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☆ US has not assessed Israel is violating law on Gaza aid, will not change policy despite humanitarian groups’ findings
▼ + stars: | 2024-11-12 | by ( Jennifer Hansler | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +7 min

The US statement comes in sharp contrast to the findings of humanitarian aid organizations, who say that “the humanitarian situation in Gaza has deteriorated to its worst point since the war began in October 2023.” The situation in northern Gaza in particular has been described as “apocalyptic,” with areas at “imminent” risk of famine. Section 620I of the US Foreign Assistance Act requires the US to halt security assistance to governments who restrict US humanitarian aid. “We, at this time, have not made an assessment that the Israelis are in violation of US law,” State Department deputy spokesperson Vedant Patel said Tuesday. “Israeli forces repeatedly attacked humanitarian sites and frontline responders during the 30-day period,” the scorecard said. “There is no provision in US or international law that allows extra time to starve people,” said former top State Department official Stacy Gilbert.

Persons: Washington CNN —, Biden, Netanyahu, Antony Blinken, Defense Lloyd Austin, “, ” Blinken, Vedant Patel, Patel, “ We’ve, ”, they’ve, Kate Phillips, you’re, ” Phillips, Barrasso, Stacy Gilbert, CNN’s Michael Conte, Mick Krever, MJ Lee, Kylie Atwood, Abeer Salman, Kareem Khadder, Irene Nasser Organizations: Washington CNN, Israel, State Department, Defense, Biden, US Foreign, ” State Department, CNN, Anera, CARE International, Mercy Corps, Norwegian Refugee Council, Oxfam, Refugees International, UNRWA, UN, The State Locations: Gaza, ”, U.S, Austin, Gaza’s Beit, Israel, America, United States

☆ Israel not in violation of U.S. law, but Gaza aid situation will be monitored: State Dept.
▼ + stars: | 2024-11-12 | by ( Ece Yildirim | In Ecedyildirim | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

The United States announced Tuesday that there will be no significant policy shift towards Israel, at the conclusion of a 30-day U.S. deadline for improvement in humanitarian aid delivery to Gaza. We believe that, had it not been for U.S. intervention, these changes may not have ever taken place," said Patel. The demands and the deadline were laid out in a joint letter from Secretary of State Anthony Blinken and Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin, delivered Oct. 13. If Israel wants to continue to qualify for foreign military financing under U.S. law, Blinken and Austin wrote, at least 350 trucks per day of aid must be allowed to enter the war-ravaged Gaza Strip. The letter also called on Israel to provide heightened security for humanitarian sites, and an increase in the number of humanitarian pauses to its military operations.

Persons: Antony Blinken, Vedant Patel, Patel, State Anthony Blinken, Lloyd Austin, Israel, Austin, Philippe Lazarini Organizations: Palestinian, Hamas, United States, Israel, Department, State, United Nations Locations: Tel Aviv, Israel, Gaza, Washington, U.S

☆ Jamshid Sharmahd: German-Iranian national and longtime US resident executed in Iran
▼ + stars: | 2024-10-28 | by ( Benjamin Brown | Hamdi Alkhshali | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

CNN —A German-Iranian national and longtime US resident has been executed in Iran after being convicted of terrorism offences, according to Iranian state media citing the country’s judiciary-affiliated Mizan news agency. Jamshid Sharmahd, 69, was executed Monday morning for “planning and orchestrating a series of terrorist acts,” state-run IRNA and Press TV reported. His execution sparked condemnation from the United States and Germany. Sharmahd’s daughter Gazelle has repeatedly said her father is innocent and that he faced a sham trial due to his political activism and criticism of the Islamic Republic. Abram Paley, the US Deputy Special Envoy, last year met with Sharmahd’s family to discuss his imprisonment and death sentence.

Persons: Jamshid Sharmahd, Sharmahd’s, Gazelle, “, ” Israel, Sharmahd, ” Vedant Patel, Annalena Baerbock, ”, ” Baerbock, ” Sharmahd’s, Abram Paley Organizations: CNN, Press, State, Amnesty, United, United States ’ Office, US Locations: Iranian, Iran, United States, Germany, Islamic Republic, Shiraz, Western, Tehran

SEOUL, South Korea — North Korea has sent troops to Russia, the U.S. said Wednesday, its first public confirmation of a move that has rattled Western allies and could mark a major escalation of Moscow’s war in Ukraine. North Korean leader Kim Jong Un visiting Korean People's Army soldiers at an undisclosed location on Oct. 17. South Korean lawmakers said Wednesday that North Korea had sent 3,000 troops to Russia out of a promised 10,000 to be deployed by December. That is twice the 1,500 the South Korean intelligence agency had reported being sent last week. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Tuesday that two units of North Korean troops, with as many as 6,000 people each, were being trained for deployment.

Persons: Lloyd Austin, Austin, Kim Jong, KCNA, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, ”, Kyrylo Budanov, Vedant Patel, “, ” Austin, Zelenskyy Organizations: ”, Democratic People’s, Korean People's Army, Getty, Kremlin, South, South Korean, Directorate of Intelligence, North Korean, State Department Locations: SEOUL, South Korea, North Korea, Russia, U.S, Ukraine, Rome, Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, Korea, AFP, Pyongyang, Moscow, Russia’s Kursk, Russian, Kyiv

The Israeli military said Tuesday that an American woman who was killed during a protest in the occupied West Bank last week was "likely" hit "unintentionally" by Israeli fire. Eygi’s family said she was peacefully demonstrating when she was killed and that video showed the bullet appeared to come from an Israeli military shooter. They had separately called for an independent U.S.-ordered investigation and said an Israeli investigation would not be enough. A Federal Bureau of Investigation probe into the 2022 killing of another American in the West Bank, veteran Palestinian American journalist Shireen Abu Akleh, remains ongoing. Israel refused to cooperate with the FBI's investigation and to date no one in the Israeli military has been prosecuted.

Persons: Ezgi, Washington, Eygi’s, Vedant Patel, Patel, Benjamin Netanyahu, Shireen Abu Akleh, Israel Organizations: West Bank, University of Washington, International Solidarity Movement, Islamic Jihad, Israel Defense Forces, IDF, State Department, U.S . State Department, Justice Department, Military Police, Investigation, Military, Corps, International Court of Justice, Federal Bureau of Locations: American, Seattle, Israel, U.S, Palestinian, Israeli, Jerusalem

“We still don’t know with full certainty what transpired and what happened, and that’s why we are working to get as much information as we can," State Department principal deputy spokesperson Vedant Patel said. They called for an independent U.S.-ordered investigation and said an Israeli investigation would not be enough. Patel said that Israel is conducting an investigation and that the State Department expects a formal process for releasing findings. The bodies of six hostages, including Israeli American Hersh Goldberg-Polin, were recovered in a tunnel under Rafah late last month. In Gaza, local officials have said more than 40,000 people have been killed since Israeli forces launched its offensive in response to the Hamas attacks.

Persons: “, Vedant Patel, ”, Patel, Israel, ” Patel, Philippe Lazzarini, ” Lazzarini, Hersh Goldberg Organizations: West Bank, State Department, Department, University of Washington, International Solidarity Movement, Israeli Defense Forces, Justice Department, Hamas, United Nations Relief, Works Agency for Palestine Refugees, UN Locations: Israel, American, U.S, Seattle, Gaza, East, Rafah

☆ U.S., Western nations take measured stance on Venezuela’s disputed vote
▼ + stars: | 2024-08-13 | by ( ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +6 min

Three officials from different countries said the measured response comes as they are mindful of what happened after Maduro’s 2018 reelection. Then, the vote was quickly condemned as a sham and led to the most severe sanctions yet on the OPEC nation. In Washington, which under Republican President Donald Trump blocked Venezuela’s critical oil exports, there seems little appetite for more severe sanctions. The European Union last week said there was not enough evidence to support Maduro’s victory as announced by the CNE. Countries including China, Russia, Nicaragua and Cuba have recognized Maduro’s victory and offered him support.

Persons: Nicolás Maduro, Edmundo González, Jose Manuel Albares, Maduro’s, Donald Trump, Biden, Maria Corina Machado, Gonzalez, ”, Vedant Patel, Maduro, Elvis Amoroso, Kamala Harris, “, ’, Machado Organizations: Electoral Council, Maduro, United Nations, EU, Republican, Democratic U.S, Venezuela’s, U.S ., . State Department, . Washington, U.S, U.S . Treasury Department, State Department, Reuters, American States, Electoral, International, European Union, CNE, NBC Locations: U.S, Brazil, Venezuela, Spanish, Spain, OPEC, Maduro, Washington, ., reneging, Elvis Amoroso ., Mexico, Colombia, Canada, Panama, China, Russia, Nicaragua, Cuba

☆ US decides not to restrict military aid to Israeli unit accused of human rights violations
▼ + stars: | 2024-08-12 | by ( Jennifer Hansler | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

CNN —The US will not restrict military aid to an Israeli Defense Forces unit accused of committing violations of human rights against Palestinians in the West Bank after determining the violations were “effectively remediated,” State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller said in a statement obtained by CNN on Monday. The decision not to restrict military assistance to the Netzah Yehuda battalion came months after the United States accused it and four other Israeli security units of committing the gross violations of human rights, which occurred before the outbreak of Israel’s war against Hamas in Gaza. The State Department said in April that the other four had “effectively remediated these violations.”Netzah Yehuda, an ultra-Orthodox unit of the IDF, was transferred from the West Bank to the Golan Heights in 2022. “After thoroughly reviewing that information, we have determined that violations by this unit have also been effectively remediated. Top Israeli officials, including Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, expressed sharp criticism to the reports of impending action by the US.

Persons: Matthew Miller, Yehuda, ” Netzah Yehuda, Omar Assad, ” Miller, “, Leahy, Vedant Patel, Netzah Yehuda, Biden, Benjamin Netanyahu, ” Netanyahu, Israel Organizations: CNN, Israeli Defense Forces, West Bank, State Department, IDF, Government, ”, Leahy Law, State, US, The State Department Locations: ”, States, Gaza, Israel, United States of America

☆ US will resume offensive weapons sales to Saudi Arabia
▼ + stars: | 2024-08-12 | by ( Jennifer Hansler | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

CNN —The United States will resume sales of offensive weapons to Saudi Arabia, the State Department said Monday, ending a suspension put in place at the beginning of the Biden administration over concerns about human rights violations in the war in Yemen. “As part of this policy, our administration froze the sale of certain classes of offensive weapons, while also maintaining sales of systems to the kingdom required to defend itself from attack,” State Department spokesperson Vedant Patel said at a news briefing. At the outset of President Joe Biden’s tenure, the administration suspended offensive weapons sales to Riyadh amid concerns about the toll of the Saud-led war against the Houthis in Yemen, which killed thousands of civilians. Patel denied that the lifting of the suspension was linked to the administration’s ambitious plan for post-war Gaza and Israel-Saudi normalization. He acknowledged, however, that “Saudi Arabia has remained a close strategic partner of the United States, and we look forward to enhancing that partnership.”

Persons: Biden, Vedant Patel, “, ” Patel, Joe Biden’s, Saud, Patel, ”, ” “ We’ve Organizations: CNN, State Department, ”, UN Locations: United States, Saudi Arabia, Yemen, “, Saudi, Riyadh, Red, Gaza, Israel

☆ Can Venezuela's political crisis affect migration and U.S. politics?
▼ + stars: | 2024-08-02 | by ( Juliana Jiménez J. | Juliana Jiménez J. Is A Reporter For Noticias Telemundo. | ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +8 min

After 25 years of autocratic rule, a significant portion of Venezuelans in the country and in exile had enormous expectations of change. But of “those millions who have emigrated from Venezuela, criminals are the minority,” he said. In addition, experts on Venezuela told Noticias Telemundo that there is no evidence of a state policy aimed at sending criminals to other countries. The Trump campaign has also stated that Kamala Harris is “intentionally importing millions of illegals in hopes of turning them into Democratic voters,” which is also false. “The campaign does not comment on hypothetical situations,” Florez said, adding that “the Republican National Committee’s statement is identical to that of the Trump campaign."

Persons: Edmundo González Urrutia, Antony Blinken, Edmundo Gonzalez Urrutia, Maria Corina Machado, Federico Parra, Nicolás, hasn’t, Vedant Patel, Maduro, Ryan C, Berg, Mike Johnston, Jon Ewing, Alayna Alvarez, Ewing, Joe Biden, Biden, Trump, ”, José Antonio Ibarra, Laken Riley, “, Ronna Rísquez, Carlos Nieto, ” Nieto, Kamala Harris, Jaime Florez, ” Florez, Harris, “ Harris, ” Casado, Eduardo Gamarra Organizations: United Nations, Refugees, Monday, U.S . State Department, National Electoral Committee, Americas, Center for Strategic, International Studies, Pew Research, TPS, Denver Human Services, U.S, NBC News, Republican National Convention, Venezuelan, of, Victims Monitor, Noticias Telemundo, Democratic, Immigrants, Trump, Republican National Committee, Republican National, Biden, Florida International University Locations: Venezuela, U.S, Venezuelan, Caracas, AFP, United States, —, Denver, Colorado, Mexico, Georgia, Milwaukee, Latin America, Florida

Even though it was operational for only about a week, the pier helped deliver some 1,000 metric tons of aid into Gaza before breaking apart. That’s well short of the military’s goal of moving 500 tons of aid per day over the pier. The risks however were deemed too great at the time, with unpredictable winter weather and heavy fighting in Gaza. “We assumed a lot of risk in using a military operation for this purpose,” a second senior administration official added. Deputy Pentagon spokesperson Sabrina Singh emphasized that the solution to aid to Gaza remains the land crossings.

Persons: Joe Biden, ”, Biden, It’s, “, they’re, Christine Wormuth, JLOTS, Nikos Christodoulides, Benjamin Netanyahu, Weeks, ‘, Vedant Patel, Sabrina Singh, Max, ’, don’t Organizations: CNN, White House, US Central Command, Army, “ Army, US, Pentagon, Technologies, Maxar, Trident, US Army Central, Reuters, State Locations: Gaza, West, Israel, Rafah, Australia, Virginia, Haiti, Cyprus, France, “, Ashdod

☆ Gaza Gets Its First Aid Shipment from U.S. Pier: Israel-Hamas Latest Updates
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-17 | by ( Victoria Kim | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +3 min

The notion of deploying U.N. peacekeepers into the Israeli-Palestinian conflict has been mentioned occasionally by diplomats. But the Arab League’s statement appeared to be the first time the group had officially made such a request in a written document, according to Farhan Haq, a U.N. spokesman. U.N. forces, which are typically drawn from the armed forces of multiple countries, do not enter live battle zones and do not engage in fighting. Both Israel and Hamas would also have to agree to having U.N. peacekeepers on the ground. “We don’t go into active combat, and parties themselves have to agree on allowing the presence of peacekeepers.

Persons: Farhan Haq, Mr, Haq, don’t, Israel, Vedant Patel, António Guterres, Guterres Organizations: United Nations, West Bank, . Security, League, Arab League, State Department Locations: Gaza, Israel, Manama, Bahrain, United States, Washington, Bahrain’s, Rafah

☆ Hala Rharrit, US diplomat who quit over Biden administration’s Gaza policy, speaks out
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-03 | by ( Jennifer Hansler | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

CNN —Hala Rharrit never expected that she would choose to leave her career as a US diplomat. About a year and a half ago, after mostly behind-the-scenes roles, Rharrit became an Arab language spokesperson for the State Department. But the US government’s policy on the war between Israel and Hamas in Gaza “unfortunately really, really changed that,” she said. Rharrit told CNN that she and her colleagues were “horrified” by the Hamas terrorist attacks on October 7, which triggered the war in Gaza. We just have not been able to say it.’”The State Department would not comment specifically on Rharrit’s case, citing personnel matters.

Persons: Hala Rharrit, Yemen —, Rharrit, “, ”, Josh Paul, Annelle, ” Rharrit, “ I’m, ‘ you’re, ’ ”, you’re, they’re, ‘, we’ve, Vedant Patel, ” “ You’ve Organizations: CNN, State Department, Biden, Israel, US, The State Department Locations: Yemen, Hong Kong, Qatar, South Africa, Arab, Israel, Gaza, United States, “

☆ US determines 5 Israeli security units committed human rights violations before outbreak of Gaza war
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-29 | by ( Jennifer Hansler | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

CNN —The US State Department has determined that five Israeli security units committed gross violations of human rights prior to the outbreak of the war with Hamas in Gaza, but is still deciding whether to restrict military assistance to one of the units under US law. The other four “have effectively remediated these violations,” deputy State Department spokesperson Vedant Patel said Monday. The US is still deciding whether to restrict assistance to the remaining unit – reported to be the ultra-Orthodox Netzah Yehuda battalion. They have submitted additional information as it pertains to that unit, and we’re continuing to have those conversations,” Patel said. Patel also declined to detail the units or speak about specifics of the remediation process.

Persons: Vedant Patel, Netzah Yehuda, ” Patel, they’ve, ”, Antony Blinken, Leahy, Patel, Israel, “, Benjamin Netanyahu Organizations: CNN, US State Department, Government, Leahy Law, State Locations: Gaza, Israel, United States

☆ UN demands investigation after mass graves found at Gaza hospitals raided by Israel
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-24 | by ( Irene Nasser | Duarte Mendonca | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

CNN —The United Nations has called for an “independent, effective and transparent investigation” into the discovery of mass graves at two Gaza hospitals that were besieged and raided by Israeli troops this year. A mass grave with 324 bodies was uncovered this week at the Nasser Medical Complex in the southern Gaza city of Khan Younis by Gaza Civil Defense workers following the withdrawal of Israeli forces from the area. When they returned this month after the Israeli military withdrew, they discovered the bodies had been dug up and placed in at least one collective grave, the stringer said. CNN reached out to the Israeli military on Wednesday for comment regarding Türk’s remarks, to which it said it had nothing more to add beyond previous comments. The US State Department on Tuesday expressed concern over the discovery of mass graves.

Persons: Volker Türk, ”, Nasser, Al, ” Türk, Khan Younis, Yamen Abu Suleiman, Khan, Raed Saqr, It’s, Mahmoud Basal, Vedant Patel, ” “ I’m Organizations: CNN, United Nations, UN, Human, “, Nasser, Gaza Civil, Civil Defense, Nasser Hospital, Getty, Hamas, US State Department, ”, Government Locations: Gaza, Khan, AFP, Nasser, Israel, Al

☆ U.S. Vetoes Palestinian Bid for Recognition as Full U.N. Member State
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-18 | by ( Yonette Joseph | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +4 min

The United States blocked the U.N. Security Council on Thursday from moving forward on a Palestinian bid to be recognized as a full member state at the United Nations, quashing an effort by Palestinian allies to get the world body to back the effort. The vote was 12 in favor of the resolution and one — the United States — opposed, with abstentions from Britain and Switzerland. The United States, along with the four other permanent members of the Council, can veto any action before it. Full Palestinian membership in the U.N. would be an important if largely symbolic victory for the Palestinian Authority, which has long sought a nation-state. In 2007, the militant group Hamas drove the Palestinian Authority, which President Mahmoud Abbas leads and which exercises limited self-rule in the occupied West Bank, from power in the Gaza Strip.

Persons: United States —, Riyad Mansour, Mr, Mansour, ”, Israel Katz, Vedant Patel, ” Mr, Patel, Israel’s, U.N, Israel, Mahmoud Abbas Organizations: . Security, United Nations, Terrorism, Security, State Department, Palestinian, General Assembly, Palestinian Authority, West Bank, Hamas Locations: States, United States, Britain, Switzerland, Palestine, Washington, U.S, Israel, Palestinian Authority, France, Russia, China, East Jerusalem, Gaza, Oslo Accords, Lebanon, Iran

☆ US vetoes Palestinian attempt to gain statehood at the United Nations
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-18 | by ( Richard Roth | Jennifer Hansler | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

CNN —The United States on Thursday blocked a United Nations Security Council resolution that would have recognised a Palestinian state. Twelve members of the Security Council had voted in favor of the resolution, the United States vetoed it, and two countries abstained. “The most expeditious path towards statehood for the Palestinian people is through direct negotiations between Israel and the Palestinian Authority with the support of the United States and other partners who share this goal,” Patel said. Palestinian attempts for recognition as a full member state began in 2011. It will be a Palestine-Nazi state, an entity that achieved statehood despite being committed to terror and Israel’s annihilation,” Erdan added.

Persons: Vedant Patel, ” Patel, Mahmoud Abbas, ”, Israel Katz, Katz, Palestinian Territories Riyad Mansour, “, ” Israel’s, Gilad Erdan, Erdan Organizations: CNN, United Nations Security, Security, United, US State Department, United Nations, Palestinian, Palestinian Authority, State, ” Israel’s, UN Locations: United States, Palestinian, New York, Israel, Palestinian Authority, Palestine, United, Palestinian Territories, Nazi

☆ Exclusive: State Department officials told House investigators they created Afghanistan withdrawal plans from scratch
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-03 | by ( Kylie Atwood | Jennifer Hansler | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +12 min

The State Department has continued to publicly defend its decision making around the NEO as well as the ending of the war. Milley and retired Gen. Kenneth McKenzie, who were in charge of the US military during the withdrawal, blamed the State Department for not ordering a NEO sooner. The State Department officials did not weigh in on whether calling a NEO sooner would have had a substantial impact, as this would have preceded their arrival in Afghanistan. Although the State Department has faced sharp criticism from the Defense Department – most recently in a congressional hearing with retired Gens. Coordination with the militaryAnd on the ground, as they grappled with the frenzied and fluid situation, State Department officials and service members at Hamid Karzai International Airport were regularly coordinating.

Persons: John Bass, Jim DeHart, Jayne Howell, Michael McCaul’s, McCaul, Biden, ”, Mark Milley, ” Howell, DeHart, ” Bass, Hamid, Bass, Wendy Sherman, Washington . Howell, I’m, Howell, “, Trump, Anna Moneymaker, Milley, Kenneth McKenzie, McKenzie, Vedant Patel, “ It’s, Defense Department –, Gens, Kenneth McKenzie –, ” DeHart, didn’t Organizations: CNN, State Department, House Foreign Affairs, Republican, Department, Foreign Affairs, Chiefs, House Foreign, ”, DC, State, Department of Defense, Airport, Foreign Service Institute, Pentagon, Biden, Joint Chiefs, Staff, US, US Central Command, ” State Department, Defense Department, Hamid Locations: Afghanistan, Kabul, Afghan, Ukraine, Kabul Afghanistan, Washington ., Turkey, Rayburn, Washington , DC, extremis

New York CNN —A plane carrying 21 Americans fleeing Haiti arrived in Orlando, Florida, on Saturday night, the latest in a series of US-chartered flights from the embattled Caribbean nation, which has descended into chaos amid rampant gang violence and political instability. Hundreds of US citizens remain in Haiti and nearly 1,000 had filled out crisis intake forms as of March 19, State Department spokesperson Vedant Patel previously told CNN. On March 17, the State Department said it flew dozens of Americans from Cap-Haitien, a city on Haiti’s north coast, to Miami. On Wednesday, the State Department said it expects more than 30 Americans will be able to board the US government flights each day they are chartered. DeSantis said people traveling on the plane that landed in Florida would not be charged.

Persons: Kevin Guthrie, Ron, DeSantis, ” DeSantis, Floridians, Vedant Patel, Orlando, Guthrie, Ariel Henry, Santo Organizations: New, New York CNN, Emergency Management, ”, “, State, CNN, Orlando Sanford International, Federal, State Department, Haiti’s National Police, United Nations Locations: New York, Haiti, Orlando , Florida, Caribbean, Orlando, Florida, Haiti’s, Miami, Port, Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic

☆ 'Hong Kong is China's Hong Kong': Beijing hits back at U.S. for 'slandering' city's new security law
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-21 | by ( Lee Ying Shan | In Ying-Shan-Lee | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

The flags of China and Hong Kong displayed in rows. China's embassy hit back against U.S. criticism of Hong Kong's new national security law on Thursday, saying the U.S. should "respect China's sovereignty." Hong Kong lawmakers passed a new national security law on Tuesday which critics say grants the government more power to quash dissent. "Hong Kong is China's Hong Kong. Hong Kong affairs are purely China's internal affairs, which no country is in the position to point fingers at or interfere in," a spokesperson said on Wednesday.

Persons: Hong, Hong Kong's, Vedant Patel, John Lee, Wang Yi, — CNBC's Evelyn Cheng, Clement Tan Organizations: U.S . State Department, Kong's Legislative, China's, Beijing, China - Locations: China, Hong Kong, U.S, China's, Hong Kong . Hong Kong, Kong's, China - U.S

☆ China slams the U.S. for interfering in Arunachal Pradesh border dispute with India
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-21 | by ( Shreyashi Sanyal | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

A tableau of Arunachal Pradesh state during the Republic Day parade along Kartavya Path in New Delhi, India, on Friday, Jan. 26, 2024. China slammed the United States for interfering in its border dispute with India, after Washington said it recognized the disputed Arunachal Pradesh as a part of Indian territory. China, which refers to the territory as Zangnan, claims Arunachal Pradesh is part of southern Tibet. India rejects those claims, stating Arunachal Pradesh has always been a part of India. Kugelman pointed out that the U.S. typically refrains from commenting on some Indian border disputes, such as the one with Pakistan over Kashmir.

Persons: Washington, Lin Jian, China's, Narendra Modi, Vedant Patel, Zangnan, Lin, Michael Kugelman, Kugelman Organizations: India's, Foreign Ministry, U.S . State Department, United, LAC, South Asia Institute, Wilson Center, CNBC Locations: Arunachal Pradesh, New Delhi, India, China, United States, Beijing, Indian, Tibet, U.S, Pakistan, Kashmir, Washington

☆ Live updates: The latest on the Israel-Hamas news
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-10 | by ( Chris Lau | Andrew Raine | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

A woman and children sit outside tents sheltering displaced Palestinians in Rafah, Gaza, on February 8. Satellite images showed this week how a tent city has swelled in size in just a few weeks. Also, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken raised concerns about the expansion into Rafah during meetings with Netanyahu and other Israeli officials this week, two Israeli officials told CNN on Wednesday. Non-governmental organizations issue warnings: Several non-governmental organizations have warned about the humanitarian consequences of Israeli operations in Rafah. Half of UNRWA requests to deliver aid in Gaza denied: The UN's main relief agency in Gaza said Friday that half of its aid mission requests to deliver aid in Gaza since the beginning of the year have been denied.

Persons: Mohammed Abed, Benjamin Netanyahu, “, Vedant Patel, Antony Blinken, Netanyahu, won’t, Philippe Lazzarini Organizations: Getty, United Nations, Israel Defense Forces, CNN, Wednesday, Norwegian Refugee Council, Hamas, The United Nations Relief, Works Agency for Palestine Refugees Locations: Rafah, Gaza, AFP, ”, Israel, United States, Egypt

☆ Netanyahu directs Israeli military to draw up plan to evacuate more than one million people from Rafah as offensive looms
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-09 | by ( Amir Tal | Mick Krever | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

CNN —Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has directed the country’s military to plan for the “evacuation of the population” from Rafah, his office said in a statement on Friday, ahead of an anticipated ground assault on the southern Gaza city. More than 1.3 million people are believed to be in Rafah, the majority displaced from other parts of Gaza, according to the United Nations. But it is unclear where next they could go; the city borders Egypt to the south, but the border into the country has been closed for months. The top commander in charge of Israel’s military operation in southern Gaza told CNN on Sunday that there was no plan in place yet for how to minimize civilian deaths in the city. The Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC) meanwhile said in a press release Thursday that Rafah could soon turn “into a zone of bloodshed and destruction that people won’t be able to escape.”

Persons: Benjamin Netanyahu, Netanyahu, “, Dan Goldfuss, ”, Vedant Patel, Biden, ” Biden, “ I’ve, it’s, won’t Organizations: CNN, Israeli, United Nations, Israel Defense Forces, Prime Minister’s, IDF, United States State Department, White, Norwegian Refugee Council Locations: Rafah, Gaza, Hamas’s, Egypt, ”, Brig, Israeli

Airstrikes hit a southern Gaza border city crowded with civilians on Thursday, a day after Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu denounced a cease-fire proposal by Hamas and signaled that the Israeli military was preparing to move into the area. “There is no place for the people to run to,” said Fathi Abu Snema, a 45-year-old father of five who has been living in a United Nations-run school in Rafah for nearly four months. “Everyone from all other parts of Gaza ended up in Rafah. Mr. Netanyahu said that Hamas’s demands were “ludicrous” and that accepting them would only invite further attacks on Israel. “We have yet to see any evidence of serious planning for such an operation,” he said.

Persons: Benjamin Netanyahu, ”, Fathi Abu Snema, Netanyahu, “ Hamas’s, Vedant Patel Organizations: United Nations, State Department Locations: Gaza, Rafah, Israel, Egypt’s, Washington, “

CNN —Two American citizens were detained by the Israel Defense Forces during a raid of a home in Gaza early Thursday morning local time, according to a family member in the United States. Hashem Alagha, 20, and Borak Alagha, 18, were among a group of roughly 20 men detained by IDF soldiers during the incident, according to Yasmeen Elagha, who identified herself as their cousin. She said both men are American citizens, born in the suburbs of Chicago and raised there in their early childhood. The US is aware of reports that the Israeli military has detained two American citizens in Gaza, according to a State Department spokesperson. Patel said they believe “the vast majority” of US citizens seeking to leave Gaza have reached out to the State Department.

Persons: Hashem Alagha, Borak Alagha, Yasmeen Elagha, Elagha, –, “, ”, Vedant Patel, Benjamin Netanyahu, Antony Blinken, Patel Organizations: CNN, Israel Defense Forces, IDF, State Department, Israel Locations: Gaza, United States, Chicago, Canadian, Rafah, Egypt

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