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The eventual language issued by the alliance about Ukraine during July’s summit in Washington is critical. Vague commitment in 2008It was back in 2008 at a NATO summit in Budapest that Ukraine was first offered a vague commitment of an invitation to join in the future. “Of course we’d be for ‘irreversible,’” a third Eastern European official said. Generally, throughout the conflict, British officials, the closest US allies in NATO, have consistently hoped the White House would take a more aggressive stance. “When the text is on the table and the countries start to negotiate we can see the full picture,” the Eastern European official said.

Persons: Jens Stoltenberg, we’ll, Antony Blinken, Biden, Stoltenberg, Volodymyr Zelensky, Zelensky, “, ” Stoltenberg, ”, doesn’t, It’s “, Vladimir Putin, ” Putin, Putin, Jennifer Hansler Organizations: CNN, NATO, Central, “, US, Biden, European, ”, US State Department, NATO Alliance, Eastern, Eastern European Locations: United States, United Kingdom, Washington, Russia’s, Ukraine, July’s, Russia, Prague, Hungary, Central European, Kyiv, Lithuanian, Vilnius, Budapest, Russian, ”, Kharkiv, London

CNN —US envoy Amos Hochstein told Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in a meeting on Tuesday in Israel that his public comments this week that the US is “withholding weapons and ammunitions to Israel” were “unproductive” and “more importantly, completely untrue,” a senior US official told CNN. A spokesperson for the US Embassy in Israel confirmed that Lew spoke with Netanyahu on Tuesday. The meeting reflected the administration’s mounting frustration with the Israeli leader’s comments. Hochstein’s comments to Netanyahu weren’t the first time US officials have pushed back in private against public comments made by Netanyahu, but some US officials would like the Biden administration to go further, an administration official said. “In the meantime, meetings with Israeli officials are being held throughout the week at expert and senior levels on a range of topics.

Persons: Amos Hochstein, Benjamin Netanyahu, Israel ”, ”, Israel Jack Lew, Netanyahu, Lew, ” Axios, Hochstein, Biden, Joe Biden, Netanyahu weren’t, “, that’s, ” Netanyahu, Antony Blinken “, ” Blinken, Israel won’t Organizations: CNN, Israeli, US Embassy, Israel Strategic Consultative, White, “ Locations: Israel, Gaza, Iran

☆ Blinken confirms US is still pausing a shipment of heavy bombs to Israel as Netanyahu increases pressure on admin
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-18 | by ( Jennifer Hansler | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

That remains under review,” Blinken said at a news conference at the US State Department. The administration is committed, however, to making sure that “that Israel has what it needs to effectively defend itself,” Blinken said. The announcement of the hold on the weapons shipment was met with mixed reactions, including strong condemnation from Israeli officials and some US lawmakers of both parties. It is unclear what other weapons Netanyahu was referencing. On Tuesday, CNN reported that key Democratic lawmakers had lifted holds on an expected $18 billion sale of F-15 fighter jets to Israel.

Persons: Antony Blinken, Benjamin Netanyahu, Biden, ”, ” Blinken, Joe Biden, Israel, Netanyahu –, Blinken, Netanyahu, “, Israel won’t, CNN’s Michael Conte, Eugenia Yosef, Vasco Cotovio Organizations: CNN, US State Department, Israel, Democratic Locations: Israel, Israeli, Rafah, Gazan

CNN —The Biden administration on Friday imposed sanctions on an Israeli group for disrupting humanitarian convoys headed to Gaza. The sanctions against the organization are the latest punitive measure taken under an executive order targeting those perpetrating violence in the West Bank. “They also have damaged aid trucks and dumped life-saving humanitarian aid onto the road. President Joe Biden signed an executive order earlier this year allowing sanctions on those causing West Bank violence. The order has been used to roll out sanctions on Israeli settlers attacking Palestinians in recent months.

Persons: CNN —, Biden, Matthew Miller, “, ”, Miller, Joe Biden, CNN’s Clarissa Ward, Brent Swails Organizations: CNN, US Treasury Department, US State Department, West Bank, ”, Biden, Reuters Locations: Gaza, Kerem, Jordan, Hebron, Israel

☆ US designates Nordic neo-Nazi group as terrorists
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-14 | by ( Jennifer Hansler | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

CNN —The US State Department on Friday designated a Nordic neo-Nazi group and three of its top officials as terrorists. It’s the second time in history that the US has designated a foreign White supremacist organization and its leaders as terrorists. The department designated the Nordic Resistance Movement (NRM) and three of its top officials – Tor Fredrik Vejdeland, Pär Öberg, and Leif Robert Eklund – as Specially Designated Global Terrorists on Friday, according to a statement from spokesperson Matthew Miller. The Trump administration in 2020 designated the Russian Imperial Movement (RIM) and its leaders as Specially Designated Global Terrorists. NRM is a transnational neo-Nazi organization founded in Sweden in 1997, with branches in Norway, Denmark, Iceland, and Finland, according to the State Department.

Persons: – Tor Fredrik Vejdeland, Pär Öberg, Leif Robert Eklund –, Matthew Miller, Biden, Trump, ” Miller, “, ”, Harris Administration’s, —, Ian Moss, Donald Trump Organizations: CNN, US State Department, Nazi, White, Nordic Resistance Movement, Terrorists, Russian Imperial Movement, State Department, United, US Intelligence Community, Biden, Department, Bureau, Counterterrorism Locations: Sweden, Norway, Denmark, Iceland, Finland, United States, Europe, South America, Australia, Canada, New Zealand, U.S

To date, the pier has been used to move thousands of tons of aid into Gaza, officials have said. The Pentagon acknowledged that there was some Israeli military activity “nearby” to the staging area for the pier but denied that the pier was used in the operation. Humanitarian officials say while any assistance getting into the Gaza strip is useful, the pier is not a sustainable mode for doing so. Even with additional openings, major obstacles to distribution within the Gaza strip remain and humanitarian officials tell CNN that there is still not an effective deconfliction method to protect aid workers. “A very expensive distraction,” one humanitarian aid official said of the pier.

Persons: Cindy McCain, we’re Organizations: CNN, Logistics, Shore, Hamas, Pentagon, CBS, UN, Department of Safety, Security Locations: Gaza, Israel, Ashdod, ”

“Hamas could have answered with a single word – yes,” he said. “It’s time for the haggling to stop and a ceasefire to start. Hamas submitted its reply to the multi-phased ceasefire and hostage release proposal to mediators on Tuesday. According to a senior State Department official, Blinken, who was in Amman at the time, dispatched two of the senior staff traveling with him to retrieve Hamas’ response from Egyptian Intelligence Chief Abbas Kamel, who was also in the Jordanian capital. Izzat al-Rishq, a member of the Hamas political bureau, described their response as “responsible, serious and positive.”CNN’s Becky Anderson, Hamdi Alkhshali and Benjamin Brown contributed to this report.

Persons: Antony Blinken, ” Blinken, ”, “ Israel, Benjamin Netanyahu, “, Jake Sullivan, ’, Israel, Blinken, Abbas Kamel, ” CNN’s Becky Anderson, Hamdi Alkhshali, Benjamin Brown Organizations: CNN, US National, UN, State Department, Egyptian Locations: Gaza, Doha, Israel, ”, Egypt, Jordan, Qatar, Amman, Jordanian, Izzat

Palestinians mourn their relatives who were killed by an Israeli bombardment at Al-Aqsa Martyrs Hospital in Deir al-Balah, Gaza, on June 8. Ismael Abu Dayyah/APThe Israeli military rescued four hostages held in central Gaza on Saturday in a major daytime operation. The strip’s government media office said at least 210 Palestinians were killed and more than 400 injured by the Israeli bombardment as it carried out the hostage rescue operation. Over 200 Palestinians dead:At least 210 people have been killed and more than 400 injured as a result of the Israeli operation, the enclave’s government media office said. IDF spokesperson Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari said the hostages had been locked in rooms of apartments in multistory civilian buildings.

Persons: Ismael Abu Dayyah, Noa Argamani, Almog Meir Jan, Andrey Kozlov, Shlomi Ziv, Balah, Israel, Daniel Hagari, Hagari, Benjamin Netanyahu, Argamani, that’s, Joe Biden, ”, Gantz postpones, Benny Gantz, Netanyahu, Gantz Organizations: Aqsa Martyrs Hospital, Israeli, Israel Defense Forces, Nova, CNN, Al, Families, Sheba Hospital, Ichilov, White Locations: Al, Aqsa, Deir al, Gaza, Nuseirat, Ramat Gan, Tel Aviv, American, Israel

☆ US resumes maritime aid deliveries to Gaza after pier repair
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-08 | by ( Kaanita Iyer | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

CNN —Maritime aid deliveries to Gaza resumed Saturday after a US-built temporary pier was repaired a day prior, US Central Command announced. CENTCOM made it clear Saturday that the pier, “including its equipment, personnel, and assets,” was not used in the operation. The pier, used in addition to dropping aid out of planes and trucking it through border checkpoints, sustained damage and broke apart in heavy seas late last month. In the less than two weeks the pier was operational, it helped deliver some 1,000 metric tons of aid to Gaza. The US had faced a number of challenges with the pier, including planning around Israel’s operations in Rafah, establishing who would transport the aid from the pier into Gaza, and logistical issues such as sea and weather conditions.

Persons: CENTCOM, ”, ” CENTCOM, Brad Cooper, CNN’s Jennifer Hansler, Philip Wang, Natasha Bertrand, Haley Britzky, Rachel Wilson, Sana Noor Haq Organizations: CNN, Maritime, Gaza, US Central Command, US, United Nations, UN, Royal Jordanian Air Force Locations: Gaza, Rafah, Israel

☆ 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

☆ Blinken to travel to Middle East as US ratchets up pressure on ceasefire and hostage proposal
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-07 | by ( Jennifer Hansler | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

The top US diplomat “will emphasize the importance of Hamas accepting the proposal on the table, which is nearly identical to one Hamas endorsed last month,” Miller said. Hamas has not yet put forward a formal response to the proposal, which was transmitted to Hamas’ political wing by the Qataris last Thursday. “We would hope for a response from Hamas as soon as possible, and we continue to wait,” Miller said at a press briefing Thursday. The top US diplomat has held a slew of calls to regional partners to discuss the proposal. Miller said on Wednesday that the US has seen both Egypt and Qatar “exert significant pressure on Hamas,” but he refused to get into the details of those separate pressure campaigns.

Persons: Antony Blinken, Blinken, Matthew Miller, “, ” Miller, ”, Joe Biden, Bill Burns, Brett McGurk, Biden, Qatar –, –, Miller Organizations: CNN, ”, Hamas, CIA, US, Qatar, United Nations Locations: United, Gaza, Egypt, Israel, Jordan, Qatar, Turkey

☆ US military’s Gaza pier has been repaired and reattached to beach
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-07 | by ( Natasha Bertrand | Haley Britzky | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +5 min

CNN —The US military’s temporary pier off the coast of Gaza was repaired and reattached to the beach on Friday morning, after breaking apart and sustaining damage in heavy seas last week, the deputy commander of US Central Command said on Friday. “I’m very pleased to announce that earlier this morning, in Gaza, US forces successfully attached the temporary pier to the Gaza beach. Israeli Defense Force engineers provided all the necessary support to ensure the safe emplacement of the pier to the beach,” Vice Adm. Brad Cooper told reporters on Friday. The damage last week came after significant obstacles on distribution routes including Hamas drones and looting that delayed the deliveries. The pier’s construction came as the humanitarian situation in Gaza deteriorates and the death toll from Israel’s bombardment climbs.

Persons: “ I’m, Brad Cooper, “, ” Cooper, Cooper, ”, Chris Mewett, ” Mewett, Shania Shelton, Jennifer Hansler, Oren Liebermann, Alex Marquardt, Haley Britzky, Kylie Atwood, Michael Conte, Helen Regan Organizations: CNN, US Central Command, US, Israeli Defense Force, USAID, Royal Jordanian Air Force Locations: Gaza, Rafah

☆ Biden gives Ukraine permission to carry out limited strikes within Russia using US weapons
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-30 | by ( Alex Marquardt | Jennifer Hansler | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

The loosening of the restrictions marks a break from long-standing policy and comes amid growing international pressure from close US allies. But it is limited to the area around Kharkiv, and Ukraine has not requested permission beyond that, the official said, adding that they do not anticipate the US widening the area allowed. Russian forces, ammunitions depots and logistical hubs can now be targeted with US-provided artillery and rockets across the border from Kharkiv in western Russia. But the prohibition has blocked Ukraine from targeting Russian aircraft that are on the ground inside Russia. “Ukrainian soil is being attacked from bases in Russia,” Macron said during a visit to Schloss Meseberg in Brandenburg, Germany.

Persons: Joe Biden, “, Antony Blinken, ” Blinken, Olaf Scholz, Emmanuel Macron, ” Macron, Germany’s Scholz, Macron’s Organizations: CNN, Politico, Kyiv, US Locations: Ukraine, Kharkiv, Russia, Russian, Washington, Moldova, “, Meseberg, Brandenburg, Germany, United States

☆ US sending military aid to Ukraine to help repel Russian attacks on Kharkiv
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-24 | by ( Jennifer Hansler | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

CNN —The United States is sending $275 million in military assistance to Ukraine as part of “efforts to help Ukraine repel Russia’s assault near Kharkiv,” Secretary of State Antony Blinken announced Friday. “We will move this new assistance as quickly as possible so the Ukrainian military can use it to defend their territory and protect the Ukrainian people,” Blinken said in a statement. Russian forces have advanced toward Kharkiv, Ukraine’s second-largest city, after launching a surprise cross-border assault in mid-May. “We’re committed to making sure that Ukraine has the equipment it needs to succeed on the battlefield.”However, the US has continued to say its weapons cannot be used by Ukraine to strike Russian targets on Russian territory. “We have not encouraged or enabled strikes outside of Ukraine,” Blinken reiterated last week.

Persons: Antony Blinken, ” Blinken, Volodymyr Zelensky, ” Zelensky, Blinken, Dmytro Kuleba, “ We’re Organizations: CNN, ”, Kharkiv, High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems, Ukrainian, US Locations: United States, Ukraine, Kharkiv, “, Ukrainian, ”, Ukraine’s, Lyptsi

The distribution comes several days after the US military’s pier operation launched and got off to a rocky start. “Such challenges with internal distribution are not new or unique to aid delivery from the sea,” Cooper said. The US military is also going to continue airdropping aid into Gaza, Cooper confirmed. Dieckhaus said Thursday that there are “thousands and thousands of tons” of aid in Cyprus awaiting processing to be brought across the pier. On Wednesday, “the UN reported 215 private sector trucks entering Gaza through Kerem Shalom and 115 humanitarian assistance trucks through Zikim/Erez West,” USAID said.

Persons: Brad Cooper, ” Cooper, Cooper, Daniel Dieckhaus, “, Dieckhaus, Erez West, Erez East, ” Organizations: CNN — Aid, US Agency for International Development, USAID, United States Central Command, Pentagon, Management, UN Locations: Gaza, Hamas, Cyprus, Kerem Shalom, Rafah, Erez, United States, Israel

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 announces $400 million military aid package for Ukraine
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-10 | by ( Haley Britzky | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

CNN —The US announced on Friday a new $400 million military aid package to Ukraine. The announcement marks the second Presidential Drawdown Authority (PDA) package since President Joe Biden signed a long-delayed national security supplemental securing $60 billion in funding for Ukraine. Last month, just moments after Biden signed the legislation, the US announced a $1 billion PDA package to Ukraine. The $6 billion package — the largest the US has announced — is under the Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative (USAI). Ukraine met them there with our troops, brigades and artillery.”“But our military and military command were aware of this and anticipated their forces to meet the enemy with fire,” he said.

Persons: Biden, Antony Blinken, Joe Biden, Lloyd Austin, Austin, Volodymyr Zelensky, Russia “, ”, “, Jennifer Hansler Organizations: CNN, Patriot, High Mobility Artillery, Bradley Fighting Vehicles, Ukraine, US, Defense, Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative, USAI, Pentagon, Russian, Russia Locations: Ukraine, United States, Russia, Ukrainian, Kharkiv

☆ 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

☆ US soldier was arrested in Russia last week
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-06 | by ( Natasha Bertrand | Oren Liebermann | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

CNN —An American soldier was detained in Russia last week on suspicion of theft and is currently being held in pre-trial detention, according to two US officials. “The Army notified his family and the U.S. Department of State is providing appropriate consular support to the Soldier in Russia. The soldier was stationed in South Korea when he took leave to travel to Russia on his own, according to another US official. A State Department official confirmed that a US citizen had been detained in Russia but would not provide further details. Last July, another soldier stationed in South Korea willingly crossed into North Korea where he was immediately detained.

Persons: Gordon Black, ” “, ”, Cynthia Smith, “, Evan Gershkovich, Marine Paul Whelan, Ksenia Karelina, John Kirby, haven’t, ” Kirby, Travis King, King, CNN’s Jennifer Hansler, Kylie Atwood Organizations: CNN, US Army, Army, Russian Federation, U.S . Department of State, Vienna Convention, Consular Relations, Soldier, US State Department, Street, Marine, NBC News, State Department, US, National Security, Joint Security Area, Incheon International Locations: American, Russia, South Korea, Vladivostok “, Vienna, Ukraine, Cavazos, Texas, Moscow, North Korea, United States, Incheon, Seoul

CNN —Northern Gaza is experiencing a “full-blown famine” which is rapidly spreading across the strip after almost seven months of war, the executive director of the World Food Programme has said. “Whenever you have conflicts like this, and emotions rage high, and things happen in a war, famine happens,” the WFP’s Cindy McCain told NBC’s “Meet the Press” in a clip released ahead of the interview airing on Sunday. More than 34,600 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli attacks in Gaza as of May 1, according to the Gaza health ministry. Concerns are also heightened over an anticipated Israeli military operation in southern Gaza’s Rafah, prompting renewed calls for a ceasefire. People in southern Gaza queue to receive a bowl of food for their families from charity organizations, on May 3, 2024.

Persons: Cindy McCain, NBC’s “, ”, “, ” McCain, Doaa, they’re Organizations: CNN, WFP, UN, Getty, Israel Defense Forces Locations: Northern Gaza, Cairo, Palestinian, Gaza, Israel, US, Gaza’s Rafah, Anadolu, 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, “

CNN —Dozens of Palestinian children eagerly lined up for a meal in Deir al-Balah, in central Gaza, as aid workers unloaded huge saucepans of stew and rice from parked trucks under the bright sun. CNN footage from the distribution site in front of a sprawling displacement shelter showed staffers from the World Central Kitchen (WCK) serving the children on Wednesday. The World Central Kitchen, a US-based non-profit that focuses on fighting hunger around the world, resumed work in Gaza this week, after a hiatus following a series of Israeli military strikes that killed seven staffers in April and drew the world’s condemnation. “[The World Central Kitchen’s] food makes people feel that they are at home. Shortly after the deaths of the World Central Kitchen workers in April, Israeli officials agreed to open the Erez border crossing into northern Gaza to allow aid deliveries.

Persons: Um Hassan, Benjamin Netanyahu, Jose Andres, ” Andres, Israel’s, Ashraf Al Sultan, ”, haven’t, ” Zaki Sobeh, “, Volker Türk, Israel, Yoav Gallant, Erez, CNN’s Jennifer Hansler, Tim Lister, Eugenia Yosef, Mohammed Tawfeeq, Jonny Hallam Organizations: CNN, Israeli, Kitchen, UN, United Nations, Central Kitchen, US State Department, Hamas Locations: Deir al, Gaza, Palestinian, US, Deir, Israel, Shalom, Erez

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has long sought relations with Saudi Arabia, home of Islam’s holiest sites, as the move could domino across the wider Muslim world. The first component includes a package of agreements between the US and Saudi Arabia, another component has the normalization of relations between Saudi Arabia and Israel, and a third component for a pathway to a Palestinian state. The subsequent Israeli assault on Gaza, which has left the enclave in ruins and killed more than 34,000 Palestinians, may have changed the parameters of the deal for Saudi Arabia, analysts say. However, there has been no indication that the Biden administration would opt to bypass Congress for the bilateral agreement with Saudi Arabia to pass. Saudi Arabia is rich in uranium deposits and has insisted on being able to enrich it domestically, which would be a first for an Arab state.

Persons: Benjamin Netanyahu, Matthew Miller, ” Miller, Antony Blinken, ”, Blinken, Prince Mohamed bin Salman, Netanyahu, Biden, Prince Faisal bin Farhan, Israel, Lindsey Graham, ” Graham, Firas Maksad, “, Jamal Khashoggi, ” Maksad, Crown Prince, Karen Young, Edward J, Markey Organizations: CNN, State, Saudi, State Department, Abraham Accords, Israel, MBS, Saudi Foreign, Republican, Senate, Bahrain, Biden, Strategic Outreach, Middle East Institute, Washington DC, Congress, Washington Post, Crown, Columbia University’s Center, Global Energy, Neighboring United, Democratic, Nuclear Weapons, NATO Locations: Saudi Arabia, United States, Israel, Iran, Russia, China, Palestinian, Gaza, ”, Riyadh, Saudi, Washington, Turkey, “ Saudi Arabia, Emirates, Bahrain, U.S

☆ US imposes sanctions on more than a dozen companies in China for support of Russia’s war in Ukraine
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-01 | by ( Jennifer Hansler | Samantha Waldenberg | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +1 min

CNN —The United States imposed sanctions on more than a dozen companies in China and Hong Kong for their support of Russia’s war in Ukraine as part of a tranche of nearly 300 new sanctions unveiled Wednesday. “The almost 300 targets being sanctioned by both Treasury and the Department of State include sanctions on dozens of actors that have enabled Russia to acquire desperately needed technology and equipment from abroad,” the Treasury Department said in a news release. The sanctions also hit targets within Russia, as well as Azerbaijan, Belgium, Slovakia, Turkey and the United Arab Emirates. The sanctions are aimed at cracking down on sanctions evasion and support for Russia’s military-industrial base and its biological and chemical weapons programs. The Treasury Department also targeted those involved in providing precursor materials to Russia used in explosives.

Persons: Janet Yellen, Antony Blinken, “ Organizations: CNN, Ukraine, Treasury, Department of State, Treasury Department, United, United Arab Emirates Locations: United States, China, Hong Kong, Ukraine, Russia, Azerbaijan, Belgium, Slovakia, Turkey, United Arab

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