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
Tensions in Lebanon, Syria over politician's kidnapping, murder
Tensions are high in Lebanon and Syria following the discovery of the remains of Lebanese Christian party member Pascal Suleiman in Syria after he went missing Sunday night.
R I P Pascal Suleiman pic.twitter.com/MPQPySHkQ5
— Middle East Observer (@ME_Observer_) April 8, 2024
Suleiman, a prominent politician in Lebanon, was revealed to have been kidnapped and later found murdered. His body was discovered in Syria, with authorities linking his abduction and murder to a Syrian gang. His killing was initially suspected to have been linked to Iranian-backed Hezbollah.
Lebanon's Christian community took to the streets in protest after Suleiman's killing. There were also clashes reported east of Beirut among demonstrators and Syrian refugees in the area.
No force will stop us, Netanyahu tells new Israeli army recruits
Netanyahu on Tuesday visited new IDF recruits, telling them that the Israeli army will push through with plans to operate on the ground in Rafah, according to a release from his office.
"We will complete the elimination of Hamas's battalions, including in Rafah. No force in the world will stop us. There are many forces trying to do this but it will not help because this enemy, after what it has done, will not do this again. Neither will it exist," he said.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu met today with IDF recruits slated to be fighters at crossings and field observers in the various sectors:
— Prime Minister of Israel (@IsraeliPM) April 9, 2024
"We will complete the elimination of Hamas's battalions, including in Rafah. No force in the world will stop us."https://t.co/LsZmJvJfxn pic.twitter.com/RZT6Y3imdU
Many aid trucks that entered Gaza were half full: UN
The Israeli government said 419 humanitarian aid trucks entered Gaza on Monday, but the United Nations said many of the said trucks were only half full due to inspection rules set forth by Israel.
The said number marks the highest single-daily count of aid trucks that entered Gaza since Oct. 7.
🚚419 humanitarian aid trucks were inspected and transferred to Gaza today (Apr. 8). This is the highest number of aid trucks that entered Gaza in one day since the start of the war. It follows a previous high of 322 trucks that were inspected and facilitated yesterday.
— COGAT (@cogatonline) April 8, 2024
👇 pic.twitter.com/zsJ4TWly6v
Israeli warship intercepts drone over Gulf of Eilat
An Israeli Sa'ar 6-class corvette missile ship, "for the first time ever," intercepted a drone from the east that crossed into the Gulf of Eilat, a port city in southern Israel, the IDF said Tuesday.
For the first time ever, an IDF Sa'ar 6-class corvette missile ship successfully intercepted a UAV that approached from the east and crossed into the area of the Gulf of Eilat.
— Israel Defense Forces (@IDF) April 9, 2024
IDF missile boats including Sa'ar 6-class corvettes have been positioned in the Red Sea and have both… pic.twitter.com/SujPlfctr7
Germany denies Nicaragua's allegations at ICJ
Germany on Tuesday rejected Nicaragua's allegations in a high-stakes lawsuit at the International Court of Justice, saying it was "doing its utmost to live up to its responsibility vis-à-vis both the Israeli and the Palestinian people," as per Reuters.
Tania von Uslar-Gleichen, the German foreign ministry's legal adviser, said Nicaragua's case was based on weak evidence and should be dismissed. She also noted how Germany has "learned from its past, a past that includes the responsibility for one of the most horrific crimes in human history," referring to the Nazis' decimation of Jews during the Holocaust.
Sanction Israel to get more aid into Gaza: French FM
Sejourne on Tuesday floated the idea of imposing sanctions on Israel to push the country to allow more aid into the Gaza Strip by opening more border crossings.
The French foreign minister's suggestion comes amid increasing pressure on Israel to allow more humanitarian aid to enter Gaza.
Iranian FM says US gave Israel 'green light' to strike Damascus consulate
Amir-Abdollahian has accused Washington of giving Israel the "green light" to conduct an airstrike in the Syrian capital last week that struck a building adjacent to the Iranian embassy in Damascus.
The Iranian foreign minister reiterated that Tehran will punish Israel for the strike that killed seven members of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), including two senior commanders in the IRGC's notorious Quds Force.
Turkey slaps trade restrictions on Israel over Gaza war
Turkey announced trade restrictions on Israel over the latter's military campaign in Gaza. The restrictions include a wide range of products, including steel, cement, and other construction materials.
"This decision will remain in place until Israel declares a ceasefire immediately and allows adequate and uninterrupted flow of humanitarian aid into Gaza," the Turkish trade ministry said.
US destroys Houthi assets in Yemen
CENTCOM forces on Monday afternoon destroyed "an air defense system with two missiles ready to launch, a ground control station in Houthi-controlled areas of Yemen," and a drone launched by the Iranian-backed terror group from Yemen over the Red Sea, the U.S. army said Tuesday.
The Houthis have been on a rampage in the Red and Arabian Seas and the Gulf of Aden since November following their pledge of attacking Israeli merchant ships until the war in Gaza ends.
Hezbollah claims attack on IDF base in Golan area
Iran-backed Hezbollah, which has been exchanging fire with Israeli forces since the Israel-Hamas started, early on Tuesday said it attacked the IDF's "Keila barracks" in the Golan Heights.
The Israeli army has yet to deny or confirm Hezbollah's claim.
Israel strikes Syrian army positions after rocket launched toward Golan
The Israeli army on Tuesday said its fighter jets "attacked military infrastructures of the Syrian army" overnight following a rocket launch detected from Syrian territory towards the Israeli-annexed Golan Heights.
This comes amid rising tensions between Israel and Syria following an attack targeting the Iranian embassy in Damascus last week, which Tehran said Israel was responsible for.
Hamas reviewing new framework for proposed truce
Hamas is considering a new framework for a proposed ceasefire that was put forward during the latest round of talks in Egypt. The Palestinian terror group said an Israeli truce plan did not meet any of the Palestinian factions' demands.
The new three-stage proposal would halt fighting for a total of six weeks, which will allow for a hostage-prisoner exchange. The loved ones of some 130 hostages still being held in Gaza six months since Hamas' Oct. 7 invasion of Israel have been calling for a deal to release the abductees.
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UNRWA says it needs more access to Gaza
UNRWA, which has been at center of criticism in recent months following an Israeli exposé that accused 12 of its employees of being directly involved in Hamas' Oct. 7 massacre, on Tuesday said it needs more access to Gaza urgently.
The relief agency said it has delivered 10 million food units, 24 million liters of water and over 400 blankets and mattresses for Gaza civilians. However, it needs more access to provide more much-needed aid to the Palestinian people.
The war in #Gaza: 6 months of aid delivery@UNRWA teams work around the clock to support families & deliver critical aid, including:
— UNRWA (@UNRWA) April 9, 2024
🔹10 million food units
🔹24 million litres of water
🔹440,000 blankets & mattresses
Every day is a struggle to survive - we need more access NOW pic.twitter.com/PCWG9i0zRD
"Every day is a struggle to survive – we need more access NOW," it said.
The agency's plea comes as the international community calls on Israel to allow for more humanitarian supplies to enter the war-torn enclave. A prominent food monitor said last month that Gaza, particularly the north, is nearing famine levels.
Date has been set for Rafah incursion: Netanyahu
The Israeli prime minister said following truce talks in Cairo that entering Rafah was necessary to defeat Hamas – a priority in Israel's war goals against Hamas. "This victory requires entering Rafah and eliminating the terrorist battalions there. This will happen; there is a date," he said.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu:
— Prime Minister of Israel (@IsraeliPM) April 8, 2024
"Today I received a detailed report on the talks in Cairo. We are working constantly to attain our objectives, first and foremost the release of all of our hostages and the achieving of total victory over Hamas. pic.twitter.com/xw7LD2ujAo
His remarks came amid increasing criticism of Israel's military campaign in the Gaza Strip, especially after seven humanitarian aid employees of the U.S.-based food charity World Central Kitchen (WCK) were killed in an Israeli airstrike last week in central Gaza.
Biden has also repeatedly warned Israel not to launch a ground raid of Rafah unless it establishes a clear civilian protection plan.
