Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stated that Israel is prepared to "stand alone" against its adversaries, following a warning from President Biden regarding the halt of certain weapons shipments if Israel were to invade Rafah. Cease-fire discussions aimed at halting the conflict and releasing hostages still held by Hamas have reached an impasse, with the latest negotiations in Cairo concluding without progress. Hamas announced that it would send its delegation back to the Qatari capital, Doha, and reaffirmed its commitment to the cease-fire proposal it received last week, as reported by The Washington Post. However, Israel has indicated that the proposal Hamas agreed to differs from the version it reviewed. An Israeli official, speaking anonymously to discuss the negotiations, stated that the Israeli team departed Cairo on Thursday evening.
In a subsequent interview on U.S. television, Netanyahu expressed hope that he and Biden could resolve their disagreements. The Israeli prime minister also emphasized that in his vision for a post-Hamas Gaza, there must be "continuous demilitarization" in the Strip, alongside a civilian government not dedicated to Israel's destruction.
Should Israel decide to invade Rafah, Biden would need to decide whether to withhold additional weapons shipments, stated White House National Security Council spokesman John Kirby. "We hope it doesn't come to that," he added.
The United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) estimated that approximately 110,000 people fled Rafah amid intense Israeli bombardment, as stated early Friday on social media. However, "nowhere is safe" in the Gaza Strip, and "living conditions are atrocious," the agency added.
A humanitarian aid ship for Gaza departed from Cyprus on Thursday, according to Cyprus's foreign minister and marine tracking websites. The cargo vessel MV Sagamore is expected to deliver the first aid shipment to Gaza using a U.S.-built temporary pier.
According to the Gaza Health Ministry, which does not differentiate between civilians and combatants, at least 34,904 people have been killed and 78,514 injured in Gaza since the conflict began. The majority of the casualties are women and children.
Israel reported that about 1,200 people were killed in Hamas's Oct. 7 attack, including over 300 soldiers, and stated that 267 soldiers have been killed since the start of its military operation in Gaza. Rafah's limited health network is collapsing when it is most needed.
The city's largest hospital closed two days ago, following Israel's order for 100,000 Palestinians in southeastern Gaza to evacuate. Small clinics that served hundreds of people per week also closed, with staff members fleeing the violence. Bodies remain in the "red zone" where ambulances cannot reach due to Israeli bombardment, according to a Palestinian Red Crescent spokeswoman. Border crossings remained closed on Thursday, leaving critically ill patients waiting to be evacuated to Egypt and preventing international doctors and crucial medical supplies from entering.
Israel's military actions in Rafah this week have overwhelmed health-care workers, who were already struggling to treat displaced Palestinians suffering from malnutrition, explosive injuries, and various diseases that doctors say are rapidly spreading through the city's filthy and overcrowded tent camps.
Children are particularly at risk, with thousands of infants in southern Gaza severely malnourished, and nearly all children under 5 suffering from "one or more infectious diseases," according to UNICEF. Despite Israel describing its operations as "limited," doctors argue otherwise, as munitions fall on an area smaller than the Istanbul Airport complex, yet housing over a million people.
The top Republican on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee stated on Thursday that the Biden administration is not only delaying the shipment of bombs and precision guidance kits (JDAMs) to Israel but also holding up several other weapons transfers. Sen. James E. Risch (R-Idaho) and his aides said that the administration, along with two congressional Democrats, are delaying weapons requested by Israel, including tank rounds, mortars, and moderately armored tactical vehicles.
The Biden administration has confirmed a pause in a weapons shipment, consisting of bunker busters and other heavy munitions, over concerns about Israel's planned offensive in Rafah. A Republican aide on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee criticized the administration for deliberating over the transfers for an extended period, describing it as unusual and potentially harmful to close allies during a time of war.
In summary, the situation in Gaza remains dire, with Israel and Hamas at a standoff, and the international community watching closely for any developments that could further escalate the conflict.