Rome, 23 May 0224 – Egyptian mediators are testing the waters for relaunch negotiations between Israel and Hamas, the goal is to achieve a hostage agreement. Israel’s war cabinet also gave its negotiators the green light to continue talks. Among the critical issues, the control of Rafah crossing.
In the meantime, the discussion continues shocking video of the 5 female soldiers of the IDF – placed against the wall with their hands tied and faces bloodied – kidnapped by Hamas on 7 October. Second Hamasthe video “was manipulated and the authenticity of what it contains cannot be confirmed.” Raid on a mosque in the center of Gaza City, 16 Palestinians dead: they had taken refuge in search of shelter.
The five Israeli soldiers kidnapped by Hamas on 7 October (video frame, Ansa)
Follow the live broadcast below
08:36
IDF: close fighting in the Strip
The IDF continues to expand its operations “in specific areas” in Rafah, in the south of Gaza, and in Jabalya, in the north of the Palestinian enclave. As for the southernmost city of the Strip, the spokesperson
The military said that the activities “based on intelligence sources” are mainly concentrated against “terrorist targets” in the areas of ‘Brazil’ and ‘Shaboura’ with “every effort to prevent harm to civilians”. “A series of launch pads and rocket launching stations were discovered and eliminated, as well as numerous terrorists in close combat”. Among these also “3 who had launched shots of
mortar to the troops”. In Jabalya – according to the same source – “numerous Hamas targets were hit” and “weapons and other military equipment” were found.
06:08
Use Houthi drones to shoot down. Two Hezbollah members killed in Lebanon
The United States shot down four yesterday afternoon drones launched from an area of Yemen, controlled by Iran-backed Houthi rebels. US Central Command (Centcom) said the “unmanned aerial systems” posed an immediate threat to its forces and merchant shipping in the area.
Meanwhile, a vehicle was attacked in the area of Nabatieh in southern Lebanon. The Israeli media reported it, citing Lebanese sources. According to Haaretz, in the raid – carried out with a drone – they were two Hezbollah members killed.
05:56
Mosque bombed in Gaza City: 16 dead, including 10 children
The Israel Defense Forces attacked the Fatima al-Zahra mosquein northern Gaza City, killing at least 16 people. He brings it back Al Jazeera,underlining that among the victims there are at least 10 children and many womendisplaced people who had found refuge in the place of worship.
Israeli raid on Gaza
05:45
Video of kidnapped female soldiers, Hamas: “Manipulated”
The video showing five Israeli soldiers kidnapped by Hamas on October 7 “was manipulated and the authenticity of what it contains cannot be confirmed”. This is supported by Hamas which, in a statement relaunched by Al Jazeera, stated that “female soldiers were treated according to the ethics of our resistance and it was not proven no mistreatment towards the soldiers in this unit”.
According to the group, the clip is part of Israel’s promotion of “falsified narratives“. In the video, one of the phrases repeated by the militiamen to the women is “dogs, we will crush you all” And
again “you are beautiful Zionists“.
05:30
Egypt seeks to revive negotiations between Israel and Hamas
The Arab newspaper al-Araby al-Jadeed reports that Egyptian mediators are testing the waters for relaunch negotiations indirect negotiations between Israel and Hamas to reach an agreement on the hostages. The article from the newspaper, based in London and close to Qatar, quotes an Egyptian source according to whom contacts are underway with “all active parties”. News that comes after the Israeli war cabinet gave the negotiators the green light to continue talks.
According to the Egyptian source, an Israeli delegation visited Cairo weekly to discuss security coordination and attempt to overcome the impasse over Israeli control of the Rafah crossing, between Gaza and Egypt, which led to increasingly heated mutual recriminations. The source also said that discussions have recently also focused on the role of Egyptian mediation.
05:15
Netanyahu, new mandate to negotiators: “Greater degree of maneuver”
Prime Minister Benjamin’s office Netanyahu announced that the War Cabinet – whose meeting ended during the night – gave sent to Israeli negotiators to continue talks for a truce in Gaza and an agreement for the release of the hostages. According to sources familiar with the meeting, the mandate entrusted has “a greater degree of maneuverability” compared to the previous ones. Egyptian sources, cited by the Arab media, have made it known that Cairo is making contact “with all active parties”.
