BATTLES AND BOMBARDMENT
POUNDED The Gaza Strip On Thursday, After Washington Said Israel Agreed To
Reschedule Cancelled Talks With Tensions Worsening Between The Allies. United
States Criticism Of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu Has Mounted Over Gaza's
Civilian Death Toll, Dire Food Shortages, And Israeli Plans To Push Its Ground
Offensive Against Hamas Militants Into The Far-Southern City Of Rafah, Which Is
Packed With Displaced Civilians.
World Leaders Have Warned
Against A Rafah Offensive Which They Fear Would Worsen An Already Catastrophic
Humanitarian Situation For The Palestinian Territory's 2.4 Million Residents.
The United Nations Reported
Late Wednesday That Famine "Is Ever Closer To Becoming A Reality In
Northern Gaza," And Said The Territory's Health System Is Collapsing
"Due To Ongoing Hostilities And Access Constraints."
Bombardment And Fighting
Have Continued Despite A Binding United Nations Security Council Resolution
Passed On Monday Demanding An "Immediate Ceasefire" In Gaza And The
Release Of Hostages Held By Militants.
Netanyahu Scrapped An Israeli
Visit To Washington To Discuss The Rafah Plan, In Protest Of The UN Ceasefire
Resolution From Which The United States Abstained, Allowing It To Pass.
Netanyahu's Government
Has Since Backtracked And Agreed "To Reschedule The Meeting Dedicated To Rafah",
According To White House Spokeswoman Karine Jean-Pierre.