Israel-Hamas War: What happened on day 158?

Six aid trucks entered northern Gaza through a new crossing on Tuesday as part of a pilot to test new ways to deliver aid without Hamas taking control of it, COGAT announced on Tuesday night.

The trucks underwent security checks at Kerem Shalom and were carrying food containers from the World Food Programme.

An Arab-Israeli citizen will be granted asylum in the UK after the Home Office did a one-eighty, on the basis that there is a "well-founded fear" of persecution if the citizen is returned to Israel. The decision was made less than 24 hours before a court hearing where the Home Office was supposed to defend its original decision to reject the petition.

In documents submitted to the Immigration Court, he claimed that Israel maintains an "apartheid system of racial control by its Jewish citizens over its Palestinian citizens, whom it systematically oppresses." He also provided evidence to the tribunal that he was at increased risk of persecution because of his Palestinian solidarity activities in the UK and his anti-Zionist political views.

In a statement published by Riverway Law, who represents the petitioner, it was said that "this is a victory not only for me but for all Palestinians living under the Israeli apartheid regime. Without having to go to court, the British government has now accepted that the Palestinian struggle for freedom should not be limited only to Gaza and the West Bank but to all parts of historical Palestine under Israeli rule. I want to express a huge thank you to all those who supported my case. Without your help, I could not have reached this point."

The case also relied on the recent interim judgment of the International Court of Justice in the case of South Africa v. Israel, in which Israel was ordered to prevent genocide in Gaza.

Copies of Amnesty International's report named ''Israel's Apartheid Against Palestinians: Cruel System of Domination and Crime Against Humanity'' are seen at a press conference at the St George Hotel, in East Jerusalem, February 1, 2022. (credit: RONEN ZVULUN/REUTERS)

Taher Golhussain, the man's lawyer, said: "While the world rightly focuses on the Israeli genocide in Gaza, it is important to understand that by virtue of being an apartheid state, Israel's oppression extends to every Palestinian under its control and authority, whether they are in Gaza, the West Bank, or even within what is considered the borders of Israel itself. Therefore we welcome the decision of the Home Office to grant asylum to our client in recognition of this basic fact."

Franck Magennis, his lawyer added: "We hope that this decision marks a turning point in the thinking of the Home Office, and call on governments and courts around the world to recognize the violent anti-Palestinian and Islamophobic racism at the heart of the Israeli government."

Man's lawyer glorified October 7th Massacre

On behalf of the "Lawyers for Israel" group, it was reported that "Magennis published on October 7th 'Victory to the Intifada' and since then he has a picture of a bulldozer breaking through the Erez crossing. He also changed his name on social networks to 'Free Palestine.' The organization reported on him in November and also submitted a criminal complaint against him."

US military officials said on Tuesday that American forces had conducted a humanitarian assistance airdrop into northern Gaza on Tuesday along with Jordan's air force.

US Central Intelligence Agency director William Burns said on Tuesday there was "still a possibility" of a Gaza ceasefire deal, although many complicated issues remain.

"I think there's still the possibility of such a deal. And as I said, it won't be for lack of trying on our part, working very closely with our Israeli, Qatari, and Egyptian counterparts. This is a very tough process. I don’t think anyone can guarantee success. The only thing I think you can guarantee is that the alternatives are worse," he told a House of Representatives hearing.

An anonymous official in the Hamas terrorist movement told Sky News Arabia that " There is coordination with Hezbollah in the field or regarding the next stage," the source posted on X on Tuesday.

The anonymous souce also claimed that Israel had planned for a prolonged war in the Gaza Strip, which could last years, according to Al-Balad. The official added that the "decision on peace," presumedly meaning a ceasefire, did not come down to Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar. 

“We may witness a truce in Gaza during the month of Ramadan without announcing it," the official said while accusing Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of not being serious about a ceasefire agreement. 

Israel accuses Hamas of not being serious about a ceasefire

Hamas is more interested in igniting the Middle East during Ramadan than in pausing the Gaza war; Mossad warned on Saturday night that it seemed that a hostage deal was not in the offing before the start of the Muslim holy month that begins on Sunday night, the Jerusalem Post reported.  

Pro-Palestinian demonstrators march outside the Israeli embassy to call for a ceasefire in Gaza, amid the ongoing conflict between Israel and the Palestinian Islamist group Hamas, during a protest in Washington, U.S., March 2, 2024. (credit: Bonnie Cash/Reuters)

“At this stage, Hamas is holding to its position as if it was uninterested in a deal and is striving to ignite the region during Ramadan at the expense of the Palestinian residents of the Gaza Strip,” Mossad said.

Hamas’s “delusional" demands are the sticking point in arriving at any deal to secure the release of the hostages, Netanyahu told reporters in mid-February.  “The [demands] mean only one thing: defeat for Israel. Of course, we will not agree to them. But when Hamas drops these delusional demands, we can move forward.”

Tovah Lazaroff and Reuters contributed to this report.