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☆ It took a bloody fight against traps, hidden enemies, and more for Israel to surround Gaza City, and it could get even worse as its forces move in
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-03 | by ( Jake Epstein | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

Israeli forces appear to have encircled Gaza City, a week after expanding ground operations. A major urban fight inside Gaza City, which appears imminent, could be a lot more costly. AdvertisementAdvertisementAfter a week of expanded ground operations inside the Gaza Strip, Israeli forces appear to have encircled the coastal enclave's main city. The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) "are encircling Gaza City from the air, the land, and the sea," Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari said at a press briefing on Friday. With Gaza City now effectively encircled and a deeper assault on it appearing imminent, the casualty figures could continue to rise.

Persons: —, Daniel Hagari, Herzi Halevi, Jack Guez, Benjamin Netanyahu, John Kirby, Pat Ryder, Israel Organizations: IDF, Service, Israel Defense Forces, Institute for, Telegram Hamas, Hamas, Islamic, Getty, National Security, Pentagon Press, Air Force, Pentagon Locations: Gaza City, Gaza, Washington, Israel, Islamic State, Sderot, AFP, Iran, Yemen, Iraq, Syria

On Thursday, Hezbollah, an ally of Hamas, attacked Israeli positions in the north with drones, mortar fire and suicide drones. The Israeli military said it retaliated with warplanes and helicopter gunships. More than 9,000 Palestinians have been killed in Gaza so far, and another 1,400 people have died in Israel, mainly civilians killed during Hamas’ initial attack. Casualties on both sides are expected to rise as Israeli troops advance toward the dense residential neighborhoods of Gaza City. Hundreds of thousands of Palestinians remain in the path of fighting in northern Gaza, despite Israel’s repeated calls for them to evacuate.

Persons: KHAN YOUNIS, Antony Blinken, Hassan Nasrallah, stoking, Joe Biden's, Netanyahu, ”, Blinken, Biden, John Kirby, Herzi Halevy, Israel, Daniel Hagari, Israel’s, Philippe Lazzarini, ___ Mroue Organizations: —, U.S . State Department, Health Ministry, Hamas, White House, State Department, Palestinian, West Bank . Military, Gaza Health Ministry, Hezbollah Locations: Gaza, Israel, Gaza City, Lebanon, Tel Aviv, Amman, Jordan, U.S, Hamas, Egypt, Beirut, Bangkok, israel

☆ Blinken to Reassert in Israel Its Right to Act but Need to Minimize Civilian Casualties
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-01 | by ( Nov. | At P.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +3 min

By Humeyra PamukWASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken will visit Israel on Friday to voice solidarity with its retaliation against Hamas in Gaza but also to reassert the need to minimize Palestinian civilian casualties, his spokesperson said on Wednesday. Blinken's trip, which includes a stop in Jordan, is his second to the Middle East in less than a month. State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller said Blinken will meet Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and other senior officials and receive an update on Israel's military objectives and its plans to achieve those goals. He will pursue talks led by Egypt and Qatar on securing the release of more than 200 hostages held by Hamas, Miller said. Turkish diplomatic sources said Blinken would also visit Turkey but Miller did not confirm the additional stop.

Persons: Humeyra Pamuk, Antony Blinken, Matthew Miller, Blinken, Benjamin Netanyahu, Miller, Israel, Joe Biden's, John Kirby, Jasper Ward, Daphne Psaledakis, Howard Goller Organizations: Israel, State Department, Hamas, White House, Washington Locations: Humeyra Pamuk WASHINGTON, Gaza, Jordan, Israel, Palestinian, Egypt, Qatar, Turkish, Turkey, Washington

☆ Gaza's only hospital treating cancer is now out of fuel, leaving 70 patients 'seriously threatened'
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-01 | by ( Sebastian Cahill | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

The only cancer-treating hospital in Gaza was forced to halt services after it ran out of fuel. Thousands of cancer patients are at risk after the hospital's closing and continuing airstrikes. AdvertisementAdvertisementThe only hospital treating cancer in the Gaza Strip has run out of fuel and cannot continue operating amid Israeli supply blockades. "We tell the world: don't leave cancer patients to a certain death due to the hospital being out of service," Skaik said during the press conference. AdvertisementAdvertisement"The lives of 70 cancer patients inside the hospital are seriously threatened," al-Kaila said in a statement, per Reuters.

Persons: —, Subhi Skaik, Skaik, Mai, Kaila, John Kirby, Bernie Sanders, Sanders Organizations: Service, Palestinian Friendship Hospital, Reuters, Palestinian Health, Hamas, Defense, Children, Israel, White House Locations: Gaza, Turkish, Al Jazeera, Israel, Palestine, White, American

Washington CNN —President Joe Biden and his top national security officials are increasingly confronting questions about Israel’s commitment to minimizing civilian deaths and how scenes from Gaza could affect his domestic political standing. Already, Biden had been walking a tightrope in his support for Israel following the Hamas terror attacks on October 7. Biden has resisted calls for a ceasefire, including at the United Nations, and insists Israel has a “responsibility” to defend its citizens from terrorism. It also included attempts by US officials to interrogate Israel’s war plans, which appeared not fully developed to some. And I think everyone understands that,” Biden told reporters as he returned home from his brief trip to Israel on October 18.

Persons: Joe Biden, Biden, Benjamin Netanyahu, “ They’ve, “, John Kirby, Kirby, ”, Richard Hecht, CNN’s Wolf Blitzer, Hecht, Blitzer, ” Jeremy Konyndyk, Obama, ” Konyndyk, Netanyahu, Biden’s, Israel, Jake Sullivan, Israel’s, Antony Blinken, Lloyd Austin, ” Biden, CNN’s Priscilla Alvarez Organizations: Washington CNN, White, Israeli, National Security, Israel Defense Forces, Refugees International, USAID, IDF, ”, CNN, Democratic Party, United Nations, Hamas, Capitol Hill Locations: Gaza, Israel, –, Hamas, Egypt, United States, ”, Qatar, Europe, Tel Aviv

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — President Joe Biden said he thought there should be a humanitarian “pause” in the Israel-Hamas war, after his campaign speech Wednesday evening was interrupted by a protester calling for a cease-fire. “I think we need a pause,” Biden said. Meanwhile, hundreds of foreign nationals and dozens of seriously injured Palestinians were allowed to leave Gaza after more than three weeks under siege. We provide other types of supplies.”He said to NewsNation they were happy to see foreigners leave Gaza. He said, when asked, that a pause "means give time to get the prisoners out.” White House officials later clarified he meant hostages and humanitarian aid.

Persons: Joe Biden, ” Biden, Biden, Benjamin Netanyahu, —, John Kirby, Jack Lew, Michael Herzog, “ Mr, ”, he's, Netanyahu, Abdel Fattah el, ___ Madhani, Colleen Long, Amy Forliti Organizations: White, Democratic Party, Hamas, National Security, Associated Press Locations: MINNEAPOLIS, Israel, Gaza, Gaza City, Egypt, U.S, Minneapolis, “, Washington

☆ Dagestan riot: Anti-Jewish protest in Russia’s Dagestan shows risks of Putin’s balancing act on Hamas
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-31 | by ( Nathan Hodge | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +10 min

“Threats to exterminate the Jews are the result of the work of Russian state propaganda, which for decades cultivated feelings of hatred towards other peoples among Russians,” he noted. Kadyrov has also provided footsoldiers for Russia’s war in Ukraine. The Gaza war adds one more match to the fire. Additionally, Russia’s war in Ukraine has impacted Dagestan heavily, with significant casualties. But an anti-Jewish riot in the southern region of Dagestan shows how quickly that model can backfire, particularly for those trapped inside the echo of Russian state propaganda.

Persons: Vladimir Putin, –, Matthew Miller, Israel, ”, Putin, ” Putin, “, Bashar al, Assad, Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Benjamin Netanyahu, Strategic Communications John Kirby, “ we’ve, ” Kirby, Volodymyr Zelensky, Oleh Nikolenko, Ramzan Kadyrov, – Kadyrov, Kadyrov, Harold Chambers, Riddle, Yevgenia Albats Organizations: CNN, multiconfessional, Ukraine –, Kremlin, Red Wings Airlines, Tel Aviv –, Jewish, Authorities, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Hamas, Israel’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Sunday, Saudi, Israeli, National Security, Strategic Communications, ” Observers, Criminal Court, ICC, Russian National Guard, AFP, Getty, Ukrainian Foreign Ministry, Global Locations: Russia, Dagestan, Makhachkala Uytash, Ukraine, Gaza, Tel Aviv, ”, Russian, Makhachkala, Palestine, Beijing, China, Israel, Jerusalem, Moscow, Iran, United States, Chechnya, Chechen, Russia’s, Kremlin, East

In an open letter entitled "2023 Ceasefire Ultimatum," the Muslim leaders pledged to mobilize Muslim voters to "withhold endorsement, support, or votes for any candidate who endorses the Israeli offensive against the Palestinian people." Muslim Americans in Minnesota, where Biden plans to visit on Wednesday, last week issued a similar ceasefire ultimatum, with a noon Tuesday deadline. Although a self-described Zionist president, Biden has appointed more Arab Americans and Muslims to political posts than any predecessor, as well as the first two Muslim federal judges. Around 70% of Muslim Americans backed Biden in 2020, Hussein said. Ahmet Tekelioglu, executive director of CAIR in Philadelphia, said Muslim Americans in the state were calling for an immediate ceasefire but he was not aware of plans to set a deadline.

Persons: Joe Biden, Leah Millis, Joe Biden's, Biden, Keith Ellison, Andre Carson of, Benjamin Netanyahu, John Kirby, Rashida Tlaib, Jaylani Hussein, Hussein, Ahmet Tekelioglu, Andrea Shalal, Andrew Hay, Heather Timmons, Howard Goller Organizations: Artificial Intelligence, White, REUTERS, Rights, Democratic Party, National Muslim Democratic Council, Former U.S, Congress, Israel, Palestinian, Twitter, Sacramento Valley Council, Islamic Relations, CAIR, Thomson Locations: Washington , U.S, Gaza, Michigan, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Israel, Andre Carson of Indiana, Gaza . U.S, Minnesota, Palestine, Sacramento, Wisconsin , Ohio, Michigan , Ohio, Wisconsin, Philadelphia, Washington, New Mexico

☆ A new wave of antisemitism threatens to rock an already unstable world
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-31 | by ( Jennifer Smith | Stephen Collinson | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +13 min

Outbursts of antisemitism have often been harbingers of societies in deep trouble and omens that extremism and violence are imminent. Biden on Monday unveiled new measures to tackle antisemitism on college campuses and senior officials underscored the need to combat anti-Jewish hate. A widening problem in the United StatesIn recent years, antisemitism has often been driven in the United States by far-right groups. But reaction to the deepening crisis in Israel and Gaza has shown that antisemitism is also boiling on the far-left. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer on Monday tried to pinpoint the moment at which opposition to Israeli policies crosses into antisemitism.

Persons: –, Israel, Kathy Hochul, Cornell, Molly Goldstein, ”, “, United States —, Joe Biden, Biden, ” John Kirby, Christopher Wray, ” Wray, Donald Trump, Israel’s, Chuck Schumer, Monday, “ I’m, ” Jonathan Greenblatt, Kasie Hunt, CNN Max, ’ Organizations: CNN, Cornell University, Ivy League, Cornell, Police, New York Gov, Democrat, Cornell Center for Jewish, Beverly Hills, National Security, Jewish American, Israel Defense Forces, Defamation, ADL, Department of Justice, West Bank, New York Democrat, Defamation League Locations: Gaza, United States, New York, Israel, Beverly, Europe, America, Russia’s, Dagestan, Ukraine, al Qaeda, United States of America, Charlottesville , Virginia, Palestinian, Chicago, “ State, Russia

☆ Ukraine war live updates: Putin says the West is to blame for mob storming Russian airport; U.S. calls the accusation 'absurd'
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-31 | by ( Holly Ellyatt | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

Russian President Vladimir Putin accused the West and Ukraine of orchestrating an anti-Israel riot in an airport in the Russian republic of Dagestan over the weekend, claiming they stood to benefit from a divided Russia. Today, in my opinion, this has already become obvious and clear to everyone," he said, according to comments published on the Kremlin website. "I have already spoken about attempts to use the dramatic situation in the Middle East, other regional conflicts against our country, against Russia. To do this, they use a variety of means, as we see, the best provocations and sophisticated psychological technologies and information aggression." The White House rejected the allegations with John Kirby, spokesperson for the U.S. National Security Council, describing them as "classic Russian rhetoric" and saying "the West had nothing to do with this.

Persons: Vladimir Putin, Putin, John Kirby, Holly Ellyatt Organizations: West, Kremlin, Security Council, Russia, House, U.S . National Security Council Locations: Ukraine, Israel, Russian, Dagestan, Russia, West, Makhachkala

As Israel’s assault on Gaza unfolds, global pressure is mounting for a pause in the fighting, including Monday at the United Nations. Instead, they describe occasionally difficult behind-the-scenes conversations about the importance of humanitarian aid and protecting civilian lives. “We have conversations, like friends do, on the hard questions … on issues associated with humanitarian aid,” US national security adviser Jake Sullivan said Sunday on CBS. Saudi Arabia has cautioned against a broad-scale Israeli invasion of Gaza, in part due to the potential of a spiraling regional war. The blackout – which left civilians, aid groups and journalists without any means of communicating with the outside world – came amid heavy Israeli bombardment of the enclave.

Persons: Washington CNN —, Joe Biden’s, Benjamin Netanyahu, “, Jake Sullivan, Sullivan, Khalid bin Salman, Israel, United States Michael Herzog, ” Herzog, CNN’s Wolf Blitzer, Herzog, John Kirby, CNN’s Poppy Harlow, Harlow, Kirby, ”, Ibraheem Abu Mustafa, –, ” Sullivan, Biden, ” Kirby, Vladimir Putin Organizations: Washington CNN, CNN, United Nations, Israel, CBS, Saudi Arabia’s Defense, White, National Security, Reuters CNN, US, Service, MSNBC, Hamas Locations: Israel, Gaza, ”, United States, Iran, Washington, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Rafah, Ukraine

☆ Pentagon says there are no limits on how Israel uses US weapons as death toll climbs amid airstrikes in Gaza
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-30 | by ( Chris Panella | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

The Pentagon says there are no limits on how Israel uses US-provided weapons in their attacks in Gaza. A spokesperson said it's up to the IDF how it uses the weapons. Israeli airstrikes have devastated the Gaza Strip, and a new ground offensive could do further damage. On Monday, Deputy Pentagon Press Secretary Sabrina Singh told that "we are not putting any limits on how Israel uses weapons that [are] provided," Voice of America National Security Correspondent Jeff Seldin reported. AdvertisementAdvertisementIn the wake of the Hamas attacks on Israel and during the subsequent war against the militants in Gaza, the US has repeatedly said that it supports Israel's right to defend itself.

Persons: it's, —, Sabrina Singh, Jeff Seldin, Singh, Israel, Khan Yunis, MAHMUD HAMS, John Kirby, Josh Paul, Biden, Leahy Organizations: Pentagon, Israel, Service, Hamas, Israel Defense Forces, of America National Security, Israeli Defense Force, Gaza Health Ministry, US, Palestinian, Getty, National Security, Congressional, Public Affairs, Political, Military Affairs, US Department of State, PBS Locations: Gaza, Israel, Gaza City, Khan, AFP

It's one, he argues, where finally finding agreement on a long-sought two-state solution to the Israel-Palestinian conflict should be a priority. The White House says Biden conveyed the same message directly to Netanyahu during a telephone call this past week. “It also means that when this crisis is over, there has to be a vision of what comes next, and in our view it has to be a two-state solution,” Biden said. In an updated version of the Foreign Affairs essay posted online, Sullivan wrote that the administration was “committed to a two-state solution." One presidential hopeful, biotech entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy, said Israel should feel free to abandon “the myth of a two-state solution."

Persons: ” Biden, Biden, Netanyahu, —, It's, Jake Sullivan, Sullivan, “, Israel’s, Aaron David Miller, ”, “ It’s, Biden's, Vivek Ramaswamy, Dennis Ross, George H, Bush, Bill Clinton, Ross, it’s, John Kirby, Israel, Rami Nashashibi, ” Nashashibi, Republican Donald Trump, Democrat Hillary Clinton, he’s, Bernie, Michelle L, Price Organizations: Middle, West Bank, Authority, Democratic, Republican, Republican Jewish Coalition, White House, Hamas, Israel, White, National Security, Gaza, Ministry, Inner, Muslim Action Network, Democratic Party, Arab, Michigan Democratic Party, Michigan, Democrat, Associated Locations: Israel, American, Gaza, Las Vegas, Biden's Israel, United States, Palestinian, U.S, Chicago, Eastern, Michigan

Strikes in a western Ukrainian city blew out windows at a nuclear power plant, once again raising safety concerns. An elderly civilian woman stands with a cat on the balcony of her destroyed house in the Ukrainian city of Avdiivka on Thursday. In the city of Avdiivka, Ukraine claimed it had been successful in repelling assaults and taking out large numbers of Russian soldiers. “It is highly likely that the target for these drones was the Khmelnytsky Nuclear Power Plant,” he said. The Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant, close to the front line and occupied by Russian troops since March 2022, has been the main focus of concern.

Persons: John Kirby, ” Kirby, ”, Russia’s, Vlada, “, Volodymyr Zelensky, CNN Avdiivka, Kupiansk, Zelensky, Oleksandr Prokudin, Rafael Mariano Grossi, ” Grossi Organizations: CNN, White House, National Security, Russian, Khmelnytsky Nuclear Locations: Ukraine, Russia, Ukrainian, Avdiivka, Moscow, Oskil, Kherson, Dnipro, Kherson region, Beryslav, ‘, Nova

☆ Hamas Vows 'Full Force' After Israel Steps up Gaza Ground Operations
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-27 | by ( Oct. | At P.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +7 min

By James MackenzieJERUSALEM (Reuters) - Hamas said on Saturday its militants in Gaza were ready to confront Israeli attacks with "full force" after Israel's military widened its air and ground attacks on the Palestinian enclave. The Palestinian militant group that rules Gaza said earlier its fighters were clashing with Israeli troops in areas near the border with Israel after Israel reported intensified attacks in Gaza. Israeli ground forces had massed outside Gaza, where Israel has been conducting an intense campaign of aerial bombardment since a deadly Oct. 7 attack by hundreds of Hamas gunmen on Israeli communities near the strip. Israel's military accused Hamas on Friday of using the hospital as a shield for its tunnels and operational centres, an allegation the group denied. Palestinians said they received renewed Israeli military warnings to move from Gaza's north to the south to avoid the deadliest theatre of the war.

Persons: James Mackenzie JERUSALEM, Daniel Hagari, Netanyahu, Jazeera, John Kirby, Kirby, Catherine Russell, Mark Regev, Benjamin Netanyahu, Israel, James Mackenzie, Nidal, Michelle Nichols, David Brunnstrom, Grant McCool Organizations: Palestinian, Reuters, UN, United Nations General Assembly, Israel, White House, Washington, Palestinian Red Crescent Society, Red Crescent Society, Hamas, Medecins Sans Frontieres, Children's Fund UNICEF, MSNBC, Fox News, U.S Locations: Gaza, Israel, Gaza's, Beit Hanoun, Al, Al Shifa, Gaza City, United States, U.S, Iran, Palestinian, Lebanon, Syria, Egypt

U.S. President Joe Biden has demonstrated unwavering support for Israel's security over a half century in public life. During Blinken's six-day trip, the death toll in Gaza soared from Israeli air strikes and concerns grew about food and water. Every Arab leader Blinken met in the region pressed him to urgently find a solution to the rapidly deteriorating situation in Gaza. HUMANITARIAN PAUSEThe most rapid shift in U.S. policy has happened this week, to support a cessation in Israel's attacks on Gaza to allow aid in and people to escape. But Biden also expressed skepticism toward Palestinian estimates of the death toll and a continued staunch support of Israel.

Persons: Joe Biden, Biden, Benjamin Netanyahu, Evelyn, Aaron David Miller, Barack Obama, Biden’s, Obama, Antony Blinken, Blinken, John Kirby, Kirby, Antonio Guterres, ”, Steve Holland, Phil Stewart, Matt Spetalnick, Humeyra Pamuk, Trevor Hunnicutt, Michelle Nichols, Heather Timmons, Alistair Bell Organizations: Israeli, Hamas, REUTERS, White, U.S, Carnegie Endowment, International Peace, Democratic, Biden's Democratic, Israel, Palestinian, West Bank, Thomson Locations: Israel, Tel Aviv, WASHINGTON, Gaza, Iraq, United States, U.S, U.N

☆ Trench rats add disgust to the nasty conditions in Russian lines
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-27 | by ( Chris Panella | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

Photos and videos show rat-infested Russian trenches along the front line. download the app Email address Sign up By clicking “Sign Up”, you accept our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy . AdvertisementAdvertisementNew footage apparently from inside Russian trenches show hoards of rats and mice, the latest sign of increasingly disgusting and degrading warttime conditions for troops on the battlefield. In World War I, when trenches along the Western Front were filled with waste, food, and dead bodies of troops, rat populations exploded. AP Photo/LibkosIt's far from clear how widespread the rat issue is, but their presence in some Russian trenches adds to the already degrading conditions along the front lines for Russian troops.

Persons: —, Rayner, they're, John Kirby, haven't, Kirby Organizations: Service, Twitter, Deutsch, Getty, 3rd Brigade, Canadian Field Artillery, Canadian Center, AP, White, National Security Locations: Donetsk, Avdiivka, Russian, Ukraine, Zaporizhzhia, Russia, Ukrainian

The ministry said the actual number of dead is likely to be much higher than stated in the report. The Palestinian Authority is run by a rival faction to Hamas, though the umbrella Ministry of Health maintains a relationship with the ministry in Gaza. But international agencies, including the United Nations and the World Health Organization (WHO), report figures provided by the Gaza ministry. The Prime Minister of the Palestinian Authority, Mohammad Shtayyeh, criticized Biden’s remarks, saying his health authority in the West Bank believed the Gaza numbers to be accurate. “I don’t have the numbers of people killed in Gaza Strip,” IDF Lieutenant Colonel Richard Hecht told CNN.

Persons: Joe Biden, Biden, John Kirby, Mohammad Shtayyeh, Biden’s, don’t, ”, Al Jazeera, Michael Ryan, “, Kirby, we’ve, Richard Hecht Organizations: CNN, Wednesday, White, Hamas, Palestinian, West Bank, Palestinian Authority, Health, United Nations, World Health Organization, WHO, Al, Ministry of Health, ”, US State Department, Ahli Arab Hospital Locations: Gaza, Israel, Ramallah, al, Ahli, Gaza City, Israeli

☆ Why Hasn’t Israel Invaded Gaza?
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-27 | by ( Cecelia Smith-Schoenwalder | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +9 min

While Israel has performed raids in Gaza, the larger ground invasion hasn’t happened, and the delay could expose further challenges for Israel’s operations. Additionally, the Biden administration has raised concerns that Israel lacks achievable military goals in Gaza, and the delay could help the country refine its objectives. So far, outside interests have remained mostly on the sidelines of the conflict, but a ground invasion could change that. There has also been some speculation that the ground invasion could be more limited in scope than what has been imagined so far. But waiting any longer for a ground invasion could create a dilemma for Israel: waning international support.

Persons: It’s, ” Natan Sachs, Benjamin Netanyahu, John Kirby, Israel, We’re, we’re, ” Kirby, Joe Biden, “, ”, Biden, doesn't, Ian Hurd, it's, ” Biden, ” Dan Byman, Hossein Amirabdollahian, Jonathan Conricus, Byman, Kirby, We’ve Organizations: Hamas, Brookings Institution, Pentagon, United, United Arab Emirates, White, National Security, Israeli Defense Forces, Northwestern University, Street, Iran’s Quds Force, Quds Force, Center for Strategic, International Studies, ” Iran's, United Nations, General, Israel Defense Forces, ABC Radio Melbourne, Israel, Georgetown University’s School of Foreign Service Locations: Gaza, U.S, Israel, Iraq, Syria, Kuwait, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, United Arab, Iran, The U.S, Tehran, Iran’s Quds, Beirut, Palestine, United States

WASHINGTON, Oct 27 (Reuters) - The United States is not trying to dictate limits for Israel, the White House said on Friday, as the Israelis expanded their military operation in Gaza against Hamas militants. The fresh military onslaught by Israel comes as the United States scrambles to arrange a humanitarian pause for deliveries of fuel and relief aid to Gaza civilians. How the expanded ground operation will impact efforts toward a pause was unclear. White House national security spokesperson John Kirby, at a news briefing, would not comment on the Israeli expanded ground operation. "We're not drawing red lines for Israel," he said.

Persons: United States scrambles, John Kirby, Steve Holland, Jeff Mason, Doina Chiacu, Chris Reese, Cynthia Osterman Organizations: Hamas, White House, Washington, Thomson Locations: United States, Israel, Gaza, White

☆ The Russian military is executing soldiers who won't follow orders and threatening to execute entire units if they retreat, the White House said
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-27 | by ( Erin Snodgrass | Sebastian Cahill | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

In a briefing, White House National Security Council spokesman John Kirby said Russia is executing some soldiers. AdvertisementAdvertisementThe Russian military has been executing soldiers who refuse to follow orders, White House National Security Council spokesperson John Kirby said in a White House press briefing Thursday. "It's reprehensible to think that you would execute your own soldiers because they didn't want to follow orders," Kirby said in the briefing. There have been multiple reports documenting the apparent poor conditions, low morale, and high casualty numbers for Russian soldiers. In a video plea from March, Russian soldiers complained that they were being sent into battle with "blocking" units that were meant to keep them from running away.

Persons: John Kirby, Kirby, —, Simon Miles, Stalin, Miles, haven't, Verstka Organizations: White, National Security, Service, House, Duke University's Sanford School of Public, Soviet Union, Red Army Locations: Russia, Soviet, Ukraine

Russia is executing soldiers who resist orders to throw themselves at heavily fortified positions using “human wave tactics” as part of a renewed offensive in eastern Ukraine, the White House said. Russian forces took heavy losses of machinery in the course of an assault involving a tank column, but Kirby’s emphasis was on the lack of regard Russian President Vladimir Putin’s military has for its own people. “We have information that the Russian military has been actually executing soldiers who refuse to follow orders,” Kirby said. The White House documented cases earlier in the war in which Russian military members surrendered rather than fight. “Recent Russian equipment losses around Avdiivka will likely lead to even more pronounced Russian equipment shortages and setbacks for any progress that the Russian military has made in addressing degraded mechanized maneuver warfare capabilities,” the institute wrote.

Persons: John Kirby, Vladimir Putin’s, ” Kirby, “, “ Russia’s, ”, ” Kirby couldn’t, Kirby Organizations: National Security, House, The Locations: Russia, Ukraine, Moscow, Avdiivka, Donetsk, Russian, Ukrainian, Avdiivika

☆ Israel military announces ground operation expansion in Gaza
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-27 | by ( Kevin Flower | Christian Edwards | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

CNN —The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) is “expanding ground operations” in the Gaza Strip, IDF spokesman Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari announced Friday, as intense airstrikes rocked the besieged enclave and with communications links reportedly severed. Gaza residents told CNN the strikes were the most intense they have experienced since Israel began to retaliate against Hamas’ October 7 terror attack nearly three weeks ago. A huge wall of heavy smoke that lasted 15 to 30 minutes also blew from Gaza into southern Israel earlier Friday evening. “We have, of course, certainly seen Israel undertake varied operations on the ground in the last couple of days,” National Security Council spokesman John Kirby told reporters Friday. He also declined to say if the Biden administration has confidence that Israel has fully considered the ramifications of a ground incursion.

Persons: Daniel Hagari, Mohammad Shtayyeh, Israel, Shtayyeh, Deir al Balah, Ayman Safadi, ”, ” Hagari, Hagari, John Kirby, “, we’re, ” Kirby, Biden, Kirby, Phillipe Lazzarini, Lazzarini Organizations: CNN, Israel Defense Forces, Israel, ” Palestinian Authority, Al Aqsa Martyrs, Palestine Red Crescent Society, Reuters, United Nations, UN, Assembly, Hamas, IDF, National Security, UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees Locations: Gaza, Israel, ”, Al Aqsa, Deir, Palestine, Gaza City, Israel’s, Egypt, Rafah

Israel says Hamas killed some 1,400 people including children and took more than 200 hostages in its Oct. 7 rampage. "I welcome the growing global consensus for a humanitarian pause in the conflict. INTERMEDIARY NEEDEDEven among Israel's allies, there is no consensus on what is meant by a humanitarian pause. She said "ceasefire" tends to refer to a general suspension of fighting while humanitarian pauses or corridors are more limited. "If that's what it requires, then we absolutely will try to get such pause or pauses in place."

Persons: Khan Younis, Abu Mustafa, Israel, Yoko Kamikawa, Antonio Guterres, Guterres, Gilad Erdan, Chiara Gillard, John Kirby, U.N, Stephane Dujarric, Dan Williams, Andrew Gray, Michelle Nichols, Emma Farge, Steve Holland, Sakura Murakami, Frank Jack Daniel, Cynthia Osterman Organizations: Hamas, REUTERS, EU, Foreign Ministry, White, General, Oxford Institute for Ethics, Law, . National Security, UN, Thomson Locations: Israel, Palestinian, Gaza, United States, Japan, New York, Brussels, Spain, Egypt, Rafah, rearm, Jerusalem, Geneva, Washington, Tokyo

Blinken told the United Nations this week that he would work with Wang to prevent the conflict in the Middle East from spreading. “China and the United States need to have dialogue. But while the U.S. has publicly stood with Israel, China has called for a cease-fire between Israel and the Western-designated terrorist group Hamas stationed in Gaza. Gavin Newsom met with Xi – the first meeting between a U.S. governor and Xi in six years. While more routes of communication may be opening, China-U.S. relations shouldn’t be mistaken as entirely pleasant at the moment.

Persons: Wang Yi, Antony Blinken, Wang, Blinken, ” Wang, John Kirby, Kirby, ”, Joe Biden's, Jake Sullivan, Biden, Xi Jinping, Gavin Newsom, Xi –, Xi, Newsom, “ We’ve, We’ve, Wu Qian Organizations: Foreign, U.S, State Department, United, National Security, Economic Cooperation, California Gov, CNN, Pentagon Locations: Washington, China, Gaza, Ukraine, United Nations, United States, U.S, Israel, “, Tehran, Asia, San Francisco, California

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