Israel has started shelling a city in central Gaza where it has 'not operated before' in war
Gaza's civil defence agency and eyewitnesses reported Israeli shelling in the central city of Deir el-Balah today, after the military warned of imminent action in an area where it had not previously operated.
Yesterday, the Israeli military ordered those in the central Gaza area to leave immediately as it was expanding operations, including 'in an area where it has not operated before' in more than 21 months of war.
Between 50,000 and 80,000 people were in the area when the evacuation order was issued, according to initial estimates from the UN's humanitarian agency OCHA, with whole families seen carrying what few belongings they had on donkey carts heading south.
A resident in Deir el-Balah told AFP today that 'during the night, we heard huge and powerful explosions shaking the area as if it were an earthquake'.
He said this was 'due to artillery shelling in the south-central part of Deir el-Balah and the southeastern area'.
'We are extremely worried and fearful that the army is planning a ground operation in Deir el-Balah and the central camps where hundreds of thousands of displaced people are sheltering,' the man added.
The spokesman for Gaza's civil defence agency, Mahmud Bassal, told AFP that 'we received calls from several families trapped in the Al-Baraka area of Deir el-Balah due to shelling by Israeli tanks'.
'There are a number of wounded, but no one can reach the area to evacuate them,' he added.
The Israeli military did not provide immediate comment when contacted by AFP.
'Extremely critical'
Since the start of the war, nearly all of Gaza's population of more than two million — which is also facing severe food shortages — has been displaced at least once by repeated Israeli evacuation orders.
According to OCHA, the latest order means that 87.8% of Gaza's area is now under evacuation orders or within Israeli militarised zones.
Advertisement
Mai Elawawda, communications officer in Gaza for UK-based charity Medical Aid for Palestinians, described the situation as 'extremely critical'.
'Shelling is taking place all around our office, and military vehicles are just 400 metres away from our colleagues and their families,' she said, adding that: 'Everyone is now evacuating, with most unsure where to go next.'
Pope Leo has spoken by phone to the president of the Palestinian Authority, Mahmud Abbas, about the war in Gaza and violence in the West Bank, according to the Vatican.
It was the first official conversation between the two men since Leo's papacy began.
'The Holy Father repeated his appeal for international humanitarian law to be fully respected, emphasising in particular the obligation to protect civilians and sacred places, the prohibition of the indiscriminate use of force and of the forced transfer of the population,' the Vatican wrote.
The pope emphasised 'the urgent need to provide assistance to those most vulnerable to the consequences of the conflict and to allow the adequate entry of humanitarian aid', it said.
It followed a call on Friday between the pope and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, a day after a strike by Israel on Gaza's only Catholic Church that killed three people.
On Sunday, Leo condemned the 'barbarity' of the war in Gaza and again called for a peaceful resolution.
The Holy See, which supports a two-state solution, formally recognised the state of Palestine through an agreement signed in 2015, one of the first states in Europe to do so.
In 2014, Israeli and Palestinian presidents Shimon Peres and Abbas planted an olive tree alongside Pope Francis in the Vatican gardens.
Need more information on what is happening in Israel and Palestine? Check out our FactCheck Knowledge Bank for essential reads and guides to navigating the news online.
Visit Knowledge Bank

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


Irish Times
41 minutes ago
- Irish Times
British families ‘sent wrong remains' after loved ones killed in Air India crash
British families grieving after the Air India disaster have discovered that the remains of their loved ones have been wrongly identified before repatriation, according to an aviation lawyer representing them. Relatives of one victim had to abandon funeral plans after being informed that their coffin contained the body of an unknown passenger. In another case, the 'commingled' remains of more than one person killed in the crash were mistakenly placed in the same casket and had to be separated before the interment could go ahead, the Daily Mail reported. The news came before the start of a two-day state visit to London by India's prime minister, Narendra Modi, on Wednesday. Mr Modi will meet his British counterpart, Keir Starmer, to sign a landmark free trade agreement between India and the UK. READ MORE The site of the crash in Ahmedabad, India on June 12th. Photograph: Siddharaj Solanki/Bloomberg The mistakes emerged when the Inner West London coroner Dr Fiona Wilcox sought to verify the repatriated Britons' identities by matching their DNA with samples provided by the families, the Mail reported. A London-bound Boeing 787 Dreamliner crashed into a medical college shortly after taking off from Ahmedabad airport on June 12th, killing 241 people on board, of whom 52 were returning Britons. Another 19 people died on the ground and 67 were seriously injured. A preliminary report found the plane's fuel switches had been moved to cut-off, deepening the mystery of what happened and leaving families distressed and seeking answers. The report from India's Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau, published on July 10th, said both of the plane's fuel switches moved to the cut-off position immediately after take-off, stopping fuel supply to the engines. While some of the dead were cremated or buried in India, the remains of at least 12 victims had been repatriated, said James Healy-Pratt, an aviation lawyer representing many of the British families. He said he is expecting Mr Starmer to raise these issues with Mr Modi this week at their meeting in London. 'The families deserve urgent answers and assurances about the whereabouts of their loved ones,' said Mr Healy-Pratt, who told the Mail he was looking into what had happened during the identification process. [ Air India victims' families not satisfied with 'vague' initial report Opens in new window ] 'I've been sitting down in the homes of these lovely British families over the last month, and the first thing they want is their loved ones back,' he said. 'But some of them have got the wrong remains and they are clearly distraught over this. It has been going on for a couple of weeks [and] I think these families deserve an explanation.' He said while the family who received the 'commingled' remains had been able to have them separated to hold a funeral service, the second family had been left 'in limbo'. '[They] have no one to bury because it was the wrong person in their casket. And if isn't their relative, the question is, who is it in that coffin? Presumably it's another passenger and their relatives have been given the wrong remains.' He added: 'The coroner also has a problem because she has an unidentified person in her jurisdiction.' Approached by the Mail, Dr Wilcox said it would be inappropriate for her to comment. Mr Healy-Pratt said the families were in contact with their MPs, the foreign office and the offices of the prime minister and the foreign secretary. 'On the known evidence, the chain of custody of these lost loved ones was unacceptably poor,' he said. 'We are investigating the causes of those failures and demanding answers on behalf of these deserving British families. We await formal responses from Air India, and their emergency response contractors Kenyon International Emergency Services.' Air India said it has no comment on the report. But an airline official, who wished to remain unnamed, noted that the airline had not been involved in the identification of the remains. 'It was the hospital, they who were the ones who confirmed the next-of-kin matches,' they said. Randhir Jaiswal, spokesperson for India's ministry of external affairs, said: 'We have seen the report and have been working closely with the UK side from the moment these concerns and issues were brought to our attention.' He added that 'in the wake of the tragic crash, the concerned authorities had carried out identification of victims as per established protocols and technical requirements. All mortal remains were handled with utmost professionalism and with due regard for the dignity of the deceased. We are continuing to work with the UK authorities on addressing any concerns related to this issue.'


The Irish Sun
an hour ago
- The Irish Sun
Moment Iran helicopter faces off with US warship in the Gulf in pathetic show of force after Trump threatens new strikes
THIS is the moment a single Iranian naval helicopter tries to drive away a huge US destroyer in a pathetic show of force. The USS Fitzgerald was sailing through the Gulf of Oman this morning when the attack helicopter buzzed the guided missile destroyer. Advertisement 11 The USS Fitzgerald is seen from an Iranian helicopter today Credit: Tasnim News Agency 11 Iran claimed it forced the destroyer to retreat Credit: Tasnim News Agency 11 Iran has vowed to push on with its nuclear enrichment programme 11 Iranian state media claims the pilot issued a "stern warning" to vacate the waters. Footage shows the pilot attempting to order the destroyer to "change course" without success. The destroyer issued threats of its own, Iran said, but "the Iranian pilot... reiterated the warning to stay away from Iranian waters", forcing the US vessel to "give in" and alter its course. Iranian forces have a history of confronting US forces in waters off the country's southern coast. Advertisement Read more about Iran here In 2023, the rogue state said it forced a US submarine to surface while crossing the strategic Strait of Hormuz, which Washington denied. The flashpoint comes at a tense moment between the two nations a month after Donald Trump struck three nuclear sites during Iran's frenzied 12-day war with Israel. Iran's president Masoud Pezeshkian has warned Iran will not halt its nuclear programme despite Trump unleashing the devastating blitz on the trio of facilities. The leader, who was wounded in the leg during the war and forced to flee a high-profile emergency meeting, said it is as "illusion" for Trump to suggest their nuclear programme has been obliterated. Advertisement Most read in The US Sun Latest Breaking He said: "Our nuclear capabilities are in the minds of our scientists and not in the facilities." The comments echo previous remarks by Tehran's foreign minister Abbas Araghchi who said Iran would never abandon its uranium enrichment programme. Iran vows to press on with nuke enrichment despite Trump's threats and 'serious damage' done by stealth bombings Pezeshkian added that Iran remains on guard for any future Israeli attack and doesn't believe the ceasefire will hold. He said: "We are fully prepared for any new Israeli military move, and our armed forces are ready to strike deep inside Israel again." Advertisement Reflecting the simmering tensions that remain in the region despite the ceasefire, Israeli defence minister Israel Katz said yesterday there is a possibility of renewed attacks against Iran. His statements came during a situation assessment with several top Israeli military officials, including the chief of staff. He stressed the need for an effective plan to ensure that Iran does not restore its nuclear program. Earlier this week, Araghchi told Fox News: "We Advertisement "And now, more than that, it is a question of national pride ." The Foreign Minister also said: "Enrichment is so dear to us." 11 Iran's president Masoud Pezeshkian has warned Iran will not halt its nuclear programme Credit: Alamy 11 A satellite view shows an overview of Fordow underground complex after the US bombings on June 21 Advertisement 11 Firefighters extinguish a blaze after an Israeli missile strike Credit: AP 11 Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said Iran would keep pushing forward with the programme Aragchi confirmed that the damage done by Donald Trump's Operation Midnight Hammer on Iran's nuclear sites had been "serious". But he stopped short of commenting on whether any enriched uranium survived the Advertisement "Our facilities have been damaged – seriously damaged," Araghchi said. "The extent of which is now under evaluation by our atomic energy organisation." He did confirm, however, that all enrichment capabilities in Iran had been ceased as a result of the facilities being "seriously damaged". Iran is due to meet with representatives from Britain, France and Germany on Friday to discuss its nuclear programme. Advertisement The European trio have warned that if no progress is reached by the end of August, they will invoke a "snapback" mechanism. This would reimpose UN sanctions on Tehran that were lifted under a 2015 deal in return for restrictions on Iran's nuclear programme The three European countries, along with China and Russia, are the remaining parties to the 2015 nuclear deal - from which the United States withdrew in 2018. 11 Israeli Iron Dome air defence system intercepts missiles over Tel Aviv Advertisement 11 President Donald Trump and his national security team meeting in the Situation Room in June 11 Tehran denies seeking a nuclear weapon and says its nuclear programme is solely meant for civilian purposes. This was despite enrichment levels reaching 60% prior to the US bombardment. Advertisement The The Israelis also orchestrated Operation Red Wedding - which saw 30 top Iranian military chiefs killed in a near-simultaneous blitz as Tel Aviv sought to root out the Less than a fortnight later, Trump joined the Israeli bombing campaign against Iran with The US military 's flagship Advertisement The The Don celebrated his sophisticated blitz on the Iranian regime - and said that the US bombs went through enemy nuclear sites " Iran, which vowed to hit US military bases across the Middle East, sought its revenge by But Tehran seemingly Advertisement Trump dubbed the expected response "weak" before announcing that a ceasefire deal had been reached between the Israelis and Iranians.


RTÉ News
3 hours ago
- RTÉ News
ICJ begins handing down watershed climate opinion
The world's top court has begun delivering a landmark ruling laying out what legal obligations countries have to prevent climate change and whether polluters should pay up for the consequences. It is the biggest case ever heard at the International Court of Justice (ICJ) and experts say the judges' opinion could reshape climate justice, with major impacts on laws around the world. "I think it will be a game-changer for the whole climate discourse we're going through," said Ralph Regenvanu, climate change minister of Vanuatu. The Pacific island nation spearheaded the push for a court opinion amid growing frustration at sluggish progress in UN climate negotiations. "We've been going through this for 30 years... It'll shift the narrative, which is what we need to have," Mr Regenvanu said. The United Nations has tasked the 15 judges at the ICJ, a UN court that adjudicates disputes between nations, to answer two fundamental questions. First: What must states do under international law to protect the environment from greenhouse gas emissions "for present and future generations"? Second: What are the consequences for states whose emissions have caused environmental harm, especially to vulnerable low-lying island states? ICJ advisory opinions are not binding upon states and critics say that top polluters will simply ignore what comes out of the court. But others note the moral and legal clout enjoyed by the world's highest court and hope the opinion will make a tangible difference to national climate change policies and ongoing legal battles. Andrew Raine, deputy director of the UN Environment Programme's law division, said the ICJ should "clarify how international law applies to the climate crisis". "And that has ripple effects across national courts, legislative processes, and public debates," he said. To help answer the two questions, ICJ judges have pored over tens of thousands of pages of submissions from countries and organisations around the world. Analysts say today's ruling is the most consequential of a string of recent rulings on climate change in international law as courts become a battleground for climate action. Outside the court in the Hague, about 100 demonstrators waved flags and posters bearing slogans like "No more delay, climate justice today". Those bringing the cases are often from climate-vulnerable communities and countries, alarmed by the pace of progress toward curbing planet-warming pollution from fossil fuels. The Paris Agreement struck through the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) has rallied a global response to the crisis, but not at the speed necessary to protect the world from dangerous overheating. 'Disappear beneath the waves' In December, the iconic Peace Palace in the Hague hosted the court's biggest-ever hearings, with more than 100 nations and groups giving oral statements. In what was billed a "David Vs Goliath" battle, the debate pitted major wealthy economies against the smaller, less developed states most at the mercy of a warming planet. Major polluters, including the US and India, warned the ICJ not to deliver a fresh legal blueprint for climate change, arguing the existing UNFCCC sufficed. The US, which has since withdrawn from the Paris Accord, said the UNFCCC contained legal provisions on climate change and urged the court to uphold this regime. But smaller states said this framework was inadequate to mitigate climate change's devastating effects and that the ICJ's opinion should be broader. These states also urged the ICJ to impose reparations on historic polluters. "The cardinal principle is crystal clear. Responsible states are required to make full reparation for the injury they have caused," said Margaretha Wewerinke-Singh representing Vanuatu. These states demanded a commitment and timeline to phasing out fossil fuels, monetary compensation when appropriate, and an acknowledgement of past wrongs. Representatives from island states, many wearing traditional dress as they addressed the court for the first time in their country's history, made passionate pleas to the robed judges. "Despite producing less than 0.01 percent of greenhouse gas emissions, on the current trajectory of GHG emissions, Tuvalu will disappear completely beneath the waves that have been lapping our shores for millennia," said Eselealofa Apinelu from Tuvalu. Vishal Prasad, director of a campaign by Pacific Island students that pushed the issue before the court, said climate change will become "catastrophic as the years go by, if we do not course-correct". "The urgency of the matter, the seriousness of why we're here, and how important this is, is not lost upon all Pacific Islanders, all small island countries," he said. "That's why we're looking to the ICJ."