Someone fired a missile that slammed into a hospital where thousands of people were sheltering from the war in Gaza yesterday, killing hundreds of them. Although Hamas blamed Israel for the disaster and Israel blamed Islamic Jihad, a third party to this conflict, it almost doesn’t matter who was behind the explosion because everyone had already made up their mind as to who bore the responsibility before it even happened.
That’s the way it goes in a war like this one, where the parties are so blinded by hate that the facts don’t really matter. People see what they want to see.
Wherever the truth lies (historians will have to be responsible for that), what is indisputable about the hospital attack is the timing couldn’t have been worse when it comes to Joe Biden’s visit in support of Israel, which began today.
Widespread protests broke out almost immediately after the blast in the West Bank, Lebanon and elsewhere in the Arab world, blaming Israel. The widespread anger is certain to be directed against the U.S. as well. The proposed summit between Biden and Arab and Palestinian leaders has been cancelled. The war may well now expand beyond Gaza.
As the overall situation continues to deteriorate in the Middle East, back home the Republican Party failed once again to elect a Speaker of the House. Its leading candidate, Jim Jordan, tried to bully his way to the job but that has apparently backfired. Thus, at home and abroad, the U.S. system of democracy is facing dangerous crises, with no solutions in sight.
HEADLINE
Israel-Hamas war live: at least 500 casualties in Gaza hospital strike, health ministry says (Guardian)
Gaza’s doctors struggle to save hospital blast survivors as Middle East rage grows (AP)
Israel, Palestinian officials trade blame for deadly strike on Gaza hospital (WP)
Joe Biden’s Israel trip is risky but worth it (Deccan Herald)
Mideast teeters on the brink of wider war as Iran ponders its options (WP)
For Hostages’ Families, an ‘Endless Loop of Hope and Despair’ (NYT)
Gazans face growing crisis as a key border crossing remains closed (NPR)
Gaza hospitals have entered a state of ‘collapse,’ Palestinian officials say (CNN)
Top Hamas Commander Killed (WSJ)
Severe water shortages in Gaza following Israel’s total blockade of the enclave have “become a matter of life and death,” according to the United Nations. (Reuters)
U.S. and Israel Focus on Hezbollah’s Next Move After Hamas Attack (NYT)
As Biden heads to Israel and Jordan, aid is being held up for Gaza (AP)
Vladimir Putin feted at Xi Jinping's global Belt and Road summit (BBC)
Historic day: As Biden heads to Israel, Putin lands in China (Axios)
Violent crime decreases to pre-pandemic levels, according to FBI (NBC)
Prosecutors to recharge Alec Baldwin for 'Rust' shooting (Reuters)
Prosecutors are appealing length of prison sentences for Proud Boys leaders convicted of Jan. 6 plot (AP)
Amy Coney Barrett calls ethics code for scandal-hit supreme court ‘a good idea’ (Guardian)
Jim Jordan should be expelled from the House, not made speaker (MSNBC)
Jordan loses first vote for House speaker amid GOP defections (CNN)
Ukraine uses secretly shipped U.S. missiles to launch surprise strike (Politico)
World has abandoned Afghanistan, says country’s last women’s minister (Al Jazeera)
India Supreme Court declines to legalise same-sex marriage (BBC)
Amazon rivers fall to lowest levels in 121 years amid a severe drought (CNN)
Teens Spend Average of 4.8 Hours on Social Media Per Day (Gallup)
How to fix the Internet (MIT)
Stress is shortening the life spans of Americans. Inflation, violence, politics, race relations and an unequal society cause people in the U.S. to age quicker, become sicker and die younger than peers in similar nations. (WP)
A.I. May Not Get a Chance to Kill Us if This Kills It First (Slate)
AI is closer than ever to passing the Turing test for ‘intelligence’. What happens when it does? (Conversation)
Girlfriend To Stay Underneath Blanket For Next 5 Months (The Onion)
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