Ruwaida Amer reports:

For the past two days, Palestinians across the Gaza Strip have taken to the streets to demand an end to Israel’s genocidal onslaught and to Hamas’ rule of the territory. Beginning in the northern city of Beit Lahiya, demonstrations quickly spread to other parts of the enclave including Shuja’iyya in the north, Nuseirat and Deir Al-Balah in the center, and Khan Younis in the south. The protests are the largest since the war began, and the most significant public display of dissent against Hamas in Gaza in years.

The demonstrations were triggered by new Israeli orders to evacuate Beit Lahiya and the surrounding areas, as the military expands its latest ground incursion. Residents spontaneously went out onto the streets on Tuesday to vent their anger at being forcibly displaced yet again, reflecting the population’s increasing desperation after Israel shattered the fragile ceasefire last week.

While holding Israel responsible for the slaughter of more than 50,000 people over the past year and a half, and for subjecting the Strip to a longstanding blockade that has further intensified during the war, the protesters are also directing their ire at Hamas: they are calling on the group to do everything in its power to stop the bombing before stepping aside to allow for free elections. [Continue reading…]

Axios reports:

Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu tasked Israel’s Mossad foreign intelligence agency with finding countries that would agree to receive large numbers of Palestinians displaced from the Gaza Strip, two Israeli officials tell Axios.

Why it matters: President Trump’s proposal to remove all two million Palestinians from Gaza to rebuild the enclave hasn’t gone anywhere. But Netanyahu is also looking for ways to relocate large numbers of Palestinians, potentially to countries thousands of miles away.

Behind the scenes: Talks have already taken place with Somalia and South Sudan — two poor conflict-plagued countries in East Africa — as well as other countries including Indonesia, according to the two Israeli officials and a former U.S. official.

• Netanyahu gave Mossad the secret assignment several weeks ago, the Israeli officials say.
• The Israeli Prime Minister’s Office declined to comment.

Driving the news: Israel is pushing this move and other measures to encourage the removal of Palestinians from Gaza, while at the same time resuming the war and issuing evacuation orders for Palestinians from parts on the enclave. [Continue reading…]