Tag: Israeli troops

Israeli troops kill Palestinians for crossing a vague ceasefire line

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A dividing line, at times invisible, can mean life or death for Palestinians in Gaza.Those sheltering near the territory’s “yellow line” that the Israeli military withdrew to as part of the October ceasefire say they live in fear as Israeli soldiers direct near-daily fire at anyone who crosses or even lingers near it.Video above: Palestinians struggle for food amid floodingOf the 447 Palestinians killed between the ceasefire taking effect and Tuesday, at least 77 were killed by Israeli gunfire near the line, including 62 who crossed it, according to the Gaza Health Ministry. Among them were teenagers and young children, The Associated Press found.And although the military has placed some yellow barrels and concrete barriers delineating the limits of the Palestinian zone, the line is still unmarked in certain places and in others was laid nearly half a kilometer (0.3 miles) deeper than what was agreed to in the ceasefire deal, expanding the part of Gaza that Israel controls, according to Palestinians and mapping experts.“We stay away from the barrels. No one dares to get close” said Gaza City resident Ahmed Abu Jahal, noting that the markers are less than 100 meters (110 yards) from his house — instead of the roughly 500 meters (546 yards) outlined in a map put out by the Israeli military.As of Tuesday, the military had acknowledged killing 57 people around the yellow line, saying most were militants. It said its troops are complying with the rules of engagement in order to counter militant groups, and are informing Palestinians of the line’s location and marking it on the ground to “reduce friction and prevent misunderstandings.”Easy to get lostUnder the ceasefire, Israel withdrew its troops to a buffer zone that is up to 7 kilometers (4 miles) deep and includes most of Gaza’s arable land, its elevated points and all of its border crossings. That hems more than 2 million Palestinians into a strip along the coastline and central Gaza.People of all ages, some already dead, have been showing up almost daily at the emergency room of Gaza City’s Al-Ahli hospital with bullet wounds from straying near the line, said hospital director Fadel Naeem.Amid the vast destruction in Gaza, the demarcation line often isn’t easy to detect, Naeem said. He recounted picking his way through undamaged paths during a recent visit to the southern city of Khan Younis. He didn’t notice he was almost across the line until locals shouted at him to turn back, he said.The Israeli military said most of the people it has killed crossing the line posed a threat to its troops. According to a military official who spoke on the condition of anonymity in line with military rules, troops issue audible warnings and then fire warning shots whenever someone crosses the line. Many civilians retreat when warning shots are fired, though some have been killed, the official acknowledged.Killed while playing near the lineZaher Shamia, 17, lived with his grandfather in a tent 300 meters (330 yards) from the line in northern Gaza’s Jabaliya refugee camp. On Dec. 10, he was playing with his cousin and some friends near the line, according to video he took before his death.Suddenly, shots rang out and the video stopped. Soldiers approaching the line with an armored bulldozer had fired on the teens, hitting Zaher, said a witness.A neighbor eventually found Zaher’s body, which had been crushed by the bulldozer, said Zaher’s grandfather, Kamal al-Beih: “We only recognized him from his head.”Two doctors, Mohamed Abu Selmiya and Rami Mhanna, confirmed that the teen had been killed by gunshots and then run over by a bulldozer. The military official said he was aware that Shamia was a civilian and that the military was looking into it.Maram Atta said that on Dec. 7, her 3-year-old daughter, Ahed al-Bayouk, was playing with siblings outside of their tent, which was near the yellow line along Gaza’s southern coast. Atta was preparing lentils when she heard aircraft overhead, then shots.A stray projectile whizzed close to her and struck Ahed, who was dead before they reached the clinic.“I lost my daughter to what they keep calling a ‘ceasefire’” said Atta, crying. “What ceasefire are they talking about?”A military official denied the killing.Deadly ambiguityThe line’s exact location is ambiguous, differing on maps put out by the Israeli military and the White House.Neither matches the line troops appear to be marking on the ground, according to Palestinians and geolocation specialists.Video below: Palestinians react to UN plan for Gaza futureChris Osiek, an open source intelligence analyst and consultant, has geolocated a number of yellow blocks based on social media videos. He found at least four urban areas where troops set the blocks several hundred meters deeper into Gaza than the military map-specified yellow line.“This is basically what you get when you simply let Trump make an image and post it on Truth Social and let the IDF make their own,” he said, using the acronym for the military. “If it’s not a proper system, with coordinates that make it easy for people to navigate where it is, then you leave the ambiguity free for the IDF to interpret the yellow line how they basically want.”The military official dismissed such criticism, saying any deviations from the map amount to just a few meters. But to Palestinians hemmed in by widespread destruction and displacement, every few meters lost is another house that can’t be sheltered in — another they doubt will ever be returned.‘The line is getting very close’Under the ceasefire, Israeli forces are only supposed to remain at the yellow line until a fuller withdrawal, though the agreement doesn’t give a timeline for that. With the next steps in the deal lagging and troops digging into positions on the Israeli side, though, Palestinians wonder if they are witnessing a permanent land takeover.In December, Israel’s defense minister described the yellow line as “a new border line — serving as a forward defensive line for our communities and a line of operational activity.”The military has continued leveling buildings inside the Israeli-held zone, turning already damaged neighborhoods to moonscapes. Almost all of the city of Rafah, on Gaza’s border with Egypt, has been razed over the past year. The army says this is necessary to destroy tunnels and prepare the area for reconstruction.In some places, demolitions since the ceasefire have encroached beyond the official yellow line. Since November, troops have leveled a swath of Gaza City’s Tuffah neighborhood extending some 300 meters (330 yards) outside the Israeli-held zone, according to Oct. 14 and Dec. 18 satellite photos provided by Planet Labs.Video below: Israeli settlers forcibly enter Palestinian home, kill sheep in latest West Bank attackAbu Jahal moved back to his damaged house in Tuffah at the ceasefire’s start. He said he frequently saw new yellow barrels appear and the military forcing out anyone living on its side of the markers.On Jan. 7, Israeli fire hit a house near him, and the residents had to evacuate, he said. Abu Jahal said his family — including his wife, their child, and seven other relatives — may also have to leave soon.“The line is getting very close,” he said.

CAIRO, Cairo Governorate —

A dividing line, at times invisible, can mean life or death for Palestinians in Gaza.

Those sheltering near the territory’s “yellow line” that the Israeli military withdrew to as part of the October ceasefire say they live in fear as Israeli soldiers direct near-daily fire at anyone who crosses or even lingers near it.

Video above: Palestinians struggle for food amid flooding

Of the 447 Palestinians killed between the ceasefire taking effect and Tuesday, at least 77 were killed by Israeli gunfire near the line, including 62 who crossed it, according to the Gaza Health Ministry. Among them were teenagers and young children, The Associated Press found.

And although the military has placed some yellow barrels and concrete barriers delineating the limits of the Palestinian zone, the line is still unmarked in certain places and in others was laid nearly half a kilometer (0.3 miles) deeper than what was agreed to in the ceasefire deal, expanding the part of Gaza that Israel controls, according to Palestinians and mapping experts.

“We stay away from the barrels. No one dares to get close” said Gaza City resident Ahmed Abu Jahal, noting that the markers are less than 100 meters (110 yards) from his house — instead of the roughly 500 meters (546 yards) outlined in a map put out by the Israeli military.

As of Tuesday, the military had acknowledged killing 57 people around the yellow line, saying most were militants. It said its troops are complying with the rules of engagement in order to counter militant groups, and are informing Palestinians of the line’s location and marking it on the ground to “reduce friction and prevent misunderstandings.”

Easy to get lost

Under the ceasefire, Israel withdrew its troops to a buffer zone that is up to 7 kilometers (4 miles) deep and includes most of Gaza’s arable land, its elevated points and all of its border crossings. That hems more than 2 million Palestinians into a strip along the coastline and central Gaza.

People of all ages, some already dead, have been showing up almost daily at the emergency room of Gaza City’s Al-Ahli hospital with bullet wounds from straying near the line, said hospital director Fadel Naeem.

Amid the vast destruction in Gaza, the demarcation line often isn’t easy to detect, Naeem said. He recounted picking his way through undamaged paths during a recent visit to the southern city of Khan Younis. He didn’t notice he was almost across the line until locals shouted at him to turn back, he said.

The Israeli military said most of the people it has killed crossing the line posed a threat to its troops. According to a military official who spoke on the condition of anonymity in line with military rules, troops issue audible warnings and then fire warning shots whenever someone crosses the line. Many civilians retreat when warning shots are fired, though some have been killed, the official acknowledged.

Killed while playing near the line

Zaher Shamia, 17, lived with his grandfather in a tent 300 meters (330 yards) from the line in northern Gaza’s Jabaliya refugee camp. On Dec. 10, he was playing with his cousin and some friends near the line, according to video he took before his death.

Suddenly, shots rang out and the video stopped. Soldiers approaching the line with an armored bulldozer had fired on the teens, hitting Zaher, said a witness.

Jehad Alshrafi
FILE – The body of 11-year-old Palestinian girl Hamsa Hosou, killed by Israeli fire in Jabalia, is brought to Shifa Hospital in Gaza City Thursday, Jan. 8, 2026.

A neighbor eventually found Zaher’s body, which had been crushed by the bulldozer, said Zaher’s grandfather, Kamal al-Beih: “We only recognized him from his head.”

Two doctors, Mohamed Abu Selmiya and Rami Mhanna, confirmed that the teen had been killed by gunshots and then run over by a bulldozer. The military official said he was aware that Shamia was a civilian and that the military was looking into it.

Maram Atta said that on Dec. 7, her 3-year-old daughter, Ahed al-Bayouk, was playing with siblings outside of their tent, which was near the yellow line along Gaza’s southern coast. Atta was preparing lentils when she heard aircraft overhead, then shots.

A stray projectile whizzed close to her and struck Ahed, who was dead before they reached the clinic.

“I lost my daughter to what they keep calling a ‘ceasefire’” said Atta, crying. “What ceasefire are they talking about?”

A military official denied the killing.

Deadly ambiguity

The line’s exact location is ambiguous, differing on maps put out by the Israeli military and the White House.

Neither matches the line troops appear to be marking on the ground, according to Palestinians and geolocation specialists.

Video below: Palestinians react to UN plan for Gaza future

Chris Osiek, an open source intelligence analyst and consultant, has geolocated a number of yellow blocks based on social media videos. He found at least four urban areas where troops set the blocks several hundred meters deeper into Gaza than the military map-specified yellow line.

“This is basically what you get when you simply let Trump make an image and post it on Truth Social and let the IDF make their own,” he said, using the acronym for the military. “If it’s not a proper system, with coordinates that make it easy for people to navigate where it is, then you leave the ambiguity free for the IDF to interpret the yellow line how they basically want.”

The military official dismissed such criticism, saying any deviations from the map amount to just a few meters. But to Palestinians hemmed in by widespread destruction and displacement, every few meters lost is another house that can’t be sheltered in — another they doubt will ever be returned.

‘The line is getting very close’

Under the ceasefire, Israeli forces are only supposed to remain at the yellow line until a fuller withdrawal, though the agreement doesn’t give a timeline for that. With the next steps in the deal lagging and troops digging into positions on the Israeli side, though, Palestinians wonder if they are witnessing a permanent land takeover.

In December, Israel’s defense minister described the yellow line as “a new border line — serving as a forward defensive line for our communities and a line of operational activity.”

The military has continued leveling buildings inside the Israeli-held zone, turning already damaged neighborhoods to moonscapes. Almost all of the city of Rafah, on Gaza’s border with Egypt, has been razed over the past year. The army says this is necessary to destroy tunnels and prepare the area for reconstruction.

In some places, demolitions since the ceasefire have encroached beyond the official yellow line. Since November, troops have leveled a swath of Gaza City’s Tuffah neighborhood extending some 300 meters (330 yards) outside the Israeli-held zone, according to Oct. 14 and Dec. 18 satellite photos provided by Planet Labs.

Video below: Israeli settlers forcibly enter Palestinian home, kill sheep in latest West Bank attack

Abu Jahal moved back to his damaged house in Tuffah at the ceasefire’s start. He said he frequently saw new yellow barrels appear and the military forcing out anyone living on its side of the markers.

On Jan. 7, Israeli fire hit a house near him, and the residents had to evacuate, he said. Abu Jahal said his family — including his wife, their child, and seven other relatives — may also have to leave soon.

“The line is getting very close,” he said.

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January 17, 2026
Palestinians forced from West Bank refugee camps left in limbo as Israeli demolitions go on

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“They punished ordinary people. This is collective punishment.”

It’s been more than nine months since 54-year-old Nehaya al-Jundi last saw her home in the Palestinian refugee camp of Nur Shams, in the occupied West Bank, after being forced to evacuate by the Israeli military.

“They punished the infrastructure, the institutions and people of the camp.”

In a café in nearby Tulkarm, Nehaya speaks to the BBC about her family’s panicked flight, as Israeli troops stormed into the camp in early February.

For two days Nehaya watched and listened in terror as military bulldozers razed the area around her house.

“We were besieged inside our house and couldn’t leave,” she recalls, describing how power, water and internet connections were all severed.

Eventually, on 9 February, Nehaya escaped with her 75-year-old husband, Zaydan, and their teenage daughter Salma.

“When we got out, I was shocked by the damage in the area,” she says.

Nehaya al-Jundi was forced out of her house in Nur Shams in February [BBC]

The Israeli military launched “Operation Iron Wall” in late January, sending troops and armour into Nur Shams and two other refugee camps in the northern West Bank, to tackle Palestinian armed groups it said were responsible for attacks on Israeli soldiers and Jewish settlers.

The operation followed a largely unsuccessful attempt by the Palestinian Authority to quell the activities of local gunmen, many of them affiliated with Hamas or Palestinian Islamic Jihad, in the parts of the West Bank where it governs and controls security.

By the end of February, the three camps had been all but emptied in the largest displacement of Palestinians in the West Bank since Israel occupied the territory in the 1967 Six Day War.

The Israeli military says it needed to demolish buildings in Nur Shams and two other camps to “open new access routes” [EPA]

In Jenin, where the largest of the three camps dominates the western side of the city, we hear similar stories of terrified flight and long months of dislocation.

“We stayed three days in the house without power or water,” says 54-year-old Nidal Abu Nase, a development consultant and freelance book editor.

“The shooting never stopped.”

When the chance to escape finally arrived, Nidal’s family left with little more than their clothes, thinking they would soon be back.

“I never managed to get home to collect my stuff,” he says.

Nidal Abu Nase has been living all his life in the Jenin refugee camp [BBC]

Ten months on, Nidal and at least 32,000 residents of the three camps still don’t know when they will be allowed to return to their homes.

When that moment finally comes, many will find they no longer have homes to go back to.

Human Rights Watch says Israel has demolished 850 homes and other buildings across all three camps.

Other estimates rate the extent of the damage much higher.

In a report published earlier this week, HRW said Israel’s forced, prolonged evacuations and the associated destruction “amount to war crimes and crimes against humanity”.

“The Geneva Conventions prohibit displacement of civilians from occupied territory except temporarily for imperative military reasons or the population’s security,” HRW said.

The group said Israel’s actions “may also be considered ‘ethnic cleansing’”.

In February, Israel’s Defence Minister, Israel Katz, said he had instructed the army “to prepare form a prolonged stay in the camps that have been cleared for the coming year”.

As the year’s end approaches, there’s still no end in sight.

Israeli forces continue to be deployed inside Nur Shams, Tulkarm and Jenin camps [BBC]

An Israel Defense Forces spokesperson told the BBC that “in order to locate and uproot the terrorist infrastructure at its source, the IDF has had to operate for an extended period of time.”

But already in August, Katz called the operation a success, saying “there is no terror in the camps and the scope of terror alerts in [the West Bank] has dropped by 80%.”

The IDF says it has dismantled bomb-making and other weapons facilities hidden inside all three camps.

It is not clear why Operation Iron Wall continues, although demolitions are still happening in the camps.

It seems clear from the pattern of destruction and the Israeli military’s own explanations, that the operation has longer term goals.

In a statement to the BBC, the IDF said armed groups had been able to exploit the densely built environment of the camps, making it hard for the army to move freely.

“The IDF is acting to reshape and stabilise the area,” the IDF spokesperson said. “An inseparable part of this effort is the opening of new access routes inside the camps, which requires the demolition of rows of buildings.”

Satellite images from all three camps show the extent of the damage, with narrow, barely visible streets now wide enough for military vehicles, including tanks, to pass through.

The demolitions, the IDF spokesperson said, were “based on operational necessity”, with residents able to submit objections and petitions to Israel’s Supreme Court.

All such petitions – some of which argued that Israel’s actions violated international humanitarian law – have been rejected.

According to HRW, Israel’s military has been given “wide discretion to invoke the grounds of urgent military necessity”.

HRW has called on the Israeli military to halt the forcible displacement of Palestinian civilians throughout occupied Palestinian territory, and allow all the residents of Jenin, Tulkarm and Nur Shams to return to their homes.

The UN estimates that around 52% of the total structures in Jenin camp have been damaged [Reuters]

For tens of thousands of displaced people, the future remains uncertain.

Nehaya al-Jundi’s family eventually found refuge in a nearby village. But with their lives turned upside down and most of their possessions now out of reach, back in the camp, it’s been a hard year.

“Everything has been difficult since we left,” she says.

Nur Shams’ tight-knit community has been scattered across the Tulkarm area. Some are living with relatives, others in rented accommodation.

Many are out of work, dependent on modest handouts from the cash-strapped Palestinian Authority and various NGOs.

With schools run by the UN agency for Palestinian refugees (UNRWA) also out of action in the camps, education has also been severely impacted.

“My kids were enrolled in UNRWA schools,” says Nidal Abu Nase, whose family has been living with relatives since January.

“They went for months without school.”

Despite recent protests, such as this one near Nur Shams, very few residents have been allowed back into the camps [BBC]

Crucially, the camps’ strong communal bonds have been fractured.

The residents of West Bank refugee camps are mostly descended from Palestinians who fled or were driven from their homes during the war surrounding Israel’s creation in 1948-49.

“For me, the camp is identity and culture,” Nidal says.

“There was love and affection in the camp,” Nehaya says, “but not anymore because we are far from each other.”

Nehaya has not seen her house since February. Despite recent protests, very few residents have been allowed back into the camps.

The community centre where she ran rehabilitation services for the disabled has been turned into an Israeli military barracks.

And reports from young men who have managed to sneak into Nur Shams suggest that Nehaya’s house is no longer habitable.

“They told me the house is wide open – and fully destroyed.”

Additional reporting by Alaa Badarneh

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November 21, 2025
UNIFIL says Israeli wall crosses de facto Lebanon border

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The United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon reportedly informed the IDF that the wall made nearly an acre of land inaccessible to the local population.

A survey conducted by the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon last month found that a wall built by the Israeli military crosses the Blue Line, the de facto border, a UN spokesperson said on Friday

The Blue Line is a UN-mapped line separating Lebanon from Israel and the Golan Heights.

Stephane Dujarric, the spokesperson for the UN secretary-general, said the concrete T-wall erected by the IDF has made more than 4,000 square meters (nearly an acre) of Lebanese territory inaccessible to the local population.

A section of an additional wall, which has also crossed the Blue Line, is being erected southeast of Yaroun, he said, citing the peacekeepers.

UNIFIL requested the removal of the wall

Dujarric said UNIFIL informed the Israeli military of its findings and requested that the wall be removed.

UN PEACEKEEPERS (UNIFIL) are seen in southern Lebanon from the Israeli side of the border, earlier this week. (credit: AYAL MARGOLIN/FLASH90)

“Israeli presence and construction in Lebanese territory are violations of Security Council resolution 1701 and of Lebanon’s sovereignty and territorial integrity,” UNIFIL said in a separate statement.

An Israeli military spokesperson denied the wall crossed the Blue Line.

“The wall is part of a broader IDF plan whose construction began in 2022. Since the start of the war, and as part of lessons learned from it, the IDF has been advancing a series of measures, including reinforcing the physical barrier along the northern border,” the spokesperson said.

UNIFIL, established in 1978, operates between the Litani River in the north and the Blue Line in the south. The mission has more than 10,000 troops from 50 countries and about 800 civilian staff, according to its website.

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November 14, 2025
Israel awakes to a bittersweet morning of returns and loss

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Recent incidents between Israel and Hamas have proven just how fragile the ceasefire remains.

Today, Monday, Israel wakes to a bittersweet truth. Every living hostage is home. Too many families, however, welcomed only a coffin. In the past day, Hamas returned additional remains, and the Prime Minister’s Office confirmed through the Red Cross that “Israel has received… the bodies of two hostages.”

The war did not end with the last helicopter landing. Our soldiers are still in harm’s way, and our civilians remain under threat.

Overnight, the IDF reported that Palestinian terrorists in the Rafah area fired on Israeli troops and vowed to “take firm action” in response. A subsequent update said the attackers “fired RPGs and carried out sniper fire” at forces operating there. Independent reporting described Israeli strikes in southern Gaza after militants “attacked Israeli troops with an RPG,” underscoring how fragile the truce remains.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu instructed Israel’s armed forces to respond with force against Gazan terror targets before later ordering the closure of all Gaza crossings and the halting of all aid into the Strip. The decision comes after an IDF announcement of strikes against Hamas in Rafah after the terror group fired an anti-tank missile and gunfire toward Israeli soldiers.

Netanyahu’s initial order that Israel respond forcefully came during a consultation with Defense Minister Israel Katz and the heads of Israel’s security establishment, according to a statement from the Prime Minister’s Office.

Family and friends mourn at the funeral of Uriel Baruch, in Jerusalem on October 19, 2025. Baruch was taken hostage by Hamas into Gaza on October 7 and murdered in captivity. Hamas released his body to Israel a few days ago. (credit: YONATAN SINDEL/FLASH90)

This is the moment to be clear about first principles. The deal that brought our people home also requires Hamas to deliver the deceased it can access. It has not. Recent tallies said the latest handover “brings the count of returned bodies to 12,” with “another 16… still to be returned,” and that “all 28 were supposed to have been handed over by last Monday.”

Hamas has told mediators it needs specialist recovery equipment to reach others under the ruins, but that does not erase its obligation to complete what it promised. A promise is a promise. Keep it.

US envoys arrive at inflection point

Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff: your visit arrives at an inflection point. Help transform the current outline into enforceable steps with dates, verification, and consequences. Press for third-party monitoring of handovers, coordinated access for recovery teams, and a clear matrix that links continued relief to measurable compliance.

Urge the mediators to treat delays as violations, not as atmospherics. Encourage both sides to keep humanitarian channels open when the guns fall silent and when they do not. The goal is simple and absolutely non-negotiable. Finish the first chapter of this deal before you write the second.

Israel, for its part, must continue treating the fallen with dignity and transparency. The most recent remains were transferred to the National Center of Forensic Medicine for identification. This careful, professional process gives families the truth they deserve.

At the same time, the state must protect its troops and civilians when attacked. The government has instructed the IDF to respond firmly to violations while upholding the ceasefire architecture. This is not belligerence; it is the minimum duty of a state to its soldiers.

A second journey begins

Families of the fallen are now beginning a second journey, one measured in identification updates, funerals, and empty chairs. The state owes them clarity about timelines and respect in its language. That means candid briefings on the painstaking forensic work, timely notification before any public statements, and resources for mourning that do not vanish after the first week.

It also means national solidarity that resists the urge to turn pain into politics. The return of remains is not a public relations milestone. It is a covenant with citizens who entrusted their children to the country and deserve truth, dignity, presence, and accountability.

There is also a broader context that matters. Even as bodies are exchanged, each side accuses the other of testing the truce. Hamas’s line today was to blame Israel for “violations,” while acknowledging that more bodies were being handed over. The facts remain stark. Twenty living Israelis came home. Not all the deceased have. Both can be true, and both demand action.

The moral horizon has not changed since October 7. Kidnapping civilians was a crime. Holding them for two years compounded it. Withholding prolongs the cruelty. Israel is right to insist on the return of every person, alive or deceased. The deal created a path. Stay on it. Finish it. Bring them all back.

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October 19, 2025
Report: Dozens killed in Israeli strikes in Gaza

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Dozens of Palestinians have been killed in ongoing Israeli attacks in the Gaza Strip, Palestinian news agency WAFA reported on Sunday.

The bodies of 41 people have been brought to various hospitals in the embattled coastal strip since Sunday morning, WAFA said.

The Israeli military stated that it was continuing its operations against terrorist organizations throughout the Gaza Strip. The offensive in Gaza City had also been expanded, it said.

In one instance, Israeli troops reportedly identified five militants who fired an anti-tank missile at the building where the soldiers were located. There were no injuries among the soldiers, according to the military.

The Israeli Air Force “eliminated” the attackers, it said. Within 24 hours, around 140 military targets in the coastal strip were attacked, it added.

New call for evacuation of Gaza neighbourhoods

Meanwhile, the Israeli army spokesman called on residents of various neighbourhoods in Gaza City to leave immediately. They were advised in Arabic to move to the Israeli-designated humanitarian zone of al-Mawasi in the south-west of the Gaza Strip.

The spokesman announced an attack on another high-rise building in Gaza City, stating that infrastructure of the Islamist organization Hamas was located there. Shortly afterwards, the military reported that the building had been destroyed.

According to the Israeli military, around 780,000 civilians have already fled Gaza City, where an estimated 1 million people were present before the ground offensive began two weeks ago.

Since the beginning of the Gaza war almost two years ago, more than 66,000 Palestinians, mostly women and children, have been killed in the Gaza Strip, according to the Hamas-run health authority.

The trigger for the war was attacks carried out by Hamas and other extremist organizations in Israel, in which around 1,200 people were killed on October 7, 2023, and more than 250 others were abducted as hostages to the Gaza Strip.

Hamas demands Israel halt attacks, warns hostages’ lives at risk

Hamas urgently called on the Israeli army to cease its attacks on Gaza City for 24 hours.

The lives of two Israeli hostages are in real danger, according to a statement from the military wing of Hamas, the al-Qassam Brigades.

The troops must also immediately withdraw to an area south of Street 8 in Gaza City so that an attempt can be made to “extract” the two hostages. This, they said, is a warning.

The demand for a halt to the attacks was to take effect from 6 pm (1500 GMT), the statement said.

The al-Qassam Brigades had earlier stated that contact with the two hostages had been lost in the last 48 hours due to the intense Israeli attacks in the city.

It was initially unclear whether Israel would comply with the demand.

The relatives of the 48 remaining hostages – including 20 still alive – have repeatedly warned of the danger a ground offensive in Gaza City poses to their loved ones.

A firefighter sprays water on a building damaged in an Israeli air strike. Hasan Alzaanin/TASS via ZUMA Press/dpa

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September 28, 2025
Israeli troops withdraw from Shifa Hospital, Gaza’s largest, after 2-week raid

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The Israeli military withdrew from Gaza’s largest hospital early Monday after a two-week raid, leaving behind several bodies and a vast swath of destruction, according to Palestinian residents.Video above: Gaza ceasefire talks to resume in Cairo after Netanyahu greenlightThe military has described the raid on Shifa Hospital as one of the most successful operations of the nearly six-month war. It says it killed scores of Hamas and other militants, including senior operatives, and that it seized weapons and valuable intelligence. It confirmed forces had withdrawn on Monday.The U.N. health agency said several patients died and dozens were put at risk during the raid, which brought even further destruction to a hospital that had already largely ceased to function. Days of heavy fighting showed that Hamas can still put up resistance even in one of the hardest-hit areas of Gaza.Mohammed Mahdi, who was among hundreds of Palestinians who returned to the area, described a scene of “total destruction.” He said several buildings had been burned down and that he had counted six bodies in the area, including two in the hospital courtyard.Video footage circulating online showed heavily damaged and charred buildings, mounds of dirt that had been churned up by bulldozers and patients on stretchers in darkened corridors.Another resident, Yahia Abu Auf, said there were still patients, medical workers and displaced people sheltering inside the medical compound after several patients had been taken to the nearby Ahli Hospital. He said army bulldozers had plowed over a makeshift cemetery in Shifa’s courtyard.”The situation is indescribable,” he said. “The occupation destroyed all sense of life here.”Israel has accused Hamas of using hospitals for military purposes and has raided several medical facilities. It says it launched the raid on Shifa after Hamas and other militants had regrouped there.Health officials in Gaza deny those allegations. Critics accuse the army of recklessly endangering civilians and of decimating a health sector already overwhelmed with war-wounded. Palestinians say Israeli troops forcibly evacuated homes near Shifa Hospital in downtown Gaza City and forced hundreds of residents to march south.At least 21 patients have died since the raid began, World Health Organization Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus posted late Sunday on X, formerly Twitter.He said over a hundred patients were still inside the compound, including four children and 28 critical patients. He also said there were no diapers, urine bags or water to clean wounds, and that many patients suffered from infected wounds and dehydration.The military had previously raided Shifa, Gaza’s largest hospital, in November, after saying Hamas maintained an elaborate command and control center inside and beneath the compound. It revealed a tunnel running beneath the hospital that led to a few rooms, as well as weapons it said it had confiscated from inside medical buildings, but nothing on the scale of what it had alleged before the raid.The war began on Oct. 7, when Hamas-led militants stormed into southern Israel, killing some 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and taking around 250 people hostage.Israel responded with an air, land and sea offensive that has killed at least 32,782 Palestinians, according to Gaza’s Health Ministry. The ministry does not distinguish between civilians and combatants in its count but says women and children have made up around two-thirds of those killed.The Israeli military says it has killed over 13,000 Hamas fighters, and blames the civilian death toll on Palestinian militants because they fight in dense residential areas.The war has displaced most of the territory’s population and driven a third of its residents to the brink of famine. Northern Gaza, where Shifa is located, has suffered vast destruction and has been largely isolated since October, leading to widespread hunger.Israel said late last year that it had largely dismantled Hamas in northern Gaza and withdrew thousands of troops. But it has battled militants there on a number of occasions since then, and the two weeks of heavy fighting around Shifa highlighted the staying power of the armed groups.Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has vowed to keep up the offensive until Hamas is destroyed and all of the hostages are freed. He says Israel will soon expand ground operations to the southern city of Rafah, where some 1.4 million people — more than half of Gaza’s population — have sought refuge.But he faces mounting pressure from Israelis who blame him for the security failures of Oct. 7 and from some families of the hostages who blame him for the failure to reach a deal despite several weeks of talks mediated by the United States, Qatar and Egypt.Hamas and other militants are still believed to be holding some 100 hostages and the remains of 30 others, after freeing most of the rest during a cease-fire last November in exchange for the release of Palestinians imprisoned by Israel.Tens of thousands of Israelis thronged central Jerusalem on Sunday in the largest anti-government protest since the country went to war in October. Deep divisions over Netanayahu’s leadership long predate the war, which still enjoys strong public support.

DEIR AL-BALAH, Gaza Strip —

The Israeli military withdrew from Gaza’s largest hospital early Monday after a two-week raid, leaving behind several bodies and a vast swath of destruction, according to Palestinian residents.

Video above: Gaza ceasefire talks to resume in Cairo after Netanyahu greenlight

The military has described the raid on Shifa Hospital as one of the most successful operations of the nearly six-month war. It says it killed scores of Hamas and other militants, including senior operatives, and that it seized weapons and valuable intelligence. It confirmed forces had withdrawn on Monday.

The U.N. health agency said several patients died and dozens were put at risk during the raid, which brought even further destruction to a hospital that had already largely ceased to function. Days of heavy fighting showed that Hamas can still put up resistance even in one of the hardest-hit areas of Gaza.

Mohammed Mahdi, who was among hundreds of Palestinians who returned to the area, described a scene of “total destruction.” He said several buildings had been burned down and that he had counted six bodies in the area, including two in the hospital courtyard.

Video footage circulating online showed heavily damaged and charred buildings, mounds of dirt that had been churned up by bulldozers and patients on stretchers in darkened corridors.

Another resident, Yahia Abu Auf, said there were still patients, medical workers and displaced people sheltering inside the medical compound after several patients had been taken to the nearby Ahli Hospital. He said army bulldozers had plowed over a makeshift cemetery in Shifa’s courtyard.

“The situation is indescribable,” he said. “The occupation destroyed all sense of life here.”

Israel has accused Hamas of using hospitals for military purposes and has raided several medical facilities. It says it launched the raid on Shifa after Hamas and other militants had regrouped there.

Health officials in Gaza deny those allegations. Critics accuse the army of recklessly endangering civilians and of decimating a health sector already overwhelmed with war-wounded. Palestinians say Israeli troops forcibly evacuated homes near Shifa Hospital in downtown Gaza City and forced hundreds of residents to march south.

At least 21 patients have died since the raid began, World Health Organization Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus posted late Sunday on X, formerly Twitter.

He said over a hundred patients were still inside the compound, including four children and 28 critical patients. He also said there were no diapers, urine bags or water to clean wounds, and that many patients suffered from infected wounds and dehydration.

The military had previously raided Shifa, Gaza’s largest hospital, in November, after saying Hamas maintained an elaborate command and control center inside and beneath the compound. It revealed a tunnel running beneath the hospital that led to a few rooms, as well as weapons it said it had confiscated from inside medical buildings, but nothing on the scale of what it had alleged before the raid.

The war began on Oct. 7, when Hamas-led militants stormed into southern Israel, killing some 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and taking around 250 people hostage.

Israel responded with an air, land and sea offensive that has killed at least 32,782 Palestinians, according to Gaza’s Health Ministry. The ministry does not distinguish between civilians and combatants in its count but says women and children have made up around two-thirds of those killed.

The Israeli military says it has killed over 13,000 Hamas fighters, and blames the civilian death toll on Palestinian militants because they fight in dense residential areas.

The war has displaced most of the territory’s population and driven a third of its residents to the brink of famine. Northern Gaza, where Shifa is located, has suffered vast destruction and has been largely isolated since October, leading to widespread hunger.

Israel said late last year that it had largely dismantled Hamas in northern Gaza and withdrew thousands of troops. But it has battled militants there on a number of occasions since then, and the two weeks of heavy fighting around Shifa highlighted the staying power of the armed groups.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has vowed to keep up the offensive until Hamas is destroyed and all of the hostages are freed. He says Israel will soon expand ground operations to the southern city of Rafah, where some 1.4 million people — more than half of Gaza’s population — have sought refuge.

But he faces mounting pressure from Israelis who blame him for the security failures of Oct. 7 and from some families of the hostages who blame him for the failure to reach a deal despite several weeks of talks mediated by the United States, Qatar and Egypt.

Hamas and other militants are still believed to be holding some 100 hostages and the remains of 30 others, after freeing most of the rest during a cease-fire last November in exchange for the release of Palestinians imprisoned by Israel.

Tens of thousands of Israelis thronged central Jerusalem on Sunday in the largest anti-government protest since the country went to war in October. Deep divisions over Netanayahu’s leadership long predate the war, which still enjoys strong public support.

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April 1, 2024
Israeli forces pictured setting up seawater pumps to flood Hamas tunnels
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Israeli troops have been pictured setting up pumps to flood Hamas tunnels with water.

Long pipes can be seen running from the sea up the beach and into Gaza in images released by the Israeli Defence Forces (IDF).

It follows reports that the IDF was moving to ruin the terror group’s vast subterranean network by setting up five pumps capable of sending hundreds of thousands of litres of water cascading underground every hour.

Hamas’s tunnels are as extensive as London’s Underground and have been used to devastating effect by Hamas during the war so far.

The terror group is believed to be hiding its leadership, the 137 remaining hostages and the vast bulk of its arsenal in the network.

03:58 PM GMT

Today’s live coverage has ended

Today’s live coverage has ended. Here is a roundup of the day’s main events:
- Israeli troops have been pictured setting up pumps to flood Hamas tunnels with water.
- A large stockpile was uncovered near a clinic and school in northern Gaza, according to the Israel Defense Forces (IDF).
- Gaza health officials said many civilians were killed in an Israeli strike on houses in Deir al-Balah, north of Khan Younis.
- Supplies at al-Aqsa Hospital in central Gaza are at critically low levels due to road enclosures despite hundreds of patients being admitted per day, according to Doctors Without Borders (MSF).
- The Israeli army said Wednesday that the International Committee of the Red Cross “must have access to the hostages” still being held by Palestinian militants in the Hamas-ruled Gaza Strip.
- An incident involving a drone in the Red Sea off the coast of Yemen has been reported by the UK maritime trade operations agency.
03:44 PM GMT

Western troops in Iraq targeted in drone attack claimed by pro-Iran group

A drone targeted Western troops at a military base in Iraq on Wednesday, a US military official said, in an attack claimed by a pro-Iran militant group.

“A one-way attack drone was launched against US and Coalition forces at (Ain) al-Asad Airbase” in western Iraq, the official who spoke on condition of anonymity told AFP, adding it caused no causalities or damage.

The Islamic Resistance in Iraq claimed the attack. The pro-Iran group has been carrying out its attacks in response to the United States’ support for Israel in its nearly two-month war with Hamas.

03:28 PM GMT

Israel condemned UN response to sexual violence allegations

The Israeli foreign ministry has condemned the United Nations’s response to allegations of sexual violence by Hamas during its October 7 attack.

Catherine Russell, head of the UN children’s agency UNICEF, described the accounts of sexual violence on October 7 as “horrific” earlier today.

Spokesman Lior Haiat blasted Russell for not mentioning the alleged perpetrators.

“The fact that she (Russell) doesn’t mention the Hamas terror organisation is another way of turning a blind eye on the atrocities that Hamas did,” he said.

“By not mentioning Hamas she is legitimising their activities”.

03:15 PM GMT

US Navy shot down a drone originating from Houthi-controlled part of Yemen

The US Navy shot down a drone originating from a part of Yemen that is controlled by the Houthi group on Wednesday morning, a US defence official who declined to be named said.

03:02 PM GMT

IDF raids ‘headquarters of a Hezbollah terrorist operational command’

The Israeli Defence Force has raided the “headquarters of a Hezbollah terrorist operational command” in Lebanon, according to IDF spokesperson Avichay Adraee.

He added that IDF tanks and artillery have also shelled targets inside Lebanon.

Several shells were also monitored from Lebanon toward a military site near Arab Al-Aramsha and Jabal Al-Sheikh area.

02:46 PM GMT

German state will require support for Israel to gain citizenship

Those applying for citizenship in the German state of Saxony Anhalt must now declare their support for Israel’s right to exist.

According to the decree, Israel’s right to exist is Germany’s “Staatsräson” or “reason of state”, German media has reported.

“Acquiring German citizenship requires a commitment to Israel’s right to exist,” the decree said.

Applicants must also confirm in writing “that they recognize Israel’s right to exist and condemn any efforts directed against the existence of the State of Israel”, it added.

02:28 PM GMT

100 aid trucks preparing to enter Gaza

Aid trucks are preparing to enter Gaza, according to the Egyptian Red Crescent.

Dr Khaled Zayed, the head of the organisation in North Sinai, said around 100 trucks will follow two fuel trucks that entered earlier today.

The trucks carried around 65,000 litres of fuel.

He added that 19 wounded Palestinians and 19 companions had been sent to hospitals in North Sinai after arriving in Egypt.

Patients were also transferred to Italian and French hospital ships at al Arish seaport.

02:14 PM GMT

Pictured: Israeli troops seize Hamas weapons

The IDF said its troops of the 460th Armored Brigade and the Nahal Brigade’s 50th Battalion discovered one of the largest caches of weapons during operations in the northern Gaza Strip.

Hamas weapons – IDF

Hamas weapons – IDF

Hamas weapons – IDF

01:59 PM GMT

UNICEF condemns sexual violence in Hamas attacks

The head of the United Nations children’s agency condemned on Wednesday acts of sexual violence committed against women during Hamas’s October 7 attack.

In a post on X, UNICEF executive director Catherine Russell called the accounts of sexual violence “horrific”.

“Survivors must be heard, supported, and provided with care,” she added.

“Allegations must be fully investigated. We condemn gender-based violence and all forms of violence against women and girls.”

01:47 PM GMT

France condemns Israeli shelling that killed Lebanese soldier

France on Wednesday condemned shelling by Israel in south Lebanon that resulted in the death of a Lebanese soldier, a spokesperson for the French foreign ministry said.

“France is gravely concerned by the ongoing clashes on the border between Lebanon and Israel. France condemns the Israeli strike which cost the life of a member of the Lebanese armed forces, and sends its sincere condolences to the victim’s relatives,” said the ministry spokesperson in a daily briefing.

One Lebanese soldier was killed and three wounded when Israeli shelling hit near a border village in south Lebanon, the Lebanese army said in a statement on Tuesday.

01:32 PM GMT

Watch: IDF sets up pumps to flood Hamas tunnels

01:04 PM GMT

Surface-to-surface missiles intercepted

A surface-to-surface missile was intercepted by Israel’s military after it was launched towards Eilat in southern Israel.

Israeli forces said they were responding to a “number of launches” from Lebanon in the north of the country.

It said the launches had been aimed at IDF military posts.

The IDF said in a message on Telegram:

“Following the report regarding sirens that sounded in the city of Eilat, a launch of a surface-to-surface missile toward Israel was identified, and was successfully intercepted in the area of the Red Sea by the “Arrow” aerial defence system. The target did not cross into Israeli territory [and] did not pose a threat to civilians.”

It added:

“A short while ago, a number of launches were identified from Lebanon. The IDF is striking the sources of the fire. Furthermore, since this morning, IDF tanks and artillery have been striking several locations in Lebanon and IDF aircraft struck a military command center and military infrastructure belonging to the Hezbollah terrorist organization.”

12:52 PM GMT

IDF uncovers weapons stockpile near school

A large stockpile was uncovered near a clinic and school in northern Gaza, according to the Israel Defense Forces (IDF).

The IDF said the weapons cache “contained hundreds of missiles and RPG (rocket-propelled grenade) launchers of various types, dozens of anti-tank missiles, dozens of explosive charges, long-range missiles aimed at the centre of the State of Israel, dozens of grenades and unmanned aerial vehicles.”

Some weapons were destroyed in a nearby field while others were taken away for further investigation, they added.

IDF soldiers could be seen loading ammunition and weapons into vehicles.

12:31 PM GMT

Japan PM says casualties should be minimised

Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida told his Israeli counterpart Benjamin Netanyahu over the phone on Wednesday that it was important to minimise civilian casualties in the conflict with Hamas, the Japanese government said.

“Prime Minster Kishida stated continued growth in the number of civilian casualties should be avoided, and that it is important to calm the situation swiftly, minimise civilian casualties and observe international law including international humanitarian law,” a Foreign Ministry announcement said.

In response, Netanyahu set out Israel’s position on the military operation in Gaza, the announcement said, without elaborating.

11:57 AM GMT

Turkey rejects ‘buffer zone’ plan for Gaza

Turkey has rejected plans to establish a post-war buffer zone in Gaza because it would be disrespectful to Palestinians, President Tayyip Erdogan was quoted as saying on Wednesday.

Last week, Israel had conveyed plans for the buffer zone to several Arab states and Turkey.

Speaking to reporters on a flight from Doha, Erdogan said Gaza’s governance and future after the war would be decided by Palestinians alone.

“I consider even the debating of this (buffer-zone) plan as disrespectful to my Palestinian siblings. For us, this is not a plan that can be debated, considered, or discussed,” Erdogan’s office quoted him as saying.

Calling for Israel to hand back territories it occupies and end settlements in those territories, he said: “Israel must remove the terrorists – which it markets to the world as settlers – from those houses and those lands, and think about how it can build a peaceful future with Palestinians.”

11:39 AM GMT

Pictured: Armed woman in Jerusalem

An armed woman has been seen walking through Jerusalem during increased tensions between Palestinians and Israelis.

Gunmen, claimed by Hamas to be members of their group, shot numerous people at a bus stop on Thursday morning on the outskirts of Jerusalem before being shot dead.

An armed woman walks through Jerusalem – Spencer Platt/Getty Images

11:24 AM GMT

Malaysian police arrest man over statements supporting diplomatic relations with Israel

Malaysian police said on Wednesday they have arrested a 36-year-old man to assist in a sedition probe regarding statements he made supporting diplomatic relations with Israel.

Malaysia, a majority-Muslim country, is a staunch supporter of Palestine and does not have diplomatic ties with Israel.

11:15 AM GMT

Scotland’s First Minister’s relatives allowed to leave Gaza

Scotland’s First Minister has said his relatives in Gaza have been told they can leave via the Rafah border crossing to Egypt but are unable to get there.

Humza Yousaf posted on social media: “My brother-in-law, his wife and four children (the youngest is four months old) have been told they can leave Gaza through Rafah.

“The problem is, they have no way of getting there, and even if they did, the fighting is ongoing.

“An impossible situation.

“We need a ceasefire now.”

10:58 AM GMT

UK agency reports drone attack in Red Sea

An incident involving a drone in the Red Sea off the coast of Yemen has been reported by the UK maritime trade operations agency.

The agency advised those in the area to “exercise caution” and report any suspicious activity.

The Iran-allied Houthi group has attacked shipping in the region recently intending to damage Israeli interests.

10:34 AM GMT

Palestinians in Gaza living in ‘utter, deepening horror’

Palestinians living in the Gaza Strip are living in “utter, deepening horror”, the UN human rights chief said Wednesday as he called for an urgent ceasefire between Israel and Hamas.

“Civilians in Gaza continue to be relentlessly bombarded by Israel and collectively punished… Palestinians in Gaza are living in utter, deepening horror,” Volker Turk told a press conference.

10:23 AM GMT

Four people shot during Israeli raids in West Bank

Four people were wounded during Israeli raids in the Balata refugee camp in the West Bank city of Nablus.

One man was shot in the head and remains in a critical condition, according to Ahmed Jibril, the director of the Red Crescent Ambulance and Emergency Centre in Nablus.

Three other men were also shot but remain in a stable condition.

One Palestinian was arrested by Israeli forces before they withdrew from the camp, locals have claimed.

10:09 AM GMT

Israeli army says ‘Red Cross must have access to hostages’ in Gaza

The Israeli army said Wednesday that the International Committee of the Red Cross “must have access to the hostages” still being held by Palestinian militants in the Hamas-ruled Gaza Strip.

“As the IDF (military) expands its operations to dismantle Hamas in Gaza, we have not lost sight… of our critical mission to rescue our hostages,” army spokesman Daniel Hagari said.

“The international community must take action. The Red Cross must have access to the hostages that are in the hands of Hamas.”

09:48 AM GMT

Israel cautions against reports of child hostage’s death

Israel has cautioned against believing Hamas reports that the youngest hostage had been killed alongside his four-year-old brother and their mother.

Ten-month-old Kfir Bibas was allegedly killed during an IDF strike on Gaza, but there has been no further confirmation of this and Israel’s military in still uncertain about their fate.

Speaking to The Jerusalem Post, spokesperson Lt Col Peter Lerner said:

“We can’t confirm at this stage what Hamas said, and I’d be very cautious in accepting anything that Hamas says to begin with.

“Of course, you know, we’re utilizing our intelligence in order to try and determine their situation. I don’t have anything to report at this stage.”

Lerner added that Israel is “concerned” about the well-being of the hostages still held in Gaza and demanded that the Red Cross be able to assess them.

09:40 AM GMT

Supplies at al-Aqsa Hospital at ‘critical level’

Supplies at al-Aqsa Hospital in central Gaza are at critically low levels due to road enclosures despite hundreds of patients being admitted per day, according to Doctors Without Borders (MSF).

The hospital, which is running out of both fuel and medical supplies, has been receiving 150 to 200 wounded patients since the truce ended on Friday, its director has said.

Marie-Aure Perreaut Revial, the MSF emergency coordinator in Gaza, said:

“There are 700 patients admitted in the hospital now, with new patients arriving all the time. We are running out of essential supplies to treat them.

“Shortages of medicine and fuel could result in the hospital being unable to provide life-saving surgeries or intensive care.

“Without electricity, ventilators would cease to function, blood donations would have to stop, the sterilisation of surgical instruments would be impossible.

“It is vital that the supply of humanitarian supplies is facilitated. The hospital urgently needs surgical sets, external fixators to hold broken bones together, and essential drugs, including drugs for chronic illnesses.”

09:23 AM GMT

Israel issues fresh evacuation orders

Israel has warned displaced people east of Khan Younis to “evacuate immediately”.

Palestinians located in shelters and schools located in the Bani Suhaila roundabout and four of their designated “blocks” – 50, 51, 52 and 219 – were directed to leave on Wednesday.

COGAT, a branch of Israel’s defence ministry, told residents to evacuate along l-Quds Street to the shelters in the west of Khan Younis and the Nasser Medical Complex area.

It said that the Israeli army is responding with “extreme force” against Hamas in the area.

09:13 AM GMT

Gaza health officials claim 45 civilians killed in Israeli strike

Gaza health officials said many civilians were killed in an Israeli strike on houses in Deir al-Balah, north of Khan Younis.

Dr Eyad Al-Jabri, head of the Shuhada Al-Aqsa Hospital there, told Reuters at least 45 people were killed.

Hamas’ media office said on Tuesday at least 16,248 people including 7,112 children and 4,885 women had been killed in Gaza by Israel’s military since October 7.

Thousands more are missing and feared buried under rubble.

Those figures were not immediately verified by the Gaza health ministry.

09:00 AM GMT

Pictured: Israeli assaults on Gaza

Israel launched one of its heaviest assaults on Gaza yet overnight.

IDF photos – IDF

IDF forces in Gaza – IDF

IDF forces in Gaza – IDF

08:50 AM GMT

Hamas kidnap victim in ‘serious condition’

Hanna Katzi, one of the hostages released by Hamas last month, is in a “serious condition” after her health deteriorated following captivity.

The Times of Israel reports that on army radio, the daughter of the 77-year-old said “My mother’s condition is serious, her condition has deteriorated following the captivity.

“She had no heart problems when she was kidnapped, but now she has severe heart problems due to harsh conditions and starvation.

“She came back both heartbroken and with cardiological problems.”

It is thought that her son Elad remains in captivity in Gaza.

08:39 AM GMT

Israel reviewing strike that harmed Lebanese troops

The Israeli army said on Wednesday it was reviewing a strike that harmed Lebanese troops in south Lebanon, an apparent reference to Israeli shelling that killed a Lebanese soldier and wounded three others the previous day.

“The Lebanese Armed Forces were not the target of the strike. The IDF expresses regret over the incident. The incident is under review,” the Israeli military said in a statement.

Israel and the heavily armed Lebanese group Hezbollah have been exchanging fire across the Lebanese-Israeli border since October 7.

The Lebanese army said the soldier, a sergeant, was killed when an army position was shelled by Israel on Tuesday.

The Israeli army said its soldiers had acted in “self-defense to eliminate an imminent threat that had been identified from Lebanon” from a “known launch area and observation point” used by Hezbollah.

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December 6, 2023