Israel-Palestine live: Israel bombs Unrwa building in Gaza

A man killed in an Israeli air strike, which also killed two children and a mother, has been identified as a Hezbollah member, the group announced in a statement. 

The 26-year-old from the town of Taybeh has been named as Hassan Ali Najm.
 

The prime ministers of Spain and Ireland asked the European Commission on Wednesday to urgently review whether Israel is complying with its human rights obligations in Gaza, Reuters reported. 

This comes amid growing pressure on Israel to halt a planned ground offensive on the densely populated southern border city of Rafah.

The two leaders said attacking Rafah posed "a grave and imminent threat that the international community must urgently confront".

A Spanish government source said it was confident that European countries are unifying around a firmer position and for the European Commission to take more concrete action over Israel's operations in Gaza. 
 

Medical Aid for Palestinians said around 400 Palestinian patients are in a critical condition at the al-Nasser hospital in Khan Younis, while Israeli forces continue to attack the area.

The charity said that dozens of Palestinians carrying sacks have been making their way out of the hospital, some of them carrying white flags. 

They added that despite the military calling on people to leave the premises, it is not safe to do so.
 

The Palestine Red Crescent Society said on Wednesday that Israeli forces are currently shelling the vicinity of the al-Amal hospital in Khan Younis. 

The organisation added that the shelling has damaged the hospital building.
 

The Israeli army announced on Wednesday that 15 soldiers were wounded in the last 24 hours. 

One of them has been described as being in a serious condition, while four are in a moderate condition, Haaretz reported.
 

An Israeli strike on Lebanon on Wednesday has killed two children, al-Mayadeen journalist Fatima Ftouni reported. 

The children have been identified as Hassen Mohsen, a 13-year-old boy, and his two-year old brother. 

Two others were also killed in the air strike. At least seven other people were wounded in the strikes across the south, sources told Reuters.

Israeli forces carried out a raid in the occupied West Bank city of Beit Ummar, located north of Hebron, wounding a number of people. 

Video footage shared online shows Israeli military vehicles entering the town.
 

Israeli air strikes on Lebanon have killed four people, according to Lebanese outlet al-Mayadeen.

Those killed include a woman and her two sons, in the town of Souaneh.

Al-Manar news also reported that another person was killed in Adchit. 
 

Egypt’s Suez Canal will be coordinating with clients to find ways to reduce the effects of the Red Sea crisis, triggered by the Houthi group, on trade.

The decision was announced by Canal Authority chairman Osama Rabie, who mentioned this in a meeting with Soren Toft, the CEO of shipping giant MSC, on Wednesday.

Attacks on vessels in the Red Sea, which the Houthis say are in solidarity with Gaza, have disrupted global shipping and forced firms to take longer, more costly routes.
 

About an hour ago, the Israeli army spokesman, Daniel Hagari, announced the start of strikes on targets in Lebanon.

Videos are now emerging of the strikes deep inside Lebanese territory, which are the most serious since the beginning of the current war in Gaza. Online footage suggests the attacks are severe.

The Israeli army rehabilitation centre is anticipating receiving some 20,000 additional wounded veterans over the coming year, as fighting in the Gaza Strip continues into its fifth month, the Times of Israel reported. 

So far, since 7 October, the rehab unit has dealt with more than 5,500 soldiers, the Israeli daily reported. 

The Times of Israel said that the army expects that of the 20,000 injured soldiers in the coming year, at least 80 percent, or 16,000, will have been injured in Israel's war against Gaza.

The Israeli military spokesperson, Daniel Hagari, says fighter jets launched “an extensive wave of attacks” on Lebanese territory.

At least one Israeli soldier was killed earlier today and eight others were injured in rocket strikes that Israel says came from southern Lebanon. The Hezbollah group has yet to claim responsibility.

After many days of anticipation, the long-awaited Cairo talks on a Gaza ceasefire never materialised, and no deal was concluded.

The Hamas leadership refused to be bullied and pulled its delegation out of Cairo, having come to the conclusion that Netanyahu was only playing for time.

Meanwhile, the intensification of Israel’s assault on Rafah, and the promise of an imminent ground invasion in this southernmost part of Gaza, point to a deep frustration on the part of Israeli leaders. 

Such indiscriminate and merciless punishment of the Palestinian civilian population has become a pattern in this war. Yet, the Hamas delegation remained for some time in Cairo, apparently keen not to be seen as the party responsible for destroying the prospects of a ceasefire deal mediated by Qatar and Egypt. 

Read more: Netanyahu's onslaught on Rafah is further proof of his desperation

Dr Khaled Asreer, who is one of the last remaining surgeons in Nasser hospital, gave Middle East Eye an update on the situation unfolding inside the hospital.

“Israeli army spoke to the hospital administration and said patients and their families must leave Nasser through the northern gate of the hospital," said Asreer.

“Most of the people inside the hospital have been evacuated through the northern gate. The Israelis are making them walk through tanks and soldiers. Each person is getting a security check so it’s taking a long time for the evacuations to take place," added Asreer. 

“Crowds are now standing in front of the gates and the Israeli army are forcing them to move about two kilometres to reach a safety zone," he said.

“The Israeli instructions were strict and they said that every patient who is able to move have to evacuate immediately.

“The only exception is for patients who are unable to walk or move. Even patients with wheelchairs are unable to move because in front of the gates - due to bulldozer activity [in the] last two days - there is no hard surface for the wheelchair to move. It’s all sand,” he told MEE. 

The Israeli military ordered around 300 medical staff, 450 patients and hundreds of displaced Palestinians to leave Nasser hospital, reports Al Jazeera journalist Hani Mahmoud in Rafah, southern Gaza.

Israeli forces have destroyed most exits, leaving only one gate open, which people are being forced through. 

"There are tanks and armoured vehicles stationed in front of that gate. There are face-recognition cameras installed at the eastern gate of the hospital," said Mahmoud.

"From past experience, setting up face-recognition cameras and hi-tech equipment means raids and mass arrests are soon going to happen," he added.