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☆ Arab and Palestinian Americans frustrated, left without commitments to policy change after meeting with Blinken
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-18 | by ( Kylie Atwood | Khalil Abdallah | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

The Arab and Palestinian American leaders requested the meeting, which included the heads of five national organizations: the American Federation of Ramallah Palestine, the American Arab Chamber of Commerce, Arab America, the Arab American Institute, and the US Palestinian Council. They went into the meeting already frustrated by the “callous neglect” they say the Arab American community has received from the Biden administration. “I think the administration has ample chances to make real change … and I have not seen change, real change in policy. Elnajjar helped organize for the Biden campaign in 2020 as part of the Arab Americans for Biden. Attendees at the meeting with Blinken made the point that it is not just Arab Americans who Biden is losing, but also allies from other ethnic backgrounds who are standing in solidarity with Arab, Palestinian and Muslim Americans.

Persons: Antony Blinken, Biden, ” Bilal Hammoud, ”, John Dabeet, “, ” Dabeet, ” Hammoud, ” Bilal, Ghada Elnajjar, Elnajjar, she’s, Blinken Organizations: CNN, Palestinian, American Arab Chamber of Commerce, White, Muslim, US Palestinian Council, American Federation of, Arab American Institute, The State Department, Biden Locations: Israel, Gaza, Arab, Palestinian, American Federation of Ramallah Palestine, Arab America, Rafah, American, Palestinian American

☆ Israel Recovered the Bodies of 3 Hostages
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-17 | by ( Justin Porter | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

Israeli forces recovered the remains of three Israeli hostages during an operation in Gaza last night, the Israeli military said today, but officials did not say where they were found. The Israeli military spokesman identified them as Amit Buskila, Shani Louk and Yitzhak Gelernter. The recovery of the remains highlighted a growing anxiety over how many hostages are still alive after seven months of war. Roughly 125 living and dead hostages remain in Gaza, including several U.S. citizens, according to the Israeli authorities. Separately, trucks of humanitarian aid began moving ashore into Gaza today through a temporary pier built by the U.S. military.

Persons: Amit Buskila, Shani Louk, Yitzhak Gelernter Organizations: U.S . Locations: Gaza

☆ The US Navy's only forward-deployed aircraft carrier, USS Ronald Reagan, is leaving Japan after nearly a decade in the Pacific
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-16 | by ( Ella Sherman | Chris Panella | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Read previewThe USS Ronald Reagan, the only aircraft carrier in the US Navy forward deployed, or permanently stationed in another country, is leaving Japan after spending nearly a decade in the Pacific. Related storiesIn 2021, USS Ronald Reagan briefly left its forward-deployed position to provide air support during US withdrawal operations in Afghanistan. USS Ronald Reagan traveling through the Straits of Magellan, to San Diego, CA, in a transfer move. US Navy/Photographer's Mate 3rd Class Elizabeth ThompsonThe USS Ronald Reagan already had a history of cooperation with Japan prior to its deployment. "Whether it's aboard USS Ronald Reagan today or USS George Washington in the future, we will continue to strengthen those ties at all levels, on-shore and at-sea."

Persons: —, Ronald Reagan, Ronald Reagan Sailors, Daryle Cardone, Ronald Reagan's, Reagan, Photographer's, Elizabeth Thompson, USS George Washington, George Washington, Greg Newkirk, Anthony Wallace, Gerald R Organizations: Service, US Navy, Business, Nimitz, Carrier Strike, CSG, Fleet, USS, Japan, Self, Defense Force, Navy, Aircraft, Getty, Pacific . Aircraft, US, Pacific Locations: Japan, Yokosuka, China, Afghanistan, Magellan, San Diego , CA, Bremerton , Washington, Israel, Iran, Gaza, Pacific, Russia, North Korea

☆ The Pentagon is sending 2 Navy warships to protect the floating pier to bring aid to Gaza by sea
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-15 | by ( Konstantin Toropin | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Read previewNavy warships will help protect the US military's soon-to-be-completed pier to deliver aid to starving Palestinians in Gaza, the Pentagon said Tuesday. Pentagon spokesman Maj. Gen. Pat Ryder told reporters at a briefing Tuesday that Navy ships will be part of the security plan for the operation. A Navy official told Military.com that the sea service is assigning two destroyers to the mission. But aid has been slow to come in through those routes either due to closures or heavy screenings by Israeli officials . At the beginning of April, Israeli forces conducted repeated airstrikes on a World Central Kitchen convoy of aid workers, killing seven.

Persons: —, Pat Ryder, Military.com, Roy P, Benavidez, Ryder, P Organizations: Service, Pentagon, Navy, Business, Israeli Defense Forces, Hamas, Maxar Technologies, Reuters, Army Locations: Gaza, Ashdod

☆ US officials doubt Israel can actually eradicate Hamas and achieve a 'total victory'
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-14 | by ( Ella Sherman | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Read previewUS government officials are skeptical Israel can actually achieve its goals and completely eliminate Hamas in Gaza. He argued that "we have to achieve victory and that means that we have to destroy all these battalions, which we will." The current US view of what victory looks like in this war appears different than that of Israel. "With the question of a strategic endgame, I don't think that's really a question about American influence," he said. "That's a question about Israel's strategy and what Israel chooses to do."

Persons: —, Kurt Campbell, Phil McGraw, Phil, Benjamin Netanyahu, Netanyahu, hasn't, Joe Biden, Biden, Khan Younis, State Anthony Blinken, CBS's Margaret Brennan, Blinken, Jake Sullivan, Israel Organizations: Service, CNN, NATO Youth, Business, Israeli, Republican, State, National Locations: Israel, Gaza, Rafah, I'm

☆ Top Republican donors fund group doxxing pro-Palestinian college students
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-13 | by ( Brian Schwartz | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +7 min

The contributors listed on the tax return include billionaire Republican megadonor Jeff Yass, who Accuracy in Media said gave it $1 million. The family foundation of shipping supply magnate Richard Uihlein is also identified on the tax return, which says the Ed Uihlein Family Foundation gave $10,000. According to its tax return, Accuracy in Media said it received $15,000 from the Coors brewing family's charitable foundation. But AIM president Adam Guillette told CNBC Yass had been misidentified, and he did not give to the organization. Nonprofit groups are not required to release their donors' names publicly, but they are required to report to the IRS the names of donors who gave $5,000 or more.

Persons: Claudine Gay, Pat Greenhouse, Jeff Yass, Richard Uihlein, Ed Uihlein, Milstein, Adam Milstein, Adolph Coors, Peter H, Janine, John Harvard, Joseph Prezioso, Adam Guillette, Guillette, Phil Headley, Uihlein, Israel, Ben Curtis Organizations: Harvard, Harvard University, Boston Globe, CNBC, Media, Foundation, Milstein Family Foundation, Internal Revenue, Coors, Adolph Coors Foundation, Molson Coors, Susquehanna International Group, Pro, Harvard University in, Afp, Getty, IRS, CNBC Yass, JBS, Company, AIM, Nonprofit, Independent Women's, South, IWF, Amazon, Project Veritas, Harvard College Locations: Yass, Uihlein, Harvard University in Cambridge , Massachusetts, South Carolina, Israel, Gaza, Harvard University in Cambridge

☆ No 'credible plan': U.S.' Blinken issues harshest criticism yet of Israel's Gaza operations
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-13 | by ( Natasha Turak | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +4 min

"One, you have to have a clear, credible plan to protect civilians, which we haven't seen. Second, we also need to see a plan for what happens after this conflict in Gaza is over, and we still haven't seen that." The Israel-Hamas war has killed more than 34,000 people in Gaza, according to Palestinian health authorities in the besieged enclave. We're seeing parts of Gaza that Israel has cleared of Hamas where Hamas is coming back, including in the north, including in Khan Younis," Blinken said. Smoke rises after Israeli airstrikes in eastern Rafah, Gaza on May 07, 2024.

Persons: Antony Blinken, Mike Herzog, Evelyn Hockstein, Blinken, Biden, Joe Biden, Ashraf Amra, Benjamin Netanyahu, Khan Younis, Abed Rahim Khatib, We've Organizations: Ben, Reuters U.S, CBS, Israel, Administration, Anadolu, Getty, Hamas, State Department, NBC Locations: U.S, Ben Gurion, Tel Aviv, Israel, Gaza, Rafah, Deir, Balah, Palestinian, America, Egypt

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

☆ University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee and Protesters Agree to End Encampment
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-12 | by ( Dan Simmons | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

Protesters at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee will take down a pro-Palestinian encampment that had stood for two weeks under an agreement reached with the school, university officials said in a statement on Sunday. The encampment, believed to be the last one standing at a Wisconsin college, will be gone by Tuesday, they said. School officials had allowed the encampment to stand and occupy a broad patch of lawn between Mitchell Hall and a busy thoroughfare on the campus’s southern boundary, choosing not to call in the police. That approach differed from one at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, where administrators in early May called in the police to break down the tents after negotiations failed. After the initial crackdown failed to end the encampment, Wisconsin-Madison later came to an agreement with protesters to break down the camp voluntarily before commencement ceremonies over the weekend.

Persons: Mark Mone Organizations: University of Wisconsin, School, Mitchell, Wisconsin -, UWM Popular University for Palestine Coalition Locations: Milwaukee, Wisconsin, Madison, Wisconsin - Milwaukee, Israel, Gaza

☆ Middle East Crisis White House Aide Warns Israel Against ‘Smashing Into Rafah’
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-10 | by ( Erica L. Green | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +4 min

John F. Kirby, a White House national security spokesman, said President Biden is concerned that an Israeli assault on Rafah would strengthen Hamas. Smashing into Rafah, in his view, will not advance that objective, will not get to that sustainable, enduring defeat of Hamas. But Mr. Biden has grown increasingly wary of a major assault in the densely populated city of Rafah in southern Gaza. Credit... Abir Sultan/EPA, via ShutterstockMr. Kirby also tried to assuage concerns that the United States was breaking with its closest ally in the Middle East. Mr. Biden’s decision to pause certain weapons shipments to Israel underscored brewing frustrations between Mr. Biden and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of Israel.

Persons: John F, Kirby, Biden, Israel “, ” Mr, Israel —, Israel, Mr, CNN’s Erin Burnett, Abir, Biden’s, “, Benjamin Netanyahu, Netanyahu, God’s, ” Organizations: White House, ., American, Congress Locations: Rafah, Israel, Gaza, United States, “, I’m, Israeli, Abir Sultan, Egypt

☆ 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

☆ Despite Biden's warning, Israel's Netanyahu tells TV personality Dr. Phil there's 'no other choice' but to assault Rafah
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-10 | by ( Ella Sherman | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

download the appSign up to get the inside scoop on today’s biggest stories in markets, tech, and business — delivered daily. "That means we will defeat Hamas, including in Rafah, we have no other choice," the prime minister said. Many of these weapons are precision weapons, but they still have the potential to cause significant collateral damage. "If you want to avoid civilian casualties, you need these weapons rather than imprecise weaponry," Netanyahu argued during the interview, referring to US precision weapons. In addition to eliminating Hamas' battalions, Netanyahu also confirmed that his goals of getting hostages back has not changed since the start of Israel's war with Hamas.

Persons: —, Joe Biden, Benjamin Netanyahu, Israel, Netanyahu, Phil McGraw, Phil, Biden, CNN's Erin Burnett, we've, We've Organizations: Service, Israeli, Business, US Locations: Gaza, Rafah, Israel, I'm

☆ Oil prices up on stronger Chinese data, Middle East conflict
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-10 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

Oil prices rose on Friday, continuing upwards trend on the signs of improving economy in China and as negotiations to halt hostilities in the stand-off between Israel and Hamas yielded no results. In the previous session, oil prices edged up to a one-week high on data of rising crude oil imports in China in April and as investors saw the cooling U.S. job market as an indication of possible interest rate cuts. China's exports and imports returned to growth in April after contracting in the previous month, signaling an improvement in demand. "Ongoing signs of strength in demand in China should see commodity market remain well supported," ANZ Research said in a note. Daly did not say if she felt the U.S. central bank was likely or not to cut interest rates this year.

Persons: Brent, Mary Daly, Daly, Benjamin Netanyahu, Joe Biden's Organizations: U.S, West Texas, ANZ Research, San Francisco Federal, Financial Locations: China, Israel, U.S, Rafah, Gaza, Cairo

☆ Biden and Netanyahu's fraught relationship hits new low after U.S. pauses weapons shipment
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-10 | by ( Natasha Turak | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +7 min

"There's real skepticism in the administration that Rafah will bring about a deal for the hostages, like the Israelis have been saying." Pentagon confirms weapons shipment pause to IsraelThe Pentagon confirmed on Wednesday that the administration paused the delivery to Israel of a shipment of 1,800 two-thousand-pound bombs and 1,700 five-hundred-pound bombs. Netanyahu remains undeterred, saying that Israel will "stand alone" and fight "with our fingernails" if U.S. weapons shipments stopped. Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant (L) visits army units on the border between Israel and Gaza Strip near Rafah, Gaza on May 07, 2024. Israeli Ministry of Defense | Anadolu | Getty ImagesItamar Ben Gvir, Israel's far-right wing national security minister, posted on X simply writing: "Hamas [heart emoji] Biden."

Persons: Ahmad Gharabli, Richard Haass, Joe Biden, Haass, George W, Bush, Benjamin Netanyahu, Khan Yunis, Ashraf Amr, Biden, Defense Lloyd Austin, Washington's, Austin, Netanyahu, Yoav Gallant, Itamar Ben Gvir, emoji, It's, Will, Avi Melamed, Melamed, Clayton Allen, Independent Sen, Bernie Sanders, Vermont, Sanders, Ali Jadallah Organizations: Hamas, AFP, Getty, U.S, Foreign Relations, Haaretz, Qatari, United Nations, WHO, Anadolu, CNN, Pentagon, Biden, Defense, Israel, Israeli, Ministry of Defense, Congress, Eurasia Group, Independent, CNBC Locations: Israel, Gaza, Rafah, Palestinian, Israeli, Khan, I'm, al, Hamas, Iran, U.S, United States

☆ Middle East Crisis Biden Says the U.S. Will Not Supply Israel With Weapons to Attack Rafah
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-09 | by ( Erica L. Green | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +4 min

President Biden acknowledged on Wednesday that American bombs have been used to kill Palestinian civilians as he warned that the United States would withhold certain weapons if Israel launches a long-threatened assault in southern Gaza. “If they go into Rafah, I’m not supplying the weapons that have been used historically to deal with Rafah, to deal with the cities, that deal with that problem,” Mr. Biden said in an interview with CNN’s Erin Burnett. Mr. Biden had resisted earlier calls to condition aid to Israel. Mr. Biden said he had made it clear to Mr. Netanyahu and his war cabinet that they would not get support if they moved forward with an offensive in densely populated areas. Asked if he hears the message of those young Americans, Mr. Biden said:“Absolutely, I hear the message.”

Persons: Biden, ”, Mr, CNN’s Erin Burnett, We’re, we’re, Benjamin Netanyahu, Israel, “, Netanyahu, Joe ” — Organizations: U.S, Hamas Locations: Rafah, United, Israel, Gaza, United States, Iran, I’m, East, ”, Egypt

Israeli leaders declared on Thursday that they would not be deterred by President Biden’s threat to withhold more arms shipments if the military launched a major assault on densely populated areas of Rafah in southern Gaza. Defiant and at times disdainful of the Biden administration’s stance, their comments made clear the widening rift between Israel and the United States over the war and the prospect of a full-scale invasion of Rafah, where about a million Palestinians are sheltering. And they came as high-level negotiations aimed at reaching a cease-fire and hostage deal were derailed — at least for the moment — amid anger by some of the participants over a military incursion into Rafah by Israeli forces earlier this week. After that incursion, Mr. Biden said the United States, Israel’s closest ally, would not ship more weapons that could be fired into crowded sections of Rafah. On Thursday, an Israeli military spokesman said his nation had enough munitions on hand to proceed with its plans.

Persons: Biden’s, Biden Locations: Rafah, Gaza, Israel, United States

☆ Biden's threat to cut off weapons for Israel isn't the same as what got Trump impeached
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-09 | by ( Brent D. Griffiths | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +8 min

Israel has already gone into Rafah, but Biden characterized their current level of involvement as short of his red line. I’m old enough to remember when Democrats impeached another President for supposedly withholding foreign aid that had been approved by Congress. The Government Accountability Office, a nonpartisan watchdog, formally concluded that the Trump administration broke the law in withholding congressionally approved aid to Ukraine. Biden relied on a bipartisan coalition to pass a $95 billion foreign aid package for Ukraine, Israel, and Taiwan. That said, while Biden will need bipartisan support to keep the government funded in September, he likely will not ask for more Ukraine aid anytime soon

Persons: —, Joe Biden, Sen, Tom Cotton, Trump, it's, Biden, Benjamin Netanyahu, Cotton, Trump's, Joe, Li, e ach the, ena, tod, lea, Tim, Joh Organizations: Service, Arkansas Republican, Democrats, Business, Hamas, Congress, Israel, kr, unm, acc Locations: Israel, Arkansas, Ukraine, Rafah, Gaza's, goa, pau

GAZA STRIP Israel Area of satellite image EGYPT Rafah crossing Israeli incursionA Satellite View of Israel’s New Front in GazaNew satellite imagery taken after Israeli forces pushed into Rafah shows widespread damage to the southern Gaza city — including large areas of flattened structures — and clusters of Israeli armored vehicles. North Israeli tanks Razed structures Damage between Monday and Tuesday Rafah crossing Rafah crossing Israeli tanks EGYPT EGYPT New debris GAZA GAZA Damage from Monday Smoke rising Smoke rising Israeli tanks Damage before Monday Israeli tanks North Damage between Monday and Tuesday Razed structures Rafah crossing EGYPT Israeli tanks New debris GAZA Damage from Monday Smoke rising Israeli tanks Damage before Monday North Israeli tanks EGYPT Damage between Monday and Tuesday Razed structures Rafah crossing New debris Israeli tanks GAZA Smoke rising Israeli tanks Damage from before Monday Source: Satellite imagery from Planet LabsWhile Israel has described the operation that began earlier this week as limited, imagery captured on Tuesday morning by Planet Labs, a commercial satellite company, shows significant destruction in parts of the city. A network of damaged buildings reaches more than two miles into the territory near Rafah’s border crossing with Egypt. Monday Tuesday GAZA STRIP Area of image Source: Satellite imagery from Planet LabsIsrael says Rafah is Hamas’s last stronghold, and a critical gateway for arms shipments smuggled into Gaza from Egypt. Local health authorities warned of a “significant increase” in the death toll because of intense Israeli bombardment across Gaza, particularly in Rafah.

Persons: Israel, Scott Anderson, al Balah, Khan, Rafah’s Abu Yousef al, Marwan al Organizations: North, Labs, Israel, Planet Labs, Tuesday GAZA, Residents, al Balah Residents, ISRAEL Residents, Palestine Red Crescent Society, Najjar, Hams Locations: GAZA, Israel, EGYPT Rafah, Gaza, Rafah, EGYPT EGYPT, EGYPT, Rafah’s, Egypt, Planet Labs Israel, Hamas’s, al, ISRAEL, Kerem, Deir, Kerem Shalom, Palestine, Local

☆ Israel and Hamas are pushing forward with tense cease-fire talks despite Israel's military incursion into Rafah
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-08 | by ( Thibault Spirlet | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Israel and Hamas are engaged in tense cease-fire talks despite fighting in Rafah. Israel wants to keep its right to conduct more operations in Gaza, an analyst told Al-Jazeera. AdvertisementCease-fire talks to end the fighting in Gaza are still taking place in the background, despite Israel's military incursion into Rafah. The IDF's ongoing military operation comes as Israel and Hamas are engaged in tense talks to broker a cease-fire deal. This could lead to Netanyahu, Israel's longest-serving prime minister, losing power and an investigation into how Hamas' October 7 terrorist attacks were allowed to happen on his watch, he said.

Persons: Netanyahu, —, Nadav Shoshani, Shoshani, Al Jazeera, Benjamin Netanyahu, didn't, Ismail Haniyeh, Israel, Mairav, Yossi Mekelberg, Israel's, Mekelberg Organizations: Al, Service, The New York Times, Israel Defense Forces, Business, Sky, Crisis Group, Chatham House's, North Africa, International Court of Locations: Israel, Rafah, Gaza, Cairo, Egypt, Qatar, East

☆ U.S. paused shipment of weapons to Israel to head off Rafah invasion, says official
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-08 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

U.S. President Joe Biden's administration paused a shipment of weapons to Israel last week in opposition to apparent moves by the Israelis to invade the southern Gaza city of Rafah, a senior administration official said on Tuesday. Biden has been trying to head off a full-scale assault by the Israelis against Rafah, where hundreds of thousands of Palestinian have sought refuge from combat elsewhere in Gaza. "As a result of that review, we have paused one shipment of weapons last week. It consists of 1,800 2,000-lb bombs and 1,700 500-lb bombs," the official said. We have not made a final determination on how to proceed with this shipment," the official said.

Persons: Joe Biden's, Biden, Israel, Karine Jean, Pierre Organizations: Palestinian Hamas, Boeing, Attack Munitions, Pentagon, Tuesday, White Locations: Israel, Gaza, Palestinian, Rafah, Washington, Egypt

☆ Biden says U.S. won’t supply weapons for Israel to attack Rafah, in warning to ally
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-08 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +10 min

Biden has said that Israel needs to do far more to protect the lives of civilians in Gaza. "We're going to continue to do what's necessary to ensure that Israel has the means to defend itself," Austin said. "But that said, we are currently reviewing some near-term security assistance shipments in the context of unfolding events in Rafah." A decision against Israel would further add to pressure on Biden to curb the flow of weapons and money to Israel's military. "Over the years, the United States has provided tens of billions of dollars in military aid to Israel.

Persons: Joe Biden, Kevin Lamarque, Biden, Israel, we're, Benjamin Netanyahu's, Ali Jadallah, Lloyd Austin, Austin, Menahem Kahana, Gilad Erdan, Mike Johnson, Mitch McConnell, Sen, Lindsey Graham, Bernie Sanders of, Sanders, Netanyahu, Hatem Khaled, Itamar Yaar Organizations: Gateway Technical College, Reuters, Hamas, CNN, Israel, Anadolu, Getty Images, Biden, White House National Security, Palestinian Hamas, Afp, Getty, United Nations, Congress, Republican, Republicans, Austin, Reuters Privately, The State Department, Israel's National Security Council, Islamic State Locations: Sturtevant , Wisconsin, U.S, Israel, Rafah, Gaza, I'm, Palestinian, Bernie Sanders of Vermont, United States, Egypt

☆ Israeli and Hamas Negotiators Are in Cairo Under Pressure for Cease-Fire
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-08 | by ( Isabel Kershner | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +5 min

The Israeli ground-and-air operation in the eastern part of Rafah on Tuesday further hampered the area’s struggling medical system. Fearing a raid by Israeli forces, like those that have been carried out at hospitals across Gaza, the medical staff at al-Najjar rushed to relocate more than 200 patients. But even during the scramble to evacuate the hospital, Israeli airstrikes on Rafah continued. The Israeli military’s actions also immediately limited access to more basic health services across Rafah. That delegation was also supposed to deliver the salaries of the aid group’s medical workers in Rafah — cash they desperately needed to secure housing and transportation during the chaotic evacuation.

Persons: Abu Yousef al, ” Dr, Marwan al, Najjar, Khan Younis, Hams, ”, Israel, —, Chessa Latifi, Hatem Khaled, Kamal Adwan, “ We’ve, ” Ms, Latifi, Dr, John Kahler, MedGlobal, Kahler Organizations: Najjar, Hams, European Hospital, International Medical Corps, HOPE, ., Project HOPE, Kamal Adwan Hospital, Health, Awda Locations: Rafah, Gaza, Israeli, Israel, Khan, al, U.S, Gaza City, Cairo

☆ Oil edges up after Israel strikes Gaza, while truce talks continue
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-07 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

Oil rig and pump of H&P Rig 488 in Stanton, Texas, on June 8, 2023. Oil prices ticked up early on Tuesday after Israel struck Rafah in Gaza while negotiations for a ceasefire with Hamas continued without resolution. Israeli forces struck Rafah on Gaza's southern edge from the air and ground and ordered residents to leave parts of the city, which has been a refuge for more than a million displaced Palestinians. Riyadh's move to raise the official selling prices for its crude sold to Asia, Northwest Europe and the Mediterranean in June also supported prices, signaling expectations of strong demand this summer. The world's top exporter hiked its flagship Arab Light crude oil price to Asia to $2.90 a barrel above the Oman/Dubai average in June, the highest since January and at the upper end of traders' expectations in a Reuters survey.

Persons: Israel Organizations: Brent, U.S, West Texas, Hamas Locations: Stanton , Texas, Israel, Rafah, Gaza, Israeli, Asia, Northwest Europe, Oman, Dubai

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