Israel war on Gaza live: Ceasefire deal back in focus after captives killed
- Israeli forces pound the Gaza Strip – killing dozens of Palestinians – despite pledges to “pause” attacks during a critical polio vaccination campaign.
- US President Joe Biden meets high-level Gaza truce negotiators after criticizing Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for failing to do enough to free captives.
‘Long past time for a ceasefire and hostage deal’: VP Harris
“The murder of Hersh Goldberg-Polin and five other hostages was a brutal, barbaric act by Hamas terrorists,” US Vice President Kamala Harris said in a post on X, after a meeting she had alongside Biden with the US ceasefire negotiation team.
“As [Biden] said, Hamas leaders will pay for these crimes. It is long past time for a ceasefire and hostage deal. We need to bring the hostages home and end the suffering in Gaza,” she added.
Earlier, the US president responded “no” when asked by a reporter if Prime Minister Netanyahu is doing enough to bring the captives home.
Israel disappointed by UK decision to halt some arms exports
Israeli officials say Britain’s decision to suspend some arms export licenses is disappointing and sends problematic message to Hamas.
Foreign Minister Israel Katz said in a statement Israel is “disappointed by a series of decisions” made by the British government, including the decision regarding weapons exports.
Katz said the move “sends a very problematic message” to Hamas and its patrons in Iran.
“Deeply disheartened to learn of the sanctions placed by the UK government on export licenses to Israel’s defence establishment,” said Defence Minister Yoav Gallant said on X.
One person shot by Israeli forces in occupied West Bank
The Palestine Red Crescent Society reports one person has been seriously wounded after being shot by Israeli troops in Qabatiya, south of Jenin, in the occupied West Bank.
The victim was hit with live rounds in the back and the chest and was taken to a hospital.
Israeli forces have conducted a large-scale incursion into the occupied West Bank for six days, storming cities and refugee camps, killing at least 30 people so far.
British campaign group says UK ‘waking up’ after Israel arms suspension
Following the UK’s announcement to suspend 30 arms export licences to Israel, the British social justice group Global Justice Now says the government is “waking up to the fact that it must stop arming Israel”.
“But this is a half-baked ban which risks maintaining UK complicity in war crimes. You wouldn’t deal with a dangerous arsonist by simply reducing their petrol supply. This announcement doesn’t go nearly far enough,” campaigner Tim Bierley said.
Bierley added Britain is “still providing military goods to a government accused of intent to commit genocide”, which has “little support from the British public”.
“The government must implement a full and complete arms embargo,” Bierley said.
Tulkarem municipality shuts down water supply after Israeli raids
The municipality of Tulkarem, in the occupied West Bank, temporarily closed the main water line valves because Israeli shelling damaged distribution infrastructure in the city’s besieged refugee camp.
“This measure comes within the framework of our continuing efforts to repair the damage and ensure the return of water to the affected areas as quickly as possible,” the local authority said in a post on Meta.
Israeli forces launched a large-scale military incursion into the occupied West Bank. For days, they’ve carried out deadly drone attacks and hundreds of troops have stormed cities and refugee camps.
