This is an entry from: Gaza live: Israel continues bombing central Gaza
Evening recap
18 April 2024 23:51 BST
Good evening readers of Middle East Eye,
Gaza's health ministry said that 71 people have been killed by Israeli attacks on the enclave in the past 24 hours, bringing the total to 33,970 since 7 October.
An additional 76,770 have been wounded since the start of the war.
In other developments:
- On Thursday, the United States used its veto power at the UN Security Council, effectively preventing the United Nations from granting full membership to the Palestinian Authority and thereby blocking the recognition of a Palestinian state.
- The Palestinian Authority expressed strong condemnation of the US veto of a Security Council draft resolution advocating for the full United Nations membership of a Palestinian state.
- The US and UK have imposed new sanctions on Iran after its missile and drone attack on Israel over the weekend.
- Italy's foreign minister said on Thursday that Israel is likely to retaliate against Iran's missile and drone strike on 13 April.
- State Department deputy spokesperson Vedant Patel said on Thursday that the humanitarian situation in Gaza remains critical, underscoring the need for Israel to increase efforts to facilitate aid entry into the area and collaborate with aid organisations on deconfliction measures.
- In a meeting between Israeli and US officials over Israel's planned invasion of Rafah, Israel said that it would take into account American concerns over the looming operation.