Israel Today: Ongoing War Report - Update from 2024-05-21 at 09:03
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HEADLINES - **Humanitarian Aid Shipped to Gaza Amid Crisis: Cyprus Confirms 1,000 Tonnes Delivered** - **ICC Seeks Arrest Warrants for Netanyahu and Hamas Leaders; Global Reactions Stir** - **Violence Surges in West Bank: Israeli Raid in Jenin Leaves Seven Dead** The time is now 09:00 AM in New York, I'm Noa Levi and this is the latest Israel Today: Ongoing War Report. This is the news for May 21, 2024, focusing on the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas. Cyprus has confirmed that maritime aid shipments to Gaza are progressing as planned. Four ships from the United States and France are transporting aid from Larnaca port to the Gaza Strip, amid a worsening humanitarian crisis. According to Victor Papadopoulos of the Cyprus presidential press office, 1,000 tonnes of aid have been shipped from Cyprus to Gaza between Friday and Sunday. The aid is entering Gaza via a temporary US-built floating pier, where it is offloaded for distribution. Large quantities of aid from Britain, Romania, the United Arab Emirates, the United States, and other countries have accumulated at Larnaca port. As Gaza faces severe shortages of food, safe water, medicines, and fuel, the United Nations has warned of a potential famine. This maritime aid effort comes as aid deliveries by truck have slowed significantly since Israeli forces took control of the Palestinian side of the Rafah crossing with Egypt in early May. The conflict in Gaza began after Hamas launched an unprecedented attack on Israel on October 7, resulting in over 1,170 deaths, mostly civilians. In response, Israel's Defence Minister Yoav Gallant ordered a "complete siege" on the Gaza Strip. The Israeli offensive has resulted in the deaths of at least 35,647 people in Gaza, also mostly civilians, according to the Hamas-run health ministry. In related developments, the Palestinian health ministry reported that Israeli troops killed seven Palestinians during a raid in the West Bank city of Jenin. The Israeli military described the operation as a counterterrorism mission. Among those killed were a surgeon from the Jenin government hospital and a school teacher. Following the raid, schools in Jenin and its adjacent refugee camp were evacuated. The streets near the camp were deserted except for Israeli bulldozers. The West Bank has experienced a surge in violence since the war in Gaza erupted, with at least 512 Palestinians killed and 12 Israelis killed by Palestinians in the territory. In international legal developments, the International Criminal Court's Chief Prosecutor Karim Khan has applied for arrest warrants against Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, as well as senior Hamas leaders Yahya Sinwar, Mohammed Deif, and Ismail Haniyeh. This move has sparked significant reactions, with Israel's Defense Minister Gallant asserting that the ICC has no authority in this matter. The German government has expressed support for arrest warrants for Hamas leaders, describing such a move as logical. On the diplomatic front, US Ambassador to Israel Jack Lew highlighted the potential regional impact of normalizing relations between Israel and Saudi Arabia. At a recent conference, he emphasized that such normalization would ensure Israel's long-term future and strengthen regional alliances, similar to the strategic cooperation seen during recent conflicts. In domestic Israeli politics, Interior Minister Moshe Arbel has urged Prime Minister Netanyahu to advance a five-year plan to support Druze and Circassian communities, particularly in light of the ongoing war. The previous plan expired in 2023, and the lack of a new plan has impacted various sectors including education, welfare, and economic development. Arbel noted the significant contributions of these communities to the war effort and their economic hardships, especially those living near the...
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