Israel-Hamas war: Evacuations begin in Gaza; Biden says there should be a humanitarian ‘pause’ in Israel-Hamas war (2024)

Table of Contents
Blinken to travel to Tel Aviv and Amman Biden says there should be a humanitarian 'pause' in Israel-Hamas war Biden says more work needs to be done to 'significantly step up the flow of critical humanitarian assistance into Gaza' Biden administration announces 'first-ever U.S. national strategy to counter Islamophobia' Biden discussed getting humanitarian aid quicker into Gaza with Jordanian king The most senior official to visit Gaza from the U.N. calls for a humanitarian pause and fuel The Israel-Hamas war has soared into the top issues for Iowa GOP voters No plans to put U.S. troops on the ground, White House says White House confirms some U.S. citizens are expected to leave Gaza today Delta extends cancelation of JFK to Tel Aviv flights through Nov. 21 Secretary Austin meets with Saudi defense minister at the Pentagon Jordan recalls its ambassador to Israel Evacuations begin in Gaza as Rafah border crossing into Egypt opens Cornell University junior charged for threatening to stab and rape Jewish students, prosecutors say Israel's 'second phase' of war appears deliberately ambiguous Norwegian Cruises canceling all Israel calls as conflict escalates U.S. citizens among civilians to exit Gaza Strip WHO says Egypt to receive 81 injured and sick civilians from Gaza Strip Injured civilians enter Egypt from Gaza Strip A convoy of ambulances passes through the Rafah border from Egypt to transport wounded Palestinians Netanyahu warns of 'difficult' and 'long war' More than 500 foreign nationals expected to enter Rafah Crossing Iran's supreme leader calls for boycott against Israel Foreign passport holders enter Rafah crossing Just a third of primary care facilities in Gaza still fully function, WHO says Rafah Crossing to open for evacuation of some foreign nationals out of Gaza, UK foreign minister says Israel defends military importance of Jabalia strike, advises caution on casualty figures from Gaza Saudi Arabia condemns Israel in 'strongest terms possible the inhumane targeting' Bolivia cuts diplomatic ties with Israel; Chile and Colombia recall ambassadors Doubts on opening of Rafah border crossing Palestinian telco says internet service has been interrupted in the Gaza Strip WHO chief: 'There's no time to waste' Biden says he 'will continue to support safe passage for Gaza civilians seeking safety' Blinken, in call with Israel's president, emphasizes minimizing harm to civilians Blinken will travel to Israel on Friday, State Department says CNBC’s previous coverage FAQs References

Blinken to travel to Tel Aviv and Amman

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken will travel to Tel Aviv, Israel and Amman, Jordan in the coming days.

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken waves farewell before departure from the airport in Amman on October 13, 2023 on his way to Qatar. Blinken began on October 12 a tour of Arab capitals as he seeks to build pressure on Hamas while Israel readies a likely massive offensive on the Gaza Strip following the militants' attacks. (Photo by Jacquelyn Martin / POOL / AFP) (Photo by JACQUELYN MARTIN/POOL/AFP via Getty Images)

Jacquelyn Martin | AFP | Getty Images

The department said the secretary will reiterate U.S. support for Israel and discuss efforts to safeguard U.S. citizens, secure the release of hostages, increase aid entering Gaza and preventing the conflict from spreading.

Blinken is also expected to discuss in Jordan resuming essential services and "ensuring that Palestinians are not forcibly displaced outside of Gaza." The department said he will also talk about efforts to "reduce regional tensions, and reaffirm the U.S. commitment to working with partners to set the conditions necessary for a durable and sustainable peace in the Middle East, to include the establishment of a Palestinian state."

— Christine Wang

Biden says there should be a humanitarian 'pause' in Israel-Hamas war

U.S. President Joe Biden holds an event about American retirement economics in the State Dining Room at the White House in Washington, October 31, 2023.

Leah Millis | Reuters

U.S. President Joe Biden said Wednesday he thinks there should be a humanitarian "pause" in the Israel-Hamas war in order to get "prisoners" out.

Biden was speaking at a fundraiser for his 2024 reelection campaign when a protester interrupted him, calling for a ceasefire.

"I think we need a pause," Biden said in response. "A pause means give time to get the prisoners out."

Israeli ground troops have advanced to Gaza City in heavy fighting with militants following Hamas' killing of roughly 1,400 Israelis on Oct. 7.

Associated Press

Biden says more work needs to be done to 'significantly step up the flow of critical humanitarian assistance into Gaza'

Children of Palestinian families take shelter in United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) refugee camp located in Khan Yunis, Gaza on November 01, 2023. (Photo by Abed Zagout/Anadolu via Getty Images)

Abed Zagout | Anadolu Agency | Getty Images

President Joe Biden cheered regional partners for their help paving the way for some wounded Palestinians and foreign nationals, including some U.S. citizens, to escape Gaza.

"I personally spent a lot of time speaking with Prime Minister Netanyahu of Israel and President Sissi of Egypt and others, to make sure that we could open this access for people to get out," Biden said during a visit Wednesday to Northfield, Minn. "I want to thank our partners, in particular Qatar, who worked so closely with us to support negotiations to facilitate the departure of these citizens."

Biden said more work needs to be done to "significantly step up the flow of critical humanitarian assistance into Gaza."

Biden reiterated that he backs Israel's right to defend itself "in a manner that is consistent with international humanitarian law." But he also acknowledged the suffering endured by Palestinians during the Israeli operations.

"We've all seen the devastating images from Gaza," Biden noted. "Palestinian children crying out for lost parents ... writing on their hands and legs to be indemnified if the worst happens."

Associated Press

Biden administration announces 'first-ever U.S. national strategy to counter Islamophobia'

The Biden administration announced a "first-ever U.S. national strategy to counter Islamophobia" as tensions from the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas intensify in Gaza.

"Today's announcement is the latest step as part of President Biden's directive last year to establish an interagency group to increase and better coordinate U.S. government efforts to counter Islamophobia, Antisemitism and related forms of bias and discrimination within the United States," White House press secretary Karine Jean Pierre wrote in a statement.

"There is no place for hate in America against anyone. Period," she added.

— Amanda Macias

Biden discussed getting humanitarian aid quicker into Gaza with Jordanian king

An aid convoy truck loaded with supplies is seen at the Rafah border crossing between Egypt and the Gaza Strip.

Gehad Hamdy | Picture Alliance | Getty Images

The White House said that President Joe Biden discussed ways to expedite critical humanitarian aid to civilians in Gaza with the King of Jordan.

National Security Council spokesman John Kirby said that additional trucks carrying aid arrived in Gaza but that the assistance so far is "still not enough."

"We know, we need to do more. We're continuing to work with our partners in the region to do that," Kirby told reporters on Air Force One.

— Amanda Macias

The most senior official to visit Gaza from the U.N. calls for a humanitarian pause and fuel

United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) Commissioner-General Philippe Lazzarini visits UNRWA building in Rafah, Gaza, makes statements to the press members on November 01, 2023.

Hani Alshaer | Anadolu Agency | Getty Images

Philippe Lazzarini, the Commissioner General for the United Nations Relief and Works Agency, or UNRWA, visited with civilians and humanitarian workers in Gaza.

"Philippe is the most senior official to be allowed into Gaza since the war began," United Nations Secretary-General spokesman Stephane Dujarric said during a daily press briefing.

"He said the staff told him that fuel is very much needed for Gaza and that, more than ever, a humanitarian pause is also needed," Dujarric said.

Dujarric added that UNRWA has lost 70 colleagues since the hostilities began on Oct. 7.

— Amanda Macias

The Israel-Hamas war has soared into the top issues for Iowa GOP voters

A picture taken from southern Israel on November 1, 2023 shows smoke rising over buildings in the Gaza Strip during an Israeli strike, amid the ongoing battles between Israel and the Palestinian group Hamas.

Jack Guez | AFP | Getty Images

The ongoing war between Israel and Hamas is expected to play a big role in how voters approach the Iowa Republican caucuses on Jan. 15.

More than half of Iowa Republicans ranked the Israel-Hamas war as "extremely important" to them, according to the new NBC News/Des Moines Register/Mediacom poll.

Read the full story on NBC News here.

— Amanda Macias

No plans to put U.S. troops on the ground, White House says

White House National Security Council spokesperson John Kirby takes questions on the situation in Israel as he joins White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre for the daily press briefing at the White House in Washington, D.C., on Oct. 11, 2023.

Jonathan Ernst | Reuters

National Security Council spokesman John Kirby told reporters that the Biden administration has no plans to put U.S. troops on the ground in Israel.

"No plans or intentions to put U.S. troops on the ground," Kirby told reporters on Air Force One en route to Minneapolis.

He added that the U.S. was discussing its future force posture plans with allies in the region for when the conflict in Gaza ends.

— Amanda Macias

White House confirms some U.S. citizens are expected to leave Gaza today

A US citizen holds his passport while waiting at the border crossing between the Gaza Strip and Egypt in Rafah. Injured Palestinians, Palestinians with second passports and foreign nationals can be evacuated through the Rafah border crossing. Photo: Mohammed Talatene/dpa (Photo by Mohammed Talatene/picture alliance via Getty Images)

Mohammed Talatene | Picture Alliance | Getty Images

The White House confirmed that U.S. citizens are alongside foreign nationals who are expected to leave Gaza through the Rafah border crossing.

"A handful of Americans are expected to leave Gaza today," National Security Council spokesman John Kirby told reporters on Air Force One en route to Minneapolis. He added that more Americans are expected to leave in the coming days. Kirby said the Biden administration is hopeful that all Americans will be able to depart Gaza.

Kirby had previously told reporters that Hamas had been blocking foreign nationals from transiting through the border crossing.

— Amanda Macias

Delta extends cancelation of JFK to Tel Aviv flights through Nov. 21

Delta Airlines planes sit at Terminal 4 at John F. Kennedy Airport in New York City.

Eric Thayer | Getty Images News | Getty Images

Delta Air Lines extended its cancellation of flights between New York's John F. Kennedy International Airport and Tel Aviv's Ben Gurion Airport through Nov. 21 because of the ongoing conflict in the region.

Last month, the airline said it would suspend its nonstop flights to and from Tel Aviv through at least the end of October.

Delta said in a statement Wednesday it has also canceled all remaining service between Tel Aviv and Atlanta and Boston.

— Melodie Warner

Secretary Austin meets with Saudi defense minister at the Pentagon

US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin welcomes Saudi Defense Minister Khalid bin Salman to the Pentagon in Washington, DC, on November 1, 2023.

Mandel Ngan | AFP | Getty Images

Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin met with Saudi Arabian Defense Minister Prince Khalid bin Salman Al Saud at the Pentagon.

The two are expected to discuss a number of issues facing the bilateral relationship including the ongoing situation in Gaza.

Minister bin Salman and his Saudi Arabian delegation met with President Joe Biden's top national security adviser at the White House earlier in the week.

— Amanda Macias

Jordan recalls its ambassador to Israel

Jordan has recalled its ambassador to Israel as its expression of condemnation over the ongoing war in Gaza, NBC News reported.

Ayman Safadi, who serves as Jordan's deputy prime minister and foreign minister, said in a statement that the return of the ambassador was contingent on Israel halting the war and ending "the humanitarian crises it had caused."

The statement added that Israel's ambassador to Jordan, who has been away from the country, would only be allowed to return on the same terms, according to the NBC News report.

— Melodie Warner

Evacuations begin in Gaza as Rafah border crossing into Egypt opens

Israel-Hamas war: Evacuations begin in Gaza; Biden says there should be a humanitarian ‘pause’ in Israel-Hamas war (1)

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Israel-Hamas conflict: Evacuations begin in Gaza as Rafah border crossing into Egypt opens

Squawk on the Street

NBC's Jay Gray reports on the evacuation of people trapped in the Gaza Strip through the Rafah border crossing for the first time since Israel imposed a siege on the Palestinian enclave after the Hamas attack.

Cornell University junior charged for threatening to stab and rape Jewish students, prosecutors say

A New York State Police Department cruiser is parked in front of Cornell University's Center for Jewish Living, in Ithaca, NY, Monday, Oct 30, 2023.

David Bauder | AP

A 21-year-old Cornell University junior was charged Tuesday for making online threats to Jewish students at the Ivy League school, NBC News reported.

Federal prosecutors in the Northern District of New York said Patrick Dai, a junior at Cornell, allegedly threatened to "shoot up" a campus building. In another post, he said he would "stab" or "slit the throat" of Jewish men, and rape or throw off a cliff Jewish women he encounters on campus, according to the prosecutors.

Dai faces a charge of posting threats to kill or injure another using interstate communications and was slated to make an initial appearance in Syracuse federal court Wednesday. If convicted, he would face a maximum of 5 years in prison and a $250,000 fine.

The threats alarmed students on the university's campus in Ithaca, New York, and put more national attention on the reported rise in antisemitism in the U.S. since the start of the war between Israel and Hamas militants in the Gaza Strip.

— Melodie Warner

Israel's 'second phase' of war appears deliberately ambiguous

Israel-Hamas war: Evacuations begin in Gaza; Biden says there should be a humanitarian ‘pause’ in Israel-Hamas war (2)

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Israel Defense Force expands Gaza ground incursion

News Videos

Israel's military is expanding its operations in the Gaza Strip, but has avoided calling it a "ground invasion" despite sending tanks into the territory. A key reason for the ambiguity in what appear to be smaller land operations, rather than a full-scale land assault, is to throw off the enemy, analysts say.

"They seem to want to keep Hamas guessing if this is really it or just a short,sharpstrikeop," a former British army intelligence officer, who spoke anonymously due to professional restrictions, told CNBC.

Another reason is optics. Israeli strategists are wary of triggering a major response from its enemies Iran and Hezbollah, the well-armed Iranian-backed militant organization in Lebanon on Israel's northern border, says Ryan Bohl, a senior Middle East and North Africa analyst at Rane.

Read the full report here.

— Natasha Turak

Norwegian Cruises canceling all Israel calls as conflict escalates

Daniel Acker | Bloomberg | Getty Images

Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings has canceled and is redirecting all of its cruises to Israel and the surrounding region through 2024 due to the escalating conflict with Palestinian militant group Hamas.

The company said in a statement it will continue to closely monitor and evaluate future sailings and adjust as needed.

Before the war broke out, some 7% of Norwegian's cruising capacity in the fourth quarter of 2023 and 4% of capacity for the full year 2024 involved stops in the Middle East, Norwegian noted.

— Robert Hum

U.S. citizens among civilians to exit Gaza Strip

A US citizen holds his passport while waiting at the border crossing between the Gaza Strip and Egypt in Rafah. Injured Palestinians, Palestinians with second passports and foreign nationals can be evacuated through the Rafah border crossing. Photo: Mohammed Talatene/dpa (Photo by Mohammed Talatene/picture alliance via Getty Images)

Mohammed Talatene | Picture Alliance | Getty Images

Some U.S. nationals will be able to depart the Gaza Strip through the Rafah crossing and enter Egypt on Wednesday, an U.S. official told NBC News.

Fewer than 10 such civilians are expected to make the journey on Wednesday, with more Americans set to depart on Thursday, the official added. It was not immediately clear if the tally included holders of dual citizenship. The State Department has said that as many as 600 Americans are stuck in Gaza.

This is the first time that U.S. and foreign nationals are able to leave the embattled and besieged Gaza Strip since the start of the Israel-Hamas war. Roughly 500 foreign passport holders will be allowed to cross into Egypt, according to NBC News.

Ruxandra Iordache

WHO says Egypt to receive 81 injured and sick civilians from Gaza Strip

Ambulances from Egypt wait to pass through Rafah border crossing to transport seriously wounded Palestinians after Israeli attacks in Rafah, Gaza on November 01, 2023. (Photo by Mustafa Hassona/Anadolu via Getty Images)

Mustafa Hassona | Anadolu Agency | Getty Images

The World Health Organization welcomed Egypt's decision to accept 81 injured and sick civilians from the Gaza Strip for treatment, it said in a statement.

WHO is cooperating with both the Egyptian Ministry of Health and the Egyptian Red Crescent Society to assist in providing care.

The organization said that the first point of referral for civilian patients from the Gaza Strip would be the al-Arish hospital in Arish, northern Egypt. The facility "has fully equipped resuscitation and intensive care facilities, and a range of surgical teams to manage severe injuries, including major trauma and burns."

Onward referrals to secondary hospitals are also in place, and there are currently 65 ambulances waiting to attend the injured.

An injured man lies inside an ambulance waiting at the Rafah border crossing in the southern Gaza Strip before receiving medical care in Egypt on November 1, 2023.

Mohammed Abed | AFP | Getty Images

On Wednesday, civilians began to cross into Egypt for the first time since the start of the Israel-Hamas war, leaving behind the heavily bombarded and besieged Gaza Strip. Electricity and fuel shortages in the region have greatly crippled the local healthcare system, the Gaza health ministry and WHO have previously said.

"Thousands more people inside the Gaza Strip continue to need access to urgent and essential health services amid shortages of medicines, health supplies and other aid such as fuel, water and food," WHO said Wednesday.

Ruxandra Iordache

Injured civilians enter Egypt from Gaza Strip

Ambulances from Egypt pass through Rafah border crossing to transport seriously wounded Palestinians after Israeli attacks in Rafah, Gaza on November 01, 2023. (Photo by Abed Rahim Khatib/Anadolu via Getty Images)

Abed Rahim Khatib | Anadolu Agency | Getty Images

Injured civilians have entered Egypt from the Gaza Strip for the first time since the terror attacks carried out by Palestinian militant group Hamas against Israel on Oct. 7, NBC News reports.

The number of those who have traversed the crossing was not immediately clear.

More than 500 foreign nationals are expected to enter the Rafah crossing, the secretary-general of the Red Crescent in North Sinai told NBC News. It is the first time foreign passport holders have been allowed to leave the territory since the start start of the Israel-Hamas war.

The blockaded and bombarded Gaza Strip has been receiving humanitarian aid through the Rafah crossing in recent week.

Ruxandra Iordache

A convoy of ambulances passes through the Rafah border from Egypt to transport wounded Palestinians

Ambulances from Egypt pass through the Rafah border crossing to transport seriously wounded Palestinian people.

Ambulances from Egypt pass through Rafah border crossing to transport seriously wounded Palestinians after Israeli attacks in Rafah, Gaza on November 01, 2023.

Stringer | Anadolu Agency | Getty Images

Ambulances from Egypt pass through Rafah border crossing to transport seriously wounded Palestinians after Israeli attacks in Rafah, Gaza on November 01, 2023.

Stringer | Anadolu Agency | Getty Images

-Getty Images

Netanyahu warns of 'difficult' and 'long war'

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu holds a press conference with Defense Minister Yoav Gallant and Cabinet Minister Benny Gantz (not pictured) in the Kirya military base in Tel Aviv , Israel , 28 October 2023.

Abir Sultan | Reuters

Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu warned that his country is caught in a "difficult" and "long war" against Palestinian militant group Hamas.

In a social media update, he said, "We are in a difficult war. This will be a long war. We have so many important achievements but also painful losses. We know that every soldier of ours is an entire world. The entire people of Israel embrace you, the families, from the depth of our heart."

Israel launched its campaign in the Gaza Strip following the Hamas terror attacks of Oct. 7, and has since bombarded and carried out ground operations in the enclosure, briefly deploying tanks and bulldozers alongside infantry.

A larger-scale operation is widely expected, but the urban environment of the densely populated Gaza Strip and the underground network of Hamas tunnels beneath cities in the enclosure may pose military challenges, analysts warn.

Ruxandra Iordache

More than 500 foreign nationals expected to enter Rafah Crossing

People sit in the waiting area at the Rafah border crossing in the southern Gaza Strip before crossing into Egypt on November 1, 2023.

Mohammed Abed | Afp | Getty Images

More than 500 foreign nationals are expected to enter the Rafah Crossing, as part of an evacuation effort from the embattled Gaza Strip, the secretary-general of the Red Crescent in North Sinai told NBC News.

Dr. Raed Abdel Nasser said that the first batch of foreign nationals entered the crossing — the only exit from the Gaza Strip not controlled by Israel, which connects to Egypt — at 10:00 a.m. local time.

Those allowed to pass include carriers of foreign and dual nationalities, who are waiting for the completion of entry procedures.

The potential crossing of civilians is the result of an agreement between Egypt, Israel and Palestinian militant group Hamas, which was mediated by Qatar in coordination with the U.S.

In the war so far, the Rafah Crossing has been used to bring in humanitarian aid to civilians trapped in the Gaza enclosure.

Ruxandra Iordache

Iran's supreme leader calls for boycott against Israel

Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei speaks during a graduation ceremony for armed forces officers at the Imam Ali academy in Tehran, Iran, on Oct. 10, 2023.

WANA News Agency | Via Reuters

Iran's supreme leader has urged the international Arab community to boycott exports to Israel in response to its offensive in the Gaza Strip.

"What the Islamic governments must insist on is the immediate cessation of crimes in Gaza.They should immediately stop the bombing of Gaza and block the export of oil and food" to Israel, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said, according to Google-translated comments carried by the state-run Islamic Republic News Agency.

Iran and Israel have long had an inimical relationship, with Iran financially supporting Palestinian militant group Hamas. Tehran celebrated the Hamas terror attack of Oct. 7 against Israel, but denied involvement in the operation.

Israel has since repeatedly accused Iran of orchestrating attacks against it through Lebanese Hezbollah militia and Yemen's Houthi group, which Tehran has historically backed.

Ruxandra Iordache

Foreign passport holders enter Rafah crossing

TOPSHOT - People walk through a gate to enter the Rafah border crossing to Egypt in the southern Gaza Strip on November 1, 2023. Scores of foreign passport holders trapped in Gaza started leaving the war-torn Palestinian territory on November 1 when the Rafah crossing to Egypt was opened up for the first time since the October 7 Hamas attacks on Israel, according to AFP correspondents. (Photo by Mohammed ABED / AFP) (Photo by MOHAMMED ABED/AFP via Getty Images)

Mohammed Abed | Afp | Getty Images

Dozens of people entered the Rafah crossing from Gaza to Egypt on Wednesday. It appeared to be the first time foreign passport holders have been allowed to leave the besieged territory since the start of the Israel-Hamas war more than three weeks ago.

People enter the Rafah border crossing in the southern Gaza Strip before crossing into Egypt on November 1, 2023.

Mohammed Abed | Afp | Getty Images

Early Wednesday, providers Paltel and Jawwal reported a "complete disruption" of communications and internet services in Gaza, the second major cut in five days. Humanitarian aid agencies have warned that such blackouts severely disrupt their work in an already dire situation in Gaza.

The Palestinian death toll in the Israel-Hamas war has reached 8,525, according to the Hamas-runHealth Ministry in Gaza. In the occupied West Bank, more than 122 Palestinians have been killed in violence and Israeli raids.

Palestinians with foreign passports at Rafah Border Gate wait to cross into Egypt as the Israeli airstrikes continue on 26th day in Rafah, Gaza on November 01, 2023.

Abed Rahim Khatib | Anadolu Agency | Getty Images

—Associated Press

Just a third of primary care facilities in Gaza still fully function, WHO says

A Palestinian man living in Nuseirat Camp travels from hospital to hospital in search of oxygen with a donkey cart since he cannot find fuel due to the full embargo imposed on Gaza in Deir al-Balah, Gaza on November 01, 2023. (Photo by Doaa Albaz/Anadolu via Getty Images)

Doaa Albaz | Anadolu Agency | Getty Images

Just a third of primary care facilities are still fully functioning in the embattled and resource-deprived Gaza Strip, a branch of the World Health Organization said on social media.

"The 66% of hospitals remaining open have substantially reduced services to cope with massive casualties," it said, noting that roughly 100 patients each day require health care outside of the enclosure, owing to a lack of suitable treatment options within the strip.

Human rights groups have previously decried the dire conditions of civilians in the Gaza Strip, which Israel has cut off from its own supplies as it pursues a retaliatory offensive against Hamas for the Palestinian militant group's terror attacks of Oct. 7.

The absence of fuel, electricity and medical equipment has crippled the local health system.

Ruxandra Iordache

Rafah Crossing to open for evacuation of some foreign nationals out of Gaza, UK foreign minister says

A general view of the Rafah border crossing point with Egypt, as Palestinians with dual citizenship waits outside the Rafah border crossing, in the hope of getting permission to leave Gaza, amid the ongoing conflict between Israel and Palestinian Islamist group Hamas, in Rafah in the southern Gaza Strip, November 1, 2023.

Staff | Reuters

The Rafah Crossing bridging the Gaza Strip and Egypt is likely to open on Wednesday and allow the evacuation of a first batch of foreign nationals, Britain's foreign minister said on social media.

"The Rafah crossing is likely to open today for a first group of foreign nationals," James Cleverly said. "UK teams are ready to assist British nationals as soon as they are able to leave. It's vital that lifesaving humanitarian aid can enter Gaza as quickly as possible."

The Rafah Crossing is the only exit out of the Gaza enclosure that is not controlled by Israel. It has so far been used for the transport of humanitarian aid into the besieged strip, rather than evacuation.

Ruxandra Iordache

Israel defends military importance of Jabalia strike, advises caution on casualty figures from Gaza

Palestinians check the destruction in the aftermath of an Israeli strike in the Jabalia camp for Palestinian refugees in the Gaza Strip, on November 1, 2023, amid ongoing battles between Israel and the Palestinian Hamas movement.

Bashar Taleb | AFP | Getty Images

An Israeli spokesperson has warned against relying on immediate casualty numbers emerging from Palestinian territories, after an Israeli airstrike killed dozens and wounded hundreds in the Jabalia refugee camp, according to a local hospital.

In a CNN interview, Israel Defense Forces spokesperson Jonathan Conricus advised caution and warned that casualty numbers were previously "greatly inflated" by Palestinian authorities in the case of a blast at the al-Ahli hospital in Gaza. He added that the figures are supplied by the Gaza health ministry, which Israel says is controlled by Palestinian militant group Hamas.

Israeli Army spokesperson for international media, Lieutenant Colonel Jonathan Conricus.

Jalaa Marey | Afp | Getty Images

"I have not seen confirmed numbers of any of the civilian casualties. I understand that there may be, but I would recommend caution when claiming they have been killed," he said.

Israel on Tuesday said it had struck the encampment and killed senior Hamas commander Ibrahim Biari.

"I'm not saying that there are no civilian casualties," Conricus said. "What I am saying is that we struck an important military objective."

He also warned that the northern part of the Gaza Strip is an "active combat zone" and that Hamas "uses civilians as their human shields."

In a separate post on X, formerly known as Twitter, Conricus said it was a "misnomer" to refer to the Jabalia site as a refugee camp.

"These are the permanent dwellings of Palestinians under Palestinian rule," he said.

Human rights groups have repeatedly called on Israel to minimize harm on civilians in its retaliatory campaign against Hamas in the Gaza Strip.

Ruxandra Iordache

Saudi Arabia condemns Israel in 'strongest terms possible the inhumane targeting'

Saudi Arabia has condemned "in the strongest terms possible the inhumane targeting by the Israeli occupation forces of the Jabalia refugee camp in the besieged Gaza Strip," its Foreign Ministry said in a statement.

Palestinians check the destruction in the aftermath of an Israeli strike in the Jabalia camp for Palestinian refugees in the Gaza Strip, on November 1, 2023, amid ongoing battles between Israel and the Palestinian Hamas movement.

Bashar Taleb | AFP | Getty Images

Saudi Arabia denounced "the repeated targeting by the Israeli occupation forces of densely populated civilian areas, and its continuing violation of international law and international humanitarian law."

The Israeli military said a lethal air strike on the Jabalia refugee camp in the northern Gaza Strip killed a senior Hamas commander on Tuesday. Dozens of other people were killed, while hundreds were wounded, a local hospital says.

Saudi Arabia has historically supported the cause of the Palestinian people, refusing to knot diplomatic ties with Israel as a result. Progress was being made on normalizing relations between the two countries — encouraged by the United States, which seeks coordination between two strong Middle East allies — prior to the Oct. 7 terror attacks perpetrated against Israel by Palestinian militant group Hamas.

Ruxandra Iordache

Bolivia cuts diplomatic ties with Israel; Chile and Colombia recall ambassadors

Bolivia on Tuesday announced it has severed diplomatic ties with Israel as a result of civilian losses caused by its war campaign in the Gaza Strip, while Chile and Colombia have recalled their ambassadors to the Middle Eastern country for consultations.

The Bolivian decision took place after a Monday meeting with the Palestinian ambassador to the South American country, said Maria Nela Prada, minister of the Bolivian presidency, in an update.

In addition to dissolving diplomatic ties with Israel, she said Bolivia's government "demand the end of attacks in the Gaza Strip, which have so far led to thousands of civilian deaths, and the forced displacement of Palestinian people," according to a CNBC translation.

Bolivia's new President Luis Arce's Presidency Minister Marianela Prada delivers a speech during her inauguration ceremony at the Casa Grande del Pueblo government palace in La Paz on November 9, 2020. - Leftist economist Luis Arce assumed the Bolivian presidency facing the challenge of uniting a polarized society and reactivating an economy ravaged by the coronavirus pandemic. (Photo by AIZAR RALDES / AFP) (Photo by AIZAR RALDES/AFP via Getty Images)

Aizar Raldes | Afp | Getty Images

"The government of Bolivia's decision to cut diplomatic ties with Israel is a surrender to terrorism and to the Ayatollah's regime in Iran," Israel's Foreign Ministry said in a statement. "By taking this step, the Bolivian government is aligning itself with the Hamas terrorist organization."

It added, "In any case, since the change of government in Bolivia, relations between the countries have been devoid of content."

Bolivia interrupted diplomatic ties with Israel between 2009 and 2020 also because of fighting in the Gaza Strip.

Overnight, Colombian President Gustavo Petro and his Chilean counterpart Gabriel Boric Font both announced recalling their countries' ambassadors to Israel for consultations in separate social media posts translated by CNBC.

Several countries have called upon Israel to be proportionate in its military response in the Gaza Strip, where Israeli military says it is only targeting the forces and position of Hamas, after the Palestinian militant group's terror attacks of Oct. 7.

Ruxandra Iordache

Doubts on opening of Rafah border crossing

Military personnel stand guard on the day of Egyptian Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly's visit to the Rafah border crossing between Egypt and the Gaza Strip, amid the ongoing conflict between Israel and Palestinian Islamist group Hamas, in Rafah, Egypt, October 31, 2023.

Mohamed Abd El Ghany | Reuters

There are still doubts surrounding the opening of the Rafah border crossing for wounded people on Wednesday, according to NBC News.

The news outlet reports that there has been no confirmation from the Egyptian side and it would also need the approval of Israel.

That comes despite the media director on Palestinian side saying "The Rafah land crossing will be opened tomorrow, Wednesday, for a number of wounded to leave to complete their treatment in Egyptian hospitals."

The BBC reported late Tuesday that the U.K. Foreign Office had informed British nationals trapped in Gaza about "credible reports" that Rafah might open for limited exits.

— Matt Clinch

Palestinian telco says internet service has been interrupted in the Gaza Strip

Palestinian telecommunications provider Paltel said all internet and communications services in the Gaza Strip have been interrupted, according to a statement on X, the social media platform previously known as Twitter.

— Christine Wang

WHO chief: 'There's no time to waste'

A boy stands holding a fresh and cracked loaf of bread along an alley in Rafah in the southern Gaza Strip on October 31, 2023 amid ongoing battles between Israel and the Palestinian Hamas movement.

Mohammed Abed | Afp | Getty Images

The head of the WHO, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, issued an urgent call for "unrestricted" access to Gaza so that aid organizations can deliver life-saving supplies.

Calling the scale of the casualties "staggering," Tedros said that without access, "tragedy will continue unfolding before our eyes."

"The limited aid flow is a mere trickle of the growing needs," Tedros posted on X. "Without urgent, unrestricted access at scale, tragedy will continue unfolding before our eyes. The conflict started on 7 October, the first aid crossing was on 21 October. Since then, @WHO has only been able to transport enough supplies for approximately 370,000 people, including for traumatic wound and burn care, and treatment for serious chronic conditions."

Tedros called for an "immediate humanitarian pause:" "There's no time to waste. Every moment matters."

A boy sits on donkey-drawn cart loaded with a water tank, as drinking water and fuel become increasingly scarce, in Khan Yunis in the southern Gaza Strip on October 30, 2023, amid ongoing battles between Israel and the Palestinian group Hamas. (Photo by MAHMUD HAMS / AFP) (Photo by MAHMUD HAMS/AFP via Getty Images)

Mahmud Hams | Afp | Getty Images

A Palestinian kid is seen amidst the rubble from a damaged building following an Israeli military raid in a Jenin refugee camp in the occupied northern West Bank. According to health officials, Israeli military attacks have reportedly resulted in the deaths of 110 individuals and injuries to over 1,000 in the occupied West Bank. These figures have been recorded since the onset of the recent conflict between Israel and the Palestinian militant group Hamas, in the Gaza Strip.

Sopa Images | Lightrocket | Getty Images

Children sit together around a boy cooking instant noodles on a fire in a make-shift oven from a recycled barrel, in Rafah in the southern Gaza Strip on October 31, 2023 amid ongoing battles between Israel and the Palestinian Hamas movement. (Photo by MOHAMMED ABED / AFP) (Photo by MOHAMMED ABED/AFP via Getty Images)

Mohammed Abed | Afp | Getty Images

Riya Bhattacharjee

Biden says he 'will continue to support safe passage for Gaza civilians seeking safety'

U.S. President Joe Biden holds an event about American retirement economics in the State Dining Room at the White House in Washington, October 31, 2023.

Leah Millis | Reuters

President Joe Biden said on X that he is "not done pushing for more aid and will continue to support safe passage for Gaza civilians seeking safety."

"Yesterday saw the largest delivery of life-saving humanitarian assistance into Gaza so far, and more trucks are being cleared to enter today. But many more are needed," Biden posted on Tuesday.

Human rights groups have been sounding the alarm about an escalating humanitarian crisis in Gaza amid heavy bombardment by Israeli troops, as Gaza health officials report more than 8,500 people have lost their lives since the start of the Israel-Hamas conflict on Oct. 7. Stark images of entire families stranded without food, water, sanitation and other basic necessities have emerged on social media and television networks across the world, sparking protests globally.

NBC News reported that although Muslim Americans voted overwhelmingly for Biden, community leaders in swing states say that the president's handling of the war in Gaza risks losing their support.

"It literally may dissuade enough voters to sit back in the next election and watch Donald Trump control the presidency, watch the Republicans control the Congress and also know that conservatives will have control of the Supreme Court," said Wa'el Alzayat, the CEO of Emgage, a group that mobilizes American-Muslim voters.

Read the full report on NBC News.

Riya Bhattacharjee

Blinken, in call with Israel's president, emphasizes minimizing harm to civilians

This image grab taken from AFPTV video footage shows Palestinians looking for survivors in a crater following a stike on a refugee camp in Jabalia on the northern Gaza Strip, on October 31, 2023, amid relentless Israeli bombardment of the Palestinian territory. The health ministry in the Hamas-run Gaza Strip said at least 50 people were killed on October 31 in Israeli bombardment of the refugee camp in the Palestinian territory.

Fadi Alwhidi | Afp | Getty Images

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Tuesday "emphasized the need to take feasible precautions to minimize harm to civilians" during a telephone call with Israeli President Isaac Herzog, the State Department said, amid the conflict with Hamas.

"The Secretary reiterated U.S. support for Israel's right to defend itself against terrorism consistent with international humanitarian law," spokesperson Matthew Miller said in a statement.

Reuters

Blinken will travel to Israel on Friday, State Department says

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken speaks during a United States Senate Committee on Appropriations hearing on Capitol Hill October 31, 2023 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Celal Gunes/Anadolu via Getty Images)

Anadolu Agency | Anadolu Agency | Getty Images

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken has announced plans to travel to Israel on Friday to consult with Israeli officials about their ongoing war on Hamas.

State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller said Tuesday that Blinken would visit Israel "and then will make other stops in the region." He did not identify the other planned stops.

Blinken made an urgent trip to the Middle East earlier this month, visiting Israel, Jordan, Qatar, Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, Egypt and the United Arab Emirates.

Associated Press

CNBC’s previous coverage

Dozens of deaths reported in Gaza refugee camp airstrike; Israel says it killed top Hamas commander

Israel-Hamas war: Evacuations begin in Gaza; Biden says there should be a humanitarian ‘pause’ in Israel-Hamas war (2024)

FAQs

Does Hamas intercept humanitarian aid? ›

May 2024. The Erez crossing was re-opened on 1 May. Israel said the target number of aid trucks daily was 500. The U.S. alleged that Hamas briefly seized the first aid shipment that came through.

Has Israel provided humanitarian aid to Gaza? ›

Since October 21st, 2023, the IDF, via COGAT, has facilitated the entry of humanitarian aid into the Gaza Strip through the Rafah Crossing. This aid is designated for the civilian population in the Gaza Strip.

What is Hamas fighting for? ›

HAMAS emerged in 1987 during the first Palestinian uprising, or intifada, as an outgrowth of the Muslim Brotherhood's Palestinian branch. The group is committed to armed resistance against Israel and the creation of an Islamic Palestinian state in Israel's place.

What is the warning before bombings in Israel? ›

Roof knocking (Hebrew: הקש בגג) or "knock on the roof" is a term used by the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) to describe its practice of dropping non-explosive or low-yield devices on the roofs of targeted civilian homes in the Palestinian territories as a prior warning of imminent bombing attacks to give the inhabitants ...

Which country is helping Hamas? ›

Since the early 1990s, the Islamic Republic of Iran has been sponsoring the militant organization Hamas with military aid and training and financial aid. Iran has remained a key patron of Hamas, providing them with funds, weapons, and training.

Why no aid to Gaza? ›

Palestinians and aid groups say Israeli restrictions have made it impossible to get enough aid into Gaza throughout the war. But when aid did come into Rafah from neighboring Egypt, it could be distributed relatively quickly. However, Israel's invasion of Rafah in early May has largely emptied the city.

Is Hamas funded by Israel? ›

Former Israeli officials have openly acknowledged Israel's role in providing funding and assistance to Hamas as a means of undermining secular Palestinian factions such as the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO).

Is Hamas legal? ›

According to court documents, Harakat al-Muqawamah al-Islamiyya, commonly known as Hamas, is a terrorist organization that was founded in 1987, and has been designated as a foreign terrorist organization (FTO) by the United States since 1997.

Why is Hamas firing on Israel? ›

Overview. Attacks began in 2001. Since then (August 2014 data), almost 20,000 rockets have hit southern Israel, all but a few thousand of them since Israel withdrew from the Gaza Strip in August 2005. Hamas justified these as counter-attacks to the Israeli blockade of Gaza.

Is Israel still roof knocking? ›

Senior Israeli source: Gaza will not be Hamastan; 'roof knocking' policy no longer norm. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's defined goal for the war at this stage is to deprive Hamas of the ability and the motivation to harm Israel, a senior Israeli government source tells reporters.

Why doesn t Israel admit it has nukes? ›

Israel maintains a policy of deliberate ambiguity, never officially denying nor admitting to having nuclear weapons, instead repeating over the years that "Israel will not be the first country to introduce nuclear weapons to the Middle East".

What is code Red Alert Israel? ›

The Red Color system is Israel's official source for rocket alerts which millions of Israelis rely on for their safety.

Is blocking humanitarian aid a war crime? ›

Denial of humanitarian access to civilians, including children, and attacks against humanitarian workers assisting children are prohibited under the 4th Geneva Convention and its Additional Protocols and may amount to a crime against humanity and a war crime.

Does Hamas receive aid? ›

Hamas funding

Unlike the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) in the West Bank, Hamas is designated as a terrorist entity, so the United States and the European Union (EU) do not provide any financial assistance to Hamas. Historically, Palestinian expatriates and private donors provided much of Hamas' funding.

Who runs humanitarian aid? ›

The four UN entities that have primary roles in delivering humanitarian aid are United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), the United Nations Refugee Agency (UNHCR), the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) and the World Food Programme (WFP).

Is the Israeli Palestinian conflict a humanitarian crisis? ›

The need for a ceasefire becomes more urgent as each hour passes, with more than two million Palestinians facing humanitarian catastrophe. Nearly 1.7 million Palestinians are estimated to be internally displaced. Some families have been displaced several times over.

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