Israel-Gaza updates: Death toll in Rafah airstrike rises to 50: Action Aid UK

The area is densely populated with tents, the sources said.

As the Israel-Hamas war crosses the seven-month mark, negotiations are apparently 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.


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Bodies of 4 hostages recovered last week found in tunnel in Jabaliya: IDF

The bodies of four Israeli hostages recovered last week were found in a tunnel in Jabaliya in northern Gaza, the Israel Defense Forces said Monday.

The bodies of Shani Louk, Amit Buskila, Ron Benjamin and Yitzchak Gelernter -- who were killed during the Oct. 7 Hamas attack and taken into Gaza -- were recovered following a monthslong operation, the IDF said.

Israeli forces also "located intelligence materials and large quantities of weapons" during the night operation, the IDF said.


Rafah exodus surpasses 810,000: UNRWA

More than 810,000 people have fled Rafah in the past two weeks amid Israel's ongoing military operation in the southern Gaza city, according to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA).

"Every time families are displaced their lives are at serious risk. People are forced to leave everything behind looking for safety. But, there's no safe zone," UNRWA said on X Monday.


Congress considering sanctioning ICC: House speaker

Congress is considering sanctioning the International Criminal Court regarding the arrest warrants for Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, according to House Speaker Mike Johnson.

“In the absence of leadership from the White House, Congress is reviewing all options, including sanctions, to punish the ICC and ensure its leadership faces consequences if they proceed," Johnson said in a statement. "If the ICC is allowed to threaten Israeli leaders, ours could be next."

The ICC has "no authority" over Israel or the U.S., Johnson noted.

-ABC News' Lauren Peller


Biden calls ICC arrest warrant for Netanyahu outrageous

President Joe Biden called the application for arrest warrants from the International Criminal Court against Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and other Israeli leaders "outrageous."

"And let me be clear: whatever this prosecutor might imply, there is no equivalence -- none -- between Israel and Hamas," Biden said.

"We will always stand with Israel against threats to its security," Biden's statement said.

The U.S. and Israel are not parties in the ICC.


Video shows 5 young women being taken hostage by Hamas on Oct. 7

The Israeli Hostage Center released a video Wednesday showing five young women being taken hostage by Hamas on Oct. 7, all of whom are considered to be alive and in Hamas custody.

Liri Albag, Karina Ariev, Agam Berger, Daniela Gilboa and Naama Levy were taken hostage from the Nahal Oz Base, according to the Hostage Center. Families of hostages criticized the Israeli government's failure to secure their release.

"A damning testament to the nation's failure to bring home the hostages, who have been forsaken for 229 days," the Hostage Center said in a release.

Ayelet Levy, Naama's mother, said in a statement that her heart was with the 19-year-old "in those horrifying moments in the horrifying day of October 7th."

"We only see in that video a fraction of the horrible things that are going on in their surrounding in the shelter. She is terrified and wounded, there is fear in her eyes, and she is saying what she can, she is begging for her life."

Shlomi Berger, Agam's father, told ABC News they decided to release the video to apply pressure on the Israeli government to reach a cease-fire deal that secured the release of the hostages.

Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the video is evidence of why the war must continue until Hamas is "eliminated."

"I am shocked by the video documenting the kidnapping of our precious female observers. We will continue to do everything to bring them home," Netanyahu said in a statement.

-ABC News' Will Gretsky and Britt Clennett