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May 10, 2024 Israel-Hamas war
By Kathleen Magramo, Leinz Valez, Sophie Tanno, Rob Picheta and Elise Hammond, CNN
Updated 10:32 PM ET, Fri May 10, 2024
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There's been no aid to Gaza from the southern crossings in 3 days, World Food Programme says
From CNN's Ruba Alhenawi
It's been three days since humanitarian aid has gone through the southern crossings of the Gaza Strip, according to a post on X from the United Nation’s World Food Programme (WFP).
Only one bakery is functioning in Rafah, a city where some 1.4 million Palestinians are displaced and the Israeli military is advancing ahead of a possible ground invasion.
“Without a reopening of access, WFP’s operations will go into standstill while families run out of food," the organization said.
US report investigates whether Israel violated international law in Gaza. Here's what to know
From CNN staff
Thousands are fleeing the southern city of Rafah as the Israeli military steps up its operations, despite a warning from US President Joe Biden that a major Israeli offensive in the city of Rafah would result in a shut-off to some US weapons.
A new US report transmitted to Capitol Hill on Friday also sharply criticized the toll of Israel's military campaign and the use of American weapons.
It all comes as ceasefire talks ended in Egypt with no deal after Israel rejected a plan submitted by mediators earlier this week.
Here are the key headlines:
The New US report:
- The Biden administration said in a new report that it is “reasonable to assess” that US weapons have been used by Israeli forces in Gaza in ways that are inconsistent with international humanitarian law, but stopped short of officially saying Israel violated the law.
- The report, which covers the period from the outbreak of the war with Hamas on October 7 to late April, did not find that Israel has withheld humanitarian aid to Gaza in violation of US law.
- Biden is also facing bipartisan blowback over his ultimatum about Rafah to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Some Democratic lawmakers requested a briefing from the White House and one Republican opened a probe into Biden's handling of Israel aid.
Rafah military operations:
- Israel's security cabinet approved an “expansion of the area of operation” in Rafah late Thursday, an Israeli official said. The approval is a way for the cabinet to express its support but is not an indication of imminent expansion of military operations there.
- The White House said it sees no indication of a “large-scale invasion," but the Biden administration is watching the situation closely and “with concern.”
- The United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) estimates nearly 110,000 people have fled Rafah since Monday after the Israeli military issued an evacuation order for parts of the city. Some of those people have arrived in Khan Younis only to find it "completely destroyed," with dire living conditions.
- UN chief Antonio Guterres warned on Friday that a massive ground attack in Rafah would lead to an "epic humanitarian disaster." The streets of central and eastern Rafah are empty and some food vendors say they don't know where to go next.
Ongoing ceasefire and hostage release negotiations:
- Hamas militants said Israel's rejection of a ceasefire plan submitted by mediators at negotiations in Cairo sent hostage release talks back to "square one." It accused Netanyahu of hindering the ceasefire talks to use negotiations as a cover to attack Rafah.
- It comes one day after Israeli and Hamas negotiating teams left Cairo without a deal. Israel has repeatedly refused to agree to a permanent ceasefire in Gaza until Hamas has been defeated, even if all hostages are released.
United Nations Resolution on Palestine:
- The UN General Assembly (UNGA) passed a resolution calling on the UN Security Council to reconsider Palestinian membership to the UN. However, the US mission said the Palestinian Authority does not meet the criteria for UN membership and that the resolution does not resolve its previously raised concerns.
- Israel's Foreign Affairs Minister Israel Katz has condemned the resolution, calling it an "absurd decision." Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas and the Palestinian foreign ministry, meanwhile, applauded the vote. Abbas said the resolution is “consistent with international law."
Hostage families expressed "immense frustration" over pause in talks during meeting with top US officials
From CNN's Arlette Saenz
The families of the five Americans believed to held hostage in Gaza met with National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan and White House Middle East Coordinator Brett McGurk Friday, according to the White House.
“The families expressed their immense frustration with yet another pause, especially after recent hostage videos showed their loved ones disabled, thin, pale, and under apparent duress,” according to a readout of the meeting from representatives for the families. “They also spoke about the need for the international community to come together to secure the immediate release of hostages, expressing gratitude for the Biden Administration’s leadership in releasing a joint statement with 17 other countries demanding Hamas release the hostages.”
Sullivan said bringing home the remaining hostages is the Biden administration’s priority and that CIA Director William Burns spent the week in the region working on that goal, readout said.
US says it is "reasonable to assess" Israel used American weapons in Gaza inconsistent with international law
From CNN's Jennifer Hansler and Kylie Atwood
The Biden administration said Friday that it is “reasonable to assess” that US weapons have been used by Israeli forces in Gaza in ways that are inconsistent with international humanitarian law – but the highly anticipated report stopped short of officially saying Israel violated the law.
Investigations into potential violations are ongoing but the report noted that the United States does “not have complete information to verify” whether the US weapons “were specifically used” in alleged violations of international humanitarian law.
Here's what the report said:
“Given the nature of the conflict in Gaza, with Hamas seeking to hide behind civilian populations and infrastructure and expose them to Israeli military action, as well as the lack of USG (US Government) personnel on the ground in Gaza, it is difficult to assess or reach conclusive findings on individual incidents. Nevertheless, given Israel’s significant reliance on U.S.-made defense articles, it is reasonable to assess that defense articles covered under NSM-20 have been used by Israeli security forces since October 7 in instances inconsistent with its IHL obligations or with established best practices for mitigating civilian harm."
The report, which covers the period from the outbreak of the war with Hamas on October 7 to late April, did not find that Israel has withheld humanitarian aid to Gaza in violation of US law.
The high-stakes report was transmitted to Capitol Hill on Friday afternoon. The administration was required to make a determination on two matters under a February national security memorandum, which President Joe Biden issued under pressure from Democratic lawmakers. That memorandum requires all countries using US weapons to attest that they are doing so consistent with international humanitarian law and international human rights law.
Although the report does not find Israel in violation of either of the terms of the memorandum, it is sharply critical of the toll of Israel’s military campaign.
This post has been updated with additional information from the report.
Hamas says Israel sent hostage release talks back to "square one" after rejecting mediators' latest proposal
From CNN's Jonny Hallam
Hamas militants on Friday said Israel's rejection of a ceasefire plan submitted by mediators at negotiations in Cairo sent hostage release talks back to "square one."
In an English-language statement issued Friday, the Palestinian militant group said it had "responsibly" agreed to the plan brought by mediators in the hopes of achieving a "permanent ceasefire."
Hamas said it showed flexibility in agreeing to the deal, which would have involved the withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza, the return of displaced civilians and the exchange of hostages for Palestinian prisoners as part of the permanent ceasefire.
The militant group accused Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of hindering the ceasefire talks to use negotiations as a cover to attack the southern Gaza city of Rafah. Netanyahu "bears full responsibility for obstructing reaching an agreement," the Hamas statement said.
"In light of Netanyahu's behavior, his rejection of the mediators' agreement, the attack on Rafah, and the occupation of the (Rafah) crossing, the movement's leadership will hold consultations with the leaders of the Palestinian resistance factions in order to reconsider our negotiating strategy," Hamas said.
The militant group's statement comes a day after Israeli and Hamas negotiating teams left Cairo talks on the terms of a ceasefire and hostage release agreement, without a deal. Israel has repeatedly refused to agree to a permanent ceasefire in Gaza until Hamas has been defeated, even if all hostages are released.
Biden faces bipartisan blowback over Israel ultimatum
From CNN's Melanie Zanona and Annie Grayer
US President Joe Biden is facing bipartisan blowback over his warning to Israel that a major Israeli offensive in the city of Rafah would result in a shut-off to some US weapons.
A group of 26 House Democrats sent a letter to Biden on Friday saying they are “deeply concerned about the message the Administration is sending to Hamas and other Iranian-backed terrorist proxies by withholding weapons shipments to Israel." The letter does not specifically mention Biden’s interview with CNN this week where he first publicized his warning.
The group of House Democrats, led by Rep. Josh Gottheimer of New Jersey, also requested a briefing from the White House to get more information on Biden’s decision, as well as how and when aid appropriated by Congress for Israel will be delivered.
Last week, Biden also signed off on a pause of 3,500 bombs to Israel that administration officials feared would be dropped on Rafah.
Meanwhile, Republicans are seizing on Biden’s comments and his handling of foreign aid. GOP Rep. Cory Mills of Florida, a rank-and-file member, has indicated he plans to file a long-shot impeachment resolution against Biden, calling the ultimatum an impeachable offense and accusing the president of abusing his power, which comes as the House GOP’s other Biden impeachment efforts have sputtered.
House Oversight Chair James Comer, also a Republican, has opened a probe over Biden’s handling of aid to Israel in the wake of his latest comments saying he would halt some shipments of American weapons to Israel.
UN human rights chief denounces any actions that jeopardize entry of humanitarian aid into Gaza
From CNN’s Ruba Alhenawi
The human rights chief for the United Nations condemned all acts jeopardizing the entry and distribution of critically needed humanitarian aid into Gaza, according to a statement on Friday.
“The handful of land crossings into Gaza serve as lifelines for the supply of food, medicine, fuel and other necessities that must be allowed to reach the despairing and terrified population,” UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk said.
He urged "all parties to ensure that crossings for civilians and goods necessary for the survival of the civilian population are not placed at risk through military operations.”
Türk also called for an end to fighting to ensure sustained aid could enter Gaza.
"We are heading into the unknown": Food vendors in Rafah unsure where to go next
From CNN’s Tarek Elhelou, Sarah El Sirgany, Kareem Khadder and Natalie Barr
The streets of central and eastern Rafah are empty as civilians who previously sought refuge in the area are evacuating following calls to do so from the Israeli military.
One school which was turned into a shelter that once housed displaced Palestinians, is now empty and deserted. Tents that housed thousands of displaced people disappeared from the streets in the neighborhood.
Abu Hesham, a street vendor in Rafah, said the situation “is beyond bad.”
“There is no one on the street. We are displaced from the north but have to stay here to earn enough to eat. Otherwise, we would have left," Hesham said.
Another man with Abu Hesham, who did not provide his name, said they were able to sell to people leaving from the eastern part of Rafah, but that over the past few days, there has been little movement and they mainly sold supplies to Rafah residents.
“You can’t raise the prices. Now we can’t find goods to buy. We want to get enough money to get a car to move away from here,” he said.
The man said he would stay in Rafah.
Abu Hesham said he does not know where they will go, or how they will get enough money for even a ride into central Gaza, which is becoming more expensive.
"We don’t know where we are going. We are heading to the unknown," Abu Hesham said.