Live Updates: No aid entering Gaza despite Israeli claims — authority

Friday, May 10, 2024

0730 GMT — Two key border crossings into Gaza are still closed, with no aid entering the enclave, local authorities said.

The statement by the Gaza-based General Authority for Crossings and Borders came in response to statements from the US State Department on the opening of crossings and entry of humanitarian aid into Gaza.

The statement confirmed that the crossings are still closed and under Israeli control since the Israeli army invaded Rafah, took over the Rafah crossing and closed the Kerem Shalom crossing.

The army claimed earlier to have reopened the Kerem Shalom crossing after closing it on Sunday to deliver aid to Gaza upon a request from US President Joe Biden but the crossings authority denied the claims.

0617 GMT — Egypt says Hamas, Israel must show 'flexibility' to seal Gaza truce deal

Egypt has said Hamas and Israel must show "flexibility" if they are to strike a deal for a ceasefire and prisoner exchange in the seven-month war on Gaza, according to a foreign ministry statement.

The readout of a phone call between Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry and US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said both diplomats agreed on "the importance of urging the parties to show flexibility and make all the necessary efforts to achieve a ceasefire agreement and put an end to the humanitarian tragedy in Gaza".

0605 GMT — Hamas says 'ball is completely' in Israel's hands in truce talks

Palestinian resistance group Hamas has announced that its delegation attending Gaza ceasefire negotiations in Cairo had left the city for Qatar, adding the "ball is now completely" in Israel's hands.

"The negotiating delegation left Cairo heading to Doha. In practice, the occupation [Israel] rejected the proposal submitted by the mediators and raised objections to it on several central issues," the group said in a statement, adding it stood by the proposal.

"Accordingly, the ball is now completely in the hands of the occupation."

0530 GMT — US opposes forcing Palestinians from Gaza, Blinken tells Egypt

Secretary of State Antony Blinken has told his Egyptian counterpart that the United States opposes exodus of Palestinians from Gaza, after Israel seized the fence crossing at Rafah.

In a telephone call with Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry, Blinken reaffirmed President Joe Biden's "clear position that the United States does not support a major military operation in Rafah and the United States' rejection of any forced displacement of Palestinians from Gaza," State Department spokesman Matthew Miller said.

Blinken "also expressed the United States' support for the reopening of Rafah crossing and the continued flow of urgently needed humanitarian assistance," Miller said.

0510GMT — UNRWA shuts E. Jerusalem HQ after arson by 'Israeli extremists'

The UN agency for Palestinian refugees has said it is temporarily shuttering its headquarters in occupied East Jerusalem after "Israeli extremists" set fire to the perimetre following weeks of repeated attacks.

"This evening, Israeli residents set fire twice to the perimeter of the UNRWA headquarters in occupied east Jerusalem," agency chief Philippe Lazzarini said on X, formerly Twitter, lamenting that it was the second attack on the compound in a matter of days.

He described how "a crowd accompanied by armed men were witnessed outside the compound chanting 'Burn down the United Nations'."

UNRWA and staff from other UN agencies at the time were on the compound, which has on its grounds petrol and diesel stations for a fleet of UN cars.