Summary of the day …
Israel’s prime minister visited the site where fires broke out in northern Israel earlier this week after rocket attacks launched from Lebanon. Benjamin Netanyahu said “Whoever thinks he can hurt us and we will respond by sitting on our hands is making a big mistake. We are prepared for very intense action in the north. One way or another, we will restore security to the north”. The mayor of the Kiryat Shmona criticised Netanyahu for failing to invite him on the visit to the city, criticising it as “cheap politics during wartime”
Violent clashes broke out in Jerusalem during the annual Jerusalem flag day march which commemorates the anniversary of Israel taking control and occupying East Jerusalem in 1967. At least two journalists were injured as right-wing Israeli youths marched chanting anti-Arab and anti-Islamic slogans. Israeli peace activists have been taking part in the “flower parade”, where they hand flowers to Palestinian residents as an alternative to the flag march
Israel is phasing out the use of a military-run detention camp for Palestinians captured during the Gaza war where rights groups alleged there has been abuse of inmates, justice officials said on Wednesday. In late May, Lorenzo Tondo and Quique Kierszenbaum reported for the Guardian that whistleblowers had described harrowing treatment of detainees at the camp. The claims included inmates regularly being kept shackled to hospital beds, blindfolded and forced to wear nappies, and reports of a man having his limb amputated as a result of injuries sustained from constant handcuffing
The Israeli military said it has started “operational activity” in two areas of central Gaza in a possible broadening of its ground offensive. The military said Wednesday its forces were operating “both above and below ground” in eastern parts of Deir al-Balah and Bureij
Israel’s government has raised the number of reservists the IDF is authorised to call up from 300,000 to 350,000
Gaza’s Hamas-led health ministry claimed 36,586 people had been killed and 83,074 wounded in Israeli attacks since 7 October. It has not been possible for journalists to independently verify the casualty figures being issued during the conflict
Israeli far-right minister Itamar Ben-Gvir said on Wednesday his party would “disrupt” the ruling coalition until Netanyahu discloses details of the prospective Gaza deal amid renewed truce efforts
The US embassy in Lebanon has said that it will remain closed for the rest of the day, but expects to open as normal on Thursday. This follows the earlier incident when a gunman opened fire on the compound. They were wounded in an exchange of fire with troops and detained
Hezbollah said on Wednesday it had targeted Israel’s Iron Dome air-defence system in Ramot Naftali with a guided missile
Al Jazeera reports that an Israeli court has upheld the government’s ban on it operating in Israel
Al Jazeera reports that an Israeli court has upheld the government’s ban on it operating in Israel.
