KEY POINTS
- Turkey imposes trade restrictions on Israel over raging war in Gaza
- Iran's Hossein Amir-Abdollahian says US approved strike on Iranian consulate in Syria
- France's Stephane Sejourne floats sanctioning Israel to get more aid into Gaza
The raging Israel-Hamas war is now on its 186th day, and amid increasing international scrutiny over Israel's military offensive in the devastated Gaza Strip, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced that a date has been set for the Israel Defense Forces' (IDF) ground incursion into Rafah, southern Gaza's main city.
Rafah, where more than a million Palestinians have sought shelter since the war started, is at center of tensions between the U.S. and Israel. President Joe Biden repeatedly warned Washington's Middle Eastern ally against launching a raid of Rafah without a clear plan to protect civilians in the area.
- Germany defends itself at ICJ in Nicaragua case, cites Holocaust
- Israeli corvette missile ship intercepts drone that crossed over the Gulf of Eilat
- Gaza war death toll tops 33,300, injured nears 76,000: Hamas-run health ministry
- UN disputes Israel's account of humanitarian aid entry into Gaza
- Netanyahu says no force will stop Israel from launching ground incursion in Rafah
- Tensions high after Lebanese politician's body found in neighboring Syria
- Israeli NGO that backs 2-state solution urges Biden to abandon Netanyahu
Embattled UNRWA (United Nations' relief agency for Palestinians) said Tuesday that it needs more access to Gaza civilians as the war-torn enclave, particularly its northern region, nears famine.
Hamas said the Israeli-proposed ceasefire deal does not meet any demands made by Palestinian factions. On the other hand, the Palestinian terror group, which started the six-month war when it killed more than a thousand people on Oct. 7, said it was reviewing the framework of a new three-phase ceasefire plan for a hostage-prisoner exchange.
In Syria, Israeli fighter jets struck a military position overnight in retaliation for a rocket fired from Syrian territory toward the Israeli-annexed Golan Heights. Iranian-backed Hezbollah said early Tuesday that it attacked an IDF post in the Golan area.
Forces with the U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) destroyed a Houthi air defense system in Yemen after an unmanned aerial system (UAS) was launched by the Iran-backed Yemeni rebel militia over the Red Sea.
Gaza has been suffering the brunt of more than six months of fighting between Israeli forces and Hamas militants. The war stems from decades of violence in the Israel-Palestine conflict that triggered tensions across the rest of the Middle East.
The live update has ended.
Pro-2-state-solution group calls on Biden to abandon Netanyahu
Peace Now, which describes itself as "Israel's largest and longest standing public pressure movement for a two-state solution and ending the occupation," on Tuesday put up a massive sign outside the American embassy in Tel Aviv.
"Biden, don't trust him. Stand for peace," the sign reads. The group said on X that the "day after" has arrived and only a "comprehensive regional agreement, based on a two-state solution" will ensure the security of both Israelis and Palestinians.
Today, we stood in front of the American Embassy in TLV with a very clear message:@POTUS: Netanyahu cannot be trusted.
— Peace Now (@peacenowisrael) April 9, 2024
Stand for peace! pic.twitter.com/gzJ1UDHdJh
