Delegations from Hamas and Israel are traveling to Cairo, Egyptian security source says
“High-level” delegations from Israel and Hamas are expected to arrive in Cairo today, to conclude talks for a Ramadan truce, an Egyptian security source told NBC News.
The source said that, as part of the talks, Israel may begin to allow the entry of 500 trucks daily of humanitarian aid and fuel into Gaza, and the evacuation of wounded Palestinians through the Rafah crossing.
IDF will commission inquiry into aid convoy disaster, spokesperson says
IDF spokesperson Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari said today that the IDF had concluded an initial review and “confirmed that no strike was carried out by the IDF towards the aid convoy,” and that most of the people were killed by a stampede.
At least 118 were killed and more than 750 injured, according to the Gaza Health Ministry.
He also said a inquiry led by an “independent professional and expert body” will further examine Thursday’s aid convoy violence, in which Israel has been accused of firing into the crowds of people attempting to access food from aid trucks.
Hagari reiterated that the IDF “indicated that following the warning shots fired to disperse the stampede and after our forces had started retreating, several looters approached our forces and posed an immediate threat to them,” and that soldiers “responded” to “several individuals.”
Doctors, eyewitnesses and the injured told NBC News that a majority of those hospitalized presented with gunshot and artillery injuries. At a press conference yesterday, U.N. spokesperson for the Secretary-General Stéphane Dujarric said that U.N. teams at Al Shifa hospital assessing the injured had also seen a “large number” of gunshot wounds.
Kamala Harris to meet Benny Gantz next week
Vice President Kamala Harris will meet with Benny Gantz, a member of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s war cabinet, on Monday, according to White House officials, as the U.S. continues to push Israel for a cease-fire agreement.
President Biden will not be present at the meeting, officials said.
Harris is likely to discuss the urgency of a temporary cease-fire deal and hostage exchange, the need to rebuild Gaza, and the distribution of enhanced aid and humanitarian support in the strip, the White House said. Talks between Israel and Hamas towards a cease-fire were thrown into question last week after 118 people were killed in Gaza City while queuing for aid.
National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan will also separately meet with Gantz, according to the White House.
Nabulsi roundabout death toll rises to 118
Two more bodies have been recovered from the Nabulsi roundabout in Gaza City, where hundreds of people were killed and wounded after Israeli forces opened fire near a crowd trying to access humanitarian aid trucks, according to Gaza’s Health Ministry.
The discovery of the bodies brings the death toll to 118, with over 750 people injured during the attack, the ministry said, warning that the death toll is likely to rise further in coming days due to the lack of medical and surgical equipment and oxygen at Gaza’s hospitals to treat the wounded.
Israel denies shooting into crowds of people attempting to access aid on Thursday, and claims the majority of people were killed and injured by “overcrowding” and a crush attempting to escape after the IDF fired “warning shots” at a limited mob who presented an unspecified threat to soldiers.
Eyewitnesses and doctors who spoke to NBC News said a large number of people hospitalized presented with gunshot wounds.
Thousands join Israeli hostage families in march on Jerusalem
JERUSALEM — A march by thousands of Israelis demanding the release of hostages held in Gaza reached Jerusalem today as negotiators prepared to resume cease-fire negotiations in Cairo that would include a swap deal with Hamas.
A column of protesters, led by families of hostages seized by Palestinian militants during Hamas’ deadly rampage through southern Israel on Oct. 7, walked up the winding highway to Jerusalem, arriving at the city at sundown.
Holding up Israeli flags, yellow balloons and posters of the hostages, they concluded a four-day march that began at one of sites hit by the October attack, and were expected to be joined by more protesters at a rally outside Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s residence.
“We’re here marching in support of the families of those who are kidnapped, wishing that they will be released soon and that they will be safe. We’re praying for them in every step that we take,” said Danny Cuperman, one of the marchers.
Gaza truce talks are expected to resume in the Egyptian…