Would you like to receive notifications on latest updates of the following headlines?

Israel Launches Fresh Gaza Strikes

POSTED ON May 8, 2024 •   Foreign Affairs      BY Benedicta Bassey
An Israeli army battle tank moves in an area along the border with the Gaza Strip and southern Israel/Photo credit: Punch newspaper


Israel struck targets in the Gaza Strip on Wednesday after seizing the main border crossing with Egypt, where negotiators were working to cement a ceasefire deal.

After weeks of vowing to launch a ground incursion into the border city of Rafah despite international objections, Israeli tanks moved in Tuesday, capturing the crossing that has served as the main conduit for aid into the besieged Palestinian territory.

The White House condemned the interruption to humanitarian deliveries, with a senior US official later revealing Washington had paused a shipment of bombs last week after Israel failed to address US concerns over its Rafah plans.

The push into the southern city, which is packed with displaced civilians, came as negotiators and mediators met in Cairo to try and hammer out a hostage release deal and truce in the seven-month war between Israel and the militant group Hamas.

A senior Hamas official, requesting anonymity, warned this would be Israel’s “last chance” to free the scores of hostages still in militants’ hands.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said earlier that his country’s delegation was already in Cairo.

Israel’s close ally and chief military backing the United States said it was hopeful the two sides could “close the remaining gaps”.

“Everybody’s coming to the table,” US National Security Council spokesman John Kirby told reporters. “That’s not insignificant.”
Despite the Cairo talks, witnesses and a local hospital reported Israeli strikes across the Gaza Strip overnight into Wednesday morning, including around Rafah.

One strike on an apartment in devastated Gaza City killed seven members of the same family and wounded several other people early Wednesday, the Al-Ahli hospital said.

Israel’s Rafah operation began hours after Hamas announced late Monday it had accepted a truce proposal — one Israel said was “far” from what it had previously agreed to.

Still, the announcement prompted cheering crowds to take to the streets in Gaza, though Rafah resident Abu Aoun al-Najjar said the “indescribable joy” was short-lived.

“It turned out to be a bloody night,” he told AFP, as more Israeli bombardments “stole our joy”.

Israeli army footage showed tanks taking “operational control” of the Palestinian side of the Rafah crossing on Tuesday.

Netanyahu described the operation as “a very important step” in denying Hamas “a passage that was essential for establishing its reign of terror”.

But UN humanitarian office spokesman Jens Laerke said Israel had also denied his organisation access to both Rafah and Kerem Shalom — another major aid crossing on the border with Israel.

Aid groups have warned that the coastal “humanitarian area” of Al-Muwasi — where Israel’s military told people to go before it launched its Rafah operation — is unprepared to handle the influx.
 
 
AFP

READ ALSO
Nigeria, Canada forge new Aviation ties with bilateral Air services agreement
BY Abiodun Saheed Omodara March 26, 2025 0

ABUJA, Nigeria - In a notable achievement for the aviation sector, the Minister of Aviation and Aero...

READ ALSO
Nigeria risks losing LNG market share without addressing theft, vandalism - Aderemi
BY Abiodun Saheed Omodara March 25, 2025 0

The Chairman of the International Law Association (ILA), Dr. Tolu Aderemi, has discussed how Nigeria...

READ ALSO
India reaffirms commitment to strengthening ties with Nigeria
BY Abiodun Saheed Omodara March 20, 2025 0

LAGOS, Nigeria - The High Commission of India has reiterated its commitment to enhancing bilateral r...

READ ALSO
Sierra Leone's President highlights needs for local food production to combat import dependency
BY Abiodun Saheed Omodara March 6, 2025 0

IBADAN, Nigeria- The President of Sierra Leone, Julius Bio, expressed concerns on Wednesday in Ibada...

READ ALSO
JUST IN: Tinubu arrives in Ethiopia for 38th African Union Summit
BY Abiodun Saheed Omodara February 14, 2025 0

President Bola Tinubu has arrived in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, to take part in the 38th Ordinary Sessio...

READ ALSO
Destabilise Niger Republic baseless – FG
BY Abiodun Saheed Omodara December 27, 2024 0

NIGERIA- The Nigerian government has described as baseless, allegations by Nigerien military leader,...

READ ALSO
Benin electoral officials visit Nigeria to study INEC
BY Abiodun Saheed Omodara December 17, 2024 0

ABUJA (NAN) - At least 12 high-ranking officials from the national electoral management body of Beni...

READ ALSO
Tinubu commits to diplomacy for ECOWAS reintegration of Mali, Niger and Burkina Faso
BY Abiodun Saheed Omodara December 12, 2024 0

President Bola Tinubu has stated that the interest and welfare of the citizens of Mali, Burkina Faso...

OUR CHANNELS:

Bayelsa communities threaten to halt oil production over security contract dispute
BY Abiodun Saheed Omodara April 3, 2025 0

BAYELSA, Nigeria - Nigeria’s struggling oil output may be on the brink of another crisis as co...


NITDA Partners Afrovision technologies to bridge job gap for Nigeria’s Tech Talent
BY Abiodun Saheed Omodara April 3, 2025 0

In an effort to tackle the ongoing challenge of job placement for Nigeria’s expanding tech tal...


Falana advocates for accountability and rule of law
BY Abiodun Saheed Omodara April 3, 2025 0

Human rights Lawyer, Femi Falana (SAN), has called on Nigerians to seek accountability from their le...


FG signals tough stance on underdeveloped Oilfields, calls for strategic IOC investments
BY Abiodun Saheed Omodara April 3, 2025 0

The Federal Government expressed its worries on Tuesday about the growing number of idle and underde...


OpenAI valuation hits $300 billion after SoftBank-led fund
BY Abiodun Saheed Omodara April 3, 2025 0

The Japanese telecommunications company, alongside a group of investors, has recently announced yet...


Fuel prices expect to fall below N750 by Year-End - NIPSS
BY Abiodun Saheed Omodara April 3, 2025 0

The National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies (NIPSS) has said that with Dangote Refinery...


Nigeria imposes N20m fine, 10-Year Jail Term for Ponzi scheme offenders
BY Abiodun Saheed Omodara April 2, 2025 0

The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has stated that promoters and operators of Ponzi scheme...


South Korea launches second phase of educational initiative in Ekiti smart school
BY Abiodun Saheed Omodara April 2, 2025 0

EKITI, Nigeria - The South Korean government is poised to initiate the second phase of its education...


NFF denies resignation rumors surrounding Super Eagles coach
BY Abiodun Saheed Omodara April 3, 2025 0

The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has refuted claims that Super Eagles coach Eric Chelle is cons...


CPPE raises concerns over proposed ban on solar panel imports amid Nigeria's energy crisis
BY Abiodun Saheed Omodara April 2, 2025 0

The Centre for the Promotion of Private Enterprise (CPPE) has raised alarms regarding the government...


More Articles

Load more...

Menu