Live Updates: Over 1 million forced to evacuate Rafah — UNRWA

Monday, June 3, 2024

0745 GMT — Forced displacement has pushed over a million people away from the city of Rafah in southern Gaza, the United Nations Palestinian refugee agency (UNRWA) said.

The Israeli military has told civilians to go to an "expanded humanitarian zone" some 20 km (12 miles) away.

Many Palestinians have complained they are vulnerable to Israeli attacks wherever they go, and have been moving up and down Gaza in the past few months.

UNRWA said thousands of families now shelter in damaged and destroyed facilities in the city of Khan Younis, where the agency is providing essential services despite 'increasing challenges'.

"Conditions are unspeakable", the agency added.

0815 GMT — Jewish academic stands with pro-Palestine students in Germany

Jewish academic and musician Michael Barenboim, who works at the Barenboim-Said Academy of Music in Berlin, expressed his support for students participating in pro-Palestinian demonstrations at universities across the country.

Barenboim, the son of renowned conductor Daniel Barenboim, told Anadolu in an interview that he signed an open letter supporting pro-Palestinian students because he believes their protests are justified.

"For some reason, human rights apply to everyone except, it seems, for Palestinians, and freedom of expression applies to everyone except, it seems, for supporters of Palestine. This is very concerning. It cannot continue like this," he said.

Barenboim criticised Germany's prohibition of pro-Palestinian statements, noting that human rights and freedom of expression seem to apply to everyone except Palestinians and their supporters. He expressed deep concern over this situation, emphasising that it cannot continue.

0700 GMT — Body found of Israeli earlier suspected as Hamas hostage

The Israeli military said it had found the body of an Israeli paramedic who until now was believed to have been held hostage in Gaza but was killed in the October 7 attack.

The body of Dolev Yehud, 35, was located in Nir Oz kibbutz, which came under attack during Hamas's raid on southern Israeli towns on October 7.

0628 GMT — Confrontations erupt with Palestinians as Israeli army escort illegal settlers to holy site in West Bank

Confrontations erupted in the eastern occupied West Bank between Palestinians and Israeli forces during the military's escort of illegal settlers to the site of Joseph's Tomb.

A significant number of Israeli soldiers entered eastern Nablus city in the Palestinian territory to secure the illegal settlers' visit to Joseph's Tomb, eye witnesses reported.

Clashes broke out between dozens of locals and the army, which responded with live fire and tear gas, they added.

The witnesses also noted that the Israeli army raided several neighborhoods in eastern Nablus and searched homes before withdrawing.

Sporadic sounds of gunfire and explosions were heard during the raids and clashes.

0146 GMT — Blinken calls Israeli officials to discuss Gaza ceasefire deal

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken called top Israeli officials to discuss a proposed deal for a truce in Gaza, the State Department has said.

Blinken spoke with war cabinet minister Benny Gantz and defence minister Yoav Gallant, according to statements.

In both calls, he "commended" Israel for the proposal, which was outlined by US President Joe Biden, and said the onus was on Hamas to agree.

2320 GMT — Pro-Palestinian protests at University of Helsinki enter 2nd month

Pro-Palestinian protests at the University of Helsinki in the Finnish capital entered their second month on Sunday.

Launched by students in May, the rallies have persisted despite the university administration's decision to suspend student exchange agreements with Israeli universities.

Students continue to express solidarity with Gaza at an encampment established in front of the main building.

The university said its board and rector are shocked by the civilian victims of Israel's Gaza war and called on the parties involved to prevent genocide in accordance with the decisions of the International Court of Justice (ICJ) in the Netherlands.

2210 GMT — US-backed Gaza ceasefire deal mostly accepted by Israel: report

Israel has accepted most of the broad outlines of a proposed hostage swap and ceasefire deal announced late last week by US President Joe Biden, the Israeli Broadcasting Authority has reported.

The state broadcaster said the Palestinian resistance group Hamas announced that it would respond positively to the proposal.

It said the three-phase plan would start with a six-week ceasefire, including the withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza and the release of women and children being held hostage in the enclave.

Biden said that during this time, there would be an increase in humanitarian assistance and Israel and Hamas would negotiate a permanent ceasefire.

The second phase would involve the release of all other hostages in exchange for Palestinians imprisoned in Israel, according to the broadcaster.

The final phase would involve the start of a reconstruction plan in Gaza and the return of the remains of deceased hostages to their families.

2135 GMT — Israeli support for US-backed Gaza ceasefire proposal: 40 pct in poll

Some 40 percent of Israelis support a proposal announced late last week by US President Joe Biden that he said could lead to a permanent ceasefire in Gaza, according to a poll conducted by the Israeli Broadcasting Authority.

However, nearly 27 percent of the respondents said they opposed the deal and around 33 percent said they are undecided, the public broadcaster reported.

The survey also found that around 42 percent of Israelis believe the Palestinian resistance group Hamas’s governance in Gaza cannot be eliminated, while 32 percent said Israel was capable of doing so.

It further revealed that 55 percent of Israelis “support expanding the confrontation with Hezbollah in southern Lebanon.”

For our live updates from Sunday, June 2, 2024, click here.