Biden praises Schumer speech critical of Netanyahu and says it shared "serious concern" among Americans
From CNN's Nikki Carvajal
US President Joe Biden described Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer’s floor speech criticizing Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu as “good,” saying the New York Democrat “expressed serious concern.”
“I'm not going to elaborate on his speech,” Biden said Friday, sitting alongside Irish Prime Minister Leo Varadkar. “He made a good speech and I think he expressed serious concern to share it not only by him, but by many Americans.”
He also said that Schumer had contacted his senior staff beforehand to let the White House know he’d be making the speech.
12:14 p.m. ET, March 15, 2024
White House says it has not seen any plan on Rafah from Israel
From CNN's MJ Lee
The White House has not seen any plans from the Israeli government related to Rafah, a US National Security Council spokesperson told CNN, following comments from Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office Friday approving "plans for action" in the southernmost Gazan city.
"We have been clear about the need to prioritize civilian protection," the spokesperson said. "We have not seen a plan from Israel related to Rafah."
A spokesperson for Netanyahu said the Israel Defense Forces was preparing for both “the operational side” of a military operation, as well as for the “evacuation of the population.” More than a million Palestinians are in the city, with many of them having been forced to flee there since the beginning of the Israel-Hamas war.
US President Joe Biden said last weekend in an interview that he viewed Israel going into Rafah as a "red line," which the White House then attempted to walk back. White House officials have said repeatedly that the Biden administration would not condone Israel expanding its military operations into Rafah without a credible plan to protect civilians in the area.
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken echoed the comments during a news conference in Vienna on Friday with Austrian Foreign Minister Alexander Schallenberg.
"We have to see a clear and implementable plan, not only to get civilians out of harm's way, but also to make sure that once out of harm's way, they're appropriately cared for with shelter, with food, with medicine, with clothing, and we've not yet seen such a plan,” Blinken said.
CNN's Michael Conte contributed reporting to this post.
12:31 p.m. ET, March 15, 2024
US airdrops more humanitarian aid into Gaza
From CNN's Oren Liebermann
The US carried out its 11th airdrop of humanitarian aid into Gaza on Friday, US Central Command said in a statement.
Two C-130 Hercules aircraft and a C-17 Globemaster dropped 35,700 meals into northern Gaza, as well as 31,800 bottles of water, CENTCOM said.
“These airdrops are part of a sustained effort, and we continue to plan follow-on aerial activities,” the statement said.
The effort to airdrop aid into Gaza continues as the US has begun the process of establishing a floating pier to allow in far greater quantities of aid.
Some key context: While the United Nations and aid groups have welcomed the meals, they have warned that maritime or airdropped aid cannot replace aid delivered by land, which since October 7 has been increasingly restricted by Israel. Israel maintains that it is working to respond to the needs on the ground in Gaza.
1:08 p.m. ET, March 15, 2024
Experts have repeatedly warned that no method of humanitarian relief is as effective as delivery by land
From CNN's Nadeen Ebrahim
The first batch of humanitarian aid by sea reached Gaza on Friday, intended to provide the equivalent of one meal each for a quarter of the enclave’s more than 2 million people — of whom hundreds of thousands are on the brink of famine.
The nonprofit spearheading the operation, World Central Kitchen, said it is working with international partners to open a maritime aid corridor, and that it has “another 500 tons of aid in Cyprus ready to be loaded on future boats.”
With Palestinians in Gaza in dire need, any assistance is welcome, but aid groups say maritime and airdropped aid should be complementary to land deliveries, not a substitute. And some have warned it risks setting a “dangerous precedent” where land-based aid is undermined and hostilities continue.
“States cannot hide behind airdrops and efforts to open a maritime corridor to create the illusion that they are doing enough to support the needs in Gaza,” wrote 25 non-governmental organizations in a joint statement calling on governments to prioritize a ceasefire and land-based aid deliveries.
The ship is carrying 200 tons of aid. By comparison, one truck can carry about 20 tons of aid, and an average of about 94.5 trucks were getting into Gaza every day through two crossings as of last month. That’s far below the 500 trucks that entered through the Rafah crossing alone before the war started.
Land crossings into Gaza remain heavily restricted by Israel. Aid agencies have accused Israel of imposing arbitrary and contradictory criteria that obstruct the entry of relief into the war-ravaged territory. Israel insists there is “no limit” on the amount of relief that can enter.
Diplomat confirms outline of latest proposal from Hamas as Israeli delegation heads to Doha for talks
From CNN's Alex Marquardt
A diplomat familiar with ceasefire deal discussions told CNN that it "is not going to be easy to convince Israelis" to agree to the terms in Hamas’ latest response, adding that he’s waiting for the Israeli reply and "not celebrating yet."
Upon receiving the latest proposal, the Israeli Prime Minister's Office said that "Hamas is continuing to hold to unrealistic demands" but an Israeli delegation is being sent to Doha for further talks.
The diplomat confirmed to CNN the contours of the latest proposal that were reported by Reuters, which include:
A release of Israeli hostages in exchange for freedom for Palestinian prisoners, 100 of whom are serving life sentences.
In the first phase, an exchange of female, elderly, wounded, and sick Israeli hostages for 700 to 1,000 Palestinians held in Israeli prisons.
A permanent ceasefire would be agreed upon after the initial exchange of hostages and prisoners, as well as a deadline for an Israeli withdrawal from Gaza.
Hamas says all detainees from both sides would be released in a second stage of the plan.
A diplomatic source previously told CNN that mediation efforts are moving in a positive direction "but are not there yet."
10:43 a.m. ET, March 15, 2024
Spanish aid ship begins unloading cargo after reaching Gaza shoreline, according to journalist at scene
From CNN's Niamh Kennedy
The Spanish aid ship Open Arms has begun unloading cargo after reaching the shoreline of central Gaza on Friday, according to a journalist on the ground working for CNN.
Workers have begun loading the 200 tons of food aid on smaller boats off the shore of the Gaza City neighborhood of Sheikh Ajleen.
The ship was organized by the nongovernmental organization World Central Kitchen and set off from Cyprus on Tuesday.
The delivery comes as northern Gaza is on the brink of famine as aid deliveries fall short, according to the head of the UN World Food Programme. The number of children dying of malnutrition and dehydration in the area is rising, including two newborn girls on Monday, a pediatrician at the Kamal Adwan Hospital said.
Khader Al-Za’anoun of WAFA, the official Palestinian news agency, contributed reporting for this post.
9:47 a.m. ET, March 15, 2024
Israeli prime minister approves plans for military action in Rafah
From CNN's Amir Tal and Tim Lister
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has "approved the plans for action in Rafah," his office said in a statement Friday.
"The IDF is preparing for the operational side and for the evacuation of the population," the Prime Minister’s office said.
The announcement followed a meeting in Tel Aviv of the Israeli security cabinet. No further details were immediately available.
There are an estimated 1.4 million people in Rafah in southern Gaza, many of whom have been displaced several times from other parts of Gaza.
The Prime Minister’s office also said that “Regarding the hostages - Hamas's demands are still ridiculous. An Israeli delegation will leave for Doha after the Security Policy Cabinet discusses Israel's position.”
Remember: Israel intends to move displaced Palestinians from Rafah to “humanitarian enclaves” in Gaza before any Israel Defense Forces (IDF) assault on the last remaining area in Gaza the military has not yet reached, IDF spokesperson Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari told reporters Wednesday.
The IDF does intend to invade Rafah, he said, calling it “something we need to do.”
But the timing of the assault depends on “the conditions to allow it,” Hagari said.
8:36 a.m. ET, March 15, 2024
Relatives of hostages protest outside Israeli military headquarters as cabinet considers latest Hamas offer
From CNN's Amir Tal in Jerusalem and Niamh Kennedy in Dublin
Relatives of hostages are gathering in protest outside the Israeli military headquarters on Friday after reports emerged that the latest Hamas response to a ceasefire and hostage release deal is being considered by the Israeli war and security cabinets.
The protest is being organized by The Hostages Families Forum, a group who have been lobbying extensively for the release of hostages taken by Hamas on October 7.
The group told CNN that its members would gather outside the headquarters of the Israel Defence Forces (IDF) when the Israeli War Cabinet and Security Cabinet meet to consider the proposal submitted by Hamas.
The Israeli Prime Minister’s office said a meeting had been convened on Friday morning.
Protestors called on the government and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to "make a decision that will save our beloved ones."
Photos from the protest showed large crowds carrying signs inscribed with slogans including: "Get Them Out of Hell" and "Stop the world-the hostages are still there."
32 out of the 130 hostages taken on October 7 are thought to be dead, according to CNN records.
8:05 a.m. ET, March 15, 2024
80,000 Muslim worshippers attend peaceful first Friday prayers at Al-Aqsa Mosque
From CNN’s Abeer Salman in Jerusalem and Eyad Kourdi
An estimated 80,000 Muslim worshippers attended the first Friday prayers of Ramadan at Al-Aqsa Mosque, according to the Islamic endowment department in Jerusalem.
Al-Aqsa Mosque, located in the Old City of Jerusalem, holds profound religious significance for Muslims worldwide as the third holiest site in Islam.
It comes after debate raged in Israel over whether to reduce the number of Muslim worshippers at Al-Aqsa during Ramadan.
Netanyahu said at the beginning of a security establishment meeting on preparations for Ramadan that the government prioritizes freedom of worship for all religions.
Ben Gvir, leader of the extreme nationalist Jewish Power party, had been advocating to limit the number of Muslim worshippers permitted to visit the compound over the holiday.
Netanyahu’s decision not to reduce the number of Muslim worshippers “endangers” Israelis, Ben Gvir said in a statement earlier this month.
The decision “shows that Prime Minister Netanyahu and the small cabinet think that nothing happened on 7/10. This decision endangers the citizens of Israel and may allow a picture of victory for Hamas,” the statement said.