Israeli strikes intensify on Rafah as Egypt closes the Rafah crossing from its side. Meanwhile, CIA Director Burns prolonged his stay in Qatar to try to avoid a “collapse” of negotiations.
Israel is deliberately destroying the entire health sector in Gaza as only four hospitals remain operational. “If these hospitals stop working, they will turn into mass graves, like Nasser and al-Shifa,” Muhammad Zaqout, General Director of Hospitals in Gaza, told Mondoweiss.
Palestinians brace for an invasion in Rafah as Hamas is expected to respond to a new ceasefire proposal. Meanwhile, Israel continues airstrikes on Gaza, and Gaza City’s municipality says that half of its water wells have been destroyed.
While Israel continues to attack all parts of the Gaza Strip, Palestinian Civil Defense teams report finding more bodies buried in mass graves in areas where Israeli troops have withdrawn. The Civil Defense says that some may have been buried alive.
Student protests over Israel’s genocidal war on Gaza expand across the U.S., while Summer Lee defeats AIPAC in Pennsylvania.
Bakeries re-open in northern Gaza for the first time since October. “The enemy has tried killing, death, starvation, and destruction and has not succeeded.”
Israel will likely use its limited attack on Iran to win a green light from the Biden administration to invade Rafah. While the muted response might have hopefully avoided a regional war, the price could be paid in Palestinian blood.
Mondoweiss Gaza Correspondent Tareq Hajjaj discusses his reporting on the Israeli siege of al-Shifa Hospital and attacks on Palestinians attempting to return to northern Gaza.
Israel targets Iranian bases in Isfahan with drones, while Iranian sources say air defenses intercepted the attack. Meanwhile, Gaza’s health ministry says the northern Gaza Strip is left without any health services.
Israel considers a strike against Iran “that would not lead to a war” as it continues to restrict aid access to Gaza. Settlers in the West Bank escalated attacks, killing two Palestinians.