The US paused a shipment of weapons to Israel last week in an apparent show of opposition to Israeli’s decision to invade the southern Gaza city of Rafah, where hundreds of thousands of Palestinians fleeing the war have sought refuge.
A US official, speaking on the condition of anonymity, claimed that as Israeli leaders seemed to approach a decision on the assault, the Joe Biden administration “began to carefully review proposed transfers of particular weapons to Israel that might be used in Rafah”, beginning in April.
“As a result of that review, we have paused one shipment of weapons last week,” the official said.
The US President and his administration, backed by the UK, have consistently called on Israel to refrain from an offensive in Rafah, the last remaining area of the Strip untouched by an Israeli ground assault.
Hundreds of thousands of Palestinians remain trapped in Rafah as Israel’s 401st Brigade takes control of the area.
With most of the Gaza Strip damaged or destroyed, those residing in Rafah, many of whom moved there to avoid war elsewhere, say they have nowhere else to go.
Russia says it sees no prospect so far for peace settlement in Gaza
Russia has said that it saw no prospect so far for a peace settlement in Gaza or the wider Middle East, and said Israel‘s operation in Rafah was escalating the conflict.
Russian Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said the conflict had caused a “humanitarian catastrophe”.
Tom Watling8 May 2024 10:01
Israeli military appears to play down US arms shipment hold-up
The Israeli military has appeared to play down an arms shipment hold-up by a US administration troubled at this week’s operation in the southern Gazan city of Rafah, saying the allies resolve any disagreements “behind closed doors”.
Speaking at a conference hosted by the Yedioth Ahronoth newspaper as the Gaza war entered its eighth month, chief military spokesperson Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari described coordination between Israel and the United States as reaching “a scope without precedent, I think, in history”.
Tom Watling8 May 2024 09:38
Israeli military claims 20 Hamas terrorists ‘eliminated’ and several terror tunnels located in Rafah offensive update
Despite pleas from its closest allies to hold off, Israel moved its tanks into east Rafah and captured the border crossing overnight on Tuesday, in what it called a “limited” operation meant to kill fighters and dismantle infrastructure used by Hamas militant.
Israeli Defence Forces (IDF) spokesman Nadav Shoshani gave an update in a recorded video message on Tuesday evening (7 May).
He claimed: “In the first hours of the operation, IDF troops eliminated 20 terrorists in the area, as well as an explosive vehicle threatening our troops and located several terror tunnel shafts.”
IDF claim 20 Hamas terrorists ‘eliminated’ and terror tunnels located in Rafah update
Israeli military claims to have “eliminated” 20 Hamas terrorists and located several terror tunnel shafts during a Rafah offensive. Despite pleas from its closest allies to hold off, Israel moved its tanks into east Rafah and captured the border crossing overnight on Tuesday, in what it called a “limited” operation meant to kill fighters and dismantle infrastructure used by Hamas militant. Israeli Defence Forces (IDF) spokesman Nadav Shoshani gave an update in a recorded video message on Tuesday evening (7 May). He claimed: “In the first hours of the operation, IDF troops eliminated 20 terrorists in the area, as well as an explosive vehicle threatening our troops and located several terror tunnel shafts.””
Tom Watling8 May 2024 09:20
Here are some of the latest photos from Rafah
As Israel prepares for its ground offensive in the southern Gaza city of Rafah, below are some of the latest pictures from overnight Israeli airstrikes in the area.
Tom Watling8 May 2024 09:02
Qatar condemns Israel’s Rafah incursion
Qatar’s Ministry of foreign affairs said on Wednesday that it strongly condemns Israel’s Rafah incursion and called for international intervention to prevent the city from being invaded.
The Gulf state has frequently acted as a mediator in negotiating ceasefire deals between Hamas and Israel.
Holly Evans8 May 2024 08:33
CIA director to hold talks with Netanyahu today
The director of the US Central Intelligence Agency is due to meet with Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu today.
Bill Burns is also due to hold talks with other top officials, in the wake of the news that the US has paused a shipment of bombs over concerns of a full-scale assault on Rafah.
On Monday, the IDF told civillians in Gaza to move to a “humanitarian zone” north-west of the city to avoid being harmed in an imminent attack.
Holly Evans8 May 2024 08:08
Mapped: Where is Rafah and why is Israel invading it?
About 1.4 million Palestinians — more than half of Gaza‘s population — are packed into the city and its surroundings, living in densely packed tent camps, shelters or overcrowded apartments after fleeing to Rafah in hope of escaping Israel‘s attacks.
On Monday, people received flyers in Arabic ordering people to move to nearby Israel-declared humanitarian zone called Muwasi. The flyers detailed which neighborhood blocks needed to leave and where humanitarian zones had expanded to.
Read the full article here:
Holly Evans8 May 2024 07:39
Israel says it is reopening Kerem Shalom aid crossing into Gaza
Israel was reopening Kerem Shalom crossing on its border with the Gaza Strip on Wednesday, a statement from the Israeli agency in charge of it said,
It added that aid trucks routed through from Egypt were already undergoing security inspections there.
Israel had closed Kerem Shalom crossing on Sunday after a Palestinian shelling attack nearby killed four soldiers.
Holly Evans8 May 2024 07:22
US paused bomb shipment to Israel over concerns of Rafah assault, official reveals
US president Joe Biden’s administration halted a shipment of bombs to Israel amid concerns that Israeli forces were going to launch a major ground offensive in Rafah, an official from the Biden administration revealed.
Israel was set to receive 1,800 bombs weighing around 2,000lbs (907kg) and 1,700 bombs weighing 500lbs (227kg) last week, the White House administration official said, speaking on condition of anonymity.
Officials in Israel have not “fully addressed” the concerns of humanitarian needs of civilians in Rafah as flagged by Washington, the official said.
Namita Singh8 May 2024 07:20
Comment: I’ve been on the ground in Rafah – what I saw there horrified me
When I was in Gaza last month, I witnessed hell on earth, writes Melanie Ward. A ground invasion of Rafah will cause mass human suffering and a further healthcare catastrophe. A ceasefire cannot come soon enough.
Namita Singh8 May 2024 07:14