As the Israel-Hamas war continues, efforts to secure the release of hostages taken by the terrorist organization are ongoing, and Israeli forces have launched an assault in Khan Younis in southern Gaza.
Netanyahu to meet with Biden Thursday, Trump on Friday
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is scheduled to meet with President Joe Biden on Thursday and former President Donald Trump at Mar-a-Lago Friday, Israeli officials told ABC News. The White House confirmed the meeting and said Biden and Netanyahu will also be meeting with the families of hostages
On Wednesday, Netanyahu will attend a memorial for Sen. Joe Lieberman at 10 a.m. He will then meet with Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer and other members of Congress before he gives his address to a joint session of Congress at 2 p.m., according to Israeli officials.
-ABC News' Jordana Miller
Jul 23, 2024, 1:27 PM EDT
16 of 36 hospitals in Gaza partially functional as displacement continues
As displacement from the Israeli attack on Khan Younis continues, 16 out of 36 hospitals are partially functional, according to the United Nations Office of Geneva.
Given the strike in Khan Younis yesterday, Nasser Medical Complex faces a new mass casualty influx, amid a dire lack of blood units, medical supplies and hospital beds. On Thursday, the World Health Organization provided medical supplies enough for 10,000 people to the hospital, which are being used to manage this mass casualty incident, according to the U.N.
In Khan Younis, "thousands of people" were seen fleeing westward as part of the exodus from the enclave’s southern city amid ongoing hostilities, leaving children traumatized and crying uncontrollably, according to the U.N. Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East.
Israel's evacuation orders have also impacted about 3.4 square miles of land in the "humanitarian zone" of Al Mawasi, which lies on the coast near Khan Younis, reducing the size of the zone by nearly 15%, according to the U.N. aid coordination office, OCHA.
-ABC News' Guy Davies and Camilla Alcini
Jul 23, 2024, 9:31 AM EDT
Hamas, Fatah sign unity declaration in Beijing
Palestinian factions Hamas and Fatah signed a unity declaration in Beijing working to end a yearslong rift, Chinese state media said Tuesday.
This is the 16th signed agreement between the rivals over the past decade. However, this agreement highlights China’s attempt to deepen its influence in the Middle East.
In a statement, Hamas described the so-called Beijing Declaration as an "additional positive step on the path to achieving Palestinian national unity," adding "its importance comes in terms of the location and the host country."
Hamas leader Hossam Badran described the declaration as "an important step on the path to national unity" and highlighted the host country's role and "international weight."
Israeli Minister of Foreign Affairs Israel Katz condemned Fatah "embracing" Hamas "instead of rejecting terrorism."
"In reality, this won’t happen because Hamas's rule will be crushed, and Abbas will be watching Gaza from afar. Israel's security will remain solely in Israel's hands," Katz said.
-ABC News' Nasser Atta
Jul 22, 2024, 5:49 PM EDT
Families of hostages visit White House, urge Netanyahu to accept deal
Following their 10th meeting at the White House Monday, the families of Americans being held by Hamas demanded that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu accept a deal with Hamas to free the hostages.
"There are no more major security issues to be solved on Israel's part, it is time to bring this to an end, to end the suffering of millions on the Palestinian side," Jonathan Dekel-Chen, father of American hostage Sagui Dekel-Chen, told reporters following the meeting. "It is time to make that decision. No more delays."
Rachel Goldberg-Polin, mother of American hostage Hersh Goldberg-Polin, told reporters their assumption is that Netanyahu will thank America for its steadfast support over the last 10 months and announce that he is "ready to be doing this deal."
"If this deal doesn't start, if the process doesn't start, it will be seen as a failure," she said. "We know that there are just a couple people deciding at this point. And we have optimism and hope and faith that these deciders will make the right decisions and we can start this process now."
The families declined to share any details from their meeting with the White House National Security Council, which comes ahead of Netanyahu's address to Congress this week.