Gaza Unrest
Live Reporting
Rafah invasion will lead to ‘another massacre’: Jordan FM
Israeli forces arrest at least 45 Palestinians in last 24 hours, prisoners society says
The Palestinian Prisoner’s Society has said that many of those arrested leaving Al-Aqsa Mosque in occupied East Jerusalem after Friday prayers were worshippers, Al Jazeera reports.
Others were arrested in the occupied West Bank governorates of Hebron, Jenin, Nablus, Tubas, Ramallah and el-Bireh, Jericho, and Tulkarm, the group said, adding that three women were among those detained.
The latest arrests bring the total number of Palestinians detained by Israeli forces in the occupied West Bank and East Jerusalem since October 7 to 8,080, according to the Palestinian Prisoner’s Society, as part of what it called a “systematic arrest campaign”.
UN humanitarian chief calls Gaza conflict ‘betrayal of humanity’
The United Nations’ humanitarian chief has said Israel’s campaign against Hamas in Gaza has escalated into a “betrayal of humanity”, AFP reports.
In a statement on the eve of the six-month anniversary of the fighting, Martin Griffiths, outgoing under-secretary-general for humanitarian affairs and emergency relief, has called for a “collective determination that there be a reckoning for this betrayal of humanity”.
“Each day, this war claims more civilian victims,” said Griffiths, who will leave his post at the end of June due to health reasons. “Every second that it continues sows the seeds of a future so deeply obscured by this relentless conflict.”
Griffiths laments, “The unconscionable prospect of further escalation in Gaza, where no one is safe and there is nowhere safe to go.” He adds, “An already fragile aid operation continues to be undermined by bombardments, insecurity and denials of access.”
“On this day, my heart goes out to the families of those killed, injured or taken hostage, and to those who face the particular suffering of not knowing the plight of their loved ones,” he said in the statement.
Hamas refuses to ‘back down’ on Gaza ceasefire demands
Hamas has refused to “back down” from its demands for a Gaza ceasefire but agreed to send a delegation for renewed talks in Cairo over the weekend, AFP reports.
“Hamas confirms its adherence to the position it presented on March 14 … and we will not back down from this position,” it said in a statement.
The group also reiterated its series of demands.
“The demands … are complete ceasefire, withdrawal of the occupation forces from Gaza, the return of the displaced to their residential areas, freedom of movement of the people, offering them aid and shelter and a serious hostage exchange deal,” it said.
Israeli troops recover slain Gaza hostage, Egypt to host new truce talks
Israel said on Saturday its special forces had recovered the body of a hostage killed while being held captive in Gaza, as the Palestinian enclave's dominant Islamist movement Hamas said it would take part in a new round of ceasefire talks in Cairo.
Almost six months into the war, Israel has faced protests at home demanding a deal to free the dwindling number of live hostages from Hamas' Oct. 7 cross-border rampage. Western countries, meanwhile, have voiced outrage over what they see as an unacceptably high Palestinian civilian toll and the accompanying humanitarian crisis.
Overcrowded Al-Aqsa Hospital now treating patients in outdoor tents
Every day, dozens of wounded Palestinians are being brought to Al-Aqsa Hospital in central Gaza, even though the facility is totally full, a spokesperson for the hospital has told Al Jazeera Arabic.
The influx of new patients has forced the facility to set up outdoor tents to treat the wounded, the spokesperson said, adding that the conditions are unsanitary and health workers lack essential supplies.
“We lack medical supplies, medicines and fuel,” the spokesperson said. “We lack the necessary tools in the operating rooms, specifically for orthopaedics.”
Overcrowded Al-Aqsa Hospital now treating patients in outdoor tents
Every day, dozens of wounded Palestinians are being brought to Al-Aqsa Hospital in central Gaza, even though the facility is totally full, a spokesperson for the hospital has told Al Jazeera Arabic.
The influx of new patients has forced the facility to set up outdoor tents to treat the wounded, the spokesperson said, adding that the conditions are unsanitary and health workers lack essential supplies.
“We lack medical supplies, medicines and fuel,” the spokesperson said. “We lack the necessary tools in the operating rooms, specifically for orthopaedics.”
Palestinian PM, Spanish FM discuss strengthening ties
In a call on Friday, Palestinian PM Mohammed Mustafa spoke to Spanish Foreign Minister Jose Manuel Albares about “strengthening cooperation” and potentially putting together a “joint ministerial committee”, the Palestinian Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a post on X.
During the call, Mustafa acknowledged the staunch Spanish support for Palestine amid the war in Gaza, including Spain calling for the recognition of a Palestinian state.
Since the Gaza war broke out in October, Spain’s PM Pedro Sanchez has consistently called for a permanent ceasefire, while also pushing for recognition of Palestinian statehood by Spain and its EU partners.
Attacks across Gaza obstructing humanitarian aid
The fighting continues. The air raids continue.
The air strikes continue to pound areas across central Gaza, the city of Khan Younis, as well as Gaza City in the north.
These attacks are obstructing humanitarian aid. And following Israel’s attack on the World Central Kitchen (WCK) employees earlier this week, a lot of people – donors, volunteers, and aid workers on the ground – are very discouraged.
The more the bombings continue, the more we’re seeing increasingly difficult conditions on the ground.
Moroccans protest Gaza war, normalisation with Israel
Thousands of Moroccans took to the streets of Casablanca, Rabat and Tangier last night to protest against Israel’s war in Gaza and condemn Morocco’s normalisation with Israel.
“We came to say ‘no’ to the barbaric massacres Israel is committing against Palestinians, to the destruction in Gaza … and to the silence of the Arab states,” protest organiser Mohammed Riahi told AFP news agency in Casablanca.
Morocco, which normalised ties with Israel in 2020, has accused Israel of breaching international law in its war in Gaza, but has not given any indication it would reconsider its ties with the state.
Israeli forces conduct raids near Hebron
Israeli forces have raided the town of Dura, 7km (4 miles) south of Hebron, and arrested a young man there, Al Jazeera reported.
Israeli forces have also moved into the town of Beit Ummar, 11km (7 miles) northwest of Hebron, and clashed with Palestinian youth.
Since October 7, Israeli troops have conducted near daily raids in the occupied West Bank, carrying out at least 8,030 arrests.
Israeli police arrest 16 worshippers at Al-Aqsa Mosque: Report
At least 16 people were arrested at dawn prayers at the Al-Aqsa Mosque in occupied East Jerusalem, according to the Times of Israel.
The arrests took place during the Laylat al-Qadr, or the night of power, which is considered by Muslims to be the holiest night of Ramadan, the Islamic holy month of fasting.
Tensions have been running high at the site as Israeli authorities have denied entry to the mosque to the vast majority of Palestinians living in the occupied West Bank during Ramadan.
Israel said children under 10, women over 50 and men over 55 of age would be allowed to pray in the Al-Aqsa Mosque if they have a valid permit. This slashes the already small percentage of those allowed to enter the site.
Israeli strikes hit homes in northern, central Gaza: Report
Israeli artillery fire has struck homes near Gaza City, including in the Zeitoun, Sabra, Tal al-Hawa, and Sheikh Ajlin neighbourhoods, killing at least three people and injuring 10, according to the Palestinian Wafa news agency.
Israeli shelling also hit homes in numerous areas of central Gaza, causing more injuries in the neighbourhoods of Mughraqa, Zahra, and near Nuseirat camp, said Wafa.
Negotiators expected in Cairo as Israel-Hamas war nears six-month mark
US and Israeli negotiators were expected in Cairo over the weekend for a renewed push to reach a ceasefire-captive deal in a war that has raged for nearly half a year and killed over 33,000 Palestinians and over 1,000 Israelis.
Ahead of the talks, US President Joe Biden wrote to the leaders of Egypt and Qatar urging them to dial up pressure on Hamas to “agree to and abide by a deal”, a senior administration official told the AFP news agency.
The White House confirmed that negotiations would occur this weekend in Cairo, but would not comment on US media reports that CIA director Bill Burns would be attending, along with Israel spy chief David Barnea, Qatari Prime Minister Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani and Egypt’s intelligence chief Abbas Kamel.
Israeli drones fire tear gas at Al-Aqsa worshippers
Multiple Palestinian media and witnesses said that the Israeli drone strikes were aimed at forcing worshippers to leave the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound after Laylat al-Qadr, one of the most important events on the Muslim calendar.
It was the second day in a row that Israeli troops fired tear gas at worshippers during this year’s Ramadan.
Israeli forces were also seen beating worshippers with batons, according to video clips posted online.
More on Australia foreign minister’s reaction to the killing of WCK aid worker
The Australian government has announced that it would appoint a special adviser to work with Israel to ensure “full confidence” in investigations into an air strike in Gaza that killed seven World Central Kitchen aid workers including an Australian.
“The government will appoint a special adviser, who we have requested the Israelis work with, so we can be advised about the appropriateness of the process,” Foreign Minister Penny Wong said.
Israel has dismissed two officers and formally reprimanded senior commanders after an inquiry into the strike that killed aid workers, including Australian Zomi Frankcom.
Wong described the dismissals as “necessary first steps” but said the information provided by Israel on the death of Frankcom and other aid workers was “not sufficient.”
Ex-CIA chief: In my experience, the Israelis usually fire and then ask questions
In an interview with CNN, former CIA Director Leon Panetta urged Israel to take “some real and concrete steps” to “improve” its standard military operations in Gaza to avoid more civilian casualties, including aid workers.
“You have to be able to verify, to take time to make sure that the information you’re getting is accurate with regards to targets. And I have to tell you that in the past, at least in my experience, the Israelis usually fire and then ask questions.”
Panetta, who also served as defence secretary under US President Barack Obama, said if Israel does not take those steps, or “take initial steps and then go back to business as usual”, the US should consider imposing conditions on providing weapons to its closest ally in the Middle East.
Panetta said Israel has been “badly damaged in terms of reputation” for its military conduct against Palestinians in Gaza.
Australia says Israeli information on death of aid worker ‘not sufficient’
Australia’s Foreign Minister Penny Wong has said that information from Israel about the death of an Australian aid worker during an air strike on Gaza was “not sufficient”.
After being briefed by Israeli authorities, Australia had “made clear that we have not yet received sufficient information to satisfy our expectations”, Wong told reporters in Adelaide after Lalzawmi “Zomi” Frankcom was killed.
The Australian was among seven aid workers killed in an Israeli strike in Gaza.
Australia to appoint 'special adviser' on probe into Israel airstrike
SYDNEY (Reuters) - Australia's government said on Saturday it would appoint a special adviser to work with Israel to ensure "full confidence" in investigations into an airstrike in Gaza that killed seven aid workers including an Australian.
"The government will appoint a special adviser who we have requested the Israelis work with so we can be advised about the appropriateness of the process," Foreign Minister Penny Wong said in a televised media conference in Adelaide.
Israeli fire ‘most likely’ killed woman taken captive by Hamas on October 7: Army
An Israeli investigation has found that a woman who was seized during the October 7 Hamas attack was “most likely” killed when an Israeli combat helicopter fired on her kidnappers’ vehicle.
Efrat Katz, an Israeli, and most of the fighters in the vehicle were killed when the aircraft fired on them, the army investigation said on Friday.
The helicopter “fired at a vehicle that had terrorists in it, and which, in retrospect, based on the testimonies, also had hostages in it”, the army said in a statement.
“As a result of the fire, most of the terrorists manning the vehicle were killed, and most likely, Efrat Katz … was killed as well.”
The “tragic and unfortunate” event occurred at a time of “fighting and conditions of uncertainty”, Israeli Air Force chief Tomer Bar said in the statement.
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Biden urges Egypt, Qatar to press Hamas to agree on hostage deal
WASHINGTON (Agencies) - President Joe Biden on Friday (Apr 5) wrote to the leaders of Egypt and Qatar, calling on them to press Hamas for a hostage deal with Israel, according to a senior administration official - a day after he'd called on Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to redouble efforts to reach a cease-fire.
The official, who spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss the private letters, said Biden's national security adviser will meet Monday with family members of some of the estimated 100 hostages who are believed to still be in Gaza.
Pelosi joins call for Biden to stop transfer of US weapons to Israel
Former US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, a key ally of Joe Biden, has signed a letter from dozens of congressional Democrats to the US president and Secretary of State Antony Blinken, urging a halt to weapons transfers to Israel.
Friday’s letter, which the California congresswoman signed, called on the Biden administration to conduct its own probe into an Israeli air strike that killed seven staff of the aid group World Central Kitchen on Monday.
“In light of the recent strike against aid workers and the ever-worsening humanitarian crisis, we believe it is unjustifiable to approve these weapons transfers,” the letter said. It was signed by Pelosi and 36 other Democrats including Representatives Barbara Lee, Rashida Tlaib and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez.
UN chief 'deeply troubled' by reports Israel using AI to identify Gaza targets
UNITED NATIONS (United States) (AFP) – UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Friday expressed serious concern over reports that Israel was using artificial intelligence to identify targets in Gaza, resulting in many civilian deaths.
According to a report in independent Israeli-Palestinian magazine +972, Israel has used AI to identify targets in Gaza -- in some cases with as little as 20 seconds of human oversight.
