Israel’s European Allies Urge Lifting of ‘Intolerable’ Gaza Aid Blockade, The Washington Post
“The statement, from the foreign ministers of Germany, France and the United Kingdom, called on Israel to lift its bar on aid from entering the war-decimated enclave since March 8, warning of ‘an acute risk of starvation, epidemic disease and death’ for Palestinian civilians. ‘The Israeli decision to block aid from entering Gaza is intolerable,’ it read. ‘This must end. We urge Israel to immediately re-start a rapid and unimpeded flow of humanitarian aid to Gaza in order to meet the needs of all civilians.’”
Israeli Strike on School-Turned-Shelter Kills 23 As Arab Mediators Seek Long-Term Gaza Truce, AP
“There was no immediate Israeli comment on the strike, which set several tents ablaze, burning people alive. The military says it only targets militants and blames civilian deaths on Hamas because its fighters are embedded in densely populated areas. […] Egypt and Qatar are still developing the proposal, which would include the gradual withdrawal of Israeli forces from the entire strip and the release of Palestinian prisoners, according to an Egyptian official and a Hamas official who spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to brief media.”
PA’s Abbas Tells ‘Sons of Dogs’ Hamas To Release Hostages, Remove Israel’s ‘Excuses’ for Gaza War, The Times of Israel
“Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas calls on Hamas in a speech to release hostages in order to remove Israel’s pretext to continue its war in Gaza. ‘The first priority is to stop the war of extermination in Gaza. It must be stopped – hundreds are being killed every day,’ says Abbas. ‘Why don’t you hand over the hostages?’ […] Abbas adds that the council rejects Israel’s attempts to uproot Gaza’s residents from their homes, calling it a ‘new Nakba.’”
Killing of Gaza Aid Workers: IDF Troops Fired Indiscriminately for Over Three Minutes, Some at Point-blank Range, Haaretz
“The Israeli army unit that killed aid workers in Gaza’s Rafah last month had received a report about increased ambulance traffic on the route shortly before the incident. The soldiers fired at the vehicles continuously for three and a half minutes – even from point-blank range – reloading their ammunition multiple times, despite attempts by the aid workers to identify themselves.”
Trump Would Eliminate Antisemitism Envoy in Proposed State Department Overhaul, The Forward
“A proposed Trump administration plan to drastically overhaul the State Department would eliminate the most prominent job in the federal government fighting antisemitism and replace it with a ‘Jewish affairs coordinator’ focused on Israel. […] Moving the functions to an office focused on Israel and the Middle East could significantly shrink its portfolio and would align with the Trump administration’s efforts to fight antisemitism, which have focused almost exclusively on criticism of Israel and alleged support for Hamas.”
Father of American-Israeli Hostage Urges Boehler’s Return to Negotiating Table, The Times of Israel
“The father of Israeli-American hostage Edan Alexander on Tuesday urged the Trump administration to return its hostage envoy Adam Boehler to the negotiation effort, arguing that the latter’s direct talks with Hamas last month were the closest his son came to being released from captivity in Gaza. ‘Why not put Adam Boehler back in the game? The closest Edan got to being released was through Adam’s efforts. That I know for sure,’ Adi Alexander said in an interview with The Times of Israel.”
Syria Makes Rare Arrests of Palestinian Militant Group Leaders, The New York Times
“Syrian authorities made a rare arrest of two senior members of the Palestinian armed faction Islamic Jihad, the group said on Tuesday, a move that signaled the shifting of alliances in the Middle East. The group, Islamic Jihad, is an Iran-backed ally of Hamas that took part in the Oct. 7, 2023, attack on Israel from Gaza, which triggered the war there. The group said on Tuesday that Khaled Khaled, its leader in Syria, and Yasser al-Zafari, another senior figure, had been in Syrian custody for five days.”
Fires Break Out in Central Israel, Block Main Roads, Force Evacuations, Haaretz
“Fires broke out in central Israel on Wednesday and continue to burn near major Israeli cities, including Rehovot and Beit Shemesh. As a result of the fires, traffic on Israel’s Highway 6, which travels north-south, has been stopped. […] Israel Police has also begun evacuating homes in nearby towns and are expected to begin the evacuation of homes near central Israel’s Rehovot, as well as evacuating cars on Highway 6.”
Shabtai, Don’t Platform Terrorism Supporters, Yale Daily News
J Street Policy Intern Liam Hamama writes: “When we treat someone as an honored guest and wine and dine with them, however, we signal that their views are within the realms of that which we deem acceptable and legitimate speech. Those who glorify violent terrorists should never be treated as if their views fall within the bounds of acceptable discourse. So, just as we would never offer a platform or a dinner invitation to Vladimir Putin, a Hamas supporter or a white supremacist who venerates Dylann Roof, we should not do so for Itamar Ben-Gvir.”
Israel’s Dangerous Overreach in Syria, Foreign Affairs
“If Israel’s leaders give in to the impulse to ramp up its incursions into Syria, they may well create a new enemy when there is currently none. Instead of recognizing Syria’s new government as a potential stabilizing force and partner against Iran, Israel is undermining it through military expansion and diplomatic sabotage—risking a needless conflict and squandering a rare opportunity for regional peace.”