Israel received a warning from Egypt about potential violence three days before the deadly attack orchestrated by Hamas, according to Michael McCaul, the chairman of the US House Foreign Affairs Committee. McCaul disclosed this information following a closed-door intelligence briefing for lawmakers on the Middle East crisis.
“We know that Egypt has warned the Israelis three days prior that an event like this could happen,” McCaul told reporters. However, the level at which the warning was given remains unclear. McCaul expressed confusion as to how both the United States and Israel missed the warning.
While Cairo has not officially commented on the existence of such a warning, senior security sources quoted in the Egyptian media denied issuing any such alert.
The US National Security Council spokesperson, John Kirby, refrained from commenting directly on McCaul’s statement but emphasised the ongoing intelligence gathering and cooperation with Israel.
Meanwhile, the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) has issued a warning that hospitals in Gaza are on the verge of collapse due to the lack of power supply. Hisham Mhanna, an ICRC Gaza staff member, stated in a video clip that the territory’s lone power company could shut down completely in the next few hours. Hospitals are already grappling with staff and supply shortages, while the number of critically injured individuals continues to rise due to the relentless Israeli bombardment.
Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman has reportedly emphasised the kingdom’s efforts to coordinate regionally and internationally in order to halt the ongoing escalation in the Israeli-Hamas conflict. During a phone call with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, the crown prince stressed the need to end the Israeli attack on the Gaza Strip and reaffirmed Saudi Arabia’s unwavering support for the Palestinian cause and the pursuit of comprehensive and just peace.
In response to the dire humanitarian situation in Gaza, the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) has appealed for $104 million in aid. The funds will be used to address the immediate food, non-food, health, shelter, and protection needs of up to 500,000 individuals seeking safety in UNRWA shelters or within the community.
Tragically, emergency workers in Gaza have discovered the bodies of 18 individuals, including nine children and two women, amidst the rubble of two destroyed houses in Khan Younis, southern Gaza.
