Things you need to know on day 23 of the war on Gaza as Israel widens its ground offensive:

  • There are signs that pressure from the Biden administration could see Israel start to allow more aid into Gaza
  • Gazan are becoming even more desperate after more than three weeks under total siege;
  • Biden has for the first time publicly rejected the displacement of Palestinians out of their homeland, a stated aim of hardliners in the Israeli government;
  • Washington still isn’t on board for a “pause” (let alone a ceasefire).

DIPLOMACY-

US does not support Palestinian displacement, Biden tells Sisi: Speaking with President Abdel Fattah El Sisi yesterday, US President Joe Biden expressed opposition to the displacement of Palestinians into Egypt and agreed on the need to accelerate aid deliveries to Gaza, the White House said. The two leaders agreed on the need to avoid regional escalation, though the US readout made no mention of a ceasefire or a “humanitarian pause.” El Sisi reiterated calls for an immediate ceasefire, according to Ittihadiya.

Efforts to increase aid are accelerating: The US’s Middle East humanitarian envoy David Satterfield was in Cairo yesterday to discuss aid efforts with Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry, while Biden pressed Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to “immediately and significantly increase the flow of humanitarian assistance” in a phone conversation yesterday. Egypt and the US have been working to speed up deliveries with Israel, which Egypt has accused of obstructing aid. As of Saturday, just 84 trucks had entered the enclave since the war began on 7 October.

We’re starting to see results: A convoy of 48 trucks crossed the border at Rafah, carrying food, water and medical supplies, Al Qahera News reported last night (watch, runtime: 0:31). Another 60 trucks are expected to make it into Gaza today.

It’s still not enough: The UN has said that 100 trucks of aid are needed every day to stave off the growing humanitarian crisis in the strip. Israel is continuing to block fuel supplies from entering, leaving humanitarian aid efforts, hospitals and bakeries on the verge of collapse.

Shoukry follows up with Saudi, Jordan foreign ministers: Shoukry yesterday spoke to his Saudi counterpart, Prince Faisal bin Farhan, for the second time in as many days, and to Jordan’s Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi to coordinate responses to the conflict, the Foreign Ministry said. The foreign minister also spoke with his Italian counterpart Antonio Tajani.

Egypt’s next step? “Egypt may take diplomatic steps that will limit the relationship between Israel and Egypt,” according to a media report quoting an unnamed Egyptian source. The report was picked up by state-owned Ahram Online. Egypt has sent “strong warnings” to the Israeli military not to operate within the buffer zone along the Egypt-Gaza border, several sources reportedly said. This comes a week after several Egyptian soldiers were injured after Israel fired on a border post. The IDF said the attack was accidental and apologized.

Plenty more diplomatic conversations:

  • US-Turkey talks amid Israel escalation: US State Secretary Antony Blinken yesterday “discussed the need for engagement with regional leaders” with Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan, according to a US State Department readout. The call comes in the wake of escalating tensions between Turkey and Israel after President Recep Tayyip Erdogan accused Israelis of being war criminals. Israel pulled its diplomatic staff from Ankara and said it was reconsidering its relations with Turkey in response to the speech.
  • Russia also looks to be in Israel’s bad books: Israel summoned the RussianAmbassador to Israel on Sunday to condemn Moscow’s hosting of a Hamas delegation last week. Hamas pledged to release eight Israeli-Russian dual citizens it has taken hostage following the talks in Moscow.

ON THE GROUND-

Israel is continuing its ground offensive: Hamas fighters battled Israeli soldiers and tanks in northern Gaza yesterday as the Israeli military pushed deeper into the besieged enclave. There were reports of clashes near Khan Younis in the south of the territory. Neither Hamas nor the Israeli military commented on the ongoing fighting.

Desperation is growing: Thousands of people looted food from a UN facility yesterday, the UN said, as the growing shortages of food and water take their toll on Gazas citizens. “This is a worrying sign that civil order is starting to break down after three weeks of war and a tight siege on Gaza. People are scared, frustrated and desperate,” a UN official said.

Comms blackout eases: Communications slowly returned in Gaza yesterday, two days after Israel severed phone and internet connectivity, though coverage over the north of the territory — where Israel is focusing its offensive — remains out. On Friday, a total communications blackout cut the enclave off from the outside world, and left aid teams unable to coordinate relief efforts and medical workers struggling to help the wounded.

The death toll keeps rising:More than 8k Palestinians have now been killed in Israeli airstrikes since the war began on 7 October, more than 3.3k of whom are children, according to the latest figures from the Gaza Health Ministry. More than 20k people have been injured.

Israel threatens to bomb hospital:The Palestinian Red Crescent said yesterday that Israel threatened to bomb the Al Quds hospital in Gaza City and ordered its evacuation. The Israeli military bombed several buildings next to the hospital to force out medical staff and patients, causing “significant damage to hospital departments,” it said. The hospital is currently providing refuge to thousands of people made homeless by the war, as well as hundreds of patients. The head of the World Health Organization expressed “deep concern” at the report.

ALSO-

  • Hezbollah-Israel clashes are continuing: Hezbollah said it downed an Israeli drone flying over south Lebanon yesterday in a first for the three weeks of tit-for-tat border clashes between the two sides.
  • Reuters journalist killed in targeted strike -RSF: Reuters video journalist Issam Abdallah, who was killed in Lebanon earlier this month, was deliberately targeted by a missile fired from Israel, according to preliminary findings from RSF.
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