US Vice President Kamala Harris criticised Israel in an unexpected address near Edmund Pettus Bridge. She called attention to what she referred to as a humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza.
During an event commemorating the 59th anniversary of Bloody Sunday, Harris expressed deep concern about the inhumane conditions in Gaza, reflecting a growing frustration within the Biden administration over the persistent conflict. Harris called for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza and urged Hamas to accept a six-week cessation of hostilities in exchange for releasing hostages.
Addressing Israel directly, Harris pointed out the need for significant measures to increase the flow of aid into Gaza, leaving no room for excuses. She specifically called for opening new border crossings, avoiding unnecessary restrictions on aid delivery, protecting humanitarian personnel and convoys, and restoring basic services to facilitate the distribution of essential resources. The US Vice President is scheduled to meet with Israeli war cabinet member Benny Gantz at the White House.
Washington aims to secure a truce by the start of Ramadan, just one week away. Israel has reportedly agreed upon a framework deal.
A Hamas delegation arrived in Cairo for ceasefire talks on Sunday. However, the progress remains unclear, as reports suggest Israel boycotted the talks following Hamas’s rejection of a demand for a complete list of hostages still alive.
The proposed agreement would mark the first extended truce since the conflict erupted, with a week-long pause previously observed in November. Key terms involve the release of dozens of Israelis held by Hamas in exchange for thousands of Palestinians detained by the Israeli army during its raids on homes in the occupied Palestinians territories.
However, a Palestinian official stated that the deal is “not yet there” after the arrival of the Hamas delegation in Cairo. Israel has not commented. Qatari and US mediators are also present at the talks.
Regarding Israel’s recent killing of 127 Palestinians rushing for an aid truck in Gaza, which is dubbed the “Flour Massacre,” Israel says its own review suggests that most casualties resulted from a crowd crush, a claim rejected by eyewitnesses and doctors. Doctors at Gaza City’s al-Shifa Hospital, which received most of the dead and wounded, say over 80 percent of the dead and injured sustained gunshot wounds. 760 others were also wounded in the mass shooting.
UNICEF reported that 15 children have died from malnutrition at the Kamal Adwan Hospital in Gaza City.
Israel has so far killed 30,410 Palestinians and wounded 71,700 others since the start of its deadly assault on Gaza on 7 October.
Last week, General Michael Erik Kurilla, the Commander of the United States Central Command (CENTCOM), conducted a visit to the Rafah Gate, the crossing between Egypt and Gaza. The visit focused on discussing the humanitarian aid situation with representatives from international NGOs, the Egyptian 2nd Field Army, and US embassy leadership. The meetings pointed out the importance of a streamlined process. General Kurilla’s tour also included visits to Jordan, Syria, and Israel, focusing on understanding security and humanitarian situations.
Meanwhile, reports of resignations within the Israeli army’s spokesperson unit have emerged, including the departure of the unit head Daniel Hagari and Richard Hecht, the international spokesperson for the Israeli military. The details surrounding the resignations remain undisclosed, with no official announcement regarding the number of officials leaving the unit. Channel 14 has described the large number of resignations during wartime as “unusual,” sparking speculation about potential underlying issues within the military’s communication apparatus.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu publicly rebuked Benny Gantz over his trip to Washington, DC. Gantz, a rival politician who joined Netanyahu’s wartime Cabinet after the October attack, faced criticism from the Likud party. An official claimed Gantz’s trip was unauthorised by Netanyahu, who reportedly had a “tough talk” with Gantz, highlighting that the country has “just one prime minister.”
The US joined other countries in airdropping over 30,000 meals into Gaza. However, some aid agencies say that military airlifts are not the preferred solution. Calls persist for Israel to permit more aid trucks to pass through land borders instead of relying solely on airdrops.
Israeli forces have intensified operations in the West Bank, specifically in Nablus and Tulkarem, marking an escalation in the ongoing tensions between Israeli forces and Palestinian civilians living in occupied Palestinian territories. In Nablus, the apartment of Moaz Al-Masry, previously killed by the Israeli military in May, was demolished.
Further raids unfolded in Tulkarem, with Israeli military firing bullets and tear gas at Palestinian civilians. Additional Israeli attacks were reported in Nour Shams camp, where civilian resisting Israeli occupation destroyed an Israeli bulldozer.
