2024-03-20 14:49:00
The Israeli raid on the Al-Shifa hospital, where thousands of people are taking refuge, continues. Here’s the latest
Smoke is seen billowing near the Al-Shifa hospital complex in Gaza on March 18. (Credit: Emmy Shaheen/Gaza MoH)
An Israeli military raid launched this Monday continues on Gaza’s largest hospital, Al-Shifa, where thousands of people are taking refuge in terrible conditions.
Gaza Civil Defense spokesman Mahmoud Basal told CNN that the hospital is “under siege” by Israeli forces. The Israeli military said the site was being used by “senior Hamas terrorists.”
Inside the hospital, people have reported that they were detained and “severely beaten” and that they were afraid to move from room to room. Others have called for “urgent intervention before the hospital becomes a mass grave.”
Here are the latest developments in the war:
Hunger Warnings: Famine is set to break out in northern Gaza between now and May, a UN-backed report warns. The World Health Organization issued another stark warning regarding the deteriorating humanitarian situation in Gaza, with a spokesperson saying a growing number of children are on the “brink of death” from acute hunger. Israel’s continued restrictions on aid to Gaza may amount to the war crime of famine, UN human rights chief Volker Turk also said.
Plan Rafah: US and Israeli officials are expected to meet in Washington next week to discuss alternatives to a planned military ground offensive in the southern Gaza city of Rafah, where around 1.5 million displaced people are sheltering.
Ceasefire talks: An Israeli delegation left Qatar following a day of indirect talks without any progress on a ceasefire and hostage deal, but mediators are “cautiously optimistic” regarding restarting discussions and continuing negotiations. US Secretary of State Antony Blinken will visit Saudi Arabia and Egypt this week to discuss efforts to secure a ceasefire.
Hostages: The Israeli military sent text messages to Palestinians in Gaza on Tuesday offering cash in exchange for any information regarding Israeli hostages. A CNN journalist in Gaza received the message in Arabic on his phone.
Officials meet: Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is expected to address Senate Republicans by video today during their closed-door conference lunch, according to a person familiar with the matter. Next week, US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin will host his Israeli counterpart at the Pentagon, according to a defense official.
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