The United States has delivered its first aid shipment to the Gaza Strip, with 300 pallets of humanitarian aid being unloaded at a temporary pier. Hamas has insisted that no aid delivery route, including the floating dock, is an alternative to routes under Palestinian supervision. Despite blocking humanitarian aid for days in the besieged and famine-threatened territory, the US military announced the arrival of around 500 tons of aid in the next few days. Meanwhile, France said a navy ship with 60 tons of aid will be unloaded on the American wharf.
The Israeli offensive on Rafah continues, with new attacks causing two deaths in the Berbera refugee camp according to Hamas. The Israeli army also brought back the bodies of three Israeli hostages brutally murdered while fleeing the Nova music festival on October 7. The army also announced engaging in fierce fighting in Jabalia, in the northern Gaza Strip. In addition, Israel completed its operation in Zeitoun neighborhood of Gaza City after a week of precise raids, killing more than 90 terrorists.
In response to Israel’s announced intention to intensify its ground offensive in Rafah, thirteen countries including Japan and New Zealand have sent a joint appeal not to launch it. They also called for further efforts to improve entry flows of international aid through all affected crossings. Among these countries are Canada, Australia and seven EU member states who oppose Israel’s move as well as United States which also opposes it and announced that White House national security advisor Jake Sullivan will visit Israel soon for talks. Since Israel ordered civilians to leave eastern Rafah on May 6 in anticipation of a major ground offensive, over 640 thousand people have fled the city including 40 thousand on May 16 according to Israeli Office for United Nations Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA).
