Live Updates: UN needs hotline with Israeli forces for Gaza aid distribution

Friday, April 12, 2024

13:55 GMT — The United Nations needs a direct hotline to Israeli forces fighting in Gaza to combat mistrust and deliver aid safely and effectively, the outgoing UN humanitarian coordinator has insisted.

Rather than going through liaison bodies, the UN and other humanitarian actors "need to be speaking to people who are firing guns", Jamie McGoldrick told a press briefing in Geneva.

The Israel Defence Forces and humanitarian groups in Gaza need to understand each other better, he said following a final visit to the Palestinian territory at the end of a three-month posting as interim humanitarian coordinator in the Palestinian territories.

13:56 GMT — Israel to pay price for oppression in Gaza': President Erdogan

Israel will pay the price for its oppression in Gaza, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan told his Palestinian counterpart Mahmoud Abbas.

In a phone call with Abbas, Erdogan said: “Israel will pay the price for oppression. All means must be mobilised for a ceasefire in Gaza, including (the implementation of the) UN Security Council resolution,” according to Türkiye’s Communications Director Fahrettin Altun.

Earlier, the Israeli army’ attacked a team of Turkish public broadcaster TRT Arabic in Gaza.

13:21 GMT — Türkiye condemns Israeli attack on TRT Arabic press team in Gaza

Türkiye has condemned the Israeli army’s attack on a team of Turkish public broadcaster TRT Arabic in Gaza.

“We condemn this vile attack. This is terrorism. This terrorism must stop and the Western world must oppose this brutality as soon as possible,” Türkiye's Communications Director Fahrettin Altun said on X.


A TRT Arabic team vehicle, which was preparing for broadcast in the Nuseirat camp located in the middle of the Gaza Strip, was attacked by the Israeli army

12:51 GMT — Israeli settlers attack town in occupied West Bank

Israeli settlers have attacked the town of al-Mughayyir near Ramallah in the central occupied West Bank and opened fire on several homes.

The head of the al-Mughayyir Council, Amin Abu Aliya, told Anadolu that dozens of settlers attacked the town from the eastern side.

He stated that the settlers opened fire on several homes and clashed with Palestinians.

Abu Aliya pointed out that a large number of settlers were present at the entrance to the town under the protection of the Israeli army.

12:50 GMT — Norway ‘stands ready’ to recognize Palestine as state, full UN member: Premier

Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Store has announced that his nation “stands ready” to recognise the state of Palestine and its "appropriate" place in the United Nations.

The news came after a meeting with his Spanish counterpart Pedro Sanchez, who embarked on a European tour to convince more nations to recognise an independent Palestinian state.

12:47GMT — TRT Arabi cameraman loses foot in fresh Gaza attack

Two TRT Arabi journalists have been injured in a fresh Israeli attack on Friday afternoon at the Nuseirat camp in central Gaza. Cameraperson Sami Shehadeh was grievously injured as doctors ended up amputating his right foot.

According to eyewitness accounts, the Israeli army targeted a group of journalists, including the TRT Arabic team, who were reporting at the Nuseirat refugee camp. Some journalists were injured after being hit by the tank fire.

TRT Arabi correspondent Sami Berhum and other journalists were also injured in the attack.

According to the Gaza Media Office, at least 140 journalists have lost their lives in Israeli attacks in Gaza.

The Israeli army announced yesterday that it had launched a "surprise military operation" in central Gaza, which led to the killings of many Palestinians.

TRT's Director General Zahid Sobaci condemned the attack, describing it as a "brutality" with "no moral, legal or humanitarian limits."

11:54 GMT — France has issued a travel advisory to its citizens, urging them to refrain travelling to Iran, Lebanon, Israel or Palestinian territories, citing a potential military escalation in "the coming days".

Paris has also called on the families of French diplomats to leave Iran as soon as possible, according to the statement issued by Minister of Foreign Affairs Stephane Sejourne.

04:40 GMT — US curbs diplomats' movements in Israel over Iran ultimatum

The United States has restricted movements of diplomats in Israel over security fears, the embassy said, as concerns mount of Iranian retaliation over an Israeli strike on Tehran's consulate in Damascus that left seven Iranian dead.

"Out of an abundance of caution, US government employees and their family members are restricted from personal travel" outside the Tel Aviv, West Jerusalem and Be'er Sheva areas "until further notice," an embassy notice said.

The "imperative for Iran" to retaliate for the attack on its embassy compound in Damascus might have been avoided had the UN Security Council condemned the strike, Tehran's mission to the United Nations said on Thursday.

03:49 GMT — No Security Council 'consensus' on Palestinian UN membership: presidency

Members of the UN Security Council failed to reach a consensus on a bid by Palestinians for full UN membership, according to the body's chair.

"There was no consensus" during a closed-door meeting, said Maltese Ambassador Vanessa Frazier, who holds the council's rotating presidency for April.

03:00 GMT — Israelis protest against Netanyahu in Tel Aviv

Protesters have again taken to the streets in Tel Aviv to demonstrate against Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's government and call for the release of dozens of captives held in Gaza.

Demonstrators carried large photos of captives as well as signs with slogans, some in English and some in Hebrew.

For our live updates from Thursday, April 11, click here.