Feb 23 Biden administration restores U.S. policy calling Israeli settlements ‘illegitimate’ under international law By Matthew Lee, Associated Press The Biden administration had long been considering re-implementing the so-called "Hansell Memorandum," but those deliberations picked up steam as Israel's response to the Oct. 7 Hamas attacks drew increasingly intense international criticism. Continue reading
Feb 23 Israel plans to build 3,300 new settlement homes in occupied West Bank in response to a fatal shooting By Julia Frankel, Associated Press The move, announced late Thursday, drew an angry reaction from the U.S. as relations between the allies are already frayed over the course of Israel's war against Hamas in Gaza. Continue reading
Feb 23 Israel seeks open-ended control over security and civilians in Gaza in new postwar plan By Wafaa Shurafa, Bassem Mroue, Associated Press Netanyahu presented the two-page document to his security Cabinet late Thursday for approval. Separately, cease-fire efforts appeared to gain traction, with mediators to present a new proposal at an expected high-level meeting this weekend in Paris. Continue reading
Feb 22 Watch 4:00 Continued Israeli airstrikes flatten parts of Rafah amid slow progress for Gaza cease-fire By Geoff Bennett, Solveig Rennan, Nana Adwoa Antwi-Boasiako As the deadly bombing of Gaza continues, there is some progress towards a resumption of talks to release hostages held by Hamas and a cease-fire. Israel's Army Radio said the country's war cabinet approved sending emissaries to truce talks in… Continue watching
Feb 22 Cease-fire between Israel and Hamas gains steam as U.S. envoy visits. Mediators report ‘encouraging’ signs By Josef Federman, Samy Magdy, Wafaa Shurafa, Associated Press The U.S., Egypt and Qatar have been struggling for weeks to find a formula that could halt Israel's devastating offensive in Gaza, but now face an unofficial deadline as the Muslim holy month of Ramadan approaches. Continue reading
Feb 22 Denmark records highest number of antisemitic incidents since WWII, part of a grim European trend By Jan M. Olsen, Associated Press Henri Goldstein, the head of the Scandinavian country's small Jewish Community said there had been violent escalation, not least fueled by the uncontrolled spread of hatred on social media. Continue reading
Feb 22 WATCH: Pentagon holds news briefing as Houthis continue attacks on Red Sea shipping By Associated Press The Houthis launched attacks Thursday on both Israel and a ship traveling through the Gulf of Aden, setting the vessel ablaze and again demonstrating their ability to launch assaults despite facing U.S.-led airstrikes targeting their forces. Continue reading
Feb 22 Suspected Houthi missile causes fire on cargo ship while Israel intercepts separate attack near port city of Eilat By Jon Gambrell, Associated Press Ship-tracking data analyzed by The Associated Press identified the vessel as a Palau-flagged cargo ship named Islander. Continue reading
Feb 22 Israeli strikes in Gaza kill 48 as fears mount over humanitarian crisis and West Bank violence By Wafaa Shurafa, Melanie Lidman, Associated Press In the Israeli-occupied West Bank, Palestinian gunmen opened fire on morning traffic at a highway checkpoint, killing one Israel and wounding five others, police said. Continue reading
Feb 21 Watch 9:16 Israel accused UN agency of enabling and employing Hamas. Experts debate its future By Nick Schifrin, Dan Sagalyn, Ethan Dodd, Nana Adwoa Antwi-Boasiako The U.N. acknowledged aid deliveries into Gaza have dropped dramatically, threatening a population where hunger is spreading. That aid is delivered by UNRWA, an agency that Israel recently accused of acting “under the authorization” of Hamas. Nick Schifrin discussed the… Continue watching