Israel-Gaza updates: 300,000 have fled Rafah, UN agency says

Israel called again on Saturday for civilians to leave parts of the city.

ByABC NEWS
Last Updated: May 8, 2024, 12:02 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.

May 08, 2024, 12:02 PM EDT

Gaza Health Ministry says it has uncovered another mass grave at Al-Shifa Hospital

The Gaza Health Ministry said its medical teams have found a third mass grave inside Al-Shifa Hospital's medical complex.

The health ministry has recovered 49 bodies so far as the exhumation process continues.

The ministry said this is the seventh mass grave found by medical teams inside hospitals — one in Kamal Adwan Hospital, three in the Shifa Medical Complex and three in the Nasser Medical Complex. A total of 520 bodies have been recovered from the graves.

In April, the Israel Defense Forces denied accusations from the ministry that they buried at least 283 bodies in a mass grave near Nasser Hospital in Gaza. The IDF alleged that during its operation near the area of Nasser Hospital, it examined corpses in that area in an effort to locate hostages.

May 08, 2024, 11:23 AM EDT

Austin confirms US paused 1 shipment to Israel

The U.S. has paused a munitions shipment to Israel, U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin confirmed Wednesday, warning that a major Israeli operation in Rafah could change the U.S. calculus on security assistance.

Austin is the first senior administration official to publicly confirm the U.S. pause on military aid but added that no "final determination" has been made.

"We are currently reviewing some near-term security assistance shipments in the context of unfolding events in Rafah," Austin told a Senate subcommittee, emphasizing that supplemental funding the administration just passed is not in jeopardy.

"We've been very clear, senator, as you know, from the very beginning that Israel shouldn't launch a major attack on Rafah without accounting for and protecting those civilians that are hitting that battlespace. And, again as we have assessed the situation, we paused one shipment of high payload munitions."

Austin maintained that the U.S.-Israel alliance is "ironclad."

-ABC News' Chris Boccia

May 08, 2024, 11:23 AM EDT

WHO says major hospital in Rafah no longer functioning

One of the three hospitals in Rafah, Al-Najjar, is no longer functioning due to the ongoing hostilities in its vicinity and Israel's military operation, according to the World Health Organization.

"Hospitals in the south of Gaza only have three days of fuel left, which means services may soon come to a halt," the WHO warned.

Children stand by an impact crater at the site of a building that was hit by Israeli bombardment in Rafah in the southern Gaza Strip, May 8, 2024.
AFP via Getty Images

The closure of the border crossing continues to prevent the entry of fuel needed for aid operations; without fuel all humanitarian operations will stop, the WHO warned. Border closures are also impeding delivery of humanitarian aid into Gaza, the WHO said.

"At a time when fragile humanitarian operations urgently require expansion, the Rafah military operation is further limiting our ability to reach thousands of people who have been living in dire conditions without adequate food, sanitation, health services and security. This must stop now," the WHO said.

-ABC News' Will Gretsky

May 08, 2024, 10:49 AM EDT

Israel says it has opened the Kerem Shalom crossing

Israel said it has reopened the Kerem Shalom Crossing Wednesday for the entry of humanitarian aid into the Gaza Strip.

"Trucks from Egypt carrying humanitarian aid, including food, water, shelter equipment, medicine, and medical equipment donated by the international community are already arriving at the crossing. After a thorough security inspection by the security personnel of the Ministry of Defense Crossing Authority, the equipment will be transferred to the Gazan side of the crossing," Israel said in a statement.

Israel had closed the crossing after it said Hamas fired a rocket toward the area over the weekend, killing four Israeli soldiers.

-ABC News' Will Gretsky

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