Israel-Gaza updates: Kerem Shalom crossing closed to aid after rockets fired from Rafah, IDF says
The IDF said several people were injured Sunday.
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.
Latest headlines:
Hamas is 'only barrier' to a cease-fire: State Department
The Biden administration is still in a holding pattern over the ongoing cease-fire negotiations between Hamas and Israel, State Department spokesman Matthew Miller told reporters Thursday.
Miller stressed that Hamas is the "only barrier" to a cease-fire and the world is awaiting their response to an offer from the Israelis.
"Every day that goes by without a cease-fire right now is on Hamas, because they are the ones that are holding up an answer to this proposal," he said. "They’re the ones holding up an immediate cease-fire that would help alleviate the suffering of the Palestinian people in Gaza."
-ABC News' Shannon Crawford
Hamas says delegation returning to Egypt for negotiations
Hamas senior member Ismail Haniyeh said in a statement Thursday that the group's delegation will return to Egypt soon to resume cease-fire negotiations and they are aimed at finalizing a deal.
Haniyeh said Hamas is reviewing the latest truce proposal in a "positive spirit" during a phone call with the head of the Egyptian General Intelligence Abbas Kamel.
-ABC News' Ayat Al-Tawy
Al-Amal Hospital in Gaza reopens after 4-month closure
Al-Amal Hospital in Gaza reopened Wednesday after being closed for four months, local sources told ABC News.
Doctors were able to perform surgery, the hospital's emergency room reopened and some medical students have also returned to the hospital to resume their training, according to the sources.
-ABC News' Dia Ostaz
Hamas says it will not negotiate if Israel carries out Rafah operation
Osama Hamdan, a senior Hamas official, said in a statement that cease-fire negotiations with Israel will cease if it moves forward with its operation into Rafah.
"The Israeli enemy is trying to blackmail everyone with the Battle of Rafah," he said in a statement.
Hamdan told Lebanese TV late Wednesday that a cease-fire deal had not been reached and Hamas was still "studying the swap deal proposal."
"We have substantial notes on the proposal," Hamdan told Lebanese TV.
"We are studying the proposal and we will respond to it in a way that serves our goals."
-ABC News' Dia Ostaz, Ellie Kaufman and Ghazi Balkiz
USAID announces $200 million aid to Gaza, other conflict zones
The U.S. will put $200 million toward addressing acute hunger in conflict zones around the world, including Gaza, USAID Administrator Samantha Power announced Friday.
The money will go toward maximizing the procurement, production and distribution of Ready-to-Use Therapeutic Food (RUTF), a nutrient-filled, peanut-based paste that is particularly useful for addressing malnutrition in children under 5 years old, in places like Gaza, Sudan and Haiti, a USAID official told ABC News.
In Gaza, USAID partners are already distributing RUTF, and the agency plans to ship additional RUTF supplies into the enclave from Kenya via the maritime corridor soon, the official added.
Humanitarian groups and the United Nations have warned for weeks about the threat of a full-fledged famine in Gaza as the conflict continues.
-ABC News' Shannon Crawford