Israel-Gaza updates: 8 killed in Israeli airstrike, Gaza Ministry of Health says

The U.S. says "no other country is doing more to help Israel defend itself."

Last Updated: June 23, 2024, 9:22 AM EDT

As the Israel-Hamas war continues, negotiations have stalled to secure the release of hostages taken by the terrorist organization, and Israeli forces continue to launch incursions in the southern Gazan town of Rafah ahead of a possible large-scale invasion.

Jun 23, 2024, 9:22 AM EDT

Netanyahu claims there was 'dramatic decrease' in US weapons shipments

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu released a statement Sunday claiming there was a "dramatic decrease" in munitions from the United States starting some four months ago, and said he decided to talk about it publicly because of lack of change behind closed doors.

"Since the start of the war, the U.S. has given us support in spirit and in materiel -- defensive and offensive means. But four months ago, there was a dramatic decrease in the munitions coming to Israel from the U.S.," Netanyahu said in the statement. "For long weeks, we turned to our American friends and requested that the shipments be expedited. We did this time and again. We did so at the highest levels, and at all levels, and I want to emphasize -- we did so behind closed doors.

"We received all sorts of explanations, but one thing we did not receive; the basic situation did not change. Certain items arrived sporadically but the munitions at large remained behind," Netanyahu continued.

"After months in which there was no change in this situation, I decided to give this public expression," he said. "We did so out of years of experience and the knowledge that this step was vital to opening the bottleneck."

Military vehicles maneuver near the Israel-Gaza border, amid the Israel-Hamas conflict, as seen from Israel, June 20, 2024.
Amir Cohen/Reuters

"In light of what I have heard over the past 24 hours, I hope and believe that this issue will be resolved in the near future," Netanyahu said, in part.

Last week, Netanyahu publicly claimed the Biden administration is broadly withholding military support for Israel amid its ongoing war with Hamas. Biden administration officials flatly denied the allegations.

Netanyahu, referring to a recent meeting with Secretary of State Antony Blinken in Israel, had said he told Blinken, "It's inconceivable that in the past few months, the administration has been withholding weapons and ammunitions to Israel."

Secretary of State Antony Blinken meets with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in Jerusalem, June 10, 2024.
Chuck Kennedy/State Department/AFP via Getty Images

Blinken had later declined to relate exactly what was said in private diplomatic conversations and did not deny that he had assured Netanyahu the U.S. was working to remove bottlenecks inhibiting the supply of American arms and ammunition to Israel.

-ABC News' Jordana Miller and Shannon K. Crawford

Jun 22, 2024, 12:03 PM EDT

42 killed in strikes in north Gaza

Strikes in multiple neighborhoods across northern Gaza today have killed 42 people according to Gaza's Civil Defense. Videos from the immediate aftermath of the strike show an entire building leveled, children covered in dust.

A bombing of Al-Shati camp killed 24 people, a bombing in Al-Tufaah killed 18 people -- the number of casualties is likely to increase -- and a bombing in Al-Zaytoun killed 7 people, according to Civil Defense.

Fifty others were injured in the attacks, according to the Hamas media office.

Several others are still trapped under the rubble.

The Israel Defense Forces told ABC News they struck two Hamas military infrastructure sites in Gaza City.

Jun 21, 2024, 11:57 AM EDT

Netanyahu says video accusing US of withholding weapons 'was absolutely necessary'

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu told Punchbowl News that he felt his video publicly accusing the Biden administration of withholding weapons "was absolutely necessary after months of quiet conversation that did not solve the problem."

"We began to see that we had some significant problems emerging a few months ago. And, in fact, we tried, in many, many quiet conversations between our officials and American officials, and between me and the president, to try to iron out this diminution of supply. And we haven’t been able to solve it," Netanyahu said.

Palestinians inspect a shell crater after an Israeli military strike near their tents at a camp for displaced people in Khan Yunis, southern Gaza Strip, June 21, 2024.
Haitham Imad/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock

"I raised this issue with Secretary [of State Antony] Blinken. And I said that we are being told by our Defense Department officials that barely a trickle is coming in. He said, ‘Well, everything is in process. We’re doing everything to untangle it. And to clear up the bottlenecks,'" Netanyahu continued.

The U.S. has pushed back on Netanyahu's claim, noting that only one shipment of 2,000-pound bombs has been withheld.

Palestinians walk near houses destroyed in the Israeli military offensive in Jabalia refugee camp, in the northern Gaza Strip, June 19, 2024.
Mahmoud Issa/Reuters

White House national security spokesman John Kirby said Thursday that Netanyahu's video "was vexing and disappointing to us -- as much as it was incorrect."

"No other country is doing more to help Israel defend itself," Kirby said.

Netanyahu said in his July 24 remarks to Congress, he plans "to speak to the broad spectrum of the American people and to cull bipartisan support that is still solid in America."

-ABC News’ Molly Nagle and Will Gretsky

Jun 20, 2024, 5:59 PM EDT

Flow of aid resumes at temporary Gaza pier: Pentagon

The flow of aid through a temporary pier off the coast of Gaza has resumed after it was preemptively detached from the beach to ride out rough seas, the Pentagon confirmed.

"I can confirm that U.S. Central Command personnel re-anchored and re-established the temporary pier to the Gaza beach yesterday," Pentagon spokesperson Maj. Gen. Pat Ryder told reporters Thursday. "As has been the case in the past, Israeli Defense Force engineers provided all the necessary support to ensure the safe and placement of the pier on the beach. And there were no U.S. boots on the ground during the reestablishment of the pier."

Since resuming overnight, more than 1.4. million pounds of humanitarian assistance has flowed from Cyprus to Gaza, he said.

Overall, more than 9.1 million pounds have been delivered through the corridor since May 17, he said.

Ryder stressed that no end-date has been established for the pier mission.

"We'll continue to facilitate the transfer of humanitarian aid via the maritime corridor and as always take necessary steps to ensure the safety and security of the personnel operating the pier to include adjusting to sea states in the eastern Mediterranean Sea," he said.

-ABC News' Luis Martinez

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