Israel-Gaza updates: Crossing closed to aid after rockets fired from Rafah: IDF

The IDF said several people were injured Sunday.

ByABC NEWS
Last Updated: May 5, 2024, 11:36 AM EDT

As the Israel-Hamas war approaches the seven-month mark, renewed negotiations are underway to secure the release of hostages taken by the terrorist organization, as Israeli forces continue to prepare for an apparent invasion of the southern Gaza town of Rafah.

Meanwhile, President Joe Biden and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu spoke in a phone call over the weekend, discussing increasing the delivery of humanitarian aid into Gaza and plans for a possible military operation in Rafah, according to the White House.

May 01, 2024, 11:59 AM EDT

Blinken visits Gaza border crossing

Secretary of State Antony Blinken made a previously unannounced visit Wednesday to the Kerem Shalom border crossing, ​becoming the first cabinet-level U.S. official to visit the border of Gaza since the Oct. 7 attacks.

Secretary of State Antony Blinken walks with Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant at the Kerem Shalom border crossing with the Gaza Strip in southern Israel, May 1, 2024.
Evelyn Hockstein/AFP via Getty Images

Blinken attended a closed briefing on humanitarian assistance and deconfliction while he was at the site, which was shuttered for more than two months after the attacks.

Blinken was able to look into Gaza from the top of the massive concrete wall, according to pool reporters.

-ABC News' Shannon Crawford

May 01, 2024, 11:48 AM EDT

Blinken pushes 'clear position on Rafah' during meeting with Netanyahu

Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu met in Jerusalem for 2 1/2 hours to discuss numerous topics about the ongoing conflict, according to the State Department.

Blinken discussed "the need to avoid further expansion of the conflict," and "reiterated the United States’ clear position on Rafah," State Department spokesman Matthew Miller said in a statement.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu meets with Secretary of State Antony Blinken at the prime minister's office in Jerusalem, May 1, 2024.
Haim Tzach/GPO/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock

"The secretary discussed ongoing efforts to reach an immediate ceasefire in Gaza as part of a hostage deal and emphasized that it is Hamas that is standing in the way of a ceasefire," Miller added.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu shakes hands with Secretary of State Antony Blinken during a meeting at the prime minister's office in Jerusalem, May 1, 2024.
Haim Tzach/GPO/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock

Blinken also discussed improving aid delivery into Gaza and "reiterated the importance of accelerating and sustaining that improvement," according to Miller.

Prior to meeting with Netanyahu, Blinken spoke with the families of hostages that had gathered outside his hotel in Tel Aviv.

-ABC News' Joseph Simonetti

Apr 30, 2024, 6:29 PM EDT

World Central Kitchen resumes services in Gaza, serves 200k meals

The World Central Kitchen resumed aid services in Gaza for the first time since seven of its members were killed earlier this month in an Israeli airstrike.

The non-governmental organization said it served 200,000 meals to displaced Palestinians on Monday. The World Central Kitchen said it has provided nearly 43 million meals in Gaza to date.

Approximately "276 WCK trucks are ready to enter through Rafah with enough food for 8 million meals. We’re also sending trucks north," the NGO said in a statement.

Chef José Andrés, the founder and chief feeding officer of World Central Kitchen, wrote an op-ed in the Washington Post, published Tuesday, discussing his decision to resume operations and stressed that more aid is needed.

"We cannot stand by while so many people are so desperate for the essentials of life. Food is a universal human right, and we will not cease until those basic human rights are respected," Andrés wrote.

-ABC News' Will Gretsky

Apr 30, 2024, 3:18 PM EDT

UN chief says 'incremental progress' made toward averting Gaza famine

United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres provided an update on the hunger situation in Gaza and said there has been " incremental progress recently" in preventing a famine.

However, Guterres warned there is still more work needed, "including the promised opening of the two crossing points between Israel and northern Gaza so that aid can be brought into Gaza from Ashdod, Port and Jordan are still obstacles including a lack of security for aid convoys."

Palestinian woman Asmaa Al-Belbasi makes her way back to her shelter after buying bread from recently reopened Al-Sharq bakery in Gaza City, Apr. 24, 2024.
Mahmoud Issa/Reuters

"Humanitarian convoys, facilities and personnel and people in need must not be targets," he added.

Guterres said that civilians were dying from hunger and disease every day and pressed for a successful negotiation for a cease-fire.

"I strongly encourage the government of Israel and Hamas leadership to reach now an agreement. Without that I fear the war with all its consequences, both in Gaza and across the region, will worsen exponentially," he said.

-ABC News' Will Gretsky

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