- US Secretary of State Blinken, on a visit to Tel Aviv, says there should be “no delays, no excuses” in reaching a ceasefire deal, claiming the only reason it may not happen “is because of Hamas”.
- At least two children have been killed in an overnight Israeli attack on a house in Rafah, while more reportedly died in an air strike on a residential building in central Gaza City.
- United Nations chief Antonio Guterres warns that an Israeli assault on Rafah would be an “unbearable escalation” that would be “devastating” for Palestinians in Gaza and the wider region.
- Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu says Israeli forces will enter Gaza’s southern city of Rafah regardless of whether a ceasefire deal is reached with Hamas.
- At least 34,568 Palestinians have been killed and 77,765 wounded in Israeli attacks on Gaza since October 7. The death toll in Israel from Hamas’s October 7 attacks stands at 1,139 with dozens of people still held captive.
- 8,535 Palestinians arrested in West Bank since October 7Israeli forces have detained 20 Palestinians, including one minor, throughout the occupied West Bank in the last 24 hours, according to the Palestinian Prisoners’ Society.This brings the total number of Palestinians arrested in the West Bank since the Gaza war broke out on October 7 to 8,535.The latest arrests took place in Hebron, Qalqilya, Bethlehem, Ramallah, Tubas, Nablus, Jericho, and Jerusalem governorates, said the Prisoners Socety, where Israeli forces also harassed, threatened, and assaulted detainees and their relatives.
- Violent, vigilante attack’ on pro-Palestine students at UCLAReporting from Los AngelesThis is the largest manifestation of the pro-Zionist, pro-Israel group of counter-protesters, many of whom, in my observation, are from off campus.They are attacking the pro-Palestine encampment on campus. It’s been maintained by students who are protesting Israel’s war on Gaza and calling for the divestment of the university’s financial ties to Israel.This is the most violent, vigilante attack against these students that I’ve seen.There was definitely what you could call hand-to-hand combat between the two groups. There were a lot of objects thrown and chemical irritants used. I see smoke, I see fireworks … people beating on the boards that separate the camp from the rest of the campus. I would be surprised if someone hasn’t been injured in the melee tonight.The people who are attacking are the counter-demonstrators, who are aligned with pro-Israel, pro-Zionist organisations. They are carrying a yellow flag with a crown on it with a word that means “messiah” in Hebrew.The important thing to note is that there seems to be absolutely no police intervention whatsoever.
- Protesters in London demand UK stop sending arms to IsraelAl Jazeera’s Paul Brennan reports that about 600 protesters have gathered outside the building that houses the Department for Business and Trade, which licenses arms exports, including more than $500m of weapons sent to Israel.“The intention is to mark May 1. They are in solidarity with some of the workers in this building who are concerned that by doing their work they’re effectively contributing to what is going on in occupied Gaza,” he said, adding that the protests have been peaceful.Dr Jonathon Fluxman of Doctors in Unite told Al Jazeera at the protest that it is “vital” that the UK stops arming Israel.“They are violating human rights every day … we have to come out to the streets and we have to protest,” he said.
- Gaza death toll risesAt least 34,568 Palestinians have been killed and 77,765 wounded in Israeli attacks on Gaza since October 7, its Health Ministry says.The ministry added that 33 people were killed and 57 injured in the latest 24-hour reporting period.
- Clashes break out at UCLAViolent confrontations have erupted at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) between pro-Israeli and pro-Palestinian protesters.The clashes began after pro-Israeli counter-demonstrators, many not affiliated with the school, moved into the campus and began attacking a pro-Palestine encampment set up by students a week ago, according to Al Jazeera’s Rob Reynolds, reporting from Los Angeles.Video footage shows protesters brawling and others hurling objects at people huddled within the pro-Palestine encampment.“There seems to be absolutely no police intervention whatsoever,” said Reynolds.
- ‘Just a matter of time’ before catastrophic Rafah invasionThe Israeli military’s looming invasion of Rafah, which has a population density of about 18,000 people per square kilometre, will have “a catastrophic effect, and they know that”, says Omar Ashour, professor of security and military studies at the Doha Institute for Graduate Studies.“When you have this level of population density … you will shoot the wrong people probably, and there will be a lot of innocent people dying,” he told Al Jazeera.Ashour added that Israel’s preparation to deploy five to six major military brigades – comprised of mechanised infantry, armoured, special forces, and paratrooper divisions – as well as its recent attacks on eastern Rafah, shows that the military has “started an operation already” in Rafah.“It’s just a matter of time before they escalate it,” he said.
Source: https://www.aljazeera.com/news/liveblog/2024/5/1/israels-war-on-gaza-live-un-chiefs-warn-israel-against-assault-on-rafah
