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The Latest | Israel’s planned invasion of Rafah risks killing hundreds of thousands, UN says
The United Nations humanitarian aid agency says hundreds of thousands of people would be “at imminent risk of death” if Israel carries out a military assault in the southern Gaza city of Rafah. The border city is a critical entry point for humanitarian aid and is filled with displaced Palestinians, many in densely packed tent camps.
An Israeli airstrike in Rafah overnight Friday killed seven people — mostly children. The Biden administration, which provides Israel crucial military and diplomatic support, says it opposes a Rafah invasion unless Israel provides a “credible” plan for protecting civilians there.
Turkey, an important Israeli trading partner, has suspended all imports and exports to Israel. The country’s trade minister says the move was in response to “the deterioration and aggravation of the situation in Rafah.”
International mediators are trying to broker a cease-fire deal between Israel and Hamas, and a leaked truce proposal hints at compromises by both sides after months of stalemated negotiations.
The Israel-Hamas war has driven around 80% of Gaza’s population of 2.3 million from their homes, caused vast destruction in several towns and cities, and pushed northern Gaza to the brink of famine. The death toll in Gaza has soared to more than 34,500 people, according to local health officials, and the territory’s entire population has been driven into a humanitarian catastrophe.
The war began Oct. 7 when Hamas attacked southern Israel, abducting about 250 people and killing around 1,200, mostly civilians. Israel says militants still hold around 100 hostages and the remains of more than 30 others.
UN says Israeli civilians vandalized some humanitarian aid as convoy traveled through West Bank
UNITED NATIONS — The United Nations reports that a U.N. convoy carrying humanitarian aid from Jordan to Gaza had “a limited amount of goods” vandalized by Israeli civilians when it went through the West Bank. It was also rerouted by armed men when it entered Gaza to the wrong U.N. facility.U.N. deputy spokesman Farhan Haq told reporters Friday “there was a miscommunication” with the convoy Wednesday and the trucks were ultimately directed to the U.N. World Food Program warehouse in Beit Hanoun.
Referring to Hamas, he said the U.N. has clarified the misunderstanding with “the de facto authorities in Gaza to ensure that this doesn’t happen again.” They reiterated their commitment to respect the delivery of humanitarian aid, he said.
“All of the goods have been subsequently accounted for and are being distributed by the U.N.,” Haq said.
The U.N. humanitarian office reported that the convoy started in Jordan and entered Gaza “via back-to-back transfer at Erez crossing, following inspection by Israeli authorities only at Allenby Bridge,” he said.
The bridge links Jordan to the West Bank, and Haq said “Going through the West Bank, Israeli civilians offloaded and vandalized a limited amount of goods from the convoy,” which included food parcels, sugar, rice, supplementary food for those malnourished and milk powder.
The U.N. doesn’t think the incident should impact further aid deliveries from Jordan, Haq said.
https://apnews.com/article/israel-iran-hamas-latest-05-03-2024-fd7d9c386b70d8e175b3e55a999a9e1b