Israel-Hamas war: First aid shipment heads to US-built pier

• A first shipment of humanitarian aid is on its way to the US-built floating pier off Gaza
• Residents say three killed in Israeli tank fire in eastern Rafah
• Local authorities in the Hamas-run strip are reporting a death toll of 34,904 since October

05/09/2024May 9, 2024

Rafah reports fresh shelling

Israeli forces opened fire close to built-up areas of Gaza's southern Rafah city, where the UN says some 1.4 million people are sheltering.

Witnesses on the ground reported tank and helicopter fire.

"The tanks and jets are striking," Tarek Bahlul told the French news agency AFP on a deserted Rafah street. "Every minute you hear a rocket and you don't know where it will land."

Residents and medics told the Reuters news agency that tank fire killed three people and wounded others in the eastern neighborhood of Brazil. Residents added that a helicopter also opened fire on the city's eastern edge, with drones hovering above houses in several areas.

On Tuesday, the Israel Defense Force (IDF) took control of the Palestinian side of Gaza's Rafah border crossing with Egypt. 

The crossing has served as the main entry point for humanitaria aid.

Hamas militants has continued to launch rockets and mortar rounds at Israeli troops stationed near the crossing.

05/09/2024May 9, 2024

Israeli forces raid Al Jazeera studios in Nazareth

Israeli forces raided on Thursday the studios of the Qatari-owned Al Jazeera news channel, carrying out orders from Israel's communications minister.

Minister Shlomo Karhi said inspectors from the Communications Ministry were confiscating equipment from the studios, alongside police officials.

"Israel won't let Hamas broadcast from here," Karhi said on X, formerly Twitter.

The Al Jazeera TV network was taken off the air in Israel on Sunday after Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's Cabinet voted to suspend the broadcaster's operations.

Israel accuses the Qatari broadcaster of Palestinian bias, particularly in its coverage of the war in Gaza. Al Jazeera rejects the accusations and called the move a "criminal act" that violates the human right of access to information.

05/09/2024May 9, 2024

First aid shipment heads to US-built pier off Gaza

A shipment of humanitarian aid left Cyprus on Thursday, and was on its way to a US-built pier off Gaza.

The US flagged Sagamore ship took off from Cyprus' Larnaca port, Cypriot Foreign Minister Constantinos Kombos said.

It is the first shipment for the floating pier, whose construction was announced by US President Joe Biden in March.

Cyprus opened in March a sea corridor to ship aid directly to Gaza, amid severe disruptions to land deliveries due to the ongoing fighting and border closures.