Live: Israel ramps up strikes on Gaza after Iran attack

A large blast was reported in Beirut's southern suburbs, with a plume of smoke rising from the area, Reuters is reporting citing local witnesses.

The cause is currently not known.

Wafa news agency is reporting that six Palestinians have been killed and others injured in an Israeli air strike targeting a house east of Khan Younis, in southern Gaza on Thursday.

A school in Jabalia in northern Gaza has been targeted by an Israeli air strike causing an unknown number of casualties, Al Jazeera is reporting citing local sources.

Displaced Palestinians were sheltering at Hafsa Ak-Faluja School at the time of the strike.

The ongoing war in Gaza could set back the education of children and youth by up to five years, according to a report by academics working with the UN agency for Palestinian refugees (Unrwa).

“The most optimistic prediction - assuming an immediate ceasefire and a rapid international effort to rebuild the education system - is that students will lose two years of learning,” Unrwa stated in a summary of the report. “If the fighting continues until 2026, the losses could extend to five years.”

The report also noted that this estimate does not take into account the additional impacts of trauma, famine and forced displacement, which are further exacerbating Gaza’s education crisis.

More than 80 percent of Gaza’s schools have been damaged or destroyed since Israel started bombing Gaza in October last year. 

Turkey is preparing for a possible evacuation of its citizens and foreign nationals from Lebanon, a source at the Turkish defence ministry told Reuters.

“Preliminary planning and preparations for a potential evacuation operation are being made,” the source said.

This news follows Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu’s statement denying reports of a ceasefire with Hezbollah and his directive for the military to continue fighting with full force.

Western diplomats have warned that recent statements by Israeli politicians threaten to derail ceasefire negotiations between Israel and Hezbollah, potentially leading to an all-out war, the Israeli daily Haaretz reported. 

Two diplomats involved in the ongoing talks pointed to a tweet by Foreign Minister Israel Katz, in which he stated, “There will be no ceasefire in the north,” as an example of public remarks undermining the negotiations. “This looks like a deliberate attempt to damage the talks,” one diplomat said.

The ceasefire proposal, developed by the US and France, has received backing from several Western countries, as well as Saudi Arabia and the UAE.

A diplomat representing a government that supports the proposal also voiced concern over a press release from the Prime Minister's Office, which suggested that Israel would make demands Hezbollah would likely reject as part of a ceasefire agreement.

“Our priority is to prevent an all-out war that could result in thousands of deaths,” the diplomat said. “These statements are not helpful.”

The Lebanese Ministry of Health reported that three people were killed and 17 others wounded in Israeli strikes on towns in the Tyre district of southern Lebanon.

Lebanon’s interior minister, Bassam Mawlawi, praised the public for their “solidarity and unity” during the crisis.

Speaking at a press briefing, he reported a significant influx to the north of displaced people from southern Lebanon and announced that more than 500 shelters, many located in schools, have been set up to accommodate them.

Mawlawi added that provincial mayors are managing the shelters, where individuals with special needs and chronic health conditions are receiving “special attention”.

A prominent French activist was taken into custody on Tuesday morning for acts described as "incitement to commit crimes" after appearing to call for an "intifada in Paris" during a pro-Palestine demonstration on 8 September.

During the event held in the French capital, pro-Palestine activist Elias d’Imzalene asked the crowd: "Are we ready to lead the intifada in Paris? In our suburbs? In our neighbourhoods?

"The path to liberation… starts in Paris," he added. "Soon, Jerusalem will be liberated and we will be able to pray at Al-Aqsa Mosque."

Imzalene went on to accuse US President Joe Biden and his French counterpart Emmanuel Macron of complicity in Israel's war on Gaza.

"The genocide has accomplices. They are called Biden, they are called Macron, Macron the election thief, right? We know the thieves, who live in the Elysee and Matignon [the residences of the French president and prime minister]."

Read more: France: Pro-Palestine activist held in custody over 'intifada in Paris' speech

Qatar’s Foreign Ministry has stated that no formal mediation efforts have been initiated to secure a ceasefire in Lebanon.

Ministry spokesperson Majed Al-Ansari, speaking at a press briefing, also noted that Qatar is not aware of any “direct link” between proposals for Lebanon and Gaza.

Qatar, which has previously mediated Gaza ceasefire talks alongside the US and Egypt, has repeatedly cautioned about the potential regional consequences of the Gaza conflict.

Israeli opposition leader and head of the Labour Party, Yair Golan, stated in an interview that "we must not agree to a three-week a priori ceasefire".

Golan suggested a shorter ceasefire of three to four days, during which time progress could be made with the Lebanese government and secured with international guarantees. 

Earlier today Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu denied reports about ceasefire talks, stating that they are incorrect. 

Israeli Foreign Minister Israel Katz dismissed earlier reports of a potential ceasefire with Hezbollah, stating "there will be no ceasefire in the north".

When the war on Gaza began in October last year, Golan called for electricity to be cut off and all supplies to be withheld from Gaza.

"First of all, close all supplies to Gaza. I think in this battle we should not allow a humanitarian effort," he said at the time.

The policy, which was implemented by Israel, is a form of collective punishment, a war crime under international law.

Israeli Foreign Minister Israel Katz dismissed earlier reports of a potential ceasefire with Hezbollah, stating "there will be no ceasefire in the north".

He added on X that Israel will "continue to fight" until achieving victory.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu denied reports about ceasefire talks, stating that they are incorrect, the Israeli daily Haaretz reported on Thursday morning.

"I instructed the Israeli army to continue fighting in Lebanon with full force," Netanyahu said, according to Haaretz.

Earlier it was reported by Israel’s Channel 12 that Netanyahu’s office has given the “greenlight for a ceasefire” with Hezbollah.

At least 23 people, all Syrian and predominantly women and children, died in a strike on a three-story building in the Lebanese town of Younine late Wednesday, according to Mayor Ali Qusas, who spoke to Reuters. 

Qusas also reported that eight additional people were wounded.

Australia has advised approximately 15,000 of its citizens living in Lebanon to depart the country, citing the potential closure of Beirut airport and the challenges of evacuating large numbers of people if the situation worsens, according to Reuters.

Meanwhile, Israel intensified its air strikes in Lebanon on Wednesday, resulting in at least 81 fatalities. The Israeli army chief indicated that a "ground attack is possible".