Dialogue between the United States and Israel has been reestablished, after previously being discontinued due to Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu’s strong objection to America’s abstention from voting on a UN Security Council ceasefire motion effectively allowing it to be agreed upon. These discussions aim to solidify a time for an official visit by Israeli representatives to Washington to deliberate over the intended invasion of Rafah in the southern segment of the Gaza Strip. Nevertheless, a concrete date has yet to be set, as Palestinians continue to flee the area and despite US’ appeals for Israel to halt the assault.
Meanwhile, Irish authorities aim to broaden the definition of ‘genocide’ in a ground-breaking case against Israel in the International Court of Justice. They will claim that any action which impedes the provision of critical supplies, such as food, to places like Gaza could be an indication of genocidal intent.
In another matter, Israeli troops have sequestered two hospitals in Khan Younis of Gaza, following a raid that claimed the lives of 12 people, including some children at a displaced people’s camp. This has alarmed the Palestinian Red Crescent who warn that the lives of those trapped in Nasser hospital are at risk.
In a related incident in the occupied West Bank, an armed assailant fired at vehicles, injuring three people, including a 13-year-old boy. Subsequently, Israeli soldiers have implemented roadblocks in the area and are in pursuit of the perpetrator, who is reported to have targeted, amongst other vehicles, a school bus.
Elsewhere, a fatal exchange of hostilities along the shared border with southern Lebanon has led to the death of 16 individuals due to Israeli air-strikes, whilst one Israeli was killed as a result of Hizbullah firing a slew of rockets. According to the Associated Press, this represents the most fatalities in a single day of conflict for over five months.
A representative for human rights has stepped down from the US state department, attributing their resignation to the Biden administration’s perceived disregard for US law in its continued supply of weapons to Israel. They accuse the administration of suppressing proof of Israel’s human rights violations witnessed by the United States. The Gaza health ministry’s most recent statistics reveal an alarming number of Palestinian casualties resulting from Israeli assaults on Gaza since October 7th – a staggering 32,490 killed and 74,889 wounded.