of trepidation that despite the many, many hours Blinken was in consultation with Israeli officials and others, some things may not gel. In Amman, Biden will meet with Sisi, Jordan’s King Abdullah II and Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas.

Persons: Joe Biden, Benjamin Netanyahu, Biden, Netanyahu, they’re, John Kirby, ”, “ We’re, ” Kirby, Antony Blinken, Blinken, Israel “, David Satterfield, Satterfield, “, it’s, Abdel Fattah al, …, Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Sisi, Jordan’s King Abdullah II, Mahmoud Abbas, King Abdullah, Olaf Scholz Organizations: CNN, National Security, White, Israeli, Biden’s, Hamas, Saudi, Palestinian Locations: Gaza, Tel Aviv, Israel, United States, ”, Middle East, Jerusalem, Egypt, Blinken, Cairo, Egyptian, Colorado, Amman, Jordan, Berlin

☆ Finnish Nobel Peace laureate and former president Ahtisaari dies at 86
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-16 | by ( Anne Kauranen | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

[1/2] Nobel Peace Prize laureate Martti Ahtisaari poses with his medal and diploma during the Nobel Peace Prize award ceremony in Oslo December 10, 2008. REUTERS/Ints Kalnins/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsHELSINKI, Oct 16 (Reuters) - Nobel Peace laureate Martti Ahtisaari, who served as Finland's 10th president between 1994 and 2000, died on Monday at the age of 86, the Finnish president's office said in a statement. Ahtisaari was celebrated around the world for brokering peace in conflict zones in Kosovo, Indonesia and Northern Ireland. All conflicts can be settled, and there are no excuses for allowing them to become eternal," Ahtisaari said when he accepted the Nobel award in 2008. Several months afterwards, the Nobel committee gave him the peace prize, citing work on multiple continents over more than three decades.

Persons: Martti Ahtisaari, Ints, Ahtisaari, Mara, Martti, Finland's, Slobodan Milosevic, Eeva, Marko, Anne Kauranen, Ritsuko Ando, Sonya Hepinstall, Alex Richardson, Nick Macfie Organizations: REUTERS, Rights, Soviet, Social Democrats, Finland's European Union, NATO, Finland's Ministry, Foreign Affairs, EU, Yugoslav, Crisis Management, Free Aceh Movement, Nokia, Thomson Locations: Oslo, Rights HELSINKI, Finnish, Kosovo, Indonesia, Northern Ireland, Finland, Soviet Union, Ukraine, Viipuri, Russia, Pakistan, Tanzania, Namibia, South Africa, Aceh, Balkans

☆ Qatar to return three Ukrainian children from Russia after repatriation talks
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-16 | by ( Andrew Mills | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

Qatar on Friday facilitated the return of another Ukrainian child, aged 7, who was reunited with his grandmother and is en route to Ukraine via Estonia, the official said. Kyiv has identified 20,000 children as taken to Russia or Russian-held territory without the consent of family or guardians. It is not clear how many additional children Russia will authorize to return to Ukraine via the Qatari mechanism after the first four, the official said. The first four children "were the first ones verified and (Russia and Ukraine) agreed they found their parents," the official said. "Both Ukrainian and Russian officials have been cooperative," the Qatari official said, adding that Ukraine approached the Gulf Arab state to mediate with Russia over the children.

Persons: Maria Lvova, Lolwah Al Khater, Vladimir Putin, Vassily Nebenzia, Andrew Mills, Sandra Maler Organizations: Children's Rights, Qatari, Reuters, Monday, Qatar, Russia's, United Nations, Criminal Court, ICC, Thomson Locations: Qatar, Russia, Ukraine, DOHA, Moscow, Estonia, Russian, Kyiv, Latvia, Belarus, Gulf, Iran, Israel, Gaza, New York

☆ Iran says 'preemptive action' by resistance front expected in coming hours
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-16 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

Oct 16 (Reuters) - Iran's top envoy said that a "preemptive action" could be expected in the coming hours, state TV reported on Monday, adding that Israel will not be allowed to take any action in the Gaza Strip without facing consequences. "Leaders of the Resistance will not allow the Zionist regime to take any action in Gaza. "The resistance front is capable of waging a long-term war with the enemy (Israel)... in the coming hours, we can expect a preemptive action by the resistance front," he said, without elaborating. Earlier on Monday, Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi said that while Tehran supported the Palestinian cause, the resistance front against Israel made its own independent decisions. Writing by Parisa Hafezi; Editing by Leslie Adler and David GregorioOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Hossein Amirabdollahian, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Ebrahim Raisi, Israel, Parisa Hafezi, Leslie Adler, David Gregorio Our Organizations: Thomson Locations: Israel, Gaza, Tehran, Hamas, Islamic Republic

☆ Analysis: US is mounting a frantic effort to head off a wider Middle East war
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-16 | by ( Stephen Collinson | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +12 min

CNN —US leaders are mounting an urgent effort to prevent Israel’s war against Hamas and a resulting civilian catastrophe in Gaza from escalating into a widening regional conflict that could snowball into an even greater geopolitical crisis after this month’s horrific attacks. If we look at the issue of water – we all know water is life – Gaza is running out of water, and Gaza is running out of life,” Lazzarini said. Hamas has urged civilians to ignore Israeli warnings to evacuate the northern part of Gaza. Back in Washington, the administration is expected to offer a full classified briefing on the situation to senators Wednesday. “Whether it is 24 hours, 48 hours, whether it is by next week, the fact is, it’s coming,” he said.

Persons: Joe Biden, “, Biden, Antony, Jake Sullivan, ” Sullivan, ”, Philippe Lazzarini, Gazans, ” Lazzarini, Israel, he’d, Benjamin Netanyahu, Blinken, we’ve, Sullivan, CNN’s Jake Tapper, David Satterfield, Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Netanyahu, it’s, ” Biden, Chuck Schumer, Republican Sen, Mitt Romney, Utah –, Aaron David Miller Organizations: CNN, Hamas, Antony Blinken’s, Administration, Union, CBS, United Nations Relief, Works Agency, United Arab, State Department, West Bank, United Nations, ISIS, ”, Israel, Representatives, Republican, New York Democrat, Tel, Veteran US Locations: Gaza, Israel, Palestinian, Egypt, United States, Washington, Saudi Arabia, “ State, Iran, Blinken, United Arab Emirates, Jordan, Bahrain, Cairo, Rafah, Turkey, Lebanese, Lebanon, Islamic Republic, Iraq, Syria, Saudi, Ukraine, America, Tel Aviv, Utah, East

☆ Israel-Hamas war: Diplomatic aid efforts ramp up for 'strangled' Gaza as regional conflict fears grow
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-16 | by ( Helen Regan Kareem El Damanhoury Eyad Kourdi Abeer Salman Abbaggini | Helen Regan | Kareem El Damanhoury | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +10 min

“We all know water is life – Gaza is running out of water, and Gaza is running out of life. People walk amid the destruction of houses and streets in Khan Younis, located in the southern Gaza Strip. Meanwhile, Hamas is believed to be holding some 150 Israeli and foreign nationals hostage in the warren of tunnels underneath Gaza. It is also unclear if water is now flowing into southern Gaza. Israeli soldiers gather on and around a tank near Israel's border with the Gaza Strip, in southern Israel on October 15.

Persons: ”, ’, Joe Biden, Philippe Lazzarini, ” Lazzarini, “, Marwan Jilani, Khan Younis, Mohamed Zaanoun, Dominic Allen, ” UNRWA’s Lazzarini, Isaac Herzog, Antonio Guterres, Pope Francis, Ravina Shamdasani, doesn’t, ” Shamdasani, Herzog, Antony Blinken, Benjamin, Netanyahu, Sunday Blinken, China’s, Wang Yi, Israel, Zhai Jun, Jacquelyn Martin, Jordan, United States Michael Herzog, Stéphane Dujarric, Jonathan Conricus, Emmanuel Macron “, Ebrahim Raisi, Warthogs, Ronen Zvulun, Jake Sullivan, ” Sullivan Organizations: Jerusalem CNN, Israel’s, UN, Israel Defense Forces, United Nations Relief, Works Agency, “, CNN, Crescent, Getty, Population Fund, Sunday, Palestinian Health Ministry, UN Human Rights, Reuters, CNN Israel, CNN Sunday, Water Authority, East Sunday, CBS Sunday, US National Locations: Gaza, Jerusalem, Israel, Rafah, Egypt, Khan, Guterres, Cairo, Jordan, nonfunctional, United States, Israeli, Iran, Syria, Israel’s, Lebanon

☆ Xi and Putin to reunite in China as divisions with the West sharpen
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-16 | by ( Simone Mccarthy | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +8 min

Putin and Xi, who frequently refer to their close friendship, have met 40 times in the past decade, including twice since the start of the war in Ukraine. “And for China, having an important international player like Putin to join the BRI summit is also politically important,” he added. Chinese leader Xi Jinping inspects the honor guard at the Moscow Vnukovo Airport on March 20, 2023. Last year, Russia and China saw record trade, which continued to grow in 2023. Xi and Putin are expected to discuss the conflict in their upcoming meeting – where Russia’s war in Ukraine will also likely feature.

Persons: Vladimir Putin, Xi Jinping, Ukraine –, ’, Xi, Putin, “, ”, Li Mingjiang, Xie Huanchi, “ China, Alex Gabuev, it’s, Xu Wei, Joe Biden, Wang Yi, Israel –, Li, don’t Organizations: Beijing CNN —, Hamas, Palestinian, Forum, West, Singapore’s Nanyang Technological University, Moscow Vnukovo Airport, Getty, Carnegie Russia Eurasia Center, ’, Xinhua, United Nations Security, UN, Israel, Ukraine Locations: China, Beijing, United States, Ukraine, Moscow, Russian, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, Xinhua, Europe, Berlin, East, Israel, Gaza, Leningrad, Singapore

☆ Gaza Border Crossing Set to Reopen as Israeli Troops Prepare Ground Assault
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-15 | by ( Oct. | At P.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +7 min

NBC News, citing a Palestinian official, reported the Rafah border crossing would open at 9 a.m. on Monday. U.S. government officials say they are mobilizing to help alleviate the humanitarian crisis in Gaza, anticipating a brutal ground offensive. Washington is also focused on avoiding a spillover of the conflict, especially with clashes with Lebanon escalating on Israel's border. Israel's military, which has massed tanks on Gaza's border in preparation for a ground offensive, says it is targeting Hamas and its infrastructure in response. Israeli military chief Lieutenant General Herzi Halevi told soldiers near the Gaza border they would be entering Gaza to root out Hamas, targeting "every place, every commander, every operator."

Persons: Humeyra Pamuk, Nandita Bose, Nidal, Antony Blinken, Abdel Fattah al, Blinken, David Satterfield, Gazans, Joe Biden, Hossein Amirabdollahian, Bejamin Netanyahu, Israel's, General Herzi Halevi, Halevi, Netanyahu, Biden, Philippe Lazzarini, Hatem Maher, Ahmed Tolba, Omar Abdel, Rami Ayyub, Katharine Jackson, Ari Rabinovitch, Dan Williams, Henriette Chacar, Dedi, Maayan Lubell, Emily Rose, James Mackenzie, John Davison, Parisa, Michelle Nichols, Simon Lewis, Lisa Shumaker Organizations: Mughrabi, Gaza, United Nations, Veteran U.S, NBC, Palestinian, ABC News, Reuters, Authorities, United, State Department, Saturday, Palestinian Red Crescent Society, UN, UNRWA Locations: Mughrabi CAIRO, WASHINGTON, GAZA, Gaza, Israel, Rafah, Egypt, Middle East, U.S, Washington, Lebanon, Iran, Tehran, United States, France, Canada, Hamas, Al, Quds, Razek, Cairo, Jerusalem, Dubai

CAIRO (AP) — U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken will return to Israel this week after completing a frantic six-country rush through Arab nations aimed at preventing the Israel-Hamas war from igniting a broader regional conflict. It was the last of Blinken's meetings with Arab leaders amid increasing fears that an impending Israeli ground offensive into Gaza could spark a wider war with devastating humanitarian consequences. In his talks with Arab leaders Blinken has stressed the importance of not allowing that to happen. The Arab leaders have also said the current situation cannot be resolved without an Israeli-Palestinian peace deal that gives the Palestinians an independent state. After the attacks, Blinken changed his plans so he could get to Israel quickly to show solidarity.

Persons: Antony Blinken, Israel —, Abdel Fattah al, Matthew Miller, ” Miller, Blinken, Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Wang Yi, Joe Biden, Benjamin Netanyahu, Mahmoud Abbas, Israel, Prince Mohammed, “, ” Organizations: —, U.S . State Department, Saudi Crown, United Arab, Palestinian Authority, Foreign, U.S ., Saturday, Hezbollah, Israeli, Saudi, State Department, Saudi Press Agency Locations: CAIRO, Israel, Cairo, Gaza, Tel Aviv, Egypt, Riyadh, United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Qatar, Jordan, Iran, Syria, States, Saudi, Saudi Arabia

Then came the Hamas attack against Israel, which has made Netanyahu’s late October trip uncertain and put Beijing's Middle East approach to the test. China’s stated neutrality on the war has upset Israel, but Beijing may gain in the long run by forging closer ties with Arab countries, experts said. “For a while at least, Beijing’s Middle East policy is paralyzed by the war,” said Shi Yinhong, professor of international relations at Beijing-based Renmin University of China. “China’s engagement in the Middle East is set to increase during this conflict. Because we need to be the bridge.”But China's proposals to end the war have been seen as benefiting Russia.

Persons: Xi Jinping, Benjamin Netanyahu, China’s, Israel, ”, Shi Yinhong, hasn't, Zhai Jun, Zhai, ” Wang Yi, ” Wang, Antony Blinken, Wang, Maria Papageorgiou, Mohammad Eslami, “, Tuvia, ” Gering, Wang Yiwei, Dale Aluf, China's, Aluf, Yaqiu Wang, Ken Moritsugu, Wanqing Chen, Matthew Lee Organizations: WASHINGTON, —, Renmin University of China, State Department, Hezbollah, University of Exeter, University Minho, Israel, China Policy Center, Institute for National Security, Kremlin, Renmin University, Israel Global Network, Freedom, Associated Press, AP Locations: Beijing, China, Israel, U.S, Iran, Tel Aviv, Palestine, Ukraine, Xinjiang, Xi, Saudi Arabia, United States, Russia, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Communist, Riyadh

☆ Opinion: Where the war goes from here
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-15 | by ( Richard Galant | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +19 min

We’re looking back at the strongest, smartest opinion takes of the week from CNN and other outlets. The war plays out on everyone’s screens, forcing people to confront cruelty and killing and to fear what comes next. “Hamas’ mission is, by definition, to end Israel, not to seek to establish a self-governed Palestinian state that peacefully coexists alongside the Jewish state. “An Israeli normalization deal with Saudi Arabia — the location of the two holiest sites in Islam — would be hugely symbolic and have real security benefits for Israel,” wrote Peter Bergen. “After all, almost exactly half a century ago, during the 1973 Yom Kippur War, two Arab states, Egypt and Syria, attacked Israel.

Persons: CNN —, ”, Jonathan Glover, Frida Ghitis, “, Ghitis, Amy Klein, goer Gal Katz, Gal Katz, that’s, ’ ” Katz, ” “, Yulie Ben Ami, ” Ben Ami, Stephanie Griffith, ’, … ”, Israel, Janine Zacharia, Benjamin Netanyahu’s, Ilan Troen's, Deborah, Shlomi Mathias, Ilan Troen S, Ilan Troen, Symon Petliura’s banditim, Troen, Deborah Mathias, Yahya Hassouna, Omar Ghraieb, Carrie Cordero, ” Cordero, Islam —, Peter Bergen, Jason Greenblatt, Trump, Fatah, Rachel Fish, ’ ” Fish, Kara Alaimo, McCarthy Drew Sheneman, Kevin McCarthy, Steve Scalise, Jim Jordan, Julian Zelizer, Jordan, John Boehner, James Antle III, McCarthy’s gavel, John Avlon, Clay Jones, Sallie Krawcheck, Sado, Robert F, Kennedy Jr, Joe Biden, “ Kennedy, ” Bergen, Kennedy, Jack Ohman, Jill Filipovic, Gavin Newsom’s, Sarah Gundle, Bob Saget’s, isn’t, Sara Stewart, Julia Ormond’s, Keldy Ortiz, Dr, Lara Freidenfelds, … Simone Biles Simone Biles, Yves Herman, Simone Biles, Amy Bass, ” Bass, “ Biles, Biles Organizations: CNN, Hamas, Ben, Gurion University, Brandeis University, Getty, “ Hamas, Foreign Intelligence, Israel, Twitter, Palestinian Authority, West Bank, Harvard University, Higher, Republicans, House Republicans, GOP, Federal Reserve, RFK Jr, Democratic, White, Republican, Biden, Trump, Democrat, Agency Locations: British, Rwanda, Bosnia, Israel, Gaza, New York, America, “, Kippur, Kibbutz Holit, Derazhne, Rovno, Rivne, Poland, Ukraine, Europe, Gaza City, AFP, Palestinian, Saudi Arabia, Israeli, Islam, Egypt, Syria, Iran, Victoria Sado, Antwerp, Tokyo, Belgium

NBC News, citing a Palestinian official, reported the Rafah border crossing would open at 9 a.m. on Monday. Washington is also focused on avoiding a spillover of the conflict, especially with clashes with Lebanon escalating on Israel's border. [1/5]Smoke rises in the air following Israeli bombings in Gaza, as seen from Israel's border with the Gaza Strip, in southern Israel October 15, 2023. Israel's military, which has massed tanks on Gaza's border in preparation for a ground offensive, says it is targeting Hamas and its infrastructure in response. Israeli military chief Lieutenant General Herzi Halevi told soldiers near the Gaza border they would be entering Gaza to root out Hamas, targeting "every place, every commander, every operator."

Persons: Antony Blinken, Abdel Fattah al, Blinken, David Satterfield, Gazans, Joe Biden, Hossein Amirabdollahian, Amir Cohen, Bejamin Netanyahu, Israel's, General Herzi Halevi, Halevi, Netanyahu, Biden, Philippe Lazzarini, Humeyra Pamuk, Hatem Maher, Ahmed Tolba, Omar Abdel, Nandita Bose, Rami Ayyub, Katharine Jackson, Nidal, Ari Rabinovitch, Dan Williams, Henriette Chacar, Dedi, Maayan Lubell, Emily Rose, James Mackenzie, John Davison, Parisa, Michelle Nichols, Simon Lewis, Lisa Shumaker Organizations: Gaza, United Nations, Veteran U.S, NBC, Palestinian, ABC News, Reuters, Authorities, REUTERS, United, State Department, Saturday, Palestinian Red Crescent Society, UN, UNRWA, Thomson Locations: Rafah, Gaza, Israel, Gaza CAIRO, WASHINGTON, GAZA, Egypt, Middle East, U.S, Washington, Lebanon, Iran, Tehran, United States, France, Canada, Hamas, Al, Quds, Razek, Cairo, Jerusalem, Dubai

Israel said it has already struck dozens of military targets, including command centers and rocket launchers, and also killed Hamas commanders. The Israeli military also reported shooting at one of its border posts. Gaza was already in a humanitarian crisis due to a growing shortage of water and medical supplies caused by the Israeli siege. Israel’s minister of energy and water, Israel Katz, said in a statement that water had been restored at one “specific point” in Gaza. Hamas urged people to stay in their homes, and the Israeli military released photos it said showed a Hamas roadblock preventing traffic from moving south.

Persons: KHAN YOUNIS, Israel, It's, Juliette Touma, ’, Antony Blinken, Joe Biden, Biden, Reuters videographer Issam Abdallah, David Satterfield, Jake Sullivan, Khan Younis, Mohammed Qandeel, ”, Hussam Abu Safiya, Kamal Adwan, ” Ahmed Al, Philippe Lazzarini, Sullivan, Israel Katz, Daniel Hagari, ___ Kullab, Nessman, Julia Frankel, Amy Teibel, Abby Sewell, Samy Magdy Organizations: Gaza Health Ministry, United Nations, U.S . State Department, Israel, Gaza, National News Agency, Reuters, Nasser Hospital, Kamal, World Health Organization, CNN, Hamas, Associated Press Locations: Gaza, Israel, U.S, Egypt, Syria, United, Lebanon, Israeli, Kfar Kila, Lebanese, Shtula, Turkey, Middle East, Hospitals, Khan, “, Gaza City, Rafah, Baghdad, Jerusalem, Beirut, Cairo

☆ U.S. Will Send Humanitarian Envoy to Middle East
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-15 | by ( ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

The U.S. will send a senior diplomat to the Middle East to work on humanitarian issues amid Israel’s fight with Gaza, Secretary of State Antony Blinken said. David Satterfield, a former U.S. ambassador to Turkey, is expected to arrive in Israel as soon as Monday, Blinken said in Cairo after meeting with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah Al Sisi.

Persons: Antony Blinken, David Satterfield, Blinken, Abdel Fattah Al Sisi Organizations: U.S Locations: Gaza, U.S, Turkey, Israel, Cairo

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