Israel-Gaza updates: IDF releases seized Hamas 'psychological terror' video

Hagari said the footage was recovered by IDF troops.

ByKevin Shalvey, Meredith Deliso, Nadine El-Bawab, Jon Haworth, and Ivan Pereira
Last Updated: May 19, 2024, 5:08 PM EDT

As the Israel-Hamas war crosses 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 Gazan town of Rafah.

Latest headlines:

Here's how the news is developing.
May 17, 2024, 3:00 PM EDT

Gaza assistance through US maritime corridor not replacement for aid through land: USAID

Humanitarian assistance shipments delivered to Gaza through the U.S.’ maritime corridor should not replace aid coming into the enclave through land crossings where "barely 100 trucks of aid a day" entered over the last two weeks -- about a sixth of the level needed to stave off famine -- USAID Administrator Samantha Power said in a statement Friday.

"Every moment that a crossing is not open, that trucks are not moving, or where aid cannot safely be distributed, increases the terrible human costs of this conflict," Power said.

PHOTO: U.S. Army Soldiers assigned to the 7th Transportation Brigade (Expeditionary), U.S. Navy Sailors assigned to Amphibious Construction Battalion 1, and Israel Defense Forces emplace the Trident Pier on the Gaza coast, May 16, 2024. T
U.S. Army Soldiers assigned to the 7th Transportation Brigade (Expeditionary), U.S. Navy Sailors assigned to Amphibious Construction Battalion 1, and Israel Defense Forces emplace the Trident Pier on the Gaza coast, May 16, 2024. The temporary pier, part of the Joint Logistics Over-the-Shore capability, will enable the maritime delivery of international humanitarian aid to the United Nations in Gaza for distribution to Palestinian people in need.
U.S. Central Command Public Affairs

Supplies coming into Gaza through the temporary pier Friday include contributions from the U.S., United Arab Emirates and the United Kingdom.

But, the statement doesn’t say how much aid is now being moved through the corridor at this point or how much of it is sitting in Cyprus waiting to be shipped -- so it’s still unclear if and when these deliveries might have a substantial impact.

-ABC News' Shannon Crawford and Anne Flaherty

May 17, 2024, 2:00 PM EDT

1,400 buildings have been damaged, destroyed in Rafah this month

Almost 1,400 buildings have likely been damaged or destroyed in Rafah, Gaza, since May 4, according to an analysis of satellite imagery by two university researchers.

Data from the radar-enabled Copernicus Sentinel-1 satellite operated by the European Space Agency was used to analyze the effects of fighting on the terrain and buildings of Gaza, according to Corey Scher, of the CUNY Graduate Center, and Jamon Van Den Hoek, of Oregon State University.

Displaced Palestinians pack their belongings and tents before leaving an unsafe area in Rafah on May 15, 2024, as Israeli forces continued to battle and bomb Hamas militants around the southern Gaza Strip city
AFP via Getty Images

Between May 4 and May 8, the researchers found evidence that 895 buildings were likely damaged or destroyed in Rafah. From May 8 to May 16 they counted 487.

Since Oct. 5, the researchers have found evidence of likely damage or destruction to 18,176 of the 48,678 buildings in Rafah.

-ABC News' Chris Looft

May 17, 2024, 11:36 AM EDT

IDF recovers bodies of 3 hostages in overnight operation

The bodies of three hostages have been recovered, according to the Israel Defense Forces. The bodies of Shani Louk, 23, Yitzhak Gelanter, 57, and Amit Buskila, 28, were recovered in an operation by the Shin Bet, Israel's security agency.

Ricarda Louk shows a photo of her daughter Shani Louk on Oct. 19, 2023.
Picture Alliance/DPA via Getty Images, FILE

The hostages had escaped from the Nova Music Festival and were killed in the area of ​​Kibbutz Mefalsim and their bodies were taken to Gaza, according to the IDF. Louk's capture generated international headlines after video emerged of her lifeless body in the back of a truck with Hamas terrorists.

"Our hearts go out to them, to the families, at this difficult time and we will leave no stone unturned, we will do everything in our power to find our hostages and bring them home," Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari, spokesperson for the IDF, said. "We will not rest until we do."

The hostages had escaped from the Nova Music Festival and were killed in the area of Kibbutz Mefalsim before their bodies were taken to Gaza, according to the Israel Defense Forces.
1:33

IDF recovers bodies of 3 hostages in overnight operation

The hostages had escaped from the Nova Music Festival and were killed in the area of Kibbutz Mefalsim before their bodies were taken to Gaza, according to the Israel Defense Forces.
ABCNews.com

May 17, 2024, 11:30 AM EDT

75 launches detected from Lebanon into Israel Friday, IDF says

After Israel killed a senior Hezbollah commander on Thursday, 75 launches were detected crossing from southern Lebanon into Israel on Friday, according to the Israel Defense Forces.

Dozens of the launches were intercepted and a launcher in the area of Yaroun was struck and dismantled, preventing more launches, according to the IDF.

-ABC News' Will Gretsky

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