Live updates on Israel and Gaza: Israel expands operations to Rafah center: IDF

(NEW YORK) — As the war between Israel and Hamas has dragged on for seven months, renewed negotiations are underway to release hostages kidnapped by the terrorist organization, while Israeli forces continue to prepare for a possible invasion of the southern Gaza city of Rafah.

This is how the news develops:

May 23, 3:30 p.m.
Biden does not say whether the US has evidence that Israel is using hunger as a method of war

President Joe Biden declined to comment on whether the United States has evidence to support the International Criminal Court prosecutor's claim that the Israeli leadership is using starvation as a method of war in Gaza.

When asked whether there was evidence to that effect and whether the government would agree to release this information before issuing arrest warrants, Biden simply reiterated that the United States does not recognize their jurisdiction.

“We have made our position on the ICC clear. We do not recognize its jurisdiction – the ICC and the manner in which it is exercised – it is as simple as that. We do not believe that what Israel has done is equivalent to what Hamas has done,” Biden said.

-Justin Ryan Gomez of ABC News

May 23, 2:02 p.m.
IDF: Israel expands operations to Rafah center

The Israel Defense Forces are currently fighting near the center of Rafah, which represents an expansion of their operations, the IDF said on Thursday.

According to IDF Commander Daniel Hagari, nearly 1 million people have been evacuated from Rafah.

-Will Gretsky of ABC News

May 23, 1:38 p.m.
IDF: Israel expands operations to Rafah center

The Israel Defense Forces are currently fighting near the center of Rafah, which represents an expansion of their operations, the IDF said on Thursday.

According to IDF Commander Daniel Hagari, nearly 1 million people have been evacuated from Rafah.

-Will Gretsky of ABC News

May 22, 17:59
Egypt threatens to withdraw from Gaza mediation

The Egyptian government said on Wednesday that attempts to undermine its efforts to negotiate a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip could force it to completely withdraw from mediation efforts in the conflict.

Diaa Rashwan, the head of Egypt's State Information Service, said Egypt categorically denied a CNN report claiming that its government had changed the terms of a ceasefire agreement in the Gaza Strip that Israel had already signed before transmitting it to Hamas.

Rashwan called the report “false” and “devoid of any information or facts.”

“The continued attempts to cast doubt on and insult Egypt's mediation efforts and roles with accusations that contradict reality will only further complicate the situation in Gaza and the entire region and may force the Egyptian side to decide to withdraw completely from mediation efforts in the current conflict,” he said in a statement.

Rashwan added that Egypt would only open the Rafah crossing if the Palestinian side was controlled by Palestinians, and reiterated that Cairo does not recognize Israeli control of the Palestinian side of the crossing.

May 22, 5:18 p.m.
Video shows how five young women were taken hostage by Hamas on October 7

The Israel Hostage Center released a video on Wednesday showing five girls being taken hostage by Hamas on October 7. All of the girls are believed to be alive and in Hamas custody.

Liri Albag, Karina Ariev, Agam Berger, Daniela Gilboa and Naama Levy were kidnapped as hostages from the Nahal Oz base, according to the Hostage Center. The hostages' families criticized the Israeli government's failure to secure their release.

“A devastating testament to the nation's failure to bring home the hostages who were abandoned for 229 days,” the hostage center said in a press release.

Ayelet Levy, Naama's mother, said in a statement that her heart was with the 19-year-old “in these terrible moments on that terrible day of October 7.”

“We see in this video only a fraction of the horrific things that are happening around her at the shelter. She is scared and hurt, there is fear in her eyes, and she is saying what she can, she is begging for her life.”

Shlomi Berger, Agam's father, told ABC News that the decision to release the video was made to put pressure on the Israeli government to agree to a ceasefire that would ensure the release of the hostages.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the video was proof of why the war must continue until Hamas is “eliminated.”

“I am shocked by the video documenting the abduction of our precious female observers. We will continue to do everything we can to bring them home,” Netanyahu said in a statement.

-Will Gretsky and Britt Clennett of ABC News

May 22, 3:03 p.m.
Sullivan: Israel has made ‘refinements’ to Rafah operations due to US concerns

Israel has “refined” its military operations in and around Rafah after the United States raised concerns about a threat to civilians, U.S. National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan said on Wednesday.

“We discussed Rafah at length during my visit to Israel. Those discussions build on weeks of professional discussions about Rafah, as I explained to you from this podium, and how Israel can defeat Hamas throughout Gaza, including in Rafah, while minimizing harm to civilians,” Sullivan said of his recent trip to Israel and Saudi Arabia.

“What we have seen so far in terms of Israeli military operations in this area have been rather targeted and limited. They have not been major military operations in the middle of densely populated urban areas,” he said.

Sullivan said the U.S. now needs to “wait and see what happens from here” and whether the measures announced by Israeli officials will continue to materialize.

-Justin Ryan Gomez of ABC News

May 22, 12:12 p.m.
Israel responds to efforts to recognize a Palestinian state by withholding funds

Israel will not transfer any funds to the Palestinian Authority after Spain, Ireland and Norway recognized Palestine as a state, Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich announced in a letter to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

The decision of the far-right Israeli finance minister could put the Palestinian government in an even worse financial situation.

-Will Gretsky of ABC News

May 22, 12:06
Israel allows settlers to enter the northern West Bank

Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant has given settlers permission to enter parts of the northern West Bank that were previously closed to them.

The Israelis previously had settlements in this area, which were evacuated and then demolished in 2005. While settlements in this area will still require government approval, this approval will make it easier for settlers to establish outposts.

“Just as I have acted in all my positions in the governments of Israel, I will continue to expand the settlements in Judea and Samaria to strengthen the security elements and the safety of citizens – in roads and settlements,” Gallant said in a statement.

-Will Gretsky of ABC News

May 22, 10:08 am
White House reaction to the recognition of the Palestinian state by other countries

The White House responded to the recognition of Palestine by Ireland, Norway and Spain by saying that President Joe Biden supports a two-state solution, but said a Palestinian state should be achieved through negotiations and “not through unilateral recognition.”

According to the UN, 143 countries, including Ireland, Norway and Spain, now recognize the State of Palestine.

-Michelle Stoddart of ABC News

May 22, 6:09 am
Three European countries recognize Palestinian state

Ireland, Norway and Spain announced on Wednesday that they would recognize a Palestinian state.

“Ireland today recognises Palestine as a nation among nations, with all the rights and responsibilities that entails,” Simon Harris, the country's Taoiseach, or prime minister, said in a statement.

The Norwegian government's recognition is an attempt to “keep alive” the possibility of a “political solution” that could end the war in the Gaza Strip, Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre said in a statement.

“Two states living side by side in peace and security,” said Støre.

The announcement drew sharp criticism from Israel's Foreign Minister Israel Katz, who said he had been instructed to immediately recall Israel's ambassadors to Ireland and Norway “for consultations.”

“Today's decision sends a message to the Palestinians and the world: terrorism pays,” Katz said. “After the terrorist organization Hamas carried out the largest massacre of Jews since the Holocaust and committed heinous sexual crimes before the eyes of the world, these countries decided to reward Hamas and Iran by recognizing a Palestinian state.”

Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez said his country would recognize a Palestinian state on May 28.

“It is time to put words into action,” he said on social media. “Peace, justice and coherence are the basis of our historic decision.”

May 21, 18:19
WHO: Kamal Adwan Hospital suffers damage after four hits

According to the World Health Organization, Kamal Adwan Hospital in the north of the Gaza Strip was hit four times on Tuesday.

The attacks damaged the intensive care unit, reception, administration and roof, the organization said. According to the WHO, efforts are currently underway to evacuate 20 medical staff and 13 patients who are still in the building.

“We appeal again to [the] Protect all patients and health workers. We call for a ceasefire and safe, sustained humanitarian access,” the WHO said in a statement.

In recent weeks, there have reportedly been violent clashes in the area surrounding the hospital, leading to an increased influx of injured patients into the already overburdened facility.

Kamal Adwan is the largest partially functioning hospital in northern Gaza and the only one that offers hemodialysis services.

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