Israel-Hamas war Highlights: UN will 'stay with Palestinians here in Gaza'

The Houthi militants in Yemen reported that they recently launched a significant number of drones at various Israeli targets, according to the group's military spokesperson, Reuters reports.

The UN Human Rights Office raised serious concerns on Wednesday, suggesting that the recent deadly Israeli airstrikes on the Gaza Strip's largest refugee camp, Jabalia, may potentially be considered war crimes. These attacks, which occurred twice in two days, resulted in casualties and extensive damage, as reported by the health ministry in the Palestinian territory controlled by Hamas, AFP reports.

The Israeli military claimed that Tuesday's raid successfully targeted a top Hamas commander, Ibrahim Biari. However, the UN Human Rights Office expressed apprehension over the high number of civilian casualties and the scale of destruction caused by the Israeli airstrikes. In a statement posted on social media, the office stated, "Given the high number of civilian casualties and the scale of destruction following Israeli air strikes on Jabalia refugee camp, we have serious concerns that these are disproportionate attacks that could amount to war crimes."

A senior aid official confirmed on Wednesday that the United Nations is committed to standing by the Palestinian population in Gaza, marking the first such visit to the region since the conflict with Israel commenced.

Philippe Lazzarini, the director of the UN agency for Palestinian refugees (UNRWA), expressed his astonishment at the urgent appeals for food and water from the people of Gaza during his visit.

As the highest-ranking UN representative to visit the territory since the conflict's outset, Lazzarini described the unprecedented nature of the situation, stating, "I had never ever seen anything like it before in Gaza."

Lazzarini assured that UNRWA would continue its support for Palestinian refugees in Gaza, affirming, "UNRWA will remain dedicated to the well-being of the Palestinian population in Gaza."

In a significant statement, the White House has categorically rejected the notion of Hamas, the pro-Iranian Palestinian militant group, playing any role in the future governance of the Gaza Strip once the conflict with Israel concludes. The statement was made on Wednesday by White House national security spokesperson John Kirby, as President Joe Biden was en route to Minnesota, Reuters reported.

Kirby emphasized that the United States firmly opposes the permanent relocation of Gaza civilians outside of the Gaza Strip, which has been under the control of Hamas. He also acknowledged the increasing civilian casualties in Gaza due to the ongoing Israel-Hamas conflict.

Despite the rising civilian death toll, Kirby noted that Washington does not believe that a comprehensive ceasefire is currently the right approach. Instead, he stressed the need for humanitarian pauses in hostilities.

As discussions among the United States and its allies and partners continue to explore post-war Gaza options, Kirby highlighted the problematic nature of having Hamas in charge, particularly in light of the group's recent actions, including the killing of 1,400 people in southern Israel on October 7.

"We do firmly believe that Hamas cannot be the future of governance in Gaza. They can't," Kirby affirmed. "What will follow this conflict is not yet fully defined, but we are collaborating with regional partners to determine what an ideal governance model for Gaza could and should be."

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz emphasizes 'the significance of safeguarding Gaza's civilian population' to Netanyahu, AFP reports.

The Israeli defense minister calls for Hamas to either ‘surrender unconditionally or face destruction’, Reuters reports.

“Today, thanks to American leadership, we secured safe passage for wounded Palestinians and for foreign nationals to exit Gaza… We expect American citizens to exit today, and we expect to see more depart over the coming days… We won't let up working to get Americans out of Gaza”: US President Joe Biden

Over 320 foreign passport holders from Gaza crossed over to Israel on Wednesday, The Spectator Index reported.

The Hamas terror attack of Oct. 7 has left 116 children from 59 families orphaned, according to data presented to the Knesset's Labor and Welfare Committee on Tuesday.

"The State of Israel has not faced such a situation since its establishment, neither in numbers nor in substance. There is no need to explain the importance of sensitivity when it comes to the treatment of those children. As a committee, we intend to accompany the responsible parties, to assist and be at their disposal for any need that comes their way," said committee chair MK Israel Eichler.

Fifteen Israeli soldiers have been killed fighting in Gaza since Tuesday, a spokesman for the country's military told AFP.

Israel's El Al Airlines said on Wednesday it was boosting cargo capacity to meet high demand for shipments of equipment to Israeli soldiers and families impacted by the war with Hamas.

Israel's flag carrier, which has a fleet of 46 aircraft split between long and short haul, removed seats from one of its six Boeing 777-200 planes to add up to 50 tonnes of cargo per flight.

It also added a Boeing 737 that was recently converted to cargo to its fleet and, with cargo capacity of 20 tonnes, will make two flights a day to various European destinations.

It chose 222 as its flight number since it has a numerical value of Israel's slogan of "together we will win."

The IDF confirmed the death in battle of two additional fallen soldiers - Staff Sgt. Itay Yehuda, 20, and Staff Sgt. Shay Arvas, 20, bringing the death toll of soldiers killed in the Gaza ground operation so far to 15, a report from The Times of Israel said on Wednesday.

Palestinian rescuers at the site of an overnight Israeli air strike on Gaza brushed away debris early on Wednesday to gradually reveal a motionless head and arm, the latest victim of a bombardment that has killed thousands.

Air raid sirens were heard in Shtula, a moshav near the border with Lebanon in the Upper Galilee. It was not immediately clear what set off the sirens, The Times of Israel reported on Wednesday.

The leader of Palestinian Islamist militant group Hamas said on Wednesday that Israeli hostages held in the besieged Gaza Strip were subject to the same "death and destruction" that Palestinians have faced.

The World Health Organization welcomed Wednesday's first evacuations of wounded patients out of the Gaza Strip, but stressed that thousands of injured civilians and people with chronic illnesses also needed treatment. Ambulances transported wounded residents out of the Palestinian enclave for urgent medical care in neighbouring Egypt.

South Africa has called on the United Nations to deploy a rapid protection force to protect the civilian population of Gaza amid reports about a large number of children being killed there as the Israeli forces heightens attacks on the Hamas-ruled enclave.

"South Africa echoes the UN General Assembly's resolution that called for an immediate ceasefire and the immediate opening of a humanitarian corridor to provide food, medical supplies and fuel," the country's Department of International Relations and Cooperations said in a statement on Monday.

Iran's Foreign Minister Hossein Amirabdollahian warned on Wednesday of "harsh consequences" if attacks continue on the Gaza Strip, the latest in a series of warnings from the country, which backs Hamas in Gaza and militias elsewhere in the region.

"If an immediate ceasefire doesn't take place in Gaza Strip and the rapid attacks by U.S. and Zionist Regime continue then the consequences would be harsh," he said in Ankara.

Turkey and Iran on Wednesday called for a regional conference aimed at averting the spread of the Israel-Hamas war.

Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan met counterpart Hossein Amir-Abdollahian a day after Iran's top diplomat met Hamas leaders in Qatar.

Iran has warned that armed groups it supports in the region could attack Israel in light of its war on Hamas.

The BBC will start an emergency radio service for the people of Gaza in response to the ongoing conflict in the region, the British broadcaster's World Service arm said on Wednesday.

The programme aims to provide those in Gaza with the latest information..

The health ministry in the Hamas-run Gaza Strip said Wednesday 8,796 people have been killed since the war with Israel erupted on October 7.

Two Filipino doctors with medical aid group Doctors Without Borders (MSF) are among the first group of foreigners selected to leave Gaza and cross into Egypt, a Philippine foreign ministry official said on Wednesday.

Gaza was plunged into another communications blackout on Wednesday, with internet and phone service cut for several hours as Israeli troops battled Hamas militants.

Indonesia has started efforts to evacuate its nationals from Gaza, some of which could be "possibly today", its foreign minister said on Wednesday.

Movement of Indonesians out of the enclave cannot be done at once and must be gradual, with safety the priority, Retno Marsudi told a press conference.

Egypt prepared on Wednesday for injured Gazans and some foreign passport holders to start arriving through the Rafah crossing after Qatar brokered a deal between Egypt, Israel and Hamas to allow for limited evacuations from the Gaza Strip.