1 years ago / 8:56 AM EST

Homes shattered in southern Gaza as strikes continue

Max Butterworth
Said Khatib / AFP via Getty Images
Said Khatib / AFP - Getty Images

Palestinians walk through the rubble of what remains of their homes, following continued Israeli bombardments of the southern region today.

1 years ago / 8:36 AM EST

IDF suspends soldiers seen singing Hanukkah songs at a mosque in the occupied West Bank

The Israel Defense Forces has suspended soldiers seen singing Hanukkah songs at a mosque in Jenin in the occupied West Bank.

In videos shared online, soldiers can be seen singing in Hebrew using a mosque's loudspeaker system, usually used for the Muslim call to prayer. In other footage, singing in Hebrew can be heard from outside a mosque.

"The behavior of the soldiers in the videos is serious and stands in complete opposition to the values ​​of the IDF, the soldiers will be disciplined accordingly," the IDF said in a statement to NBC News.

However, Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir said there was "no room for disciplinary action" against the fighters who should instead be given "full support" during wartime.

The Palestinian Foreign Affairs Ministry said it condemned Gvir's statements and "the storming and desecration of a mosque," adding the singing violated the sanctity of the mosque.

1 years ago / 7:58 AM EST

British foreign secretary warns against 'extremist settlers' targeting Palestinians

NBC News

British Foreign Secretary David Cameron warned today that Israel needed to do more to stop Israeli settler attacks on Palestinian civilians.

"Extremist settlers, by targeting and killing Palestinian civilians, are undermining security and stability for both Israelis and Palestinians," he wrote in a post on X.

Cameron added that those involved in such violence would be barred from immigrating to the United Kingdom.

1 years ago / 7:39 AM EST

At least two were killed as Israeli forces storm hospital in northern Gaza, Health Ministry says

Alice Kong

At least two were killed and 10 were left wounded after Israeli forces stormed Kamal Adwan Hospital in northern Gaza, Health Ministry spokesperson Dr. Ashraf al-Qidra said in a statement today.

He said supply of drinking water, food and electricity are all being blocked by Israeli forces, depriving 12 children in need of milk.

"We warn that they will lose their lives as a result of cutting off electricity and stopping their life support equipment," al-Qidra said, adding that 2,500 displaced people have been evacuated by Israeli forces from the hospital toward shelters.

NBC News has not independently verified the claims.

1 years ago / 7:12 AM EST

Video shows child’s body carried through Gaza floodwater

NBC News

Heavy rain and flooding is adding to the misery in Gaza as a battered and displaced population struggles to cope with the conditions.

Warning: This video includes images that some viewers may find upsetting or disturbing.


1 years ago / 7:05 AM EST

Rain and flooding worsening the conditions in besieged Gaza

The already destroyed streets of Gaza are now flooded with rainwater, as more than 2 million people in the enclave face dropping temperatures, acute food and water shortage.

In a video geolocated by NBC News, a paramedic is seeing carrying a woman out of a broken window of an ambulance while moving through water up to his waist.

A Palestinian child stands in floodwaters at a temporary camp in Deir al-Balah, Gaza, yesterday.Ashraf Amra / Anadolu via Getty Images

A rainwater reservoir, Sheikh Al-Radwan pool, in northern Gaza city is at “ a very critical level and there was no fuel to pump it,” the Gaza municipality said today, adding that it is filled with sewage and flooding is creating a dangerous situation.

U.N. and aid agencies have warned of waterborne diseases as blocked sewers and pumps fail to clear water without electricity.

1 years ago / 6:35 AM EST

Children injured after Khan Younis strike

Max Butterworth

Palestinian civilians, injured by Israeli airstrikes, arrive at Nasser Medical Hospital in Khan Younis, in southern Gaza today.

Ahmad Hasaballah / Getty Images
1 years ago / 6:32 AM EST

Hostage families demand explanation after report that Israel blocked negotiations visit

Families of hostages taken by Hamas during its Oct. 7 attacks are demanding Israeli officials "break the deadlock in negotiations" after a report that Mossad Chief David Barnea's visit to Qatar to jump-start negotiations was blocked by Cabinet ministers.

“The families were shocked by the report on the rejection of the Director of Mossad’s request to formulate an agreement for the release of the hostages,” the Hostages and Missing Persons Families Forum said in a statement, adding the families “demand an immediate explanation.”

"The feeling is that every evening a Russian roulette of murdering hostages in Hamas captivity takes place," it added.

Israeli officials have previously traveled to Doha in Qatar to negotiate the releases of hostages.

The prime minister's office told NBC News, "Israeli officials did not comment on those reports." NBC News has not confirmed the report.

1 years ago / 6:08 AM EST

U.S. naval ship shot down Houthi drone while responding to mayday call

The USS Mason shot down a drone launched from Houthi-controlled areas of Yemen yesterday while responding to a mayday call from a Marshall Islands-flagged tanker under attack from the rebels, U.S. Central Command said today in a post on X.

The USS Mason.Katrina Parker / AFP - Getty Images file

"These forces first attempted to board the tanker via skiffs," it said, adding a two missiles were fired later at the vessel and both missed. Subsequently, the Mason shot down a drone in self-defense.

"There were no injuries to personnel and no damage to any vessels," it said.

Attacks on commercial ships in the region have increased, which the Houthi rebels say is in support of the people of Gaza. The Israeli military campaign in the besieged Palestinian enclave has displaced the majority of its 2.2 million people.

1 years ago / 6:02 AM EST

UNRWA: 2023 the deadliest year for Palestinians in the occupied West Bank since 2005

This year has been the deadliest year for Palestinians in the occupied West Bank since the United Nations began recording casualties in 2005, the U.N. Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East said yesterday in a report.

At least 271 Palestinians, including 69 children, have been killed by Israeli forces, it added.

Israeli forces have been raiding camps and carrying out arrests in the occupied West Bank in the past few weeks, with at least seven killed, including one child, from missiles fired by Israeli drones Tuesday, UNRWA said.

In Gaza, at least 135 of UNRWA staff members have been killed since the war began Oct. 7, the agency said today in a post on X, adding that 70% of its team is displaced across Gaza.

A hole from a stray bullet is seen in the window of a hotel room today in Jenin in the occupied West Bank.Marco Longari / AFP - Getty Images