Morning update

Good morning,

Welcome back to Middle East Eye’s live blog, where we give you the latest updates from Gaza and across the region.

Here is everything you need to know to start your day: 

• Palestinian health officials said Israeli strikes on Gaza killed nine people, mostly women and children.

• Qatar’s foreign ministry said on Saturday night that it had met with Iran to discuss the situation in Gaza. In a statement, Doha described Gaza as a “common interest” issue between the two countries. 

• Turkish doctoral student Rumeysa Ozturk, who attends Tufts University, has returned to Boston after US immigration officers abducted her for penning an op-ed on Gaza in a student newspaper. 

• Palestinian factions in Lebanon remain uncertain over reports of Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas calling for armed Palestinian groups to disarm. The call reportedly stems from a request made by Saudi Arabia.

• Freed Israeli captive Ohad Ben Ami appealed to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and US President Donald Trump following the release of a video showing Israeli captives Elkana Bohbot and Yosef Chaim Ohana in captivity.