President Joe Biden

Aid ship reaches Gaza as Israel rejects Hamas truce offer [VIDEO]

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Aid ship reaches Gaza as Israel rejects Hamas truce offer [VIDEO]

– The first ship carrying food aid, the Open Arms vessel with 200 tonnes of food, reached the coast of the Gaza Strip.
– The charity World Central Kitchen (WCK) aims to deliver the aid on a temporary jetty.
– The aid is intended to ease the hunger crisis in Gaza, where hundreds of thousands face malnourishment.
– The war began with an attack by Hamas on Oct. 7, killing 1,200 people and taking 253 hostages in Israel.
– An Israeli assault has killed more than 31,000 people and displaced nearly the entire 2.3 million population of Gaza.
– Hamas’s latest ceasefire counter-proposal, which includes the release of hostages and talks to end the war, was rejected by Israel.
– Israel demands only temporary pauses in fighting and refuses to discuss ending the war until Hamas is eradicated.
– Sami Abu Zuhri, a senior Hamas official, criticized Israel’s rejection of the ceasefire proposal.
– Efforts for a ceasefire continue, with mediators from the U.S., Egypt, and Qatar involved.
– The United Nations reports all 2.3 million people in Gaza are suffering from a food crisis.
– Israel denies blame for the hunger crisis and calls for better food distribution by aid agencies.
– At least 21 people were killed and 150 wounded by Israeli forces during a food distribution event.
– U.S. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer called for Israelis to replace Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, criticizing his approach to the conflict.

Biden to say US Steel must remain domestically owned and operated

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Biden to say US Steel must remain domestically owned and operated

President Joe Biden will oppose the proposed .9 billion acquisition of U.S. Steel Corp by Japan’s Nippon Steel, stating that U.S. Steel must remain a domestically owned and operated American firm. In a statement, Biden will emphasize the importance of maintaining strong American steel companies powered by American workers and highlight U.S. Steel’s significance as an iconic American company for over a century. U.S. Steel shares dropped 4.9% in premarket trading following the news. The acquisition has faced criticism from both Democratic and Republican U.S. senators due to national security concerns and lack of consultation with U.S. Steel’s main union.

ANALYSIS-Biden-Netanyahu rift raises questions about US weapons to Israel

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ANALYSIS-Biden-Netanyahu rift raises questions about US weapons to Israel

A rift has developed between President Joe Biden and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu over potential military actions in Gaza, particularly concerning a ground offensive in the south of the enclave. This situation has led to discussions within the U.S. administration about possibly leveraging military aid to encourage Israel to facilitate humanitarian relief in Gaza and minimize civilian casualties in its conflict with Hamas. Despite Biden’s historical support for Israel, he has shown signs of frustration with Netanyahu’s responses and has not ruled out the possibility of conditioning military aid on Israel’s actions, especially regarding an invasion of Rafah in southern Gaza. The U.S. has begun airdropping humanitarian supplies into Gaza and plans to build a floating aid dock off the Gaza coast. Conversations have occurred within the U.S. State Department about limiting military aid to Israel, though this idea has not gained traction among senior leadership. Biden’s approach to the situation is influenced by his 2024 re-election bid, aiming to balance support among pro-Israel voters and progressive Democrats. Public messaging from the U.S. has intensified following incidents that resulted in Palestinian civilian casualties.