What has happened in the last few hours
These are the main news of the day in the war between Israel and Hamas in Gaza at 8:00 p.m. this Friday, May 24:
The UN Court orders Israel to immediately stop the offensive in Rafah. The judges also ask that Israel open the border crossing with Egypt, allowing humanitarian aid to enter, and allow investigators access to the Strip. Israel must report to the high court within one month on its progress in the ordered measures.
Israel defends that its campaign in Rafah has not “led nor will it lead to the destruction of the Palestinian civilian population.” Netanyahu’s cabinet calls South Africa’s accusations against Israel “false and outrageous.”
Hamas calls for the UN Court’s decision to be extended to the entire Strip. A senior Hamas official told Reuters that they “welcome” the UN Court’s decision, but that it is insufficient. “We believe that the occupation of the entire Gaza Strip, especially in the north, is just as brutal and dangerous,” the official said.
Netanyahu holds a meeting with his security leadership after the ruling of the UN Court. The Minister of War, Benny Gantz, is participating in the talks; the Foreign Minister, Israel Katz; Defense Minister Yoav Gallant and Justice Minister Yariv Levin, according to security sources cited by the Israeli news outlet Walla.
Sisi and Biden agree to send aid to Gaza through Kerem Shalom until Rafah crossing reopens. The Egyptian president has agreed by telephone with the American president to temporarily send humanitarian aid and fuel from the United Nations through Kerem Shalom until mechanisms are established to reopen the Rafah crossing, as ordered this Friday by the UN Court to Israel.
Israel recovers the bodies of three other hostages in Jabalia, north of Gaza. They have been identified as Hanan Yablonka, Michel Nisenbaum and Orion Hernandez.
Israel prohibits the Spanish consulate in Jerusalem from serving Palestinians. The Israeli Foreign Minister, Israel Katz, has decided to “cut the connection between the Spanish Embassy in Israel and the Palestinians”, in retaliation for Spain’s recognition of the Palestinian State. Furthermore, he describes the second vice president of the Government and Minister of Labor, Yolanda Díaz, as “hateful” for demanding the liberation of Palestine “from the river to the sea.”
Díaz: “I am not anti-Semitic, I do not share the politics of hate.” The second vice president of the Government and Minister of Labor has rejected the accusation of “anti-Semitic” that the Israeli Foreign Minister, Israel Katz, has leveled against her.
Borrell: “Every time someone makes a decision in favor of a Palestinian state, Israel turns it into an anti-Semitic attack.” The High Representative for Foreign Policy of the EU has described as “bad news” the Israeli Government’s decision to prohibit the Spanish embassy in Jerusalem from providing services to the Palestinians.
