We have all we need for Rafah attack, Israeli military says

Smoke rises above buildings in the aftermath of Israeli bombardment in Rafah, on Friday. Pics/AFP

Israel's military spokesman says the army has the weapons it needs to press ahead with its offensive in the southern Gaza city of Rafah. Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari was asked at a news conference whether the army can conduct the operation without US arms.

"The army has armaments for the missions it plans, and for the missions in Rafah too - we have what we need," Hagari said. Hagari spoke after US President Joe Biden said he would not supply offensive weapons that Israel could use to launch an all-out assault on Rafah - the last major Hamas stronghold in Gaza - over concerns for the civilians there. Hagari said relations with the US remain close, and that disagreements should be resolved behind closed doors.

Cyprus announced the ship's departure even though the US military has not yet installed the pier and questions remain as to how the aid will be distributed. Even when the route is up and running, it won't be able to handle as much aid as Gaza's two main land crossings, which are currently inaccessible. Humanitarian workers fear an even more dire situation if Israel launches a long-promised invasion of the southern city of Rafah, which is the main distribution point for aid and where some 1.3 million Palestinians have sought refuge.

Will stand alone if forced to: Netanyahu

Rejecting international pressure to halt the war in Gaza, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has declared that if "forced," Israel will "stand alone" in its war against Hamas. "As the Prime Minister of Israel, the one and only Jewish State, I pledge here today, from Jerusalem, on this Holocaust Remembrance Day, if Israel is forced to stand alone, Israel will stand alone. But we know we are not alone, because countless decent people around the world support our just cause. And I say to you we will defeat our genocidal enemies," Netanyahu said.

UN to vote on granting Palestine new rights

The UN General Assembly is expected to vote Friday on a resolution that would grant new "rights and privileges" to Palestine and call on the Security Council to favourably reconsider its request to become the 194th member of the United Nations. The US vetoed a widely backed council resolution on April 18.

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