Israel-Palestine live: US and Israel air differences over Gaza strategy
Live Updates
The bombing of Gaza's main public library has been decried as a deliberate attempt to destroy thousands of books and historical documents.
Photos of the destroyed building, with books scattered around on the floor, were released by the Municipality of Gaza.
The library was in regular use by members of the community, including schoolchildren, before the start of the war on 7 October.
Video footage shared by Storyful, an intelligence agency and open source intelligence and verification platform, showed the destroyed building and the collapsed bookshelves inside.
“The targeted destruction of Gaza’s primary public library is a stark reminder that genocide is about more than just the premeditated mass extinguishing of human life; it’s also about the calculated, and often vindictive, destruction of a people’s culture, language, history, and shared sites of community,” Literary Hub said in a statement.
US Congresswoman Rashida Tlaib is calling for the release of all hostages and Palestinian political prisoners.
On Wednesday, she took to X to post a statement which said: "Every innocent civilian should be released and reunited with their family, no matter their faith or ethnicity."
She included information about how on average, 500 to 700 children are detained by Israeli forces every year. Over 1,300 imprisoned Palestinians were being held without charge, trial, or access to an attorney.
"I support the release of Israeli civilians and ask my colleagues to demand the same for Palestinian civilians being held by Israeli forces without charge or trial," she added.
"Their failure to do so demonstrates their refusal to view Palestinians as equal human beings who deserve the same rights, freedom, and human dignity."
Thai Foreign Minister Parnpree Bahiddha-Nukara said he welcomed the release of two more Thai hostages on Wednesday that had been held by Hamas.
"Happy to personally welcome 2 additional Thai hostages just released and arrived at the hospital in Tel Aviv," he wrote on X.
The United Nations is renewing its call for a ceasefire in Gaza.
On Tuesday, Catherine Russell, the executive director of the UN Children's Fund (Unicef), took to X and wrote "Unicef welcomes the extension in the pause in fighting in Gaza.
"Unicef and partners have scaled-up our humanitarian response but much more is needed," she added.
"We continue to call for a humanitarian ceasefire and protection of aid workers and the children and families they serve."
Israel is blocking the entrances to Khalil Suliman and Ibn Sina hospitals, and are inching closer to al-Razi Hospital, according to Al Jazeera Arabic.
These are the main hospitals in Jenin, in the occupied West Bank.
At least five Palestinians have been wounded in ongoing Israeli raids on the refugee camp in the occupied West Bank.
Jenin over the last year has become an important hub of resistance to the continued Israeli occupation.
Good evening Middle East Eye readers,
A fifth captive exchange between Israel and Hamas has taken place. A few hours ago, 10 Israelis and two people from other nationalities were released.
Around 30 Palestinian civilians were also released, the youngest among them being a 14-year-old Palestinian child named Ahmed Saleimi.
An elated family welcomed Saleimi home but the family had been warned by Israeli security, which had raided their house several times, that they would not be allowed to celebrate.
Following his release, Saleimi spoke about human rights abuses faced by Palestinians in Israeli prisons.
In other updates:
- Hamas and Israel traded accusations that they were violating the tenuous truce
- Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Tuesday told United Nations secretary general Antonio Guterres that Israel must be held accountable in international courts for the war crimes it committed in Gaza
- A senior Hamas official invited US billionaire Elon Musk on Tuesday to visit the Gaza Strip to see the extent of destruction caused by Israeli bombardment
- The far-right Israeli minister of national security, Itamar Ben-Gvir, warned Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu that stopping the war in Gaza would result in the breakup of the coalition government
- At least 160 Palestinian civilians have been found dead amid the rubble in Gaza over the last 24 hours, according to Palestinian media agency Wafa
- Israeli military intelligence dismissed a detailed warning that Hamas was planning to break through the separation fence surrounding Gaza and overrun kibbutzim and military posts, according to reports in Israeli media
A senior official at the CIA posted a pro-Palestine photo on her Facebook page amid Israel’s bombardment of the Gaza Strip, but later deleted the post and other pro-Palestinian content after it was reported by the media.
The Financial Times reported on Tuesday that the CIA associate deputy director for analysis changed her Facebook cover photo on 21 October to an image of a man waving a Palestinian flag.
The official also published a selfie with a sticker saying “Free Palestine” superimposed on the photograph.
The images were deleted on Monday after the Financial Times contacted the official, the report said.
Middle East Eye reached out to the CIA associate deputy director for analysis on LinkedIn for comment but didn’t receive a reply by the time of publication.
Read more: Senior CIA official posts, then removes Pro-Palestine content
Ahmed Saleimi was welcomed by his mother, father and several of his relatives upon his arrival at his home in occupied East Jerusalem. Thirty Palestinian civilians were released under an extended truce deal on Tuesday.
Israeli military intelligence dismissed a detailed warning that Hamas was planning to break through the separation fence surrounding Gaza and overrun kibbutzim and military posts, according to reports in Israeli media.
The claim made by Israel’s Channel 12 was based on leaked emails from the Israeli military’s 8200 cyber-intelligence unit discussing the warnings.
The leaked emails revealed that a senior officer who reviewed intelligence of a surprise attack by Hamas, called it an "imaginary scenario".
Al Jazeera aired the moment a 14-year-old Palestinian child, Ahmed Saleimi, looking gaunt and tired, arrived at his home in occupied East Jerusalem after his release from an Israeli prison.
“We heard women that were beaten. We were also beaten,” said Saleimi, following his release.
“We only received two meals per day, we would often be hungry,” added Saleimi, speaking at a news conference.
Saleimi spent four months in house arrest when he was 13. After turning 14, Israeli authorities took him to prison where he spent the last four months.
During the press conference Saleimi’s dad said his son was the youngest Palestinian prisoner held by Israel, adding that Ahmed lost almost 10 kilograms while in prison.
“I am very happy to see him. This is the first time we have managed to speak to him in 50 days,” said Saleimi’s mother at the news conference.
“The Israeli authorities have raided our home six times today. They have warned us not to hold any celebrations,” she added.
Pentagon spokesman Patrick Ryder told a news conference that the US has complied with the truce agreement and suspended its drone flights.
“Those [flights] have been paused for now,” he said.
The Israeli prison service has said that 30 Palestinians have been freed, according to the AFP and the Associated Press. The bus has arrived in Beitunia, near Ramallah.
At least 160 Palestinian civilians have been found dead amid the rubble in Gaza over the last 24 hours, according to Palestinian media agency Wafa.
Despite the truce, Palestinians killed by Israeli air strikes continue to be found as rescue workers take advantage of the lull in fighting.
Over 15,000 Palestinians have been killed since 7 October, including over 6,150 children and 4,000 women.
The far-right Israeli minister of national security, Itamar Ben-Gvir, warned Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu that stopping the war in Gaza would result in the breakup of the coalition government.
Ben-Gvir’s threat on X, where he says “Stopping the war = dissolution of the government”, comes amid speculation that the truce could be extended further.
Ten Israeli captives have been transferred by Hamas to the Red Cross, Qatar’s foreign ministry spokesperson said, adding that a Filipino national has also been released and another foreign national, bringing the total number released today to 12.
Later today, 30 Palestinian civilians will be released.
