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Israel launches fresh Gaza attacks amid rocket fire – updates Israel launches fresh Gaza attacks amid rocket fire – updates
(32 minutes later)
Latest news after IDF says ground forces have joined the attacks on Gaza Strip but have not entered the enclaveLatest news after IDF says ground forces have joined the attacks on Gaza Strip but have not entered the enclave
In case you missed it, our Jerusalem correspondent Oliver Holmes is on this morning’s Today in Focus podcast unpicking how long-simmering anger at the occupation and a series of different events and circumstances over the last few weeks have converged, culminating in the worst unrest in Israel and Palestine since 2014. Tensions are also high today on Israel’s borders with Lebanon and Syria: at least three rockets were fired from south Lebanon in the direction of Israel last night, which landed in the Mediterranean. The Lebanese army said it had arrested a Palestinian national in connection to the incident.
This morning, Israeli forces reportedly targeted a vehicle carrying weapons in Syria’s Homs province. Israel is active in Syria’s skies, carrying out frequent attacks on Hezbollah and Iranian militia infrastructure across the country, but does not usually comment on such activity.
The Palestinian news agency reports that Israeli forces have used live bullets to fire at Palestinians in the village of Budrus, west of Ramallah, after protests turned violent. More as we get it.
In case you missed it, our Jerusalem correspondent Oliver Holmes is on this morning’s Today in Focus podcast unpicking how long-simmering anger at the occupation and a series of different events and circumstances over the last few weeks have converged, resulting in the worst unrest in Israel and Palestine since 2014.
An update from the UN’s Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) says that more than 200 housing units and 24 schools have been destroyed or severely damaged in the Gaza Strip in Israeli air raids in the last five days.An update from the UN’s Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) says that more than 200 housing units and 24 schools have been destroyed or severely damaged in the Gaza Strip in Israeli air raids in the last five days.
The agency also sounded the alarm over access to fresh water and impact of the hostilities on Gaza’s Covid-19 response.The agency also sounded the alarm over access to fresh water and impact of the hostilities on Gaza’s Covid-19 response.
Around one quarter of the Strip’s estimated two-million-strong population has limited access to drinking water after power cuts and damage to pipe networks, Ocha said.Around one quarter of the Strip’s estimated two-million-strong population has limited access to drinking water after power cuts and damage to pipe networks, Ocha said.
The health system is also struggling with a recent spike in coronavirus cases and deaths.The health system is also struggling with a recent spike in coronavirus cases and deaths.
An Israeli jet has bombed a Hamas rocket launching cell in Gaza, the IDF says.An Israeli jet has bombed a Hamas rocket launching cell in Gaza, the IDF says.
An air raid siren is also warning Israeli communities near the Strip to take cover after a Hamas drone managed to penetrate Israeli airspace.An air raid siren is also warning Israeli communities near the Strip to take cover after a Hamas drone managed to penetrate Israeli airspace.
People across Gaza are fleeing their homes and taking refuge in temporary shelters, according to AP.People across Gaza are fleeing their homes and taking refuge in temporary shelters, according to AP.
Families arrived in pickup trucks, on donkeys and by foot at schools in the Strip run by the United Nations, hauling pillows and pans, blankets and bread. Men lugged large plastic bags and women carried infants on their shoulders, cramming into classrooms.Families arrived in pickup trucks, on donkeys and by foot at schools in the Strip run by the United Nations, hauling pillows and pans, blankets and bread. Men lugged large plastic bags and women carried infants on their shoulders, cramming into classrooms.
“Nothing remains for us”, one mother who fled with her children to a school in Beit Lahiya, told an AP reporter. Her son, Othman, said he had felt the family’s house “shake up and down,” adding that “everyone was running.”“Nothing remains for us”, one mother who fled with her children to a school in Beit Lahiya, told an AP reporter. Her son, Othman, said he had felt the family’s house “shake up and down,” adding that “everyone was running.”
My colleagues published this photograph on the blog overnight, but it’s such a powerful image it deserves to be shared with people who are now up and about in different time zones.My colleagues published this photograph on the blog overnight, but it’s such a powerful image it deserves to be shared with people who are now up and about in different time zones.
On the right: rockets fired from the Gaza Strip towards Israel. On the left: Iron Dome interceptors. Picture taken by Anas Baba, a photographer with Agence France-Presse.On the right: rockets fired from the Gaza Strip towards Israel. On the left: Iron Dome interceptors. Picture taken by Anas Baba, a photographer with Agence France-Presse.
Protests against the Israeli occupation of the Palestinian Territories and the mounting civilian death toll in Gaza are growing across the West Bank and Jordan this morning.Protests against the Israeli occupation of the Palestinian Territories and the mounting civilian death toll in Gaza are growing across the West Bank and Jordan this morning.
Thousands of people in Ghor, near the West Bank border in the Jordan valley, gathered to wave Palestinian flags and chant “Freedom for Gaza, freedom for al-Aqsa.”Thousands of people in Ghor, near the West Bank border in the Jordan valley, gathered to wave Palestinian flags and chant “Freedom for Gaza, freedom for al-Aqsa.”
Smaller numbers of people are out on the streets in Nablus, Hebron, Ramallah, Jenin and Bethlehem, but crowd sizes are expected to swell after Friday’s afternoon prayers.Smaller numbers of people are out on the streets in Nablus, Hebron, Ramallah, Jenin and Bethlehem, but crowd sizes are expected to swell after Friday’s afternoon prayers.
Today is the second day of Eid al-Fitr, the three-day festival which marks the end of a month of Ramadan fasting.Today is the second day of Eid al-Fitr, the three-day festival which marks the end of a month of Ramadan fasting.
Four residents of East Jerusalem have been arrested on suspicion of taking part in the Jerusalem Day violence which helped spark this week’s escalation in Gaza and ethnically-fuelled rioting in several cities across Israel, according to the Jerusalem Post. More than 750 people have been arrested in connection to the street violence since Monday.Four residents of East Jerusalem have been arrested on suspicion of taking part in the Jerusalem Day violence which helped spark this week’s escalation in Gaza and ethnically-fuelled rioting in several cities across Israel, according to the Jerusalem Post. More than 750 people have been arrested in connection to the street violence since Monday.
Last night, one Jewish man was severely beaten by an Arab mob in Acre, and one Jewish man in Batyam was severely beaten by Jews after being mistaken for an Arab, the paper also said.Last night, one Jewish man was severely beaten by an Arab mob in Acre, and one Jewish man in Batyam was severely beaten by Jews after being mistaken for an Arab, the paper also said.
Individuals involved in a new eruption of Israeli-Palestinian bloodshed may be targeted by an International Criminal Court investigation now under way into alleged war crimes in earlier bouts of the conflict, its top prosecutor has told Reuters.Individuals involved in a new eruption of Israeli-Palestinian bloodshed may be targeted by an International Criminal Court investigation now under way into alleged war crimes in earlier bouts of the conflict, its top prosecutor has told Reuters.
The ICC’s Fatou Bensouda said she would press ahead with her inquiry even without the cooperation of Israel, which accuses her office of anti-Semitic bias, and is not a member of the treaty-based court.The ICC’s Fatou Bensouda said she would press ahead with her inquiry even without the cooperation of Israel, which accuses her office of anti-Semitic bias, and is not a member of the treaty-based court.
“These are events that we are looking at very seriously,” Bensouda said. “We are monitoring very closely and I remind that an investigation has opened and the evolution of these events could also be something we look at.“These are events that we are looking at very seriously,” Bensouda said. “We are monitoring very closely and I remind that an investigation has opened and the evolution of these events could also be something we look at.
“This is just to alert people on all sides not to escalate, to be careful to avoid taking actions that will result in the commission of (war) crimes,” Bensouda said in a reference to the current hostilities.“This is just to alert people on all sides not to escalate, to be careful to avoid taking actions that will result in the commission of (war) crimes,” Bensouda said in a reference to the current hostilities.
In March, after nearly five years of preliminary inquiries, the ICC said it was opening a formal investigation into suspected war crimes committed by both the Israeli military and Palestinian armed groups.In March, after nearly five years of preliminary inquiries, the ICC said it was opening a formal investigation into suspected war crimes committed by both the Israeli military and Palestinian armed groups.
Pictures shared by Safa, the Palestinian news agency, show widespread destruction caused by Israeli airstrikes on a blacksmith’s workshop in Shejaiya, east of Gaza City.Pictures shared by Safa, the Palestinian news agency, show widespread destruction caused by Israeli airstrikes on a blacksmith’s workshop in Shejaiya, east of Gaza City.
Israeli attacks on Friday are targeting senior Hamas officials and the militant group’s network of tunnels inside the territory, the Israeli military said.Israeli attacks on Friday are targeting senior Hamas officials and the militant group’s network of tunnels inside the territory, the Israeli military said.
In a tweet in Hebrew and Arabic, French president Emmanuel Macron has called for an immediate ceasefire, saying that “the cycle of violence in the Middle East must stop”.
A fresh round of airstrikes has begun in Gaza, the IDF has tweeted.
The new attack follows a pre-dawn Israeli offensive on Hamas targets in the enclave using artillery and extensive airstrikes. Today is the fifth day of hostilities, which show no sign of abating.
Israel’s Iron Dome has just intercepted a Hamas drone, according to the IDF.
Good morning to those just joining us. I’m Bethan McKernan, one of the Guardian’s Middle East correspondents, bringing you the latest after a night during which there was confusion over whether Israel had put boots on the ground in Gaza and the IDF was forced to retract an earlier statement.
If you see news or video footage you think we may have missed, please let me know on bethan.mckernan@theguardian.com or on Twitter @mck_beth.
With that awful news, that is it from me, Helen Sullivan, for today. My colleague Bethan McKernan, the Guardian’s Middle East and Turkey correspondent, will be taking you through the next few hours of developments.
The death toll has risen overnight to at least 119 Palestinians, including 31 children and 19 women, according to Gaza’s health ministry. There have been 830 injuries.
Israel’s death toll has risen to eight.
In the northern Gaza Strip, Rafat Tanani, his pregnant wife and four children were killed after an Israeli warplane reduced the building to rubble, according to an AP report citing local residents.
Sadallah Tanani, a relative, said the family was “wiped out from the population register” without warning. “It was a massacre. My feelings are indescribable,” he said.
Gaza’s Health Ministry says the death toll has climbed to 109 Palestinians, including 28 children and 15 women, with 621 people wounded, according to the Associated Press.
The Hamas and Islamic Jihad militant groups have confirmed 20 deaths in their ranks, though Israel says that number is much higher. Seven people have been killed in Israel, including a 6-year-old boy and a soldier.
Helen Sullivan with you for our live coverage of the attacks on Gaza. If you see news or video footage you think we may have missed, let me know on Twitter on @helenrsullivan or via email: helen.sullivan@theguardian.com.
Many thanks to those who have sent information throughout the night.