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What we know
- The World Central Kitchen aid organization said in a statement that seven of its members were killed in the Gaza Strip while working on food distribution efforts. An NBC News crew saw the bodies of people wearing clothing with the World Central Kitchen logo as they were taken into Al-Aqsa Martyrs Hospital in the city of Deir al-Balah.
- The members were traveling in a "deconflicted zone" in a "soft skin vehicle" and two armored cars with the organization's logo, it said in a statement. Despite coordinating movements with the Israel Defense Forces, “the convoy was hit as it was leaving the Deir al-Balah warehouse, where the team had unloaded more than 100 tons of humanitarian food aid brought to Gaza on the maritime route," it said.
- “This is not only an attack against WCK, this is an attack on humanitarian organizations showing up in the most dire of situations where food is being used as a weapon of war. This is unforgivable,” World Central Kitchen CEO Erin Gore said in the statement.
- Tehran has blamed Israel for an airstrike that killed a senior Iranian military commander near the Iranian Embassy in Syria today. Israeli officials declined to comment on the incident, which risks worsening the already high tensions in the region.
- The Israeli military has withdrawn from Gaza's main hospital after a two-week raid. The Israel Defense Forces said its troops and tanks had withdrawn from Al-Shifa after killing hundreds of Hamas fighters, as well as seizing weapons and intelligence documents.
- The World Health Organization said 21 patients died during the operation, which left the medical complex in ruins and those sheltering at the site in dire conditions. Palestinian officials said bodies had been left scattered in the dirt around burned-out buildings.
- Tens of thousands of Israelis marched against Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu last night in the largest protest since the war began. The crowds who gathered in Jerusalem, including families of Israelis still held in Gaza, called for new elections.
- The death toll in Gaza has surpassed 32,800, including at least 27 people who have died of malnutrition, according to the enclave's Health Ministry. Another 75,000 have been reported injured. The Israeli military said at least 252 soldiers have been killed since the ground invasion of Gaza began.
7 World Central Kitchen members killed in IDF airstrike, group says
The World Central Kitchen said seven of its members were killed in an airstrike carried out by the Israel Defense Forces.
The members of the aid group were traveling in a "soft skin" vehicle and two armored cars with the World Central Kitchen logo on them when they were struck Monday, the organization said in a statement.
The group added that the convoy was struck despite having coordinated movements with the IDF, and that members at the time were leaving the Deir al-Balah warehouse, where they had unloaded over 100 tons of humanitarian food aid.
“This is not only an attack against WCK, this is an attack on humanitarian organizations showing up in the most dire of situations where food is being used as a weapon of war. This is unforgivable,” World Central Kitchen CEO Erin Gore said.
The members who were killed were from Australia, Poland, the United Kingdom, a dual citizen of the U.S. and Canada and Palestine, the WCK said.
The group added that the IDF said it was investigating the circumstances around the incident. In the meantime, it said, it will immediately pause operations in the region and make "decisions about the future of our work soon."
'Attempts to sideline UNRWA must stop,' U.N. humanitarian chief says
U.N. Emergency Humanitarian Relief Coordinator Martin Griffiths backed the organization's agency for Palestinian refugees after Israel rejected requests for it to distribute aid in northern Gaza.
"UNRWA is the backbone of the humanitarian operation in Gaza," Griffiths said on X. "Any effort to distribute aid without them is simply doomed to fail."
U.N. Secretary-General António Guterres also wrote on X in support of UNRWA, calling it a "lifeline of hope."
The Guardian reported yesterday, based on unnamed U.N. sources, that Israeli officials offered the U.N. a plan to dismantle UNRWA and redistribute its responsibility to other aid organizations. NBC News has not verified the report.
In a report today, the U.N. said that no senior official in the region has received such a plan and that its position on the necessity of UNRWA remains unchanged.
U.S. tells Iran it didn't know about plans for strike on consulate
The Biden administration communicated directly to Iran today that the U.S. didn't know about the strike on its consulate in Damascus and wasn't involved in any way, according to two U.S. officials.
Two other U.S. officials said the administration was told about the operation in Syria while Israeli planes were in the air but didn’t know what the target was.
"The United States had no involvement in the strike, and we did not know about it ahead of time," a spokesperson for the National Security Council said in a statement.
U.S. officials still don’t have independent confirmation that Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps commander Mohammed Reza Zahedi was among those killed in the strike, according to two additional U.S. officials.
Israeli officials have declined to comment on the strike.
Thousands of Israelis turn out for third day of anti-government protests
JERUSALEM— Thousands of Israelis took to the streets in Jerusalem today, continuing a three-day protest against the Netanyahu's government and demanding new elections.
The protests have gathered in intensity as the war in Gaza nears the end of its sixth month and anger at the government’s handling of the 134 Israeli hostages still held by the Islamist movement Hamas in Gaza has grown.
“We’re here to protest, to ask for having elections as soon as possible. We feel like we got it to the edge. We really need to get rid of Bibi,” said Timna Benn, a protester in Jerusalem, using Netanyahu’s nickname.
Netanyahu’s right-wing coalition faced some of the biggest protests in Israel’s history last year, when hundreds of thousands joined weekly demonstrations against plans to overhaul the powers of the Supreme Court, which protesters saw as an attack on Israel’s democratic foundations.
Netanyahu has repeatedly ruled out early elections, which opinion polls suggest he would lose, saying that to go to the polls in the middle of a war would only reward Hamas.
Surveys indicate that most Israelis blame Netanyahu, Israel’s longest-serving prime minister, for the security failures that led to the devastating attack by Hamas fighters on communities in southern Israel on Oct. 7, in which around 1,200 people were killed, according to Israeli tallies, and scores of hostages were taken.
“They are not concerned about what happens in the country and with the people. They are concerned about maintaining their position in government. They work for themselves, not for the people. Simple as that,” said protester Refael Shakked-Gavish.
Adding a complication, Netanyahu also has faced protests by ultra-Orthodox Jewish demonstrators, angry at the removal of exemptions that have kept young students from religious seminaries from compulsory military service.
World Central Kitchen lost 'several brothers and sisters,' founder José Andrés says
Chef José Andrés is "heartbroken and grieving" the reported deaths of World Central Kitchen staff members in Gaza tonight.
Andrés, the organization's founder, wrote on X that members of the team were killed in an IDF airstrike. He described them as "angels" whom he worked beside in several countries, including Turkey and Ukraine.
They are not nameless, Andrés wrote.
"The Israeli government needs to stop this indiscriminate killing," he said. "It needs to stop restricting humanitarian aid, stop killing civilians and aid workers, and stop using food as a weapon. No more innocent lives lost."
Australian officials working to confirm death of aid worker
The Australian government is working to confirm reports that one of its citizens has been killed while working in Gaza, a Foreign Affairs Department spokesperson said in a statement.
"We have been clear on the need for civilian lives to be protected in this conflict," the statement said. "We have been very clear that we expect humanitarian workers in Gaza to have safe and unimpeded access to do their lifesaving work."
It provided no additional details, citing privacy concerns.
World Central Kitchen aid workers reportedly killed in Gaza
The World Central Kitchen aid organization said in a statement tonight that it was aware of reports that members of its team were killed while working on food distribution efforts, and an NBC News crew saw the bodies of people wearing clothing with the World Central Kitchen logo as they were taken in to Al-Aqsa Martyrs Hospital in Deir al-Balah.
“This is a tragedy,” the organization said. “Humanitarian aid workers and civilians should NEVER be a target. EVER.”
The Gaza Government Media office, which is run by Hamas, said at least four foreign aid workers and one Palestinian were killed in an Israeli strike.
The NBC News crew saw at least two people taken into the hospital wearing flak jackets with the World Central Kitchen logo, and a third wore a World Central Kitchen T-shirt.
Three of those killed had passports with them, which were seen by NBC News, identifying them as citizens of the United Kingdom, Australia and Poland. NBC News is working to confirm their identities.
Ismail Al-Thawabta, spokesperson for the Gaza Government Media Office, said a fourth worker was unidentified and a fifth was a Palestinian working with the aid crew.
The Israel Defense Forces said it was reviewing the incident "at the highest levels."
"The IDF makes extensive efforts to enable the safe delivery of humanitarian aid, and has been working closely with WCK in their vital efforts to provide food and humanitarian aid to the people of Gaza," the military said.
Israel agrees to consider U.S. concerns over Rafah ground invasion
The Israeli group who spoke with U.S. officials, including Blinken, agreed to take concerns about a Rafah invasion into consideration.
A joint statement the White House released today included a short summary of the virtual meeting of a U.S.-Israel Strategic Consultative Group, which included Blinken and national security adviser Jake Sullivan. The Israeli side of the delegation was led by National Security Adviser Tzachi Hanegbi and Strategic Affairs Minister Ron Dermer.
"The two sides over the course of two hours had a constructive engagement on Rafah," the statement said. "They agreed that they share the objective to see Hamas defeated in Rafah."
A follow-up meeting is expected as early as next week.
U.S. extends naval carrier deployment in the Red Sea, defense officials say
The USS Dwight D. Eisenhower aircraft carrier and elements of the carrier strike group have had their deployment in the Red Sea extended as the U.S. continues to fight Houthi rebels in the region, according to three U.S. defense officials.
The ships deployed Oct. 14 and have been under a crushing operational tempo without breaks or port calls for months. They had been scheduled to depart the region and start heading back to the U.S. last week, but U.S. Central Command requested they be extended, which Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin approved several days ago.
Crews were scheduled to operate in the European Command area but have spent most of their deployment in the Red Sea, conducting airstrikes against the Houthis in Yemen and defending against Houthi attacks nearly every day.
NBC News has exclusive video of flight ops on the Eisenhower during airstrikes into Yemen in February, as well as exclusive video of a missile launch to intercept an incoming Houthi missile.
There are more than 5,000 sailors on the Eisenhower, the flagship of the Eisenhower Carrier Strike Group, which also includes a cruiser — the USS Philippine Sea — and two destroyers —the USS Mason and the USS Gravely.
Blinken speaks with Abbas about new Palestinian Authority government and reforms needed for results
Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas spoke on the phone today, their offices said, to discuss the new government formed after criticism that the Palestinian Authority needed change.
U.S. officials, who have supported the idea of an independent Palestinian state, have pushed the occupied West Bank's governing body to implement reforms since the war began. During the call, Blinken's office said, he told Abbas that a "revitalized PA is essential to delivering results for the Palestinian people in both the West Bank and Gaza."
Abbas' office also released a readout of the call, according to the Palestinian news agency WAFA. Abbas raised concerns about a pending Rafah ground invasion, humanitarian needs in Gaza and the "necessity of immediately stopping the continuing Israeli aggression against the Palestinian people."
"The President also reiterated that the Gaza Strip is an integral part of the Palestinian state, and it is not possible to accept or deal with the plans of the occupation authorities to separate it, or to cut off any inch of its land, and it falls under the responsibility of the State of Palestine and under its administration," WAFA reported.
Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps confirms 2 commanders and 5 others killed in Syria strike
The Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps identified seven of its members, including two commanders, who were killed today in a strike in Damascus, Syria.
According to Iran’s ambassador to Syria, the airstrike hit the building that houses the ambassador’s residence, as well as the consular section of the embassy. Iranian officials and the Syrian military have blamed Israel for the airstrikes; Israel has declined to comment.
Gen. Mohammad Reza Zahedi was confirmed dead by the IRGC following a state media report; Gen. Mohammad Hadi Haji Rahimi was also confirmed dead.
Five other IRGC members were killed: Hussein Aman Al-Lahi, Sayed Mahdi Jalalti, Muhsin Sadakat, Ali Aqa Babai and Sayed Ali Salhi Rozbahani.
State Department defends weapons transfer to Israel as part of long-standing deal
State Department spokesperson Matt Miller defended a recent U.S. transfer of weapons to Israel as part of a larger military assistance deal with the country that predates the Israel-Hamas war.
NBC News reported on the transfer yesterday, which included Mark 84 and Mark 82 bombs. They are "dumb bombs" that could level entire blocks but can be converted into precision-guided ones with the help of a guidance kit.
Critics say the timing of the transfer undermines recent comments from Biden, who has taken a more critical stance on Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in recent weeks.
Miller said the U.S. has made it clear to Israel that "we expect them to use those weapons in full compliance with international humanitarian law."
"We have had very frank conversations with them about the fact that they’re far too many civilians have died through their operations," Miller said. "And that they need to do better and taking into account the need to minimize civilian harm."
Hundreds from Israel's Orthodox community block highway in protest against forced conscription
Members of the Haredi community, known as Israel's ultra-Orthodox community, blocked the Route 4 highway in protest of forced military conscription, according to The Times of Israel.
The country's Supreme Court ruled last week that the government must end subsidies for yeshiva students who fail to serve in Israel's armed forces. Today was the first day the ruling was in effect, freezing funds for students of conscription age who have not been given military service deferrals.
Within the Haredi community, men devote their lives to studying Judaism in religious seminaries and do not usually work. Women tend to be the sole income earners in Haredi households, but girls often get only a basic education, which limits their job opportunities.
That means the Israel government subsidizes much of the community, whose support has been key for Netanyahu.
White House is 'looking into' reports airstrike killed Iranian commander in Syria
The Biden administration is aware of reports that Israeli airstrikes targeted an Iranian consulate and killed an Iranian commander, White House spokesperson Karine Jean-Pierre said at her briefing today.
"Our team is looking into it so, I’m not going to get ahead of anything just yet," she said. "But obviously, we’re aware of the reports and our team is looking into [them]. I’m just not going to go beyond that."
Iranian officials and the Syrian Defense Ministry both blame Israel for the strike, which hit the Iranian ambassador's residence and the consulate area of the embassy in Damascus. The IDF said it did not comment on foreign reports in response to a request for comment.
Gazans navigate a war-torn landscape around Al-Shifa
A woman is comforted as she cries on the street today in the area around Al-Shifa hospital after the Israeli military withdrew its ground forces from the vicinity. Images transmitted from the area surrounding Gaza’s besieged hospital today reveal devastating damage from continuous Israeli bombardments during fierce clashes with Hamas militants believed to have been using the hospital as a base.
Netanyahu says Al Jazeera will no longer be allowed to broadcast from Israel after new law passes
Israel's Knesset passed a law today that would allow senior officials to shut down broadcasts that threaten the country's security, which Netanyahu said he would use against the Qatari news outlet Al Jazeera.
The law passed 71 -10 after a second and third reading at the Knesset, the body said. Netanyahu posted a statement on X accusing Al Jazeera of harming Israel's security and called it the "voice of Hamas."
"I intend to act immediately in accordance with the new law to stop the channel’s activity," Netanyahu wrote.
Al Jazeera reported on the law's passage and the prime minister's statement but has not yet released a statement of its own on the matter.
White House spokesperson Karine Jean-Pierre said she was aware of reports on the ban and said that, if it was true, "it is concerning to us."
"A move like this is concerning," she said. "We believe in the freedom of the press, it is critical ... and the United States supports the critically important work journalists around the world do. And so, and that includes those who are reporting in, in the conflict in Gaza."
Iranian ambassador in Syria confirms his residence hit, state TV says at least 1 military commander killed
Hussein Akbari, the Iranian ambassador to Syria, confirmed in a post on X that his residence and the consulate area of the Iranian Embassy were struck in Damascus.
Earlier today, the Syrian Defense Ministry reported that Israeli airstrikes targeted the Iranian Consulate, but the IDF declined to comment to NBC News on the matter. Akbari said his living quarters were hit, along with the official military dependents of Iran.
"We will reciprocate when we want," Akbari wrote on X.
Iranian state TV reported that Gen. Mohammad Reza Zahedi, a senior commander in Iran’s Revolutionary Guard, was killed in the strike. State media also reported that Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amirabdollahian described the attack as a crime in "violation of all international obligations and conventions" in a call with Syrian officials.
Al Jazeera's operations in Israel threatened as Netanyahu pushes Knesset on broadcast ban
Al Jazeera is once again facing a broadcast ban in Israel as the prime minister reportedly pushes to have the country's legislature pass a law to close down broadcasts from the news group.
The bill facing the Knesset would allow Israel's senior officials to shut down broadcasts which are deemed a security threat, according to Al Jazeera's own report on the subject.
Israeli spokesperson Avi Hyman accused Al Jazeera of "spouting propaganda" when asked by reporters whether with the new legislation, Netanyahu was targeting the Qatari news outlet. Hyman noted that the bill has only gone through a first hearing.
"There’s due process so we’re not quite there yet, but what it does say is that many people in Israel are unhappy with the way in which Al Jazeera dances between the truth and propaganda, and we’ll see what happens with that it’s an unfolding story," Hyman said.
Syrian Defense Ministry: Israel launched airstrike on Iranian Consulate in Damascus
The Syrian Defense Ministry said that Israel launched airstrikes on the Iranian Consulate in Damascus today. It said its air defenses stopped some of the missiles but that the consulate was destroyed and people were killed.
When asked for confirmation of its involvement, the IDF told NBC News that it doesn't comment on foreign media reports.
Israel's military says 600 soldiers have been killed since Oct. 7
The Israeli military said that 600 soldiers have been killed during the fighting in the Gaza Strip since Oct. 7. A total of 256 were killed since it launched its military campaign in the the enclave Oct. 27.
The IDF also said on its website that 3,181 service members have been injured since Oct. 7, when Hamas launched multipronged attacks on Israel.
Blinken to attend virtual meeting with Israel on Rafah
Secretary of State Antony Blinken will attend a virtual meeting today to discuss alternatives to a large-scale Israeli ground assault on Rafah.
The meeting was scheduled to happen in person at the White House but was canceled by Netanyahu after the U.S. declined to use its veto to stop a UN Security Council resolution demanding an immediate cease-fire in Gaza.
After days of public tension with the White House over the cancellation, Israel quietly asked for the meetings to be rescheduled, a U.S. official said.
The Israeli side of the meeting will include Ron Dermer, a minister in the war Cabinet, and Tzachi Hanegbi, Israel’s national security adviser, the official said. A U.S. official tells NBC News President Biden is not participating in the virtual meeting.
Israeli officials may still travel to the White House in coming days to continue the meetings in person, the official said.
IDF says naval base in Eilat struck, Iraqi militia claims responsibility
A strike on a naval base in Eilat caused some damage to a building but not injuries, the Israel Defense Forces said today.
The incident, which occurred overnight is under review, the military said.
The Islamic Resistance in Iraq has claimed it attacked three Israeli military targets over the weekend, including Eilat. NBC News has not verified the militia's statement.
Ships carrying food for Palestinians approach Gaza
Ships carrying hundreds of tons of aid are approaching war-ravaged Gaza, Cyprus Foreign Minister Constantinos Kombos said today.
Kombos told The Associated Press that the three ships have been granted permission to start offloading their cargo in the enclave where war has displaced most of Gaza’s population and driven a third of its residents to the brink of famine.
According to U.S. charity World Central Kitchen, the vessels Jennifer, Open Arms, Ledra Dynamic and a barge are carrying enough ready-to-eat items to prepare more than 1 million meals. The items include rice, pasta, flour and canned vegetables.
Senior Hamas member arrested, Israeli police say
TEL AVIV — A senior member of Hamas "was arrested on suspicion of having contact with Hamas operatives and identifying with the terrorist organization while inciting and supporting acts of terrorism in Israel," a spokesperson for Israel Police said today.
The 57-year-old woman, "a relative of a senior member of the terrorist organization Hamas," was detained at her home in Tel Sheva, southern Israel, for questioning, the spokesperson said in a statement.
"During the raid on her home, the forces located documents, media, telephones, other findings and evidence linking her to committing serious security offenses against the State of Israel," they added.
Israeli media later reported that the woman arrested is a sister of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh. NBC News could not independently verify this.
At least 63 killed in past 24 hours, Gaza Health Ministry says
At least 63 people have been killed and 94 injured in the past 24 hours, the Gaza Health Ministry said in a statement today.
That brings the total number of dead since Oct. 7 to 32,845, the statement said, adding that 75,392 since that date, when Hamas launched multipronged attacks on Israel.
"A number of victims are still under the rubble and on the roads, ambulances and civil defense crews cannot reach them," the statement said
U.S. and Israel to discuss alternatives to Rafah invasion, officials say
TEL AVIV — Senior Israeli and American diplomats will take part in a virtual meeting today to discuss alternatives to a ground assault on Gaza's overcrowded southernmost city of Rafah, an Israeli official and a U.S. official have told NBC News.
The meeting was scheduled to happen in person at the White House last week. But after the U.S. declined to use its veto power and abstained in a United Nations Security Council vote calling for an immediate cease-fire in Gaza, Netanyahu canceled the talks.
After days of public tension with the White House over the cancellation, Israel quietly asked for the meetings to be rescheduled, a U.S. official said last week.
The Israeli official said that Ron Dermer, a minister in the war Cabinet, and national security adviser Tzachi Hanegbi will attend the meeting, which was first reported by Axios. National security adviser Jake Sullivan will likely be part of the American team, they added.
Israeli officials may still travel to the White House in the coming days to continue the meetings in person, the Israeli official said. The U.S. official said they anticipate follow-up meetings in person after additional work by expert teams.
Palestinian Christians attend Easter Mass in Gaza City
Palestinian Christians gathered at the Holy Family Church in Gaza City to celebrate Easter yesterday.
The Catholic church built in 1974 has turned into a refuge for hundreds of displaced Palestinians in the enclave.
Drones destroyed in Houthi-controlled Yemen, U.S. says
American forces “engaged and destroyed” two drones in areas of Yemen controlled by Houthis rebels yesterday morning, U.S. Central Command said in a post on X.
“One was engaged over the Red Sea and the other was engaged on the ground prepared to launch,” the post said. “It was determined these unmanned aerial systems presented a threat to U.S. and coalition forces and merchant vessels in the region,” it added.
“These actions are necessary to protect our forces, ensure freedom of navigation, and make international waters safer and more secure for U.S., coalition, and merchant vessels,” the post said.
Pope Francis makes strong appeal for Gaza cease-fire in Easter message
ROME — Pope Francis appeared on the balcony of St. Peter’s Basilica looking healthy and in good spirits as he waved to crowds gathered for Easter services yesterday.
During his address, the pontiff made a strong appeal for peace around the world. “May the risen Christ open a path of peace for the war-torn peoples of those regions,” he said, following it with a call for an immediate cease-fire in Gaza, increased humanitarian aid and the release of all hostages taken Oct. 7. He also called for a cessation in fighting in Ukraine.
“Peace is never made with weapons, but with outstretched hands and open hearts,” Francis said from the loggia overlooking the square, to applause from the wind-swept crowd below.
For the past few months, the pope has been battling frequent bouts of bronchitis, cold and the flu, with regular visits to the hospital for checks on his lungs. Respiratory problems and a chronic cough have often led him to ask his aides to read passages of speeches for him, and cancel private audiences. But yesterday, he didn’t pause and he did not cough.
Netanyahu recovering after hernia surgery, hospital says
JERUSALEM — Netanyahu is recovering after undergoing successful hernia surgery yesterday, a hospital spokesperson said.
Netanyahu’s office said the hernia was discovered during a routine checkup, and that he was to be under full anesthesia and unconscious for the procedure.
In a news briefing yesterday, Netanyahu took the time to thank people who checked in on him following his diagnosis.
“I promise you that I will go through this treatment successfully and will be back in action very quickly,” he said. Justice Minister Yariv Levin, a close confidant who also holds the title of deputy prime minister, was to serve as acting prime minister during the operation, the prime minister’s office said.
Hundreds of slain civilians found in Al-Shifa Hospital after IDF withdrawal, Gaza Health Ministry says
Hundreds of bodies of slain civilians were found at Al-Shifa Hospital and its surrounding areas after the Israeli military withdrew its forces from the complex in Gaza City, the enclave's Health Ministry said in a statement today, citing medical sources.
"According to eyewitnesses, the withdrawal revealed that the occupation forces burned all the buildings of Al-Shifa Hospital and made it completely out of service," the statement said.
The statement added that “dozens of slain Palestinians” were found inside the complex and streets surrounding it. “The army also bulldozed all the graves surrounding the complex and took the bodies out of the ground,” it added.
NBC News has approached the Israeli military for comment.
"Medical sources explained that the Israeli army completely destroyed floors in the specialized surgeries building, and burned the rest of the building, and the main reception and emergency building, and destroyed dozens of its rooms and all the medical equipment in it," the statement said.
Kidney and maternity buildings, morgues, cancer and burns refrigeration facilities, and the outpatient clinics building were also left ruined at the facility in northern Gaza, which was the strip's main medical facility before the war began, the ministry said.
Videos on social media show extensive damage to Al-Shifa Hospital
The Al-Shifa medical complex almost looks unrecognizable from the site that was the Gaza Strip's main hospital, in videos shared by Palestinians on social media this morning.
A large crowd gathered at the site once news spread that Israeli forces had withdrawn from the area.
Videos posted on Instagram and geolocated by NBC News show large-scale destruction — the hospital’s special surgery building has been totally destroyed; walls have been bombed out and blackened, windows have been shattered.
The hospital’s courtyard, which was once paved and lined with trees, is now a field of dirt and scattered rubble. Another video shows people carrying what appears to be a body covered with blankets from inside the hospital building.
Damage revealed in the vicinity of Al-Shifa as IDF withdraws
Destruction in the area surrounding Gaza’s Al-Shifa Hospital this morning, after the Israeli military withdrew from the complex.
Tens of thousands of Israeli protesters take to the streets of Jerusalem to call for early elections
Tens of thousands of Israelis gathered in central Jerusalem last night in the largest anti-government protest since the country went to war.
Demonstrators demanded a cease-fire deal to free dozens of hostages held by Hamas in Gaza, but also called for early elections to be held in Israel where the leadership of Netanyahu is coming under increasing pressure almost six months after the Oct. 7 attacks.
Israeli society was broadly united immediately after Oct. 7, but Netanyahu's promises to destroy Hamas and bring all the hostages home have, for the most part, remained unfulfilled.
Roughly half the hostages in Gaza were released during a week-long cease-fire in November but attempts by international mediators to bring home the remaining hostages have failed. Hamas, while weakened, remains intact.
Some of the protesters blamed Netanyahu for the failures of Oct. 7 and say the deep political divisions over his attempted judicial overhaul last year weakened Israel ahead of the attack.
Some accuse him of damaging relations with the United States, Israel’s most important ally.
U.S. sends more weapons to Israel
The U.S. is sending a fresh round of bombs to Israel, two senior administration officials told NBC News, undermining the Biden administration’s public expressions of frustration at Israel’s conduct in the war and its own efforts at brokering a cease-fire.
The bombs are part of a weapons package that was approved for Israel years ago, but is only being fulfilled now — and includes more than 1,800 Mark 84 (MK84) 2,000-pound bombs and approximately 500 Mark 82 (MK82) 500-pound bombs, the officials said. The delivery of the weapons package was first reported by The Washington Post.
The Mark 84 and 82 are dumb bombs that can be converted into precision-guided ones with the help of a guidance kit, which the U.S. has provided in the past. Even with precision guidance, these bombs likely lead to civilian deaths, and it’s believed that Israel has used them in its campaign in Gaza.
Scenes from Al-Shifa as Israeli forces withdraw
Palestinians outside Al-Shifa Hospital in Gaza City this morning, after the Israeli military withdrew from the complex.
Israeli forces withdraw from Gaza's Al-Shifa hospital after two-week raid
The Israeli military has this morning withdrawn its troops and tanks from Gaza's main hospital after a raid that lasted two weeks.
The Israel Defense Forces said in a statement that its forces had killed Palestinian militants in close-quarters clashes and seized weaponry, as well as intelligence documents.
Palestinian officials confirmed the withdrawal, which saw people rush to the heavily damaged site this morning.
The World Health Organization said that 21 patients had died during the Israeli siege of the medical complex, saying that patients and displaced civilians sheltering there were left in unsanitary conditions with a lack of medical care and food.