Negotiations "getting close to the end" on release of hostages held by Hamas, White House says
From CNN's Samantha Waldenberg
People look at pictures of Israeli hostages in Tel Aviv, on November 11. Ahmad Gharabli/AFP/Getty Images
National Security Council spokesperson John Kirby said Monday that negotiators are “getting close to the end” on the release of hostages held by Hamas – but he declined to elaborate on the details of a potential deal.
“I know that everybody's interested in the numbers and who they're going to be. We're working that through literally in real time with both sides. So, I think it's better if I just don't speculate about what that pool is going to look like. Obviously, we are laser focused on the American citizens that we know are being held hostage and we want them out, all of them, everybody should be out now,” Kirby said, when asked by CNN’s MJ Lee asked if any of those that might be released would be American citizens.
When asked what level of confidence the White House has that the American hostages are alive, Kirby responded, in part, saying in part: “I would say we have no indication otherwise.”
3:38 p.m. ET, November 20, 2023
28 premature babies moved from Gaza to Egypt, World Health Organization says
From CNN’s Shirin Zia Faqiri in Atlanta
Palestinians queue as they wait to buy bread from a bakery amid food shortages in Khan Younis on November 17. Ibraheem Abu Mustafa/Reuters
The World Health Organization (WHO) said 28 out of 33 premature babies have been evacuated into Egypt from Gaza.
WHO’s Senior Emergency Officer Rob Holden said two of the 33 neonatal babies died over the weekend, and three other babies were reunited with their families.
The remaining 28 babies were evacuated into Egypt where an “appropriate level of care was initiated,” Holden said during a United Nations briefing on Monday.
Looking ahead, Dr. Michael Ryan, the WHO’s executive director, said that more than 5,000 women will be giving birth in the next month in Gaza. Of those, 15% will need a cesarean section and 25% of their children will be born preterm, he said.
“That’s thousands of babies. That’s not 31 … that is literally thousands of babies will be born. Who will be preterm and who’ll need those incubators, will need that kangaroo care, will need their mother with them to provide that. Some will need incubation, some will need mechanical ventilation,” Ryan said.
The WHO recommends that skin-to-skin contact, known as kangaroo mother care, be provided to a preterm infant immediately after birth, without any initial time spent in an incubator.
Ryan also said that a combination of large crowds gathered in one place combined with decreasing temperatures in Gaza is “a public health risk,” and could result in an “epidemic.”
“We're seeing large numbers of people packed into refuges, packed into (United Nations Relief and Works Agency) UNWRA schools, packed into various other kinds of centers. This is creating a concentration of people, which is driving epidemic risks and the rains over the last 24 hours have really added to that,” Ryan said.
He noted that the risks aren't limited to diarrhea or disease. "The sudden drop in temperature is going to create a problem with pneumonia in children…This is an absolute recipe for a large-scale epidemic amongst this population.”
The “heavy rain” over the past 24 hours has “flooded a lot of makeshift camps,” accelerating those risks, he said.
Ryan added that "nutrition is the baseline for health, nutrition is the baseline for child development, and right now the caloric intake of the quality of that for children particularly has reduced below a critical level.”
4:55 p.m. ET, November 20, 2023
"We must get answers," families of Israeli hostages say ahead of meeting with Netanyahu
From Tamar Michaelis in Tel Aviv and Sugam Pokharel in London
Family members of some of the Israeli hostages taken by Hamas say they want answers ahead of their Monday meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his war cabinet.
“I demand their commitment that everyone is returning home. All the hostages. We must get answers, and a commitment,” Shai Wenkert, who son is held hostage by Hamas, said. “I would like to receive (the commitment) in a written form,” he added.
The families came to meet the prime minister and the war cabinet to “receive answers,” Meirav Leshem Gonen, whose daughter is held hostage by Hamas, said.
“We have very concrete questions that we expect them to answer. Every deal or any stage in this path ... doesn’t excuse anyone from their responsibility to return all the hostages home,” she continued.
German president will visit Israel for talks with Israeli counterpart next week
From CNN’s Inke Kappeler in Berlin
German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier will travel to Israel on November 26 and 27 to hold “political talks” with his Israeli counterpart Isaac Herzog, according to a statement from the president’s office.
During his visit, Steinmeier is also planning to hold meetings in southern Israel and east Jerusalem.
The president will then travel Oman and Qatar, the statement said.
12:48 p.m. ET, November 20, 2023
Here's what we know about what Israel says it has found at Al-Shifa Hospital
From CNN's Sophie Tanno, Hamdi Alkhshali and Oren Liebermann
The exterior of Al-Shifa hospital is seen Gaza City on November 10. Stringer/AFP/Getty Images
Gaza’s largest hospital, Al-Shifa, has become a flashpoint in Israel’s war against Hamas, which began when gunmen from the militant group crossed the border into Israel on October 7, killing around 1,200 people.
Palestinians and humanitarian agencies say the current fighting in and around Al-Shifa is proof of Israel’s wanton disregard for civilian life in Gaza, while Israel accuses Hamas of using the medical center as a shield for its operations. On top of providing medical care, the Al-Shifa Hospital had recently become a key shelter for thousands of Palestinian civilians fleeing Israeli bombardment.
Since launching its operation at the hospital on November 15, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) have shown images of a tunnel shaft and military equipment, but have yet to show conclusive proof of the large-scale command and control center it alleges is there.
Hamas, the Gaza Health Ministry and hospital officials have denied Israel’s claims, saying that hospitals in the Strip have only been used to treat patients. Doctors in Al-Shifa have also sounded the alarm about deteriorating conditions inside the medical facility, which is struggling to meet patients’ needs amid supply shortages and the presence of Israeli troops.
The IDF is now under pressure to prove Israel’s long-standing assertion with its promise of “concrete evidence.” Its ability to continue its operation in Gaza, and the credibility of Israel, could be at stake as the number killed in Gaza surpasses 12,000, according to authorities in the Hamas-controlled Strip.
Here’s what we know so far:
What does Israel say: For weeks, the IDF said Hamas has been using Gaza’s largest hospital as cover for what it calls terror infrastructure below ground. IDF spokesperson Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari said Hamas had a command and control center or headquarters underneath the hospital complex grounds, which other senior Israeli officials have also insisted on.
What evidence has Israel provided: Over the weekend, the IDF took CNN and other news organizations to a newly exposed tunnel shaft on the grounds of the Al-Shifa hospital complex that it says was used by Hamas. The structure appeared to be substantial, with the remains of a ladder hanging over the opening and a pole that looked like a hub for a spiral staircase running through the middle of the shaft.
The IDF also released a video: Filmed on Friday from inside the shaft, the video shows a staircase leading down into a concrete tunnel that the military said was 55 meters long and located 10 meters underground. At the end of the tunnel is a metal door with a small window, according to the video, which the IDF said it had not yet opened to the possibility that Hamas had booby-trapped it.
How has Hamas responded: Israel’s allegations have been vehemently denied by Hamas, the Gaza Health Ministry, and hospital officials. The director general of the Hamas-controlled health ministry, Dr. Medhat Abbas, told CNN that hospitals in the enclave “are used to treat patients only” and are not being used “to hide anyone.”
Israel and Hezbollah continue to exchange fire across Lebanon-Israel border
From CNN’s Sarah Sirgany and Ben Wedeman in Beirut and Amir Tal in Jerusalem and Tamar Michaelis in Tel Aviv
The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) and Hezbollah say they exchanged more fire across the Israel-Lebanon border on Monday, including Hezbollah's use of powerful Borkan missiles against Israel.
Lebanon’s National News Agency (NNA) said there have been 10 Hezbollah strikes on Israeli positions since midnight local time, and Israel carried out 15 individual strikes, including artillery, drone and helicopters in south Lebanon on Hezbollah targets. NNA said among the strikes, two were in the eastern sector of south Lebanon, an Israeli drone strike on a house in Al-Khiyam and Israeli artillery shelling on Mays Al-Jabal.
Neither NNA nor the IDF said if there were any casualties during these cross-border attacks.
Hezbollah fired four Borkan missiles at the Braneit barracks Monday morning, saying it is the command center of the IDF’s 91st Division. In his last speech, Hezbollah’s leader Hassan Nasrallah said the Borkan missile carries between 300 to 500 kilograms (about 661 to 1,102 pounds) of explosives.
In addition, Hezbollah said it used three attack drones and artillery to target a gathering of Israeli soldiers west of Kiryat Shmona. The group also said it fired rockets and artillery to target Israeli military infantry in Mothalath al-Tayhat, and that it attacked several Israeli military posts in the eastern, central and western sectors of the border.
In a statement released on Monday, the IDF said, “a terrorist cell attempted to launch anti-tank missiles in the area of Marwahin in Lebanon. The IDF struck the cell. Additionally, in response to the launches toward Israeli territory earlier today, IDF tanks, a fighter jet, and a helicopter struck Hezbollah terror infrastructure in Lebanon.”
The IDF added, “25 launches were identified from Lebanon toward several locations adjacent to the border. The IDF Aerial Defense Array intercepted a number of the launches and the rest fell in open areas. Moreover, three UAVs were identified striking adjacent to an IDF post. No injuries were reported.”
The IDF said it struck the sources of the Hezbollah launches.
Some background: The first cross-border strikes between Hezbollah and Israel were carried out by Hezbollah on October 8. Strikes, and counter strikes, have continued daily since then.
11:47 a.m. ET, November 20, 2023
World Health Organization "appalled" by attack on Indonesia Hospital in Gaza, director-general says
The head of the World Health Organization has condemned the attack on the Indonesian Hospital in Gaza which killed 12 people, including patients.
In a post on X, Director-General of the WHO, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said, "WHO is appalled by an attack on the Indonesian Hospital in #Gaza."
"Health workers and civilians should never have to be exposed to such horror, and especially when inside a hospital," he added.
Israel said on Monday it was responding to enemy fire targeting their troops from within the hospital and that, "in response, IDF troops directly targeted the specific source of enemy fire. No shells were fired toward the hospital."
Twelve people died after Israeli tank fire hit the Indonesian Hospital in northern Gaza, health authorities in the Hamas-run strip said earlier on Monday. Among the dead are patients who were being treated at the hospital and a member of medical staff, health officials said.
11:26 a.m. ET, November 20, 2023
IDF says it targeted enemy fire at Gaza's Indonesian Hospital overnight
Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said they responded to gunfire targeting their troops from within the Indonesian Hospital in Gaza overnight, according to a statement released on Monday.
"Overnight, terrorists opened fire from within the Indonesian hospital in Gaza toward IDF troops operating outside the hospital," the statement says. "In response, IDF troops directly targeted the specific source of enemy fire. No shells were fired toward the hospital."
Twelve people died after Israeli tank fire hit the Indonesian Hospital in northern Gaza, health authorities in the Hamas-run enclave said earlier on Monday. Among the dead are patients who were being treated at the hospital and a member of medical staff, health officials said.
Palestinian journalist, Anas al-Sharif, who is inside the hospital, told CNN that Israeli tanks were outside the main hospital gates as well as other locations near the hospital. “We are under fire in the Indonesian Hospital, and we are trapped inside,” he said.
A short video clip shared by the Palestinian Authority Foreign Ministry showed medical personnel inside the facility assisting an injured man on the floor, while another man held a dialysis tube hanging from the debris.
CNN's Andrew Carey contributed reporting to this post.
10:06 a.m. ET, November 20, 2023
In a Cairo hospital, Gazans describe grief, pain and guilt
From CNN's Eleni Giokos
Elham Maged speaks to CNN from inside Cairo's Nasser Medical Institute. CNN
When Rami Mahmoud left his family’s home to buy food, his wife, Elham Maged, stayed behind to pray. When he made his way back through the narrow, tightly packed nearby streets of northern Gaza’s Jabalya Refugee Camp, he returned to a scene of complete chaos. An Israeli airstrike had smashed into the center of the densely populated community, tearing a deep crater into its heart. Their apartment had vanished.
Scanning the devastation, Mahmoud suddenly noticed a single finger reaching up between the rubble; it was Elham. Miraculously she had survived. But his relief at finding her alive was brief. Two of their children, they would soon discover, were dead. Nothing would ever be the same again.
Two weeks on from the horror of that day, the couple are more than 200 miles southwest of Gaza City, inside Cairo’s Nasser Medical Institute in neighboring Egypt. The wreckage and chaos of their shattered home was replaced by the cleanliness and order of this foreign medical facility, the noise of rockets and explosions exchanged for the benign, insistent hum of traffic crawling through Egypt’s bustling capital.
But safety and care does not bring comfort; they are still haunted by grief. “My daughter, just an hour before she died, she called her best friend and said, ‘I feel like something is going to happen to me. Can you take care of my mother and visit her often?’” Elham told us.
“My son is a handsome boy, he was in high school, he used to go to the gym and lift weights, and he is tall and well built,” she continued, tears streaming down her face. “He liked to look good. He got a haircut two days before he was killed, in the middle of war. He said, ‘even if I die, I want to die looking good.’”
Mahmoud shared family photos with us. Their daughter, just 15, her wide, clear eyes and delicate features framed by a headscarf; their son, 17, carrying a small boy on his back, a warm smile shining from beneath his tousled black hair.
“God created them, God took them,” his wife said. “I just want to go back to the rest of my children. There is no internet there, so I don’t know anything about them. I know they are with their grandfather somewhere safe, hopefully, but we have no way of reaching them.”
Israeli attacks on Gaza have killed more than 12,000 Palestinians since October 7, including an estimated 5,000 children, according to the Hamas government press office. Israel says its airstrikes intend to target Hamas commanders and infrastructure, following the militant group’s October 7 terror attacks, which left 1,200 people dead in Israel and saw about 240 taken hostage.
