Israeli delegation in Cairo for Gaza cease-fire talks

An Israeli delegation has arrived in Egypt to continue discussions on a cease-fire, as Israel and Hamas review the latest proposal. This information was shared by three Egyptian airport officials who did not provide additional details. Mediators from the international community are working to bring Israel and Hamas closer to a phased agreement that would stop the conflict and release around 120 hostages held by the militant group in Gaza.

Tensions between the two parties were heightened over the weekend when Israel reportedly targeted Hamas’ military commander in a significant strike. The status of the commander remains uncertain.

Hamas initiated the conflict on Oct. 7 with an attack that led to militants entering southern Israel, resulting in the deaths of approximately 1,200 people – mostly civilians – and the abduction of around 250 individuals. Since then, Israeli ground operations and bombings have caused over 38,600 casualties in Gaza, as reported by the territory’s Health Ministry. The ministry’s count does not differentiate between combatants and civilians.

Israel has been accused of war crimes and genocide by two international courts – allegations that Israel denies. The majority of Gaza’s 2.3 million residents live in overcrowded tent camps in central and southern Gaza. Humanitarian aid efforts have been restricted by Israeli measures, ongoing conflict, and the breakdown of law and order, resulting in widespread hunger and fears of famine.

Below are some key updates:

Russia’s top diplomat at the UN comments on Hezbollah, Iran, and Lebanon’s stance towards war with Israel

UNITED NATIONS – Sergey Lavrov, Russia’s top diplomat, stated at a U.N. press conference that Hezbollah, Iran, and the Lebanese government do not desire a full-scale war, and there are suspicions that certain circles within Israel are seeking to instigate such a conflict.

Lavrov expressed Russia’s efforts to de-escalate tensions and urged Western nations to prevent Israel from acting on what U.S. and European analysts reportedly refer to as Israel’s “provocative mindset.” The U.S. and the international community have been advocating for peace and hope to avoid the conflict escalating into a broader Middle East war.

In the event of conflict, Israel would face a much stronger adversary in Lebanon than in Gaza, as Hezbollah is considered the Arab world’s most significant paramilitary force with a substantial arsenal. Iran’s previous and current leadership maintain a responsible position against escalation, according to Lavrov.

Lavrov also highlighted concerns about Israel’s potential interests in escalation and emphasized Hezbollah’s restraint in its actions. The Russian diplomat warned against attempts to provoke Hezbollah into a full-scale engagement.

Since the start of the conflict, Israeli airstrikes in Lebanon have resulted in the deaths of over 450 individuals, primarily Hezbollah fighters but also more than 80 civilians. On the Israeli side, 21 soldiers and 13 civilians have lost their lives since the Gaza war began.

U.S. military-built pier for Gaza aid to be dismantled due to weather and security issues

WASHINGTON — The U.S. military-constructed pier for delivering humanitarian aid to Gaza will be disassembled and brought back, marking the end of a mission fraught with challenges relating to weather and security, which restricted the amount of aid reaching Palestinians in need.

Vice Adm. Brad Cooper, deputy commander at U.S. Central Command, revealed in a Pentagon briefing that the pier had achieved its intended purpose in what he described as an “unprecedented operation.”

As the U.S. military withdraws from the sea route for humanitarian aid, questions arise about Israel’s plan to utilize the port at Ashdod as an alternative. Little information is available regarding how this arrangement will function, and concerns persist regarding whether aid organizations will have sufficient land crossings to deliver assistance into Gaza, given that Israel controls all of Gaza’s land border passages.

The pier project, designed as a temporary solution to provide aid to starving Palestinians, faced criticism from aid groups from the outset, who deemed it a waste of time and resources. U.S. defense officials acknowledged that unexpected weather conditions limited the operating days of the pier and expressed frustration with humanitarian organizations’ inability to effectively distribute the aid, resulting in stockpiles accumulating onshore.

One uncontrollable factor affecting aid distribution was the Israeli defense forces, whose military operations in Gaza put humanitarian workers in constant danger and led to several incidents resulting in loss of life.

Subsequently, the pier operated for less than 25 days since its installation on May 16, with aid agencies utilizing it for only half of that time due to security concerns.

Former Israeli soldier banned from U.S. after conviction for 2016 killing of Palestinian

WASHINGTON — Elor Azaria, a former Israeli soldier convicted of shooting a wounded Palestinian man in the head in 2016, has been prohibited from entering the United States.

The visa restrictions imposed on Elor Azaria and his immediate family aim to uphold accountability for serious human rights violations in the Israeli-occupied West Bank, as stated by U.S. State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller. The shooting incident was classified as an “extrajudicial killing.”

This travel ban represents the latest U.S. action against Israelis, West Bank Jewish settlers, or groups considered detrimental to peace and stability in the West Bank due to their involvement in or promotion of violence against Palestinian civilians.

Azaria, a military medic, served two-thirds of his 14-month sentence for manslaughter. His fatal shooting of Abdel Fattah al-Sharif, who was lying wounded and unarmed after stabbing a soldier in the West Bank, was captured on video by a human rights worker. Since his release in 2018, Azaria has maintained a relatively low profile.

Critics argue that Israel rarely holds soldiers accountable for alleged offenses against Palestinians, pointing to a low indictment rate. Israel asserts that it conducts thorough and independent investigations, holding soldiers accountable based on merit.

Azaria’s case divided Israelis, the military urging prosecution for ethical violations while many nationalists supported his actions.

Israeli delegation in Cairo to resume cease-fire negotiations

CAIRO – An Israeli delegation arrived in Egypt on Wednesday to continue discussions on a cease-fire as Israel and Hamas review the latest proposal, revealed three Egyptian airport officials.

International mediators are guiding Israel and Hamas towards a phased agreement to end the conflict and secure the release of approximately 120 hostages held by the militant group in Gaza.

The Israeli delegation, consisting of six officials, chose to remain anonymous, according to the airport officials. Talks were disrupted over the weekend when Israel conducted a significant strike targeting Hamas’ military commander, whose status remains unclear. Hamas has stated that negotiations are ongoing.

Israel’s Defense Minister Yoav Gallant informed U.S. counterpart Lloyd Austin that exerting pressure on Hamas contributed to creating conditions for an agreement on the hostages’ release, without disclosing further details, according to a statement from his office.

— Jack Jeffery in Jerusalem

13 Palestinians released by Israel after weeks of detention

DEIR AL-BALAH, Gaza Strip — The Palestinian Red Crescent Society announced that Israeli authorities released 13 Palestinians who had been detained for several weeks.

The Palestinian paramedic group reported that the individuals were transported from an Israeli checkpoint in Gaza to Al-Aqsa Martyrs Hospital in the central city of Deir al-Balah. Emotional reunions with their families were observed, with some individuals exhibiting signs of bruising when speaking to journalists.

One of the released individuals, Zakaria Abu al-Eish, recounted being taken into custody while caring for his ailing father in the Jabaliya refugee camp in northern Gaza. He described the harsh conditions during his 55-day detention, expressing a lack of care and dignity shown towards the detainees by the Israeli forces.

Official figures indicate that Israel has detained around 4,000 Palestinians since the October 7 Hamas attack that triggered the conflict, with approximately 1,500 individuals released after investigations determined they were not linked to Hamas.