May 09 WATCH: GOP senators respond to Biden threat stopping weapons for Israel for Rafah attack By Zeke Miller, Aamer Madhani, Associated Press The decision drew a sharp rebuke from House Speaker Mike Johnson and Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell of Kentucky, who said they only learned about the holdup from press reports. Continue reading
May 09 First shipment of Palestinian aid to US-built floating pier in Gaza departs from Cyprus By Menelaos Hadjicostis, Sam Mednick, Associated Press The U.S. vessel, loaded with much needed humanitarian assistance, left the Larnaca port on Thursday morning. The voyage comes about two months after President Joe Biden gave the order to build the large floating platform several miles off the Gaza… Continue reading
May 08 Tens of thousands of Palestinians flee chaos in Rafah after Israel’s seizure of border crossing By Wafaa Shurafa, Sarah El Deeb, Lee Keath, Associated Press The past three days, streams of people fleeing the city with belongings have jammed roads leading out, on foot and in cars, trucks and donkey carts in a confused evacuation while continued Israeli bombardment boomed and raised palls of smoke. Continue reading
May 08 Watch 4:15 Biden administration defends suspending weapons to Israel over Rafah assault concerns By Nick Schifrin, Zeba Warsi Many Republicans and some Democrats are criticizing the Biden administration for suspending the delivery of thousands of bombs to Israel. At a Senate hearing, Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin defended the move which comes as the White House also delayed… Continue watching
May 08 Watch 11:19 Democratic, GOP lawmakers react to Biden pausing bomb shipment to Israel By Geoff Bennett, Amna Nawaz, Stephanie Kotuby, Kyle Midura, Alexa Gold As the Biden administration puts a hold on sending thousands of bombs to Israel, we have perspectives from two members of Congress. Geoff Bennett spoke with Sen. Chris Van Hollen, a Democrat from Maryland and a member of the Senate… Continue watching
May 08 Biden says U.S. won’t supply offensive weapons for Israel to assault Rafah By Zeke Miller, Aamer Madhani, Associated Press Biden said the U.S. was still committed to Israel's defense and would supply Iron Dome rocket interceptors. But he said that if Israel goes into Rafah, "we're not going to supply the weapons and artillery shells used, that have been… Continue reading
May 08 Why the U.S. paused the delivery of 2,000-pound bombs to Israel ahead of a possible assault on Rafah By Tara Copp, Associated Press The potential use of 2,000-pound bombs in Rafah, where more than 1 million people have sheltered because they have nowhere else to go, has drawn significant administration concern. Continue reading
May 08 Defense secretary confirms U.S. has paused a bomb shipment to Israel over Rafah invasion concerns By Zeke Miller, Aamer Madhani, Associated Press The shipment was supposed to consist of 1,800 2,000-pound bombs and 1,700 500-pound bombs, with the focus of U.S. concern being the larger explosives and how they could be used in a dense urban setting. Continue reading
May 08 Biden administration set to decide whether Israel has violated U.S. and international law in Gaza By Ellen Knickmeyer, Associated Press The formal assessment of whether Israel has used U.S. weapons and other military assistance lawfully is mandated under a directive issued by President Joe Biden in February. Continue reading
May 08 33 protesters were arrested at George Washington University as police cleared a tent encampment By Ashraf Khalil, Associated Press Tensions have ratcheted up in standoffs with protesters of the Israel-Hamas war on campuses across the United States and increasingly in Europe. Continue reading