First Thing: pause after call for de-escalation raises hopes of Israel-Gaza ceasefire Miranda Bryant
Good morning.
Israel and Palestinian militants stopped firing for several hours early this morning after Joe Biden called for “a significant de-escalation”.
The eight-hour pause in attacks – the longest since the start of the conflict 11 days ago – came as efforts to secure a ceasefire appeared to gain momentum. But the attacks later restarted when air-raid sirens sounded in Israel near Gaza and Israel’s military said a fighter jet had hit a rocket launcher.
France, which has circulated a UN resolution, has put pressure on the US to demand a truce and issued a joint statement with Egypt and Jordan calling for an immediate ceasefire. In a phone call on Wednesday, the US president told the Israeli prime minister that he expected “a significant de-escalation today on the path to a ceasefire”.
Last modified on Mon 17 May 2021 06.41 EDT
Good morning,
Israeli warplanes have launched what appeared to be the heaviest airstrikes yet on Gaza City since the conflict broke out a week ago.
The attacks rocked the city for 10 minutes and were more intense, covered a broader area and lasted longer than the raids 24 hours earlier in which 42 Palestinians were killed. Hamas has continued launching rockets from civilian areas in Gaza towards civilian areas in Israel.
02:18
To date,
10 people have been killed in Israel, including a five-year-old boy.
Joe Biden may find himself increasingly isolated in his resolute defence of Israel, writes Julian Borger, the Guardianâs world affairs editor.
Good morning, Israeli warplanes have launched what appeared to be the heaviest airstrikes yet on Gaza City since the conflict broke out a week ago. The attacks rocked the city for 10 minutes and were more intense, covered a broader area and lasted longer than the raids 24 hours earlier in which 42 Palestinians were killed. Hamas has continued launching rockets from civilian areas in Gaza towards civilian areas in Israel. To date, at least 188.
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