The Israeli army announced that Kerem Shalom, the main crossing point for humanitarian aid to the Gaza Strip, which had just reopened, was targeted by rockets fired from Rafah in the south of the Palestinian territory, Wednesday May 8. An Israeli soldier was slightly injured, according to the army, which accused Hamas of being behind the shooting which damaged “how the crossing point works” that Israel has reopened. It was closed three days after previous rocket attacks which killed four Israeli soldiers and injured around ten.
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Fuel shortages are penalizing Gaza’s hospitals. ThisThis resource will soon run out, warns the head of the World Health Organization (WHO), Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus. “Hospitals in southern Gaza only have three days of fuel left (…) Closure of the border post (from Rafah) continues to prevent the UN from providing fuel. Without fuel, all humanitarian operations will stop“, he warned on X, adding that “one of the three hospitals in Rafah, Al-Najjar, is no longer functioning due to the ongoing fighting in its surroundings and the military operation in Rafah.” Follow our live stream.
Switzerland offers to pay 10 million Swiss francs to UNRWA. While the Palestinian enclave is plunged into a serious humanitarian crisis, the Swiss federal government has offered to pay this sum to the UN agency for Palestinian refugees (UNRWA). This amount, which represents half of the sum that was initially to be paid to the agency in 2024, must be reserved for the Gaza Strip and “provide for the most urgent vital needs”specifies the Federal Council in its press release.
Israeli army says it has reopened the Kerem Shalom crossing. Four days after its closure following Hamas rocket fire which killed four Israeli soldiers, the Israeli army announced the reopening of the Kerem Shalom crossing point to “enter humanitarian aid” in the Gaza Strip. “Trucks from Egypt carrying humanitarian aid, including food, water,“Shelters, medicines and medical equipment donated by the international community are already arriving at the crossing point.”, specified the Israeli army. On Tuesday, the Rafah crossing point was also closed.
Washington suspends arms delivery. The United States suspended the delivery of a shipment of bombs to Israel last week, a senior American official said Tuesday. He explains, on condition of anonymity, that this decision was taken due to lack of response from Israel to “concerns” regarding an announced offensive on the town of Rafah, in the south of the Gaza Strip.
Bombings on Gaza. The Israeli army continued its airstrikes on Wednesday on Palestinian territory, where it has already taken control of the strategic Rafah crossing with Egypt. Witnesses reported strikes in different areas, notably in Gaza City in the north, where al-Ahli hospital announced the death of seven members of the same family in an aerial bombardment.
“Last chance” talks in Cairo. Discussions for a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas continue with Egyptian, Qatari and American mediators in Cairo. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu instructed the Israeli delegation to “continue to be firm on the conditions necessary for release” hostages and “essential” to the security of Israel. Hamas says it has accepted a proposed agreement, but differences remain with Israel.
