Gaza live: Israel continues bombing central Gaza

The US told the Group of Seven (G7) foreign ministers that it received "last minute" information from Israel about a drone action on Iran, Italian Foreign Minster Antonio Tajani said.

Tajani said that while the US received this information at the last minute, "there was no sharing of the attack by the U.S. It was a mere information"

The Group of Seven (G7) foreign ministers issued a joint statement calling for a sustainable ceasefire in Gaza and the release of all Israeli hostages.

The group also expressed their opposition to a full-scale Israeli military operation in Rafah.

"We reiterate our call for a credible and actionable plan to protect the civilian population there," they said.

G7 foreign ministers called on "all parties" to "work to prevent further escalation" in the Middle East following the Israeli attack on Isfahan, Iran this morning.

"In light of reports of strikes on April 19th, we urge all parties to work to prevent further escalation," the Group of Seven nations said in a statement after a meeting on the island of Capri, Italy. "The G7 will continue to work to this end."

G7 members include Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the United Kingdom, and the United States, as well as the European Union.

Events over the past week have brought us one step closer to a region-wide war in the Middle East.

In the early hours of Friday 19 April, Israel carried out military operations against Iran. Explosions were seen and heard in the skies over the cities of Isfahan and Tabriz as Israel’s drones were shot out of the sky. Israeli media reported that targets were also hit in Iraq and Syria. This was Israel’s response to Iran’s 13 April drone and missile attack on Israel. Both sets of attacks resulted in no casualties and no serious damage.

But this is a serious escalation of a situation that is quickly spiralling out of control. How we understand what caused it and which policies are needed to de-escalate it are crucial.

READ MORE: The West's unconditional support for Israel is triggering a region-wide war. Opinion by Mandy Turner

The Wall Street Journal reports that the Biden administration is considering more than $1bn in a new weapons deal with Israel which would include "tank ammunition, military vehicles and mortar rounds".

The proposed transfers would be amongst the largest since Israel invaded Gaza, the newspaper says.

Quoting US officials, the WSJ says "the deals under consideration include transfers of $700 million in 120 mm tank ammunition, $500 million in tactical vehicles and less than $100 million in 120 mm mortar rounds".

The sales require congressional leaders to sign off and could take months or years to be delivered.

These sales would be the first since Iran's weekend barrage of drones and missiles on Israel in retaliation for the deadly strike on the Iranian consulate in Damascus, Syria.

Opposition leader Yair Lapid strongly criticised National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir, after the hawkish far-right minister called the alleged Israeli attack on Iran "feeble".

"Never before has a minister in the security cabinet done such heavy damage to the country’s security, its image and its international status," Lapid said.

"In an unforgivable one-word tweet, Ben Gvir managed to mock and shame Israel from Tehran to Washington."

EU Commission President Ursual von der Leyen said it is "absolutely necessary that the region remains stable and that all sides restrain from further action" following the latest reported Israeli attack on Isfahan, Iran.

Oman's foreign ministry released a statement condemning the "Israeli attack on Isfahan" as well as the "repeated Israeli military assaults on the region".

Oman reiterated its call for a ceasefire in Gaza and asked the international community to find a "just solution" to the Palestinian cause "in order to restore security, stability and comprehensive peace to the entire region".

The Columbia Spectator's editorial board released a statement slamming university President Minouche Shafik's decision to authorise the New York Police Department to "forcibly remove" pro-Palestine protesters.

"Shafik’s authorisation of the New York Police Department to enter campus and forcibly remove peaceful protesters spotlights the emptiness and duplicity of the promises she made to Congress and the Columbia community," the statement read.

Dozens of students have been protesting on campus in what they called the Gaza Solidarity Encampment, demanding divestment from Israel during Shafik's testimony in front of the US Congress.

Arrests have been reporting outside the university, and at least three students, including Congresswoman Ilhan Omar's daughter, have been suspended.

"Hundreds of campus affiliates stood witness as the NYPD disgracefully arrested over 100 of our classmates, friends, and colleagues for peacefully protesting," the board added.

"Similar scenes unfolded when the NYPD was previously invited onto campus over 50 years ago during the anti-war protests of 1968. History has made clear who stood on the wrong side then, and it’s clear that this is the side you are aligning yourself with now. This will be your legacy."

An Iranian analyst told state TV that the mini drones shot intercepted by Iran's air defences were flown by "infiltrators from inside Iran", after US officials told several outlets that Israel launched an attack on the country.

Syria's official Sana news agency said Israel targeted the country's air defence systems in overnight missile strikes.

The military source quoted says the attack, launched at 2:55am, caused "material damages".

The UN's International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) confirmed there was no damage on Iran's nuclear facilities following the alleged Israeli attack on Isfahan, where nuclear sites are present.

The IAEA's Director General, Rafael Grossi, "continues to call for extreme restraint from everybody and reiterates that nuclear facilities should never be a target in military conflicts".

The UN watchdog said it is still closely monitoring the situation.

The US embassy in Israel said it is restricting travel for its employees within Israel, following reports of an Israeli attack on Isfahan, Iran in the morning.

US government employees and their families are now barred from moving outside the greater Tel Aviv, Jerusalem, and Be’er Sheva areas "until further notice".

Good morning Middle East Eye readers,

Here are the latest updates:

• Iranian state media reports that air defence systems were activated over the city of Isfahan and shot down three drones, while US officials say Israel launched a 'limited' retaliatory attack on Iran
• Tehran's two major airports have resumed flights following the suspension due to the reported Israeli attack
• Australia asked its citizens to leave Israel and the Palestinian Territories "if it’s safe to do so"
• Al Jazeera reports that Israeli overnight attacks on the Gaza Strip killed nine people with 15 reported missing under the rubble

US officials have told several news outlets that an Israeli missile has struck Iran on Friday morning, as Iran confirmed explosions were heard in Isfahan and activated air defences.

Flights can be seen diverting from Iran's airspace and the country suspended flights to and from several cities, including Isfahan.

On its end, Iran has so far said that it shot several drones, saying there was "no missile attack for now".

Several Iranian nuclear sites are present in Isfahan, but local media says the facilities are "completely secure."

Israel reportedly notified the US prior to launching this attack, which was a retaliation for Iran's unprecedented barrage of drones and missiles on Israel on 13 April.

The Iranian assault was itself a response to the reported Israeli strike on the country's consulate in Damascus, Syria, which killed several people, including top Iranian commanders.

The Israeli military have so far refused to comment on the latest incident.