The Times of Israel is liveblogging Thursday’s events as they happen.
Pentagon chief to Gallant: Strike on WCK convoy ‘reinforced’ concerns over Rafah op
US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin held a phone call with his Israeli counterpart Yoav Gallant, with the Pentagon saying he “expressed his outrage” over an IDF strike in Gaza that killed seven staffers of World Central Kitchen.
A readout from the Defense Department says Austin called “to immediately take concrete steps to protect aid workers and Palestinian civilians in Gaza after repeated coordination failures with foreign aid groups.”
“Secretary Austin urged Minister Gallant to conduct a swift and transparent investigation, to share their conclusions publicly, and to hold those responsible to account,” it continues.
“Secretary Austin stated that this tragedy reinforced the expressed concern over a potential Israeli military operation in Rafah, specifically focusing on the need to ensure the evacuation of Palestinian civilians and the flow of humanitarian aid.”
The statement stresses Austin’s praise for WCK and says he told Austin “this tragedy makes it more difficult to flood the zone with humanitarian assistance, as Israeli officials have stated they seek to do.”
“Secretary Austin also raised the need to see a rapid increase of aid coming through all crossings in the coming days, particularly to communities in northern Gaza that are at risk of famine.”
A line at the end of the readout says “Secretary Austin reiterated US support for Israel’s defense against a range of regional threats,” without elaborating.
US military says it downed missile and drones launched by Houthis
WASHINGTON — The US military says that it destroyed one inbound anti-ship ballistic missile and two drones launched by Iranian-backed Houthis from Yemen toward the Red Sea.
US Central Command says no injuries or damage was reported.
“Additionally, during this timeframe CENTCOM forces destroyed a mobile surface-to-air missile system in Houthi controlled territory,” it says in a post on X, formerly known as Twitter.
Australian PM says Israeli explanation for deadly aid convoy strike ‘not good enough’
SYDNEY — Israel’s explanation for the deaths from an airstrike in Gaza of seven aid workers, including Australian woman Zomi Frankcom, was “not good enough,” Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese says
“We need to have accountability for how it has occurred, and what is not good enough is the statements that have been made, including that this is just a product of war,” Albanese says during a press conference in Sydney.
Albanese seems to be referring to comments from Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in a video message on Tuesday in which he said that “this happens in war” as the Israeli military promised an independent investigation.
Albanese says Frankcom was traveling in a vehicle clearly identified as an aid vehicle and it should not have been at risk. He demanded full accountability on a call with Netanyahu on Wednesday.
“They have committed to a full and proper investigation. I want that to be transparent and I want those findings to be made public so that we find out how exactly this can occur,” he says.
Trump spoke recently with Saudi leader MBS — report
WASHINGTON — Republican US presidential candidate Donald Trump recently spoke with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, The New York Times reports, citing two people briefed on the discussion.
The newspaper reports that it’s unclear what Trump and the prince, known as MBS, discussed and whether this was their first conversation since Trump, who was president from 2017 to 2021, left office.
Due to a cracked rib, White House National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan postponed plans to travel to Saudi Arabia this week to meet with the crown prince, who is considered the de facto Saudi leader.
Sullivan had been due to hold talks with the prince amid a US push for progress toward normalizing relations between Israel and Saudi Arabia.
Saudi Arabia was Trump’s first foreign trip when he took office in 2017.
Jill Biden said privately pushing for end to civilian casualties in Gaza war
Among those closest to US President Joe Biden, First Lady Jill Biden is privately one of the loudest in calling for an end to civilian casualties in Gaza, according to The New York Times.
Quoting a participant at a Ramadan event that Biden held Tuesday, the newspaper reports another attendee said his wife wasn’t happy he was there due to the president’s backing for Israel. Biden reportedly said he understood and that his wife has been urging him to “stop it, stop it now.”
In response, White House officials quoted in the report say there’s no difference between the president and first lady, and that they are equally upset about civilian casualties. They also deny she was calling for Israel to end its military offensive against Hamas.
The report is titled “Jill Biden Privately Urges an End to Conflict in Gaza,” but does not definitively quote her making such a demand of her husband.
Rocket sirens activated in Golan Heights town
Incoming rocket sirens are activated in the Golan Heights community of Keshet.
Israeli probe into strike on aid workers progressing, officials say
The Israeli investigation into the deadly IDF strike on a World Central Kitchen convoy in Gaza on Tuesday is progressing, Israeli officials tell The Times of Israel.
The Southern Command has completed its probe, which it presented to IDF Chief of Staff Herzi Halevi. Halevi’s part of the probe was expected to be completed Wednesday, before being passed up the chain to the political leadership to sign off on the findings and fill any possible holes.
The war cabinet is convened virtually Wednesday to hear an update on the IDF investigation, says one of the officials.