Israel’s war on Gaza: Deliberate mass death in Israeli school attack
- An exclusive Al Jazeera investigation strongly suggests that Israel’s attack on al-Tabin School in Gaza City – that killed over 100 Palestinians – was ‘deliberately’ timed to maximise civilian casualties.
- At least 10 people were killed and several wounded in an overnight Israeli strike on a home in the Abasan al-Kabira area of eastern Khan Younis, the Wafa news agency reports.
Only Gaza truce can delay Iran’s Israel response: Reuters
A ceasefire deal stemming from hoped-for talks this week would hold Iran back from direct retaliation for the killing of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh on its soil, three senior Iranian officials tell the agency.
One of the sources, a senior Iranian security official, reportedly said Iran, along with allies such as Hezbollah, would launch a direct attack if the Gaza talks fail or it perceives Israel is dragging out negotiations.
The sources did not say how long Iran would allow for talks to progress before responding, Reuters says.
Two senior sources close to Lebanon’s Hezbollah said Tehran would give the negotiations a chance but would not give up its intentions to retaliate.
A ceasefire in Gaza would give Iran cover for a smaller “symbolic” response, one of the sources said.
Iran has promised a severe response to Haniyeh’s killing, which took place as he visited Tehran late last month and which it blamed on Israel. Israel has neither confirmed or denied its involvement.
No casualties reported in rocket attack on Tel Aviv: Israeli media
According to local news reports, explosions were heard in Tel Aviv but there were no reports of casualties.
We will continue to bring you more updates on this developing story.
Israel added new, tougher ceasefire conditions: Report
Israel has in recent weeks requested new conditions to a Gaza ceasefire deal, making it harder to reach any agreement, reports the New York Times.
According to the Times, which cited private documents outlining Israel’s negotiating stance, Israel informed mediators of the additional terms in late July. They included suggestions that Israel maintain control of southern Gaza’s border and less openness to Palestinians returning to northern Gaza after the conflict, The Times said.
The conditions have alarmed several members of Israel’s own negotiating team who fear they will undermine the latest ceasefire push, according to the Times.
Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu has denied Israel imposed new ceasefire conditions, saying its negotiating team only asked for “essential clarifications” that would help implement a May 27 proposal backed by the US.
Arab states condemn Israelis’ storming of Al-Aqsa Mosque
The foreign ministries of Palestine, Egypt, Jordan and Qatar have all condemned the storming of Al-Aqsa Mosque today by crowds of Israelis, including two far-right ministers.
In its statement, Qatar’s foreign ministry said the march on the mosque – one of Islam’s holiest sites – was an attempt to “harm its religious and historical status”.
It is “not only an attack on Palestinians, but on millions of Muslims around the world”, said the ministry.
It added that the “violations” could impair efforts to reach a ceasefire in Gaza and called on the international community to “act urgently to stop these attacks”.
Qassam Brigades say they struck Tel Aviv with rockets
Hamas’s armed wing has said it targeted the coastal Israeli city and its “environs” with two M-90 rockets, which have a range of 90 km.
In a statement on its official Telegram channel, the Brigades said “it was in retaliation for the massacres and forced displacement perpetrated by Israel”.
Israeli protesters rally for ‘the right to rape’ prisoners
Protesters, politicians and TV commentators in Israel are defending the right of soldiers to mistreat and even rape Palestinian prisoners in detention.
The show of support follows the gang rape of a male detainee by a group of Israeli reservists.
Hamas fighters say Israeli tank hit in southern Gaza
The Qassam Brigades, the Palestinian group’s armed wing, says that it targeted a Merkava tank with an explosive device, specifically a barrel bomb, in the al-Zana area, in the eastern section of Khan Younis.
The Israeli army began a new offensive in eastern Khan Younis last week, displacing nearly 70,000 residents from their homes, according to the UN.
Baby girl is sole survivor of overnight Khan Younis attack that killed 10: Report
Earlier, we reported that an overnight Israeli attack on a family home in Khan Younis killed 10 people.
Now, it has emerged that the only survivor of the attack is a three-month-old baby girl, according to a medic cited by AFP news agency.
Named Rim, the baby girl lost both her parents and eight other family members to the attack.
“This little girl was pulled out of the rubble. Her whole family is dead. Who will take care of her now?” asked local resident Ibrahim Barbakh.
PM downplays Fitch’s credit rating cut
Israeli PM Netanyahu says he expects the downgraded rating given by the agency would be upgraded again once Israel wins the war.
“Israel’s economy is strong and is functioning very well,” Netanyahu said in a statement.
He added: “The rating downgrade is a result of Israel dealing with a multi-front war forced upon it.”
Political leaders in the Israeli opposition have slammed the government for Fitch’s move.
Fitch, which cut the rating from A+ to A, also kept Israel’s rating outlook negative, suggesting a further downgrade is possible.
UNSC debates Gaza crisis as civilian suffering intensifies
The UN Security Council is set to meet for its 24th special session since the war in Gaza began on October 7.
The urgent meeting has been prompted by the devastating attack on al-Tabin School on Saturday, escalating concerns over the civilian toll of the conflict.
The council faces the challenge of addressing the worsening humanitarian crisis as violence continues to rage in Gaza.
