Israel’s war on Gaza live: Israel kills 65 in day of attacks on Khan Younis
- At least 190 people killed and 340 wounded by Israel in Gaza over the last 24 hours.
- At least 65 killed in the besieged southern city of Khan Younis by Israel on Monday according to medical sources, as Israeli forces target hospitals, ambulances, and schools where thousands of civilians are sheltering.
Israel carrying out ‘comprehensive destruction’ in occupied West Bank: Palestinian PM
Mohammad Shtayyeh made the comments in a social media post after a meeting with the UN’s humanitarian relief coordinator Sigrid Kaag.
He added that he had called for the opening of all entry points into Gaza for humanitarian relief, and an international effort and a political framework for reconstruction in the enclave on the ‘day after’ the war.
US Navy dismisses claimed Houthi attack
The Middle East-based US Navy’s 5th Fleet has denied the Houthis’ statement claiming responsibility for an attack on the US military cargo ship Ocean Jazz.
“The Iranian-backed Houthi terrorists’ report of an alleged successful attack on M/V [merchant vessel] Ocean Jazz is patently false,” the 5th Fleet said in a statement.
It added that the US Navy “has maintained constant communications with M/V Ocean Jazz throughout its safe transit”.
Israel proposes up to two-month ceasefire in return for release of captives: Axios
The proposal, according to Axios, would involve a multiphase deal that would see the release in stages of more than 130 captives held in Gaza in return for an up to two-month ceasefire and the release of an as yet undetermined number of Palestinian prisoners.
The report, citing two Israeli officials, added that Israeli forces would be redeployed out of the main popul
Hezbollah fighter killed
The Lebanese group has identified the slain fighter as Haidar Hussein Ibrahim.
Without providing details, Hezbollah said Ibrahim was killed “on the road to Jerusalem” in a nod to its ongoing clashes with Israel, which the group says are in support of Palestinians in Gaza.
Israeli survey respondents back ‘demilitarised’ Palestinian state
The opinion poll suggests that a slight majority of Israelis back a plan that would see the release of captives held in Gaza in exchange for an end to the war, a normalisation agreement between Israel and Saudi Arabia and an Israeli agreement for the eventual establishment of a demilitarised Palestinian state.
A survey carried out by the Midgam Institute and commissioned by the Geneva Initiative saw 51.3 percent of respondents back the deal with 28.9 percent opposing. Half the respondents also said they would not support the presence of Israeli troops in Gaza for another three years with 32 percent saying they would be supportive.
Many Palestinians oppose the concept of a “demilitarised” state, seeing it as effectively limiting their sovereignty.
ation centres of Gaza, allowing a “gradual return” of Palestinian civilians to Gaza City and the north of the enclave, and the officials said that after the two months are completed, the Israeli military’s operations in Gaza would be “significantly smaller in scope and intensity” than the current fighting.
Hamas has previously said that in exchange for the release of the captives, it demands a total end to the war and the release of all Palestinian prisoners. The Israeli government is under pressure from a protest movement led by family members of captives, which is demanding an immediate deal.
‘No change’ in US opposition to ceasefire
The White House’s Kirby says Washington supports pauses in the fighting to allow the release of captives but it still opposes ending the war.
“We don’t support a general ceasefire, which is usually put in place in the expectation that you’re going to end a conflict and lead to specific negotiations – no change to our policy there.”
US evades addressing Netanyahu’s rejection of two-state solution
Netanyahu has repeatedly and unambiguously said he rejects the establishment of a Palestinian state. But the Biden administration, which promotes a two-state solution to the conflict, has been trying to evade addressing the prime minister’s comments as it maintains unconditional support for Israel.
Asked about Netanyahu’s open rejection of a Palestinian state, State Department spokesperson Vedant Patel told reporters: “I’m just not going to characterise the prime minister’s remarks.”
Days earlier, Biden had suggested Netanyahu does not oppose the two-state solution, but the prime minister left no place for doubt, crediting himself this week for thwarting the establishment of a Palestinian state.
In the latest comments from the White House, national security spokesperson John Kirby was also reluctant to talk about Netanyahu’s remarks.
“They had a very constructive conversation, and I think I just need to leave it at that,” Kirby said, describing a call on Saturday between Biden and Netanyahu. “The prime minister should speak to his comments, and I’m sure he has and he will.”
