Gaza aid; Prez heads to Middle East

As the humanitarian situation in the Gaza Strip grows more dire, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said the U.S. and Israel agreed to develop a plan to enable humanitarian aid from donor nations to reach civilians in Gaza. 

President Joe Biden is scheduled to travel to Israel and Jordan on Oct. 18 to show support for the U.S. ally and to meet with Arab leaders.

Israel has maintained punishing airstrikes across Gaza as a ground invasion loomed. Hamas militants kept up a barrage of rocket attacks, and tensions mounted near the Israel-Lebanon border. (The AP 10/17/23) Israel-Hamas war: Israel bombs Gaza where civilians sought refuge | AP News