0252 GMT —
Telecommunication and internet services have been completely cut off again in Gaza, the Palestinian telecom company Paltel has announced.
“We regret to announce a complete interruption of all communications and internet services with Gaza due to the international routes that were previously reconnected being cut off again,” it said in a brief statement on X.
On Sunday, the company announced that telecommunication and internet services had been gradually restored in Gaza.
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0443 GMT — Biden, Jordan’s king agree Palestinians should not be forcibly displaced outside of Gaza: White House
US President Joe Biden and Jordan’s King Abdullah II discussed the conflict in Gaza, the plight of Palestinian civilians and peace in the Middle East over the phone, the White House has said.
“The President reiterated the importance of protecting civilian lives and respecting international humanitarian law as Israel defends its citizens and combats terrorism,” it said in a statement.
“They also agreed that it is critical to ensure that Palestinians are not forcibly displaced outside of Gaza.”
Discussing their shared commitment to facilitating the increased and sustained delivery of humanitarian assistance to civilians in Gaza, the leaders also discussed urgent mechanisms to stem violence, calm rhetoric, and reduce regional tensions, according to the statement.
0400 GMT — UNRWA has abandoned its responsibilities in northern Gaza: Local government
The Palestinian government in Gaza has accused the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) of abandoning its responsibilities towards the residents of northern Gaza.
“There is nothing that can justify UNRWA’s behaviour in abandoning its responsibilities in northern Gaza and limiting its work to the south amid deliberately slowing down and delaying the entry of trucks and preventing them from entering Gaza City and northern Gaza,” Salama Maarouf, the head of the government’s media office, said during a press conference.
0342 GMT — Israel paid ‘heavy price’ during battles in Gaza: Defense minister
Israeli forces have paid a “heavy price” during their ground operation in Gaza despite making “significant” achievements, Defense Minister Yoav Gallant has said.
Gallant made the comments during a meeting at Palmachim Airbase in central Israel with troops of the Air Force’s elite Shaldag and 669 units, according to Israeli Army Radio.
“The Israeli army uses forces on a large scale deep in Gaza,” he said.
“There are battles against the forces operating there, and the results and achievements on the battlefield are very great. Unfortunately, there is also a cost in war, and in the last 24 hours, we have paid a heavy price.”
Gallant did not clarify what he meant.
The Israeli army announced Wednesday that nine soldiers were killed in battles in northern Gaza.
With the latest deaths, the Israeli army’s toll since the start of the fighting in Gaza on Oct. 7 rose to 326.
0300 GMT — Hezbollah details Israeli losses near powder keg border with Lebanon
Lebanon’s Hezbollah has claimed to have shot 120 Israeli soldiers, destroyed nine tanks and shot down an unmanned aerial vehicle in operations on the southern border of the country since October 8.
The Al Manar TV in Lebanon, close to Hezbollah, published an infographic containing information about the 23-day clashes with the Israeli army.
Accordingly, Hezbollah carried out 105 attacks against Israel in which intelligence, communication, signal jamming systems and 33 radars were targeted.
“Thanks to the operations in which a drone was shot down, 28 Jewish settlements in the north of Israel were evacuated, and 65,000 settlers were forced to go to the occupied interior areas,” Al Manar said, citing Hezbollah.
0255 GMT — Italy, France vow to work together to prevent conflict in Middle East from spreading
Italy’s Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani and France’s Foreign Minister Catherine Colonna made the announcement after presiding over the first meeting of the French-Italian Border Cooperation Committee.
During a subsequent press conference, they emphasized their determination to work together to maintain peace in the Middle East and ensure that the Israel-Palestine conflict does not spread to other countries.
“We are committed to working together with France to reduce tensions in the Middle East and prevent the Israel-Hamas conflict from spreading to other countries. Therefore, we are trying to take steps towards peace with excellent coordination by engaging with all stakeholders,” said Tajani.
The ministers also revealed their joint efforts to provide assistance to civilians in Gaza and to facilitate the safe evacuation of their citizens from the Palestinian enclave.
0045 GMT — Colombia recalls envoy to Israel
Colombia has recalled its ambassador to Israel over its war in Gaza, President Gustavo Petro said in a message on X, formerly known as Twitter.
“I have decided to recall our ambassador to Israel. If Israel does not stop the massacre of the Palestinian people, we cannot stay there,” he said.
0030 GMT — Chile recalls Israel ambassador for talks after Gaza attacks
Chile’s government has recalled its ambassador to Israel for consultations after what it described as Israel’s violations of international humanitarian law stemming from its aggression in Gaza.
“Chile strongly condemns and observes with great concern… these military operations,” the South American nation’s foreign ministry said in a statement.
Chile said Israel’s invasion amounted to “collective punishment” of Gaza’s Palestinian civilian population, the ministry said.
It also called for an immediate end to hostilities, the release of hostages held by Hamas, which governs Gaza, and to allow the transit of humanitarian aid for Gaza’s population of some 2.3 million residents.
Earlier in the day, Chile’s Foreign Ministry said in a separate statement that it is pushing for a two-state solution between Israel and Palestine.
2300 GMT — Blinken to visit Israel on Friday
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken will begin a new trip to the Middle East on Friday, a spokesperson said, as Israel’s war on besieged Gaza intensifies.
“Secretary Blinken will travel to Israel on Friday for meetings with members of the Israeli government, and then will make other stops in the region,” State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller said.
Earlier this month, Blinken visited Israel, Jordan, Qatar, Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Egypt.
2258 GMT — Scottish leader apologises for world’s inaction over Jabalia massacre
Scottish leader Humza Yousaf has called for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza, expressing deep regret for the innocent lives lost due to the ongoing conflict in the region.
“I am sorry to those innocent men, women and children in Jabalia Refugee Camp that the world could not protect you. This blatant disregard for human life must be condemned unequivocally. Do not let any more children die. We need an immediate cease-fire, nothing less,” he said on X.
A series of Israeli air strikes on the refugee camp killed hundreds of residents, according to the Interior Ministry in the besieged enclave.
Most of the victims were women and children, it said, adding Israeli warplanes destroyed the entire residential square known as Block 6.
2044 GMT — Protesters pack out London station demanding Gaza ceasefire
More than a hundred pro-Palestinian protesters have gathered at London’s Liverpool Street station, hanging banners from balconies and occupying the main concourse while demanding a ceasefire in Israel’s war on Gaza.
Videos posted online by the “Sisters Uncut” protest group showed a large group of demonstrators inside the station during rush hour, chanting and waving pro-Palestinian banners and flags.
British Transport Police (BTP) said they attended Liverpool Street station shortly after 1700 GMT following reports of a protest on the station concourse.
“Officers worked to safely disperse the crowd and ensure passengers could access the station,” a statement from BTP said.
One video showed the group chanting, “From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free”.
2225 GMT — Bolivia severs diplomatic ties with Israel
Bolivia’s government has severed diplomatic relations with Israel, accusing the country of carrying out “crimes against humanity” and calling for an end to the Israeli military’s war against Gaza.
“Bolivia decided to break diplomatic relations with the state of Israel in repudiation and condemnation of the aggressive and disproportionate Israeli military offensive taking place in Gaza,” Freddy Mamani, Bolivia’s deputy foreign minister, said at a news conference.
Maria Nela Prada, the minister of the presidency who is acting foreign minister, accused Israel of “committing crimes against humanity in Gaza against the Palestinian people.”
She went on to call on Israel to “cease attacks in Gaza that have already resulted in thousands of civilian casualties and the forced displacement of Palestinians.”
Bolivia also “rejects the Israeli hostile treatment of international actors providing humanitarian aid in Gaza,” Prada said, adding that Bolivia will send aid to Gaza, although she did not detail what that would entail.
