Israel continues Gaza assault following new ceasefire proposal

The live blog has now ended and will return tomorrow. Read more of The New Arab's coverage of Israel's war on Gaza here. 

The armed wing of Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ), the al-Quds brigades, announced it had bombed Israeli forces in the area of Tal Zorob west of Rafah.

The attack comes amid fighting around the city.

The Prime Minister of Norway posted on X saying that he supported the proposed ceasefire that would see Israeli hostages released and an increase in aid into the Gaza Strip.

"I urge all parties to engage and support," he added.

I support the proposal for a lasting ceasefire, presented by @POTUS, the release of hostages and more humanitarian aid to #Gaza. I urge all parties to engage and support.

— Jonas Gahr Støre (@jonasgahrstore) June 1, 2024

Hostage families have announced the start of an "emergency operation" to convince members of Israel's Knesset to back a ceasefire and hostage deal.

A statement from the families read: "The forum demands the return of all the hostages, whether for rehabilitation or burial, and not to miss the opportunity that has arisen to bring them home."

Belgian Foreign Minister Hadja Lahbib has condemned attempts by Israel's parliament to classify UNRWA as a terrorist organisation.

"Belgium condemns the Israeli parliament's attempts to classify UNWRA as a terrorist organisation and to remove the immunity of its staff," she said in a post on X.

She added, "UNWRA's activities are essential for the Palestinians in the face of the dramatic humanitarian situation in Gaza."

Belgium condemns the Israeli parliament's attempts to classify UNWRA as a terrorist organisation and to remove the immunity of its staff.

UNWRA's activities are essential for the Palestinians in the face of the dramatic humanitarian situation in Gaza.

— Hadja Lahbib (@hadjalahbib) June 1, 2024

Spokesperson for the UN's humanitarian office (OCHA) Jens Laerke said in a press conference that "the aid that is getting in [to Gaza] is not getting to the people."

He further said that the aid going into Gaza is not enough to prevent a famine, and that the only way to get aid in at scale is through land crossings.

#Gaza: Children are starving amid persistent aid access obstacles, @UNOCHA has warned, in a renewed appeal to Israel to respect international obligations regarding the safe passage of lifesaving relief.

"The aid that is getting in, is not getting to the people." - @JensLaerke pic.twitter.com/zqF8TItxYq

— United Nations Geneva (@UNGeneva) June 1, 2024

French President Emmanuel Macron posted on X that "The war in Gaza must end".

"We support the US proposal for a durable peace. Just as we are working with our partners in the region on peace and security for all," he said in the post.

"The release of the hostages, a permanent ceasefire to work towards peace and progress on the two-state solution," he added.

The war in Gaza must end.

We support the US proposal for a durable peace. Just as we are working with our partners in the region on peace and security for all.

The release of the hostages, a permanent ceasefire to work towards peace and progress on the two-state solution.

— Emmanuel Macron (@EmmanuelMacron) June 1, 2024

Hezbollah claimed responsibility for the shooting down of an Israeli drone in Lebanon.

In a statement, Hezbollah said it downed a Hermes 900 drone in solidarity with Gaza.

Video circulated online appeared to show a plane of a size corresponding to that of a Hermes, aflame and gyring earthward. 

(Reuters)

A meeting between US, Egyptian and Israeli officials is scheduled to take place on Sunday in Cairo to discuss the reopening of the Gaza's Rafah crossing, a high-level source told Egypt's state-linked Al Qahera TV.

Egypt is insisting that Israel withdraw its forces from the crossing, Al Qahera reported. Israel seized the crossing on the Gaza side in May during its offensive in the city of Rafah along the enclave's southern edge. 

(Reuters)

Israel's opposition leader on Saturday urged Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to heed US President Joe Biden's call for a Gaza truce under which Hamas would free hostages, and offered to support the government should far-right coalition partners bolt.

"The government of Israel cannot ignore President Biden's consequential speech. There is a deal on the table and it should made," Yair Lapid said in an X post.

"I remind Netanyahu that he has a safety net from us for a hostage-release deal if (Itamar) Ben-Gvir and (Bezalel) Smotrich leave the government." 

(Reuters)

An Israeli pilotless plane was shot down over Lebanese territory by a surface-to-air missile on Saturday, Israel's military said.

(Reuters)

Palestinian Islamic Jihad has said it looks with "suspicion" at the US ceasefire proposal presented by US President Joe Biden due to the administrations support for Israel, although it added the group was studying the proposal.

The health ministry in Gaza said Saturday that at least 36,379 people have been killed in Israel's war on Gaza, with a further 82,407 people being wounded.

The toll includes at least 95 deaths and 350 injuries over the past 24 hours, a ministry statement said.

Hezbollah rockets fired from southern Lebanon hit sites around the Israeli settlement of Kiryat Shmona, with the group saying the barrage was in retaliation for Israeli airstrikes last night.

According to Haaretz an Israeli army base was struck in the barrage, although it added that there were no casualties as a result of the strike.

The Office for the Prime Minister of Israel said in a post on X that "Israel's conditions for ending the war have not changed" following US President Joe Biden's announced ceasefire proposal yesterday. 

"The destruction of Hamas military and governing capabilities, the freeing of all hostages and ensuring that Gaza no longer poses a threat to Israel," the office said.

Under the proposal, Israel will continue to insist these conditions are met before a permanent ceasefire is put in place. The notion that Israel will agree to a permanent ceasefire before these conditions are fulfilled is a non-starter.

— Prime Minister of Israel (@IsraeliPM) June 1, 2024

Saudi Arabia's Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud received a call from US Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Saturday during which they discussed the latest Gaza ceasefire proposal, the Saudi state news agency said.

(Reuters)

A 13-year-old boy has died from malnutrition in Al-Aqsa Martyr's Hospital in central Gaza's Deir al-Balah, according to Palestinian news agency WAFA.

The report added that the number of people who have died from malnutrition in Gaza has risen to 37, with medical sources noting that the toll is only reflective of reported deaths in hospitals.

The Israeli military has announced it conducted overnight airstrikes against Hezbollah positions in south Lebanon following rocket fire into northern Israeli on Friday.

The targets included a rocket launch site as well as observation post and military buildings. 

Additionally, the military announced two rockets fired from southern Lebanon fell into open areas.

Indonesia's president-elect, Prabowo Subianto, said on Saturday that his country was willing to send peacekeeping troops to enforce a ceasefire in Gaza if required.

Speaking at the Shangri-La Dialogue, Asia's premier security conference, Prabowo said US President Joe Biden's proposal for a ceasefire in Gaza was a step in the right direction.

(Reuters)