News, hostage release and more

Palestinians inspect the ruins of a house destroyed by an Israeli bombardment in Deir al-Bala, Gaza, March 4. Majdi Fathi/NurPhoto/Getty Images

The Biden administration has continued to call for more humanitarian aid to Gaza, amid a backlash over continued military support to the Israeli government in the face of allegations of human rights abuses. However, the United States reaffirmed on Monday that it would continue to provide military aid to Israel, State Department spokesman Matthew Miller said.

Negotiations for a temporary ceasefire agreement for the release of Gaza hostages are continuing, but Israel is not participating in the talks.

Meanwhile, more children have died of dehydration and malnutrition in Gaza as conditions in the enclave continue to deteriorate, according to a Palestinian health ministry spokesman.

Here are the main headlines:

A controversial visit– Israeli War Cabinet Minister Benny Gantz, one of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's main political rivals, met with top US officials, including Vice President Kamala Harris, during a three-day trip to Washington. An Israeli official said Gantz did not represent the government, amid apparent displeasure over the visit by the Israeli prime minister and his allies. The White House supported Gantz's visit, noting that he was part of Israel's war cabinet. Harris said the meetings would focus on a cease-fire agreement to free the remaining hostages in Gaza.

Ceasefire negotiations: Egypt, Qatar and US mediators are meeting in Cairo to try to break the stalled ceasefire talks between Israel and Hamas after Israel said it would not send a delegation. An Israeli official said Netanyahu made the decision to boycott the talks.

Children dying of hunger: A growing number of children in Gaza are dying of hunger and dehydration, according to the World Health Organization and Palestinian officials. A WHO team found “severe malnutrition, starving children, severe fuel, food and medical supplies, destroyed hospital buildings” during a recent visit to northern Gaza, the WHO chief said on Monday. , Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.

Sexual violence: UN Special Envoy on Sexual Violence and Women, Pramila Bhattan, said a UN team had found evidence of the rape of hostages in Gaza. Button said there was “clear and convincing information” that some hostages had been taken to Gaza and subjected to sexual violence, and that there were “reasonable grounds” to believe that sexual violence continued. Israel believes 130 hostages remain in Gaza, 99 of whom are believed to be alive.

Allegations of torture: UN for Palestinian Refugees The agency accused Israel of detaining and torturing some of its employees, forcing them to make false statements about the agency's ties to Hamas. Juliet Douma, a spokeswoman for the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA), said the false confessions were being used to spread disinformation, but did not link the confessions to the charges against the 12 staff members accused of participating in the October 7 attack. attacks.

On the mainland: One of Gaza's main cemeteries has no more room to bury its dead, its caretaker said. Gaza's health ministry said on Monday that 124 people had died in the past 24 hours. At least eight people were killed and several wounded in an Israeli attack on an aid delivery truck in central Gaza, the ministry said. The Israel Defense Forces said in a statement on Sunday that it had “destroyed” a Hamas terrorist in an “airstrike in Gaza”.