1,000 truckloads of aid for Gaza stranded at Kerem Shalom crossing, Israel says
From CNN's Tim Lister and Tamar Michaelis
The Israeli agency responsible for approving humanitarian aid destined for Gaza says that, as of Monday, the equivalent of 1,000 truckloads of aid remain on the Gaza side of the Kerem Shalom crossing.
The Coordination of Government Activities in the Territories (COGAT) said in a post on X that197 aid trucks were transferred to Gaza on Monday.
“The aid trucks were sent via Egypt, the Ashdod port, and Israel," the agency wrote in the post. “Currently, the content of 1,000 trucks is waiting on the Gazan side of Kerem Shalom to be picked up by UNaid agencies.”
That is 100 trucks more than on Sunday, according to COGAT.
United Nations agencies have frequently said that Israeli military operations in Gaza as well as the need to get approval for convoys inside the Strip have complicated their ability to distribute aid in much of Gaza.
COGAT says that since the beginning of the year,88% of all coordination requests have been approved.
The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) said in its latest report that while the delivery of some fuel supplies had helped reduce the level of accumulated wastewater in the Sheikh Radwan area, “the lack of a steady flow of fuel creates a continued risk of sewage overflow into neighbouring areas.”
“In addition, the lack of sufficient fuel limits water distribution through the functional networks, which, coupled with the lack of generators and spare parts, continues to impact the availability of potable water," OCHA said.
As of June 2, daily water production in the Gaza Strip stood at around 95,000 cubic meters per day, representing only 26% of water produced before October 2023.
Hamas welcomes UN Security Council resolution on Gaza and says it's ready to cooperate with mediators
From CNN's Abeer Salman and Hamdi Alkhshali
Hamas said Monday that it welcomed the United Nations Security Council resolution calling for a permanent cessation of hostilities in Gaza.
Hamas said in a statement soon after the vote that it was ready to engage with mediators in indirect negotiations to implement the measures approved by theUN Security Councilsuch as the “complete withdrawal [of Israeli forces] from the Gaza Strip, prisoner exchange, reconstruction, the return of the displaced to their areas of residence, rejection of any demographic change or reduction in the area of the Gaza Strip, and the introduction of the necessary aid to our people in the Strip.”
The Security Council resolution, put forward by the United States, was approved by 14 votes to none.
Detailed negotiations to implement its provisions are yet to yield agreement on the part of both Israel and Hamas.
UN food agency pauses operations at temporary US pierin Gaza while security assessment is carried out
From CNN's Jennifer Hansler
The World Food Programme paused its operations at the United States military’s floating temporary pier in Gaza pending the outcome of a comprehensive United Nations security assessment of aid worker safety, a spokesperson told CNN Monday.
The pause went into effect after the Israel Defense Forces carried out an operation in Gaza that rescued four hostages held by Hamas and left hundreds of Palestinians dead.
The Pentagon acknowledged there was some Israeli military activity near the staging area for the pier, but denied the pier was used in the operation.
A United States Agency for International Development spokesperson confirmed that “WFP has temporarily paused humanitarian maritime corridor operations as the UN conducts a security assessment following security incidents in recent days that have constrained the ability of humanitarian actors to safely operate.”
“We are deeply grateful for WFP’s work to get food to the people of Gaza in this increasingly volatile and dangerous environment and appreciate their dedication to ensuring the safety of their staff and those they aim to reach with assistance,” the spokesperson said.
UN Security Council approves US proposal for permanent ceasefire in Gaza
From CNN's Mia Alberti
The United Nations Security Council passed a resolution vote on the US proposal for a permanent ceasefire and release of the hostages in Gaza on Monday.
The resolution was adopted with 14 votes in favor, zero against, and one abstention by Russia.
Some background: The draft resolution, obtained by CNN on Monday, stated the Security Council: "Welcomesthe new ceasefire proposal announced on May 31, which Israel accepted,calls uponHamas to also accept it, andurgesboth parties to fully implement its terms without delay and without condition”
Israeli police release video of the moment when 3 hostages were rescued in Gaza
From CNN's Tim Lister, Tamar Michaelis and Gianluca Mezzofiore
The Israeli police and the Israeli Security Agency have released video recorded on a helmet camera of the moment the threemalehostages were rescued in Gaza on Saturday.
They described the video as being of the operation carried out by Yamam (Police National Counterterrorism Unit) and Shin Bet operatives “rescuing the hostages under heavy fire and eliminating Gaza terrorists.”
In a statement accompanying the video, which lasts some 45 seconds, they said that “Yamam and Shin Bet operatives worked simultaneously at two locations to rescue the four hostages, engaging in fierce combat with the terrorists.”
Part of the video is blurred. It shows Israeli security forces approaching a property through a garden and then entering amid heavy gunfire. CNN has geolocated the garden as at the same property where a Mercedes van purported to have been involved in the operation was located.
The video is edited and some audio is muted. It’s unclear whether it was all shot at one location. It shows the three male hostages rescued cowering in a room.
In the video, a voice says in Hebrew, “Here, they are here.”
“Name, name…,” says someone.
Two of the hostages identify themselves asAlmog Meir Jan and Andrey Kozlov.
One of the rescuers is heard saying:
“Three captives and missing [hostages], in our hands. Three captives and missing [hostages]. Everything is fine. We came to rescue you, be calm.”
Based on the clothes they were wearing when rescued, the three hostages then appear to run through the garden of the property as gunfire continues.
Some background: On Saturday, the Israeli military rescued four hostages, three men and a woman, in a special operation in the Nuseirat refugee camp in central Gaza – Noa Argamani, Almog Meir Jan, Andrey Kozlov, and Shlomi Ziv. All four were kidnapped from the Nova music festival on October 7.
Blinken stresses to Netanyahu that the world will stand behind the ceasefire and hostage proposal
From CNN's Jennifer Hansler and Kylie Atwood
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken stressed to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu that “the United States and other world leaders will stand behind” the proposal for a release of the hostages and an immediate ceasefire in Gaza.
Blinken has repeatedly emphasized that Israel has agreed to the proposal on the table, despite comments from Netanyahu suggesting otherwise.
In their meeting, Blinken “underscored the United States’ ironclad commitment to Israel’s security, including through ensuring October 7 can never be repeated,” according to a State Department readout of the meeting in Jerusalem.
“He reiterated that the proposal on the table would unlock the possibility of calm along Israel’s northern border and further integration with countries in the region,” the readout said.
“The Secretary updated the prime minister on ongoing diplomatic efforts to plan for the post-conflict period, emphasizing the importance of those efforts to providing long-term peace, security, and stability to Israelis and Palestinians alike,” the readout said.
“Secretary Blinken also emphasized the importance of preventing the conflict from spreading,” it said.
Doctor treating rescued Israeli hostages says they were beaten while in captivity
From CNN's Paula Hanco*cks and Madalena Araujo in Tel Aviv
The doctor in charge of medical treatment for the four Israeli hostages rescued Saturday said they were beaten while in Hamas captivity in Gaza.
“It was a harsh, harsh, experience, with a lot of abuse, almost every day,” Dr. Itai Pessach told CNN’s Paula Hanco*cks at the Sheba Medical Center in Ramat Gan outside Tel Aviv. “Every hour, both physical, mental, and other types, and that is something that is beyond comprehension.”
Pessach says the eight months spent in captivity “left a significant mark on their health” and despite appearing in good condition initially, they are all malnourished.“They had no protein, so their muscles are extremely wasted, there is damage to some other systems because of that.”
He says the hostages tell him they were moved several times, dealing with a number of different guards. The supply of food and water was unstable.
There have been periods where they got almost no food whatsoever. There were other periods where it was a little better, but all in all, the combination of the psychological stress, malnutrition or not getting enough food or not getting the right kind of food, medical neglect, being limited to space, not seeing the sun and all of the other things have [a] significant effect on health.”
Dr. Pessach also treated some of the hostages released in a ceasefire deal back in November. He says the psychological damage of these four is more intense due to the length of time they were held.
As time passes, hope of being released kind of decreases and you start wondering if this would ever end… losing that faith, I think, is where you get to the breaking point.”
Israel's former Ambassador to the United Nations to replace Erdan after leaked transcript
From CNN's Richard Roth and AnneClaire Stapleton
Former Israeli ambassador to the United NationsDannyDanon is returning to his previous post at the UN to represent Israel, the Israeli Prime Minister's office said in a statement Sunday.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Minister of Foreign Affairs Israel Katz have decided to appoint MK Danny Danon as Israeli Ambassador to the UN. MK Danon has considerable experience in the international arena and there is no doubt that his talents and experience will find expression at this time. The appointment will be submitted for Government approval, after which Ambassador-designate Danon will begin his second term as Israeli AmbassadortotheUN," the statement read.
Danon served as Israel's envoy to the UN from 2015 to 2020.
When asked on Monday if Danon'sarrival means relations between the UN and Israel will change, UN spokesperson Stephane Dujarric said, “Hope springs eternal.” He added that Danon and UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres have a businesslike relationship.
Danon will replace Israeli Ambassador to the UNGiladErdan, who last week leaked on social media a video of him speaking to an apparent UN official.
Dujarric condemned the leaked message, saying the UN had never seen such an act in 25 years of service. Secretary-General Antònio Guterres has not spoken with Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu since the start of the war, he said.
Israeli UN mission spokesperson John Lavine said Erdan was finishing up his duties as announced in early June and was not leaving because of the recorded phone call.
“These are all completely independent events," he told CNN.
The post was updated with a response from Israel's UN Mission.
2 of the hostages freed Saturday have left hospital
From Tamar Michaelis
The Hostages Families Forum in Israel says that two of the four hostages freed on Saturday have now left hospital.
The Forum said Monday that Shlomi Ziv and Andrey Kozlov had been discharged and would be staying in a hotel for the next few nights.
