The top diplomats of 13 countries — including every member of the Group of 7 industrialized democracies except the United States — said in a joint letter that Israel must take “urgent action” to address the humanitarian crisis in Gaza. The letter addressed to Israel’s foreign minister, a copy of which was seen by The New York Times, calls on the Israeli authorities to expand the amount of aid entering the territory, take “concrete action” to protect civilians and work toward a “sustainable cease-fire.”
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The main United Nations agency that aids Palestinians said that the number of Gazans who have fled from the southern city of Rafah since Israel began its military offensive in the area on May 6 has risen to more than 630,000. Many have been displaced to the central city of Deir al Balah, which the agency, known as UNRWA, said on social media was now “unbearably overcrowded with dire conditions.”
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Dozens of Israelis attacked and burned a truck they incorrectly believed was ferrying humanitarian aid to Gaza, wounding the driver, according to an Israeli military official, who spoke on the condition of anonymity to avoid professional repercussions. It was the latest violent act by right-wing Israeli protesters opposed to sending any aid to the Palestinian enclave. Israeli troops arrived to disperse the rioters, who then attacked them, wounding three soldiers, the military said in a statement.
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Israeli forces appear to be pushing closer to the center of Rafah, according to satellite imagery, which shows military vehicles and widespread destruction of neighborhoods more than two and a half miles inside Gaza. The imagery also shows Palestinians having fled even from outside areas of Rafah that the Israeli military has said to evacuate.
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FIFA, soccer’s global governing body, on Friday postponed a decision to temporarily suspend Israel over its actions during the conflict in Gaza, and in the West Bank, saying it needed to solicit legal advice before taking up a motion submitted by the Palestinian Football Association. The motion calling for Israel’s suspension referred to “international law violations committed by the Israeli occupation in Palestine, particularly in Gaza,” and cited violations of FIFA’s human rights and discrimination statutes….
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Hamas is continuing to discuss its desired political end state in which a Hamas-influenced government governs the West Bank and the Gaza Strip.
May 16, 2024 – ISW Press
Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant said on May 16 that the IDF will deploy additional forces to Rafah as Israeli forces continue to conduct limited operations in the area. Gallant said that Israeli forces have destroyed several tunnels in eastern Rafah and will continue to destroy tunnels there. Gallant added that IDF operations will “intensify” in Rafah.
image….A truck loaded with humanitarian aid from the United Arab Emirates and the U. S. Agency for International Development drives off a pier built on the Gaza coast on Friday. (Sgt Mikayla Fritz/U.S. Central Command/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock)
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