- 21 Apr 2024 - 16:10(16:10 GMT)
‘Senate should reject sending additional weapons to Israel’: US rights group
Democracy for the Arab World Now (DAWN) has urged the US Senate to stop sending more weapons to Israel, “not only because our laws prohibit military aid to abusive regimes but because it’s extremely damaging to our national interests.”
“The 58 bipartisan members of the House who voted against further military aid to Israel did the right thing in refusing to further undermine America’s standing in the world,” Sarah Leah Whitson, DAWN’s executive director, said in a statement.
On April 20, the US House of Representatives voted to approve a military aid package that includes $26bn for Israel. The Senate is scheduled to vote on the bill on April 22.
Members of Congress should understand that approving more military aid could subject them to “personal liability for aiding and abetting an ongoing genocide in Gaza,” said Raed Jarrar, DAWN’s advocacy director.
- 21 Apr 2024 - 00:00(00:00 GMT)
That’s a wrap from us
Thank you for joining us for updates on everything related to Israel’s war on Gaza.
You can continue to follow our live coverage of the war here.
For more news, analysis and opinion on the conflict, click here.
- 20 Apr 2024 - 23:50(23:50 GMT)
A look at what happened today
We will be closing this live page soon. Here’s a quick recap from today:
- Israeli forces continue to raid the Nur Shams refugee camp in the occupied West Bank’s Tulkarem, with at least 14 reported killed.
- Three Palestinians were killed and others injured as a result of the Israeli bombing of a house in the centre of the city of Rafah, according to Wafa.
- The US House of Representatives voted to provide Israel with $26bn in military aid.
- Reports say that the US is set to impose sanctions against the Israeli military’s “Netzah Yehuda” battalion for human rights violations in the occupied West Bank within days.
- Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh met with Turkey’s President Recep Tayyip Erdogan in Istanbul.
- Wafa reported that two civilians were killed and several others injured after Israeli warplanes bombed an area near Khan Younis.
- The Government Media Office in Gaza announced the total number of aid trucks entering the Gaza Strip daily ranges, on average, between 130 and 150 and said that Israel’s claims of about 300 trucks were “lies”.
- Funerals have been held for Palestinians, including six children, killed in an Israeli air attack on Rafah.
- 20 Apr 2024 - 23:35(23:35 GMT)
Al-Quds Bridages claim attack on Israeli army checkpoint in West Bank
The armed wing of the Palestinian Islamic Jihad says on its Telegram channel that it attacked the “al-Jalama checkpoint” with heavy fire.
It said that this attack was “in response to the crimes of the occupier in the Nour Shams camp”, and that its fighters returned to their bases safely.
Fourteen Palestinians have been killed in Israel’s ongoing raid on the camp, though local sources are reporting that the soldiers have partially withdrawn from certain areas.
We will continue to update you on this raid as events develop.
- 20 Apr 2024 - 23:25(23:25 GMT)
US decision to sanction Israeli military unit ‘sets a dangerous precedent’: Gantz
We have another reaction to the US decision to sanction the Netzah Yehuda Israeli military unit for human rights violations in the occupied West Bank.
Israeli war cabinet member Benny Gantz posted on X saying he had “great appreciation for our American friends”, but the decision to impose sanctions on an Israeli military unit and its soldiers “sets a dangerous precedent and conveys the wrong message to our shared enemies during wartime”.
“I intend on acting to have this decision changed,” he concluded.
The ‘Netzah Yehuda’ battalion is an inseparable part of the Israel Defense Forces. It is subject to military law and is responsible for operating in full compliance with International law.
The State of Israel has a strong, independent judicial system that evaluates meticulously…
— בני גנץ – Benny Gantz (@gantzbe) April 20, 2024
- 20 Apr 2024 - 23:15(23:15 GMT)
Israeli government tries to preempt US sanctions against army unit
We’ve gotten quite a bit of Israeli reaction tonight all the way from the top.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu slammed the US decision, saying that he and his government would act against these sanctions [and that they were] “absurd and morally incorrect”.
We’re also hearing from war cabinet Minister Benny Gantz. He’s usually at odds with the Israeli prime minister. They’ve had a history of disagreements throughout this war but they seem to be in consensus this time, saying that this unit is an inseparable part of the Israeli military.
We’re also hearing from members of the far right, Ben Gvir and Smotrich, known ultra-nationalists who are saying that the move can not happen.
This is a unit of the army that is specifically in the occupied West Bank that is for ultra-orthodox men. They have certain religious guidelines.
One US non-profit documented their human rights abuses from the year 2015 onwards and the list of violations is long.
Reports within Israeli media say that this unit of the army is directly involved with the settler enterprise and the people… in it are members of the Hilltop Youth Movement, an ultra-nationalist violence settler group in the occupied West Bank who often set up these illegal outposts on Palestinian land.
- 20 Apr 2024 - 23:00(23:00 GMT)
Humanitarian missions impeded, delayed by Israeli authorities: UN
The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs in the occupied Palestinian territory posted on X that two-thirds of coordinated humanitarian missions in Gaza were impeded or significantly delayed by Israeli authorities on Saturday.
“On average, each of these missions faced nearly five hours of delay before being allowed to proceed”, the post read.
“Some waited so long they had to turn back, while others proceeded but significantly curtailed their operations due to the limited remaining time”.
“As a result, critical supplies, equipment and fuel for backup generators were not provided to hospitals”
Today, two-thirds of coordinated humanitarian missions in #Gaza were impeded or significantly delayed by the Israeli authorities.
On average, each of these missions faced nearly five hours of delay before being allowed to proceed. #AccessDenied
1/3 pic.twitter.com/9lizj9PCwa
— OCHA oPt (Palestine) (@ochaopt) April 20, 2024
- 20 Apr 2024 - 22:45(22:45 GMT)
Tulkarem governor: Israeli raid ‘part of ongoing crime against our people’
Mustafa Taqatqa has issued a statement on the ongoing Israeli raid of the occupied West Bank city, in which at least 14 Palestinians have been killed.
He offered condolences to those who have been killed and their families, saying that Israeli crimes include “targeting and abusing citizens, and the deliberate and brutal sabotage of infrastructure and the demolition of … houses, vandalizing them and tampering with their contents”.
He also said that he met with “technical crews and the competent authorities” to coordinate work to remove the effects of the raid, which has damaged large areas of the Nur Shams refugee camp.
Israeli forces have been conducting operations in the area since Thursday night.
- 20 Apr 2024 - 22:30(22:30 GMT)
WATCH: Iran vs Israel – deterrence, drama or distraction
In the latest episode of The Listening Post, we look at how the flurry of headlines around Iran’s retaliatory strikes on Israel drowned out many important stories coming out of Gaza.
- 20 Apr 2024 - 22:15(22:15 GMT)
Photos: Israeli raids on Nur Shams refugee camp in the occupied West Bank
- 20 Apr 2024 - 22:00(22:00 GMT)
Child, pregnant woman among the dead after Israeli strike on Rafah
Three Palestinians have been killed and others injured as a result of the Israeli bombing of a house in the Shaboura camp in the centre of the city of Rafah, the Wafa news agency reports.
Among the dead are a child and a pregnant woman. At least five children were injured and arrived at the Kuwait Specialty Hospital in Rafah.
Earlier, we reported that six children were among at least nine people killed in Israeli air raids that hit two homes in the Tal as-Sultan and al-Salam neighbourhoods of Rafah on Saturday.
- 20 Apr 2024 - 21:45(21:45 GMT)
Video shows destruction of Nur Shams camp as Israeli raid continues
A video posted on Instagram – and verified by Al Jazeera – shows the aftermath of Israeli forces’ action against parts of the Nur Shams refugee camp in Tulkarem, occupied West Bank.
Israeli forces have been carrying out a raid on the camp since Thursday night, killing at least 14 according to the Palestinian Health Ministry.
Translation: The extent of the destruction inside Nour Shams camp.
- 20 Apr 2024 - 21:30(21:30 GMT)
Palestinian presidency condemns US military aid for Israel
The Palestinian presidency says the US House’s approval of billions of dollars in new military aid for Israel marks “an aggression against the Palestinian people”.
The money would “translate into thousands of Palestinian casualties in the Gaza Strip” and the West Bank, said Nabil Abu Rudeina, a spokesman for Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, calling it a “dangerous escalation”.
As we reported earlier, the House approved $26.38bn to “support Israel in its effort to defend itself against Iran and its proxies”, as well as reimbursing US military operations in response to recent attacks.
- 20 Apr 2024 - 21:15(21:15 GMT)
Israel to summon ambassadors of countries that voted for Palestinian UN membership
Foreign Ministry spokesperson Oren Marmorstein says Israel will summon ambassadors of countries that voted for full Palestinian UN membership “for a protest talk” on Sunday.
Marmorstein’s comments came after the Palestinian Authority said it would “reconsider” its relationship with the US after Washington vetoed the Palestinian membership bid earlier this week.
Thursday’s vote saw 12 countries on the UN Security Council back a resolution recommending full Palestinian membership and two, the UK and Switzerland, abstain.
Only the US, Israel’s staunchest ally, voted against it, using its veto to block the resolution.
In a post on X, Marmorstein wrote: “The ambassadors of France, Japan, South Korea, Malta, the Slovak Republic, and Ecuador will be summoned tomorrow for a démarche, and a strong protest will be presented to them.
“In addition, an identical protest will be presented to additional countries that voted for the Algerian proposal, which was rejected, to upgrade the status of the Palestinians”.
- 20 Apr 2024 - 21:00(21:00 GMT)
Netanyahu: Sanctions must not be imposed on the Israeli army
The Israeli prime minister reacted in an X post to reports that the US will sanction a unit of the Israeli army in the coming days.
“At a time when our soldiers are fighting the monsters of terror, the intention to impose a sanction on a unit in the [army] is the height of absurdity and a moral low. The government headed by me will act by all means against these moves,” Benjamin Netanyahu said.
We reported earlier on the possible sanctions, which will be against the Israeli military’s “Netzah Yehuda” battalion for human rights violations in the occupied West Bank within days.
Netanyahu also said that he has been working against the imposition of sanctions on Israeli citizens, adding that this is something he spoke about with United States officials.
The US and European Union imposed sanctions this week on extremist Israeli settlers accused of violent actions in the occupied West Bank.
- 20 Apr 2024 - 20:55(20:55 GMT)
Health Ministry updates death toll from Nur Shams raid
The Palestinian Health Ministry now says that 13 bodies from the refugee camp have arrived at Thabet Thabet Governmental Hospital in Tulkarem, increasing from the 12 they reported a short while ago.
This brings the death toll from Israel’s raid in the occupied West Bank to 14, the ministry said.
- 20 Apr 2024 - 20:45(20:45 GMT)
WATCH: Attack in Iran dominates G7 summit
Iran’s drone and missile attack on Israeli territory last week changed the agenda at the Group of Seven (G7) diplomatic summit, and drew the focus to tensions in the Middle East.
The foreign ministers present urged “all parties” to “work to prevent further escalation” in the Middle East.
“In light of reports of strikes on April 19th, we urge all parties to work to prevent further escalation. The G7 will continue to work to this end,” they said in a statement.
Watch our report to learn more:
- 20 Apr 2024 - 20:30(20:30 GMT)
Two Palestinians killed in Israeli strike near Khan Younis: Report
Earlier, we posted a video recorded by a Palestinian lawyer and verified by Al Jazeera, showing the aftermath of an Israeli attack on al-Mawasi near the southern Gaza city of Khan Younis.
The Palestinian news agency Wafa now reports that two civilians were killed and several others were injured after Israeli warplanes bombed the area.
Medical sources told the news agency that Israeli air strikes targeted a home adjacent to an encampment housing displaced families while Israeli warships targeted the northwestern areas of Khan Younis city.
- 20 Apr 2024 - 20:15(20:15 GMT)
What is in the aid package for Israel passed by the US House?
The bill allocates $26.38bn to “support Israel in its effort to defend itself against Iran and its proxies”, as well as reimbursing US military operations in response to recent attacks.
The funding includes:
- $5.2bn to replenish and expand Israel’s missile and rocket defence system
- $3.5bn for purchasing advanced weapons systems
- $1bn to enhance weapons production
- $4.4bn for other supplies and services to Israel
- $9.2bn in humanitarian aid
- 20 Apr 2024 - 19:59(19:59 GMT)
Thirteen killed in Israeli army raid of Tulkarem
The Palestinian Ministry of Health reports that 12 Palestinian bodies arrived at Thabet Thabet Governmental Hospital from the Nur Shams refugee camp today.
This raises the death toll since Thursday evening, when Israeli forces began their raid, to 13, the ministry said.
- 20 Apr 2024 - 19:45(19:45 GMT)
The US House of Representatives approves billions of dollars in military aid for Israel
The US House has voted to provide Israel with $26bn in emergency assistance, including almost $14bn in unconditional military aid.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the approval of billions of dollars in new military aid showed strong support for Israel and “defends Western civilization”.
In a post on X, he said: “The US Congress just overwhelmingly passed a much appreciated aid bill that demonstrates strong bipartisan support for Israel and defends Western civilization. Thank you friends, thank you America!”
- 20 Apr 2024 - 19:30(19:30 GMT)
Ministry of Health condemns killing of ambulance driver in settler attack
Earlier, we reported that Muhammad Awadallah Muhammad Musa, 50 years old, was killed during an attack by illegal Israeli settlers near the village of as-Sawiya, south of Nablus in the occupied West Bank,
The Palestinian Ministry of Health condemned in a statement the “deliberate killing of an ambulance driver … while he was performing his humanitarian duty in transporting casualties shot by settlers”.
It also accused Israeli forces of obstructing the work of ambulance crews near Thabet Thabet Governmental Hospital in Tulkarem.
The occupation forces were present in the vicinity of the hospital and obstructed the work of ambulance crews and vehicles.
“This attack is added to the series of daily horrific crimes committed by the occupation forces and settlers against all workers in the humanitarian health field, and the targeting and destruction of treatment centers in the Gaza Strip,” the ministry said.
- 20 Apr 2024 - 19:15(19:15 GMT)
Protests have not damaged Netanyahu’s standing
Mohamad Elmasry, a professor in the media studies programme at the Doha Institute for Graduate Studies, spoke to Al Jazeera about the impact of the regular mass protests in Tel Aviv and Jerusalem.
Most of the protesters are not against the war, he said, adding that the majority of Israelis think their country’s military is not using enough force in Gaza, he said.
Elmasry said the criticism expressed at the protests is more directed at PM Benjamin Netanyahu than the government as a whole.
However, he says the fact that the war on Gaza has been raging for more than six months suggests that the protests have not had much of an impact on the Israeli prime minister.
“I think that Netanyahu is winning politically in Israel by extending the war, and what happened in the United States today with this vote in Congress is going to give him further ammunition literally and figuratively,” Elmasry said.
- 20 Apr 2024 - 19:00(19:00 GMT)
Video shows smoke rising over Mawasi after Israeli army shelling
Video posted by a Palestinian lawyer, and verified by Al Jazeera, shows the aftermath of an Israeli attack on al-Mawasi near the southern Gaza city of Khan Younis.
Al-Mawasi, on Gaza’s coast, was designated months ago by the Israeli army as a safe zone for displaced Palestinians, as the army began its assault on Khan Younis.
There were no reports of casualties from this strike, but we will keep you updated as we get more information.
Translation: Cutting the line west of Khan Younis in the area of Mawasi, which is very crowded with the displaced tents.
In the company of @tamerbessiso - 20 Apr 2024 - 18:45(18:45 GMT)
US expected to sanction Israeli military unit for human rights violations: Report
Axios, citing three sources in the United States, reports that US Secretary of State Antony Blinken is expected to announce sanctions against the Israeli military’s “Netzah Yehuda” battalion for human rights violations in the occupied West Bank within days.
The news outlet said It would mark the first time the US has imposed sanctions on an Israeli military unit.
The sources told Axios that the sanctions would prevent the battalion and its members from receiving any kind of US military assistance or training.
The male-only Netzah Yehuda battalion was formed in 1999 as a special unit for ultra-Orthodox Jewish soldiers. Its website states that around a thousand soldiers serve in the unit at any one time.
Axios states that the unit stationed in the West Bank has “became a destination for many ‘Hilltop Youth’ — young radical right-wing settlers who weren’t accepted into any other combat unit”.
Israel’s war on Gaza updates: 14 killed as Israeli raid continues
The ministry says a Palestinian medic was killed trying to rescue those injured in the raid on Nur Shams refugee camp.
This live page is now closed. You can continue to follow our coverage of the war in Gaza here.
- Israeli forces continue to raid Nur Shams refugee camp in the occupied West Bank’s Tulkarem, killing 14, according to the Palestinian Health Ministry.
- Funerals are held for Palestinians, including six children, killed in an Israeli air attack on Gaza’s Rafah, as Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh meets Turkey’s President Recep Tayyip Erdogan in Istanbul.
- Iran’s foreign minister says his country will respond to the “maximum” if Israeli “adventurism” continues following reports of the shooting down by Iranian air defence batteries of three drones over Isfahan.
- Israeli forces have deployed more troops to areas adjacent to Rafah and destroyed agricultural land in the eastern areas of the governorate.
- At least 34,049 people have been killed and 76,901 wounded in Israeli attacks on Gaza since October 7. The death toll in Israel from Hamas’s October 7 attacks stands at 1,139, with dozens of captives held in Gaza.
Source: Al Jazeera and news agencies