Biden's off to Israel as war heads towards humanitarian 'catastrophe'

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Tuesday, October 17, 2023 1/ Biden to visit Israel as war with Hamas continues, Blinken says President Biden will visit Israel on Wednesday, Secretary of State Antony Blinken announced early on Tuesday morning from Tel Aviv. The visit will bring immense logistical and security challenges as the president enters an active war zone in a conflict that has killed more than 4,000 Israelis and Palestinians and displaced over 1 million people from Gaza. The visit will include meetings with Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu, as well as a stop the same day in Amman, Jordan, for discussions with King Abdullah, Egyptian president Abdel Fattah El-Sisi, and President Mahmoud Abbas of the Palestinian Authority, which partially governs the West Bank, according to the White House. "The President will reaffirm our solidarity with Israel and he will look forward to getting an update from Israeli officials about their strategy and the pace of their military operations," National Security Council spokesman John Kirby told reporters on Monday evening.   Read the full article here 2/ Viral hate and misinformation amid Israel-Hamas crisis renew fears of real-world violence A six-year-old boy was fatally stabbed by a landlord fearing a 'day of jihad'  3/ Here's what will happen next — maybe — as Jim Jordan pushes to become House speaker Allies of Rep Jim Jordan going for 17 October vote as GOP moderates begin to cave and fall in line 4/  Judge issues partial gag order against Trump in federal Jan 6 case Mr Trump will be barred from attacking prosecutors, court personnel or witnesses in the case pending against him in a Washington DC federal court 5/  LinkedIn becomes latest high-profile tech company to conduct layoffs More than 650 roles will be cut from the company just months after they laid off approximately 700 employees THE BIG QUESTION Hamas is guilty as charged, but is Israel committing war crimes? There is no doubt the heinous massacres carried out by Hamas in Israeli communities were war crimes, writes Donald Macintyre.   But is Israel's response proportionate, legal or – in the eyes of the world – legitimate?   Read the full article Watch / Bear steals lasagna from freezer after breaking into home NUMBER OF THE DAY $1.6m One of America's largest wine and spirt distributors carrying brands like Malibu was raided in Tampa, with $1.6 million worth of stock taken. Read more QUOTE OF THE DAY "We aren't bringing in anyone from Gaza, Syria, Somalia, Yemen or Libya or anywhere else that threatens our security... In my second term, we're going to expand each and every one of those bans." Donald Trump has vowed to expand his Muslim travel ban to bar refugees from war-torn Gaza if he takes back the White House in 2024. Read more OTHER STORIES YOU MIGHT LIKE  Jews faced most religious hate crimes in 2022, updated FBI data shows Critics condemn 'chilling' refusal to release evidence in police shooting of 'Stop Cop City' activist Texas advances 'dangerous' bill making it legal for police to arrest migrants Eleanor Mills: Madonna's 65, Jagger's 80: guess who's told to 'grow up'? The Independent proudly partners with Refuge and the National Domestic Abuse Helpline: 0808 2000 247 Join the conversation or follow us Download the free Independent app Please do not reply directly to this email   You are currently registered to receive The Independent's US Morning Headlines newsletter.   To unsubscribe from The Independent's US Morning Headlines newsletter, or to manage your email preferences please click here.   This e-mail was sent by Independent Digital News and Media Ltd, 14-18 Finsbury Square, London EC2A 1AH. Registered in England and Wales with company number 07320345 Read our privacy notice and cookie policy