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Gaza's civil defence agency said Israeli strikes Monday across the territory killed at least 12 people, the majority displaced Palestinians taking shelter in a house in the north.

Gaza rescuers say Israeli strikes kill at least 12 Palestinians

More than 14 months into the Israel-Hamas war, the violence continued even as the United States expressed "cautious optimism" about the prospects of reaching a ceasefire in Gaza.

Gaza's civil defence agency said Israeli strikes Monday across the territory killed at least 12 people, the majority displaced Palestinians taking shelter in a house in the north.
More than 14 months into the Israel-Hamas war, the violence continued even as the United States expressed "cautious optimism" about the prospects of reaching a ceasefire in Gaza.
Civil defence spokesman Mahmud Bassal told AFP that 10 Palestinians were killed when an Israeli strike at dawn hit a house in northern Gaza's Beit Lahia, where several displaced families had sought refuge.
Bassal said a child was killed and several others wounded in a separate strike that hit a house in nearby Jabalia, where Israeli forces have focused their operations in recent months.
Overnight, a tent in an Israeli-designated safe zone in the southern Gaza Strip was hit, killing one Palestinian, according to the civil defence spokesman.
Parties to long-stalled ceasefire talks said a deal could be secured soon to halt the fighting and release hostages held in Gaza.
US State Department spokesman Matthew Miller said on Tuesday that "cautious optimism is a fair way to characterise it, though very much tempered by realism".
Hamas said the current talks were "serious and positive", while Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz described the two sides as closer to a deal than ever before.
The war was sparked by an unprecedented Hamas attack on Israel on October 7, 2023, which resulted in the deaths of 1,208 people, most of them civilians, according to an AFP tally based on official Israeli figures.
Israel's retaliatory offensive in Gaza has killed at least 45,059 people, a majority of them civilians, according to figures from the Hamas-run territory's health ministry that the United Nations considers reliable.

Palestinian women crossing Hebron checkpoint flag harrasment by Israeli soldiers

Palestinian women crossing Hebron checkpoint flag harrasment by Israeli soldiers

West Bank Raids: Boy Plays Loud Music On Empty Streets To Bother Israeli Forces

West Bank Raids: Boy Plays Loud Music On Empty Streets To Bother Israeli Forces

Democratic Congresswoman Rashida Tlaib has hit out at the DNC for their purported lack of inclusion of Palestinian voices in the convention in Chicago. Replying a post on X about a statement made by the Uncommitted National Movement or UNM, Tlaib wro

Democratic Congresswoman Rashida Tlaib Flays DNC for invisibilizing Palestinian voices | War on Gaza

Democratic Congresswoman Rashida Tlaib has hit out at the DNC for their purported lack of inclusion of Palestinian voices in the convention in Chicago. Replying a post on X about a statement made by the Uncommitted National Movement or UNM, Tlaib wrote, "Why are you saying that Israeli children are more important than Palestinian children? where is our shared humanity? Stop erasing Palestinian. We exist. We deserve to be heard." The UNM statement urged the Democratic Party to “reject a hierarchy of human value by ensuring Palestinian voices are heard on the main stage”. Tlaib is the only Palestinian-American member of Congress.


Democratic Congresswoman Rashida Tlaib has hit out at the DNC for their purported lack of inclusion of Palestinian voices in the convention in Chicago.

Democratic Congresswoman Rashida Tlaib has hit out at the DNC for their purported lack of inclusion of Palestinian voices in the convention in Chicago. Replying a post on X about a statement made by the Uncommitted National Movement or UNM, Tlaib wrote, "Why are you saying that Israeli children are more important than Palestinian children? where is our shared humanity? Stop erasing Palestinian. We exist. We deserve to be heard." The UNM statement urged the Democratic Party to &ldquo;reject a hierarchy of human value by ensuring Palestinian voices are heard on the main stage&rdquo;. Tlaib is the only Palestinian-American member of Congress.

Spain: Traditional dance performed in Gaza solidarity
Kaxarranka, Basque traditional dance, during protest for Gaza


Pro-Palestine protesters perform traditional dance in solidarity with Gaza | Gaza War

Spain: Traditional dance performed in Gaza solidarity Kaxarranka, Basque traditional dance, during protest for Gaza

Pro-Palestine protesters disrupted US President Joe Biden's speech at DNC. They were seen holding a banner that reads, “STOP ARMING ISRAEL” in the Florida delegation section a few minutes after Biden began his speech. 
But then, protesters were seen 

Pro-Palestine protesters disrupt Joe Biden speech at DNC | US Election

Pro-Palestine protesters disrupted US President Joe Biden's speech at DNC. They were seen holding a banner that reads, “STOP ARMING ISRAEL” in the Florida delegation section a few minutes after Biden began his speech. 
But then, protesters were seen wrestled away and the lights in that section of the convention were turned off. 
Other convention goers responded to the protest by chanting “We love Joe,” and holding up their banners in support of the president.

Pro-Palestine protesters disrupted US President Joe Biden's speech at DNC. They were seen holding a banner that reads, &ldquo;STOP ARMING ISRAEL&rdquo; in the Florida delegation section a few minutes after Biden began his speech.&nbsp;

Pro-Palestine protesters disrupted US President Joe Biden's speech at DNC. They were seen holding a banner that reads, &ldquo;STOP ARMING ISRAEL&rdquo; in the Florida delegation section a few minutes after Biden began his speech.&nbsp; But then, protesters were seen wrestled away and the lights in that section of the convention were turned off.&nbsp; Other convention goers responded to the protest by chanting &ldquo;We love Joe,&rdquo; and holding up their banners in support of the president.

Chicago police said two people were arrested on misdemeanor charges of resisting police and damaging property.

Gaza Protesters Arrested In Chicago After Security Fence Breach Near Democratic National Convention

Chicago police said two people were arrested on misdemeanor charges of resisting police and damaging property.

&nbsp;Dozens of protesters broke through a security fence near the site of the Democratic National Convention on its opening day, as thousands took to the streets in protest of Israel's war in Gaza.
Families with babies in strollers, students, elected leaders and others holding signs and flags joined the march to the United Centre in Chicago, where the convention is being held. Protesters demand an immediate ceasefire in Gaza, and want the Biden-Harris administration stop sending weapons to Israel.
As the larger group marched peacefully, a few dozen broke away, and tore down pieces of the outer security fence.
Several protesters who had managed to get through the fence were detained and handcuffed by the security forces.
Chicago police said two people were arrested on misdemeanor charges of resisting police and damaging property.
&nbsp;Law enforcement personnel contained the breach immediately and prevented the group from getting through the inner cordon. Police in blue helmets with shields and carrying batons were seen pushing back demonstrators.
Security personnel later advanced on a park near the convention centre to clear out protesters.

Chicago's streets were full of left-leaning protestors on August 18, a day before the Democratic National Convention starts.

Palestine, Abortion And LGBTQ Rights: Voters March Ahead Of Chicago Democratic Convention

Chicago's streets were full of left-leaning protestors on August 18, a day before the Democratic National Convention starts.

Left-leaning protestors converged on Chicago on August 18, a day before the city will hold the much-awaited Democratic National Convention. Thousands marched on the streets downtown as Vice President Kamala Harris is set to rally for her White House race.
While some demonstrated in support of LGBTQ and abortion rights, most seemed to call for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza. Demonstrations are expected every day of the convention, showcasing divisions in the left ranks in an important week for Harris.
The convention will draw an estimated 50,000 people to the nation's third-largest city, including delegates, activists and journalists. As the DNC prepares to welcome the Harris-Walz duo, Chicago Police have erected fences and barricades to maintain law and order.
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 Four protesters were arrested after unfurling pro-Gaza flags on the roof of the building with the words “war crimes" and “genocide”. 

 Pro-Palestinian protesters breach security at Australia's Parliament House to unfurl banners

Four protesters were arrested after unfurling pro-Gaza flags on the roof of the building with the words &ldquo;war crimes" and &ldquo;genocide&rdquo;.

Pro-Palestinian protesters breached security at Australia's Parliament House to unfurl banners from the roof on Thursday as a senator quit the government over its direction on the Gaza war.
Tensions over Israel's war against Hamas dominated Parliament's final sitting day before a five-week break.
The four protesters were arrested after draping the words &ldquo;war crimes" and &ldquo;genocide&rdquo; as well as the Palestinian rallying cry &ldquo;from the river to the sea, Palestine will be free&rdquo; for more than an hour over the building's facade known as the Great Verandah.
Inside the building, Afghanistan-born Sen. Fatima Payman, the only Australian federal lawmaker ever to wear a hajib during sittings, announced she had quit the ruling Labour Party over her refusal to toe the party line on Gaza.
&ldquo;My family did not flee from a war-torn country to come here as refugees for me to remain silent when I see atrocities inflicted on innocent people,&rdquo; Payman told reporters.
&ldquo;Witnessing our government's indifference to the greatest injustice of our times makes me question the direction the party is taking,&rdquo; she added.
The first-term senator defied her government colleagues last week by supporting a minor party's motion that demanded the Senate "recognise the state of Palestine&rdquo;.
Australia does not recognise a Palestinian state. The government is committed to a two-state solution in which Israel and a future Palestinian state can coexist, in peace and security, within internationally recognised borders, the policy states.
Payman will remain in the Senate as an independent lawmaker. She is the first government lawmaker to leave since Prime Minister Anthony Albanese's administration was elected in 2022.
Police said the four protesters were expected to be charged with trespassing.
They have been banned from Parliament House for two years, a police statement said.
The protesters triggered a security crackdown in Parliament House that prevented many members of the public entering the building. The public galleries of both the House of Representatives and the Senate were kept empty as a precaution.
House Speaker Milton Dick said he was &ldquo;deeply concerned&rdquo; by the protests and had ordered an upgrade of security. Police were investigating how the protesters gained access to a secure area.
Albanese told Parliament he condemned the protest.
&ldquo;Peaceful protest has an important place in our society, but this was not a peaceful protest,&rdquo; Albanese said.
&ldquo;These actions have done absolutely nothing to advance any cause. Indeed, they have hurt the cause that those engaged in this reckless activity believe they are advancing,&rdquo; Albanese added.
Opposition leader Peter Dutton demanded to know who allowed protesters into the building and described their message as anti-Semitic.
&ldquo;We need to understand the gravity of this situation, because these images will be beamed around the world,&rdquo; Dutton told Parliament.

Israel immediately announced it was recalling its envoys, warning that the nations risk being pawns in the hands of Iran and Hamas.

Norway, Ireland, Spain to recognise Palestinian state

Israel immediately announced it was recalling its envoys, warning that the nations risk being pawns in the hands of Iran and Hamas.

Norway, Ireland and Spain announced on Wednesday that they will recognise a Palestinian state, prompting Israel to immediately recall its envoys.
Ireland's leader said his nation would recognise Palestine as a state but did not specify timing, while leaders of Norway and Spain said their nations would do so as of May 28.
Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Store made the announcement in Oslo, Spain Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez in Madrid and Irish Prime Minister Simon Harris in Dublin.
Israel immediately announced it was recalling its envoys to Ireland and Norway for "urgent consultations".
"Today, I am sending a sharp message to Ireland and Norway: Israel will not go over this in silence," Foreign Minister Israel Katz said in a statement, adding that he planned to do the same with he Spanish ambassador.
The Israeli foreign ministry had earlier posted a video message addressed to Ireland on the social media platform X warning that "recognising a Palestinian state risks turning you into a pawn in the hands of Iran and Hamas", adding the move would "only fuel extremism and instability".
Israel has said plans for Palestinian recognition constitute a "prize for terrorism" that would reduce the chances of a negotiated resolution to the war in Gaza, which began on October 7 when Hamas militants stormed into southern Israel.
But Norway -- which has played a key role in Middle East diplomacy over the years, hosting Israeli-Palestinian peace talks at the beginning of the 1990s which led to the Oslo Accords -- said recognition was needed to support moderate voices amid the Gaza war.
"In the midst of a war, with tens of thousands killed and injured, we must keep alive the only alternative that offers a political solution for Israelis and Palestinians alike: Two states, living side by side, in peace and security," Store said.
"Recognition of Palestine is a means of supporting the moderate forces which have been losing ground in this protracted and brutal conflict," he said.
"This could ultimately make it possible to resume the process towards achieving a two-state solution and give it renewed momentum," he added.
Spain's Sanchez said in parliament in Madrid: "Next Tuesday, May 28, Spain's cabinet will approve the recognition of the Palestinian state," he said, adding that his Israeli counterpart Benjamin Netanyahu was putting the two state solution in "danger" with his policy of "pain and destruction" in the Gaza Strip.
And Ireland's Harris hailed a "historic and important day for Ireland and for Palestine."
For decades, the formal recognition of a Palestinian state has been seen as the endgame of a peace process between Palestinians and their Israeli neighbours.
The United States and most Western European nations have said they are willing to one day recognise Palestinian statehood, but not before agreement is reached on thorny issues like final borders and the status of Jerusalem.
But after Hamas's October 7 attacks and Israel's retaliatory campaign in Gaza, diplomats are reconsidering once-contentious ideas.
In 2014, Sweden, which has a large Palestinian community, became the first EU member in western Europe to recognise Palestinian statehood.
It had earlier been recognised by six other European countries: Bulgaria, Cyprus, the Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland and Romania.

The resolution, which states that the Palestinians should be admitted to the UN and grants them some additional rights as observers, received 143 votes for, 9 against and 25 abstentions. 
 

UN General Assembly votes in favor of Palestinian membership

This comes as a symbolic move due to the United States' veto in the Security Council. 

This comes as a symbolic move due to the United States' veto in the Security Council.&nbsp;

The UN General Assembly voted overwhelmingly Friday in support of a Palestinian bid for full membership of the organization, a symbolic move due to the United States' veto in the Security Council.&nbsp; The resolution, which states that the Palestinians should be admitted to the UN and grants them some additional rights as observers, received 143 votes for, 9 against and 25 abstentions.&nbsp;

DC police said officers moved to disperse demonstrators at George Washington University because “there has been a gradual escalation in the volatility of the protest.”

Dozens arrested at George Washington University as DC mayor's congressional hearing is canceled

DC police said officers moved to disperse demonstrators at George Washington University because &ldquo;there has been a gradual escalation in the volatility of the protest.&rdquo;

Police cleared a pro-Palestinian tent encampment at George Washington University early Wednesday and arrested demonstrators.
It came hours after dozens marched to the home of the school&rsquo;s president as city officials prepared to appear before Congress on the protest&rsquo;s handling.
District of Columbia Mayor Muriel Bowser and Metropolitan Police Chief Pamela Smith were called to testify Wednesday afternoon at the Republican-led House Committee on Oversight and Accountability, but the hearing was canceled after the arrests.
Tensions have ratcheted up in standoffs with protesters of the Israel-Hamas war on campuses across the United States and increasingly in Europe. Some colleges cracked down immediately. Others have tolerated the demonstrations. Some have begun to lose patience and call in police over concerns about disruptions to campus life and safety.
D.C. police said officers moved to disperse demonstrators at George Washington because &ldquo;there has been a gradual escalation in the volatility of the protest.&rdquo;
They said 33 arrests were made, including for assault on a police officer and unlawful entry. They confirmed they used pepper spray outside the encampment against protesters who were trying to break police lines and enter.

 Shaikh opposed the decision and called it ‘wrongful and unjust’, alleging that the decision is politically motivated. 

Mumbai school fires principal over pro-Palestine post 

Shaikh opposed the decision, calling it wrongful, unjust and politically motivated. 

Shaikh opposed the decision, calling it wrongful, unjust and politically motivated.&nbsp;

A school in Mumbai has created a controversary by terminating services of the principal, Parveen Shaikh, over a social media post on supporting Palestine. The management alleged that the pro-Palestine content posted on Shaikh's personal account was against the values and principles of the school.
Somaiya School management released a statement saying that Shaikh's social media activities were at odds with the school&rsquo;s principles of unity and inclusivity.
Shaikh opposed the decision and called it 'wrongful and unjust'.
"I was shocked to know the news of my termination from social media even before receiving a termination notice from the management," Shaikh told NDTV.
"The termination notice is completely illegal and based on defamatory lies peddled against me," she added. &nbsp; "My work as a school principal has been exceptional and my termination for such a reason is wrongful and unjust. I am disappointed that despite my hard work, dedication and sincere contribution to the school's growth over 12 years, the management chose not to stand by me in the face of this vitriolic public vilification campaign run against me, and instead fell prey to it and took this drastic and unwarranted action," Shaikh said. &nbsp;
She alleged that the action taken by the institution is politically motivated.&nbsp;&nbsp;
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Addressing the UN General Assembly, Indian Ambassador Ruchira Kamboj said that India hopes Palestine’s endeavour to become a member of the United Nations will get reconsidered and endorsed in due course.

Hope Palestine's bid for UN membership will be reconsidered: India

Addressing the UN General Assembly, Indian Ambassador Ruchira Kamboj said that India hopes Palestine&rsquo;s endeavour to become a member of the United Nations will get reconsidered and endorsed in due course.

India has voiced hope that Palestine&rsquo;s bid to become a full member of the United Nations, which was blocked by the US last month, will be reconsidered and its endeavour to become a member of the world organisation will get endorsed.
The US vetoed a resolution in the UN Security Council on a Palestinian bid to be granted full membership of the United Nations last month. The 15-nation Council had voted on a draft resolution that would have recommended to the 193-member UN General Assembly &ldquo;that the State of Palestine be admitted to membership in the United Nations.&rdquo; The resolution got 12 votes in its favour, with Switzerland and the UK abstaining and the US casting its veto. To be adopted, the draft resolution required at least nine Council members voting in its favour, with no vetoes by any of its five permanent members &ndash; China, France, Russia, the United Kingdom and the United States.
&ldquo;While we have noted that Palestine&rsquo;s application for membership at the United Nations was not approved by the Security Council because of the aforesaid veto, I would like to state here at the very outset that in keeping with India's long-standing position, we hope that this would be reconsidered in due course and that Palestine&rsquo;s endeavour to become a member of the United Nations will get endorsed,&rdquo; India&rsquo;s Permanent Representative to the UN Ambassador Ruchira Kamboj said here.
India was the first non-Arab State to recognise the Palestine Liberation Organization as the sole and legitimate representative of the Palestinian people in 1974. India was also one of the first countries to recognise the State of Palestine in 1988 and in 1996, Delhi opened its Representative Office to the Palestine Authority in Gaza, which later was shifted to Ramallah in 2003.
Currently, Palestine is a &ldquo;non-member observer state&rdquo; at the UN, a status granted to it by the General Assembly in 2012. This status allows Palestine to participate in proceedings of the world body but it cannot vote on resolutions. The only other non-member Observer State at the UN is the Holy See, representing the Vatican.
Addressing a General Assembly meeting on Wednesday, Kamboj underlined that India&rsquo;s leadership has repeatedly emphasised that only a two-state solution achieved through direct and meaningful negotiations between Israel and Palestine on final status issues will deliver an enduring peace.
&ldquo;India is committed to supporting a two-state solution where the Palestinian people are able to live freely in an independent country within secure borders with due regard to the security needs of Israel,&rdquo; she said.
Kamboj stressed that to arrive at a lasting solution, India would urge all parties to foster conditions conducive to resuming direct peace negotiations at an early date.
On April 2, Palestine sent a letter to UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres requesting that its application for full UN membership be considered again. For a State to be granted full UN membership, its application must be approved both by the Security Council and the General Assembly, where a two-thirds majority of the members present and voting is required for the State to be admitted as a full member.
Kamboj noted that the latest conflict in Gaza has been ongoing for over six months and the humanitarian crisis that it has triggered has been increasing.
&ldquo;There is also the potential for growing instability in the region and beyond,&rdquo; she added.
Underlining India's position on the conflict, Kamboj said the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas has led to a large-scale loss of civilian lives, especially women and children, and a humanitarian crisis, which is simply unacceptable. India has strongly condemned the deaths of civilians in the conflict.
Kamboj said the terror attacks in Israel on October 7 were shocking and deserve &ldquo;unequivocal condemnation.
&ldquo;There can be no justification for terrorism and hostage-taking. India has a long-standing and uncompromising position against terrorism in all its forms and manifestations. And we demand the immediate and unconditional release of all hostages,&rdquo; Kamboj said.
India stressed that it is imperative that humanitarian aid to the people of Gaza be scaled up immediately in order to avert a further deterioration in the situation. &ldquo;We urge all parties to come together in this endeavour,&rdquo; Kamboj said, adding that India has provided humanitarian aid to the people of Palestine and that it will continue to do so.
The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), citing Gaza&rsquo;s Ministry of Health data, said that from October 7, 2023, till now, at least 34,568 Palestinians have been killed in Gaza and 77,765 Palestinians injured.
OCHA said that between the afternoons of April 28 and May 1, two Israeli soldiers were reported killed in Gaza. According to the Israeli military, 262 soldiers have been killed and 1,602 soldiers have been injured in Gaza since the beginning of the ground operation. In addition, over 1,200 Israelis and foreign nationals, including 33 children, have been killed in Israel, the vast majority on October 7, when Hamas attacked Israel. As of May 1, Israeli authorities estimate that 133 Israelis and foreign nationals remain captive in Gaza, including fatalities whose bodies are withheld, it said.&nbsp;
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The clashes took place just outside a tent encampment, where pro-Palestinian protesters erected barricades and plywood for protection - and counter-protesters tried to pull them down.

Clashes, smoke at UCLA campus over US military aid to Israel | Watch

The clashes took place just outside a tent encampment, where pro-Palestinian protesters erected barricades and plywood for protection - and counter-protesters tried to pull them down.

Violence broke out at the University of California, Los Angeles, early Wednesday between pro-Palestinian and pro-Israeli protesters.
People threw things and shoved and kicked one another.
Some armed with sticks beat others. At one point, a group piled on one person who lay on the ground, kicking and beating them until others pulled them out of the scrum.
The clashes took place just outside a tent encampment, where pro-Palestinian protesters erected barricades and plywood for protection - and counter-protesters tried to pull them down.

Hamas has released 13 Israelis it had taken hostage during its October 7 attack on Israel.

13 Israeli hostages released by Hamas: local media

13 Israeli hostages released by Hamas: local media
Hamas has also released 12 Thai hostages
Israeli hostages freed as part of truce deal with Hamas

Hamas has released 13 Israelis it had taken hostage during its October 7 attack on Israel.

Hamas on Friday released a group of hostages held captive in Gaza for weeks, including 13 Israelis, according to officials and media reports, the first stage in a swap for Palestinian prisoners in Israel under a four-day cease-fire deal.
The agreement brought the first respite for beleaguered residents of Gaza and opened the way for sorely needed aid to flow in. It was also a moment of hope for families in Israel and elsewhere worried about loved ones taken captive during Hamas' October 7 attack, which triggered the war. Also freed were 12 Thai citizens abducted during the assault, their prime minister said.
There were no reports of fighting in the hours after the truce began. Gaza's 2.3 million Palestinians saw quiet after seven weeks of relentless Israeli bombardment, which has killed thousands, flattened vast swaths of the territory and driven three-quarters of the population from their homes. Rocket fire from Gaza militants into Israel went silent as well.
The release of the first group of Israeli hostages was to be followed in the evening by the freeing of 39 Palestinian prisoners &mdash; 24 women, including some convicted of attempted murder for attacks on Israeli forces, and 15 teenagers jailed for offences like throwing stones.
The truce raised hopes of eventually winding down the conflict, which has fuelled a surge of violence in the occupied West Bank and stirred fears of a wider conflagration across the Middle East.
Israel, however, has said it is determined to resume its massive offensive once the cease-fire ends.
FIRST HOSTAGES FREED Israeli media reports, citing security officials, said Hamas had handed over the group of 13 Israelis to the Red Cross, to be transported to Egypt.
The plight of around 240 people taken captive during Hamas' attack has been wrenching in Israel, raising anger among some families that the government of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was not doing enough to bring them home.
Under the deal, at least 50 are to be released &mdash; bringing relief but also bitterness that not all will be freed. It was not clear if the Thai captives were included that figure. Israel is to free 150 Palestinian prisoners.
Ahead of Friday evening's release, thousands of Israelis gathered in what has been dubbed &ldquo;Hostages Square&rdquo; in Tel Aviv, singing songs to welcome the Jewish Sabbath.
&ldquo;My emotions are mixed,&rdquo; said Shelli Shem Tov, the mother of 21-year-old Omer Shem Tov, told Israeli's Channel 12 at the square. &ldquo;I'm excited for the families that are going to hug their loved ones, I'm jealous, and I'm sad, mostly sad that Omer is not coming home yet.&rdquo; Thai Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin confirmed in a tweet the release of 12 Thai nationals.
Footage from Egypt's Rafah crossing showed a line of ambulances emerging from Gaza.
The International Committee of the Red Cross confirmed it had delivered a total of 24 hostages to the Egyptians. But it declined to provide details on their nationalities or explain the discrepancy in the numbers.
CEASE-FIRE Palestinians say a longer cease-fire is needed to recover from the humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza. But Friday's halt in fighting brought the uprooted population a moment to catch their breath after weeks of fleeing bombardment across the tiny coastal enclave and trying to find increasingly scarce food, water and other basic supplies.
After the truce began on Friday morning, an increased flow of aid promised under the deal began. Four trucks of fuel and four trucks of cooking gas entered from Egypt, as well as 200 trucks of relief supplies, Israel said.
Since the war began, Israel barred all imports into Gaza, except for a trickle of supplies from Egypt.
Its ban on fuel &mdash; which it said could be diverted to Hamas &mdash; caused a territory-wide blackout. Hospitals, water systems, bakeries and shelters have struggled to keep generators running. Amid food shortages, UN officials had warned in recent weeks of the potential for starvation.
During the truce, Israel agreed to allow the delivery of 130,000 litres of fuel per day &mdash; still only a small portion of Gaza's estimated daily needs of more than 1 million litres.
Most of Gaza's 2.3 million people are crowded into the southern portion of the territory, with more than 1 million living in UN schools-turned-shelters.
For those originally from the south, the calm brought a chance to visit homes they had fled and retrieve some belongings.
To the hundreds of thousands who evacuated from northern Gaza to the south, Israel issued a warning not to return. Northern Gaza has been the focus on Israel's ground assault.
In leaflets dropped around the south, the Israeli military said it would block such attempts, saying the &ldquo;the war has not ended yet.&rdquo; Still, hundreds of Palestinians could be seen walking north on Friday.
Two were shot and killed by Israeli troops and another 11 were wounded. An Associated Press journalist saw the two bodies and the wounded as they arrived at a hospital.
Sofian Abu Amer, who had fled Gaza City, said he decided to risk heading north to check on his home.
&ldquo;We don't have enough clothes, food and drinks,&rdquo; he said. &ldquo;The situation is disastrous. It's better for a person to die.&rdquo; HOSTAGES FOR PRISONERS In the exchange deal, Israel and Hamas agreed to release women and children first. Israel said the four-day truce can be extended an extra day for every additional 10 hostages freed.
Among the Israelis freed are some who have a second nationality, according to a Hamas official who spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorised to discuss the details with the media.
A number of soldiers are among the hostages held by militants in Gaza. The Islamic Jihad militant group, which is reportedly holding about 40 captives, said soldiers will only be released in exchange for all Palestinians imprisoned by Israel.
It is not clear how many of the hostages are currently serving in the military or whether the militants also consider reserve soldiers to be &ldquo;military hostages.&rdquo; According to the Palestinian Prisoners' Club, an advocacy group, Israel is currently holding 7,200 Palestinians on security charges or convictions, including about 2,000 arrested since the start of the war.
Israel's northern border with Lebanon was also quiet on Friday, a day after the militant Hezbollah group, an ally of Hamas, carried out the highest number of attacks in one day since fighting there began October 8.
Hezbollah is not a party to the cease-fire agreement but was widely expected to halt its attacks.
The war erupted when several thousand Hamas militants stormed into southern Israel, killing at least 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and taking scores of hostages, including babies, women and older adults, as well as soldiers.
A LONGER PEACE? The hope is that &ldquo;momentum&rdquo; from the deal will lead to an &ldquo;end to this violence,&rdquo; said Majed al-Ansari, a spokesman for the Foreign Ministry of Qatar, which served as a mediator along with the United States and Egypt.
But hours before it came into effect, Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant told troops that their respite would be short and that the war would resume with intensity for at least two more months.
Netanyahu has also vowed to continue the war to destroy Hamas' military capabilities, end its 16-year rule in Gaza and return all the hostages.
The Israeli offensive has killed more than 13,300 Palestinians, according to the Gaza Health Ministry. Women and minors have consistently made up around two-thirds of the dead, though the latest number was not broken down. The figure does not include updated numbers from hospitals in the north, where communications have broken down.
The ministry says some 6,000 people have been reported missing, feared buried under rubble.
The ministry does not differentiate between civilians and militants in its death tolls.
Israel says it has killed thousands of Hamas fighters, without presenting evidence for its count.&nbsp;

Meanwhile, Abbas, who was expected to meet with Biden and Arab leaders at a summit in Jordan earlier this week, cancelled the meeting. 

Palestine President declined to hold phone call with Joe Biden during latter's Israel visit: report

Meanwhile, Abbas, who was expected to meet with Biden and Arab leaders at a summit in Jordan earlier this week, cancelled the meeting.&nbsp;

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas refused to hold a conversation with Joe Biden during the US President's Israel visit earlier this week, the Times of Israel said citing reports by Kan public broadcaster.&nbsp;
The Biden administration officials tried to facilitate a phone call between the two leaders, however, Abbas refused the request, Kan public broadcaster said citing sources familiar with the matter.
It is worth noting that Joe Biden has backed Israel's fight against Hamas during his recent visit to the nation.&nbsp;
Meanwhile, Abbas, who was expected to meet with Biden and Arab leaders at a summit in Jordan earlier this week, cancelled the meeting.&nbsp;
&nbsp;

Palestinians in Gaza are still waiting for food and medical supplies as aid trucks are stuck at Rafah crossing

Palestinians still wait for aid as trucks stuck at Rafah border

Palestinians in Gaza are still waiting for food and medical supplies as aid trucks are stuck at Rafah crossing

A convoy of trucks carrying aid for Palestinians in Gaza was waiting on Tuesday at the Rafah crossing, Gaza&rsquo;s only connection to Egypt.
More than a week after Israel cut off entry of any supplies, all eyes were on the Rafah crossing.
Mediators were trying to reach a cease-fire that would let in aid and let out trapped foreigners.
More than a million people have fled their homes in the Gaza Strip ahead of an expected Israel invasion that seeks to eliminate Hamas&rsquo; leadership after its deadly incursion.
Aid groups warn an Israeli ground offensive could hasten a humanitarian crisis.
The war that began on Oct. 7 has become the deadliest of five Gaza wars for both sides, with more than 4,000 dead.

Israeli army claimed on October 13 that their ground forces made raids into Gaza over the past 24 hours.

Israel says its ground forces made raids into Gaza over past 24 hours

The Israeli army claimed on October 13 that their ground forces made raids into Gaza over the past 24 hours.

Israeli ground forces made raids into Gaza over the past 24 hours, the military said Friday, ahead of an expected ground offensive on the densely populated Palestinian territory.
"Over the past 24 hours, IDF (Israeli military) forces carried out localised raids inside the territory of the Gaza Strip to complete the effort to cleanse the area of terrorists and weaponry," an army statement said.
"During these operations, there was also an effort to locate missing persons."
The raids came amid incessant Israeli air strikes on the Gaza Strip, with Palestinian militants firing back with rockets.
War erupted between the two sides on Saturday, when Hamas militants attacked communities in Israel and killed more than 1,300 people, most of them civilians.
The militants also abducted an estimated 150 Israelis and foreigners.
The Israeli army said troops "collected evidence that would assist in the effort to locate hostages" during the raids into Gaza, without providing further details.
"Soldiers thwarted terrorist cells and infrastructure located in the area, including a Hamas cell that fired anti-tank missiles toward Israeli territory," the statement added.
Retaliatory strikes on Gaza have killed around 1,800 people and caused mass displacement.
Israel on Friday warned the 1.1 million residents of northern Gaza to flee, ahead of an anticipated ground offensive, a move condemned by the United Nations.

Real imagery and accounts of the war in Israel and Palestine are now mixed up with false claims and misrepresented videos pushed by users.

Israel-Palestine war: misinformation concerns as fake news, photos and videos flood social media

Israel-Palestine war: misinformation concerns as fake news, photos, videos flood social media

Real imagery and accounts of the war in Israel and Palestine are now mixed up with false claims and misrepresented videos pushed by users.

In the days since Hamas militants stormed into Israel on Saturday morning, a flood of videos and photos purporting to show the conflict have filled social media, making it difficult for onlookers from around the world to sort fact from fiction.
While plenty of real imagery and accounts of the ensuing carnage have emerged, they have been intermingled with users pushing false claims and misrepresenting videos from other events.
The Associated Press has reported that the claims of Nimrod Aloni, a top general in the Israeli army being captured by Hamas on October 7 are false.
The AP report stated that Israel Defense Forces have denied the reports and even released a video showing Aloni attending a war meeting on October 8.&nbsp;
The news agency also debunked reports that US President Joe Biden has announced $8 billion in military aid to Israel. A fake memo to the effect has been circulating online. The White House has confirmed that Biden has not made any such announcement.&nbsp;
A video of Hamas fighters parachuting onto a sports field before attacking Israeli citizens is also fake, the Associated Press has reported.&nbsp;
It said that while Hamas did use paragliders, &nbsp;the footage of the sports field shows parachute jumpers in Cairo and has been online since at least September.&nbsp;
There have also been posts and photos on social media claiming that Hamas soldiers using US weapons &ldquo;left behind in Afghanistan used to attack Israel.&nbsp;
Al Jazeera, however, reported that according to X&rsquo;s Community Notes feature the photo shows Taliban soldiers from 2021 and not Hamas.&nbsp;
Another video that was called out as fake on Community Notes was of a Hamas fighter purportedly firing a shoulder-mounted rocket cannon to take down an Israeli helicopter. Al Jazeera reported that the footage was from a video game called Arma 3.&nbsp;

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