Israel-Hamas conflict top developments: 7 foreign aid workers killed in Israeli strike on Gaza

Six months after Hamas-led militants stormed into southern Israel, killing around 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and taking around 250 people hostage, Israel continues to respond with an air, land and sea offensive that has killed over 32,000 Palestinians so far, displaced most the territory’s population and driven a third of its residents to the brink of famine.

On Tuesday, six international aid workers with the World Central Kitchen charity and their Palestinian driver were killed in an “apparent” Israeli airstrike while they were delivering food to Gaza. Those killed include three from Britain, one from Australia, one from Poland, and a US and Canadian dual citizen, according to hospital records accessed by the Associated Press.

The food charity, which was founded by celebrity chef José Andrés, has suspended operations in the region. “Despite coordinating movements with the (Israeli army), the convoy was hit as it was leaving the Deir al-Balah warehouse, where the team had unloaded more than 100 tons of humanitarian food aid brought to Gaza on the maritime route.”

Erin Gore, the CEO of the charity, said, “This is not only an attack against WCK, this is an attack on humanitarian organizations showing up in the most dire of situations where food is being used as a weapon of war. This is unforgivable.”

Japan resumes funding to Palestinian refugee agency 

Meanwhile, Japan on Tuesday said it will lift its suspension of funding to the UN Palestinian refugee agency (UNRWA) as the relief body works to regain trust after an allegation by Israel that some of its staff were involved in October 7 attacks on Israel.

Tokyo and 15 other countries suspended around $450 million in funding earlier this year while the agency conducted an investigation into the allegation. Countries including Australia and Canada have since restored funding to UNRWA, the largest relief body operating in Gaza, which has been besieged by Israel since the attack.

Foreign Minister Yoko Kamikawa, who met UNRWA head Philippe Lazzarini in Tokyo last week, said the agency’s role in addressing the humanitarian crisis in Gaza was indispensable even as it works to improve governance and manage risks. “In response to this, Japan will lift the moratorium on its financial contributions to UNRWA and provide assistance while ensuring and confirming the appropriateness of Japan’s funds,” she told reporters in parliament, as per Reuters.

Israel ends raid on Gaza hospital 

The Israeli military has withdrawn from Gaza’s main hospital after a two-week raid, saying it killed some 200 militants in close-quarters fighting and detained hundreds, the Associated Press Reported.

Palestinians who returned Monday to Shifa Hospital, once the largest medical center in Gaza, say they found its buildings heavily burned and damaged with bodies inside and outside of the facility, including doctors. Israel blamed Hamas for the destruction.

Spain to recognise Palestinian statehood by July: PM Sanchez

Amid the conflict, Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez, who is on a Middle East tour, has announced that Spain will recognise Palestinian statehood by July.

As per Reuters, state news agency EFE and newspapers El Pais and La Vanguardia cited Sanchez as making the informal remarks to the travelling press corps late on Monday in the Jordanian capital, Amman, on the first day of visits to Jordan, Qatar and Saudi Arabia.

According to the reports, Sanchez said he expected events to unfold in the conflict ahead of the European Parliament elections in early June and highlighted ongoing debates at the United Nations. He expected Spain to extend recognition to the Palestinians by July, he said, adding that he believed there would soon be a “critical mass” within the European Union to push several member states to adopt the same position, according to EFE.

Israeli PM calls for Al Jazeera shutdown

After passing a law on Monday that granted the government authority to ban foreign networks perceived as posing a threat to national security, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has vowed to close down Al Jazeera news network, CNN reported.

In a post on X, Netanyahu said his intention was “to act immediately in accordance with the new law.”

Al Jazeera Media Network slammed the decision in a statement, vowing it would not stop the network from continuing its “bold and professional coverage,” as per CNN. The new law grants the prime minister and communications minister the authority to order the temporary closure of foreign networks operating in Israel.

The move drew widespread flak with the White House calling the reports of the move to ban Al Jazeera “concerning.” “The United States supports the critically important work journalists around the world do. And that includes those who are reporting on the conflict in Gaza,” White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said Monday during a press briefing.

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