Israel warns Gazans in south to flee; officials broker hostage deal with Hamas

(LAUREN TAYLOR | ANCHOR)

DROPPING LEAFLETS FROM THE SKY – ISRAEL WARNS PALESTINIANS LIVING IN SOUTHERN GAZA TO FLEE – FUELING CONCERNS THE ISRAEL-HAMAS CONFLICT WILL SPREAD TO AREAS THAT ISRAELI OFFICIALS HAD PREVIOUSLY INDICATED WERE SAFE.

HOWEVER – IT’S UNCLEAR WHERE THOSE ONE HUNDRED THOUSAND PALESTINIANS CAN SAFELY RETREAT.

IN SOUTHERN GAZA — EGYPT IS ONLY ALLOWING SELECT INDIVIDUALS – SUCH AS THOSE CARRYING DUAL CITIZENSHIP, THE INJURED OR SICK – TO CROSS THE RAFAH BORDER.

THIS AS ISRAELI BOMBARDMENT CONTINUES IN NORTHERN GAZA –
AS ISRAELI SOLDIERS REMAIN ACTIVE INSIDE AND AROUND THE AL-SHIFA HOSPITAL COMPLEX – THE LARGEST IN GAZA.

ON THURSDAY — THE IDF POSTED A VIDEO ON X –
DISPLAYING AK-47S, GRENADES, WEAPONS, AND A LAPTOP – THEY SAY BELONGED TO HAMAS MILITANTS – WHO USED THE HOSPITAL AS A COMMAND CENTER TO CARRY OUT THEIR MILITARY OPERATIONS.

(LTC JOHNATHAN CONRICUS / IDF SPOKESPERSON)

“if you follow me behind the mri machine, i’ll show you what our troops exposed just minutes ago. in military terms, this is a grab bag. grab and go of a hamas combatant. and if you zoom in and get some light over here, what you’ll be able to see is military equipment. there’s an ak47, there are cartridges, ammo, there are grenades in here, of course uniform, and all of this was hidden very conveniently, secretly behind the mri machine.”

(LAUREN TAYLOR)

NOW – THE IDF IS UNDER GROWING PRESSURE TO RELEASE PROOF AND VIDEO EVIDENCE OF HAMAS’ INFRASTRUCTURE COMMAND COMPLEX – WHICH BOTH ISRAELI AND U-S OFFICIALS HAVE SAID – IS BELOW THE AL-SHIFA HOSPITAL.

PRESIDENT BIDEN SAID WEDNESDAY – HAMAS’ USE OF TUNNELS UNDER HOSPITALS IN GAZA IS A WAR CRIME.

(PRESIDENT BIDEN)

“you have a situation where the first war crime is being committed by hamas by having their headquarters, their military hidden under a hospital. And that’s a fact. That’s what’s happened.”

IN A POST ON TELEGRAM – A MEMBER OF HAMAS’ POLITICAL OFFICE ACCUSED ISRAEL OF “STAGING A SHAMEFUL PLAY” AND FABRICATING THE MILITARY EVIDENCE ISRAELI SOLDIERS SAY THEY FOUND IN AL-SHIFA – CNN REPORTED.

HAMAS AND AL-SHIFA HOSPITAL STAFF HAVE REPEATEDLY DENIED USING THE HOSPITAL AS A COMMAND CENTER TO CARRY OUT MILITARY OPERATIONS.

IF HAMAS TUNNELS ARE NOT UNCOVERED UNDER THE HOSPITAL – THAT COULD MEAN ISRAEL VIOLATED INTERNATIONAL HUMANITARIAN LAW.

CURRENTLY – ISRAELI AND U-S OFFICIALS ARE TRYING TO NEGOTIATE A DEAL WITH HAMAS FOR THE RELEASE OF AT LEAST 50 HOSTAGES – WOMEN AND CHILDREN – IN EXCHANGE FOR WOMEN AND CHILDREN PALESTINIANS BEING HELD IN ISRAELI PRISONS – ACCORDING TO CBS.

US OFFICIALS CONFIRM HAMAS IS HOLDING NEARLY 240 HOSTAGES CAPTIVE – INCLUDING NINE AMERICANS.

PRESIDENT BIDEN – SEEMINGLY CONFIRMS – ISRAEL WILL PAUSE IT’S STRIKES ON GAZA – TO ALLOW THE EXCHANGE OF HOSTAGES TO TAKE PLACE.

(PRESIDENT BIDEN)

“we’ve gotten great cooperation from Qatar(ies?) I’ve spoken with them as well a number of times. I think the pause the Israelis have agreed to… I’m getting into too much detail, I know mr. secretary, I’m going to stop. But I am mildly hopeful.”

(LAUREN TAYLOR)

LAST MONTH – HAMAS RELEASED FOUR FEMALE HOSTAGES – TWO AMERICANS AND TWO ISRAELIS.