Gaza live: Israel to build 'different government' in Gaza, says defence minister

American weaponry was used in Israel's deadly attack on Palestinians in camps in Rafah on Sunday night, CNN reported on Wednesday.

CNN's analysis of video footage from the scene of the strike and an analysis by explosive weapons experts determined that US arms were used in the attack, according to the report.

At least 45 people were killed and over 200 wounded after Israeli strikes hit a camp, setting tents on fire and burning people alive.

The strike caused widespread global outrage and condemnation.

The Biden administration on Tuesday denied that Israel violated its red line against launching a full-scale assault on Rafah, even as Israeli tanks were reported rolling into the centre of the besieged southern Gaza border town.

“This so far is a different type of military operation,” State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller said, distinguishing between Israel’s offensive on Rafah and earlier assaults on major cities like Khan Younis and Gaza City.

“We will continue to emphasise to Israel their obligation to comply fully with international humanitarian law, minimise the impact of their operations on civilians, and maximise the flow of humanitarian assistance to those in need,” Miller said.

Tuesday’s State Department briefing comes as Israel grows increasingly isolated on the world stage, with the International Court of Justice on Friday ordering Israel to immediately halt its offensive in Rafah.

Read more: US says Rafah red line not breached despite domestic and global outrage

Former US presidential candidate Nikki Haley visited Israel on Tuesday and met with Israeli officials and military leaders.

During her trip, she visited a military site on Israel's northern border, where she signed a message on the artillery fire meant to be used on Gaza: "Finish them".

The message caused outrage on social media after a series of devastating Israeli air strikes killed dozens of Palestinians in southern Gaza over the past few days.

Saudi Arabia’s Foreign Ministry condemned Israel’s attacks on the tents of “defenceless” people in Rafah calling for the international community to take action and stop the “continuous genocidal massacres committed by the Israeli occupation forces against the Palestinian people”, according to the official Saudi Press Agency,

Israel’s blatant violations of international law and norms were taking place against a backdrop of silence and “puts the credibility of the institutions of international legitimacy at stake” the ministry said. 

It added, “The kingdom stresses the need for the international community to assume its responsibilities today more than ever before, to stop the massacres against the Palestinian people and hold those responsible accountable.”

A motion was introduced to the House of Representatives on Wednesday, but the Australian parliament rejected efforts to bring forward a debate on statehood recognition, voting it down 80 votes to five.

It's day 236 of Israel's war on Gaza. This is a recap of the last few hours to get you up to speed this morning:

• A source close to Hamas told Middle East Eye that the strikes had caused the Palestinian movement to end the ceasefire negotiations that have been taking place for weeks

• Mexico made a formal intervention at the International Court of Justice, requesting that the court allow it to join South Africa's ongoing case accusing Israel of committing genocide against Palestinians in Gaza

• The US military has suspended aid deliveries to Gaza by sea after its $320m temporary pier was damaged by bad weather

• Palestine Red Crescent mourns 30th worker killed in Israeli attacks

• Israel denies latest strike on civilian camp near Rafah that killed 21 people

Hello MEE readers. In its first press briefing since the Israeli strikes on Rafah on Sunday, which killed at least 45 Palestinians and caused global condemnation, the White House said that the strike would not result in a change in US military assistance to Israel.

The strike, which left bodies completely dismembered and charred from the fires that erupted following the bombing, caused major outrage in an Israeli invasion that has for months killed tens of thousands of Palestinians.

A source close to Hamas told MEE that the strikes had caused the Palestinian movement to end the ceasefire negotiations that have been taking place for weeks.

"After eight months of futile negotiations, and with continued massacres... there will be no negotiations or a review of the signed paper or discussions around its details," the source said.

Following a closed-door meeting at the UN Security Council on Tuesday, Algeria said it would put forth a resolution to "stop the kiling" in Rafah.

In other news:

• Mexico made a formal intervention at the International Court of Justice, requesting that the court allow it to join South Africa's ongoing case accusing Israel of committing genocide against Palestinians in Gaza.

• The US military has suspended aid deliveries to Gaza by sea after its $320m temporary pier was damaged by bad weather. 

• Al Awda Hospital in northern Gaza is still under a military siege by Israeli forces.

• Former US presidential candidate Nikki Haley visited Israel and signed a message on Israeli artillery fire with the words "Finish Them".

• A group of activists with the group Palestine Action posted a video on X showing them cutting the internet cables to a manufacturing facility in Edinburgh belonging to the American arms maker, Leonardo.

• Several aircraft launched two raids on an area in Yemen located west of the port city of Hodeidah, which is controlled by the Houthis.

The University of Copenhagen in Denmark announced that it would halt its investments in companies that operate in the occupied West Bank, amid a student protest movement demanding the school cut financial ties with companies profiting off Israel's occupation and its war on Gaza.

The university said it would divest its holdings worth a total of about one million Danish crowns ($145,810) in the following companies that do business in the West Bank: Airbnb ABNB.O, Booking.com BKNG.O and eDreams EDRE.MC.

Opdatering vedrørende KU’s investeringer.

KU’s bestyrelse drøftede i april universitetets tilgang til placering af midler i virksomheder på FN’s liste over virksomheder, der har aktiviteter på Vestbredden.

På samme bestyrelsesmøde blev det også besluttet, at KU fremover skal… https://t.co/dJDIjwXg1k

— Københavns Uni (@koebenhavns_uni) May 28, 2024

Algeria will propose a draft UN Security Council resolution to "stop the killing in Rafah", the country's ambassador to the world body Amar Bendjama said, following a closed-door Security Council meeting on Gaza.

"Algeria will circulate this afternoon a draft resolution on Rafah," Bendjama said. "It will be a short text, a decisive text, to stop the killing in Rafah."

Several aircraft launched two raids on an area in Yemen located west of the port city of Hodeidah, which is controlled by the Houthis.

The reported news comes after a missile attack damaged a ship in the Red Sea, off the coast of Hodeidah.

The US and UK have been targeting Houthi positions in Yemen since the movement launched a blockade of vessels using the Red Sea to travel to and from Israel.

White House national security spokesperson John Kirby said during a news briefing that Washington hasn't seen anything in Israel's military attacks in Rafah since Sunday that would prompt a withdrawal of US military assistance.

The attack, which killed at least 45 Palestinians, drew global outrage and calls for Israel to stop its bombardment of the southern city in Gaza.

A National Security Council spokesperson, however, responded to the strike in a comment to Reuters by saying that Israel has a right to go after Hamas.

Hamas told international mediators that it is ending its participation in ceasefire talks aimed at ending the war on Gaza, following Sunday's "massacre" in Rafah by Israel, a source told Middle East Eye.

A source close to Hamas told MEE on Tuesday that the Palestinian organisation had informed mediators it was ending its participation in negotiations until Israel ends its offensive on Rafah, withdraws its troops, and that the Rafah crossing, a critical entry point for food, medicine and other supplies for Gaza's 2.3 million people, is reopened under its previous administration.

"The Rafah crossing must return to its previous administration, and no one is allowed to return to the crossing, neither Majid Faraj nor his authority, and there will be no return to negotiations unless the crossing is reopened and under its previous administration."

To read the exclusive story, click below.

Hamas ends ceasefire talks until Israel halts Rafah operation and withdraws troops

The Pentagon has confirmed reports that the pier off the coast of Gaza will be removed for repairs, after the dock was damaged by bad weather.

Pentagon spokesperson Sabrina Singh said it will take over a week to put the floating pier back together.

A group of activists with the group Palestine Action posted a video on X showing them cutting the internet cables to a manufacturing facility in Edinburgh belonging to the American arms maker, Leonardo.

The activists said that the specific building makes targeting systems that are used in Israeli F-35 fighter planes, which have been used in the ongoing war on Gaza.

BREAKING: Palestine Action cut Leonardo’s Edinburgh factory’s internet cables, disrupting the producers of targeting systems for Israel’s F-35 fighter jets. pic.twitter.com/u45n1KmSk8

— Palestine Action (@Pal_action) May 28, 2024