Israel’s war on Gaza updates: Hamas puts forth proposal aimed at ending war
These were the updates on the Israel-Gaza war for Friday, March 15, 2024.
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- Hamas says it submitted a new truce proposal to mediators in Egypt and Qatar that outlines its “view on the prisoner swap”.
- Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu describes the latest Hamas ceasefire plan as “ridiculous” and says his war cabinet approved the ground invasion of Gaza’s southern Rafah city.
- At least 21 Palestinians are killed and more than 150 wounded in northern Gaza City when Israel attacks a crowd of people waiting for humanitarian aid.
- At least 31,490 Palestinians have been killed and 73,439 injured in Israeli attacks on Gaza since October 7. The death toll in Israel from Hamas’s October 7 attack stands at 1,139 with dozens taken captive.
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The live page is now closed. You can continue to follow our coverage of the war in Gaza here.
Read about the latest Israeli massacre of desperate people in Gaza waiting for food aid.
To learn more about how Israeli authorities blocked thousands of Palestinians in the occupied West Bank from reaching the Al-Aqsa Mosque in occupied East Jerusalem, read our story here.
And you can find more news, features and videos on the conflict here.
Here’s what happened today
We will be closing this live page soon. Here is a recap of today’s main events:
- The Israeli military carried out five separate attacks on aid distribution centres in the past 48 hours in the Gaza Strip, killing 56 people and injuring more than 300 others.
- Hamas submitted a new truce proposal to mediators in Egypt and Qatar that Israel’s leader described as “ridiculous”.
- The Hamas proposal is “within the bounds” of what negotiators discussed in recent months, the White House says.
- US President Biden expressed support for a speech by Senate Leader Chuck Schumer, which heavily criticised Benjamin Netanyahu and called for early elections in Israel.
- The number of people killed in Israeli attacks on Gaza since the start of the war rose to 31,490, according to the latest Health Ministry figures.
Many missing after Israeli forces hit Gaza City building
Our colleagues at Al Jazeera Arabic report dozens of people are missing following an Israeli attack on a seven-story building in the Remal neighbourhood.
Footage captured by Al Jazeera shows debris spread everywhere as rescue workers search for survivors under the rubble.
#تغطية_مباشرة – عشرات المفقودين في قصف إسرائيلي لبناية من 7 طوابق تؤوي نازحين في حي الرمال بمدينة غزة، وحماس تقدم مقترحا بشأن صفقة تبادل إلى الوسطاء
يمكنكم متابعة تطورات #حرب_غزة عبر قناة الجزيرة على واتساب:https://t.co/oV6GNzGUoU https://t.co/QE17a8DqgK— قناة الجزيرة (@AJArabic) March 15, 2024
Translation: Dozens of missing people in an Israeli bombing of a seven-story building housing the displaced in the Remal neighbourhood in Gaza City, as Hamas presents a proposal on a captive-exchange deal to mediators.
‘Costing children’s lives’: More from UNICEF report on infant deaths
The UN’s children agency says the malnutrition crisis in Gaza is “shocking, especially when desperately needed assistance has been at the ready just a few miles away”.
“We have repeatedly attempted to deliver additional aid and we have repeatedly called for the access challenges we have faced for months to be addressed,” the report says.
“Instead, the situation for children is getting worse by each passing day. Our efforts in providing life-saving aid are being hampered by unnecessary restrictions, and those are costing children their lives,” said Catherine Russell, UNICEF executive director.
About 28 percent of children under two years old suffer from acute malnutrition, and more than 10 percent have “severe wasting”, the most life-threatening form of malnutrition.
‘Nowhere to go’: Germany tells Israel Rafah invasion unjustified
Germany warned Israel against a military offensive on Rafah where about 1.5 million Palestinian civilians are currently sheltering.
“A large-scale offensive in Rafah cannot be justified,” German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock said on social media platform X.
“Over a million displaced people have sought refuge there, they have nowhere to go. A humanitarian ceasefire is needed immediately so no more people die and the hostages are finally released,” she said.
Despite growing international pressure, Israel’s government announced on Friday its plans for a military offensive in Gaza’s southernmost city of Rafah were authorised by the war cabinet.
News reports: Israeli military operation in Rafah ‘is not imminent’
Israeli media have questioned Prime Minister Netanyahu’s declaration of his approval for military plans to imminently launch a ground invasion of Rafah city, where about 1.5 million Palestinians are sheltering from attacks.
“Netanyahu’s talk of an imminent operation in Rafah appears more geared toward pressuring Hamas to agree to a hostage deal,” the Times of Israel reports.
It noted that Channel 12 and the Ynet news outlets also are sceptical of the Rafah attack. “The networks indicate that despite Netanyahu’s declarations, an operation in Rafah is not imminent.”
UNICEF: ‘Staggering escalation’ in infant deaths in northern Gaza
The UN’s children agency says 31 percent, or one in three kids under the age of two in northern Gaza are now suffering from acute malnutrition, a “staggering escalation” from 15.6 percent in January.
“Malnutrition among children is spreading fast and reaching devastating and unprecedented levels in the Gaza Strip due to the wide-reaching impacts of the war and ongoing restrictions on aid delivery,” UNICEF said in a report.
At least 23 children have died of malnutrition and dehydration in northern Gaza in recent weeks, it said, also highlighting the mounting death toll of children at 13,450 since the war began.
Screenings found 4.5 percent of children suffer from “severe wasting”, the most life-threatening form of malnutrition.
Malnutrition among children is spreading fast and reaching devastating and unprecedented levels in the Gaza Strip due to the wide-reaching impacts of the war and ongoing restrictions on aid delivery.
An immediate humanitarian ceasefire continues to provide the only chance to…
— UNICEF (@UNICEF) March 15, 2024
Doctor says level of malnutrition for pregnant women ‘truly horrific’
Dr Brenda Kelly says new mothers are desperately struggling to keep themselves and their newborns alive during “huge and critical shortages of food, water and medical care”.
She said colleagues on the ground in Gaza are reporting a “huge increase” in pre-term births and a rising number of miscarriages and stillbirths.
“The level of malnutrition is truly horrific,” Kelly, a consultant obstetrician at Oxford University, told Al Jazeera.
“We know that many of the women, even prior to this conflict, coming into pregnancy had things like anaemia. With extreme malnutrition, it is absolutely true there are many more babies being born that are very much smaller than expected.”
Israel says Gaza rocket launch sites hit ‘minutes’ after Sderot attack
The Israeli military released footage it says shows fighter jets hitting a rocket launch site in northern Gaza.
The army directed aircraft and artillery attacks and destroyed it “within a few minutes” after it launched projectiles at the southern Israeli city of Sderot. It added the launch was “successfully intercepted” by defence systems.
Rocket Alerts [21:00:46] – 3 Alerts:
• Gaza Envelope — Sderot, Ibim, Nir Am#Israel #RocketAlert #RedAlert pic.twitter.com/TWA6XYxjfj
— ILRedAlert (@ILRedAlert) March 15, 2024
Vessel targeted near western Yemen as Houthi attacks continue
British maritime security firm Ambrey reports a vessel was targeted about 80 nautical miles (150km) northwest of Hodeidah.
The crew was reported safe, Ambrey said in an advisory note. Meanwhile, the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) says an incident occurred 65 nautical miles (120km) west of Hodeidah.
It was unclear if Ambrey and UKMTO were reporting the same event.
Yemen’s Houthi militia has been attacking ships in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden since November in what it calls a campaign of solidarity with Palestinians and against Israel’s continuing war on Gaza.
UKMTO WARNING INCIDENT 053 ATTACKhttps://t.co/fX3hWupi7g#Maritimesecurity #MarSec pic.twitter.com/XUE4VU0rI8
— United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) (@UK_MTO) March 15, 2024
‘Up to Israeli people to decide’ on elections: White House
US President Joe Biden doesn’t seek to interfere with the will of the Israeli people on holding elections, the White House says.
The comments come after a controversial speech by Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer who suggested Israel’s “extremist” government should call a vote after its brutal war on Gaza.
“That’s going to be up to the Israeli people to decide,” White House spokesman John Kirby told a press briefing when asked about the president’s backing of Schumer’s speech. He is the highest-ranking Jewish American in the US political hierarchy.
“I think he expressed serious concern shared not only by him but by many Americans,” Biden said.
Israeli forces bomb home in central Gaza
Footage shared online, and verified by Al Jazeera’s fact-checking unit Sanad, shows bodies and wounded people being brought to Al-Aqsa Hospital after Israeli forces shelled a home in the Nuseirat refugee camp.
Children are among the injured in the attack. People can be seen outside the hospital distressed and consoling one another.
The camp has been repeatedly targeted by Israeli forces, forcing thousands of Palestinians to flee the central Gaza Strip. Areas including Deir el-Balah, Khan Younis and Rafah face continuing bombardment from Israeli artillery and warplanes, rendering no place safe for evacuees.
Elders group of world leaders calls on Biden to stop arming Israel
The Elders, a group of global leaders founded by Nelson Mandela, says President Biden should stop arming Israel in an effort to stop the war on Gaza, instead of focusing on sending limited amounts of aid to the besieged enclave.
“The United States can influence Israel by not continuing to provide arms. It has provided a lot of the arms, bombs and other arms that have been used on the Palestinian people, and [Biden] is continuing to do that. He’s also providing money,” said Mary Robinson, chairwoman of the organisation.
“This government of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is on the wrong side of history completely.”
Elders’ Chair Mary Robinson says President Biden should not continue to provide arms to Israel.
“The United States can influence Israel by not continuing to provide arms… The Government of Prime Minister Netanyahu is on the wrong side of history, completely. It’s making the… pic.twitter.com/fN3ptMjktz
— The Elders (@TheElders) March 15, 2024
Beirut says French plan for Lebanon-Israel truce could be ‘step’ to stability
Lebanon sees a French proposal meant to end hostilities with Israel and settle a border dispute as a possible “significant step” towards peace.
The French plan was submitted to Lebanon last month and details were first reported by the Reuters news agency.
It outlines three phases in which military operations would cease, Lebanese armed groups would withdraw combat forces, and Lebanese regular troops would be deployed in the south.
To succeed, any deal would need approval from Hezbollah, which holds significant sway over the Lebanese state. Hezbollah says it won’t stop clashing with Israel until an Israeli-Hamas ceasefire is reached in Gaza.
Lebanon’s foreign ministry said it “believes the French initiative could be a significant step” towards peace and security in Lebanon and the broader region.
Humanitarian situation in northern Gaza a ‘nightmare’
Dominic Allen, the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) representative for Palestine, says the true depth of the crisis and unfolding “nightmare” in northern Gaza cannot be captured with pictures.
He told reporters via video conference how he saw a five-year-old Palestinian boy, with his slightly older sister, holding up a white flag as they walked toward a military checkpoint operated by the Israeli military.
“These stories, these images, perhaps don’t do enough of a good job in helping to paint a picture of the tragedy and catastrophe that is happening right now in Gaza,” he said.
“I think what I took away was the looks in the eyes of the people, which the emotion is truly indescribable. Everyone we passed, everyone we spoke to was frail, was hungry,” Al Jazeera Arabic’s Biesan Abu-Kwaik quoted Allen as saying.
EU welcomes appointment of new Palestinian Authority PM
Senior European Union official Josep Borrell says the Palestinian people need “well-governed institutions that deliver much-needed services in these trying times”.
“We look forward to continuing our cooperation with the new government, including on addressing the tragic situation in Gaza, and working on key reforms towards stronger democratic institutions and governance for the benefit of the Palestinian people in the West Bank and in Gaza,” a statement said.
“The Palestinian Authority has been and remains an important partner of the EU, also for the future of Gaza.”
President Mahmoud Abbas on Thursday appointed his longtime economic adviser Mohamed Mustafa to be the next prime minister in the face of US pressure to reform the Palestinian Authority as part of Washington’s post-war vision for Gaza.
I congratulate Dr Mohamed Mustafa on his appointment as Palestinian Prime Minister.
We look forward to working together on building strong accountable institutions for the West Bank and Gaza.https://t.co/WF3MStGVmB
— Josep Borrell Fontelles (@JosepBorrellF) March 15, 2024
White House ‘cautiously optimistic’ after new Hamas truce proposal
National Security Council spokesperson John Kirby says the Hamas proposal was “within the bounds” of what negotiators have been discussing in recent months.
“We’re cautiously optimistic that things are moving in the right direction,” he told reporters at a news conference.
“The fact there’s another delegation going to Doha, the fact this proposal is out there and there’s conversations about it – that’s all good.”
‘Very likely’ Israel will now attack Rafah with ground forces
Israel is ending mixed messages after announcing its war cabinet approved a ground invasion of Rafah city, yet also saying it’s sending a delegation to Qatar for truce talks.
“It is very confusing what is going on especially after announcing the greenlight for the operation in Rafah,” said Luciano Zaccara from the Gulf Studies Center at Qatar University.
He told Al Jazeera despite mounting international pressure, Prime Minister Netanyahu hasn’t abandoned the plan to attack the southern city where about 1.5 million people are sheltering.
“Hopefully, the ground invasion of Rafah is just a bluff so they can use this as leverage to get something in negotiations. But everything Netanyahu said he will do he did it, so I assume it is very likely this is going to happen.”
Hezbollah says it’s ready for an escalation in fighting with Israel
Hezbollah released a video montage of some of the hundreds of attacks it launched on northern Israel since the start of the war on Gaza, saying it’s prepared for an expansion of hostilities if necessary.
“If you expand, we will expand,” the Lebanese armed group said in a post on its Telegram channel.
The comments come shortly after the Israeli military claimed several attacks on southern Lebanon targeting Hezbollah facilities. Israel has also been holding army exercises and high-level military discussions on potentially expanding the war with Hezbollah.
Read an analysis of the situation here.
Widespread criticism of Israel’s Rafah ground attack plan
The Israelis have been talking about this ground invasion of Rafah for months now.
They’ve said it is necessary in order to achieve all their war goals. But all of this comes despite widespread criticism and condemnation, especially from Israel’s biggest ally the United States. American officials say they simply wouldn’t support an operation such as this.
Early on Friday, the Israeli prime minister said there have been plans approved both for the military invasion and evacuation of about one-and-a-half million Palestinians in Rafah.
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken says the Americans have not seen these plans the Israelis are talking about, and how exactly they’re going to move more than 1.5 million Palestinians who are seeking refuge in Gaza’s southern most city.
Dutch minister calls on Israel to ‘refrain’ from Rafah offensive
Foreign Minister Hanke Slot says reports of Israel preparing to launch an offensive in Rafah are “deeply worrying”.
“The Netherlands firmly repeats its call to Israel to refrain from such an offensive, which would result in an even bigger humanitarian catastrophe,” she posted on X.
“An immediate humanitarian ceasefire is of the highest importance, resulting in a sustained cessation of hostilities.”
An immediate humanitarian ceasefire is of the highest importance, resulting in a sustained cessation of hostilities. This is crucial for significantly increasing the amount of humanitarian aid and for the release of hostages. 2/2
— Hanke Bruins Slot (@HankeBruinsSlot) March 15, 2024
Qassam Brigades attacks Israeli military vehicles in Khan Younis
Intense ground fighting continues to rage around the Qatar-funded Hamad City neighbourhood in the northern part of Khan Younis city in southern Gaza.
The Qassam Brigades, the armed wing of Hamas, said its fighters targeted an Israeli armoured troop carrier and a Merkava tank using Yassin-105 and Tandem rockets.
In January, Israeli forces encircled Khan Younis after 24 of its soldiers were killed in the largest single-day death toll in the months-long war. Heavy fighting reportedly continues to rage in Gaza’s second-largest city.
Houthis say ‘millions’ participate in rallies in support of Gaza
The Al Masirah television channel run by the Houthi militia in Yemen says “millions” more people took part in demonstrations in support of Palestinians.
It was the first weekly rally held since the start of Ramadan.
The footage below shows how the al-Sabeen Square in the capital, Sanaa, a main site of the protests since the start of Israel’s war on Gaza, filled up with demonstrators, some of whom were armed.
بتقنية تايم لابس..
شاهد| الطوفان البشري اليمني في صنعاء؛ إسناداً لغزة والمقاومة. pic.twitter.com/7dfZ21igzM
— المركز الفلسطيني للإعلام (@PalinfoAr) March 15, 2024
Translation: Watch this time-lapse of the Yemeni human flood in Sanaa; Support for Gaza and the resistance.
Israel reportedly ‘expanding mandate’ of negotiating team heading to Qatar
Journalist Barak Ravid cites unnamed Israeli officials as saying Israel’s leader will hold a meeting to consider “expanding the mandate” of his negotiating team after the new Hamas truce proposal.
The team, led by Mossad Director David Barnea, will be dispatched to Doha as early as Sunday, and will meet Qatari Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani.
“There are gaps but to close them the Israeli team needs a mandate to negotiate,” Ravid quoted an official as saying.
Hamas and Israel still disagree over the ratio of the Israeli captives envisioned to be released from Gaza in exchange for Palestinian prisoners held by Israel, in addition to Israel’s withdrawal from the enclave.
Israeli military says aid shipment delivered for north Gaza distribution
The Israeli military says it presided over the delivery of 115 tonnes of food and water delivered by ship to the coast of Gaza.
Its military spokesman for Arab media, Avichay Adraee, says the army transferred the shipments to 12 trucks belonging to World Central Kitchen (WCK) to be distributed in northern Gaza.
“The ship and the goods it carried were subjected to a careful security inspection,” he said.
Israel has restricted deliveries of food, medical supplies and other aid vital items through two land crossings – Rafah with Egypt and Karem Abu Salem (Kerem Shalom). Critics say the slow trickle of humanitarian relief is far from enough needed to prevent famine faced by hundreds of thousands of Palestinians.