Israel-Hamas War Day 205: What's going on in Gaza, Lebanon?
Gov't ministers butt heads over war priorities • Anti-Israel protests continue on US college campuses • Heavy barrage launched on Israel's north overnight
Gaza aid flotilla halted after vessels flag removed, activists say
On Friday, United Nations experts demanded the safe passage of the flotilla and called on Israel to adhere to international law and orders of the ICJ to allow unimpeded access for humanitarian aid.
A humanitarian aid flotilla destined for Gaza was halted after Guinea Bissau decided to remove its flag from two vessels, activist group Freedom Flotilla Coalition said on Saturday.
"The Guinea-Bissau International Ships Registry (GBISR), in a blatantly political move, informed the Freedom Flotilla Coalition that it had withdrawn the Guinea Bissau flag from two of the Freedom Flotilla's ships, one of which is our cargo ship," the activists said.
The three-strong flotilla had been due to sail on Friday from ports in Turkey with more than 5,000 tonnes of aid on board, the activists said, and described the inspection and request by Guinea Bissau authorities as unusual and political.
GBISR was not immediately available for comment.
The Turkish Humanitarian Relief Foundation (IHH) is the primary organizer of the civilian Freedom Flotilla Coalition, which is comprised of human rights activists, including lawyers, doctors and nurses who came together to deliver aid directly to Gaza.
At least 34,305 Palestinians have died in the war in Gaza, Hamas health authorities said on Thursday. Israel is retaliating against an Oct. 7 Hamas attack that killed 1,200 people and led to 253 taken hostage.
UN demands safe passage
On Friday, United Nations experts demanded the safe passage of the flotilla and called on Israel to adhere to international law and orders of the International Court of Justice to allow unimpeded access for humanitarian aid.
"Without a flag, we cannot sail. But this is not the end. Israel cannot and will not crush our resolve to break its illegal siege and reach the people of Gaza," the activists said.
Go to the full article >>Preparations for floating pier for humanitarian aid delivery in Gaza continue
The floating pier, through which the humanitarian aid will be transferred, is being built by the US and will be connected to the shore.
In recent weeks, work has begun to accommodate a floating pier in Gaza for humanitarian aid, especially efforts on the layout of the area for receiving the aid in Gaza, the IDF announced Saturday evening. These efforts began with a collaborative workshop involving American partners, who contributed to the initial planning design.
Subsequently, execution was carried out jointly by the Engineering and Construction Division within the Defense Ministry, led by the IDF Southern Command, the engineering array, COGAT, accompanied by logistical coverage of the Technological and Logistics Directorate, and in cooperation with the US Military.
The area of the project covers about 270 square kilometers which are allocated for the operation and the passage of large amounts of goods to the field.
Go to the full article >>Some US officials say in internal memo Israel may be violating international law in Gaza
The assessment from the four bureaus said Israel's assurances were "neither credible nor reliable."
Some senior US officials have advised Secretary of State Antony Blinken that they do not find "credible or reliable" Israel's assurances that it is using US-supplied weapons in accordance with international humanitarian law, according to an internal State Department memo reviewed by Reuters.
Other officials upheld support for Israel's representation.
Under a National Security Memorandum (NSM) issued by President Joe Biden in February, Blinken must report to Congress by May 8 whether he finds credible Israel's assurances that its use of US weapons does not violate US or international law.
By March 24, at least seven State Department bureaus had sent in their contributions to an initial "options memo" to Blinken. Parts of the memo, which has not been previously reported, were classified.
Go to the full article >>Rockets fired towards Mount Meron, IDF strikes in Lebanon
The IDF said it struck terrorist infrastructure used by Hezbollah in Srebbine, as well as in Markaba on Saturday night.
A barrage of about 26 rockets was fired toward the Mount Meron area in northern Israel on Saturday night, after a series of Israeli airstrikes targeted southern Lebanon. All of the rockets were either intercepted or fell in open areas. No damage or casualties were reported.
מחבלים מלבנון שיגרו מטח רקטות לעבר אזור מירון. כך זה נראה מצפת@rubih67 pic.twitter.com/zv3qMGtyVM
— כאן חדשות (@kann_news) April 27, 2024
Earlier on Saturday evening, Israeli airstrikes targeted Srebbine in southern Lebanon, with at least 11 people, including both Lebanese and Syrian citizens, injured in the attack, according to Lebanese media. Two of the injured were in serious condition, according to the reports.
תיעוד נוסף של המטח לאזור מירון@ItayBlumental pic.twitter.com/m94b5YlU8C
— כאן חדשות (@kann_news) April 27, 2024
The IDF said it struck terrorist infrastructure used by Hezbollah in Srebbine, as well as in Markaba on Saturday night.
Hezbollah took responsibility for the rocket fire towards the Meron area, saying it launched the rockets in response to Israeli strikes on Markaba, Qaouzah, and Srebbine.
Go to the full article >>Anti-Israel protests greet Biden at annual White House correspondents' dinner
Biden avoided the large protests at the front of the hotel by arriving through a back entrance, where he was greeted by smaller groups of protesters calling for a ceasefire.
US President Joe Biden will give an election-year roast on Saturday night at the annual White House Correspondents' Association dinner against the backdrop of protests against his support for Israel's war against Hamas.
Demonstrators holding banners chanted about journalist deaths in Gaza outside the Washington Hilton, the site of the annual gathering.
Hundreds of protesters encouraged journalists to boycott the event and shouted down administration officials as they entered.
Go to the full article >>Israel-Hamas war: What you need to know
- Hamas launched a massive attack on October 7, with thousands of terrorists infiltrating from the Gaza border and taking some 240 hostages into Gaza
- Over 1,200 Israelis and foreign nationals were murdered, including over 350 in the Re'im music festival and hundreds of Israeli civilians across Gaza border communities
- 133 hostages remain in Gaza
- 37 hostages in total have been killed in captivity, IDF says