Israel-Hamas war: What happened on day 216?

Jewish organizations responded on Thursday to US President Joe Biden's comments in a CNN interview on Wednesday in which he said he would stop US weapon aid to Israel if the IDF would launch a large-scale operation in Rafah. 

'Defeating Hamas critical for Israel's long-term security'

CEO of the American Jewish Committee, Ted Deutsch, wrote on X, “President Biden should not take steps that could impair Israel’s ability to prevent Hamas from attacking it again and again -- as its leaders have promised. The US knows that defeating Hamas is critical to Israel’s long-term security and to defeating the global threat posed by the Iranian regime and its proxies.”

Hostage deal talks are underway in Cairo with all the participating delegations present, N12 reported on Thursday, citing the Egyptian Al-Ghad channel.  

The Defense Ministry said on Thursday that officials from the Israeli Defense Ministry and their German counterparts convened in a joint meeting at Israel Airospace Industry (IAI) to discuss the production of the Arrow 3 Weapon System for Germany. 

The ministry said the working meeting was the first of its kind to be held, adding that it occurred symbolically during the week of Holocaust Remembrance Day. 

At least 34,904 Palestinians have been killed and 78,514 injured in Israel's military offensive in Gaza since Oct. 7, the Hamas-run Gaza health ministry said in a statement on Thursday.

IDF troops and Shin Bet (Israel Security Agency) forces led by the 99th Division operated in the Zeitoun area in the center of the Gaza Strip to destroy terror infrastructure and eliminate terrorists, the military said on Thursday. 

Israel's United Nations ambassador Gilad Erdan said on Thursday the United States' decision to pause weapons transfers to Israel will significantly impair the country's ability to neutralize Hamas's power, according to Israeli public radio.

Ireland, Spain, and a number of other European Union member states are considering recognizing a Palestinian state on May 21, according to a report by Ireland's national broadcaster.

RTE News on Wednesday evening said contacts between Dublin and Madrid, and between Slovenia and Malta, had intensified with a view to the countries jointly recognizing Palestinian statehood.

According to the report, the countries have been waiting for a vote by the United Nations General Assembly on May 10 which could lead to the recognition of Palestinians as qualified to become a full UN member.

Police forces and Border Police officers operated early Thursday morning to destroy the Shuafat home of the terrorist who carried out a terror attack in Re'em Junction a few months ago, Israeli media reported.

The attack left two dead and wounded several others. 

A vehicle was attacked by a drone in southern Lebanon in the area of Tyre, according to Israeli media reports on Thursday morning. 

Israeli media added, citing Arab sources, that two had been killed as a result of the strike.

This is a developing story. 

St.-Sgt. Haim Sabach, 20, from Holon, fell in combat on May 8 during an operation in northern Israel, the IDF announced on Thursday morning.

His family has been notified.