Israel attacks kill nearly 600 as troops invade south, north Gaza

Israel’s military says a ground invasion of southern Gaza’s Rafah is under way and troops are pushing into the north near the town of Beit Lahiya and central areas.
At least 200 children have been killed since Israel resumed its war on the besieged Palestinian enclave this week, UNICEF says.Harrowing video shows bombing of residential area in Jabalia
Palestinian activists have shared the footage of the moment when Israeli forces struck a residential block in Jabalia refugee camp, in northern Gaza.

The footage shows the moment of the explosion with flames and smoke rising after the bombing.France opposes ‘any form of annexation’ of Gaza: Foreign minister
France’s foreign minister has rejected “any form” of Israeli annexation of Gaza, AFP reports.

Jean-Noel Barrot made the comments in response to Israel’s defence minister saying he had ordered the military to “seize more ground” in Gaza and warning of a partial annexation of the territory should Hamas not release its remaining captives.

“France is opposed to any form of annexation whether it concerns the West Bank or the Gaza Strip,” Barrot said, speaking to reporters in the French city of Dijon. “We have a very clear vision of the future of the region – a solution of two states living side by side in peace.”

Israel says it kills head of Hamas military intelligence in southern Gaza
The Israeli military says it has killed Osama Tabash on Thursday.

It said he was also the head of the Palestinian group’s surveillance and targeting unit.

There was no immediate comment from Hamas.Israeli army issues ‘final warning’ to northern Gaza residents, carries out more strikes
The army’s Arabic language spokesperson Avichay Adraee says on X that the residents of the “al-Salateen, al-Karama and al-Awda” areas along northern Gaza’s Mediterranean coast must leave their homes immediately.

“This is a final and prior warning before the airstrike!” Adraee wrote, claiming the area is being used by Hamas for rocket launches at Israeli territory.

Meanwhile, our colleagues at Al Jazeera Arabic reported that the Israeli army has bombed a house in Beit Lahiya, also in the northern Gaza Strip.

In addition, two Palestinians were wounded by an Israeli drone strike on the Tal as-Sultan area of Rafah, in Gaza’s south.

We will update you on all of the above events as information develops.Israel’s UN envoy says Hamas leadership will fall ‘one by one’
Danny Danon says the group’s leadership will fall “one by one” if it does not come back to the table to negotiate with Israel.

Danon was addressing the UN Security Council.

Earlier, Hamas issued a statement saying it was indeed still communicating with mediators over negotiations to release the remaining Israeli captives and reinstate the ceasefire.HRW calls on states to ‘prevent further mass atrocities’ in Gaza hospitals
Human Rights Watch has called on states to intervene “to prevent further mass atrocities” in Gaza.

The rights group, which yesterday published a report accusing Israel of committing war crimes while occupying Palestinian hospitals in Gaza, said in a post on X that those crimes “underscore grave risks to Palestinians there today”.

“Amid a wave of airstrikes and renewed ground offensive by Israeli forces, states should act to prevent further mass atrocities,” the group added.

Earlier today, the Israeli army attacked and destroyed the Turkish-Palestinian Friendship Hospital in central Gaza, the only cancer facility in the Strip.Hamas denies Israeli media reports it halted negotiations
Hamas has denied reports by Israeli media that it has halted negotiations over the release of Israeli captives in exchange for Palestinian prisoners and a ceasefire in Gaza.

Hamas “is still engaged in negotiations and is following up with the mediator brothers in a responsible and serious manner”, the group said in a statement. It added it was also considering a proposal by US Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff.

“Moreover, the movement is also discussing Witkoff’s proposal and all other suggested ideas to achieve an exchange agreement that ensures the release of prisoners, ends the war, and guarantees the withdrawal from Gaza,” the group wrote.Gaza civil defence says 11 killed in Israel attacks on Friday
Civil Defence spokesman Mahmoud Basal told the AFP news agency three people were killed by the Israeli army in predawn attacks as it pressed an offensive in the Palestinian territory for a fourth day.

Eight others were killed during daytime, six of them in Gaza City and two in Abassan in the south, according to Bassal.