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Hamas says latest proposal it received differs from what Biden laid out and falls short of its demands
From CNN's Nic Robertson and Alex Stambaugh
Hamas said a peace proposal it received to end the conflict in Gazadoes not match with the proposal presentedby US President Joe Biden in a speechlast week.
In a statement obtained by CNN, Hamas said it welcomed what Biden laid out, but upon seeing the proposal it "turned out to be devoid of the positive foundations contained in Biden's statements."
"It does not guarantee a permanentceasefire, but rather a temporary one" and allows for Israeli forces to remain in Gaza territory, the group saidin the document.
On Monday, a spokesperson for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said that Biden only presented a "partial" outline of theceasefiredeal that has been offered by Israel to Hamas.
Hamas said in the document that "there is no meaning to any agreement that does not explicitly stipulate a permanentceasefire" or "allows the occupation forces to remain on our land."
CNN has not seen the text of the latest proposal reportedly shared with Hamas.
Biden unveiled last Friday what he said was a three-phase Israeli proposal to end the conflict in Gaza that would pair a release of hostages with a “full and completeceasefire,” and Israel withdrawing from “all populated areas of Gaza.”
Netanyahu has since repeatedly stressed that the conditions for endingthe country’s war in Gazahave not changed, including the destruction of Hamas and the return of all hostages.
UNRWA says school hit "several times" by Israeli strikes
From CNN's Kareem Khadder in Jerusalem
The UN agency for Palestinian refugees (UNRWA) says its school in the Nuseirat refugee camp in Central Gaza was "possibly hit several times" by Israeli strikes overnight into Thursday.
UNRWA Communications Director told CNN it was not able to confirm Israeli reports that Hamas operatives had been using the school as a compound.
"We remind all parties to the conflict that schools and other UN premises must never be used for military or fighting purposes," Touma said.
"UN facilities must be protected at all times."
Touma added that more than 170 UNRWA building had been hit since October 7 and "resulted in the killing of over 450 displaced people in those facilities."
Dozens killed: The school was housing displaced people in the Nuseirat refugee camp when it was hit by an Israeli strike overnight into Thursday, the Gaza government media office said.
At least 45 people were killed in the airstrikes, according to local authorities.
The Israeli military confirmed it carried out the airstrike, which it said targeted a Hamas compound operating inside the school. CNN cannot independently verify the claims.
Death toll from Israeli airstrike on UN school in Gaza rises to 45
From CNN's Abeer Salman in Jerusalem
The death toll from an Israeli airstrike on a United Nations-run school in central Gaza has risen to 45, a spokesperson for Gaza's Ministry of Health told CNN.
The school, run by the UN agency for Palestinian refugees(UNRWA), was housing displaced people in the Nuseirat refugee camp at the time of the strike, the Gaza government media office said earlier.
The Israeli military confirmed it carried out the airstrike, which it said targeted a Hamas compound operating inside the school.
The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said "many measures were taken in order to minimize the danger of damaging the uninvolved" before the attack, including aerial surveillance and the use of "additional precise intelligence."
It's morning in Gaza. Here's what you need to know
From CNN staff
An Israeli airstrikehas killed dozens of people at a United Nations-run school in a central Gaza refugee camp,according to hospital authorities in the strip and the Gaza government media office.
The school, run by the UN agency for Palestinian refugees(UNRWA), was housing displaced people in Nuseirat at the time of the strike, the Gaza government media office said.
Authorities at Al-Aqsa Martyrs Hospital said at least 39 people were killed and dozens of others injured, with authorities fearing the number could rise as victims are still being brought to the hospital.
Here's what else is making headlines:
- Israel says war won't stop for talks: Israel's military offensive in Gazawould not be haltedfor any resumption of ceasefire and hostage release talks with Hamas, Defense Minister Yoav Gallant said. His remarks come as Egyptian, Qatari and American officials met in Doha to revive Gaza truce negotiations. The meetings follow athree-phase proposal — characterized as an Israeli plan — laid out by US President Joe Biden that would pair a release of hostages with a “full and complete ceasefire” in Gaza.
- Child food poverty: Nine out of 10 children in Gaza are suffering from severe food poverty, unable to access enough food groups to sustain optimal growth and development, according to a new report from the United Nations' children's agency."In the Gaza Strip, months of hostilities and restrictions on humanitarian aid have collapsed the food and health systems, resulting in catastrophic consequences for children and their families," UNICEF said.
- Lebanon border tensions: Tensions are ramping up at the Israel-Lebanon border, with Iran-backed Hezbollah claiming responsibility for a Wednesday evening attack in northern Israel that left multiple people injured. The US is "incredibly concerned" about the risk of escalation on the border, a State Department spokesperson said.
- Controversial march: Large crowds of young Israeli nationalistspushed their waythrough Muslim areas of Old Jerusalem on Wednesday, intimidating, and in some cases attacking, Palestinian shopkeepers and journalists during a controversialannual flag-flying march. Israeli police said theydetained five suspectsfor allegedly throwing objects toward journalists.
- IDF investigation: The Israeli military haslaunched investigationsinto the deaths of Palestinians who died in Israeli military custody during its offensive in Gaza, an Israel Defense Forces (IDF) spokesperson told CNN. At least 36 detainees have died in Israeli detention facilities since October, according to an IDF statement on Wednesday, including those with previous illnesses or injuries sustained as a result of the fighting.
90% of children in Gaza are suffering severe food poverty, UNICEF says
From CNN staff
Nine out of 10 children in Gaza are suffering from severe food poverty, unable to access enough food groups to sustain optimal growth and development, according to a new report from the United Nations' children's agency.
"In the Gaza Strip, months of hostilities and restrictions on humanitarian aid have collapsed the food and health systems, resulting in catastrophic consequences for children and their families," UNICEF said Wednesday in a statement.
Fighting across the strip has "destroyed farmland, left livestock starving, decimated the fishing fleet, and damaged food processing and warehouse facilities," the report found.
These factors, combined with the shuttered routes of global aid that normally would supply the strip, have "deprived millions," it said.
UNICEF said five rounds of data collected between December 2023 and April 2024 have "consistently found" that nine out of 10 children are surviving on two or fewer food groups per day.
Worldwide problem: The report, which looks at child food poverty globally, found one in four children worldwide live in severe food poverty in early childhood, amounting to 181 million children under 5 years old.
This makes them up to 50% more likely to experience wasting, a life-threatening form of malnutrition, the report says.
“Children living in severe food poverty are children living on the brink. Right now, that is the reality for millions of young children, and this can have an irreversible negative impact on their survival, growth and brain development,” said UNICEF executive director Catherine Russell.
Dozens of Palestinians killed in Israeli airstrike on UN school in central Gaza
From CNN's Abeer Salman inJerusalemand journalistMohammadSawalhiin Gaza
Dozens of people havebeen killed inan overnight Israeli airstrikeona United Nations-run school in a refugee camp in central Gaza,according to hospital authorities in the strip and the government media office.
The school, run by the UN agency for Palestinian refugees(UNRWA), was housing displaced people in Nuseirat at the time of the strike, the Gaza government media office said.
Authorities at Al-Aqsa Martyrs Hospital said Thursday at least 39 people were killed and dozens of others injured, with authorities fearing the number could rise as victims are still being brought to the hospital.
The Israeli military confirmed it carried out the airstrike, which it said targeted a Hamas compound operating inside the school.
The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said "many measures were taken in order to minimize the danger of damaging the uninvolved" before the attack, including aerial surveillance and the use of "additional precise intelligence."
According to a CNN stringer in the area, the school was hit by at least three missiles that penetrated the three-story building. The school was believed to be housing approximately 20,000 displaced people who had taken shelter in the school, its yard, and the surrounding area,according to the stringer.
Gaza authorities said the dead and injured continue to be brought to Al-Aqsa Martyrs Hospital, which is operating at three times its clinical capacity, "signaling a real disaster that will lead to a greater increase in the number of martyrs," the Gaza media office said.
CNN has reached out to UNRWA for comment.
Hezbollah used2self-detonating drones in attack on northern Israel, Israeli army says
From CNN's Jonny Hallam
Hezbollah militants in Lebanon launched at least two explosive UAVs in an attack on Hurfeish, a Druze Arab village, in northern Israel on Wednesday evening, the Israeli military said.
Nine people were treated for shrapnel injuries sustained in the drone strikes, according to the Galilee Medical Center in Nahariya, including a woman suffering abdominal and chest injuries, whose condition was described as moderate to serious.
The Israeli army has not commented on the identity of the injured, but the Reuters news agency reported that soldiers were among those wounded. Video obtained by the agency showed an ambulance moving several injured soldiers from the scene.
In one clip, a paramedic can be seen carrying a uniformed Israeli soldier on his back toward an ambulance. The soldier is conscious with his head raised and does not appear to be badly injured.
An eyewitness told Israel’s Channel 11 that the second self-detonating drone exploded as emergency responders arrived on the scene to treat patients injured in the first drone strike.
“We came to rescue those who were injured, and suddenly a second UAV approached,” Anwar Maer, head of the Hurfeish municipality said.
Hezbollah claimed responsibility for the attack which comes amid an escalation of tensions along the Israel-Lebanon border.
According to the Israeli military, Wednesday saw approximately 30 rockets and drones launched from Lebanon towards Israel. Israeli fighter jets also targeted Hezbollah positions, the military said.
"The [Israeli] strikes included terrorist infrastructure in Naqoura and Matmoura, Hezbollah military structures in Ayta ash Shab, and a Hezbollah observation post in Khiam," the military added.
Tensions ramp up:Iran-backed-Hezbollah hasincreased attackson Israel's border in recent months, saying they are in protest at Israel's war in Gaza. Just this week, cross-border attacks from Lebanon led to large fires in northern Israel that triggered evacuations.
Tamar Michaelis contributed reporting to this post.
US expresses concern about risk of escalation on Israel-Lebanon border
From CNN's Jennifer Hansler
The United States remains “incredibly concerned” about the risk of escalation on the Israel-Lebanon border, State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller said Wednesday.
“It's something we've been concerned about since the immediate aftermath of October 7, and we have been engaged in intense diplomatic conversations, intense diplomatic negotiations, to try to avoid that conflict from escalating beyond control,” Miller said at a department briefing with reporters.
Tensions on the borderhave been rising. Cross-border attacks from Lebanon led to large fires blazing through Israel’s northern region this week, and the Israeli military warned it was prepared to launch a large-scale attack in the north to deter the Iran-backed Islamist group Hezbollah.
Miller reiterated Wednesday that “it is an untenable situation for Israel right now” as tens of thousands of Israelis cannot return to their homes in the north due to “constant Hezbollah shelling and drone attacks.”
Miller claimed the Israeli government has privately maintained to the US that “their preferred solution to this conflict is a diplomatic one.”
He added that “one of the reasons we think a ceasefire in Gaza is so important is because that ceasefire would unlock the potential for us to actually achieve lasting calm in the north.”
Beirut embassy gunman wore "what appeared to be ISIS insignia": US State Department
From CNN's Michael Conte
The gunman who allegedly targeted the US Embassy in Beirut on Wednesday morning was wearing “what appeared to be ISIS insignia,” according to a State Department spokesperson.
“We are aware that the individual who was arrested was wearing what appeared to be ISIS insignia, but we are conducting a full investigation with the Lebanese authorities into the actual motivations,” said State Department Spokesperson Matthew Miller at a press briefing.
Miller said that one member of the embassy’s local guard force was “seriously injured” in the incident.
“We achieved full accountability of all official US citizens and locally employed staff, and the embassy closed today following the incident but plans to be open for business-as-usual tomorrow,” Miller said.
Meanwhile, the Lebanese army said its forces had arrested five suspects in connection with the shooting.
The arrests came after raids on several houses in Majdal Anjar and Swairi in eastern Lebanon near the Syrian border, the army said.
The five suspects are a Lebanese national, a Syrian national, and three family members of the alleged gunman.
