9:51
Twenty Egyptian Red Crescent trucks passed through the Rafah border post
Twenty trucks from the Egyptian Red Crescent, which is responsible for delivering aid from various UN agencies, pulled into the Egyptian terminal, an AFP correspondent on the scene noted.
On the side of the Palestinian terminal, empty semi-trailers headed for Egypt pulled in in preparation for the loading of aid supplies.
Four ambulances, two UN vehicles and two Red Cross vehicles were also seen on the Palestinian side.
American President Joe Biden said on Wednesday that he had received a guarantee from Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sissi to “allow up to 20 trucks to cross.”
9:49
The WHO says medical supplies are expected to arrive in Gaza this Saturday
The WHO director-general says medical supplies are expected to arrive in Gaza today.
“The supplies include medicines for trauma and chronic diseases as well as basic basic medicines,” explains Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus on X.
9:20
Humanitarian aid begins to flow from Egypt to the Gaza Strip
Humanitarian aid trucks began crossing the Rafah terminal on the Egyptian side toward the Palestinian enclave of Gaza on Saturday, a security source and an Egyptian Red Crescent official told AFP.
Egyptian state television showed several trucks driving through the border post’s huge gate as tons of aid piled up for days, waiting to be handed over to Gaza’s 2.4 million residents, half of them children, without water, electricity or Fuel.
8:52
17 UN refugee agency employees have been killed since the war began
At least 17 employees of the UN Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) have been killed in the Gaza Strip since the war began, said its head Philippe Lazzarini.
“So far, the deaths of 17 of our colleagues have been confirmed in this brutal war. Unfortunately, the actual number is likely to be higher,” the UNRWA Commissioner General wrote in a statement.
8:40
Israel calls on its citizens to leave Egypt and Jordan immediately
Israel is calling on its citizens in Egypt and Jordan to leave “as soon as possible” due to a “worsening of anti-Israel demonstrations.”
A similar warning, Level 4, the highest, has already been issued for Turkey and the advisories have been raised to Level 3 for Morocco, discouraging Israelis from traveling there.
8:36
This Saturday a “peace summit” took place in Cairo in the presence of the head of French diplomacy
Countries and international organizations are expected at the “Cairo Peace Summit”, which will take place in Egypt this Saturday, in order to prevent an escalation of the conflict.
French Foreign Minister Catherine Colonna will be present. The aim of the summit is to bring together heavyweights from the Arab world and representatives of Security Council countries.
It will reiterate France’s “demand” to open humanitarian access so that the Palestinian population in Gaza can have access to basic needs, and to do so “in a sustainable way”, according to a diplomatic source.
8:09
The US Embassy in Israel announces the opening of the Rafah border crossing at 10 a.m.
According to the US Embassy, the Rafah border crossing between the Gaza Strip and Egypt will open this Saturday at 10 a.m. local time.
Humanitarian aid must pass through this border crossing while residents of the Palestinian enclave face a total siege and regular bombings.
“If the border is open, we do not know how long it will remain open to allow foreign citizens to leave Gaza,” the embassy wrote.
7:58
The Israeli army continues to shell the Gaza Strip
The shelling of the Gaza Strip continued overnight from Friday to Saturday. The Israeli army said on Telegram that it had attacked “Hamas command centers, anti-tank rocket launchers and strategic infrastructure” and also targeted gunmen and observers stationed in buildings.
7:39
Family of the freed hostages say both women are doing well
Natalie, 17, and her mother Judith, who were taken hostage two weeks ago, have been released by Hamas. “I’ve been waiting for this moment for a long time,” said Uri Raanan, Natalie’s father and Judith’s ex-husband.
“I spoke to my daughter earlier, she looks very good and was very happy, she is waiting to come home,” he said.
“His mother has a small scratch on her hand, but she told me it was nothing,” he added.
7:03
For Joe Biden, Hamas attacked Israel in particular to undermine normalization with Saudi Arabia
Hamas attacked Israel, among other things, to undermine talks to normalize relations between the Jewish state and Saudi Arabia, said Joe Biden.
“One of the reasons why they did what they did… why they persecuted Israel… is because I was about to sit down with the Saudis,” the American president affirmed, specifying that Riyadh was considering official recognition in these discussions the Jewish state.
6:03
‘I’m overjoyed’: Joe Biden welcomes the release of two American hostages held by Hamas
The United States welcomed the release of two American hostages held by Hamas and called on the Palestinian Islamist group to release the other nationals it was holding.
“Our countrymen have endured a terrible ordeal over the past fortnight and I am overjoyed that they will soon be reunited with their families,” Joe Biden said in a statement.
He spoke Friday with the two women who were taken hostage on Oct. 7. During their conversation, he promised them “all support from the US government,” according to the White House.
5:30
A trip by Emmanuel Macron to the Middle East is not ruled out “in the coming days”.
Emmanuel Macron said on Friday that he would not rule out a trip to the Middle East “in the coming days, the next weeks” if he managed to “obtain useful things” thanks to that trip.
This trip “will depend on the discussions that I will have in the coming hours and days with all the leaders of the region,” the head of state said during an interview with some journalists about the conflict between Israel and Hamas.
5:21
Macron is certain that one of the seven missing Frenchmen is a hostage, a strong “guess” for the others
A French woman was “certainly” brought to Gaza by Hamas and six other French people were suspected hostages, “without certainty,” Emmanuel Macron told some journalists on Friday evening, saying he was “confident” about the channels used “Concerns Qatar” to secure their release.
“Young Mia Shem is the only one whose hostage status is confirmed. For the six others, there is a suspicion of hostage-taking, but no certainty,” said the President.
5:14
Hamas releases two American women, ‘first glimmer of hope’ for hostages
Hello and welcome to this live broadcast on the conflict between Israel and Hamas. Two weeks after the terror group’s attacks, hopes for the release of hostages held in Gaza have been revived with the release of two American women.
Joe Biden said he was “overjoyed” as the head of American diplomacy called on Hamas to release the 10 other American nationals still detained.