Most of the information on the war between Hamas and Israel this Wednesday, May 8.
Each day, Libé selects the most important news concerning the war between Hamas and Israel and the conflict in the Middle East.
Resumption of negotiations for a truce
Negotiations for a truce resumed this Wednesday, May 8 in Cairo, a resumption “in the presence of all parties”, said a media close to the Egyptian authorities, the Al-Qahera News channel, citing a senior official whose identity it did not specify. Cairo is currently hosting delegations from Hamas and Israel, as well as Qatar and the United States, countries which play mediator with Egypt.
Dozens of strikes on Rafah
After the evacuation of tens of thousands of Palestinians ordered by Israel on Monday to leave eastern Rafah, Israeli forces continued to bombard the city, and took control of the strategic Rafah crossing for the transfer of humanitarian aid before to close it, saying it was carrying out “targeted raids” in the area. Late Tuesday evening, injured people and bodies were removed from the rubble of destroyed homes in front of worried or crying residents. In a statement, the Israeli army announced that it had launched “hit more than 100 terrorist targets across the Gaza Strip.”
Reopening of the Kerem Shalom crossing point
The Israeli army announced this Wednesday, May 8, reopening the Kerem Shalom crossing point to “enter humanitarian aid”. On Sunday, the IDF closed this access due to rocket fire. “Trucks from Egypt carrying humanitarian aid, including food, water, shelter materials, medicines and medical equipment donated by the international community are already arriving at the crossing point, says the Israeli army in a statement. After a thorough inspection by the security personnel of the crossing authority of the Ministry of Defense, the equipment will be transferred to the Gaza side of the crossing point. But Louise Wateridge, communications officer for UNRWA, based in Rafah, observes from Release : “The doors of Kerem Shalom are open on the Israeli side. But as soon as you pass to the Palestinian side, you enter a militarized zone, very dangerous, which means that all our movements require a green light from the Israelis.
Washington opposes a major offensive in Rafah
The United States suspended the delivery of a shipment of bombs last week, a senior American official said Tuesday, May 7. “We suspended the delivery of a shipment of weapons last week. It consists of 1,800 2,000-pound (907 kg) bombs and 1,700 500-pound (226 kg) bombs., said this senior official in the administration of US President Joe Biden on condition of anonymity. Washington has made clear that it does not support an offensive in Rafah without a credible plan to protect civilians sheltering there. Joe Biden has “reiterated its clear position” to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Monday.
Israeli and American officials have discussed alternatives, but “these discussions are ongoing and have not fully addressed our concerns”said the senior American official.
Qatar calls to prevent ‘genocide’
Faced with the threat of a major offensive by the Israeli army in Rafah, which has become a refuge for 1.4 million Palestinians on the southern edge of the Gaza Strip, the Gulf country, mediator in negotiations on a truce between Israel and Palestinian Hamas, called in a statement “urgent international action to prevent the city from being invaded and the crime of genocide being committed”.
