From Fox News:
Israeli leaders have approved a cease-fire to end nearly two weeks of combat with Hamasmilitants who have been launching rocket barrages out of the Gaza Strip since last Monday, according to regional media.
U.S. leaders had pressured Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to exercise restraint in the conflict, even as they reaffirmed support for Israel’s right to defend itself.
Secretary of State Antony Blinken had said during a news conference earlier Thursday that he expected a cease-fire soon and was going to speak with Israel’s foreign minister, Gabi Ashkenazi, shortly after leaving the meeting with reporters.
The two had also discussed a possible end to the violence Wednesday.
Other world leaders as well as the U.N. were also urging deescalation, and Egypt helped broker the truce, according to a report in Haaretz, an Israeli newspaper.
Netanyahu’s office told the paper that defense leaders had accepted a “mutual” cease-fire without preconditions.
The clashes left at least 12 Israelis and 230 Palestinians dead in the crossfire in the worst breakout of violence since the 2014 Gaza war. Hundreds more people were wounded, and protesters took to the streets in favor of both sides around the world, even as global leaders urged de-escalation.
Hamas has fired more than 4,000 rockets into Israel over the past 11 days in response to a clash between Israeli police and Palestinian protesters, and the IDF struck back with devastating airstrikes. The fighting was still raging Thursday morning.
Read the full report here.
ANTI-ISRAEL BIAS: Cotton Rips ‘Whiny Reporters’ at the AP After Israel Destroys Hamas Targets in Gaza
Senator Tom Cotton called-out the Associated Press for willingly being used as “human shields” by Hamas Monday; saying only “whiny reporters” would make themselves the victim when terrorists shoot rockets at civilians in Israel.
“Why is the Associated Press sharing a building with Hamas? Surely, these intrepid reporters knew who their neighbors were. Did they knowingly allow themselves to be used as human shields by a terrorist organization?” asked Cotton.
“I submit that the AP has some uncomfortable questions to answer. Yet the AP and their journalists are unhappy about Israel’s appropriate airstrike. Leave it to whiny reporters to make themselves the story and the victim when terrorists are shooting missiles at innocent civilians,” he added.
Watch Cotton’s remarks above.
AOC EXPLODES: Ocasio-Cortez Blasts Biden for Saying Israel Can ‘Defend Itself’ from Rocket Attacks
Controversial Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez ripped the Biden administration for stating Israel “has the right to defend itself” Wednesday night, claiming the United States “looks the other way” on human rights violations in the Middle East.
“Blanket statements like these w/ little context or acknowledgement of what precipitated this cycle of violence – namely, the expulsions of Palestinians and attacks on Al Aqsa – dehumanize Palestinians & imply the US will look the other way at human rights violations. It’s wrong,” posted AOC on Twitter.
Blanket statements like these w/ little context or acknowledgement of what precipitated this cycle of violence – namely, the expulsions of Palestinians and attacks on Al Aqsa – dehumanize Palestinians & imply the US will look the other way at human rights violations. It’s wrong. https://t.co/afCgoGdiMG
— Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (@AOC) May 12, 2021
Images leaked on social media Wednesday showing Israeli doctors and parents shielding newborn babies in a fortified section of a local hospital as rockets rained down on cities across the country.
“Israeli hospitals take newborns into special protection area to protect from terrorists rocket fire. Heartbreaking!” posted a reporter from the Jerusalem Post.
Israeli hospitals take newborns into special protection area to protect from terrorists rocket fire.
Heartbreaking! pic.twitter.com/JJzlTlW9LS
— Emily Schrader – אמילי שריידר امیلی شریدر (@emilykschrader) May 11, 2021
Violent clashes erupted in cities across the United States this week between pro-Israel and Palestinian groups after 700 rockets were fired into the Jewish State from Gaza and other locations in the Middle East.
“Groups on each side clashed in New York City in front of the Israeli consulate where police officers struggled to keep aggressive demonstrators from attacking each other. Physical fights broke out among some of the activists, videos on social media show,” reports Fox News.
A pro-Palestine protest in Washington DC, USA. pic.twitter.com/8zIw6moCWM
— Observer (@byz_observer) May 11, 2021
This video taken by @CBSNewYork Photographer Alex Susskind moments ago pic.twitter.com/24RVAo06fG
— Jessica Layton (@JLaytonTV) May 11, 2021
Clashes at a rally of supporters of Israel and Palestine in New York. pic.twitter.com/Pz7iFGTvJP
— Observer (@byz_observer) May 11, 2021
“My mother lives on the edge of Gaza,” pro-Israeli protester Sophie Sassoon told WCBS-TV in New York. “She’s in a shelter as we speak … This is war. I will not sit and watch the only democracy in the Middle East be ripped apart.”
“You can see Israeli aggression especially in Northern Jerusalem and Gaza,” attendee Sami Wassef told the outlet. “Houses are being confiscated and families thrown out.”
Read the full report at Fox News.
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