Israel is purchasing 40,000 tents to prepare for the evacuation of Rafah after a defiant Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced a date has been set for the globally condemned invasion of the southern Gaza city.
Israeli officials told multiple news outlets including the Jerusalem Post the tents will house hundreds of thousands of Palestinians who will be evacuated from the city where more than 1 million have sought shelter after fleeing devastating attacks across northern and central Gaza. The news comes as both sides review the latest U.S. proposal for a cease-fire in the war-torn enclave and the U.N. considers a Palestinian application for full membership.
U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken, speaking Tuesday at a briefing in Washington, said the U.S. has not been told the date for Israel’s Rafah operation. He said the Biden administration continues to talk to Israel about alternatives to an invasion and, it the invasion goes forward, removing civilians from harm’s way.
“The commitments that have been made, and the initial steps to implement those commitments are positive, but a lot more needs to happen to make sure people in Gaza have what they need,” Blinken said.
The Israeli military says multiple Hamas battalions remain entrenched in Rafah and must be removed for Hamas to be crushed. Israel has been bombing Rafah for weeks, but President Joe Biden and numerous other world leaders have urged Israel not to invade the city, fearing massive civilian death tolls. Gaza officials say over 33,000 Palestinians have died since the war began Oct 7 when Hamas-led militants crashed across the Israeli border, killing 1,200 and taking more than 250 hostages.
“We are constantly working to achieve our goals, first and foremost the release of all our hostages and achieving a complete victory over Hamas,” Netanyahu said. “This victory requires entry into Rafah and the elimination of the terrorist battalions there. It will happen − there is a date.”
Developing:
∎ Vice President Kamala Harris will meet Tuesday with relatives of American hostages being held in Gaza. The families met with national security adviser Jake Sullivan on Monday.
∎ Turkey issued trade restrictions on dozens of Israeli products Tuesday, saying they would remain in place until Israel accepts a cease-fire and allowed more humanitarian aid into Gaza.
30,000-plus lives lost:Visualizing the death and destruction of Israel’s war in Gaza
Israel, Hamas consider latest US cease-fire proposal
Israel’s War Cabinet meets Tuesday to discuss the latest U.S. proposal for a cease-fire after Hamas said it was reviewing the plan but accused Israel of remaining “intransigent” and failing to respond to the demands of the Palestinian people. Hamas wants Israel to withdraw all forces from Gaza and allow displaced people to return to their homes. Blinken said the latest proposal “is very serious” and should be accepted by Hamas.
“I think the fact that it continues to not say yes is a reflection of what it really thinks about the people of Gaza, which is not much at all,” Blinken said. “The ball is in Hamas’ court, the world is watching to see what it does.”
The Wall Street Journal, citing officials helping to broker the deal, said the proposal calls for a six-week cease-fire and release of 40 of more than 100 militant-held hostages in exchange for 900 Palestinian prisoners from Israeli jails. The Journal said 100 of the Palestinians who would be freed are serving long sentences on terrorism-related charges.
But the Journal said gaps remain over key aspects of any potential deal, including how and when Palestinians displaced by the war would be allowed to return to northern Gaza, the identities of the Palestinian prisoners to be released and whether the initial six-week cease-fire could become permanent.
Deadly famine in Gaza would ‘accelerate violence,’ US defense secretary warns
A deadly famine in Gaza would likely “accelerate violence” and ensure a long-term conflict, U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin told the Senate Armed Services Committee Tuesday. Austin said the U.S. is doing ‘everything we can” to encourage Israel to allow more humanitarian assistance into the enclave. Aid agencies, however, have repeatedly complained that Israel is not ensuring enough access for food, medicine and other needed humanitarian supplies, joining European Union foreign policy chief Josep Borrell in accusing Israel of using starvation as a “weapon of war.”
Israel aid Tuesday that aid is moving into Gaza more quickly, but the United Nations says it is still much less than needed to meet humanitarian needs. Israel said 419 trucks – the highest since the conflict began – entered on Monday, though the Red Crescent and U.N. gave much lower figures. The U.N. said many were only half full because of Israeli inspection rules.
UN to consider Palestinian bid for membership
The U.N. Security Council agreed Monday to consider the Palestinian application for full membership in the United Nations, essentially recognizing Palestinian statehood. A similar application failed in 2011, although Palestine was later granted observer status.
“All we ask for is to take our rightful place among the community of nations,” Palestinian Ambassador Dr. Riyad Mansour said. “To be treated as equals to other nations and states. To live in freedom and dignity, in peace and security, in our ancestral land.”
Israel’s U.N. Ambassador Gilad Erdan said “granting the Palestinian statehood is not only a blatant violation of the UN Charter, it also violates the fundamental principle that everyone can understand of reaching a lasting solution at the negotiating table.”
Malta Ambassador Vanessa Frazier, serving as president of the council this month, said the admissions committee will meet again on the issue Thursday. But the U.S. could ultimately veto the application. The U.S. position has been that full U.N. membership should come only after a long-term peace deal between Israel and the Palestinians.
Israel withdraws most troops from Gaza:Hamas, Israel to engage in talks
US seizes Iranian guns, ships them to Ukraine
The U.S. military has transferred thousands of small arms to Ukraine that were seized while being shipped from Iran to Yemeni rebels, U.S. Central Command said in a statement Tuesday. Over 5,000 AK-47s, machine guns, sniper rifles, RPG-7s and over 500,000 rounds of 7.62mm ammunition were sent to Ukraine. The equipment, seized from 2021 to 2023, was bound for Houthi forces that control parts of Yemen and since November have been attacking ships in the Red Sea region, disrupting supply chains around the world.
“Iran’s support for armed groups threatens international and regional security, our forces, diplomatic personnel and citizens in the region, as well as those of our partners,” the statement said. “We will continue to do whatever we can to shed light on and stop Iran’s destabilizing activities.”
Contributing: Francesca Chambers, USA TODAY; Reuters
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