UN To Convene Urgent Session On Israeli-Palestinian Fighting An Israeli artillery unit fires shells towards targets in Ga za Strip, at the Israeli - Gaza border, May 19 2021. 1 hour ago 3 min read
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The U.N. General Assembly will convene an urgent session Thursday requested by the Organization of Islamic Cooperation and the group of Arab countries at the United Nations to deliberate on the fighting between Israel and Palestinian militants in the Gaza Strip.
About a dozen foreign ministers are flying in for the meeting – the first time such a high- level in-person meeting has been held at U.N. headquarters in New York since the start of the coronavirus pandemic more than 14 months ago. U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, who has called for an immediate halt to the hostili
Hamas Official Predicts Ceasefire After Israel Faces 2nd Attack From Lebanon
In talks with Israeli officials, Biden admin continues push for deescalation
A senior Hamas official predicted a ceasefire within days even as fighting continues, with Hamas and other terrorist groups firing more rockets from Gaza at Israel, which faced a second attack from Lebanon on Wednesday.
The Biden administration on the same day signaled to Israeli officials multiple times that it is pushing for deescalation on the path to a ceasefire in the region.
Deputy Hamas chief Moussa Abu Marzouk told Lebanon’s al-Mayadeen TV on Wednesday, “I think that the ongoing efforts regarding the ceasefire will succeed. I expect a ceasefire to be reached within a day or two, and the ceasefire will be on the basis of mutual agreement.”
What is the Biden administration going to do about it?
Illustration by Deena So Oteh
In late October of 2020, Lance Corporal Joseph Mercurio, a Marine with the 2nd Battalion of the 4th Marine Regiment, hit “send” on an Instagram comment: “The Jewish religion is that of Satan,” he wrote responding to a photograph of me. His username on Instagram, “joe88mercurio,” incorporated a known neo-Nazi code: 88 stands for “Heil Hitler,” as “H” is the eighth letter of the alphabet.
In his bio, he stated his affiliation with the Marines: “USMC 0331,” a numerical designation indicating that he was responsible for handling machine guns in direct combat. Below it, he included a quote from an interview with neo-Nazi Richard Spencer “There is no equality in nature, there’s difference” and a quote from the white supremacist band Skrewdriver, from a song lauding Nazi troops in World War II as the “forces of light” in a “holy war.”
North Macedonian Defense Minister Radmila Šekerinska and U.S. Ambassador Kate Marie Byrnes tour the Krivolak training area during Defender-Europe 21, North Macedonia, April 26, 2021. Sgt Jensen Army
Pentagon, NATO Demonstrate Transparency Officials Want Russia to Emulate
MAY 13, 2021 | BY JIM GARAMONE, DOD NEWS
The contrast in the transparency demonstrated by the United States and its European allies and that displayed by Russia is obvious perhaps shown best in the way each side handles exercises.
Each day that Pentagon Press Secretary John F. Kirby briefs the media, he has a statement about U.S. exercises around the world. Today he discussed Defender-Europe 21. This is a large exercise designed to build readiness and interoperability among NATO allies and partners. It is led by U.S. Army, Europe, but has significant U.S. Navy and U.S. Air Force participation.
The Defense Department and NATO allies highlighted their transparency when conducting joint exercises throughout Eastern Europe and urged Russia to consider the same when conducting snap “exercise” to Crimea.