Israel’s war on Gaza live: Israeli attacks on central, south Gaza kill 27
- At least 27 have been reported killed in Israeli attacks across the central and southern Gaza Strip in an “especially blood day”. This includes at least five Palestinians, a mother and her children, who were “incinerated” when their tent was bombed in Khan Younis.
- Residents and displaced Palestinians have been ordered by the Israeli military to immediately evacuate the Beit Hanoon and Beit Lahiya areas of northern Gaza, ahead of an expected “large scale” army operation.
Hezbollah claims its drone attacked Israeli soldiers in Marj
The Lebanese armed group says its drone has attacked Israeli soldiers in a military position in Marj near the Lebanon-Israel border.
The assault carried out at 01:20 pm (10:20 GMT) injured unidentified number of troops, the group’s statement said on Telegram.
The cross-border attacks between Israel and Lebanon have become a daily occurrence since Israel’s war on Gaza erupted last year.
Hezbollah has said it will stop only after a permanent ceasefire is achieved in the Palestinian enclave run by its ally, the Hamas movement.
Assassination of Haniyeh will ‘cost Israel dearly’: Iran’s FM
Iran’s acting foreign minister, Ali Bagheri, has said Israel made a “strategic mistake” by assassinating Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran.
Speaking to AFP, Bagheri accused Israel of carrying out the assassination to stoke “tensions, war and conflict” in other countries, but said the move would “cost them [Israel] gravely”.
Iran’s supreme leader has pledged to deliver “harsh punishment” for Haniyeh’s killing and Israel is also bracing for a response from Tehran’s allies in the region.
Hamas has chosen a new leader in Yahya Sinwar, who Israel accuses of masterminding the October 7 attack.
Israel’s military tells Palestinians to evacuate Khan Younis neighbourhoods
Israel’s military has urged Palestinians to flee from numerous areas in and around Khan Younis, claiming Hamas fighters are firing rockets from there and that Israel will respond “forcefully”.
In a statement on X, Israel’s Arabic language spokesperson listed numerous towns and neighbourhoods near Khan Younis that residents should leave, including Bani Suheila, Abasan, Khuza’a and Sheikh Nasser.
He called on civilians there to immediately head to the designated humanitarian zone, located in the al-Mawasi area near the coast, western Khan Younis and Deir el-Balah.
Israel’s military has repeatedly attacked areas it has designated as humanitarian zones in recent months, killing at least 110 people in eight air strikes, according to an ABC News investigation that cites Palestinian Health Ministry figures.
ICJ bid, Instagram ban latest signs Turkey is moving away from Israel
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has long been a defender of the Palestinian cause, condemning Israel for its actions towards Palestinians and once notably berating former Israeli President Shimon Peres on stage at the World Economic Forum.
His vocal support for Palestine reflects how important the Palestinian cause is to many Turks. In 2010, for instance, a boat called the Mavi Marmara – part of a flotilla seeking to deliver aid to the besieged Gaza Strip – was stopped and raided by Israeli forces.
Nine people on board were killed while dozens were injured. The incident fractured Turkish-Israeli relations until 2016 when the countries agreed on a pathway to normalise relations.
More on Israeli raid near Yarin in southern Lebanon
We have reported earlier based on Lebanon’s state-run National News Agency that an Israeli army drone targeted a car on the road linking the southern Lebanese towns of Yarin and al-Jebbayn.
We now know from the Lebanese Health Ministry that the attack resulted in three injuries.
Israel’s budget deficit climbs
Israel’s budget deficit was 8.1 percent of its gross domestic product (GDP) in the 12 months until the end of July, equivalent to $2.2bn, according to preliminary figures from the Finance Ministry cited by The Times of Israel.
This is close to double the deficit it posted at the end of 2023, which was equivalent to 4.2 percent of its GDP and over Israel’s target deficit of 6.6 percent for 2024.
Israel has spent tens of billions on the war in Gaza since October, widening the deficit. From 2023 to 2025, the total military and civilian costs of the war to Israel is projected to be 253 billion shekels ($67bn), Bank of Israel Governor Amir Yaron warned at the end of May.
Norway reacts to Israel revoking accreditation of its diplomats
Norway’s Foreign Ministry confirms Israel has given notice it will no longer accredit Norwegian diplomats serving the occupied Palestinian territory and calls it “an extreme act” by the Israeli government.
Norway is now considering its response to the situation, Norwegian Minister of Foreign Affairs Espen Barth Eide said in a statement.
“This is an extreme act that primarily affects our ability to help the Palestinian population. … Today’s decision will have consequences for our relationship with the Netanyahu government,” he said.
Injuries in Israeli strike on southern Lebanon
Lebanon’s state-run National News Agency reports that an Israeli army drone targeted a car on the road linking the southern Lebanese towns of Yarin and al-Jebbayn.
The agency said that injuries resulted from this attack, but did not specify their number or severity.
We will bring you more updates on this attack as we get more information.
