Live: UK halts trade deal talks with Israel, summons ambassador over Gaza

Around 90 percent of families in Gaza are facing severe water shortages amid widespread destruction of infrastructure, Wafa news agency is reporting citing medical sources.

According to the sources, 25 percent of water samples taken in the Strip are contaminated, promoting the spread of disease in the enclave.

They further noted that, with soaring summer temperatures, the need for water will surge.

They added that 90 percent of desalination plants and 80 percent of sewage plants are not operating.

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer has called the Israeli blockade on Gaza "intolerable" and said his government is working towards a two-state solution.

Starmer made the remarks in response to a question in parliament by Liberal Democrat leader Ed Davey, who said: "For more than ten weeks Israeli forces have blocked food, water and medicine getting into Gaza.

"There is now a humanitarian catastrophe with two million people at risk of famine and one in five facing starvation.

"Rather than ending this crisis, the Netanyahu government is planning to seize all of Gaza indefinitely."

Davey continued: "Now I know the prime minister will agree that the blockade must end, and I'm sure he will agree that it would be appalling if Netanyahu proceeds with that escalation.

Read more: Starmer calls Israeli blockade 'intolerable' but dodges call to recognise Palestine

China's UN envoy has weighed in on the US-Israeli plan for Gaza's aid distribution, and demanded that Israel "fulfil its obligations as the occupying power under international humanitarian law by immediately lifting the blockade and restoring full access to supplies".

Addressing the UN Security Council, Fu Cong said that Gaza "has become a living hell," noting that the entire population of the strip is suffering from severe food shortages according to the global hunger monitor, the IPC.

Referring to the US, Cong said that a "certain country has proposed the so-called humanitarian distribution plan," which UN agencies have "categorically rejected".

Al Jazeera is reporting that US special envoy Steve Witkoff met with Qatari officials and the families of Israel captives held in Gaza in Doha.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu accused French President Emmanuel Macron on Wednesday of standing with Hamas after Macron said Israel's policy in Gaza was "shameful".

Netanyahu said Israel was sticking to its war aims of securing the release of its hostages, defeating Hamas and ensuring Gaza poses no threat to Israel.

At least 84 Palestinians have been killed in Israeli attacks since dawn.

Reporting by Reuters

Palestinian Authority (PA) forces have killed two people and injured a child in Tubas and Jenin in the occupied West Bank.

Witnesses said officers in civilian clothing shot Palestinian Rami Zahran in the head on Tuesday while he was in his car inside the Fara refugee camp near Tubas in the northern West Bank.

Those present at the time of the killing told Middle East Eye that there were no clashes ongoing at the time of Zahran’s death and that he was killed extrajudicially.

The victim’s family said they would not hold a funeral for their relative until those responsible for his death were brought to account.

They also called on human rights organisations for help in upholding justice and making sure that the law was implemented.

Read more: Palestinian Authority forces in occupied West Bank kill two men in 'cold blood'

Al Jazeera is reporting that at least 84 people have been killed in Israeli attacks across Gaza since dawn.

The death toll of Palestinians killed in Israeli attacks since dawn on Wednesday has risen to 80.

Of that figure, 50 have been killed in Israeli attacks in northern Gaza.

Al Jazeera is reporting that six Israeli air strikes have hit the vicinity of the European Hospital near southern Gaza's Khan Younis.

The attacks come a day after deadly Israeli attack targeting the hospital killed at least 28 Palestinians.

According to Al Jazeera, one of today's strikes hit a bulldozer working to clear the rubble in the hospital's courtyard to recover bodies from the previous day's attack.

The attacks have severely disrupted the hospital's operations and barred ambulances from leaving the facility.

US President Donald Trump said on Wednesday that Israel was not sidelined by his trip to the Gulf and that good US relations with those countries were good for Israel.

"This is good for Israel," Trump told reporters aboard Air Force One. "Having a relationship like I have with these countries .... I think it's very good for Israel."

US President Donald Trump has addressed the war in Gaza during his visit to Riyadh, saying he shares the “hope of so many in this region for a future of safety and dignity for the Palestinian people”.

He called on “Gaza’s leaders” to not to block the progress by attacking “innocent people” and praised Gulf Cooperation Council leaders’ role in trying to bring an end to this “terrible conflict”.

“Ultimately, all hostages of all nationalities have to be released. And I think it’s going to happen,” said Trump.

Following his visit to Saudi Arabia, Trump has landed in Doha, Qatar, for his second stop on a three-day tour of the Gulf.

Israeli air strikes have killed at least 70 Palestinians in Gaza since dawn on Wednesday, including 50 in the north of the territory, according to Al Jazeera.

Local hospitals and health officials said at least 22 children were among the dead.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu asked President Donald Trump not to lift US sanctions on Syria during Netanyahu’s visit to Washington last month, AP reported, citing an Israeli official who spoke on condition of anonymity.

Trump on Tuesday said he would ease sanctions on Syria and move to restore ties with its new leader, Ahmed al-Sharaa.

Two Palestinian children have been killed by Israeli attacks east of Khan Younis in southern Gaza, Quds News Network has reported.

At least 65 people have been killed in Israeli attacks on Gaza since the early hours of this morning, Al Jazeera reported, citing medical sources.

BREAKING: At least two children were confirmed killed following an Israeli bombardment east of Khan Younis, according to medical sources. pic.twitter.com/puMPIq1fR9

— Quds News Network (@QudsNen) May 14, 2025