US resumes airdrop of aid into Gaza
From CNN's Colin McCullough
The US military resumed airdrops of aid into Gaza on Sunday after they were suspended due to Israeli operations in the northern area.
A US cargo plane dropped "more than 10 metric tons" of meals, "providing life-saving humanitarian assistance in Northern Gaza," US Central Command (CENTCOM) said in a statement.
"To date the U.S. has airdropped more than 1,050 metric tons of humanitarian assistance," it said, adding the airdrops "are part of a sustained effort, and we continue to plan follow-on aerial deliveries."
On Friday, Vice Adm. Brad Cooper, deputy commander of US Central Command, told reporters by phone that the airdrops were suspended '"due to kinetic operations happening in the north."
Cooper said the US sees airdrops, as well as the US-built pier off Gaza, as a "temporary solution."
The airdrop on Sunday happened one day after maritime aid deliveries to Gaza resumed after the US-built pier was repaired following damage in heavy seas, pausing operations for nearly two weeks.
Gaza resident says he saw Israeli special forces disguised as Hamas fighters in rescue operation
From Mohammad Al Sawalhi in Gaza and Ben Brown in Jerusalem
A resident of the Nuseirat refugee camp told CNN on Sunday that he saw members of the Israeli military disguised as Hamas fighters and Palestinian civilians during their security operation to rescue four hostages a day earlier.
“I saw the special forces that arrived. They were dressed in military uniforms like resistance fighters, carrying helmets and wearing signs of the resistance, giving the impression to people that they were resistance fighters, but in reality, they were an Israeli special forces unit,”Khalil Al Tirawitold CNN.
CNN has reached out to the Israel Defense Forces (IDF).
Speaking to reporters following the operation, IDF spokesperson Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari declined to say whether the officers were disguised as Palestinian civilians. The Israeli military has previously used disguise as a tactic in its operations. When asked whether Israeli forces in civilian attire had participated, Hagari said: “We are using techniques and ways, details of which I will not give to the enemy.”
Tirawi said he saw the Israeli military arrive by car, "dressed in local military and civilian uniforms," after which an exchange of gunfire began, and he saw missiles "raining down from all directions."
“I am 60 years old and have never experienced anything like this before. It is beyond imagination—a barrage of heavy gunfire, artillery missiles, rockets. It was something unimaginable to the human mind,” Tirawi said.
Tirawi said his house was struck by missiles, along with five other homes, including his two neighbors' and brother’s houses.
Analysis: What the departure of Israeli war cabinet member Benny Gantzmeans
From CNN's Elliott Gotkine
Gone from the war cabinet. Gone from the government. Benny Gantz is back where he was at the start of the war Hamas launched on October 7: an ex-defense minister, ex chief of staff – and Prime Minister Benjamin (Bibi) Netanyahu’s chief political rival.
You can’t say he didn’t warn us. On May 18, he announced that if Netanyahu didn’t come up with a coherent plan to bring the hostages home and the governance of a post-war Gaza (among other things), then he’d leave the war cabinet by June 8. In light of Saturday’s rescue of four Israeli hostages, he delayed making good on his threat. By a day.
“Leaving the government is a complex and painful decision,” Gantz said in atelevised statementon Sunday evening in Israel.
“Netanyahu prevents us from moving forward to a real victory [in Gaza]. That is why we are leaving the emergency government today with a heavy heart, but with a whole heart.”
So what now? The three most pressing areas of interest where Gantz’s resignation may be felt – at least for Israelis, the Palestinians in Gaza, and the outside world – are the Israeli government, the running of the war with Hamas, and Gantz’s own political prospects.
Perhaps the most important impact of Gantz’s departure is the one it won’t have: itwon’tcause the government to collapse.
Read the full analysis here.
Israeli military releases video showing rescue of hostages from Gaza
From CNN's Alex Stambaugh
The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) released video footage on Sunday showing what it said was from the security operation to rescue four hostages from Gaza.
In a caption alongside the video, the IDF said, "The Paratrooper Reconnaissance Unit Combat Team led the rescue of the hostages and the Yamam and ISA forces from the vehicles while under fire, while continuing to eliminate terrorists," referring to Israel's National Counterterrorism forces (Yamam) and the Israel Security Agency.
Some of the video it said was from a helmet-camera from a member of the "Shayetet 13" Special Forces Unit of the Israeli Navy "from the moments of the rescue of the hostages to vehicles under fire."
The video, which is edited and has some blurring, appeared to then show Israeli forces escorting rescued hostages Shlomi Ziv, Almog Meir Jan and Andrey Kozlov near a beach towards military helicopters.
CNN cannot independently confirm the location or date the footage was filmed.
IDF Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari said in a briefing on Saturday that the hostages had been locked in two separate apartments in civilian multi-story buildings about 200 meters (650 feet) apart, with Argamani held in a different building to the three men.
Head of Israeli military's Gaza Division resigns saying he "failed" to protect border area around Gaza
From CNN staff
The head of the Israeli military's Gaza Division resigned from his position and the military on Sunday, saying he “failed” to protect the border area around Gaza and that it led to the October 7attack by Hamas.
“Everyone has to take responsibility for their part,” Brig. Gen. Col. Avi Rosenfeld said in a letter.
Rosenfeld said that for many hours the military was unable to protect the towns, thousands of residents, and people at the Nova music festival.
He said he will stay until his replacement takes office and will partake in investigations to prevent another attack from occurring.
Some context: Israeli authorities and military officials were intensely questioned over why its border apparatus along Gaza failed, enabling Hamas fighters to breach into towns and kibbutzim.
World Food Programme pauses delivery of Gaza aid through US-built pier
From CNN's Alex Stambaugh
Aid for Gaza through the US-built pier has been "paused" over safety concerns amid the latest Israeli airstrikes on Gaza, said the director of the UN’s World Food Programme (WFP).
"Right now, we're paused because I'm concerned about the safety of our people," Cindy McCain said in an interview with CBS's "Face the Nation" on Sunday.
She said two of the WFP's warehouses had come under rocket fire on Saturday and one person was injured.She did not say when its operations using the US-pier might resume.
"We've stepped back just for the moment," she said. "But the rest of the country is operational. We're doing everything we can in the north and the south."
The US military’s temporary pier off the coast of Gaza was repaired and reattached to the beach on Friday morning, after breaking apart and sustaining damage in heavy seas, pausing operations for nearly two weeks.
Saturday marked Gaza's deadliest day in 6 months, Palestinian health ministrysays
From Ibrahim Dahman, Abeer Salman and CNN's Sam Simpson
Saturday was Gaza’s deadliest single day since mid-December, with 283 people killed,the Ministry of Health in Gaza reported Sunday. That brings the ministry’s total death toll during the current war in Gaza to 37,084.
Most of those killed Saturday died when the Israel Defense Forces mounted asurprise operation to rescuefour Israeli hostagesin Nuseirat in central Gaza.
The raid resulted in 274 Palestinians being killed and 698 injured, the Gaza Ministry of Health said Sunday. The IDF has disputed those numbers, saying it estimated the number of casualties from the operation was “under 100.”
The health ministry does not distinguish between casualties among civilians and Hamas fighters. CNN cannot independently verify the ministry’s casualty figures due to the lack of international media access to Gaza.
Palestinian civilians described“hell on earth” in central Gazaduring the Israeli operation, and CNN video showed people rushing bloodied children into packed emergency rooms after the attack.
An additional nine people were killed and 116 injured elsewhere in the Gaza Strip in the past 24 hours, the health ministry said.
It marked the deadliest day in Gaza since December 10, when nearly 300 people were killed, according to Ministry of Health records.
US response:The United States administration, whichaided with intelligence gatheringfor the operation, acknowledged Sunday that civilians died in the attack.
“Innocent people were tragically killed in this operation,” US national security adviser Jake Sullivan told CNN’s Dana Bash on “State of the Union” Sunday, adding that it is “heartbreaking” and the “exact number we don’t know.”
In response toHamas’ claim that other hostages were killedduring the mission — which it has not yet provided evidence for — Sullivan said, “We have not seen that verified or confirmed. I believe that the Israelis have said they do not have any information to that effect. But of course, that is always a risk.”
US national security adviser calls for ceasefire deal after Israeli hostage rescue mission
From CNN's Betsy Klein
US nationalsecurity adviserJake Sullivan said an “enduring ceasefire” dealbetween Israel and Hamas is “the only credible path forward” after anIsraeli hostage rescue missionthat Gazan officials say killed at least 274 people.
“The best way to get all of the hostages home and to protect Palestinian civilians is to end this war. And the best way to end this war is for Hamas to say ‘yes’ to the deal President Biden announced and that Israel has accepted, which lays out a roadmap to an enduring ceasefire and the return of all hostages,” Sullivan told CNN’s Dana Bash on “State of the Union.”
US President Joe Bidenunveiled the three-phase proposallate last month, saying Israel had submitted the plan, thoughPrime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s comments sincehave left some doubt over his level of support for the proposal as laid out by Biden.
Civilians in harm’s way:Sullivan acknowledged the civilian toll of Israel’s military operation Saturday while saying Hamas, which took the hostages during its deadly October 7 attacks on Israel, was putting Palestinians in harm’s way.
“The president himself has said in recent days that the Palestinian people are going through sheer hell in this conflict because Hamas is operating in a way that puts them in the crossfire, that holds hostages right in the heart of crowded civilian areas,” he added.
Pressed by Bash on whether the US was comfortable with how the mission was carried out, Sullivan called for a diplomatic solution “where there’s no need for military operations to get every last hostage out.”
US Sen. Tom Cottonalso laid blame on Hamas for keeping hostages in civilian areas Sunday. “You shouldn’t take hostages in the first place. You should release them once you have, and you certainly shouldn’t hide them in civilian areas,” Cotton told Fox News.
The Arkansas Republican said the operation, which hasdrawn condemnation from regional leaders, was “heroic” and “well-executed.”
CNN’s Ebony Davis contributed reporting to this post.
