Summary
As Israel and Gaza approach midnight, here is a look at the day’s events:
Israel’s prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, ordered the military to immediately carry out “powerful strikes” in Gaza, in the latest test for the increasingly shaky US-brokered ceasefire in the strip. Netanyahu ordered the strikes after an emergency meeting to discuss what he called Hamas violations of the ceasefire, amid clamour for a return to the war by far-right figures in the Israeli government.
Nine people have been killed tonight in Israeli air strikes says Gaza’s civil defense agency in its latest update. Meanwhile, Hamas has denied responsibility over the attack on Israeli soldiers in Rafah on Tuesday.
Hamas’s armed wing said it was postponing the handover of another hostage body scheduled for Tuesday evening after what it called Israeli “violations” of the US-brokered ceasefire. Hamas’s announcement came minutes after Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu ordered the military to carry out intense strikes on the Gaza Strip, accusing the militants of violating the truce deal.
US vice-president JD Vance said that Gaza’s ceasefire is holding, Reuters reports. “The ceasefire is holding. That doesn’t mean that there aren’t going to be little skirmishes here and there,” he said.
Turkey’s foreign ministry has issued a statement calling Israel’s latest strikes on Gaza a “flagrant violation of the ceasefire. It said: “We are deeply concerned by the reports that civilians have lost their lives as a result of the attacks. We once again emphasize that full adherence to the ceasefire is of vital importance for preserving the prospect for lasting peace and ensuring regional security.”
Updated
Turkey: Israel's Gaza attacks are 'flagrant violation of the ceasefire'
Turkey’s foreign ministry has issued a statement calling Israel’s latest strikes on Gaza a “flagrant violation of the ceasefire.”
It said:
“We are deeply concerned by the reports that civilians have lost their lives as a result of the attacks. We once again emphasize that full adherence to the ceasefire is of vital importance for preserving the propsect for lasting peace and ensuring regional security.
We reiterate our call on Israel to adhere to the ceasefire and to refrain from actions that undermine peace and stability.
Turkiye will continue to stand in solidarity with the Palestinian people and to support efforts towards achieving a just, lasting and comprehensive peace in the region.”
