At least 29 people killed in Israeli bombing on Jabalia camp today
Live updates of the Israel-Hamas war
Summary:
- The Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights says Israeli attacks on Gaza's Jabalia refugee camp may be "disproportionate attacks that could amount to war crimes".
- Turkish-Palestinian Friendship Hospital, Gaza's only medical facility serving cancer patients, was forced to shut down after running out of fuel. The Indonesian Hospital has now been forced to run on its backup generator after the main generator stalled.
- Joe Biden has said the US supports a humanitarian pause, the first time the US President has said these words himself, although it is a policy his administration has been advocating for the past week.
- The Gaza Borders and Crossings Authority has released a list of 596 foreign and dual nationals who will be allowed to leave through the Rafah crossing on Thursday after a first group, including 81 critically ill patients, crossed on Wednesday.
- At least 8,805 Palestinians have been killed in Israeli attacks in Gaza since 7 October. More than 1,400 people have been killed in Israel.
6:50pm
At least 29 people killed in Israeli bombing on Jabalia refugee camp today
Israeli bombing has killed at least 29 people and injured dozens others in the third attack on Jabalia refugee camp in as many days. Al Jazeera reports. A correspondent from the Palestinian WAFA news agency said Israeli forces fired missiles at a school in the camp killing 27 people and injuring many others. He said two other people were killed in an Israeli attack on a car in the camp.
This is the second Israeli attack on a school today. Earlier, Israeli forces bombed a school run by UNRWA in al-Shati refugee camp, in western Gaza City, where thousands of displaced people had sought refuge. Five people were killed in the Israeli attack.
6:40pm
Israel says 242 hostages taken by Hamas
In the daily IDF briefing, spokesman Daniel Hagari says the military has contacted the families of 242 hostages being held in Gaza. BBC reports. The last reported number was 239.
Hamas say they have hidden the hostages across Gaza, including in tunnels. Last week, they said at least 50 hostages had been killed by Israeli air strikes - a figure that can't be verified.
And yesterday, Hamas said seven hostages were killed in an air strike on the Jabalia refugee camp.
6:11pm
Bahrain summons envoy to Israel, suspends economic relations
Bahrain says it has recalled its ambassador to Israel and halted all economic ties with it. In a statement, the parliament of the Gulf state said the moves were part of measures taken in support of "the Palestinian cause and the legitimate rights of the Palestinian people". Al Jazeera Reports.
Bahrain, which established diplomatic ties with Israel in 2020, said the Israeli ambassador to Manama had already left.
The announcement came a day after Jordan said it had also recalled its ambassador to Israel to protest against the "catastrophe" amid Israel's attacks.
Bolivia this week cut official ties with Israel over the war in Gaza while Chile and Colombia also recalled their ambassadors to Tel Aviv for consultations.
5:42pm
More updates from the health ministry: Al Jazeera
- 256 civilians have been killed in Israeli air strikes today.
- The al-Shifa Hospital received 2,600 reports of missing people, including 1,150 children missing or buried under the rubble.
- 135 medical staff have now been killed, and 25 ambulances destroyed.
- 16 hospitals are out of service in Gaza, and 32 medical care facilities are out of operation.
- The spokesperson also called on Turkish President Erdogan to intervene and protect the Turkish-Palestinian Friendship Hospital – the only hospital for cancer patients in Gaza – that went out of service after running out of fuel.
5:32pm
Death toll hits 9,061: Gaza Health Ministry
The Hamas-run health ministry in the Gaza Strip said Thursday the death toll there since the start of Israel's war against Hamas had surpassed 9,000, AFP reports.
The ministry said 9,061 had been killed since the war began with the Hamas attack on Israel on October 7. Of these, 3,760 were children and an additional 32,000 had been wounded, the ministry said.
5:27pm
At least 18 Israeli soldiers killed since start of ground offensive
The Israeli army says a battalion commander has been killed during fighting in northern Gaza, Al Jazeera reports.
Lieutenant Colonel Salman Habaka, the commander of the Israeli's army 53rd battalion, is believed to be the most senior officer killed since the start of the ground operations.
This brings the total number of soldiers killed since Israel expanded its military offensive in the besieged enclave to 18.
Four other soldiers were seriously wounded during combat, the army said.
4:50pm
New group of Gaza dual nationals depart for Egypt
A group of dual nationals left Gaza for Egypt on Thursday through Rafah, a border official said, a day after the crossing point reopened for foreign passport holders and wounded Palestinians, AFP reports.
Wael Abu Mohsen, spokesman for the Palestinian side of the Rafah crossing, said in a statement that "100 travellers of foreign nationalities" had crossed into Egypt on Thursday morning, escaping the bombarded Palestinian territory.
A total of 400 foreign passport holders as well as 60 wounded patients were due to cross by the day's end, Abu Mohsen said.
4:45pm
Heavy battles reported between Israeli forces and Palestinian fighters
Multiple reports are coming to Al Jazeera from the northern part of the Gaza Strip about fierce battles going on between the Israeli forces and Hamas fighters. There are also reports about exchanges of fire in the northern part of Gaza where Israeli tanks are still stationed and haven't moved.
Other reports coming from the central part of Gaza City say that tanks are coming directly from the southeastern side, going towards the coastal line and pushing deep into the centre of Gaza. The expectation is that fighting will be heavy.
Meanwhile, the air strikes have not stopped in the past few hours. They happen everywhere, covering the entire Gaza Strip, but are mainly concentrated where there is active ground fighting, in the northern part and Gaza City.
What's going on is that foot soldiers are moving under the heavy cover of air strikes, clearing the road in front of Israeli tanks to push deeper into the northern part and Gaza City.
4:00pm
Deliberate bombing of a trapped population: Angelina Jolie
Angelina Jolie has termed Israeli air strikes in Gaza 'deliberate bombing of a trapped population'. The actor, who is known for her humanitarian work worldwide, posted a long statement on Instagram on Wednesday along with photo showing devastation from a recent deadly airstrike at Gaza's largest refugee camp Jabalia, Hindustan Times reports.
In the caption of her latest Instagram post, Angelina wrote, "This is the deliberate bombing of a trapped population who have nowhere to flee. Gaza has been an open-air prison for nearly two decades and is fast becoming a mass grave. 40 percent of those killed are innocent children. Whole families are being murdered."
"By refusing to demand a humanitarian ceasefire and blocking the UN Security Council from imposing one on both parties, world leaders are complicit in these crimes," she added.
In an earlier post, Angelina had said that Hamas's terrorist attacks in Israel 'cannot justify the innocent lives lost' in Gaza.
2:30pm
Israeli gunfire kills Palestinian in occupied West Bank: Al Jazeera
Israeli forces have killed a Palestinian in Qalqilya, in the northern occupied West Bank, and seriously wounded two others, the Ministry of Health said.
Sources told the Palestinian WAFA news agency that a 15-year-old was hit by Israeli live ammunition in the thigh in the Nazzal neighbourhood of the city, reports Al Jazeera.
More than 130 Palestinians have been killed in Israeli or settler attacks in the occupied West Bank, and another 1,860 detained since October 7.
2:00pm
Israeli air raid targets UNRWA school
We're getting reports that the Israeli military has targeted an UNRWA school in the Shati refugee camp in Gaza, reports Al Jazeera.
Thousands of displaced people in Gaza are currently taking shelter in the school.
The attacks come after five Palestinians were killed in an earlier raid targeting areas around that school.
1:00pm
Fire exchanges at Israel-Lebanon border continue: Al Jazeera
The Israeli army confirms that one of its drones has been shot down by a surface-to-air missile fired from Lebanon, reports Al Jazeera.
In response, the military said it attacked the squad that carried out the shooting and the site from where the rocket was launched.
This is the second time since the war started that Hezbollah has hit an Israeli drone.
For the past three weeks, the Lebanese Shia armed group and the Israeli army have been engaged in skirmishes, relatively restricted in their scope and geography. But since last week, we have seen both sides firing deeper into each other's territory, in a move that experts say marks a new level of confrontation.
On Friday, Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah is scheduled to give his first public speech since 7 October.
12:00pm
Israeli air strikes target Jabalia refugee camp for a third time
Our colleagues at Al Jazeera Arabic are reporting that Israeli air strikes have targeted the Jabalia refugee camp for the third time in as many days, reports Al Jazeera.
At least three Palestinians have been killed and many injured in the bombing of a house in the camp.
Almost 200 people were killed and at least 777 wounded in the first two bombings of the camp on Tuesday and Wednesday. Another 120 people are still missing, according to a report published by Gaza's Government Media Office.
Below is an interactive that shows the situation in the camp before and after Tuesday's Israeli air raid.
11:30am
Fire exchanges at Israel-Lebanon border continue: Al Jazeera
The Israeli army confirms that one of its drones has been shot down by a surface-to-air missile fired from Lebanon, reports Al Jazeera.
In response, the military said it attacked the squad that carried out the shooting and the site from where the rocket was launched.
This is the second time since the war started that Hezbollah has hit an Israeli drone.
For the past three weeks, the Lebanese Shia armed group and the Israeli army have been engaged in skirmishes, relatively restricted in their scope and geography. But since last week, we have seen both sides firing deeper into each other's territory, in a move that experts say marks a new level of confrontation.
On Friday, Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah is scheduled to give his first public speech since October 7.
10:50am
Series of air strikes hits vicinity of Al-Quds Hospital: Red Crescent
Israeli warplanes began a series of raids in the vicinity of Al-Quds Hospital at dawn, according to the Palestinian news agency, Wafa, citing the Palestinian Red Crescent Society, rpeorts Al Jazeera.
The medical facility is affiliated with the Red Crescent and is located in the Tal Al-Hawa neighbourhood south of Gaza City.
Israeli forces have threatened more than once to bomb the hospital, where about 14,000 citizens are currently seeking shelter, in addition to hundreds of sick and wounded people.
The Red Crescent Society had previously confirmed that it would not evacuate the hospital, calling on the international community to intervene immediately to prevent possible mass casualties.
10:00am
Japan evacuates 10 nationals, family members from Gaza: Al Jazeera
Japan's Chief Cabinet Secretary Hirokazu Matsuno says 10 Japanese citizens who wanted to leave Gaza with their eight Palestinian family members had been successfully evacuated.
Matsuno told reporters in Tokyo that one Japanese national remains with their family in the enclave.
Foreign nationals were allowed to leave the Gaza Strip on Wednesday after the southern Rafah border crossing to Egypt was opened for the first time to civilians.
9:30am
Biden follows his administration's line in calling for a 'humanitarian pause'
No calls for a ceasefire [from President Biden], though he did say, for the first time, that the US supports a humanitarian pause. Those words [are] coming from the president, a policy that his administration has been advocating for the past week, reports Al Jazeera.
Now, Biden said these words at a campaign rally in Minnesota, and he was heckled by a protester who said there should be a ceasefire.
His words in response to her: "I think we need a pause, a pause means to give time to get the prisoners" – the captives, he meant – "out of Gaza".
A lot is being read into these words, given that we're hearing them from Biden for the first time, and they followed his earlier comments in which he really sympathised with the suffering in Gaza, using very personal terms to describe the children who have lost their parents, parents who are losing their children.
But as far as policy goes, this is no definitive movement towards a ceasefire, especially as the US has not investigated the air strike on the [Jabalia] refugee camp in Gaza by Israel to see if it would violate international law, contrary to what the UN has said.
8:55am
Here's a recap
- Israeli bombardment continues across Gaza overnight, following a day in which the Jabalia refugee camp was hit once again, as well as a bakery. The vicinity of several hospitals was also hit, and the Palestinian death toll in Gaza has now risen to at least 8,805.
- The Indonesian Hospital in Gaza City has been forced to switch to a backup generator after its main generator stalled because of a lack of fuel. The situation at the Al-Shifa Hospital has also been described as "bleak".
- Hezbollah has claimed to have shot down an Israeli drone flying over southern Lebanon for the second time this week.
- US President Joe Biden called for a "humanitarian pause" for the first time while speaking at an event. His administration has already publicly pushed for a pause in the last week but refuses to back a ceasefire.
Disclaimer: The information and infographics provided in this thread have been gathered from sources, including BBC, Reuters, Al Jazeera, and other news networks.