Israeli strikes continued to pound the Gaza Strip Wednesday, regardless of a surge in worldwide anger at Israel’s widening offensive. The assaults killed at the very least 82 folks, together with a number of girls and a week-old toddler, in line with the Gaza Well being Ministry and space hospitals.
Israel started permitting dozens of humanitarian vans into Gaza on Tuesday, however the aid has not but reached Palestinians in determined want.
Jens Laerke, the spokesperson for the U.N.’s humanitarian company, mentioned no vans had been picked up from the Gaza facet of Kerem Shalom, the Israeli border crossing with southern Gaza.
A truck loaded with humanitarian assist for the Gaza Strip makes its approach to the Kerem Shalom crossing as border cops stop activists from blocking the street in southern Israel, Wednesday, Could 21, 2025. (AP Picture/Ohad Zwigenberg) (AP Picture/Ohad Zwigenberg)
U.N. spokesperson Stéphane Dujarric mentioned Tuesday that though the help had entered Gaza, staff weren’t in a position to deliver it to distribution factors after the Israeli army compelled them to reload the provides onto separate vans and staff ran out of time.
The Israeli protection physique that oversees humanitarian assist to Gaza mentioned vans entered Wednesday morning, however it was unclear if that assist would transfer deeper into Gaza for distribution. The U.N. agency for Palestinian refugees, UNRWA, mentioned its employees had waited a number of hours to gather assist from the border crossing however had been unable to take action on Tuesday.
ISRAEL BLOCKS HUMANITARIAN AID INTO GAZA AFTER HAMAS REJECTS CEASEFIRE EXTENSION PROPOSAL
A number of dozen Israeli activists against Israel’s determination to permit assist into Gaza whereas Hamas nonetheless holds Israeli hostages tried to dam vans carrying provides Wednesday morning, however had been stored again by Israeli police.
Diplomats come beneath fireplace in Jenin
A bunch of diplomats got here beneath fireplace whereas visiting Jenin, a metropolis within the Israeli-occupied West Financial institution, in line with the Palestinian Authority. The diplomats had been on an official mission to watch the humanitarian scenario in Jenin when photographs rang out.
An assist employee, who didn’t need to be named for worry of reprisal, mentioned a delegation of about 20 regional, European and Western diplomats had been standing close to the doorway of the Jenin refugee camp once they heard gunshots Wednesday, she mentioned. Nobody was injured, she added.
The Israeli army mentioned the delegation “deviated from the accredited route” and Israeli troopers fired warning photographs to distance them from the realm. The army apologized and mentioned they may contact all international locations concerned within the go to.
Palestinians carry the our bodies of their family together with kids who had been killed in an Israeli military airstrike in Deir al-Balah, Gaza, Wednesday, Could 21, 2025. (AP Picture/Abdel Kareem Hana) (AP Picture/Abdel Kareem Hana)
Footage reveals a variety of diplomats working for canopy as speedy photographs rung out. European Union international coverage chief Kaja Kallas mentioned firing even warning photographs was unacceptable and known as on Israel to analyze.
The Italian authorities of Premier Giorgia Meloni additionally demanded a proof, saying that its vice consul was amongst those that got here beneath fireplace.
Jenin has been the location of Israel’s widespread crackdown towards West Financial institution militants since earlier this 12 months.
On Jan. 21 — simply two days after its ceasefire cope with Hamas in Gaza — Israeli forces descended on Jenin as they’ve dozens of instances since Hamas’ Oct. 7, 2023, assault on Israel. The preventing displaced tens of 1000’s of Palestinians, one of many largest West Financial institution displacements in years.
Worldwide stress on Israel
On Tuesday, the UK suspended free trade talks with Israel over its intensifying assault, a step that got here a day after the U.Ok., Canada and France promised concrete steps to immediate Israel to halt the warfare. Individually, the European Union was reviewing an EU pact governing commerce ties with Israel over its conduct of the warfare in Gaza, in line with its international coverage chief.
Israel says it’s ready to cease the warfare as soon as all of the hostages taken by Hamas return house and Hamas is defeated, or is exiled and disarmed. Hamas says it’s ready to launch the hostages in change for a full Israeli withdrawal from the territory and an finish to the warfare. It rejects calls for for exile and disarmament.
ISRAEL FIRES BACK AT UK OVER SUSPENDED TRADE TALKS, REJECTS ‘EXTERNAL PRESSURE’
Israel known as again its senior negotiating crew from ceasefire talks within the Qatari capital of Doha on Tuesday, saying it could depart lower-level officers in place as a substitute. Qatari leaders, who’re mediating negotiations, mentioned there was a big hole between the 2 sides.
In the meantime, Israeli strikes continued throughout Gaza. Within the southern metropolis of Khan Younis, the place Israel lately ordered new evacuations pending an anticipated expanded offensive, 24 folks had been killed, 14 from the identical household. Every week-old toddler was killed in central Gaza.
The Israeli army didn’t instantly touch upon the strikes, however has mentioned it’s focusing on Hamas infrastructure and accused Hamas militants of working from civilian areas.
Determined want for meals
Consultants have warned that a lot of Gaza’s 2 million residents face a excessive danger of famine. At one displacement camp in Gaza Metropolis, a charity group distributed skinny and watery lentil soup.
Somaia Abu Amsha scooped small parts into bowls for her household, saying they haven’t have had bread for over 10 days and she will’t afford rice or pasta.
Palestinians examine a home destroyed by an Israeli airstrikes in Deir al-Balah, Gaza, Wednesday, Could 21, 2025. (AP Picture/Abdel Kareem Hana) (AP Picture/Abdel Kareem Hana)
“We don’t need something aside from that they finish the warfare. We don’t need charity kitchens. Even canine wouldn’t eat this, not to mention kids,” she mentioned, pointing on the soup.
Pope Leo XIV on Wednesday known as for assist to achieve the Gaza Strip and for an finish to the “heartbreaking” toll on its folks throughout his first normal viewers in St. Peter’s Sq..
Hospitals surrounded
Israeli troops even have surrounded two of northern Gaza’s final functioning hospitals, stopping anybody from leaving or getting into the amenities, hospital employees and assist teams mentioned this week.
Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas on Wednesday urged world leaders to take instant motion to finish Israel’s siege on Gaza, issuing the enchantment throughout a go to to Beirut, the place he was anticipated to debate the disarmament of Palestinian factions in Lebanon’s refugee camps.
ISRAEL ENCIRCLES 2 OF NORTHERN GAZA’S LAST FUNCTIONING HOSPITALS, GROUPS SAY
“It’s time to finish the warfare of extermination towards the Palestinian folks. I reiterate that we’ll not depart, and we’ll stay right here on the land of our homeland, Palestine,” Abbas mentioned, demanding the instant entry of assist, the discharge of detainees, and a full withdrawal from Gaza.
The warfare in Gaza started when Hamas-led militants attacked southern Israel, killing some 1,200 folks, largely civilians, and abducting 251 others. The militants are nonetheless holding 58 captives, round a 3rd of whom are believed to be alive, after most had been returned in ceasefire agreements or different offers.
CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP
Israel’s retaliatory offensive has destroyed giant swaths of Gaza and killed greater than 53,000 Palestinians, largely girls and kids, in line with Gaza’s Well being Ministry, which doesn’t differentiate between civilians and combatants in its depend.
