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Live blog: UN halts Rafah food distribution as supplies run out
Israel’s war on Gaza, now in its 229th day, has killed at least 35,647 Palestinians — majority of them babies, children and women — and wounded over 79,652, while some 10,000+ Palestinians are estimated to be buried beneath the ruins of bombed homes.
Displaced Palestinians queue for water at a camp west of Deir al-Balah in Gaza on May 21, 2024, amid the ongoing Israeli attacks on the besieged enclave. / Photo: AFP
AFP
Displaced Palestinians queue for water at a camp west of Deir al-Balah in Gaza on May 21, 2024, amid the ongoing Israeli attacks on the besieged enclave. / Photo: AFP
Wednesday May 22, 2024
0100 GMT — The United Nations suspended food distribution in the southern Gaza city of Rafah due to a lack of supplies and an untenable security situation caused by Israel’s expanding military aggression.
The UN warned that humanitarian operations across the territory were nearing collapse.
Earlier, a UN official said that humanitarian assistance has not been carried via a temporary pier in Gaza since Saturday after it became operational May 17.
Over the past two weeks, hundreds of thousands of people have fled Rafah in a chaotic exodus, seeking shelter in new tent camps or crowding into areas already devastated by previous Israeli offensives.
Some 400,000 people are believed to still be in Rafah after around 900,000 rushed to escape, according to COGAT, the Israeli military office in charge of Palestinian civilian affairs.
0245 GMT — Students launch pro-Palestinian encampment at top French university
Students at ENS Paris set up an encampment in solidarity with Palestinians in Gaza.
Some 40 students launched the encampment by pitching tents to protest Israel’s ongoing offensive on Gaza and ENS’s ties with Israeli institutions.
The encampment area was symbolically renamed in honour of Hind Rajab, a 6-year-old Palestinian girl who was killed this year in Israel’s war on Gaza.
0146 GMT — Israel revokes order to cut AP live Gaza video feed
Israel walked back its decision to shut down an Associated Press live video feed of war-torn Gaza on Tuesday, following a protest from the US news agency and concern from the White House.
Israeli Communications Minister Shlomo Karhi said he had revoked an earlier order that accused the AP of breaching a new ban on providing rolling footage of Gaza to Qatar-based satellite channel Al Jazeera.
“I have now ordered to cancel the operation and return the equipment to the AP agency,” Karhi said in a statement, after Washington called on Israel to reverse the move.
“We’ve been engaging directly with the government of Israel to express our concerns over this action and to ask them to reverse it,” a White House spokesperson said.
0119 GMT — Hamas accuses Israel of suppressing Gaza coverage by restricting Associated Press’s operations
Hamas accused Israel of attempting to hide the Israeli army’s crimes in Gaza from the international community by shutting down a live feed of the Associated Press (AP) news agency showing a view of the enclave.
Officials from the Israeli Communications Ministry seized a camera and broadcasting equipment from the AP office in Sderot in southern Israel. They accused the news agency of violating Israel’s foreign broadcaster law by providing images to the Doha-based Al Jazeera television network.
In a statement, Hamas characterised the Israeli authorities’ seizure of AP’s equipment as a “random and oppressive action against press freedom.”
It said this action is intended to “conceal Israel’s crimes and violations against the Palestinian people from the global public.”
0348 GMT — Israeli forces raid Jenin, kill 8 Palestinians
The Israeli army raided the city of Jenin in the northern occupied West Bank early Tuesday, triggering clashes with Palestinians that left eight dead.
Eyewitnesses told Anadolu that a large force stormed the city amid intense overflights of Israeli drones.
The Palestinian Health Ministry said in a statement that eight Palestinians were killed and 21 others were injured, including two in serious condition.
At least 510 Palestinians have been killed and around 5,000 others injured by the Israeli army in the occupied territory since October 7, according to the Health Ministry.
2237 GMT — Ireland may recognise state of Palestine to chagrin of Israel
The Irish government is set to announce the recognition of a Palestinian state, a move strongly opposed by Israel, a source familiar with the matter has said.
European Union members Ireland, Spain, Slovenia and Malta have indicated in recent weeks that they plan to make the recognition, possibly in a coordinated announcement, arguing a two-state solution is essential for lasting peace in the region.
The efforts come as a mounting death toll in Gaza from Israel’s genocidal war on Gaza prompts calls globally for a ceasefire and lasting solution for peace in the region.
Since 1988, 139 out of 193 UN member states have recognised Palestinian statehood.
The Irish government has said recognition would complement peace efforts and support a two-state solution.
Israel’s foreign ministry on Tuesday warned against the move, saying in a post on social media platform X that recognition would “lead to more terrorism, instability in the region and jeopardise any prospects for peace.”
“Don’t be a paw in the hands of Hamas,” the ministry said.
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Israel wiped out 3% of Gaza’s Christians since October 7 — Palestine
2204 GMT — Norway says it is ‘obligated’ to arrest Netanyahu if ICC warrant confirmed
Norway has become the first European country to announce that it would arrest Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Yoav Gallant if warrants issued by a panel of judges at the International Criminal Court (ICC) are confirmed.
Norwegian Foreign Minister Espen Barth Eide said if arrest warrants are issued against Netanyahu and Gallant on behalf of the Hague Tribunal, they will be obliged to arrest them if they arrive in Norway.
A Norwegian online newspaper said Eide confirmed that Netanyahu risks being extradited if he visits Norway.
Noting that a panel of judges at the ICC will consider whether the arrest warrants should be issued, Eide reiterated that a person who the ICC has issued an arrest warrant for will have to expect to be handed over to the court in accordance with Norway’s obligations.
“We expect that all state parties to the ICC will do the same,” he added.
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Israeli forces thrust deep into northern Gaza, raze parts of Jabalia camp
2200 GMT — Trump foreign policy adviser urges sanctions on ICC officials
The United States should slap sanctions on International Criminal Court officials who seek an arrest warrant for hawkish Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, a top foreign policy adviser to Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump has said after meeting the Israeli leader.
Robert O’Brien, who served as Trump’s fourth and final national security adviser, made the comments in a West Jerusalem interview with Reuters news agency after meeting Netanyahu and other Israeli officials during a multi-day visit to the US ally.
O’Brien, who said Trump would be briefed on the results of the trip, discussed what he called the ICC’s “irrational decision” to issue a warrant for Netanyahu and Defence Minister Yoav Gallant, along with three Palestinian Hamas leaders, in his meetings with the Israeli officials.
“We can sanction the bank accounts, the travel. We can put visa restrictions on these corrupt prosecutors and judges. We can show some real mettle here,” O’Brien told Reuters.
O’Brien was joined by former US ambassador to the UAE John Rakolta and former ambassador to Switzerland Ed Mc Mullen.
The trip, first reported by Reuters, was a rare case of Trump allies traveling abroad as part of an organised delegation to meet foreign officials. It took place amid strains between Israel and the Biden administration about the US Middle East ally’s conduct of genocidal war in Gaza.
SOURCE: TRTWORLD AND AGENCIES
