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BORDER REOPENED. Palestinian civil defense and local residents evacuate a wounded man from the destroyed al-Qadri house struck by Israeli bombardment in Rafah in the southern Gaza Strip on Tuesday amid the ongoing conflict between Israel and the militant group Hamas. The United Nations and Israel’s staunchest ally the United States both condemned the closure – eventually one was reopened – of the two crossings which are a lifeline for civilians facing looming famine.
In a statement the Gulf state, which has been mediating between Israel and militant group Hamas, appealed “for urgent international action to prevent the city from being invaded and a crime of genocide being committed.”The push into the southern city, which is packed with displaced civilians, came as negotiators and mediators met in Cairo to try and hammer out a hostage release deal and truce in the seven-month war between Israel and the militant group Hamas.
Israel’s close ally and chief military backer the United States said it was hopeful the two sides could “close the remaining gaps”. Israel’s Rafah operation began hours after Hamas announced late Monday it had accepted a truce proposal — one Israel said was “far” from what it had previously agreed to.
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres urged Israel to “immediately” reopen both crossings, calling the closures “especially damaging to an already dire humanitarian situation”. The Pentagon, meanwhile, said the US military had completed construction of an aid pier off Gaza’s coast, but weather conditions mean it is currently unsafe to move the two-part facility into place.
Militants also took around 250 people hostage on Oct. 7, of whom Israel estimates 128 remain in Gaza, including 36 who are believed to be dead.
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