This is an entry from: Israel-Palestine live: Biden urges Egypt, Qatar to press Hamas for hostage deal
Evening recap
22 March 2024 23:38 GMT
Good evening Middle East Eye readers,
The number of Palestinians killed in Gaza by Israeli forces since 7 October has risen to 32,070, the Palestinian health ministry said on Friday.
Hundreds of healthcare workers, patients, and displaced civilians - including two critically ill children- are trapped inside Gaza’s al-Shifa hospital due to the Israeli military’s invasion and five-day blockade.
In other developments:
- Martin Griffiths, the United Nations' humanitarian chief, demanded an immediate ceasefire and urged Israel to remove all barriers to the distribution of aid to the people of Gaza.
- Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has said that Israel will launch a ground operation in Rafah without US backing, if necessary.
- The UN Security Council has failed to pass a US resolution calling for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza as part of a deal to release captives held in Gaza. Russia and China voted against the resolution.
- Israel has seized 800 hectares of land in the occupied West Bank, Israeli media said on Friday.
- Israeli forces blocked hundreds of Palestinian worshippers from reaching al-Aqsa Mosque for the second Friday prayer during the month of Ramadan.