Live blog update| Israel's war on Gaza
This is an entry from: Israel's War on Gaza Live: Israel pounds Rafah in overnight strikes

Evening recap

8 April 2024 23:43 BST

Hello MEE readers. On Monday, another round of negotiations was held between Hamas and Israel regarding a potential ceasefire. However, there has been no progress made on those talks, according to several news reports.

Hamas rejected the latest Israeli proposal for a ceasefire, however, the movement said that Israel is unwilling to agree to its main demands, which include a full withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza.

Meanwhile, in Khan Younis, the wreckage left behind by Israeli forces began to fully be discovered by Palestinian rescue workers. At least 84 dead bodies were recovered on Monday after Israeli forces withdrew from the city.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has said he has set a date for an Israeli invasion of Rafah. The US said it was not made aware of such a date, and publicly urged Israel against such an operation.

Here's what else you need to know from today's developments:

  • After opening a new building for consular services in Damascus following an attack that destroyed Iran's consulate there, Iran's foreign minister, Hossein Amir Abdollahian said the US bears responsibility for last week's strike.

  • Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan said that Turkey had requested to be involved in airdrops of humanitarian aid into Gaza. He added that as a result, Ankara would take a series of steps against Israel.

  • Israel is buying 40,000 tents in preparation for the evacuation of Palestinians from Rafah, according to a report by the Associated Press.

  • The UN Security Council has referred the Palestinian Authority's membership application to the committee that deals with the admission of new member states.

  • The US chapter of the UN agency for Palestine refugees (Unrwa) announced it would provide $5m to Unrwa after several countries including the US halted their funding.

  • The presidents of France and Egypt, along with the king of Jordan, have issued a warning to Israel against launching an invasion of Rafah and called for an "immediate" ceasefire.

  • US Senator Elizabeth Warren, a former presidential candidate, said that she believes Israel's war in Gaza will legally be considered genocide.