Evening recap

Good evening Middle East Eye readers,

As the number of fatalities crosses 11,300, thousands remain in the northern Gaza Strip. Israeli military vehicles are encircling al-Shifa hospital in Gaza from all directions, amid continuous artillery shelling and heavy gunfire, Palestinian authorities in Gaza have said.

Norwegian physician, Dr Mads Gilbert, speaking to al-Shifa staff gave an update about the dire state of al-Shifa tonight.

At least 82 dead bodies were buried in a mass grave on Tuesday with an additional 80 bodies awaiting burial, with hundreds of patients remaining in the hospital and unable to move. In other updates:

• The government of Belize effectively cut ties with Israel, according to a statement released on Tuesday.
• Labour opposition leader Keir Starmer is preparing to sack shadow ministers who vote in favour of backing a ceasefire in the Israel-Gaza conflict, the UK-based daily, The Telegraph reported.
• The White House on Tuesday repeated the Israeli government’s claim that Hamas and Islamic Jihad are using hospitals to hold hostages and store weapons, without providing any evidence
• “In the name of humanity, the secretary general calls for an immediate humanitarian ceasefire,” UN spokesman Stephane Dujarric told reporters on behalf of United Nations secretary general Antonio Guterres
• The Euro-Mediterranean Human Rights Monitor has condemned “Israel’s systematic, widespread and growing trend of humiliating, torturing and ill-treating Palestinian detainees with impunity”
• Around ten French ambassadors to the Middle East and North Africa have criticised the pro-Israeli stance adopted by President Emmanuel Macron, in an unprecedented rebuke.