Preparations in Rafah have been completed, but no transit yet
At the Rafah crossing, officials have completed all preparations for the opening, but so far no humanitarian aid has entered Gaza from Egypt and no foreign or Palestinian dual nationals have crossed the Sinai Desert. Local sources report that “the situation is currently static”.
Pizzaballa, children as hostages? I am ready to offer myself for exchange
Am I ready for an exchange? Anything, even if it can lead to freedom and bringing the children home is not a problem. On my part, absolute availability.” This is how Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa, Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem, responded in an online meeting with a group of journalists to the question of whether he was ready to offer himself for an exchange for the release of the children held hostage He continued: “We have agreed to at least try to bring back the hostages, at least some of them. That’s what we’re trying to do.” That’s very difficult because mediation requires interlocutors. And right now we can’t talk to Hamas.”
There are 199 hostages in the hands of Hamas
The Israeli army has so far informed the families of 199 hostages in Gaza. Military spokesman Daniel Hagari announced this in a press conference. He specified that Israel was making “a national effort of the highest priority” in this regard, including using intelligence information. The army has so far informed 295 families of soldiers killed in the conflict with Hamas, he added.
Mattarella, Middle East in flames due to Hamas’ cowardly attack
“The Middle East is once again in flames due to a cowardly attack that has already managed to push the spiral of horror and violence to unprecedented levels,” said President Sergio Mattarella in an interview with the FAO.
The head of state also said that using water and hunger as tools of war was “a crime” and that Moscow’s decision to withdraw from the grain deal was “unholy.” The president also highlighted the worrying increase in international tensions, recalling that the Middle East is on fire due to the “cowardly attack” by Hamas.
Egypt is preparing to receive wounded Palestinians
Muhammad Abdel Fadil Shousha, Governor of North Sinai, received Khaled Abdel Ghaffar, Minister of Health, in the city of Bir al-Abd this morning; The Health Minister’s visit includes the inspection of some hospitals in the governorate and the inspection of ambulances to ensure that the hospitals are ready to receive injured Palestinians from Gaza and to respond to any requests in the health and medical sectors in North Sinai. The governor spoke of increasing the level of preparedness in hospitals and medical units, providing emergency medicines and blood, and supporting hospitals with medical staff to receive injured Palestinians. He then explained that aid deliveries to Gaza had come to a standstill in the meantime due to the resumption of Israeli attacks on various areas of the Gaza Strip.
UN: “There are not enough body bags for the dead in Gaza”
“There are not enough body bags for the dead in Gaza.” This is what the UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) reports in its latest report on the situation in the Gaza Strip and the West Bank. “For the fifth consecutive day, Gaza remained without electricity, pushing vital services such as health, water and sanitation to the brink of collapse and increasing food insecurity.” The UN recalls that the population of Gaza has “severely limited access to drinking water.” . The situation of the displaced people is also difficult. UNRWA reiterates that over a million people, almost half of Gaza’s total population, have been displaced. Among those forced to leave their homes, “600,000 are in the central area, in Khan Yunis and Rafah,” and of these “nearly 400,000 are in UNRWA facilities.” A number, the agency explains, “well beyond our ability to significantly help, even with space in our shelters, food, water or psychological support.” The agency says 14 UNRWA staff were killed, but “the number is likely higher,” and that there are 23 confirmed reports of facilities hit by Israeli airstrikes.
The Rafah border crossing between Gaza and Egypt was opened
The Rafah border crossing between Gaza and Egypt was opened. Local sources reported that logistical preparations are currently underway to introduce humanitarian aid into Gaza and allow the departure of foreign citizens and Palestinians with dual nationality. In the last few hours, the barriers blocking the crossing have been removed on the Egyptian side. The Gaza Red Crescent, the local equivalent of the Red Cross, says aid includes medicine, blankets, mattresses and drinking water supplies.
Hamas Ministry of Health, 2,750 dead in Gaza, over 9,700 injured
The death toll in Gaza has risen to 2,750: this was announced by the Hamas Ministry of Health, citing Haaretz. According to the same source, there are over 9,700 injured.
Israel: “There is no ceasefire at the moment”
“At the moment there is neither a ceasefire nor the entry of humanitarian aid into Gaza in exchange for the escape of foreign citizens”: this was announced by the office of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, commenting on previously published news about the Rafah border crossing (between…). Egypt and Gaza) opens at 9 a.m. local time, in Italy at 8 a.m.
Israel begins expelling civilians on the border with Lebanon
After the firefights of the last few days, the Israeli Defense Ministry decided to evacuate the population living near the border with Lebanon, less than 2 kilometers away. A statement from the ministry said there were a total of 28 locations, including the city of Metulla. Yesterday, attacks from Lebanon in the area killed two Israelis, a soldier and a civilian. Also yesterday, the military authorities banned entry into a four kilometer deep strip along the entire border with Lebanon.
UN, 14 UNRWA staff killed in Israeli strikes on Gaza
Fourteen staff of the United Nations Humanitarian Agency for Palestinian Refugees (UNRWA) were killed in Israel’s attacks on Gaza, the agency’s head, Philippe Lazzarini, said during a press conference last night. The Guardian reports on it. The world has “lost its humanity,” Lazzarini continued, commenting on the situation in the Gaza Strip. He added that he organized the press conference to “raise the alarm” that his Gazan colleagues could no longer provide humanitarian assistance in the enclave.
“The Rafah border crossing will be open for the departure of foreigners from this morning”
An official from the Palestinian Embassy in Washington, Kamel Khatib, quoted by NBC, announced that foreigners and Palestinians with foreign nationality will be able to leave Gaza through the Rafah border crossing with Egypt starting at 9:00 a.m. local time (8:00 a.m. local time) this morning with Italy ), when humanitarian aid will also arrive in Gaza. According to Israeli media, the border crossing will remain open for five hours.
“At the moment there is neither a ceasefire nor the entry of humanitarian aid into Gaza in exchange for the escape of foreign citizens”: this was announced by the office of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, commenting on previously published news about the opening of the Rafah border crossing (between Egypt and Gaza) at 9 a.m. local time, 8 a.m. in Italy.
Israeli raid in West Bank, Palestinians killed
At least one Palestinian was killed in an Israeli military strike in the occupied West Bank city of Jericho this morning. Al Jazeera reports on it. The broadcaster states that several Israeli raids have also been reported in East Jerusalem, Nablus, Bethlehem and Hebron in the last few hours. According to Al Jazeera sources, dozens of Palestinians were arrested during the operations.
The UN: “Electric autonomy of Gaza hospitals will end in 24 hours”
The United Nations Office for Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) predicts that fuel reserves in hospitals across the Gaza Strip will only last “for another 24 hours.” In his latest update on the situation on the Strip, Ocha warns that “stopping backup generators would endanger the lives of thousands of patients in hospitals.”
Israeli air strikes on Gaza at night, several casualties
A “huge fireball” has been reported in Gaza after “several air strikes” by the Israeli army in the last few hours that “resulted in the deaths of several people,” Al Jazeera correspondents report
Israeli UN envoy tells CNN: ‘We don’t want to occupy Gaza’
In his speech, Israeli UN Ambassador Gilad Erdan followed the words of American President Joe Biden, who said in an interview with the CBS television program “60 Minutes” that an occupation of the Gaza Strip would be “a serious mistake.” “We have no interest in occupying Gaza or staying there, but since we are fighting for our survival and the only way – as the US President himself has defined – is to destroy Hamas, we must do whatever is necessary to destroy their potential,” he said. The Israeli ambassador told CNN journalist Kaitlan Collins.
Biden, Israel’s occupation of Gaza would be a ‘big mistake’
US President Joe Biden considers an Israeli occupation of the Gaza Strip to be “a big mistake” and said on the television show “60 Minutes” that Hamas does not represent all Palestinians. The Washington Post reports on this and anticipates the content of an interview with the US President that will be broadcast soon.
“I think it would be a big mistake,” Biden said in response to a question from journalist Scott Pelley on CBS. “Hamas and the extreme elements of Hamas do not represent the entire Palestinian people,” said the US president. Biden reiterates that Hamas must be completely eliminated, but there must also be a path to a Palestinian state. However, the president says he does not believe Israel will pursue that path at this time. “But I believe that” the Jewish state “understands that a significant part of the Palestinian people does not share the opinion of Hamas and Hezbollah,” the American president added to “60 Minutes.”
American President Joe Biden has condemned the murder of the six-year-old Muslim boy stabbed to death near Chicago, denouncing this “terrible act of hate” which, according to US police, is linked to the war between Israel and Hamas stands. The child suffered 26 stab wounds and died in hospital. The 32-year-old mother is expected to survive, according to a statement from the Will County Sheriff’s Office in Illinois, which called the attack “heinous.” In a statement, Biden confirmed that the woman was the boy’s mother and said her “Palestinian Muslim family came to America seeking what we all seek: a refuge to live, learn, and live in peace.” pray. This terrible act of hate has no place in America and contradicts our core values: the freedom to pray without fear, the freedom to believe and the freedom to be,” the American president added.
Asked whether the time has come for a ceasefire in the Middle East, US President Joe Biden says there is a “fundamental difference” between the Israelis killed in the Hamas attack and the Palestinians killed in the Israeli counterattack. The Jewish state “is hunting a group of people who committed barbarism as grave as the Holocaust,” Biden explains. “And that’s why I think Israel has to respond. They must attack Hamas. Hamas is a bunch of cowards. They hide behind the civilian population.” They set up their headquarters where there are civilians, buildings and the like. But I am sure that the Israelis will do everything in their power to avoid killing innocent civilians.”
US President Joe Biden reiterated that there is “no clear evidence” of Iran’s involvement in the Hamas attack on Israel, confirming statements made by US officials last week. In an interview on CBS’ “60 Minutes,” Biden explains: “Iran consistently supports Hamas and Hezbollah, but there is no evidence at this time whether they had prior knowledge or helped plan the attack.”
US and Israeli officials, meanwhile, are discussing the possibility of an upcoming visit by US President Joe Biden to Israel at the invitation of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Portal writes on its website, citing a source familiar with the matter. The American news site Axios also writes, citing three Israeli and US officials, that Israel and the US are discussing a possible visit by the US President to Israel “at the end of the week”. For its part, the White House simply emphasizes that it has no announcements to make about new trips by the president, reports the Times of Israel.
Read the full article on ANSA.it