Israel expects "another seven months" of conflict in Gaza, official says
From CNN's Mike Schwarz in Jerusalem
Israel's head of national Security Council has said the country expects "another seven months of fighting" in Gaza to achieve the objective of destroying Hamas.
In a radio interview on the Israeli station Reshet bet on Wednesday, Tzachi Hanegbi said: "It was honestly stated in the first days of presenting the plans to the cabinet that the war would be long".
"It is built on a staged basis, with the year 2024 defined as a year of combat. We are now in the fifth month of 2024, which means we expect another seven months of fighting to deepen our achievements and achieve our goal of destroying the military and governmental capabilities of Hamas and Islamic Jihad," he added.
"You need to have patience and know how to stand strong. This resilience is what has allowed this nation to survive for 75 years, and even for 3,000 years before that. Just don't use a stopwatch on ourselves or set ultimatums," he said.
Global anger against Israel is increasing, but the US won't change course. Here's what you need to know
From CNN staff
Global anger over Israel’s military offensive in Rafah has intensified, and key allies have condemned Sunday’s airstrike that killed dozens of people at a camp for displaced Palestinians.
Israeli tanks have been seen incentral Rafahfor the first time, eyewitnesses told CNN, as Israel deepens its assault on the southern Gaza city, where about1.3 million Palestinianswere taking shelter before Israel began its operation.
Here’s what you need to know.
- Biden won’t change course: President Joe Bidenis not altering his policy toward Israelfollowing an Israeli strike that killedmore than 45 peoplein Rafah, and the attack did not cross ared linethat would affect US support, the White House said. US-made munitionswere used in the strike on a camp for displaced people, a CNN analysis of video from the scene and a review by explosive-weapons experts shows.
- Haley visits Israel: Former UN ambassador Nikki Haley met with Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, and wrote “Finish Them!” on Israeli artillery shells during a Memorial Day visit to Israel,according tophotos from a former Israeli ambassador to the United Nations.
- Global outrage: But the US is under increasing pressure from many of its allies, which have been more vocal in their condemnation of Israeli actions in the days since the strike. UN agencies, aid groups and multiple governments have called on Israel to halt its Rafah offensive. French UN AmbassadorNicolas de Rivière warned against anyfurther escalationin the city, saying "it is high time" for the UN Security Council "to take action and to adopt a new resolution" about the war in Gaza.
- More Israeli attacks: Another 75 people were killed in Gaza in the past 24 hours, and 284 were injured, according to the Health Ministry in the enclave, which said the deaths were a result of Israeli military operations. The new figures take the total number of Palestinians killed since Israel began its war on Hamas on 7 October to 36,171, with another 80,000 people injured.
- Hospital closed off: The Emirati Crescent Hospital in Rafah is closed off as current Israeli operations in the vicinity obstruct access to the hospital, the head of the health emergency committee in Rafah has told CNN, saying the facility has "become a red zone."
- NGOs pull back: World Central Kitchen (WCK) said is pausing its operations at the humanitarian organization's main kitchen in Rafah due to "ongoing attacks" in the face of Israeli operations there. But the World Health Organization (WHO) said it was finally able to deliver medical supplies to Al-Ahli Hospital in Gaza – its first mission to the northern part of the enclave in two weeks.
- New strikes: Two further attacks in Rafah killed at least 29Palestinians on Tuesday,according to authorities in Gaza. The first hit a displacement camp just 150 meters from the site of Sunday’s strike. The second hita displacement campin the southern coastal town of Al-Mawasi. Parts of Al-Mawasiweredesignated by Israel as a “safe zone,”to which it had earlier ordered thousands of people to evacuate; however according to Israeli authorities and CNN geolocation the strike did not hit inside a safe zone.
- 1 million flee Rafah:At least 940,000 peoplehave been displacedfrom Rafah in the past three weeks as a result of "the intensification of hostilities and issuance of evacuation orders" by Israeli forces, according to theUN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs. Many of the displaced Palestinians areattempting to evacuatefollowing devastating Israeli strikes – but they don't know where to go.
- Broken aid pier:A US-builttemporary pierto transport aid into Gaza broke apart in heavy seas Tuesday in a blow to the American-led effort to create a maritime corridor for humanitarian supplies.
Rafah hospital "has become a red zone" due to Israeli operations, health official tells CNN
From CNN's Ibrahim Dahman
The Emirati Crescent Hospital in Rafah is closed off as current Israeli operations in the vicinity obstruct access to the hospital, the head of the health emergency committee in Rafah has told CNN.
Dr. Marwan Al-Hams added that, as the fighting has progressed in Rafah, the hospital's surrounding area "has become a red zone."
"Citizens cannot enter or exit it, nor can Medical staff, patients, and pregnant women who want to give birth. They do not have access to this hospital. This hospital became suspended, neither in service nor out of service," Al-Hams said.
As he was talking to CNN, shelling could be heard in the background.
He added that Israeli forces had struck the hospital gates, and that the nursery, operation blocks and the maternity department had been destroyed.
CNN has reached out tothe IDF for a response on how operations are impacting the hospital, but has not yet heard back.
How is aid getting into Gaza?
From CNN's Christian Edwards
After a US-built aid pier broke apart in heavy seas Tuesday, the trickle of humanitarian aid entering Gaza has slowed even further.
Here’s the status of the three main crossings from Israel and Egypt into Gaza:
Rafah: Since Israel began its assault on Rafah on May 6 and seized control of the Gazan side of the crossing, aid has been blocked, with supplies piling up in Egypt. Israel and Egypt have blamed each other for the blockage.
Rafah had previously been the central artery for aid to flow into Gaza – and, last year, for some injured Palestinians and foreign nationals to enter Egypt.
Kerem Shalom: With Rafah closed, the Kerem Shalom crossing into southern Gaza was opened last week. Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi and US President Joe Biden agreed to send aid to the UN via Kerem Shalom temporarily.
“This will help save lives,” Biden said, while efforts continue to reopen the Rafah crossing.
More than 370 aid trucks arrived at the crossing from Egypt on Monday, Israeli officials said.
But UNRWA, the main UN relief agency in Gaza, said it had picked up only 30 trucks for distribution on the Gazan side of the crossing. Another UN agency said while the crossing is open "in principle," fighting makes it hard to access aid from the Gaza side.
Some Israelis have staged recent protests at the crossing, demanding that no aid enter Gaza until Hamas releases all of the hostages.
Erez: Aid has trickled in through this crossing in the north of the enclave. From May 1 to May 20, the World Food Programme transferred 500 trucks, carrying 7,000 metric tons of aid, through the crossing.
But only the western side of the crossing is open, with Erez East still closed.
And the US pier? The temporary pier – built by the US military at a cost of $320 million – broke apart Tuesday, a little more than 10 days after it began operating. It will be removed from the Gaza coast and taken to the Israeli port of Ashdod for repairs, which will take more than a week, further delaying aid deliveries.
WHO delivers medical supplies to northern Gaza for the first time in two weeks
From CNN's Ibrahim Dahman and Irene Nasser
The World Health Organization (WHO) has delivered medical supplies to Al-Ahli Hospital in Gaza — their first mission to the northern part of the enclave in two weeks, Director General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said on Wednesday.
"Amid ongoing intense hostilities, WHO and partners still managed to reach Al-Ahli Hospital in Gaza city. First mission to the north of the Strip since 13 May," Tedros said.
He added that "15,000L of fuel, 14 hospital beds, medicines and trauma supplies to cover the needs of 1,500 people" were delivered.
"Al-Ahli hospital is serving twice the number of people it is designed for, lacking essential surgical supplies," Tedros said. "No lifesaving surgery can be performed in the evening due to the lack of specialized staff."
Al-Ahli Hospital told CNN that the fuel received from the mission will be enough for only 10 days. And although they did receive 14 beds, they need 100 beds, according to Dr. Fadel Naeem, Acting Director of the hospital.
The aid mission to northern Gaza also escorted five ambulances of the Palestine Red Crescent Society, according to Tedros.
"Due to delays at a checkpoint, the mission was not able to access the nearby Public Aid Hospital. Road destruction, lack of safe access and fuel for missions is continuing to impede movement to the north. The city is full of debris and solid waste," Tedros said, repeating an "appeal for a ceasefire."
Saudi Arabia condemns Israel's deadly strike on Rafah
From CNN's Irene Nasser
Saudi Arabia has "condemned and denounced in the strongest terms" Israel's strike on Rafah in southern Gaza, which killed dozens of Palestinians on Sunday.
"The Kingdom holds the Israeli authorities fully responsible for what is happening in Rafah," Saudi Arabia's foreign ministry said. "The Kingdom stresses the need for the international community to assume its responsibilities today more than ever before."
Israel’s strike has drawn condemnation UN agencies, aid organizations and multiple governments — including some of its allies.
World Central Kitchen pauses work at its main kitchen in Rafah because of "ongoing attacks"
From CNN's Ibrahim Dahman
World Central Kitchen (WCK) said is pausing its operations at the humanitarian organization's main kitchen in Rafah due to "ongoing attacks" in the face of Israeli operations there.
"In the face of Israeli operations in Rafah, countless families are being forced to flee once again. Ongoing attacks have forced us to pause work at our main kitchen in Rafah and relocate many of our community kitchens further north," WCK said.
"The situation is dire but WCK's Palestinian team—all directly impacted by the war—is showing up every day to support neighbors in need," the post said, adding that almost 100,000 meals were provided a day earlier and would "increase capacity this week as 58 of our aid trucks have entered Gaza since Sunday."
Seven aid workers from the non-profit were killed in an Israeli military strike in Gaza in April, an incident which drew international condemnation.
30 Palestine Red Crescent Society members killed in Gaza since October 7
From CNN's Ibrahim Dahman
Thirty members of the Palestine Red Crescent Society (PRCS) have been killed in Gaza since October 7, the organization said on Monday.
PRCS member Issam Rouhi Mohammed Aqel was killed after "his home was targeted last night in Al-Bureij refugee camp" in central Gaza, the humanitarian group said.
Aqel's death brings the total number of PRCS staff killed since October 7 to 30 — "of whom 17 were killed while performing their humanitarian duty."
PRCS has had to endure countless challenges when carrying out its humanitarian work. In February, it suspended work on “coordinated medical missions” in Gaza for 48 hours because it could not ensure the safety of its teams, the wounded and the sick.
The group has accused the Israeli military of repeatedly mistreating its staff and patients as well as not committing to procedures and coordination mechanisms agreed upon with United Nations agencies to fulfill humanitarian missions.
It's morning in Gaza. Here's what you should know
From CNN staff
President Joe Biden is not altering his policy toward Israel following an Israeli strike that killed more than 45 people in Rafah, and the attack did not cross ared line that would affect US support, the White House said.
US-made munitions were used in the strike on a camp for displaced people, a CNN analysis of video from the scene and a review by explosive-weapons experts shows.
Israel is escalating its assault in Rafah – where about1.3 million Palestinianswere taking shelter before Israel began its operation there – despite global condemnation.
Israeli tanks have been seen in central Rafah for the first time, eyewitnesses told CNN, as Israel deepens its assault on the southern Gaza city despite mounting global condemnation.
Here are more headlines you should know:
- Global outcry: UN agencies, aid groups and multiple governments have called on Israel to halt its Rafah offensive. French UN AmbassadorNicolas de Rivière warned against any further escalation in the city, saying "it is high time" for the UN Security Council "to take action and to adopt a new resolution" about the war in Gaza. On Tuesday, protesters in cities across Europe gathered to voice opposition to the deadly strike on Rafah.
- Israeli attacks on Rafah ramp up: Two further attacks in Rafah killed at least 29Palestinians on Tuesday,according to authorities in Gaza. The first hit a displacement camp just 150 meters from the site of Sunday’s strike. The second hita displacement campin the southern coastal town of Al-Mawasi, an area designated by Israel as a “safe zone” where it had earlier ordered thousands of people to evacuate. Israel has denied striking a humanitarian area in Al-Mawasi.
- 1 million flee Rafah: At least 940,000 people have been displaced from Rafah in the past three weeks as a result of "the intensification of hostilities and issuance of evacuation orders" by Israeli forces, according to the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs. Many of the displaced Palestinians are attempting to evacuate following devastating Israeli strikes – but they don't know where to go.
- Broken aid pier: A US-builttemporary pierto transport aid into Gaza broke apart in heavy seas Tuesday in a blow to the American-led effort to create a maritime corridor for humanitarian supplies.
