Israel-Gaza updates: Gantz rejects Netanyahu's request, resigns
He said Netanyahu is "preventing us from progressing towards a true victory."
As the Israel-Hamas war continues, 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.
Latest headlines:
- Gantz resigns from emergency government in blow to Netanyahu
- Hamas military wing claims 3 hostages, including American, killed in raid
- Hundreds killed or injured during hostage rescue, Gaza ministry says
- Central Gaza death toll rises to 150
- Gaza hospital receives 55 dead bodies amid Israeli raid on central Gaza
Israel to send 50k soldiers to northern border
The Israeli government announced Wednesday there will be 50,000 additional reserve soldiers in preparation for possible escalation on the Lebanon front.
The announcement, made on Israeli Army Radio, came on the same day as Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's visit to the northern border.
Netanyahu said Israel is "prepared for a very strong action in the north."
-ABC News' Ellie Kaufman
18 arrested as Jerusalem Day flag march leaves trail of violence
At least 18 suspects were arrested on suspicion of "violent crimes, assault and threats and disorderly conduct at the annual march to mark Jerusalem Day," according to Israeli Police.
The march of flags continues into the Old City and the Western Wall as thousands of Jerusalem District police officers, police reinforcements, MGB fighters and volunteers work in the various missions and sectors. The Israeli Police said it is working throughout Jerusalem to secure the tens of thousands of participants, maintain order and direct traffic on Jerusalem Day.
The march left a trail of violence as it kicked off in the early afternoon of Wednesday. Predominantly right-wing Israeli ultra-nationalists attended, many very young, marching through Muslim areas of Jerusalem’s Old City and attacking local business owners and journalists.
Among those arrested were suspects of different ages involved in “various incidents of violence in the Old City, possession of a knife and threats towards police officers,” police said.
Some of the roads that were blocked were opened to traffic and the police continue to work to maintain security and order.
Al-Asima journalist Saif Al Qawasmi said he was attacked on duty and beaten on his head and hand, video shows.
Hareetz journalist Nir Hasson also said he was attacked by a group of Israeli nationalist youths and posted videos showing the violent scenes.
These protesters were consistently chanting racist slurs throughout their march and attacking people as filmed by witnesses and reported by an ABC News team on the ground.
The massive group of far-right Israelis marched into Jerusalem’s old city chanting, “Death to Arabs!” “May your village burn!” and “The nation is alive!"
Tensions were already high for this event, which draws thousands of people and all Palestinian shops were closed by the Israeli police.
-ABC News' Marcus Moore, Nasser Atta, Jordana Miller and Camila Alcini
70 dead, 300 wounded in 48 hours at Al-Aqsa hospital: Doctors Without Borders
Amid an escalation of fighting and bombing in Gaza, at least 70 are dead and over 300 wounded in the last 48 hours, according to Doctors Without Borders.
"We have seen hospitals being bombed. We have seen refugee camps being bombed. We have seen humanitarian warehouses being bombed. The situation is apocalyptic," Karin Huster, a Doctors Without Borders nurse, said in a statement Wednesday.
"While the Rafah crossing point remains closed, these repeated mass casualties incidents are bringing the health system to the point of collapse," Doctors Without Borders said in a statement.
Medical teams at Al-Aqsa hospital -- one of the only remaining functional health facilities in central Gaza -- have received a huge influx of patients, many of whom arrived with severe burns, shrapnel wounds, fractures and other traumatic injuries.
"The odor of blood in the hospital's emergency room this morning was unbearable. There are people lying everywhere, on the floor, outside... bodies were being brought in plastic bags. The situation is overwhelming," said Huster.
-ABC News’ Guy Davies
US says Hamas' opposition to cease-fire proposal was not officially transmitted
The U.S. continues to push Hamas to agree to the cease-fire proposal President Joe Biden outlined Friday, saying Hamas' stated opposition to the deal has yet to be officially transmitted.
"We've seen some public comments from Hamas officials, but we have not yet gotten an official response from Hamas to the Qataris, who are the mediator to whom Israel gave their proposal that was transmitted to Hamas," White House national security adviser Jake Sullivan told ABC's George Stephanopoulos on "Good Morning America" Wednesday.
"The ball is in Hamas's court," Sullivan continued. "Israel has accepted the proposal. The world has endorsed the proposal. Now it's time for Hamas to say yes to it."
Sullivan argued the latest multi-phase proposal is key to ending the war, returning hostages, and increasing the flow of aid into Gaza, while ensuring Israel's security and a better future for Palestinians.
"That's what's on offer," Sullivan said. "That's what Hamas needs to step up and take and we're awaiting to get their official response."
Asked whether Biden thinks Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was prolonging the war for political gain — which he suggested in a Time magazine interview out Tuesday — Sullivan pointed to Biden's answer to a question Tuesday evening asking if Netanyahu was playing politics.
"I don't think so. He's trying to work out the serious problem he has," Biden said Tuesday.
"And from our perspective, we're not going to delve into Israeli politics," Sullivan added. "What we're going to do is focus on the fundamental task at hand, which is President Biden's effort to end this war, get the hostages home, make sure Israel's safe and make sure the Palestinian people have a decent future."
-ABC News' Fritz Farrow
Hamas military wing claims 3 hostages, including American, killed in raid
The Hamas military wing claimed in a statement Sunday that three hostages, including an American citizen, were killed in Saturday's rescue operation in central Gaza that was carried out by the Israel Defense Forces.
The IDF told ABC News on Sunday it had no knowledge of hostage deaths occurring during Saturday's raid on the Nuseirat refugee camp, in which four hostages were rescued.
In its statement, Hamas' Al-Qassam Brigades accused the Israeli government of being untruthful about the circumstances of the raid.
"In exchange for them, your own army killed three of your own captives in the same attack; one of them holds an American citizenship," the Al-Qassam Brigades statement said. "Time is running out. Your government is lying."
A White House National Security Council spokesperson said Sunday they have "seen nothing to corroborate" the claims that three other hostages, including an American, were killed during the raid.
"We have seen nothing to corroborate these claims. We are of course continuing to assess the claims," the spokesperson told ABC News.
At least 274 people were killed when the Israeli military moved into the Nuseirat camp to rescue hostages, the Hamas-run Gaza Health Ministry said Sunday. Israel's military said no more than 100 civilians were killed in the operation.
-ABC News' Victoria Beaulé, Jordana Miller and Michelle Stoddart