"Netanyahu is ruining Israel for his own good": Former Knesset member04:57
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Humanitarian crisis worsens in Gaza as Israel-Hamas war intensifies
By Chris Lau, Andrew Raine, Amarachi Orie, Joshua Berlinger, Tori B. Powell and Adrienne Vogt, CNN
Updated 5:41 p.m. ET, December 16, 2023
What we're covering
The three Israeli hostages who were mistakenly killed Friday by the Israel Defense Forces in Gaza were waving a white flag when they were shot, an IDF official said.
The IDF chief of staff took responsibility for the killings Saturday, saying the hostages did "everything possible" to signal they were civilians. Meanwhile, families rallied in Tel Aviv, demanding the safe return of hostages still held in Gaza.
Al Jazeera journalists mourned the death of their colleague, cameraman Samer Abu Daqqa, who was killed in an airstrike Friday. The network accused Israel of "systematically targeting and killing" Al Jazeera journalists and their families — a claim the IDF has denied.
At least 14 people were killed in an airstrike on Jabalya in northern Gaza early Saturday, according to the Hamas-run health ministry. The Israeli military also raided schools in the northern strip, claiming to have killed and captured Hamas fighters.
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1 hr 40 min ago
IDF sniper kills 2 women inside Gaza church, according to Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem
From CNN's Jomana Karadsheh and Maija Ehlinger
An Israeli Defense Forces sniper shot and killed two women inside the Holy Family Parish in Gaza on Saturday, according to a statement from the Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem, which oversees Catholic churches across Cyprus, Jordan, Israel, Gaza and the West Bank.
The majority of Christian families inside Gaza have taken refuge inside the parish since the start of the war, the statement added.
The two women, described as a mother and daughter, were walking to the convent, and "one was killed as she tried to carry the other to safety," it said. Seven others were shot and wounded in the attack.
"No warning was given, no notification was provided. They were shot in cold blood inside the premises of the Parish, where there are no belligerents," the statement continued.
The Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem said that Israel Defense Forces tanks also targeted the Convent of the Sisters of Mother Teresa, which is housing 54 disabled persons and is part of the church's compound. The building's generator — which is the only current source of electricity — and its fuel resources, solar panels, and water tanks have been destroyed, it said, and IDF rockets have made the convent "uninhabitable."
CNN has reached out to the IDF for comment.
On Friday, UK lawmaker Layla Moran said her family members sheltering in in the church are “beyond desperate and terrified” as conditions continue to worsen.
“(My family is) reporting white phosphorous and gunfire into their compound,” she said. “The bin collector and the janitor have been shot and their bodies are laying outside and remain uncollected.”
CNN cannot independently verify the conditions in and around the church, nor the allegation of the use of incendiary munitions, which can be illegal in some circumstances.
Citing her family members, the Oxford West and Abingdon member of parliament added that electricity generators have stopped working at the church.
On November 15, Moran told the UK House of Commons that one of her family members sheltering in the church had died.
CNN's Kareem El Damanhoury contributed to this report.
2 hr 5 min ago
Israel's defense minister held "painful conversations" with families of 3 hostages mistakenly shot dead
From Tamar Michaelis
Israel’s Minister of Defense Yoav Gallant on Saturday said he held painful conversations with the families of the three Israeli hostages mistakenly shot and killed by the Israel Defense Forces in Gaza.
"I heard their pain — these were charged, painful conversations. They were difficult first and foremost for the families, but also difficult for me, personally," Gallant said.
Gallant said as defense minister he bears responsibility for everything that happens during this war.
"This was also the case during yesterday’s event – an incident that IDF troops did not intend to conduct, yet one that took place as a result of significant errors," he said.
Gallant called the incident "one of the most tragic and difficult events I can remember."
The defense minister asked Israelis to maintain their support of the IDF soldiers operating in Gaza.
"They have taken impressive actions and made great achievements, while risking their lives. We must stand by them," he said.
Gallant also met Saturday with military and intelligence chiefs about ongoing efforts to return the hostages still held in Gaza, according to a statement from the Israeli Prime Minister's office.
2 hr 11 min ago
Netanyahu implies negotiations continuing to release more hostages
From Tamar Michaelis
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu holds a cabinet meeting at his office in Jerusalem on December 10. (Ronen Zvulun/Pool/AFP/Getty Images)Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu appeared to suggest on Saturday that new negotiations were underway to rescue Israeli hostages still held by Hamas in Gaza.
Netanyahu said the Israeli military's continued use of force in Gaza was necessary to both bring the hostages back and win the war.
"Without the military pressure, we wouldn’t have reached a framework to release 110 hostages, and only ongoing military pressure would lead to the release of all our hostages," he said, referring to the exchanges of Hamas captives for Palestinian detainees that took place during last month's truce. "The instruction I give to our negotiating team is based on that pressure. And without it, we don’t have anything."
David Barnea, the director of Israel's intelligence service Mossad, was expected to meet at the end of the week with Qatar’s prime minister in Europe to continue discussions about getting hostages released by Hamas, a source familiar with the plans told CNN Saturday.
It was not immediately clear whether the meeting had happened yet.
Netanyahu did not confirm any details about the expected meeting during the televised press conference.
3 hr 34 min ago
Israeli soldier killed in attack from southern Lebanon, IDF says
From Tamar Michaelis and CNN's Mohammed Tawfeeq
An Israeli soldier was killed and two others were wounded in a drone attack that hit Israeli troops in the Margaliot area near the Lebanese border on Saturday, the Israeli army said.
Two unmanned aerial vehicles were launched from Lebanese territory: one was intercepted, while the other hit Israel Defense Forces soldiers, army spokesperson Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari said in an evening briefing.
In response, Hagari said Israeli warplanes struck Hezbollah targets in southern Lebanon.
“We will continue striking Hezbollah targets with great force in response to any hostile activity against Israel," Hagari said.
Early Saturday, Hezbollah claimed on social media they targeted an Israeli military post at the same location using a drone, saying the attack was "in support of our steadfast Palestinian people in the Gaza Strip."
According to a CNN tally, at least six Israeli soldiers have been killed since Hezbollah started their scaled up attacks from south Lebanon on October 8.
Remember: This fighting is centered on northern Israel and southern Lebanon — separate from Israel's battles with Hamas in Gaza. But an uptick in clashes with Hezbollah during the ongoing war has raised fears that the powerful Lebanese paramilitary group could actively participate in the conflict.
Hezbollah is among several Iran-backed proxy groups that factor into the heightened regional tensions.
3 hr 18 min ago
"The hourglass is running out": Thousands demand immediate return of remaining hostages
From CNN's Lauren Izso
People rally for the release of hostages in Tel Aviv, Israel, on Saturday, December 16. (Violeta Santos Moura/Reuters)It’s a cool evening in Tel Aviv, as thousands gather at a square in the city to demand that the hostages still held by Hamas in Gaza be brought home immediately — "now!" as they keep chanting.
Many people in the crowd are holding Israeli flags and signs with photos of hostages.
“The hourglass is running out. Free the hostages now!” one sign reads.
Some attendees tell CNN they are demanding a ceasefire immediately in order to free more hostages – saying that they figure without a ceasefire, the more than 100 captives still in Gaza will not be brought back alive.
The evening’s mood is somber, with the crowd holding a moment of silence after yesterday’s news that three hostages were killed accidentally by Israeli soldiers.
“We can’t make any more mistakes,” said a former hostage at the gathering, Agam Goldstein, who is from the kibbutz Kfar Aza. She said she knew two of the hostages killed yesterday.
“Bring them back now. They are our hope, whatever is left of it,” she said.
People gather in Tel Aviv, Israel, to demand the release of hostages held in Gaza on Saturday, December 16. (Amir Goldstein/Reuters)There are dozens of speeches from family members of hostages, a recorded message from New York City Mayor Eric Adams, and recorded statements from hostages who were freed in the previous truce. At one point, everyone in attendance holds their cellphone flashlight in the air as they sing the national anthem.
Former hostage Daniel Aloni also spoke at the rally, urging the Israeli government to agree on a hostage exchange deal with Hamas:
“I was there, my daughter was there. Every day that passes is a danger to their lives. Don’t abandon the hostages — we must act now. A deal is required now. Bring them home now!”
3 hr 59 min ago
IDF chief of staff takes responsibility for deaths of 3 Israeli hostages
From CNN’s Jessie Gretener
The three hostages killed are identified as, from left to right, Yotam Haim, Alon Shamriz and Samer Talalka. (Hostages and Missing Families Forum)Israel Defense Forces Chief of Staff Herzi Halevi has taken responsibility for the deaths of three Israeli hostages mistakenly killed by IDF soldiers Friday.
He said the IDF has completed a preliminary investigation of the incident.
"The IDF, and I as its commander, are responsible for what happened, and we will do everything to prevent such incidents from recurring in future combat," Halevi said in a video statement, referring to it as “a difficult and painful event.”
"There is nothing that the IDF soldiers and their commanders in the Gaza Strip want more than to rescue the hostages alive. In this case, we were not successful. We feel the deep sorrow of the families for the death of the hostages,” the IDF chief said.
“A split-second decision could be a life-or-death decision. I think the three hostages did everything possible so that we would understand – they moved around shirtless so that we wouldn't suspect them of carrying explosives and they held a white cloth — but the tension overcame all of the above,” Halevi said.
Halevi said the IDF has completed a preliminary investigation of the incident and has updated the families of the killed hostages on their findings.
“We notified the families of the difficult findings and transparently published them to the public. There may be additional cases in which hostages escape or are abandoned during combat, and we have the duty and responsibility to rescue them alive,” he said.
CNN has reached out to the IDF for more details.
Stanley Beecham and Tamar Michaelis contributed reporting to this post.
4 hr 24 min ago
Netanyahu vows to continue war "until the victory" in first speech since IDF accidentally killed hostages
Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Saturday told his nation that "we are in a war for our lives."
Speaking for the first time since the Israeli military mistakenly shot and killed three Israeli hostages in Gaza, Netanyahu said, "This war has to continue until the victory ... despite the international pressure and despite the price this has taken from us."
More on the hostages: The Israel Defense Forces said Friday it accidentally killed three Israeli hostages in Gaza after misidentifying them as a threat. The hostages were shirtless and waving a white flag when they were shot, according to an IDF official.
4 hr 13 min ago
Over 130 US Homeland Security staffers sign letter calling on Biden administration to support Gaza ceasefire
From CNN’s Camila DeChalus and Samantha Waldenberg
Smoke rises following an Israeli bombardment in Gaza, as seen from southern Israel, on Saturday, December 16. (Ariel Schalit/AP)More than 130 US Department of Homeland Security staff members urged President Joe Biden's administration to call for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza in a letter addressed to Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas last month and now obtained by CNN.
“We join our colleagues and peers on Capitol Hill, USAID, Department of State, and across the Executive Branch who have expressed similar concerns in urging the Biden Administration to call for an immediate ceasefire and cessation of hostilities,” the letter said.
The staffers were unnamed in the letter, which is dated November 22, 2023, but say they work for several federal agencies within the department including Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Federal Emergency Management Agency, and US Citizenship and Immigration Services.
The DHS workforce consists of more than 260,000 total employees, according to the department.
The staffers said they signed the letter anonymously “out of concern for personal safety and risk of professional repercussions.”
Those who signed the letter say they are “deeply troubled” by the department’s “messaging, recognition, support, and mourning” of Palestinians killed in Gaza. The letter also criticizes DHS for turning a “blind eye” to bombings in Gaza.
“DHS has been a silent witness to hunger affecting the Palestinians, as critical food supplies have reached ‘dangerously low levels,’” the letter states.
More context: There have been growing frustrations among staff members that work in the Biden administration over how the president has responded to the Israel-Hamas conflict. Earlier this week, a few dozen political appointees and Biden administration staffers held a vigil in front of the White House calling on Biden to support a ceasefire in Gaza.
“We have been horrified to see the full resumption of killings, displacement and bombardment of Palestinian civilians in Gaza. A temporary pause to this violence was never enough. We must move with urgency to save as many lives as possible and achieve an immediate, permanent ceasefire agreement and the return of all hostages,” Josh Paul, a former State Department official who resigned in October over Biden’s handling of the Israel-Hamas conflict, said at the vigil on behalf of the group that organized the event.
In November, more than 700 staffers and political appointees signed a letter calling on the president to support a ceasefire in the Israel-Hamas conflict. That letter was signed by staffers who work in more than 30 departments and agencies, including the Environmental Protection Agency, FBI and NASA.
Mayorkas has not responded to it, but DHS officials did meet with the authors of that letter recently to discuss their concerns.
DHS has not responded to CNN’s inquiries to comment on this letter.
5 hr 43 min ago
Third-largest shipping company in the world pauses container ship journeys in the Red Sea
From CNN's Benjamin Brown in London
The CMA CGM Group, the third-largest shipping company in the world, has instructed all of its container ships in the Red Sea region to pause their journeys following a string of attacks on commercial ships in the sea.
Yemen's Iran-backed Houthi forces have been targeting commercial ships in the sea, claiming the attacks as a means of pressuring Israel to send aid to Gaza. The group has said any ship heading to Israel was a “legitimate target.”
As a result, Danish shipping and logistics firm Maersk paused all its shipping through the Red Sea on Friday, with German container shipping line Hapag-Lloyd also announcing on Friday that it had implemented a three-day pause in routes through the Red Sea.
In a statement on Saturday, CMA CGM said it is "deeply concerned" about the recent attacks.
"The situation is further deteriorating and concern of safety is increasing," the French company said.
"As such we have decided to instruct all CMA CGM containerships in the area that are scheduled to pass through the Red Sea to reach safe areas and pause their journey in safe waters with immediate effect until further notice. CMA CGM is taking all necessary steps to preserve its transportation services for its customers," the statement said.
5 hr 37 min ago
"We keep getting coffins": Families of hostages plead for Israeli government to bring back loved ones
From Tamar Michaelis and CNN's Catherine Nicholls
Family members of hostages being held in Gaza speak during a rally in Tel Aviv, Israel, on Saturday, December 16. (Leo Correa/AP)Family members of the hostages being held in Gaza by Hamas are "all in pain" after three hostages were accidentally killed by Israeli troops, the Hostages and Missing Persons Families Forum spokesperson Haim Rubinstein said Saturday.
“Like the entire people of Israel, we are all in pain facing yesterday’s tragedy,” Rubinstein said.
Several hostages’ family members spoke from "Hostage Square" in Tel Aviv, calling on the government to present a plan to get those held captive returned to Israel safely.
Raz Ben-Ami, a hostage who was released from Hamas custody in late November, said she warned Israeli cabinet members that fighting in Gaza could harm those being held by Hamas. Her husband was also taken hostage and has not yet been released.
“Unfortunately, I was right,” she said. “The hostages are going through hell, and are in life danger. ... Every day, hour, minute is crucial. ... A military campaign alone will not save the hostages.”
Ben-Ami said she is “begging” the Israeli government to “present a hostage release framework and encourage the world to promote it.”
Danny Elgarat, brother of hostage Itzhak Elgarat, said he “does not get what (the Israeli government) is waiting for.”
“We see what’s going on. We keep getting coffins, one body after another,” Elgarat said, adding that the family members will move their activity to the Israel Defense Forces headquarters if they do not hear back from the government.
“We will stand there 24/7, waiting for them,” he said.
5 hr 59 min ago
27-year-old Israeli hostage in Gaza has died, according to prime minister's office and hostages forum
From Tamar Michaelis and CNN's Jessie Gretener
Inbar Haiman. (Hostages and Missing Families Forum)A 27-year-old female Israeli hostage in Gaza has died, according to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office and the Hostages and Missing Persons Families Forum.
Inbar Haiman was from the city of Haifa in Israel, the forum said in a statement Saturday. Her family expressed their grief and said that she was "a gifted and creative girl, full of love, selflessness, and joy for life" in the statement.
"Inbar was an avid art enthusiast and graffiti artist. She had also studied filmmaking in high school. She was a fan of Maccabi Haifa soccer team. She had met her partner Noam Alon almost two years ago while studying Visual Communication at the Wizo Academic Center in Haifa. This month they were supposed to have started their fourth year of studies," the forum said.
Haiman was at the Re'im nature festival on October 7, the forum said, outlining that she "ran away from the party with two male friends until she was caught by terrorists riding motorcycles."
Israel's prime minister's office says it now believes there are 129 hostages, 21 of whom have died.
8 hr 4 min ago
Head of Israeli intelligence service expected to meet with Qatari prime minister about hostages, source says
From CNN’s Alex Marquardt in Tel Aviv
The director of Israel's Mossad foreign intelligence service, David Barnea, speaks during a summit on September 10, in Herzliya, Israel. Gil Cohen-Magen/AFP/Getty ImagesThe director of Israel's Mossad foreign intelligence service, David Barnea, is expected to meet at the end of the week with Qatar’s prime minister in Europe to continue discussions about getting hostages released by Hamas, a source familiar with the plans told CNN Saturday.
It was not immediately clear whether the meeting has happened yet.
The reported meeting comes after Israel canceled a trip Barnea was meant to make to Doha earlier this week.
This latest meeting was planned before the Israel Defense Forces accidentally killed three Israeli hostages in Gaza on Friday, but that incident has added urgency to the conversations, the source said. The source requested anonymity to discuss the sensitive deliberations.
On Thursday, an Israeli official told CNN that the country's war cabinet felt “conditions are not right” to try to restart the talks. Qatar and the US have been working to try to resurrect the negotiations, with new proposals made to free more of the over 100 hostages in Gaza.
7 hr 59 min ago
It's late afternoon in Gaza. Here's what you need to know
From CNN staff
Smoke billows over northern Gaza on December 16. Gil Cohen-Magen/AFP/Getty ImagesThe three Israeli hostages that the Israel Defense Forces said it misidentified and accidentally killed in Gaza were shirtless and waving a white flag when they were shot, according to an IDF official.
More than one IDF soldier fired at the hostages, the official told CNN after briefing journalists on Saturday, adding: "This was against our rules of engagement."
The official said an investigation into the killings is underway, as Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's government faces increasing pressure to do more to get the remaining hostages out.
Israeli soldiers are being told to “exercise additional caution” when encountering people in civilian clothes, according to a military spokesperson.
Here are other key developments:
A journalist's funeral: Hundreds gathered in Khan Younis in southern Gaza on Saturday to mourn Al Jazeera journalist Samer Abu Daqqa, who was killed in an airstrike on Friday.
The body of Abu Daqqa — wrapped in a white cloth, with his chest adorned by the press vest and helmet he was wearing when he was wounded — was carried on the shoulders of the assembled crowd from Al-Nasser Medical complex in Khan Younis to a nearby cemetery.
Abu Daqqa's employer on Friday accused the IDF of "systematically targeting and killing Al Jazeera journalists and their families." The Israeli military said in response it has "never" deliberately targeted journalists and takes "all operationally feasible measures to protect both civilians and journalists."
A deadly airstrike: The Hamas-controlled Ministry of Health in Gaza said an airstrike early Saturday killed 14 people in a northern area of the territory. Dr. Munir Al-Bursh, the general director of the ministry, told CNN the casualties were mainly women and children.
A pair of raids on schools: Also in northern Gaza, the IDF said it conducted raids on two schools where Hamas fighters were allegedly hiding. Israel Army Radio reported 25 Hamas fighters were killed and 50 surrendered during the operation, though the IDF has not confirmed those figures to CNN.
A pause in Rafah: The IDF conducted a "tactical pause" for humanitarian purposes in the Tel al-Sultan neighborhood of Rafah in southern Gaza between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. local time (3 a.m. to 7 a.m. ET) on Saturday, according Israeli authorities. The pause was meant to allow civilians to replenish stocks of basic items such as food and water, but it is unclear how many people were aware of the opportunity, due to collapsed connectivity in the area.
A deadly year in the West Bank: 2023 has been the deadliest for Palestinians in the occupied West Bank since 2005, when the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) began keeping records, according to a report from the organization. A total of 477 Palestinians were killed in the West Bank and East Jerusalem from January 1 through December 15, the OCHA said.
A shipping lane under attack: Commercial maritime traffic in the Red Sea continues to come under threat. The US military said Iran-backed Houthi militants targeted three commercial ships on Friday, striking two, while a British warship shot down a suspected attack drone targeting merchant ships. A US Navy vessel also shot down 14 drones launched from Houthi-controlled areas of Yemen, preventing any damage to ships in the area, according to US Central command. The Houthis have declared any ship bound for Israel a "legitimate target" in the wake of Hamas' October 7 attacks on Israel and the ensuing Israeli offensive in Gaza.
10 hr 57 min ago
UK shoots down suspected attack drone targeting merchant ships in Red Sea
From CNN’s Xiaofei Xu and Nick Paton Wash
British warship HMS Diamond shot down a suspected attack drone that was targeting merchant ships in the Red Sea, UK Defense Secretary Grant Shapps said in a statement Saturday.
“Overnight, HMS Diamond shot down a suspected attack drone which was targeting merchant shipping in the Red Sea. One Sea Viper missile was fired and successfully destroyed the target,” Shapps stated.
"The recent spate of illegal attacks represents a direct threat to international commerce and maritime security in the Red Sea," Shapps said, adding that “the UK remains committed to repelling these attacks to protect the free flow of global trade.”
According to British Naval chief Ben Key, the HMS Diamond was deployed at short notice from Portsmouth on England's south coast two weeks ago.
Key outlined that roughly one sixth of the world's commercial shipping passes through the Bab-el-Mandeb strait and the Red Sea.
“The Royal Navy is committed to upholding the right to free use of the oceans and we do not tolerate indiscriminate threats or attacks against those going about their lawful business on the high seas,” Key stated.
Some background: Yemen's Iran-backed Houthi forces have been targeting commercial ships in the Red Sea, claiming the attacks as revenge against Israel. Houthi forces struck two commercial ships on Friday and threatened to attack a third, according to the US Central Command.
As a result of the “escalated security situation,” Danish shipping and logistics firm Maersk paused all its shipping through the Red Sea on Friday. German container shipping line Hapag-Lloyd also announced Friday that it is pausing routes through the Red Sea for three days.
11 hr 3 min ago
21 bodies brought into Khan Younis hospital, Gaza journalists report
From CNN's Kareem Khadder
Journalists at the Nasser hospital in Khan Younis in southern Gaza say that according to hospital authorities 21 bodies were brought in Saturday.
The journalists said that the casualty numbers had been provided by the hospital’s head of Pathology. CNN has tried to contact the hospital, but communications are intermittent.
Among those killed, they said, was a colleague: A’ssem Kamal Mousa, who worked for the Gaza-based Palestine Online and other news outlets.
Earlier, video from the area of Khan Younis showed clouds of smoke rising from the scene of explosions.
Khan Younis has seen intense combat on the ground as well as a continuation of airstrikes over the past week.
A number of deaths were reported as a result of drone strikes in the area on Friday, including that of Al Jazeera cameraman Samer Abu Daqqa.
At least 17 people were killed and dozens of others were injured early Friday morning after artillery fire struck a school and a residential home in the city.
8 hr 1 min ago
IDF denies targeting journalists following death of Al Jazeera cameraman
From CNN’s Elizabeth Joseph and Lucas Lilieholm
A still from a video of Al Jazeera cameraman Samer Abu Daqqa. From Al JazeeraThe Israeli military said it has "never" deliberately targeted journalists, following accusations from the Al Jazeera network, whose cameraman Samer Abu Daqqa died after being wounded in an Israeli attack.
Responding to a CNN request for comment, the Israel Defense Forces said it took "all operationally feasible measures to protect both civilians and journalists."
"The IDF has never, and will never, deliberately target journalists. Given the ongoing exchanges of fire, remaining in an active combat zone has inherent risks. The IDF will continue to counter threats while persisting to mitigate harm to civilians,” the statement said.
Al Jazeera Media Network issued a statement on Friday condemning the airstrike that resulted in the death of cameraman Abu Daqqa and the injury of the network's Gaza bureau chief, Wael Dahdouh.
“The Network holds Israel accountable for systematically targeting and killing Al Jazeera journalists and their families,” the statement said.
Journalists dying: At Abu Daqqa's funeral on Saturday, Dahdouh — who lost his wife, daughter, son, and grandson in an Israeli airstrike on the Al Nusiarat refugee camp in late October — accused Israel of targeting his former colleague and vowed to continue his work.
He said "more than 80 of our colleagues and their families were killed."
As of Friday, at least 64 journalists have been killed, and 13 injured, while covering Israel's war with Hamas, making it the most dangerous period for the profession in 31 years, according to the Committee to Protect Journalists.
9 hr 11 min ago
Hostages killed by Israeli troops were waving white flag, military says
From CNN’s Richard Allen Greene in Jerusalem
The three hostages killed are identified as, from left to right, Yotam Haim, Alon Shamriz, and Samer Talalka. Hostages and Missing Families ForumThe three Israeli hostages who were killed Friday by Israel Defense Forces soldiers in Gaza were shirtless and waving a white flag when they were shot, an IDF official said Saturday, calling the killings a “tragic, tragic event” and a violation of IDF rules of engagement.
The three men came out of a building “tens of meters from our soldiers’ position,” the official said. At least one of the soldiers “feels threatened and opens fire. Two are killed immediately. One is wounded and runs back inside. The soldiers hear a cry for help in Hebrew and the brigade commander issues a ceasefire order, but there is another burst of fire.”
The third hostage died later. It is not clear if the second burst of fire killed him.
More than one IDF soldier fired at the hostages, the official told CNN after briefing journalists.
This was against our rules of engagement. I’ll repeat that: This was against our rules of engagement,” the official said.
The official said there is “intense combat” in the area where the hostages were killed, and “terrorists there are moving around in civilian attire. They are wearing sneakers and jeans. They are trying to pull us into traps.”
The hostages were named Friday as Yotam Haim, Samer Talalka and Alon Shimriz.
It's possible they had escaped or been abandoned by their captors, the official said.
“Hundreds of meters from that location, there was a building with markings of 'SOS' on it, and we are still looking to see if there is a connection between that building and the hostages,” the official said.
The hostages' killing remains under IDF investigation, the official said.
7 hr 15 min ago
Hundreds gather to mourn slain Al Jazeera journalist Samer Abu Daqqa in Gaza
From CNN’s Kareem Khadder and Lucas Lilieholm
Relatives and friends mourn Al Jazeera cameraman Samer Abu Daqqa, who was killed while working in an air strike in Khan Younis on Saturday. Ahmad Hasaballah/Getty ImagesHundreds of people gathered to mourn Al Jazeera journalist Samer Abu Daqqa in Gaza on Saturday after he succumbed to wounds suffered during an airstrike on the southern Gaza city of Khan Younis the day before.
The body of Abu Daqqa, wrapped in a white cloth, was carried on the shoulders of the assembled crowd from Al-Nasser Medical complex in Khan Younis to a nearby cemetery. On his chest were the press vest and helmet he had been wearing when he was wounded.
Al Jazeera’s Gaza bureau chief Wael Dahdouh, who lost his wife, daughter, son, and grandson in an Israeli airstrike in the Al Nusiarat refugee camp in late October, accused Israel of targeting his former colleague and vowed to continue his work.
“We lost Samer today in this vicious way, even though we had coordination and official assignment, he was killed with a targeted missile. All Samer’s friends and colleagues are behind Samer and continue this noble message even though more than 80 of our colleagues and their families were killed, we will continue with doing our jobs and continue our coverage. We ask almighty God that this will be the last of the killings and ask him to have mercy on his soul,” he said.
The funeral was attended by friends, family and colleagues, many of them wearing their press vests. Abu Daqqa’s wife and children live in Belgium.
Prayers were read in the cemetery and his mother, Umm Maher, sobbed as she knelt down to pray over her son’s grave before he was laid to rest.
Mourners react in Khan Younis on Saturday. Bassam Masoud/ReutersThe Al Jazeera Media Network issued a statement on Friday condemning the airstrike that resulted in the death of Samer Abu Daqqa and the injury of Wael Dahdouh.
The Network holds Israel accountable for systematically targeting and killing Al Jazeera journalists and their families,” the statement said.
CNN cannot independently verify the allegations. CNN has contacted the Israeli military for comment but has not heard back.
Some context: As of Friday, 64 journalists have been killed, and 13 injured, while covering the Israel's war with Hamas, making it the most dangerous period for the profession in 31 years, according to the Committee to Protect Journalists.
Correction: This post has been updated to correct the location where Wael Dahdouh's family were killed.
8 hr 57 min ago
Israeli military says it killed and captured Hamas fighters at schools in northern Gaza
From CNN's Tim Lister
The Israel Defense Forces raided two schools in northern Gaza where Hamas fighters were allegedly hiding, killing some and detaining others, the military said.
IDF forces raided the Alma'atsam in Allah and Alfarabi schools in the Rimal neighborhood of Gaza City, according to a post on the social media platform X Saturday.
“The forces eliminated terrorists in battles that took place in the area. In addition, terrorists hiding inside schools surrendered and were arrested by the forces,” the IDF said.
Israel Army Radio reported that 25 Hamas fighters were killed and 50 surrendered during the operation. The IDF has not confirmed those figures to CNN.
Some context: Fierce fighting has been taking place across Gaza since the collapse of a brief truce between Israel and Hamas.
Israel aims to destroy the militant group following its surprise October 7 attacks that left 1,200 Israelis dead. The IDF has said it has struck more than 22,000 targets in Gaza since the beginning of the war.
According to the Hamas-run Ministry of Health in Gaza, at least 18,412 people had been killed in Gaza as of Tuesday. Of those killed, around 5,000 are Hamas fighters, according to an IDF spokesperson. CNN cannot independently verify those figures.
8 hr 56 min ago
IDF will conduct "tactical pause" for humanitarian purposes in Rafah neighborhood, Israel says
From CNN’s Richard Allen Greene and Lucas Lilieholm
The Israel Defense Forces will conduct a “tactical pause” for humanitarian purposes in the Tel al-Sultan neighborhood of Rafah in southern Gaza on Saturday, according to a statement from the Israeli office for Coordination of Government Activities in the Territories.
The pause will take place from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. local time (3 a.m. to 7 a.m. ET) and is meant to allow civilians to replenish stocks of basic items such as food and water, according to the statement.
It’s unclear how many people in the area are aware of the announcement. The internet monitoring agency Netblocks reported Friday that live metrics showed connectivity had collapsed in the Gaza Strip for over 24 hours.
Israel has been battling Hamas militants in southern Gaza after expanding its ground offensive following the collapse of a truce brokered last month.
Amid a dire humanitarian situation, a convoy of 106 trucks carrying aid, including five trucks carrying fuel, crossed into Gaza through the Rafah crossing on Friday, an Egyptian official confirmed to CNN.
14 hr 47 min ago
UN says 2023 the deadliest year for Palestinians in the West Bank since 2005, when its records began
From CNN’s Lucas Lilieholm
Palestinians mourn relatives killed in a Israeli bombardment in Khan Younis on Friday. Mohammed Dahman/AP2023 was the deadliest year for Palestinians in the occupied West Bank since 2005, when the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) began keeping records, according to a report from the organization.
A total of 477 Palestinians were killed in the West Bank and East Jerusalem from January 1 to December 15, 2023, with more than half killed since October 7, according to OCHA.
The organization added that two-thirds of the Palestinian fatalities in the West Bank since October 7 had occurred during “search-and-arrest” and other operations carried out by Israeli forces.
Of the 278 Palestinians, including 70 children, killed in the West Bank including East Jerusalem since October 7, 268 have been killed by Israeli forces, eight by Israeli settlers and another two either by forces or settlers, according to the report.
OCHA also noted an increase in settler attacks against Palestinians in the West Bank following the October 7 Hamas attacks, with the weekly average of incidents since 7 October at 35, compared with 21 incidents per week between 1 January and 6 October 2023.
Increasing violence: A CNN team this week witnessed how settlers and the Israeli military are working together and creating a culture of fear amongst Palestinian families in the West Bank, despite calls from President Biden for Israel to sanction "settler extremists."
As well as escalating tensions, security measures have also been stepped up in the West Bank since October 7, after which Israel began severely restricting the freedom of movement of Palestinian residents there.
8 hr 52 min ago
At least 14 dead in reported airstrike in northern Gaza, Hamas-controlled health ministry says
From CNN's Kareem Khadder and Tim Lister
An airstrike killed at least 14 people in northern Gaza early Saturday, according to a senior official in the territory's Hamas-controlled health ministry.
The strike hit the city of Jabalya in northern Gaza, Dr. Munir Al-Bursh, general director of the Ministry of Health, told CNN. He was speaking from a medical field point in the area, where most hospitals are out of action.
“We have until this moment received 14 bodies, mainly women and children, and nine injuries as a result of an airstrike that targeted two houses in northern Jabalya,” the official said.
“The houses have been hosting many displaced residents from the area. The airstrike happened at around 7 a.m. (midnight ET) and all the injuries and bodies arrived to our medical point in northern Jabalya. There are many more under the rubble, and residents and civil defense crews are working to try to pull out more people.”
Video of the Gaza skyline early Saturday showed several plumes of thick smoke rising from parts of northern Gaza.
CNN has reached out to the Israel Defense Forces for comment on any targets struck in the Jabalya area Saturday morning.
17 hr 30 min ago
Palestinian boys and men detained without charge by Israeli military describe 5 days of alleged abuse
By CNN's Jeremy Diamond, Mohammad Al Sawalhi and Abeer Salman
Nimer Abu Ras’ wrists are bruised and lacerated. His hands are swollen.
He is one of hundreds of Palestinian men and boys who have been detained, many of them stripped and blindfolded, in recent weeks by Israeli forces conducting clearing operations in northern Gaza. Many of those detained have already been identified as civilians by relatives and employers after images of the mass detentions circulated on social media.
Abu Ras was among a group of six boys and four men interviewed by CNN at Al Aqsa Martyrs Hospital in central Gaza, where they were being treated for injuries and dehydration after being detained for five days.
Like Abu Ras, many of them emerged from Israeli custody with swollen hands and bruised wrists from being handcuffed throughout that time. All of their hands were numbered with red marker by Israeli soldiers. They all told CNN they had been given little food or water during their detention and described instances of alleged abuse and humiliation.
“They would tie your hands behind your back and drag you like a dog – plastic handcuff scars on your arms. Depending on the mood of one of them, they would come kick you with their boots,” said 14-year-old Mahmoud Zendah, a recent wound marking the bridge of his nose.
A doctor at the hospital said all of the group had arrived “physically and psychologically exhausted.”
“There were signs of torture on their arms and signs of beating all over their bodies,” Dr. Khalil Al Daqran, the Al Aqsa Martyrs Hospital spokesman said.
A spokesman for the IDF declined to address specific allegations of abuse or provide an explanation for the detention of the 10 boys and men interviewed by CNN, despite being provided with a list of their names and the neighborhood where they were detained.
The Israeli military said it was detaining and questioning individuals “suspected of terrorist activity” as part of its military operations in combat areas in northern Gaza and that “individuals who are found not to be taking part in terrorist activities are released.”
“The individuals detained are treated in accordance with international law,” the Israel Defense Forces said in a statement in response to CNN.
“The IDF strives to treat any detainee with dignity. Any incident in which the guidelines were not followed will be looked into.”
Read the full story here.
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