live blog
The US is reportedly planning $1 billion in new arms shipments to Israel. Israeli Minister Gantz calls for more international pressure on Hamas. All developments in the live blog.
The European Union has called on Israel to “immediately” end the military operation in Rafah in the Gaza Strip, according to foreign policy chief Josep Borrell. If Israel were to continue the operation, this would place a severe strain on EU relations with Israel, according to a statement. The military operation is hindering the distribution of humanitarian aid in the coastal area. This leads to further displacement, famine and human suffering. “The European Union calls on Israel not to further aggravate the already catastrophic humanitarian situation in the Gaza Strip,” it said.
On May 15th, the Palestinians celebrate the so-called Nakba Day and commemorate the flight and expulsion during the first Middle East war. In the Palestinian camps in Lebanon, the horror and suffering from back then are still just as noticeable, reports Martin Durm.
The Israeli army said it killed a senior Hezbollah militia commander in an airstrike in southern Lebanon on Tuesday evening. The pro-Iranian militia confirmed the death of one of its fighters, but did not name his rank. According to the Israeli military, the man is said to have been responsible for planning and carrying out numerous terrorist attacks against Israeli civilians and Israeli territory.
Ex-General Benny Gantz, who sits in the Israeli war cabinet, has called for more international pressure on the Islamist Hamas in the embattled Gaza Strip. More such pressure is “absolutely” needed, Gantz wrote on Platform In addition, military pressure on the terrorist organization remains necessary “to reach an agreement to return the hostages and eliminate the threat from Hamas,” said Gantz.
According to media reports, the USA is planning a new arms delivery to Israel worth more than one billion US dollars (around 924 million euros). The government of US President Joe Biden informed Congress about this, reported the Wall Street Journal, among others. The package therefore contains tank ammunition, tactical vehicles and mortar shells. According to other US media reports, the government has initiated the approval process in Congress; according to the US television channel CNN, it is still in an early phase.
Claudia Sarre, ARD Washington, tagesschau, May 15, 2024 5:39 a.m
The UN has sharply criticized an Israeli attack on an aid convoy in the Gaza Strip. According to Prime Minister Al Thani, Qatar wants to continue mediating in the Gaza war. Tuesday’s live blog for reading.