Israel-Gaza updates: Harris to meet with Israeli war Cabinet member on Monday

Kamala Harris will meet with Benny Gantz at the White House, an official said.

ByABC NEWS
Last Updated: March 3, 2024, 2:06 PM EST

More than four months since Hamas terrorists invaded Israel on Oct. 7, the Israeli military continues its bombardment of the neighboring Gaza Strip.

The conflict, now the deadliest between the warring sides since Israel's founding in 1948, shows no signs of letting up soon and the brief cease-fire that allowed for over 100 hostages to be freed from Gaza remains a distant memory.

Click here for updates from previous days.

Latest headlines:

Here's how the news is developing.
Mar 1, 6:03 am

What we know about the conflict

The latest outbreak of war between Israel and Hamas, the Palestinian militant group that governs the Gaza Strip, has passed the four-month mark.

In the Gaza Strip, at least 30,228 people have been killed and 71,377 others have been wounded by Israeli forces since Oct. 7, according to Gaza's Hamas-controlled Ministry of Health.

In Israel, at least 1,200 people have been killed and 6,900 others have been injured by Hamas and other Palestinian militants since Oct. 7, according to the Israel Defense Forces.

There has also been a surge in violence in the Israeli-occupied West Bank. Israeli forces have killed at least 395 people in the territory since Oct. 7, according to the Palestinian Ministry of Health.

The ongoing war began after Hamas-led militants launched an unprecedented incursion into southern Israel from neighboring Gaza via land, sea and air. Scores of people were killed while more than 200 others were taken hostage, according to Israeli authorities. The Israeli military subsequently launched retaliatory airstrikes followed by a ground invasion of Gaza, a 140-square-mile territory where more than 2 million Palestinians have lived under a blockade imposed by Israel and supported by Egypt since Hamas came to power in 2007. Gaza, unlike Israel, has no air raid sirens or bomb shelters.

Feb 27, 2024, 1:29 PM EST

Netanyahu 'surprised' by Biden's remarks on potential cease-fire deal, source says

A senior Israeli political source told ABC News on Tuesday that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was "surprised" by President Joe Biden's remarks that he was hopeful a cease-fire between Israel and Hamas could be in place "by next Monday."

This picture taken from Israel near the border with the Gaza Strip shows an Israeli army soldier sitting on an armored personnel carrier as it moves out of Gaza, Feb. 26, 2024.
Menahem Kahana/AFP via Getty Images

Netanyahu said in a statement later on Tuesday, "Since the beginning of the war, I have been leading a political campaign whose purpose is to curb the pressures intended to end the war before its time, and on the other hand also to gain support for Israel."

"We have significant successes in this area, because today the Harvard-Harris survey is published in the United States, which shows that 82% of the American public supports Israel," he continued. "This gives us two more strength to continue the campaign until the complete victory."

A Palestinian man walks past destroyed buildings in Beit Lahia, northern Gaza, Feb. 26, 2024, amid continuing battles between Israel and the Palestinian militant group Hamas.
AFP via Getty Images

-ABC News' Zoe Magee, Jordana Miller and Morgan Winsor

Feb 27, 2024, 7:13 AM EST

UNRWA 'needs to be dissolved,' Israeli official says

An Israeli official told ABC News on Tuesday that the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) is "intertwined with terror and needs to be dissolved."

"Their sole goal was to perpetuate the Palestinian refugee problem," the official said. "Their compliance with Hamas terrorism and incitement was exposed. Any prospect for peace depends on dissolving UNRWA."

The Israeli official said humanitarian aid in the war-torn Gaza Strip should be provided by people "who are not associated with Hamas or UNRWA."

ABC News has reached out to UNRWA for comment.

In a dossier released in late January, the Israeli military alleged that 13 UNRWA employees participated in the Hamas-led Oct. 7 terror attack on Israel.

UNRWA has said it is investigating the allegations and took swift action against those accused of being involved in the attack. However, the United States and other top donors have suspended their funding to the agency, which is the biggest humanitarian aid provider in Gaza.

-ABC News' Jordana Miller and Morgan Winsor

Feb 27, 2024, 5:42 AM EST

Qatar says no breakthrough in talks between Israel, Hamas

A spokesperson for the Qatari Ministry of Foreign Affairs said Tuesday that there is no breakthrough to announce concerning a potential deal between Israel and Hamas on a cease-fire and hostage release.

"Many developments have occurred. Nothing to announce today, but we feel optimistic," the spokesperson told reporters.

The spokesperson said the talks remain "ongoing" and they cannot comment on U.S. President Joe Biden's remarks that a deal is expected by next Monday.

Qatar, along with Egypt and the United States, has been mediating talks between the warring sides.

-ABC News' Emma Ogao and Morgan Winsor

Feb 27, 2024, 5:30 AM EST

Hamas' demands in negotiations 'are still delusional,' Israeli official says

An Israeli official told ABC News on Tuesday that Hamas' demands in ongoing negotiations "are still delusional."

"Military pressure and determined negotiation have helped free 112 hostages to date. Israel will get the remaining hostages home," the official said. "A deal was done in November and another deal can be made once Hamas comes to reality. Hamas demands are still delusional."

-ABC News' Jordana Miller and Morgan Winsor

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