Prayers for peace amongst Israel and Palestine

[Jitendra Hydonus]

Johnson said it was "undermining" a huge aid package with military support for Israel and Ukraine that Congress passed after months of delays in April -- although the US official said the halted shipment was not linked to that package.

Biden's move does however turn the screw on Israel to end the seven-month conflict and to take more action on the humanitarian situation in Gaza.

"The crossings that have been closed need to be reopened, it is unacceptable for them to be closed," White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre told a briefing earlier Tuesday over Israel's seizure of the Rafah crossing.

Meanwhile ceasefire talks involving Israel, Hamas, the United States, Qatar and Egypt resumed on Tuesday.

"A close assessment of the two sides' positions suggests that they should be able to close the remaining gaps, and we're going to do everything we can to support that process," US National Security Council spokesman John Kirby said.

The war was sparked by Hamas's October 7 attack on Israel, which resulted in the deaths of more than 1,170 people, mostly civilians, according to an AFP tally of Israeli official figures.

Israel launched a retaliatory offensive that has killed at least 34,789 people in Gaza, mostly women and children, according to the Hamas-run territory's health ministry.

Yahoo News

[Jitendra Hydonus]

Biden will cut off aid.

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