Israel-Gaza - live: UN says evidence of Gaza mass graves must be preserved as five killed in Rafah strikes
More than half of Gaza’s population of 2.3 million have sought refuge in Rafah
For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails
Sign up to our free breaking news emails
The UN has called for the preservation of evidence of mass graves in the Gaza Strip after 390 bodies were found at two different burial sites outside the Nasser and al-Shifa hospitals.
The Israeli army said any suggestion of its responsibility was “baseless” and “unfounded” and the graves were “dug by Gazans” a few months ago.
UN spokesperson Stephane Dujarric said “it’s important that all forensic evidence be well preserved”.
Earlier, the US demanded “answers” from Israel after mass graves were found outside two hospitals in the Gaza Strip.
Meanwhile, at least five people have been killed following Israeli strikes in the southern Gaza city of Rafah, Palestinian hospital officials have said.
More than half of the territory’s population of 2.3 million have sought refuge in Rafah, where Israel has conducted near-daily raids as it prepares for an offensive in the city.
In central Gaza, four people were killed in Israeli tank shelling.
Israeli strikes kill 5 in Rafah - Palestinian hospital officials
Palestinian hospital officials said Israeli airstrikes on the southern city of Rafah in the Gaza Strip killed at least five people.
More than half of the territory’s population of 2.3 million have sought refuge in Rafah, where Israel has conducted near-daily raids as it prepares for an offensive in the city.
In central Gaza, four people were killed in Israeli tank shelling.
Loud bang heard and smoke seen in sea southwest of Yemen’s Aden, UKMTO reports
A ship’s captain reported hearing a loud bang and seeing a splash and smoke coming from the sea on Thursday around 15 nautical miles southwest of the Yemeni port of Aden, Britain’s maritime agency said.
The UK Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) added that the crew and vessel were safe and military authorities were supporting it.
Yemeni Houthi militants have been attacking ships in the Red Sea since November in what they say is a campaign of solidarity with Palestinians during the Israel-Hamas war in Gaza.
The Houthis said on Wednesday they had carried out three military operations in the Gulf of Aden and the Indian Ocean.
UK maritime agency reports incident in sea southwest of Yemen’s Aden
Britain’s maritime agency and the security firm Ambrey have received reports of an incident on Thursday around 15 nautical miles southwest of the Yemeni port of Aden, advisory notes said.
The UK Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) advised ships to proceed with caution and report any incident.
Yemeni Houthi militants have been attacking ships in the Red Sea since November in what they say is a campaign of solidarity with Palestinians during the Israel-Hamas war in Gaza.
The Houthis said on Wednesday that they had carried out three military operations in the Gulf of Aden and the Indian Ocean.
US plans to build Gaza aid pier branded ‘smokescreen’ to allow Israeli invasion of Rafah
US plans for Gaza aid pier branded ‘smokescreen’ to allow Israeli invasion of Rafah
UN officials warned the project would likely be used as a substitute during Israel’s invasion of Rafah
Israel says it is poised to move on Rafah
Israel’s military is poised to evacuate Palestinian civilians from Rafah and assault Hamas hold-outs in the southern Gaza Strip city despite international warnings of a humanitarian catastrophe.
A spokesperson for prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government said Israel was “moving ahead” with a ground operation, but gave no timeline.
The defence official said Israel’s Defence Ministry had bought 40,000 tents, each with the capacity for 10 to 12 people, to house Palestinians relocated from Rafah in advance of an assault.
IDF call for 'urgent action' after Hamas release video of Israeli hostage missing part of an arm
Columbia’s president, no stranger to complex challenges
Columbia University president Minouche Shafik is no stranger to navigating complex international issues, having worked at some of the world’s most prominent global financial institutions.
At the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund, for example, she tackled both the European debt crisis and the Arab Spring.
It remains to be seen, however, if her experience with world conflicts has sufficiently equipped her to navigate the thorny challenges she faces amid ongoing student protests over the Israel-Hamas war.
Report:
Columbia's president, no stranger to complex challenges, walks tightrope on student protests
Columbia University President Minouche Shafik's leadership is under fire
Speaker Mike Johnson calls for Columbia president to quit
House speaker Mike Johnson visited Columbia University amid ongoing pro-Palestine protests to call for the university’s president to resign and to address Jewish students.
He called the protests “disgusting” and “unnecessary” ahead of his visit. The day before his visit, the UN issued a report that it had found “mass graves” in Gaza, where Palestinians — including women, the elderly, and the wounded — had been found dead. Some of the remains allegedly had their hands bound.
Report:
Speaker Mike Johnson booed at Columbia University as he calls for president to quit
Mr Johnson called the protesters ‘antisemitic’ and ‘lawless agitators’
UN report says 282 million faced by hunger in 2023, with worst famine in Gaza
Nearly 282 million people in 59 countries suffered from acute hunger in 2023, with war-torn Gaza as the territory with the largest number of people facing famine, according to the Global Report on Food Crises released today.
The UN report said 24 million more people faced an acute lack of food than in 2022, due to the sharp deterioration in food security, especially in the Gaza Strip and Sudan. The number of nations with food crises that are monitored has also been expanded.
More here:
UN report says 282 million people faced acute hunger in 2023, with the worst famine in Gaza
A new report says nearly 282 million people in 59 countries suffered from acute hunger in 2023, with war-torn Gaza hosting the largest number of people facing famine
Hamas releases video of Israeli-American hostage
Hamas released a hostage video showing a well-known Israeli-American man who was among scores of people abducted by the militants in the attack that ignited the war in Gaza.
The video was the first sign of life of Hersh Goldberg-Polin since Hamas’ 7 October attack on southern Israel, and its release ignited new protests in Jerusalem calling on the government to do more to secure the captives’ release.
Report:
Hamas releases video showing well-known Israeli-American hostage
Hamas has released a hostage video showing a well-known Israeli-American who was among scores of people abducted by the militants in the attack that ignited the war in Gaza
Subscribe to Independent Premium to bookmark this article
Want to bookmark your favourite articles and stories to read or reference later? Start your Independent Premium subscription today.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies