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☆ With $20 Billion Weapons Deal, U.S. Aims to Help Israel and Deter Iran
▼ + stars: | 2024-08-23 | by ( Lara Jakes | Johnatan Reiss | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +6 min

Top NewsFor months, the Biden administration waited to formally approve $20 billion in future American weapons sales to Israel, including F-15s and medium-range missiles. Almost none of the arms — which also include tank ammunition, tactical vehicles and mortars — are expected to be delivered to Israel for several years at least. The White House has tried to contain domestic opposition to arms for Israel in Congress, while attempting to keep the war against Hamas from escalating into a wider regional conflict. “We will continue to do what is necessary to ensure Israel can defend itself in the face of these threats.”Image An Israeli F-15 in southern Israel last year. Here is a look at the arms sales that the Biden administration notified Congress on Aug. 13 that it has approved.

Persons: Biden, Antony J, Blinken, ”, “, Jack Guez, Benjamin Netanyahu, Israel, —, Bradley Bowman, Mr, Bowman, Israel “, Northrop Grumman, AMRAAMs Organizations: Department, Agence France, Getty, U.S . Army, Foundation of Defense of Democracies, Boeing Corp, Defense Security Cooperation Agency, Dynamics, Northrop, Street Journal, CNN, State Department, Tactical, Oshkosh Corp, General Dynamic Ordnance, U.S, AIM, RTX Corp Locations: Israel, Gaza, United States, Congress, Israeli, Washington, Iran, Ukraine, Russia

☆ Myanmar: Hundreds of fleeing Rohingya reportedly killed in drone strikes as fears mount of ethnic cleansing
▼ + stars: | 2024-08-12 | by ( Avery Schmitz | Helen Regan | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +9 min

CNN —Renewed fears of ethnic cleansing against the stateless Rohingya Muslim community are mounting after reports that hundreds of people, including women and children, were killed by drone strikes while fleeing violence in Myanmar’s western Rakhine state last week. Witnesses and Rohingya activists told CNN that a series of drone strikes on August 5 hit civilians fleeing fighting and violence in their villages in Maungdaw, northern Rakhine. The displaced families had been waiting to cross the river to Bangladesh at the time of the attack, they said. Forced recruitment of Rohingya men and boys is stoking religious tensions between the Rohingya Muslim and Rakhine Buddhist communities, the report said. “Ethnic Rohingya and Rakhine civilians are bearing the brunt of the atrocities that the Myanmar military and opposition Arakan Army are committing,” said Elaine Pearson, Asia director at Human Rights Watch.

Persons: Rohingya, “, ”, –, …, Orla Murphy, Hasan, Rehman Asad, Mohammad Elias, Elias, ” Elias, Elaine Pearson Organizations: CNN, Arakan Army, AA, Myanmar, United Nations, International Court of Justice, Free Rohingya Coalition, Resource Management, Sans, MSF, “, ” CNN, Bangladesh’s Border Guard Force, Human Rights, Human Rights Watch Locations: Rakhine, Myanmar, Bangladesh, Ma, Maungdaw, Myanmar’s, Muangdaw, Lwin, Rohingya, Cox’s Bazar, Ukhia, Cox's Bazar, “, Buthidaung, Arakan, Asia

Tokyo CNN —Israel will not be invited to this year’s peace ceremony commemorating the 1945 atomic bombing of Nagasaki to promote a “peaceful and somber atmosphere” at the August 9 event, the city’s mayor told local media Wednesday. Nagasaki’s mayor Shiro Suzuki told reporters Wednesday that Israel’s exclusion was due to security concerns and was not a political decision. Hiroshima’s annual peace ceremony is the larger of the two and representatives from 115 countries and the European Union are set to attend this year. Some local activists and peace advocates accused Hiroshima authorities of double standards for excluding Russia and Belarus but allowing Israel to take part. However, Russia and Belarus are exceptions due to the invasion of Ukraine,” a Hiroshima city government spokesperson told CNN last month.

Persons: Tokyo CNN —, Shiro Suzuki, “, ”, Gilad Cohen, Israel, Suzuki, don’t Organizations: Tokyo CNN, CNN, Hamas, European Union, Israel’s, Israel, Kyodo Locations: Tokyo CNN — Israel, Nagasaki, Hiroshima, Israel, Gaza, Japan, Russia, Belarus, Moscow, Ukraine, ”

☆ Read the Letter to Sullivan & Cromwell
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-30 | by ( ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +3 min

A Sullivan & Cromwell Committee? Sullivan & Cromwell should applaud students for exhibiting the courage and sense of justice required to protest Israel's merciless, industrial-scale killings, bombardments, and starvation of hundreds of thousands of totally vulnerable Palestinian infants, children, women, and men with no responsibility for October 7. Does Sullivan & Cromwell prefer lawyers with hearts of stone who subordinate justice to greater anticipated profits, certain demanding clients, and billable hours? Would any of their applications to join your firm Sullivan & Cromwell be rejected for protesting the mass slaughter and starvation of the civilian population in Gaza, most of them women and children? How does Sullivan & Cromwell answer the recent reflections of two surgeons in Gaza during its annihilation by the IDF with United States weapons?

Persons: Sullivan, Cromwell, Biden, Netanyahu, King George III, I've, Feroze Organizations: Cromwell, Hollywood, Sullivan, Foreign Assistance, Control, West Bank, New York Times, U.S, Congress, Independence, International Court of Justice, United Locations: Israel, United States, Gaza

☆ Khartoum: Women and girls subjected to widespread sexual violence by warring parties, HRW report finds
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-29 | by ( Christian Edwards | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

Of those, 18 had provided direct care to a total of 262 survivors of sexual violence, aged from 9 through 60. The RSF has also pillaged medical supplies, according to the report, and some fighters “have on occasion perpetrated acts of sexual violence” against healthcare providers. One healthcare provider recalled being told not to report instances of sexual violence to the UN. CNN has previously reported on the RSF’s campaign of killings, enslavement and sexual violence, conducted behind a curtain of secrecy. The report added that the UN Security Council should call on the warring parties to end sexual violence and impose targeted sanctions against the commanders and perpetrators responsible for the atrocities.

Persons: “, Women ”, , ”, Laetitia Bader, shivering –, ’, HRW Organizations: CNN, Rapid Support Forces, Human Rights Watch, Sudanese Armed Forces, SAF, United Nations, Women, HRW, AFP, Getty, UN Locations: Sudan, Khartoum, Darfur, Sudan’s, Africa, Gedaref, AFP

☆ Gaza: US physicians pen letter to Biden and Harris
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-26 | by ( Sahar Akbarzai | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +8 min

Sources told CNN the president was expected to be as forceful as he has ever been in pushing Netanyahu to agree to a deal. Mohammed Salem/ReutersThe ‘only independent monitors’ in GazaDr. Adam Hamawy, a US plastic surgeon and former US Army combat trauma surgeon, told CNN on Thursday, “there’s no one getting firsthand accounts other than physicians. In signing the letter, Perlmutter told CNN that he hopes “the average American can feel the pain we feel on a daily basis. “Everyone in Gaza is sick, injured, or both,” with few exceptions, their letter said. We are simply physicians and nurses who cannot remain silent about what we saw in Gaza.” the letter said.

Persons: Joe Biden, Kamala Harris, ”, “, Feroze Sidwa, Biden, Benjamin Netanyahu, Netanyahu, Israel, Khan Younis, Mohammed Salem, Adam Hamawy, … we’re, you’re, who’ve, Hamawy, people’s, Tammy Duckworth, Mark Perlmutter, Perlmutter, hadn’t, ” Perlmutter, They’ll, Israel’s, Tala Alrajjal, Sam Fossum, Eugenia Ugrinovich Organizations: CNN, White, Humanitarian Law, European Hospital, Nasser Hospital, US Army, Gaza, Israel Defense Forces, World Surgical Association, Gazan Health Ministry, Health Organization, United Nations Locations: Gaza, Ukraine, Iraq, Israel, US, Sarajevo, New York City, Khan, Rafah, North Carolina

☆ Israel is blocking physicians with Palestinian heritage from entering Gaza
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-24 | by ( Yahya Abou-Ghazala | Alex Marquardt | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +10 min

Suleiman’s denial is part of a policy recently communicated to medical missions going into Gaza through Israel. Before the war, Palestinian medics and medics of Palestinian heritage who held other passports could apply to Israel for entry into Gaza and have no issues getting approval. Ambulances lined up in front of the Egyptian side of the Rafah crossing during a visit of United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on March 23. “We reiterate that we STRONGLY advice (sic) against any attempt of entering Gaza with a Palestinian background/roots,” the email stated. The ad disclosed that “applicants with a Palestinian ID or Palestinian roots are not allowed into Gaza.” The post has since been deleted.

Persons: Jiab Suleiman, Suleiman, Khan Younis, Suleiman “, ”, Sameer Sah, “, ‘ you’re, ’ ”, ” “, ” Suleiman, it’s, Kerem Shalom, Antonio Guterres, Ali Moustafa, COGAT, Thaer Ahmad, Israel, Ahmad, Biden, Mustafa Musleh, Ohad, Musleh, –, B’Tselem, that’s, ” Musleh Organizations: Washington CNN, Palestinian, Hamas, Israel’s, World Health Organization, WHO, CNN, European Hospital, Medical Aid, United Nations, International, UN, Getty, Palestinian American Medical Association, PAMA, West Bank Locations: Jordan, Gaza, Ohio, Israel, Territories, Khan, United Kingdom, Rahma, US, Rafah, Egypt, Kerem Shalom, Palestine, Al, Gaza City, AFP, Palestinian, Chicago, Cairo

However, Russia and Belarus are exceptions due to the invasion of Ukraine,” a Hiroshima city government spokesperson told CNN. Envoys from Russia and Belarus haven’t attended since Hiroshima excluded them in 2022 following Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine in February that year. Russia used Belarus as one of the launch pads for its assault and later moved some of its tactical nuclear weapons there. “As a city of international peace, Hiroshima city needs to invite all nations, regardless of whether they are at war or not,” said Kunihiko Sakuma, president of Hiroshima Hidankyo, an atomic bomb survivors’ advocacy group. Hiroshima authorities said they only send invitations to countries with embassies in Japan and have never invited Palestinian representatives to the ceremony.

Persons: haven’t, Israel, ”, Hiroshima’s, Belarus haven’t, Tetsuji Kumada, Khan Younis, Mohammed Salem, Fumio Kishida, Volodymyr Zelensky, Naoya Azuma, Kunihiko Sakuma, Yoko Kamikawa, Junko Ogura Organizations: Tokyo CNN —, CNN, “, ”, European Union, Hiroshima’s, Russia, Hamas, Reuters, AP Japan, Kyodo, ” Kyodo, Mission of Locations: Tokyo CNN — Hiroshima, Gaza, Hiroshima, Israel, Russia, Belarus, Ukraine, ”, “ Russia, Nagasaki, Palestine, Japan, Israeli, Al, Khan, Reuters Japanese, Hiroshima Peace, Kyiv, Tokyo, Mission of Palestine

On Sunday, the Israeli military claimed to have targeted Hamas’ military chief and killed a Hamas brigade commander in an airstrike in Khan Younis. The Israeli military said its air force struck the location where “a number of terrorists” were operating. Palestinians and UN workers examine the destroyed UNRWA school in Nuseirat refugee camp of Deir al-Balah, Gaza on July 15, 2024. Meanwhile, the latest Israeli strikes have put new pressure on the success of ongoing ceasefire and hostage negotiations, which hit yet another roadblock last week. The Israeli military is verifying whether he was killed while Netanyahu acknowledged it is uncertain whether he died.

Persons: Israel, amputees, ”, “, Ruwaida Issa, Khan Younis, Nasser, Scott Anderson, Abed Rahim Khatib, Abu, ” Mary Al Sammouna, ” Samir Tafesh, Tal, Philippe Lazzarini, Antonio Guterres, Guterres, Benjamin Netanyahu –, –, Mohammed Deif, Deif, Netanyahu Organizations: CNN, United Nations, UN, Gaza Health Ministry, UNRWA Affairs, Anadolu, Getty, UNRWA, Gaza Ministry, Health, Civil Defense, Humanitarian Affairs, Al, Israel’s Locations: Gaza, Khan, Israel, Al, Deir, Nuseirat, Gaza City

The Israeli military said this week that it had concluded its operation there. Palestinians returning to Shajaiye, after heeding a call by Israel to evacuate, said the neighborhood was so devastated it was uninhabitable. “The current situation in Shajaiye today is tragic,” said Ahmed Sidu, a photographer, who went back to his home as soon as he heard that Israeli forces had pulled out. Palestinian Civil Defense said on Friday that their crews began recovering bodies from Tal Al-Hawa and the Al-Sinaa neighborhoods, as they said the Israeli forces appeared to be leaving those areas as well. The Israeli military did not confirm its forces were also pulling out of those areas.

Persons: ”, Ahmed Sidu, Hamas’s, Ayman Showadeh, Showadeh, Karam Hassan, ” Mr, Hassan, Mr, Sidu, Tal, Tal Al, “, Juliette Touma, Rawan Sheikh Ahmad Organizations: Hamas, Palestinian Civil Defense, Credit, Agence France, United Nations, UNRWA, Troops Locations: Shajaiye, Gaza City, Israel, Gaza, Al, Rimal

☆ North Darfur’s only hospital closes after paramilitary attack
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-10 | by ( Eve Brennan | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

CNN —Sudanese paramilitary forces stormed the main hospital in North Darfur, opening fire and looting vital medical supplies, Doctors Without Borders (MSF) have reported. Fighters from the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) plundered the facility on Saturday stealing an ambulance among other supplies, the aid agency said. “On Saturday, MSF and the Ministry of Health suspended all activities in South Hospital, El Fasher, North Darfur, after RSF soldiers stormed the facility, opened fire, and looted it, including stealing an MSF ambulance,” MSF Sudan said on social media Saturday. As a result, patients are being moved to Paediatric and Saudi hospitals “which were unprepared for such an influx,” it added. The NGO added on X, formerly known as Twitter, there were only ten patients and a reduced medical team at the hospital at the time.

Persons: “, ”, Emergencies Michel Lacharite, Lacharite, Massrali, RSF Organizations: CNN, Sudanese, Fighters, Rapid Support Forces, MSF, Ministry of Health, South Hospital, Twitter, Emergencies, MSF Sudan, Foreign Affairs, Security, EU, El, Humanitarian, United Nations, UN, UN’s, Organization for Migration, Sudanese Armed Forces, SAF, UN Office, Humanitarian Affairs Locations: North Darfur, South, El Fasher, MSF Sudan, El, Darfur, Sudan

☆ US officials who resigned over Biden’s Gaza policy are working together to put pressure on admin
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-08 | by ( Jennifer Hansler | Kylie Atwood | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +10 min

CNN —A group of US officials who publicly resigned over the Biden administration’s Gaza policy are banding together to support ongoing dissent and put pressure on the government to change course. Many of the officials who resigned publicly said they would instead seek to have an impact outside the government. Some of those who publicly resigned had particular breaking points; others said it was the collective toll of incidents throughout the conflict. Biden administration officials have said that they respect differences of opinions. Many officials told CNN they spoke with other officials who had resigned publicly to seek advice before going public with their own resignations.

Persons: Joe Biden, Josh Paul, Harrison Mann, Tariq Habash, Annelle Sheline, Hala Rharrit, Lily Greenberg, Alex Smith, Stacy Gilbert –, Josh Paul CNN “, ”, Paul, …, ” Mann, Gilbert, “, Israel, Stacey Gilbert, Stacey Gilbert “, ” Gilbert, Biden, Matthew Miller, Samantha Power, ‘, Smith, Mann, ” Smith, Alex Smith CNN, Greenberg, ” Lily Greenberg, didn’t, ” “, ” Greenberg Organizations: CNN, Biden, Israel, State Department, ”, US Agency for International Development, USAID, NPR, Interior Department, Army, Defense Intelligence Agency Locations: Gaza, Israel, –, United States

☆ Opinion: The near-impossible task of providing food aid in Gaza
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-24 | by ( Opinion Kerri Kennedy | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +8 min

Almost all humanitarian aid providers were operating out of Rafah, including my colleagues from the American Friends Service Committee (AFSC). Since October, the team in Gaza has provided lifesaving humanitarian aid to more than half a million people. In Rafah, our staff were living in a compound with dozens of other families while continuing to organize the complex logistics of providing humanitarian aid. A truck carrying humanitarian aid for the Gaza Strip passes through the Kerem Shalom Crossing in southern Israel last March. We must preserve international humanitarian law and prevent further death and starvation.

Persons: Kerri Kennedy, Fatima Shbair, Israel, Biden, Ohad, they’ve, Joe Biden, Facebook Biden, that’s, — Organizations: American Friends Service Committee, CNN, Kerri Kennedy American Friends Service, UN, United Nations, Gaza, Twitter, Facebook Locations: Gaza, Israel, Rafah, Gaza City, Fatima, Amman, Egypt, Kerem Shalom, Myanmar, Sudan, Kerem, Detroit

☆ Ms Rachel, the YouTuber, launched a campaign to help kids in Gaza and other conflict zones. Then came the angry comments
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-22 | by ( Faith Karimi | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +7 min

“Hiiii, heeeello,” she chirps while waving cheerfully in social media clips that feature upbeat nursery rhymes, dances and language lessons for preschool children. Instead of her usual smiling, clapping and cheering, the popular social media creator, whose full name is Rachel Griffin Accurso, was in tears. But I can handle this,” she said in a video posted to her accounts last Thursday. In the caption on her tearful May 16 video, Accurso reiterated her concern for all the world’s children. “Palestinian children, Israeli children, children in the US – Muslim, Jewish, Christian children – all children, in every country,” she wrote.

Persons: “, TikTok, Rachel Griffin Accurso, ”, Accurso, wasn’t, –, Rachel, she’d, she’s, Rogers, James Elder, —, Giselle Ugarte, ” Ugarte, influencers Organizations: CNN, YouTube, Democratic, New York Times, United Nations Children’s Fund, UNICEF Locations: Instagram, Gaza, Israel, gaza, Sudan, Ukraine, Democratic Republic of the Congo, New York, Rafah, Palestinian, “

☆ Netanyahu denies Israel is starving civilians in Gaza as a method of war
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-21 | by ( Tara John | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

Israel has allowed 20,000 trucks of aid into Gaza, Netanyahu said – a fraction of what would have entered in the same period under normal times. Israel’s ongoing siege of Gaza, following Hamas’ October 7 terror attacks, has reached its seventh month and left more than 34,000 people dead. Netanyahu is deeply unpopular in Israel, where he is also facing an ongoing corruption trial. Speaking to Tapper, Netanyahu rejected accusations that he avoids Israeli media in favor of international press, saying he has done up to 20 press conferences with Israeli journalists. An ICC warrant would compel more than 100 member-nations of the court to arrest Netanyahu if he traveled in their territory.

Persons: Benjamin Netanyahu, CNN’s Jake Tapper, Karim Khan, – Netanyahu, Yoav Gallant –, Khan, Netanyahu, Gallant, Tapper, –, ’, ”, Critics, “ That’s, “, Khan’s, Joe Biden, ” Biden, Antony Blinken, Biden, Franklin Roosevelt, Adolf Hitler, CNN’s Christiane Amanpour, Israel, Vladimir, Putin, ” Khan Organizations: CNN, Israeli, Criminal Court, ICC, Israel’s, Gaza, West Bank, Amnesty, Hamas Locations: Gaza, Israel, United States, East Jerusalem, France, Africa

☆ International Criminal Court prosecutor seeks arrest warrants for Israel's Netanyahu, Hamas leaders
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-20 | by ( Ruxandra Iordache | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

The International Criminal Court is seeking arrest warrants against three leaders of Palestinian militant group Hamas and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity linked to the October 7 terror attack on Israel and the ongoing conflict in the Gaza Strip. The three Hamas leaders are pursued in connection with alleged crimes committed during Hamas' October 7 terror attack against Israel, including murder, the taking of hostages and sexual abuse. The ICC also asked for warrants against Netanyahu and Defense Minister Yoav Gallant for alleged crimes committed since October during Israel's retaliatory campaign in the Gaza Strip. The alleged crimes include the starvation of civilians, murder and persecution. Over 1,200 people have been killed in Israel since October, according to Israel's prime minister's office, while the Palestinian Health Ministry indicated over 35,000 people were killed in the Gaza Strip during that period.

Persons: Benjamin Netanyahu, Yahya Sinwar, Ismail Haniyeh, Mohammed Diab Ibrahim al, Masri, Netanyahu, Yoav Gallant, Israel, Israel's, Karim Khan Organizations: Hamas, Israeli, ICC, Political, Netanyahu and, Palestinian Health Ministry Locations: Israel, Gaza, Rafah

☆ Opinion | Let Justice in the Gaza War Take Its Course
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-20 | by ( David Kaye | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

In seeking the arrests of senior leaders of Israel and Hamas, the prosecutor of the International Criminal Court has given the world a promise of accountability. Anyone demanding an end to the conflict in Gaza and the release of all hostages from the grasp of Hamas should embrace the decision. The prosecutor, Karim Khan, has also brought accusations against Hamas’s Muhammad Deif and Ismail Haniyeh. Mr. Khan is charging Israel’s most senior leadership, including Mr. Netanyahu and Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, for war crimes and crimes against humanity. While Mr. Khan recognized Israel’s “right to take action to defend its population,” he accused them of having “a common plan to use starvation as a weapon of war,” the targeting of civilians and other forms of collective punishment.

Persons: Benjamin Netanyahu, Hamas’s Yahya Sinwar, Karim Khan, Hamas’s Muhammad Deif, Ismail Haniyeh, Khan, Netanyahu, Yoav Gallant, Israel’s, ” Organizations: Hamas Locations: Israel, Gaza

CNN —President Joe Biden is facing backlash from lawmakers in both parties over his ultimatum that a major Israeli offensive in the city of Rafah would result in a shut-off of some US weapons. “So if you’re worried about Palestinian casualties, the stated policy here actually doesn’t make a ton of sense,” Vance said. The president’s announcement amounted to a turning point in US-Israeli ties since the seven-month conflict between Israel and Hamas began in October. Still, the president’s aides said the message shouldn’t have been a surprise to their intended recipients in Israel given repeated warnings to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. “I think President Biden has taken forceful action – so much so there’s been a lot of blowback for his recent public statement.”CNN’s Kit Maher, Aileen Graef, Kevin Liptak, Jennifer Hansler and Kylie Atwood contributed to this report.

Persons: Joe Biden, CNN’s Erin Burnett, “, Republican Sen, JD Vance, CNN’s Dana, ”, Biden, ” Vance, Benjamin Netanyahu, Burnett, Israel, Lindsey Graham of, Graham, GOP Sen, Rick Scott of, Israel ”, Josh Gottheimer, Adam Smith, Erin Burnett, –, Netanyahu, Democratic Sen, Chris Murphy, Bash, Murphy, Antony Blinken, ” Blinken, Chris Van Hollen, Margaret Brennan, Van Hollen, ” Van Hollen, ” Murphy, ” Democratic Sen, Chris Coons, Van Hollen’s, there’s, ” CNN’s Kit Maher, Aileen Graef, Kevin Liptak, Jennifer Hansler, Kylie Atwood Organizations: CNN, GOP, Republican, Union, Hamas, Fox News, Democrats, House Democrats, Rep, Congress, Democratic, Connecticut, “, CBS, Ministry, Health, State Department, ” Democratic Locations: Rafah, Ohio, “ State, Israel, Rafah —, Gaza, Lindsey Graham of South Carolina, Rick Scott of Florida, New Jersey, Washington, ”, Iraq, Afghanistan, United States, Maryland, Chris Coons of Delaware

☆ US officials continue to warn against invasion of Rafah, even as Israel presses ahead
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-12 | by ( Kevin Liptak | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +5 min

Blinken and Sullivan both said Biden made the determination because he didn’t want American weapons used in what he estimates would be a bloody, ill-advised operation. At the same time, they sought to rebut claims from Republicans and pro-Israel Democrats that Biden was leaving Israel to fend for itself. Despite American warnings dating back months about the wisdom of a ground invasion into Rafah, Israel appears poised to continue advancing on the city and has issued evacuation orders for some of the 1.4 million civilians estimated to be sheltering there. That is partly why Biden determined that American weapons should not be used in a Rafah offensive. We treat Israel, one of our closest allies and partners, just as we would treat any other country,” Blinken said on NBC.

Persons: Antony Blinken, Jake Sullivan, Joe Biden, Blinken, Sullivan, Biden, didn’t, Israel, ” Blinken, “ Israel’s, ” Sullivan, ” “, doesn’t, “ We’ve, we’ve, ”, Benjamin Netanyahu, “, that’s Organizations: CNN, Top, White House, Israel Democrats, Hamas, CBS, Ministry, Health, Press, State Department, NBC, Israeli Locations: Rafah, Gaza, Israel

☆ Israel pushes deeper into Rafah and battles a regrouping Hamas in northern Gaza
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-12 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +6 min

Warnings continued against the growing offensive in Rafah, considered the last refuge in Gaza for more than a million civilians as well as Hamas' last stronghold. The two towns near Gaza's northern border with Israel were heavily bombed in the opening days of the war. Israel has now evacuated the eastern third of Rafah, and Hagari said dozens of militants had been killed there as "targeted operations continued." Israeli troops have captured the Gaza side of the Rafah crossing, forcing it to shut down. Smoke billows after Israeli bombardment in central Gaza City on March 18, 2024, amid the ongoing battles between Israel and the militant group Hamas.

Persons: Antony Blinken, Israel, Volker Turk, Benjamin Netanyahu, Hatem Khaled, Netanyahu, Abdel, Kareem Radwan, Daniel Hagari, Ben Caspit, Khan Younis, Hagari Organizations: Hamas, Afp, Getty, U.S, CBS, International Court of Justice, United Nations, Palestinian Authority, West Bank, Health Ministry, Palestinian Civil Defense, Al Qahera News Locations: Rafah, Gaza, Israel, RAFAH, Egypt, South, United States, Palestinian, Gaza City, Jabaliya, Beit Lahiya, Gaza's, Hamas, Israel's

☆ Middle East Crisis U.S. Criticizes Israel for Failure to Protect Civilians in the Gaza Conflict
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-11 | by ( Michael Crowley | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +9 min

The report also did not find that Israel had intentionally obstructed humanitarian aid into Gaza. Such a finding would have triggered a U.S. law barring military aid to countries that block such assistance. They argue that Israel has indiscriminately killed civilians with American arms and intentionally hindered U.S.-supplied humanitarian aid. Either would violate U.S. laws governing arms transfers to foreign militaries, as well as international humanitarian law, which is largely based on the Geneva Conventions. The United States provides Israel with $3.8 billion in annual military aid, and Congress last month approved an additional $14 billion in emergency funding.

Persons: Biden, Israel “, —, President Biden, Israel, Israel’s, Israel ”, Brian Finucane, Finucane, “, Chris Van Hollen, Netanyahu, Benjamin Netanyahu, Mr, ” “, ”, Josh Paul, Biden’s, John F, Kirby Organizations: State Department, Israel Defense Forces, President, Crisis, United, U.S ., Biden Administration, Israel, The State Department, Central Kitchen Locations: Israel, Gaza, United States, U.S, Rafah, Congress, Geneva, Maryland, ”

☆ Biden administration says Israel is not violating U.S. weapons terms
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-10 | by ( Julia Jester | Zoë Richards | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

U.S. President Joe Biden departs the White House in Washington, U.S., for a campaign fundraiser in California, May 9, 2024. The Biden administration said Friday that it was "reasonable to assess" that Israel has violated international law in Gaza, but that it hasn't violated terms of U.S. weapons agreements. "Although we have gained insight into Israel's procedures and rules, we do not have complete information on how these processes are implemented," the report noted. "Israel has not shared complete information to verify" whether certain weapons provided by the U.S. had been used in incidents that allegedly violated international humanitarian law. The report also did not find that the Israeli government is blocking the transport or delivery of humanitarian assistance.

Persons: Joe Biden, Biden, Israel Organizations: State Department, Foreign Assistance, Israel Defense Forces, U.S, The State Department Locations: Washington , U.S, California, Israel, Gaza, U.S, United States

☆ Biden admin says it’s ‘reasonable to assess’ Israel used American weapons in Gaza in ways ‘inconsistent’ with international law
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-10 | by ( Jennifer Hansler | Kylie Atwood | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

CNN —The Biden administration said Friday that it is “reasonable to assess” that US weapons have been used by Israeli forces in Gaza in ways that are “inconsistent” with international humanitarian law but stopped short of officially saying Israel violated the law. Although the report does not find Israel in violation of either of the terms of the memorandum, it is sharply critical of the toll of Israel’s military campaign. The findings of the report mark another stark moment in US-Israeli relations in the same week President Joe Biden threatened to restrict weapons transfers if Israel goes ahead with a major offensive in Rafah. The administration was required to make a determination on those two matters under a February national security memorandum, which Biden issued under pressure from Democratic lawmakers. That official said the report would be shared with the Israeli government.

Persons: CNN —, Biden, “, Joe Biden, Israel, ” Organizations: CNN, State Department, USG, Hamas, Capitol, Democratic Locations: Gaza, Israel, Rafah

☆ A high-stakes report looms over Biden on whether Israel violated international law
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-07 | by ( Kylie Atwood | Jennifer Hansler | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +19 min

Nic Antaya/Getty Images Pro-Palestinian protesters demonstrate on the New York University campus in New York on Friday, May 3. Mike Blake/Reuters Pro-Palestinian protesters stand their ground after police breached their encampment at UCLA on May 2. 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: CNN —, Biden, Joe Biden, Benjamin Netanyahu, Antony Blinken, “, Matthew Miller, Adam Schultz, Netanyahu, Israel, Mahmud Hams, It’s, ”, Democratic Sen, Chris Van Hollen, Sen, Alex Brandon, Van Hollen, Miller, ” Miller, 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 Organizations: CNN, State Department, Israeli, Congress, Hamas, Capitol, ”, National Security, Getty, State Department’s Bureau, Political, Military Affairs, Defense Department and National Security Council, Biden, Israel, Palestinian, Israel Defense Forces, United Nations Office, Human Rights, Biden Democrats, Democratic, Democratic Party, Republican, Department, Protesters, University of Michigan's, New York University, Westchester County Journal, USA, Network Police, Portland State University, AP, George Washington University, The George Washington University, AFP, Police, University of California, UCLA, Reuters, Fordham, Lincoln Center, Getty Images Police, Hamilton, Columbia University, 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, USAID Locations: Israel, Gaza, Rafah, Capitol Hill, Iran, Palestinian American, Jabalia, AFP, Ann Arbor , Michigan, New York, Westchester, Portland , Oregon, Washington ,, Portland, The, Los Angeles, The City College of New York, Columbia, Columbia's, Palestine, 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

☆ Thousands of Ukrainians have been sent to Russian prisons. Ukraine says they’re being held as bargaining chips
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-05 | by ( Ivana Kottasová | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +22 min

The Ukrainian government says there are thousands of people like Dima, civilians arrested by Russia who have been held in arbitrary detention for years. In the early weeks of the war, Russian troops took over their home, parking their tank in the garden and stealing anything of value. Following the full-scale invasion of Ukraine, Russia opened a second pre-trial detention facility in Simferopol, SIZO No. Detained civilians, however, are stuck in limbo. Mariana Checheliuk's photos were among those displayed by relatives of detained civilians at a recent protest in Kyiv.

Persons: Ukraine CNN — “, ”, Vasyl Khyliuk, Dmytro Khyliuk, Dima, –, Ivana Kottasova, Dmytro Lubinets, Lubinets, ” Achille Després, Cross, it’s, Vasyl, ” Vasyl, Halyna, “, Dmytro Khyliuk’s, Russia —, Khyliuk, Anastasiia, MIHR, Pantielieieva, CNN “ We’ve, ” Pantielieieva, Yulia Khrypun, Serhii, ’, Serhii Khrypun, Yulia, ” Yulia, Mariana Checheliuk, Mariana, Natalia Checheliuk, ” Natalia, ’ ” Natalia, Alexander Ermochenko, Mariana –, Mila, Natalia, Volodymyr, Zelensky, Mariana Checheliuk's Organizations: Ukraine CNN, Ukrainian Independent, Agency, Kyiv, CNN, Russian Federation, International Committee, Ukrainian, Organization for Security, Getty, Media Initiative, Human Rights, Penal, Russian Investigative Committee, Russian Prison Service, ICRC, Russian Ministry of Defense, Ukrainian Defense Intelligence, Russian Federal Security Service, Russian National Guard, Directorate, General Staff, Serhii, Crimean Human Rights, Maxar Technologies, Volunteers, Russia, United Nations Children’s Fund, UNICEF, Security Service of Ukraine, Ukraine’s, Ministry of Internal Affairs, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, National Information Bureau, Ministry, “, Headquarters Locations: Kyiv, Ukraine, Dima, Ukrainian, Kozarovychi, Russia, Geneva, Europe, Novozybkov, Russia’s Bryansk, Russia’s Vladimir, Mordovia, Russian, Moscow, Bryansk, Nove, Tokmak, Melitopol, Olenivka, Kursk, Crimea, Kamensk, Russia’s Rostov, Yulia Khrypun Russia, Chonhar, Kherson, Crimean, Crimean Tatars, Simferopol, SIZO, Irkutsk, Krasnoyarsk, Siberia, ‘, Mariupol, Zaporizhzhia, Bezimenne, Donetsk People’s Republic, Azovstal, Donetsk, Taganrog, Kamyshin, Russia’s Volgograd, Qatar

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