(20 May 2025)
Clients note: This item contains on-screen graphics, including AP branding.
RESTRICTION SUMMARY:
ASSOCIATED PRESS
Southern Israel, looking towards Gaza – 20 May 2025
1. Smoke seen rising in the Gaza Strip
STORYLINE:
Smoke was seen rising over the Gaza Strip on Tuesday as Israel continues its offensive into the enclave.
Israeli strikes pounded Gaza and killed at least 60 Palestinians overnight and into Tuesday, hitting a family home and a school-turned-shelter, local health officials said, as Israel pressed its new military offensive against Hamas despite mounting international condemnation.
The war in Gaza began when Hamas-led militants attacked southern Israel, killing some 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and abducting 251 others.
The militants are still holding 58 captives, around a third believed to be alive, after most of the rest were returned in ceasefire agreements or other deals.
Israel’s retaliatory offensive, which has destroyed large swaths of Gaza, has killed more than 53,500 Palestinians, mostly women and children, according to Gaza’s Health Ministry, which doesn’t differentiate between civilians and combatants in its count.
Dozens of aid trucks began entering Gaza via the Kerem Shalom crossing on Tuesday afternoon, Israel’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson Oren Marmorstein said. They included flour for bakeries, food for community soup kitchens, baby food and medical supplies.
Organizations in Gaza did not immediately confirm whether they had received supplies.
Marmorstein said Israel would continue to allow dozens of trucks carrying humanitarian aid per day — far less than the 600 per day that entered during the latest ceasefire.
Israel has agreed to allow a “minimal” amount of aid into the territory of over 2 million people after a nearly three-month blockade that prevented the entry of food, medicine and fuel, among other goods.
The blockade prompted warnings from food experts of a risk of famine. The first few trucks entered Monday.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said he made the decision to let in limited aid after pressure from allies, who he said couldn’t support Israel so long as “images of hunger” were coming out of Gaza.
Criticism of Israel’s conduct intensified Monday when allies Canada, France and the United Kingdom threatened "concrete actions” against the country, including sanctions, and called on Israel to stop its “egregious” new military actions in Gaza.
Netanyahu rejected the criticism, saying it was “a huge prize” for Hamas’ October 7, 2023, attack that would invite more such violence.
Israel launched another major operation in the territory over the weekend, saying it aims to return dozens of hostages held by Hamas and destroy the militant group.
More than 300 people have been killed in Gaza during the latest onslaught, according to health officials.
AP Video by Moshe Adri
===========================================================
Clients are reminded to adhere to all listed restrictions and to check the terms of their licence agreements. For further assistance, please contact the AP Archive on: Tel +44(0)2074827482 Email: info@aparchive.com.
Find out more about AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/HowWeWork
Twitter: https://twitter.com/AP_Archive
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/APArchives
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/APNews/
You can license this story through AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/metadata/youtube/70f977ce5b2a4d808345899ad1bdd2ba
Author: AP Archive
Go to Source
News post in May 25, 2025, 3:07 pm.
Visit Our Sponsor’s:
News Post In – News
