Live Updates: Gaza death toll rises to 39,583

Sunday, August 4, 2024

Gaza death toll rises to 39,583

Israeli troops have killed 39,583 Palestinians in the Gaza Strip since October 7, 2023, the Health Ministry in the besieged enclave announced on Sunday.

The toll of the injured has also climbed to 91,398, the ministry added.

06:44 GMT –– Israel bombs displaced persons' camp in central Gaza

At least three Palestinians have been killed and over 18 others injured in an Israeli attack targeting displaced persons' tents in a hospital in central Gaza, the government media office said.

"The Israeli occupation forces committed a massacre within the Al-Aqsa Martyrs Hospital by bombing several tents housing displaced persons," the media office said in a statement on the attack on Deir al-Balah.

"This brutal attack resulted in the martyrdom of three individuals and more than 18 injuries so far, including serious injuries currently being treated by the medical teams at the hospital," it added.

05:41 GMT –– France calls on citizens in Lebanon to leave 'as soon as possible'

France called on its citizens in Lebanon to leave the country "as soon as possible" amid fears of all-out war between Israel and Hezbollah and a broader regional conflict.

"In a highly volatile security context, we once again call the attention of French nationals, particularly those passing through, to the fact that direct commercial flights and ones with stopovers to France are still available,'' the foreign ministry said.

''We invite them to make their arrangements now to leave Lebanon as soon as possible," it added in its travel advice notice for Lebanon.

04:36 GMT –– Estimated 9,900 Palestinian detainees in Israeli prisons: report

The number of Palestinian detainees in Israeli prisons is estimated at around 9,900, Palestinian organisations specialising in prisoner affairs said in a report.

The report by the governmental Commission of Detainees and Ex-Detainees Affairs, the Palestinian Prisoners' Club and the non-governmental Al-Dameer Foundati on for Human Rights said the number of prisoners in Israeli prisons at the beginning of August includes 3,432 administrative detainees, at least 250 children and 86 women –– 23 of whom are administrative detainees.

Administrative detention is Israeli military imprisonment without charge, lasting six months that is renewable.

04:17 GMT –– US president hopes Iran would stand down amid Mideast tension

US President Joe Biden said he hopes Iran will stand down amid recent tensions in the Middle East.

"I hope so. I don’t know," Biden told a reporter when he asked, "Will Iran stand down?" as he was leaving a grocery store in his home state of Delaware.

The Pentagon announced Friday that the US will deploy additional military assets to the Middle East amid rising tensions in the region.

03:42 GMT — Israel's Gaza mediators leave Egypt amid disputes with Netanyahu

An Israeli negotiating team left Cairo and returned to Tel Aviv shortly after arriving Saturday to resume discussions on a hostage swap deal with Palestinian factions, according to media reports.

The team, which included Mossad spy agency chief David Barnea, Shin Bet security agency head Ronen Bar and the government's coordinator of operations in the Palestinian territories, Ghassan Alian, returned to Tel Aviv because of disagreements with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, said the Yedioth Ahronoth newspaper.

There has been no statement from Netanyahu's office as of yet about the report.

02:53 GMT —US, UK urge nationals to leave Lebanon amid Israel tensions

The US and UK issued warnings Saturday to their nationals to immediately leave Lebanon amid fears of a wider escalation with Israel.

The US Embassy in Beirut said some flights by several airlines have been cancelled but "commercial transportation options to leave Lebanon remain available".

"We encourage those who wish to depart Lebanon to book any ticket available to them, even if that flight does not depart immediately or does not follow their first-choice route. US citizens who lack funds to return to the United States may contact the embassy for financial assistance via repatriation loans," it said in a statement.

02:33 GMT — US destroys missile, launch pad belonging to Houthis: Central Command

The US has announced that it destroyed a missile and a lunch pad belonging to the Houthis in Yemen.

"In the past 24 hours US Central Command (USCENTCOM) forces successfully destroyed an Iranian-backed Houthi missile and launcher in a Houthi-controlled area of Yemen," CENTCOM wrote on X.

Noting that the weapons were deemed an "imminent threat to the US and coalition forces", as well as merchant vessels in the region, it added that the actions were to safeguard freedom of navigation and enhance the safety and security of international waters.

02:00 GMT — Canada warns citizens to avoid all travel to Israel

Canada on Saturday warned citizens to avoid all travel to Israel, saying the regional armed conflict endangered security.

"The security situation can deteriorate further without warning," the Canadian government said in a travel advisory issued to raise the risk level for travel to Israel.

"If the armed conflict intensifies, it could impact your ability to depart by commercial means. It may result in travel disruptions, including airspace closures and flight cancellations and diversions," the travel advisory said.