Summary of the day …
It has just gone 5pm in Gaza, Beirut and Tel Aviv. Here are the latest headlines …
The European Commission has said it is “hopeful” that the first boat carrying aid to Gaza will set sail soon after delays over the weekend. Departure arrangements for the Open Arms vessel were in the hands of the Cypriots, a spokesperson said. The delay in the departure of the aid ship highlights the complexity of delivering aid to Gaza through unconventional means.
As Ramadan begins, the Hamas-led health ministry in Gaza issued new casualty figures, claiming at least 31,112 Palestinians have been killed and 72,760 wounded since 7 October in Israel’s military offensive on the Gaza Strip.
In its latest operational update, Israel’s military has claimed that “IDF troops struck terrorist operatives who endangered the forces in the central Gaza Strip” and that “special forces are continuing to operate in the area of Hamad in Khan Younis.”
Israel’s defense minister, Yoav Gallant, has issued a statement for Ramadan in which he cautions against making it “a month of jihad”. Gallant said “We tell everyone who is thinking of trying us – we are ready, don’t make mistakes.”
In a video statement Israel’s prime minister has claimed the country has killed a senior Hamas leader, without naming them. Benjamin Netanyahu told viewers “We are on the way to total victory. On the way to this victory, we already eliminated number four in Hamas. Three, two, and one are on the way. They are all dead men, we will reach them all”. It is unclear who Netanyahu was referring to, although Israeli media have speculated he may have meant deputy political leader Saleh al-Arouri. He was killed in Beirut in January.
The UN secretary-general António Guterres has reiterated his calls for an end to hostilities in Gaza and the increased delivery of humanitarian aid, describing international humanitarian law as in tatters. He told the media “International humanitarian law lies in tatters. And a threatened Israeli assault on Rafah could plummet the people of Gaza into an even deeper circle of hell”. He also called for the release of hostages held by Hamas and the removal of “all obstacles to ensure the delivery of lifesaving aid at the speed and massive scale required” to Gaza.
Twelve of Israel’s most prominent human rights organisations have signed an open letter accusing the country of failing to comply with the international court of justice’s (ICJ) provisional ruling that it should facilitate access of humanitarian aid into Gaza.
Hezbollah has claimed it launched a multi-drone attack on an Israeli air defence outpost across from Lebanon in the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights. Israel claimed two “suspicious aerial targets” struck open areas in the northern Golan Heights, and there are no reports of any damage of casualties.
British maritime security firm Ambrey has said it was aware of a missile-related incident west of Yemen’s Red Sea port city of Hodeidah. Local media has claimed “the Yemeni port of Ras Issa has been attacked by three airstrikes in what it calls “US-British aggression”. The claims have not been independently verified.
Police in Italy have arrested three Palestinians who they said were planning attacks in an unspecified country, according to a police statement.
We are closing this live blog now. You can find all our latest coverage of the Israel-Gaza war here.
Updated
Netanyahu: Israel has killed the Hamas 'number four' and will kill entire leadership
In a video statement Israel’s prime minister has claimed the country has killed a senior Hamas leader, without naming them.
Benjamin Netanyahu told viewers “We are on the way to total victory. On the way to this victory, we already eliminated number four in Hamas. Three, two, and one are on the way. They are all dead men, we will reach them all.”
It is unclear who Netanyahu was referring to, although Israeli media have speculated he may have meant deputy political leader Saleh al-Arouri. He was killed in Beirut in January, in what was seen at the time as the first strike in an expected campaign of overseas assassinations promised by Israeli officials after 7 October. Israel has never directly claimed the strike inside Lebanon’s capital.
Israeli media has also reported that Israel’s military is investigating whether it killed Hamas’s number three, Marwan Issa, over the weekend. The deputy head of the group’s military wing was reportedly killed in an airstrike Sunday.
