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Today’s top stories
U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken is back in Israel. He says he’s working on protecting civilians in Gaza caught in the crossfire of Israel’s war with Hamas. More than 1,400 people in Israel were killed nearly four weeks ago when Hamas attacked, taking more than 200 hostages. Since then, more than 9,000 people have been killed in Gaza, according to Palestinian officials.
Israeli ground forces have been in Gaza for a week. So far, their focus seems to be on Gaza City.
Israel Defense Forces/AP
- Blinken is calling for a “humanitarian pause” in the fighting, not a cease-fire, NPR’s Michele Kelemen says on Up First. That’s because Blinken says Israel has a right to defend themselves against Hamas, which is still firing rockets into the country. Blinken has also been concerned about Israeli settler attacks on Palestinians in the occupied West Bank.
- NPR’s Steve Inskeep was recently in the West Bank, where he spoke with a dozen Palestinians ranging from teenagers to senior leaders. Here’s what they had to say about their perspective on Hamas and the war in Gaza.
- Some foreigners, Palestinian dual nationals and aid workers continue evacuations from Gaza to Egypt through the Rafah crossing today. People at the border tell NPR about their experience and what it’s like leaving family behind.
- Israeli writer Yossi Klein-Halevi, who moved to Israel from Brooklyn, says he believes in the Jewish story of returning to their ancient homeland and that Palestinians should have an independent homeland too. He tells Morning…
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