Gaza live: Gaza death toll rises to 35,80

Hamas has expressed sorrow over the death of Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi, reported Reuters.

In a statement it published, Hamas gave Iran's Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, the government and the people of Iran its "sincere condolences for the enormous loss," and emphasised that Raisi had supported the Palestinian cause and stood against Israel.

Hamas also shared its confidence that Iran's "deep institutions" would overcome the "consequences of the heavy loss".

Nearly 800,000 Palestinians have fled the southern Gaza city of Rafah, the UN said, as Israeli planes and tanks pounded areas across the besieged strip on Sunday.

The United Nations said there has been a massive movement of people since Israel launched its military operation in Rafah on 6 May.

Philippe Lazzarini of the UN agency for Palestinian refugees said on Saturday that Palestinians were fleeing to areas without water supplies or adequate sanitation.

Hundreds of thousands of Palestinians who had sought Rafah as one of their few remaining places of refuge are now forced once again to relocate.

Read more: 'No place is safe' in Gaza, as 800,000 Palestinians flee Rafah

Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi and his foreign minister were killed in a helicopter crash in mountainous terrain and icy weather, Iran's state television confirmed on Monday, after search teams located the wreckage in East Azerbaijan province.

The head of Iran’s Red Crescent, Pirhossein Kolivand, earlier told state television that "no sign" of life was detected amongst passengers of the helicopter that crashed on Sunday afternoon.

The helicopter crash comes just as Iran’s relations with Israel recently reached new lows. 

Last month the two countries exchanged fire, sparked by an Israeli attack on the Iranian embassy in Damascus, Syrria. Iran is also a strong supporter of Hezbollah and Hamas.

Read more: Iran's President Ebrahim Raisi killed in helicopter crash 

The UN agency for Palestinian refugees (Unrwa) says it has not been able to maintain a presence at the Rafah and Karem Abu Salem (Kerem Shalom) crossings since May 5, a day before Israel started it's assault on Rafah. 

According to the latest figures from Unrwa, only 60 UN humanitarian trucks have entered the Gaza Strip through the two crossing since May 5, an average of just 4 trucks per day.

At least 87 UN humanitarian trucks entered Gaza through these two crossing in April per day, still significitly less than the 500 trucks that would enter the Strip per day prior to Israel's war. 

Good morning Middle East Eye readers, 

It's day 227 of Israel's war on Gaza. This is a recap of the last few hours to get you up to speed this morning:
 

• Fierce fighting continues in northern Gaza, with Israeli jets and helicopter gunships firing on the Jabalia refugee camp and Gaza City
• Gaza’s Media Office has said Israel is barring the entry of 3,000 aid trucks and preventing 690 sick and wounded people from travelling abroad for medical treatment as the Rafah and Karem Abu Salem (Kerem Shalom) border crossings remain closed
• If fuel and aid do not begin to enter Gaza soon, "the famine we’ve warned about will no longer be looming – it will be present", the UN’s humanitarian aid chief warned on X
• US National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan met Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to discuss the ongoing offensive in Rafah and efforts to return captives held in Gaza

Hello MEE readers, 

Israel renewed air strikes and artillery shelling on the al-Qasaib neighbourhood of Gaza's Jabalia refugee camp. The bombing continues after Israeli army ground forces reentered the area earlier this week.

Doctors Without Borders reported that at least 34 people have been admitted to al-Awda hospital following the strikes.

The hospital - one of the last functioning in the Gaza Strip - is without drinking water, the group said. 

"Staff and patients are sheltering inside amid the fighting," the group said, noting that the hospital is surrounded by Israeli forces.

Other updates from Sunday include: 

• White House national security adviser Jake Sullivan briefed Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and other senior officials on his visit to Saudi Arabia.

• If fuel and aid do not begin to enter Gaza soon, "the famine we’ve warned about will no longer be looming – it will be present", the UN’s humanitarian aid chief warned on X.

• Dozens of settlers set fire to cars and tyres in the occupied West Bank village of Yatma.

• Israel’s foreign minister, Israel Katz met top US House of Representatives Republican Elise Stefanik, thanking her for her "persistent" support for Israel.

• US President Joe Biden called for an "immediate ceasefire" while delivering the commencement address at Morehouse College, a historically Black, male-only institution in Atlanta.

• A 24-year-old Israeli soldier injured in Gaza earlier this week succumbed to his wounds. 

At least 34 people were admitted to Al Awda hospital following Israeli strikes on nearby al-Jabalia refugee camp, Doctors Without Borders (MSF) said. 

The hospital - one of the last functioning in the Gaza Strip - is without drinking water, the group said. 

"Staff and patients are sheltering inside amid the fighting," the group said, noting that the hospital is surrounded by Israeli forces.

2/4 According to our colleagues in Al Awda hospital, and other locations in northern Gaza, the hospital is surrounded by tanks.

— MSF UK (@MSF_uk) May 19, 2024

White House national security adviser Jake Sullivan briefed Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and other senior officials on his visit to Saudi Arabia.

Sullivan said he held constructive meetings focused on a vision for an integrated Middle East, according to a US statement.

Sullivan spoke with Netanyahu about "the potential that may now be available for Israel, as well as the Palestinian people" and "proposed a series of concrete measures to ensure more aid surges into Gaza", the statement said. 

Israel has launched air strikes and used artillery shelling from helicopters in the al-Qasaib neighbourhood of Gaza's Jabalia refugee camp, Al Jazeera has reported.

The bombing continues after Israeli army ground forces reentered the area earlier this week.

The number of casualties from the attacks are currently unknown.

Israel’s foreign minister, Israel Katz met top US House of Representatives Republican Elise Stefanik, thanking her for her "persistent" support for Israel.

Later, Katz called for bipartisan support from the United States against the establishment of a Palestinian state, saying Iran would use it as a base to "work towards the destruction of Israel". 

Stefanik also met with with Israeli President Isaac Herzog during her trip. 

Welcome to Jerusalem Congresswoman @EliseStefanik. The Israeli people deeply appreciate your strong moral clarity and firm stand against antisemitism and anti-Israel hatred on campuses across the US. pic.twitter.com/t1zwZbdxWT

— יצחק הרצוג Isaac Herzog (@Isaac_Herzog) May 19, 2024

If fuel and aid do not begin to enter Gaza soon, "the famine we’ve warned about will no longer be looming – it will be present", the UN’s humanitarian aid chief warned on X.

Martin Griffiths said that a new maritime aid delivery operation is bringing in some aid, but that this is "no replacement" for land routes.

"The consequences will be apocalyptic," he said.

If fuel runs out and aid doesn't reach those in need, the famine we've warned about will no longer be looming — it will be present.

The consequences will be apocalyptic.

The maritime operation is bringing in some aid, but it's no replacement for land routes.

My chat with @AFP: https://t.co/1G9KvzpQlP

— Martin Griffiths (@UNReliefChief) May 19, 2024

Dozens of settlers have set fire to cars and tyres in the occupied West Bank village of Yatma, according to two security sources.

Videos showing the fires are circling across social media.

Breaking | Israeli settlers attack the town of Yatma south of Nablus, setting fire to Palestinian properties. pic.twitter.com/AZREV4ldNK

— Quds News Network (@QudsNen) May 19, 2024

An Israeli soldier injured in Gaza on 15 May has been killed, the Israeli military has said.

The military said the 24-year-old soldier was a company commander in the Paratroopers Brigade’s 202nd Battalion.

This brings the death toll of soldiers killed in the Israeli military ground offensive in Gaza to 283.

US President Joe Biden called for an "immediate ceasefire" while delivering the commencement address at Morehouse College, a historically Black, male-only institution in Atlanta.

“It’s a humanitarian crisis in Gaza, that’s why I’ve called for an immediate ceasefire," Biden said to applause.

"I know it angers and frustrates many of you including in my family," he said.

While Biden received applause and cheers, his speech also spurred some students to turn their backs to Biden as his backing of Israel in its war with Hamas riles college graduations across the country.

Biden was largely uninterrupted by protests that have shut down graduations elsewhere, although in addition to students who turned their chairs around to turn their backs to him, one graduate appeared to hold up a Palestinian flag briefly and an audience member stood and turned their back with their fist raised.

Biden also made remarks more typical of traditional commencement addresses, saying: Education "makes you free. And a Morehouse education makes you fearless."

Nearly 800,000 Palestinians have fled the southern Gaza city of Rafah, the UN said, as Israeli planes and tanks pounded areas across the besieged strip on Sunday.

The United Nations said there has been a massive movement of people since Israel launched its military operation in Rafah on 6 May.

Philippe Lazzarini of the UN agency for Palestinian refugees said on Saturday that Palestinians were fleeing to areas without water supplies or adequate sanitation.

Hundreds of thousands of Palestinians who had sought Rafah as one of their few remaining places of refuge are now forced once again to relocate.

"The claim that people in Gaza can move to 'safe' or 'humanitarian' zones is false. Each time, it puts the lives of civilians at serious risk. Gaza does not have any safe zones.   No place is safe.   No one is safe," Lazzarini wrote on X.

Read more: 'No place is safe' in Gaza, as 800,000 Palestinians flee Rafah