Iran Press/West Asia: Thousands of Palestinian civilians in northern Gaza are cut off from water and food after a week-long Israeli incursion that has led to heavy casualties on both sides.
Israel plans to deploy more troops and “intensify” its ground invasion of southern Rafah in defiance of global warnings over the fate of hundreds of thousands of Palestinian civilians sheltering in the war-battered city.
South Africa urged the UN’s top court to order a halt to Israel’s assault on Rafah, saying attacks on the southernmost Gaza city “must be stopped“.
South Africa’s ambassador to the Netherlands, Vusimuzi Madonsela, told the International Court of Justice: “Seven months ago, South Africa could not have imagined that Gaza would be largely wiped off the map.”
At least 35,272 people have been killed and 79,205 wounded in Israeli attacks on Gaza since October 7.
Germany’s DPA news agency reports that foreign ministers from 13 countries have signed a letter warning Israel to halt its ground invasion of Rafah in the southern Gaza Strip and to allow more aid to reach the Palestinian population.
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