Israel-Gaza - live: Five dead after IDF strikes in Rafah as US demand ‘answers’ over hospital ‘mass graves’

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At least five people have been killed following Israeli strikes in the southern Gaza city of Rafah, Palestinian hospital officials have said.

More than half of the territory’s population of 2.3 million have sought refuge in Rafah, where Israel has conducted near-daily raids as it prepares for an offensive in the city.

In central Gaza, four people were killed in Israeli tank shelling.

Earlier, the United States has demanded “answers” from Israel after mass graves were found outside two hospitals in the Gaza strip.

More than 300 bodies were discovered at two different burial sites outside the Nasser and al-Shifa hospitals, some of whom were women and elderly people, according to the UN.

The Israeli army said any suggestion of its responsibility was “baseless” and “unfounded” and the graves were “dug by Gazans” a few months ago.

Key Points

• Five dead as Israel strikes Rafah
• Hamas releases video of Israeli-American hostage
• Palestinian civilians were fleeing their homes in northern Gaza
• Israeli strikes intensify across Gaza
• EU joins calls for independent probe into mass graves
• Israeli military says it is ready to make move on Rafah

Watch: IDF call for ‘urgent action’ after Hamas video of Israeli-American hostage missing part of arm

IDF call for ‘urgent action’ after Hamas video of hostage missing part of arm

The IDF has called for “urgent action” after Hamas released a video of an Israeli-American hostage missing part of an arm. The video shows Hersh Goldberg-Polin, a 23-year-old American-Israeli, who was among scores of people abducted by the militants in the attack that ignited the war in Gaza. In a video message, released late on Wednesday (24 April), the IDF issued an “urgent call for action”, adding “no stone will be left unturned to find our hostages. An IDF spokesman said: “This is a reminder of how sick this terrorist group is.”

ICYMI: Hamas hostage’s parents tell him to ‘stay strong, survive’ after video shows Israeli-American alive in Gaza

The Hamas militant group has released a propaganda video of Israeli-American hostage Hersh Goldberg-Polin, showing him alive but with an amputated left arm.

Mr Goldberg-Polin was among the hundreds of people abducted by Hamas and other Islamist groups during their 7 October attack on southern Israel that led to the ongoing war in Gaza.

Full report:

Hamas hostage’s parents tell him to ‘stay strong, survive’ after video released

Propaganda video shows Hersh Goldberg-Polin criticising the Israeli government

Palestinian authorities seek probe into mass graves at Gaza hospitals

A Palestinian civil defence team on Thursday called on the United Nations to investigate what it said were war crimes at a Gaza hospital, saying nearly 400 bodies were recovered from mass graves after Israeli soldiers departed the complex.

"There are cases of field execution of some patients while undergoing surgeries and wearing surgical gowns at the Nasser Medical Complex," the civil defence forces said at a press conference, without presenting any evidence.

Palestinian authorities have this week reported finding hundreds of bodies in mass graves at Nasser hospital, the main medical facility in central Gaza, after Israeli troops pulled out of the city of Khan Younis.

Bodies were also reported to have been found at the Al Shifa hospital in northern Gaza, which was targeted in an Israeli special forces operation.

UN rights chief Volker Turk said on Tuesday he was "horrified" by the destruction of the Nasser and Al Shifa medical facilities and by the reports of the mass graves, according to a spokesperson.

The Israeli military said claims by Palestinian authorities that the Israeli Defence Forces (IDF) had buried the bodies were "baseless and unfounded".

Hamas hostage’s parents tell him to ‘stay strong, survive’ after video shows Israeli-American alive in Gaza

The Hamas militant group has released a propaganda video of Israeli-American hostage Hersh Goldberg-Polin, showing him alive but with an amputated left arm.

Mr Goldberg-Polin was among the hundreds of people abducted by Hamas and other Islamist groups during their 7 October attack on southern Israel that led to the ongoing war in Gaza.

Full report:

Hamas hostage’s parents tell him to ‘stay strong, survive’ after video released

Propaganda video shows Hersh Goldberg-Polin criticising the Israeli government

Picture shows explosion amid Israeli strikes in southern Lebanon

A picture shows thick clouds of smoke billowing into the sky following an explosion amid Israeli strikes in southern Lebanon.

The image appears to show the aftermath of a strike on the village of Alma al-Shaab amid ongoing tensions on the border, exacerbated by the war in Gaza.

Israeli strikes kill 5 in Rafah - Palestinian hospital officials

Palestinian hospital officials said Israeli airstrikes on the southern city of Rafah in the Gaza Strip killed at least five people.

More than half of the territory’s population of 2.3 million have sought refuge in Rafah, where Israel has conducted near-daily raids as it prepares for an offensive in the city.

In central Gaza, four people were killed in Israeli tank shelling.

Loud bang heard and smoke seen in sea southwest of Yemen’s Aden, UKMTO reports

A ship’s captain reported hearing a loud bang and seeing a splash and smoke coming from the sea on Thursday around 15 nautical miles southwest of the Yemeni port of Aden, Britain’s maritime agency said.

The UK  Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) added that the crew and vessel were safe and military authorities were supporting it.

Yemeni Houthi militants have been attacking ships in the Red Sea since November in what they say is a campaign of solidarity with Palestinians during the Israel-Hamas war in Gaza.

The Houthis said on Wednesday they had carried out three military operations in the Gulf of Aden and the Indian Ocean.

UK maritime agency reports incident in sea southwest of Yemen’s Aden

Britain’s maritime agency and the security firm Ambrey have received reports of an incident on Thursday around 15 nautical miles southwest of the Yemeni port of Aden, advisory notes said.

The UK Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) advised ships to proceed with caution and report any incident.

Yemeni Houthi militants have been attacking ships in the Red Sea since November in what they say is a campaign of solidarity with Palestinians during the Israel-Hamas war in Gaza.

The Houthis said on Wednesday that they had carried out three military operations in the Gulf of Aden and the Indian Ocean.

US plans to build Gaza aid pier branded ‘smokescreen’ to allow Israeli invasion of Rafah

US plans for Gaza aid pier branded ‘smokescreen’ to allow Israeli invasion of Rafah

UN officials warned the project would likely be used as a substitute during Israel’s invasion of Rafah

Israel says it is poised to move on Rafah

Israel’s military is poised to evacuate Palestinian civilians from Rafah and assault Hamas hold-outs in the southern Gaza Strip city despite international warnings of a humanitarian catastrophe.

A spokesperson for prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government said Israel was “moving ahead” with a ground operation, but gave no timeline.

The defence official said Israel’s Defence Ministry had bought 40,000 tents, each with the capacity for 10 to 12 people, to house Palestinians relocated from Rafah in advance of an assault.

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