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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.
Only three days of fuel for health services in south of Gaza, says WHO
There is only enough fuel to run health services in the south of Gaza for three more days, the World Health Organization has said.
Hundreds of thousands of Palestinians have sought refuge in the south of Gaza from combat further north in the Palestinian enclave. Israel has threatened a major assault on the southern city of Rafah to defeat thousands of Hamas fighters it says are holed up there, and its troops are now battling the Islamist group on Rafah’s outskirts.
The WHO said a delivery of fuel to the area had been denied on Wednesday. It also said that Abu Yousef al-Najjar Hospital in Rafah was already no longer functional, one of three hospitals in the city. Some of its equipment has been moved to field hospitals, WHO said.
“WHO has pre-positioned some supplies in warehouses and hospitals, but without more aid flowing into Gaza, we cannot sustain our life-saving support to hospitals,” said WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, adding that WHO would remain in the area to provide health services.
Tom Watling8 May 2024 16:00
How far will Netanyahu go in Rafah to appease his hardline coalition?
Having expected Hamas to reject – not accept – a ceasefire deal, the Israeli prime minister was primed to launch his long-planned offensive on Rafah. Will he now bow to pressure from the US and the families of Israeli hostages and hold off the assault? Kim Sengupta reports
Tom Watling8 May 2024 15:30
CIA director meets with Netanyahu to discuss ceasefire
CIA Director Bill Burns has met with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to discuss ceasefire and hostage negotiations, an Israeli official has said.
The Israeli war cabinet, made up of Mr Netanyahu, defence minister Yoav Gallant and former chief of the General Staff, Benny Gantz, are set to meet at 7.30pm local time today to discuss the state of those negotiations.
Tom Watling8 May 2024 15:00
Here are the latest photos from Rafah
Below are the latest photos from Rafah as Israel prepares to conduct a ground offensive in the region.
Tom Watling8 May 2024 14:35
Israel government spokesman: nothing to add to reports of US halting some weapons
Israel has nothing to add to reports that the United States has halted the supply of some munitions, a government spokesperson said on Wednesday.
He said he had heard the reports but added “I personally and the Israeli government do not have anything to add on these reports”.
Tom Watling8 May 2024 14:15
Report into whether Israel broke international law in Gaza ‘indefinitely delayed’ by Biden administration
The development comes after the US State Department was expected to release the report on Wednesday.
Tom Watling8 May 2024 14:00
UK should have been ‘ahead of the US’ in suspending arms sales to Israel, ex-national security adviser says
Tom Watling8 May 2024 13:30
UAE strongly condemns Israel’s takeover of Rafah border crossing
The United Arab Emirates has said it strongly condemns Israel‘s takeover of the Rafah border crossing on the Palestinian side and warned of the consequences of military escalation.
It comes after the speaker of UAE Federal National Council met with the ambassador of Qatar, a neighbouring country in the Gulf that has also been critical of Israel’s imminent offensive in Rafah.
Tom Watling8 May 2024 13:00
Gaza health ministry issues update on death toll
At least 34,844 Palestinians were killed and 78,404 injured in Israel‘s military offensive in Gaza since 7 October, Gaza’s health ministry have said in a statement.
Tom Watling8 May 2024 12:30
What weapons has the US paused sending to Israel – and what else do they supply?
Tom Watling8 May 2024 12:00
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