Middle East

2 days agoShareSaveDan JohnsonBBC correspondentReporting fromJerusalemShareSaveIsrael's army has admitted its soldiers made mistakes over the killing of 15 emergency workers in southern Gaza on 23 March.
The convoy of Palestinian Red Crescent Society (PRCS) ambulances, a UN car and a fire truck from Gaza's Civil Defence came under fire near Rafah.
Israel originally claimed troops opened fire because the convoy approached “suspiciously” in darkness without headlights or flashing lights. It said movement of the vehicles had not been previously co-ordinated or agreed with the army.
Mobile phone footage, filmed by one of the paramedics who was killed, showed the vehicles did have lights on as they answered a call to help wounded people.
The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) insists at least six of the medics were linked to Hamas – but has so far provided no evidence. It admits they were unarmed when the soldiers opened fire.
The mobile video, originally shared by the New York Times, sh..

The video was published by the Palestine Red Crescent Society (PRCS), which said it was obtained from the phone of a paramedic who was killed.

The Israeli military says it is hitting “terror targets” across Gaza.

Israel has sent more troops into Gaza after resuming airstrikes on what it calls “terror targets”.

BBC Verify explains what we know about the incident after reviewing videos that were posted online.

Dr Mark Perlmutter says doctors are working without soap, antibiotics or x-ray facilities, as Israel has resumed its offensive against Hamas.

7 days agoShareSaveDavid GrittenBBC NewsShareSaveDisplaced Palestinians started fleeing Rafah on foot and in vehicles after the evacuation order was issuedThe Israeli military has issued a sweeping new evacuation order for the southern Gaza Strip – the biggest since its offensive in the Palestinian territory resumed earlier this month.
The military instructed residents of the city of Rafah and parts of neighbouring Khan Younis to leave immediately for the al-Mawasi humanitarian zone, warning that its forces were “returning to intense operations to dismantle the capabilities of the terrorist organisations” in the areas.
Palestinians who had returned to their homes in Rafah during the recent two-month-long ceasefire between Israel and Hamas are now starting to flee.
About a fifth of Gaza is now covered by evacuation orders.
The UN human rights office warned last week that the evacuations failed to comply with the requirements of international law, accusing Israel of not taking any measur..

6 days agoShareSaveTom BatemanState Department correspondentSofia Ferreira SantosBBC NewsShareSaveMourners gathered at a funeral on Monday after the bodies of 15 people, including paramedics and a UN worker, were found in a mass grave, according to the UNThe US has said it expects “all parties on the ground” in Gaza to comply with international humanitarian law but declined to confirm whether it was carrying out its own assessment into the killing by the Israeli military of 15 people – paramedics, civil defence workers and a UN official.
Asked about the killings, state department spokeswoman Tammy Bruce said: “Every single thing that happens in Gaza is happening because of Hamas.”
The UN's humanitarian agency has said five ambulances, a fire truck and a UN vehicle were struck “one by one” on 23 March and that 15 bodies, including paramedics still in their uniforms, had been gathered and buried in a mass grave.
The Israeli military said its troops had fired on vehicles “advancing s..

6 days agoShareSaveHugo BachegaMiddle East correspondentReporting fromBeirutEmma RossiterBBC NewsReporting fromLondonShareSaveAn Israeli air strike on Beirut's southern suburbs has killed a Hezbollah official and three other people, Lebanon's health ministry says, putting further pressure on a fragile ceasefire between Israel and the Lebanese armed group.
The strike also injured seven people, the health ministry said.
The attack was the second on the Dahieh area, where Hezbollah has a strong presence, in recent days, despite the truce that came into force in November.
The Israeli military said it had targeted Hassan Bdeir, who it alleged had helped Hamas plan an attack against Israeli civilians.
Hezbollah confirmed Bdeir had been killed along with his son, who was also a member of the group.
Lebanon's President Joseph Aoun condemned the strike, calling it a dangerous warning.
Prime Minister Nawaf Salam said it was a “flagrant violation” of the ceasefire.
The strike happe..

6 days agoShareSaveTom BennettBBC NewsReporting fromLondonShareSaveThe United Nations agency for children says that at least 322 children are reported to have been killed since Israel launched a renewed offensive in Gaza two weeks ago.
Unicef said at least 609 other children were reportedly wounded during the same period.
“The ceasefire in Gaza provided a desperately needed lifeline for Gaza's children and hope for a path to recovery,” said Unicef Executive Director Catherine Russell. “But children have again been plunged into a cycle of deadly violence and deprivation.”
Israel launched its renewed Gaza offensive on 18 March, blaming Hamas for rejecting a new US proposal to extend the ceasefire and free the 59 hostages still held captive in Gaza.
Hamas, in turn, accused Israel of violating the original deal they had agreed to in January.
Unicef said “relentless and indiscriminate bombardments” had resumed in Gaza, with 100 children killed or maimed every day in the 10 days to 31 ..