Deadly strike on sports centre housing displaced
- At least 71 Palestinians killed and 112 wounded over the last 24 hours, Gaza’s health ministry reports.
- At least 15 people die in an Israeli strike on a sports centre in Gaza City, while injuries reported in the bombing of Saad bin Abi Waqqas Mosque in the Jabalia refugee camp.
Hezbollah claims attacks on Israeli military positions, soldiers
The armed group says it launched multiple attack on Israeli positions over the past few hours, with the latest attacks using rockets and missiles to target areas in Kfarchouba and Metulla in southern Lebanon.
Hezbollah also said it used Falaq missiles to hit Israeli soldiers at the Jal al-Alam site, and fired artillery at an infantry force “causing confirmed casualties”.
The group had also claimed an artillery attack on Israeli soldiers in Hunin. It has so far claimed eight attacks today.
‘Drastically more needed’: Netherlands to airdrop aid over Gaza
Foreign Minister Hanke Bruins Slot says her country will soon carry out airdrops over the coastal enclave together with Jordan and other nations.
“There also needs to be drastically more aid to the area by land: quickly, safely and unhindered. The Netherlands will continue to make efforts in this regard.”
Airdrops have been criticised by aid agencies as a costly and ineffective way of delivering food and medical supplies.
At least 18 people have drowned in the sea trying to retrieve aid packages. Five people were killed this month after a parachute landing a humanitarian airdrop failed to open, bringing a pallet crashing down into a crowd of people.
‘Ecocide’: Nearly half of Gaza trees razed by Israeli attacks: Report
An analysis of satellite imagery shows the vast destruction of tree cover and farmland in the Gaza Strip.
The Guardian newspaper cited independent satellite analysis by London-based research group Forensic Architecture. By the end of February, Israeli military operations destroyed more than 65sq km (25sq miles) of forest.
Almost one-third of more than 7,500 greenhouses in the enclave were also wiped out. The news report pointed out how this raised accusations of “ecocide” and a possible war crime, and how the Israeli military still claims to follow international law despite the evidence.
Israel hits back at UN report warning of Gaza famine
The report released by the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) partnership last week fuelled international concern by saying half of the people in Gaza are suffering “catastrophic” hunger.
COGAT, the Israeli defence ministry body responsible for Palestinian affairs, said Israel “recognises the unfortunate impacts of the war on the civilian population of Gaza”.
But it added Israel doesn’t operate food distribution in Gaza and accused UN agencies of being unable to handle the quantity of aid arriving daily.
“At any given moment there are hundreds of trucks held up at the Gazan side of the Kerem Shalom crossing after having completely been processed by the authorities in Israel,” COGAT said.
The IPC estimated 1.1 million people, half Gaza’s population, are facing dire conditions without aid.
US signs off on more bombs and warplanes for Israel: Report
The US in recent days authorised the transfer of billions of dollars worth of bombs and fighter jets to Israel even as it publicly expresses concerns about an anticipated military offensive in Rafah.
The Washington Post, citing unnamed officials, reports the new arms packages include more than 1,800 MK84 2,000-pound (900kg) bombs and 500 MK82 500-pound (225kg) bombs.
The United States has rushed air defences and munitions to Israel, but some groups have criticized the Biden administration’s steadfast support of Israel, which they say provides it with a sense of impunity.
Qatari plane carrying 24 tonnes of aid for Gaza arrives in Egypt
The Qatari foreign ministry says an armed forces aircraft arrived in the city of El Arish in northern Egypt carrying humanitarian aid for Gaza.
The shipment weighing 24 tonnes included food supplies and was provided by the state-run Qatar Charity. It brought the total number of Qatari aid planes to Egypt to 89.
“The aid is part of the State of Qatar’s full support to the brotherly Palestinian people amid the current difficult humanitarian conditions,” the foreign ministry said.
‘I didn’t stay silent’: Ex-State Dept official explains resignation over Gaza
Annelle Sheline, a US State Department officer on human rights, says she quit her job to protest American government support for Israel as it continues to bomb and starve the people of Gaza.
“The US has lost all credibility when it comes to advocating for human rights,” she told Al Jazeera. “There are many people in the State Department who are doing very important work on this, but until President Biden is willing to take a stance here their work is not really going to make a difference.
“It’s very important for the United States to uphold the values that it claims to believe in. American moral leadership around the world depends on America standing up for these values.”
Asked about the personal cost of her decision, Sheline said with her young daughter at home she had no choice but to resign.
“If in the future she were to ask me about what I did as this was happening, I want her to know that I didn’t stay silent. I couldn’t continue to watch what was happening and just keep going to work every day.”
Plumes of smoke after Israeli attack on Gaza City
A local activist in Gaza shared a video, verified by Al Jazeera’s fact-checking unit Sanad, showing thick billowing smoke after Israeli forces targeted the Shujayea Club.
UN rapporteur welcomes Ireland joining South Africa in ICJ case
The UN special rapporteur on occupied Palestinian territories praised Ireland’s decision to join South Africa’s genocide case against Israel at the International Court of Justice (ICJ).
“Ireland has historically been a strong principled voice on the question of Palestine [while other EU countries have lost their compass],” Francesca Albanese wrote in a post on X.
“May it continue to lead in the pursuit of justice.”
Ireland made its strongest move yet to display its concerns about Israel’s war on Gaza in joining the ICJ case, saying the situation “could not be more stark”.
Reaction to killing of unarmed Palestinians contradicts rights claims: Iran
The Iranian foreign ministry says what has been unfolding in Gaza over the past six months is the ultimate test for governments and international organisations about their true commitment to international human rights.
Nasser Kanaani, spokesperson for the foreign ministry, said in a post on X the Israeli killing of two unarmed Palestinians along the Gaza coastline and then burying them with bulldozers, which was exposed by Al Jazeera, is only the latest incident.
Reactions to the killings by countries and officials who claim to be staunch supporters of human rights “clearly show how honest they are in their slogans and claims on human rights”, Kanaani said.
Family mourns man who drowned retrieving aid in Gaza
Yusuf Ghaben, a father of nine from Beit Lahia, drowned when he swam out to get humanitarian relief airdropped into the sea off Gaza’s northwestern coast.
He was one of at least 12 people to die in the water on Tuesday.
“He insisted on going because he had absolutely nothing left,” Yusuf’s widow Khitab told Al Jazeera. “My husband died because he was trying hard to bring some food to his family.”
Israeli forces raid occupied West Bank town
A video clip shared online by Palestinian media outlets and verified by Al Jazeera’s fact-checking unit shows Israeli forces storming the town of Qalqiya.
Israeli raids on the occupied West Bank have intensified since the war in Gaza began in October. More than 7,800 people have been detained since then.
UNRWA ‘the ray of light’ among the darkness in Gaza
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres underscored the importance of keeping the UN agency for Palestinian refugees UNRWA intact, highlighting its crucial work for Palestinians in need.
UNRWA has faced a funding shortfall since Israel accused some of its employees of participating in Hamas’s October 7 attack, allegations the organisation says it has not yet seen evidence for, but is investigating.
Guterres, speaking after a visit to a UNRWA health centre in Jordan, said it is “absolutely necessary” to preserve the agency, calling it the “backbone of humanitarian aid to the Palestinian people”.
“I can guarantee you that we will do everything and introduce all the necessary reforms to make sure that UNRWA will be an agency fully abiding by the UN principles”, said Guterres.
