Israel-Palestine live: Israel and Palestinians agree to truce, hostage deal

The biggest hospital in the Gaza Strip was coming under bombardment on Friday, the World Health Organization said, adding that 20 hospitals in Gaza were now out of action entirely, Reuters news agency said.

Asked about the Palestinian health ministry's reports of an Israeli strike on the courtyard of Al-Shifa hospital in Gaza City, WHO spokesperson Margaret Harris said: "I haven't got the detail on Al-Shifa but we do know they are coming under bombardment".

Asked to elaborate, she said there was "intense violence" at the site, quoting colleagues on the ground.

Palestinian families have been sheltering at the hospital, the territory's largest, which is inside Gaza City encircled by Israeli troops. 

The Palestinian Authority said it was ready to assume responsibilities in the Gaza Strip as part of a comprehensive political solution for the West Bank, East Jerusalem and Gaza, Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas said on Friday.

A spokesperson for the Palestinian Ministry of Health said thousands of Palestinians remain trapped in hospitals as  Israel ramps up its bombardment of Gaza.

“Israeli tanks had surrounded the Al-Rantisi and Al-Nasr Hospitals in all directions,” said Dr Ashraf al-Qudra, a spokesperson for the Palestinian health ministry. 

“Thousands of patients, medical staff, and displaced people are trapped inside hospitals, without water and food, and are at risk of death at any moment.”

Hundreds of British trade unionists blocked an arms factory on Friday morning that supplies parts for a plane used by Israel to bomb the besieged Gaza Strip.

Footage online showed the trade unionists blocking the entrance to an arms factory owned by BAE Systems in Rochester, southeast England. The BAE Systems site in Rochester makes parts for Israel’s most advanced fighter jet, the F-35.

A Palestinian boy died from his wounds on Friday after Israeli forces shot him during a raid in the Aida refugee camp in Bethlehem, according to the local health ministry.

The Palestinian Red Crescent confirmed that 17-year-old Mohammed Ali Azah died from his wounds. Eyewitnesses told the Palestinian news network that Israeli forces shot Azah during a large incursion into the camp. 

Good morning MEE readers.

Thursday night and early Friday morning was a terrifying time for Palestinians in northern Gaza, as Israeli air strikes hit hospitals including al-Shifa, the largest medical complex in the besieged enclave and where thousands of Palestinians have been seeking refuge from Israel's assault.

One of the strikes hit al-Shifa struck near the encampment where journalists were staying. The director of the hospital said there were casualties, but an exact number is not clear yet.

In case you're just tuning in to our coverage, here is what you may have missed over the past several hours:

• The Palestinian death toll currently stands at 10,812 people including 4,412 children, according to the health ministry.

• Biden is being warned by US diplomats abroad that anger is growing amongst Arab countries over American support for Israel's assault on Gaza, several diplomatic cables have revealed.

• Demonstrations and opposition to Biden's stance on the war are growing inside the US as well. More than 500 people who worked on Biden's presidential campaign have signed a call for a ceasefire. A major American labour union has done so, too. And demonstrations all across major US cities continue.

• Thursday served as a worldwide day of action by activists, in which they called on demonstrators to hold as many rallies and protests as possible. Organisers listed nearly 100 actions that took place on Thursday alone.

• While the US has maintained stalwart support of Israel amid its campaign in Gaza, Washington's office for Palestinian affairs issued criticism of Israel for demolishing the home of the Palestinian family of a young boy who was arrested for stabbing an Israeli border guard.

• Meanwhile, Iran's foreign minister has warned that the expansion of the scope of the war in Gaza is inevitable.