Middle East

The war and humanitarian crisis in Gaza directly impacts many Minnesotans. And while MPR News does not have journalists stationed in the region, we do have a responsibility to our audiences to report on how this ongoing conflict affects people here. Our goal is to provide MPR News audiences with a variety of perspectives, context and factual information. We are committed to using language that is as precise as possible.

As you will see here, the majority of the coverage on our air and our website is provided by our national and international news partners, NPR and the BBC. The language and terminology used to describe the conflict are changing. If you have questions or concerns about our coverage please reach out to us.

Gunman captured after shootout outside U.S. Embassy in Lebanon
The Lebanese army said Wednesday that at least one gunman attempted to attack on the U.S. Embassy near Beirut. The Lebanese military in a statement said that soldiers shot an assailant, who they only described as a Syrian national.
Minnesota Democrats split on war in Gaza, press for unity heading into November
Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party activists endorsed U.S. Sen. Amy Klobuchar in her reelection bid and voted on dozens of policy resolutions during their convention in Duluth. But fissures remain over the Middle East war.
‘All eyes on Rafah’ is the Internet’s most viral AI image. Two artists are claiming credit
Two Malaysians separated by 900 miles are both taking credit for a synthetic image of Gaza that became the most viral ever AI-generated photo, underscoring the complexities of authorship and ownership in an online landscape increasingly overrun with content created by artificial intelligence.
President Biden unveils and endorses details of a new Israeli cease-fire proposal
President Joe Biden gave remarks on the Middle East at the White House on Friday. He said it is time for the war in Gaza to end and discussed a “road map” to a cease-fire agreement.
An Israeli airstrike killed 45 Palestinians in an encampment for displaced people
The Gaza health ministry said that an airstrike in Rafah on Sunday killed 45 Palestinians and injured dozens more. It said that there are still victims under the rubble and that the majority of those killed were women and children.
The top U.N. court has ordered Israel to stop its Rafah military operation
The United Nations’ highest court ordered Israel Friday to halt its offensive in Rafah, citing “immense risk” to the population of hundreds of thousands of Palestinians who have sought refuge in the southern Gaza city. But the court did not call for an end to Israel’s wider offensive across the Gaza Strip.
Investment firms named in U of M disclosure, divestment supporters request increased transparency
The University of Minnesota shared additional investment fund information in response to student coalition demands. The list of investment funds totals more than $518 million. Some students have concerns. 
Minnesota’s top elected officials hear calls for divestment at state board meeting
Protesters seeking to have the state of Minnesota end any investments in Israeli companies and weapons manufacturers had a chance to directly address the state’s top elected officials on Tuesday.