Gaza live: Fresh Israeli order forces over 170,000 Palestinians to leave their homes

A senior Hamas military wing member, Samer al-Hajj, was killed in an Israeli-attributed air strike at the Ain al-Hilweh refugee camp near the central Lebanon city of Sidon on Friday, a Hamas source and two other security sources told Reuters.

Lebanon’s official news agency, NNA, and Reuters are reporting that the attack also injured two civilians.

Protests have broken out in Sidon to denounce the killing.

The International Federation of Medical Student Associations (IFMSA) has voted by a two-thirds majority to suspend its Israeli student association for two years, according to report by Ynet news, an Israeli media outlet.

The decision was made in response to the ongoing war in Gaza, allegations of genocide, and accusations of "a lack of morals and humanitarian values".

IFMSA has not officially released a statement announcing the suspension.

IFMSA is a non-governmental organisation representing medical student groups from 123 countries across six continents. Founded in 1951, the organisation is headquartered in Denmark.

David Lammy released a statement supporting the mediators' efforts to renew talks next week aimed at securing a ceasefire agreement for the war on Gaza.

The foreign secretary emphasised that the UK "fully endorses" the statement made on Thursday by Egypt, Qatar, and the US, which called for an immediate resumption of ceasefire negotiations and a hostage release deal between Israel and Hamas.

"There can be no further delays; the fighting must stop now," Lammy stated, insisting that "all hostages still cruelly detained by Hamas must be released." He also urged for "the urgent and unrestricted delivery of aid into Gaza".

Lammy further noted that it is in the "long-term interests" of Israelis, Palestinians, and other involved parties to urgently agree on the proposed deal.

The Israeli war on the Gaza Strip has put Palestinian women in tragic conditions where they suffer increased mental health issues, gender-based violence and difficulties accessing health and menstrual services, a survey has found. 

The new assessment, published on Thursday by the Ramallah-based Palestinian Association for Empowerment and Local Development - Reform, found women in the war-ravaged Strip struggle with interconnected crises amid the war. 

Those include displacement, food insecurity, escalating violence, financial losses and lack of conflict preparedness and prevention knowledge, among other struggles. 

“Women in Gaza are facing a dire situation and are among those hardest hit by the war,” Reform said.

“The war has deprived women and girls of stability and security. Gender-based violence has increased and the protection system has collapsed.” 

Read more: Palestinian women endure increasing violence, depression from Israeli war, survey finds

Two Palestinian journalists have been killed in two separate Israeli air strikes on Khan Younis.

Al Mayadeen correspondent Tamim Muammar and Al-Aqsa TV journalist Abdullah Al-Sousi were killed along with their families in Israeli air strikes on their homes in the southern city.

Wafa news agency reported that the Official Palestinian Media denounced the attacks and called on international media to hold Israel to account.

Breaking | Israeli airstrikes targeted the homes of Palestine TV journalist Tamim Ma'mmar and Al-Aqsa TV journalist Abdullah Al-Sousi in separate attacks, killing them along with their families in Khan Yunis. pic.twitter.com/ztRRD2XXCi

— Quds News Network (@QudsNen) August 9, 2024

Jordan's Ministry of Foreign affairs condemned on Friday Israel's decision to revoke the diplomatic status of Norwegian envoys serving in the occupied Palestinian territories.

Ministry spokesperson, Sufyan Qudah said that the move was part of broader punitive measures taken by the Israeli government against states that have recognised Palestinian statehood.

He added that these measures are in breach of international law.

On Thursday, Israel's Ministry of Foreign Affairs informed the Norwegian ambassador that the diplomats would have their statuses revoked within a week, and their visas annulled within three months.

At least 12 Palestinians have been killed and others injured in Israeli strikes on Khan Younis, Wafa news agency is reporting.

Medical sources reported that 11 bodies were transferred to the Nasser Hospital complex in the southern city.

Wafa also reported that four people were killed after Israeli strikes targeted a home in central Khan Younis.

Elsewhere, the agency reported that five have been killed in an Israeli strike targeting displaced people in Mawasi, a designated 'safe zone.'

Two more people were killed in an air strike targeting the town of al-Fukhari, east of Khan Younis.

The United Arab Emirates has called on Israel and Hamas to accept an invitation from mediators Qatar, Egypt and the U.S. to restart Gaza ceasefire talks on 15 August.

Reporting by Reuters

Oman's foreign ministry has voiced support for efforts by mediators Qatar, Egypt and the US to restart truce talks next week.

In a post on X, the ministry emphasised that the deal needs to be struck urgently so as to “alleviate the suffering of the Palestinian people”.

Israel has agreed to send a negotiating team to the talks set to begin on 15 August. Hamas is yet to respond.

The Palestine Red Crescent Society (PRCS) has reported that an American activist has been shot and injured by Israeli forces during a protest in the town of Beita,  near Nablus in the occupied West Bank.

The organisation reported that the 40-year-old activist sustained a gunshot wound to the thigh and was transported to hospital for medical treatment.

Israeli forces had stormed Beita and dispersed a protest against settlement expansion near Jabal Sabih on the outskirts of the town. 

Wafa news agency also reported that another foreign activist had been "assaulted" by settlers during an attack on Palestinian shepherds near Juba in the northern Jordan Valley.

The agency added that a Palestinian man, Ahmed Hussein Abu Mohsen, was abducted in the attack and was found later near the Mehola settlement with severe injuries.

The Israeli attack on Mawasi, a designated safe zone were displaced people are sheltering, has killed at least five Palestinians including two children, Al Jazeera is reporting.

The Qassam Brigades, Hamas's armed wing, said in a statement on Telegram that its fighters had targeted a building in Rafah, killing and injuring members of a force of nine soldiers.

It added that its fighters had monitored the arrival of Israeli evacuation helicopters.

An Israeli strike on al-Mawasi, a designated safe zone in southern Gaza, has killed and injured an unknown number of people, Al Jazeera Arabic is reporting.

This comes as Israeli forces issued new evacuation orders for Khan Younis residents as it launched a new assault on the southern Gaza City, driving people to flee to al-Mawasi.

At least nine Palestinians were killed in Israeli strikes across Gaza this morning, Wafa news agency is reporting.

According to the agency, four people were killed in a strike on a home in Nuseirat refugee camp in central Gaza.

Two more were killed in another deadly strike on Maghazi refugee camp in central Gaza, Wafa added, citing local sources.

Emergency teams also recovered the bodies of two Palestinians, including a child, from the town of Abasan, near Khan Younis.

The Palestine Red Crescent Society (PRCS) has reported that its emergency teams have recovered the body of a Palestinian man killed by a quadcopter attack near Khan Younis.

The organisation said that they had been contacted by witnesses who saw the man being shot.

Footage shared by the group revealed medics transporting the body to Nasser Hospital in Khan Younis.