What we knowAn Israeli assault on Rafah could lead to a "slaughter," United Nations aid chief Martin Griffiths warned yesterday as some Palestinians began to flee Gaza's southernmost city. The U.N. also said it will not assist in the evacuation if Israel does go ahead with a ground offensive on the city, which is now home to around 1.4 million people, many of whom have fled from other parts of the enclave. The State Department said last night that it was reviewing reports that Israel has harmed civilians in its Gaza offensive, as part of a set of guidelines ensuring recipients of U.S. arms follow international law. The review comes as President Joe Biden has become increasingly vocal in his frustration with Israel's conduct during the offensive. Israeli survivors of the Oct. 7 attacks and relatives of victims are stepping up efforts to get International Criminal Court prosecutor Karim Asad Ahmad Khan to investigate Hamas' crimes, as part of his investigation into the attack and Israel's response in Gaza. They want the court to target Hamas leaders with arrest warrants. Talks in Cairo to reach a new cease-fire and hostage deal ended inconclusively yesterday. CIA Director William Burns took part in the negotiations with Israeli, Qatari and Egyptian officials for a temporary pause in the fighting, but no deal was reached.More than 28,400 people have been killed in Gaza since the war began, according to the Palestinian Health Ministry. More than 68,100 have been injured , and thousands more are missing and presumed dead. Israeli military officials said at least 232 soldiers have been killed during the ground invasion of Gaza.
