Live Updates: US, Israeli defence chiefs discuss Rafah invasion — Pentagon

Thursday, May 2, 2024

07:10 GMT — US, Israeli defence chiefs discuss Rafah over phone

US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin and his Israeli counterpart Yoav Gallant discussed a possible Israeli ground invasion of the southern Gaza city of Rafah, the Pentagon said.

In a phone call, Austin and Gallant also exchanged views on ongoing hostage negotiations and humanitarian assistance efforts, Press Secretary Maj. Gen. Pat Ryder said in a statement.

Austin reaffirmed the US’ commitment to the unconditional return of all hostages and conveyed the importance of increasing the flow of humanitarian assistance into Gaza while ensuring the safety of civilians and aid workers, Ryder said.

06:40 GMT — Biden keeps quiet as Gaza protesters and police clash on college campuses

President Joe Biden is staying mum about student protests and police crackdowns as Republicans try to turn campus unrest over the war in Gaza into a campaign cudgel against Democrats.

Biden's last public comment came more than a week ago, when he condemned “antisemitic protests” and “those who don’t understand what’s going on with the Palestinians.”

The White House, which has been peppered with questions by reporters, has gone only slightly further than the president. On Wednesday, press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said Biden is “monitoring the situation closely," and she said some demonstrations had stepped over a line that separated free speech from unlawful behaviour.

06:30 GMT — Israel threatens to retaliate against Palestinian Authority if ICC issues arrest warrants

Israel has threatened in discussions with US counterparts that it will retaliate against the Palestinian Authority (PA) if the International Criminal Court (ICC) issues arrests warrants for senior Israeli officials, according to a report.

Israel has been increasingly fretting over the possibility of arrest warrants being handed down by the ICC against Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Defense Minister Yoav Gallant and the Israel Defense Forces, the Axios news website reported, citing two anonymous Israeli and US officials.

Israel has told the US it has information that PA officials are pressuring the ICC prosecutor to hand down the warrants.

06:09 GMT — Students at New York's Fordham University set up Gaza solidarity encampment

A group of students at Fordham University in New York City has set up a Gaza solidarity encampment, joining similar encampments launched nationwide to demand an end to Israel's carnage in the blockaded enclave.

Many students gathered in the lobby of the Leon Lowenstein Center, a building at the university's Lincoln Center campus, setting up five tents as part of the encampment in solidarity with Palestinians.

The university administration handed students notices written by Lincoln Center student dean Jenifer Campbell instructing them to leave Fordham University property immediately.

05:40 GMT — 50+ Democrats urge Biden to prevent Israeli invasion of Rafah

US President Joe Biden's administration has faced renewed pressure from his fellow Democrats to influence ally Israel not to launch a full-scale invasion of Rafah, the city where almost half of besieged Gaza's 2.4 million people have taken refuge.

Fifty-seven of the 212 Democrats in the House of Representatives signed a letter calling on the administration to take every possible measure to dissuade hawkish Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's government from an all-out assault on the city near the Egyptian border.

"We urge you to invoke existing law and policy to immediately withhold certain offensive military aid to the Israeli government, including aid sourced from legislation already signed into law, in order to preempt a full-scale assault on Rafah," said the letter, dated Wednesday.

05:22 GMT — Israel kills 7 Palestinians in central Gaza

Israel has killed at least seven Palestinians and wounded several others after striking the city of Al-Zahra and the town of Al-Mughraqa north of the Nuseirat camp in central Gaza.

"The bodies of seven martyrs were brought to Al-Awda Hospital in the Nuseirat camp as a result of an Israeli air strike targeting the city of Al-Zahra and the town of Al-Mughraqa north of the camp," medical sources told Anadolu Agency.

An Anadolu correspondent reported that the Israeli army intensified its air strikes on the two locations as part of an operation to expand the Nitzarim Corridor between the southern and northern parts of besieged Gaza.

05:18 GMT — Hamas hails Colombia cutting ties with Israel

Hamas resistance group has hailed as a "victory" Colombia's decision to cut ties with Israel over its carnage in besieged Gaza.

"We greatly appreciate the position of Colombian President Gustavo Petro... which we consider a victory for the sacrifices of our people and their just cause," Hamas said in a statement, calling for other countries in Latin America to follow suit.

05:00 GMT — Barclays says it does not invest in defence firms supplying Israel

Barclays does not invest its own money in companies that supply weapons used by Israel in Gaza, the British bank has said, because it is not an investor and instead trades shares of listed companies for clients.

The statement came after one of its branches in London's financial district was called out by pro-Palestine activists.

The bank has also faced criticism for providing financial services to defence firms that produce equipment used by the Israeli military.

For our live updates from Wednesday, May 1, click here.