Associated Press and Reuters are carrying an updated death toll from overnight Israeli strikes on Gaza, reporting that Gaza’s health ministry has said the Israeli strikes across the territory have killed at least 326 people.
More details soon …
Key events
At least four government officials killed in Israeli airstrikes, media office says
At least four government officials have been killed in the Israeli airstrikes, according to reports and Gaza’s government media office. They are said to be: Mahmoud Abu Wafah, undersecretary of the ministry of interior, Issam al-Dalis, head of government public works, Ahmed al-Hatta, undersecretary of the ministry of justice, and Bahjat Abu Sultan, director general of the internal security service. Hamas has been the sole ruler in the Gaza Strip since 2007. Israel has vowed to continue its assault on Gaza until the militant group’s military and governing capabilities are destroyed.
UN rights chief ‘horrified’ by deadly Israel airstrikes on Gaza
The UN rights chief, Volker Turk, has voiced horror at the Israeli airstrikes, which are the biggest wave launched on Gaza since the ceasefire – which was meant to pause hostilities – began in late January. There have been reports of many civilians being killed by Israeli attacks in the two months since the ceasefire came into effect but not in the numbers seen overnight.
“I am horrified by last night’s Israeli airstrikes and shelling in Gaza,” Turk said in a statement, adding that “this will add tragedy onto tragedy”.
“This nightmare must end immediately,” Turk said, adding that “the last 18 months of violence have made abundantly clear that there is no military path out of this crisis”.
“The only way forward is a political settlement, in line with international law. Israel’s resort to yet more military force will only heap further misery upon a Palestinian population already suffering catastrophic conditions,” he said.
“The hostages must be released immediately and unconditionally. All those arbitrarily detained must be released immediately and unconditionally. The war must end permanently,” Turk said.
“We urge all parties with influence to do all in their power to achieve peace and avoid further suffering of civilians.”
Israel’s ‘massacre’ of hundreds of Palestinians marks ‘new phase in Gaza genocide policy’ – Turkey says
Turkey’s foreign ministry has denounced Israel’s “massacre” of hundreds of Palestinian people in overnight airstrikes on Gaza as “a new phase” in its “genocide policy”, saying the Netanyahu government “defies humanity” through its breach of international law.
The massacre of hundreds of Palestinians in Israel’s attacks on Gaza this morning demonstrates that the Netanyahu government’s genocide policy has entered a new phase.
Israel defies humanity through its violations of international law and universal values in the gravest way.
At a time when efforts to achieve global peace and stability are intensifying, the aggression displayed by the Israeli government threatens the future of the region. It is unacceptable that Israel is causing a new spiral of violence.
The international community must take a decisive stance against Israel to ensure a permanent ceasefire in Gaza and the delivery of humanitarian aid.
As Türkiye, we reiterate our unwavering support for the rightful cause of the Palestinian people and reaffirm our commitment to contributing to efforts aimed at securing peace and stability in the region.
Turkish president Recep Tayyip Erdoğan has been a vocal opponent of Israel’s war in Gaza. He has accused Israel of genocide, called for it to be punished in international courts and criticised western nations for backing the country’s military assault.
Six members of the same family killed in Israeli attack on car in Khan Younis – report
As we have been reporting, at least 330 Palestinian people have been killed by Israeli airstrikes on Gaza overnight, in a clear violation of the ceasefire agreement with Hamas that came into effect on 19 January. The head of Gaza’s health ministry, Mohammed Zaqut, was quoted as saying most of those who were killed were women and children.
Israeli attacks were reported in northern Gaza, in Gaza City and in the central cities of Deir al-Balah and Khan Younis.
Al Jazeera is reporting there has been another attack, this time on a car in the city of Abasan, east of Khan Younis, that has killed at least six people from the same family.
Israel has said 59 hostages are still being held captive in Gaza, with up to 24 believed to be alive.
We mentioned in an earlier post that families of Israeli hostages said the government had “chosen to abandon the hostages” by launching renewed airstrikes on Gaza.
In a new post on X, the Hostages and Missing Families Forum issued an “emergency call”, saying they are heading to Jerusalem to protest and are urging others to join in the demonstration.
The forum said:
Following the decision to resume military operations, which places 59 hostages at grave risk, their families are now making their way to Jerusalem and calling on the people of Israel to stand with them.
There is nothing more urgent than this! With each passing day, the danger to the hostages grows. Military pressure could further endanger their lives and complicate efforts to bring them home safely.
Reuters has a quick snap that Hamas has said communication with mediators over a Gaza ceasefire continues.
Clémence Lagouardat, Oxfam’s head of response in Gaza, has spoken to Sky News in the UK about the situation, saying that the population there is in a “very vulnerable and very fragile” condition.
She told viewers:
What I can tell you is it was a large scale attack. I think everyone in Gaza woke up around 2am. We had some pretty close calls from where we are currently having an office in Gaza City. And I think what speaks for itself is the number of casualties that are reported.
We witnessed smoke, bombs, the sounds of ambulances. We had to phone our entire team to make sure that they were safe, and that they were still OK. So it has been a very long night. We are also starting to assess what is the situation on the ground, what is the possibility of movement, and what will be happening in the next days.
It has been 17 days that nothing has entered the Gaza Strip. So we know that supplies are running low. As a reminder, there are 2.2 million people that are currently living here.
So even if there was a surge in the assistance at the beginning of the ceasefire, it goes fast. You need to feed, you need to treat 2.2 million people. So I think the situation in the hospitals is critical, and the care that is needed for the people that have been injured during the night is not there.
Ora Rubenstein, the aunt of one of the hostages that remains in captivity in Gaza, has told Hebrew media outlet Ynet that she is very concerned about the impact of renewed Israeli attacks on the safety of her nephew Bar Kuperstein. She accused Benjamin Netanyahu’s government of believing that “the coalition is more important than the kidnapped.”
Here are some more of the latest images sent over the news wires from Gaza, where renewed Israeli airstrikes are reported to have killed at least 326 people, according to the Hamas-run health ministry in the territory.
Yemen’s Houthis have issued a statement in support of the Palestinian people after Israel renewed airstrikes on the territory. Al Jazeera quotes the group’s supreme political council saying “The Palestinian people will not be left alone in this battle, and Yemen will continue its support and assistance, and escalate confrontation steps.”
Donald Trump’s US administration has recently carried out a series of airstrikes against the Houthis in Yemen, who have been disrupting shipping for months with attacks which they claim are directed at vessels with links to Israel.
The UN humanitarian coordinator for the occupied Palestinian territory has described Israel’s renewed assault on the territory as “unconscionable”.
Reuters reports Muhannad Hadi said in a statement that “a ceasefire must be reinstated immediately.”
Associated Press and Reuters are carrying an updated death toll from overnight Israeli strikes on Gaza, reporting that Gaza’s health ministry has said the Israeli strikes across the territory have killed at least 326 people.
More details soon …
