US aid heads to Israel as mass grave found in Gaza. Chase here

US aid heads to Israel as mass grave found in Gaza. Chase here

Israeli politicians thanked the United States on Wednesday after the Senate approved a $95 billion package that included money for Israel, Ukraine and Taiwan.

The long-delayed bill is now finally on the desk of US President Joe Biden, who said he would sign it into law on Wednesday.

Israeli opposition leader Yair Lapid and Foreign Minister Israel Katz joined President Isaac Herzog in expressing their gratitude. “With the threats we face from across the region, Israel’s strategic relationship with the US is a pillar of our national security,” Lapid said.

But in the land of Gaza, the humanitarian catastrophe caused by Israel’s war against Hamas is getting worse.

More than 340 bodies have now been found in the hospital’s mass grave in Khan Younis, while the UN agency for Palestinian refugees says more than 270,000 tonnes of solid waste across Gaza has yet to be collected. A top State Department official said that the risk of starvation in Gaza is now “very high, especially in the north.”

Here’s what you need to know:

The US aid package finally passed: The package provides $26.4 billion to aid Israel, stating that the funds are to support “its efforts to defend itself against Iran and its proxies, and to reimburse US military operations in response to recent attacks,” according to a legislative summary. It includes $4 billion for the Iron Dome and David’s Sling missile defense systems and $1.2 billion for the Iron Beam defense system, which counters short-range rocket and mortar threats.

Mass grave found: The UN has called for an “independent, effective and transparent investigation” as more bodies were found in a mass grave at a hospital in Khan Younis. High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Turk said he was “horrified” by the scenes at the Nasser Medical Complex and at Al-Shifa hospital, where the bodies were found earlier this month.

More bodies found: About 344 bodies have now been found at the Nasser facility following the withdrawal of Israeli forces from the area, the Gaza Civil Defense Directorate told CNN.

More than 34,000 Palestinians killed: After 200 days of war, Israel’s offensive in Gaza has killed more than 34,000 Palestinians, according to the territory’s health ministry. His counterpart in Ramallah said that 72% of those killed in Gaza were children, women and the elderly. CNN could not independently verify these numbers due to lack of international media access.

Hamas vows new attacks: Abu Obaida, spokesman for Hamas’ military wing the Al Qassam Brigades, vowed continued attacks on Israel in his first video message in more than six weeks on Tuesday. “We will continue to attack the enemy with different techniques as long as the invasion continues in our land,” said Abu Obaida. Hamas fighters will “continue to go out to fight the enemy,” he said.

IDF Warning: The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) has issued a warning to the public in parts of the Beit Lahia area in northern Gaza, calling on residents to evacuate. Identifying several blocks from a map of Gaza, the IDF warned: “You are in a dangerous combat zone. The IDF will work with extreme force against the terrorist infrastructure and subversive elements in the region.”

Germany resumes UNRWA cooperation: Germany will once again cooperate with the UN aid agency for Palestine in Gaza (UNRWA) after the organization accepted the recommendation of an independent review of its neutrality. The review was launched after Israel claimed that a dozen of Gaza’s 13,000 UNRWA staff were involved in the October 7 Hamas attack.

Humanitarian crisis: More than 270,000 tonnes of solid waste across Gaza remains uncollected, according to UNRWA, as Israel’s military campaign has disrupted essential services. The agency also reported that more than 75% of the population had been displaced, that aid operations there had been “severely limited” by Israel, and that the health system in the enclave had been destroyed.

Concerns over Gaza famine: A top State Department official said that the risk of famine in Gaza is currently “very high, especially in the north.” Special Envoy for Middle East Humanitarian Issues David Satterfield said “Israel must do everything possible to facilitate efforts to avoid starvation in Gaza.”