Live: Palestinian death toll in Gaza nears 26,000

Israeli artillery shelling has targeted the vicinity of Khan Younis's main Nasser hospital, causing panic among patients and displaced families taking shelter there.

Palestinians fear the attacks late on Tuesday are a prelude to a wider assault on the hospital, similar to the targeting of al-Shifa hospital last year. 

Hello Middle East Eye readers. We are now in the early hours of the 103rd day of the war on Gaza. The White House has said that Israel is now in its less intense phase of the war.

Despite this announcement, there was an uptick in the daily death toll on Tuesday, with at least 158 Palestinians killed over the past 24 hours. The current death toll of Palestinians in Gaza since 7 October now stands at 24,285.

In the US, the Senate will be voting tonight on a bill introduced by Senator Bernie Sanders, which would require the State Department to issue a report on whether Israel is committing human rights abuses using American weapons. And if Israel is doing so, the US would need to suspend arms transfers to Israel.

The bill is unlikely to pass but will give insight into where the US Senate stands on Israel's war on Gaza.

Here's what you need to know from today:

• Several news outlets are reporting that Biden is going to announce plans to relist the Houthis as a terrorist group. The move could have significant impacts on aid to one of the world's most impoverished countries.

• Ice cream maker Ben & Jerry's is calling for a ceasefire, making it one of the first multinational companies to do so.

• Qatari mediators reached a deal between Israel and Hamas in which medication and humanitarian aid would be delivered to civilians in Gaza in exchange of delivering medications needed for Israeli captives being held in the enclave.

• The internet blackout in Gaza surpassed 96 hours on Tuesday, according to NetBlocks.

• The Houthis said they targeted and hit a "Zografia" vessel that was headed towards Israel.

• The European Union has added Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar to its “terrorist” sanctions blacklist over the 7 October attacks on Israel.

• Saudi Arabia's top diplomat indicated that the kingdom would recognise Israel if the Palestinian issue is resolved.

We are going to be taking a pause in our coverage but will be back soon. To stay up to date on the latest news, follow us on Facebook, X, Instagram, TikTok, Telegram and YouTube.

Senator Sanders is speaking right now on the floor of the US Senate ahead of a vote on his resolution, which would require the State Department to issue a report on whether Israel is committing human rights abuses using American weapons.

"Much of what is happening, much of the bombardment...is happening right now with US arms and equipment," Sanders said.

"Whether we like it or not, the United States is complicit."

You can tune in below.

In a message shared on Telegram, Hezbollah listed six attacks against Israel on Tuesday.

It said it targeted the sites in the Shebaa Farms region, Nabi Yusha, and Bayad Blida with missile fire. Hezbollah also said it targeted several gatherings of Israeli soldiers.

French President Emmanuel Macron said that France did not take part in the US-led air strikes against the Houthi movement in Yemen because it wants to avoid a regional escalation.

Paris's approach in the Red Sea is defensive and the country will stick to this policy, Macron said.

At least 13 Palestinians were killed by Israeli forces on Tuesday evening in Khan Younis, according to the Palestinian news outlet Wafa.

That number brings the total Palestinian death toll in the Khan Younis area on Tuesday to 23.

In addition to the deaths, dozens of homes and residential buildings were destroyed by Israeli attacks.

A US official told Reuters that the Biden administration is expected to announce plans in which it will redesignate the Houthi movement in Yemen as specially designated global terrorists.

In February 2021, the Biden administration removed the group from the terror list after it ended US support for offensive operations in the Saudi-led coalition's war in Yemen against the Houthis.

Now, the US has launched air strikes on the Yemeni armed group in response to the Houthis targeting shipping vessels in the Red Sea.

Wael al-Dahdouh, Al Jazeera's Gaza bureau chief, has arrived in Doha, where he will undergo treatment for injuries sustained during an Israeli strike that wounded him and killed his colleague, Samer Abu Daqqa.

Dahdouh left Gaza on Tuesday via the Rafah Crossing with Egypt, and from there flew to Qatar.

Under a new visa programme for Canada, Palestinians applying from Gaza are being asked to extensively list out personal details. It's unclear whether the list is required for people from other countries.

The form asks Palestinians to list out: every phone number they've held, all of their email addresses, all social media accounts, a history of all scars and injuries, and all disciplinary issues they have had at work.

Israeli forces on Tuesday evening arrested a young man from Jerusalem, after conducting a raid on his home.

The man was identified by Palestinian news agency Wafa as Ahmed Abu Ghazaleh.

The arrests took place on Tuesday afternoon at the Cannon House Office Building, where a group of Mennonites were protesting, demanding a ceasefire in Gaza.

The ice cream maker, which has faced a series of attacks from Israel and pro-Israel groups after it decided to stop selling in illegal Israeli settlements, has now joined in on the growing calls for a ceasefire in Gaza.

Ben & Jerry's has now become one of the first multinational companies to call for a permanent ceasefire since the war in Gaza began.

A spokesperson for Qatar's foreign ministry said a deal was reached between Israel and Hamas where medication and humanitarian aid will be delivered to civilians in Gaza in exchange for delivering medicine to Israeli captives being held in the enclave.

The deal was a result of Qatari mediation in cooperation with France, the spokesperson said.

The aid will leave Doha on Wednesday and will go to the Egyptian city of Arish. From there, it will be transported into Gaza.

The Palestine Red Crescent said they received 25 aid trucks that entered Gaza from Egypt through the Rafah border crossing.

The trucks were loaded with humanitarian aid including food, water, and medical supplies. In addition to the aid trucks, an additional 46 commercial trucks also made it through the crossing.

Meanwhile, at the Kerem Shalom crossing, 102 humanitarian aid trucks entered Gaza.

The US said on Tuesday it was prepared to increase humanitarian aid to Gaza. The enclave is currently facing one of the worst humanitarian crises in modern history, according to relief groups and UN officials.

In additional remarks by Kirby, the spokesman said that the US is not looking for a war with the Houthis.

“We’re not looking to expand this. The Houthis have a choice to make and they still have time to make the right choice, which is to stop these reckless attacks,” he said.

The Houthis began targeting ships travelling along the Red Sea in response to Israel’s war on Gaza. The group initially said it was only targeting ships that were travelling towards Israel, a claim that the US rejects.

The Yemeni group also says it will end its targeting of vessels once Israel stops its war on Gaza, and lifts the blockade on the enclave.