U.S. President Joe Biden spoke with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and "reiterated his clear position" on a possible invasion of the Gaza border city of Rafah, the White House said.

Tel Aviv-Yafo

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu declared that Israel is 'at war' following a surprise attack from Gaza by Hamas militants.

Israel-Gaza War

U.S. President Joe Biden conveyed to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu that the United States does not support an assault on Rafah, a city on the Gaza border. The communication was part of a discussion where Biden "reiterated his clear position" regarding the potential invasion. The backdrop of this conversation involves Israel's military readiness to evacuate Palestinian civilians from Rafah in preparation for an operation against Hamas holdouts within the city, prompted by a senior Israeli defense official's statement last week. The proposed military action has been met with international concern over the potential for a humanitarian catastrophe.

The White House released a statement detailing the discussion between Biden and Netanyahu, which also covered efforts aimed at negotiating the release of Israeli hostages and establishing an immediate ceasefire in Gaza. This dialogue occurs amid broader intentions to address the situation diplomatically, including a forthcoming visit by a Hamas delegation to Cairo for ceasefire talks. Adding a diplomatic dimension to these efforts, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken is scheduled to meet with regional partners in Saudi Arabia, Jordan, and Israel.

This series of diplomatic engagements follows reports of skepticism among senior U.S. officials regarding Israel's use of U.S.-supplied weapons in alignment with international humanitarian law. An internal State Department memo cited by Reuters highlights a division among U.S. officials, with some doubting the credibility of Israel's assurances on its adherence to such laws, while others accept them. The outcome of these internal deliberations carries significant implications, as Blinken is required to present a report to Congress assessing the credibility of Israel's assurances concerning the lawful use of U.S. weapons.



Biden tells Netanyahu U.S. doesn't support Rafah assault

U.S. President Joe Biden spoke with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Sunday and quote, reiterated his clear position on a possible invasion of the Gaza border city of Rafah. Israel's military is poised to evacuate Palestinian civilians from Rafah and assault Hamas holdouts there, according to comments last week by a senior Israeli defense official. The invasion would come despite international warnings of a humanitarian catastrophe. Washington has said it could not support a Rafah operation without an appropriate and credible humanitarian plan. The White House in a statement also said that Biden and Netanyahu reviewed talks designed to secure the release of some of the Israeli hostages, coupled with an immediate ceasefire in Gaza. Meanwhile, a Hamas delegation is set to visit Cairo on Monday for talks aimed at securing a ceasefire, according to a Hamas official. U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken is also set to meet with regional partners this week on a trip to Saudi Arabia, Jordan and Israel. His trip to the region comes after Reuters reported that some senior U.S. officials have questioned whether Israel is using U.S.-supplied weapons in accordance with international humanitarian law. According to an internal State Department memo reviewed by Reuters, some top officials advised Blinken they do not find Israel's assurances on the matter, quote, credible or reliable. Other U.S. officials accepted Israel's assurances. Blinken must report to Congress by May 8th on whether he finds Israel's assurances credible that its use of U.S. weapons does not violate U.S. or international law.

The New South Wales State Government has announced tougher bail laws for domestic violence accused persons, including electronic monitoring. The reforms follow the alleged murder of Molly Ticehurst in Forbes last month, after her accused killer breached bail.

Council of the City of Sydney

NSW announces tougher bail laws for domestic offenders

The Federal Government will announce the budget in a few hours. Cost of living is said to be the key focus, along with energy rebates for Australian households and Commonwealth rent assistance. However Shadow Treasurer Angus Taylor says Australian households have already shown great restraint. Inflation is also a concern.

Canberra

Budget forecast ahead of announcement

Trump's former fixer and personal lawyer Michael Cohen takes the stand as a key prosecution witness at the former president's hush money trial. His testimony links the former president to alleged falsifying of business records to cover up payments to an adult film star and a Playboy model, in the 2016 campaign.

New York

Ex- Trump fixer Michael Cohen takes stand at hush money trial

Israel's Memorial Day is typically sombre, but today angry protests over the government's handling of the war disrupted several events. The war itself is getting worse for Palestinians in Gaza as hundreds of thousands have fled the city they were already taking refuge in and still more are trapped amid intensifying fighting.

Protests, fighting in Gaza mark Israel's Memorial Day

The exodus of Palestinians from Gaza’s last refuge accelerated as Israeli forces pushed deeper into the southern city of Rafah. Israel also pounded the territory’s devastated north, where some Hamas militants have regrouped. U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken reiterated opposition to a major military assault on Rafah.

Jerusalem

UN urges reopening of aid lines as exodus from Rafah continues

More than a dozen student volunteers from Albury, Victoria are stranded in Vanuatu after the country's airline went into liquidation. The group having to arrange their own charter flight back to Australia after Qantas were unresponsive.

Tanna

Air Vanuatu collapse leaves teenage volunteers stranded

Australians are feeling the financial pinch, making significant cuts to their spending habits according to a report by the Commonwealth Bank. Analysis of expenditure revealed a reduction in purchases at supermarkets, liquor stores and butchers.

Aussies slash spending, according to new survey

Thousands of people been evacuated from border areas in Ukraine's Kharkiv region, as Russia kept up constant strikes on a key town as part of a cross-border offensive, officials said. The surprise Russian attack across Ukraine's northeastern border began on Friday, with Moscow's troops making small advances in an area from where they had been pushed back nearly two years ago.

Kharkiv

Ukraine Invasion

Thousands evacuated from Kharkiv after surprise Russian offensive

The Federal Government says tomorrow's budget is designed to provide cost-of-living relief without worsening inflation. The Treasurer expected to deliver policies that ease the housing shortage, plus wage stagnation.

Budget won't impact inflation, Government says

Three people have walked away unhurt after a light plane made an emergency landing at Newcastle Airport. The aircraft touching down on its belly after the pilot reported the plane's landing gear failed this morning

Newcastle

Pilot makes successful 'wheels up' emergency landing

Russian President Vladimir Putin tapped a civilian economist as his surprise new defense minister in an attempt to better integrate Russia's military spending into the country's overall economy, and harness greater innovation to win in Ukraine.

Moscow

Putin taps economist to run defense, replacing Shoigu

Flash floods triggered by heavy rain in Afghanistan have killed at least 315 people, and there are fears the death toll could rise. Al Jazeera spoke to displaced residents in Baghlan, one of the hardest hit areas.

Baghlan

Hundreds killed in Afghanistan flash floods

As attacks on Rafah continue, the U.S. secretary of state criticises Israel’s war planning for not doing enough to protect civilians or stopping Hamas.

Rafah

Israel intensifies Rafah attacks as U.S. ups criticism

Weather has delayed the planned controlled explosion of the Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore, which is necessary to free a ship that has been trapped for weeks.

Baltimore

Baltimore bridge demolition delayed by weather

Large plumes of smoke could be seen over Alberta and in British Columbia as out-of-control fires raged across Western Canada. The federal government warned of another "catastrophic" wildfire season as it forecast higher-than-normal spring and summer temperatures.

Fort St. John

Canada blazes trigger evacuation orders

Israel has ordered thousands more Rafah residents to evacuate the city as it steps up attacks in Gaza. The UN says more than 150,000 Palestinians have fled Rafah since Monday, after Israel warned people to evacuate ahead of a major offensive.

Nowhere to go in Gaza as Israel prepares final assault

Parts of New South Wales have been hit with up to 200 millimetres of rain in the past 24 hours, seeing roads giving way. Severe weather warnings remain in parts of the state, mainly the south coast. However the weather bureau is promising clearer skies this week.

Bondi Beach

Torrential rain continues throughout New South Wales

Tens of thousands of people have rallied in Georgia’s capital against a proposed law many say will silence dissent. There are fears the legislation could cost Georgia its bid to join the EU.

Tbilisi

Anger across Georgia over Kremlin-inspired laws

Our planet is experiencing its most powerful geomagnetic storm in more than 20 years, creating stunning colours in the night sky known as auroras. It's an event which experts warn could trigger power and communication blackouts.

Gothenburg

Stunning night skies across the globe amid solar storm

Switzerland has won the 2024 Eurovision song contest in an event marred by protests over Israel's participation. Thousands protesting outside the venue in the Swedish city of Malmo.

Malmö

Switzerland wins a Eurovision overshadowed by Gaza war

Rescue workers are braving torrential rain while searching for survivors after last week's devastating floods that killed 136 people in southern Brazil. Thousands have evacuated their homes but many in poor areas remain stranded.

State of Rio Grande do Sul

Climate Crisis

Torrential rain hampers Brazil flood rescue efforts

Israel's closest ally and biggest arms supplier, the United States, says Israel's use of American weapons likely breached international law in Gaza. The long-awaited report by the Biden administration to Congress issues a rare criticism to Israel.

Washington

U.S. report finds possible rights violations in Gaza

The biggest geomagnetic storm in two decades resulted in dazzling lights displays across large swathes of the Northern Hemisphere over the weekend. Curtains of green, pink and purple lights could be seen in skies around the world.

Riex

Solar storm causes rare northern lights display

It’s been two years since Al Jazeera journalist Shireen Abu Akleh was killed during an Israeli military raid in the Jenin refugee camp. Despite a U.S. Government backed investigation that found she was shot by an Israeli sniper, no charges have been filed.

Two years on, no justice for slain Al Jazeera journalist

Israel called for Palestinians in more areas of Gaza's southern city of Rafah to evacuate and head to what it calls an expanded humanitarian area in Al-Mawasi, in a further indication that the military is pressing ahead with its plans for a ground attack on Rafah.

Israel calls on Rafah residents to evacuate ahead of assault

Russian forces have captured five villages as part of a renewed ground assault in Ukraine’s northeast, the country’s Defence Ministry said. 

Ukrainian journalists reported that Russian troops took the villages of Borysivka, Ohirtseve, Pylna and Strilecha, all of which lie in a militarily contested “grey zone” on the border of Ukraine's Kharkiv region and Russia.

Kyiv

Russia claims capture of five villages in northeast Ukraine

A report by the Biden administration on whether Israel’s use of U.S. supplied weapons violated international humanitarian law is “self-contradictory” and full of gaps two former State Department officials told Reuters.

Critical U.S. report on Israel arms use 'self-contradictory'

Kylian Mbappe has confirmed he will leave Paris Saint-Germain at the end of the season. The Frenchman, who is out of contract this summer, is expected to join Real Madrid. The 25-year-old officially announced his PSG exit after it was revealed in February he would be leaving the French champions.

Paris

Kylian Mbappe confirms Paris Saint-Germain exit at end of season

The most powerful solar storm in more than two decades struck Earth, triggering spectacular celestial light shows in skies from Tasmania to Britain — and threatening possible disruptions to satellites and power grids as it persists into the weekend.

London

Intense solar storm brings northern lights displays across the globe

Dramatic footage of a rare tornado that tore through the Western Australian city of Bunbury shows it travelling quickly as it destroys rooftops and damages homes. Two people were injured amid falling debris.

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Israel-Gaza War