Gaza live: Palestinian death toll passes 37,000 after brutal Israeli attack on Nuseirat

Missiles used in an Israeli attack against an Unrwa school were equipped with a US-manufactured guidance system, an investigation by Al Jazeera has found.

At least 40 people were killed when Israeli forces attacked a school that was serving as a shelter for disabled people in Nuseirat refugee camp in central Gaza this morning.

The news probe, which was carried out by the Qatari network's Sanad news verification agency, identified that the arms used in the shelling were made by an American company, Honeywell, that specialises in precision guidance systems. 

It says similar systems were used in an Israeli attack on a Palestinian home in the Shujayea neighbourhood in occupied Gaza in 2014.

The investigation also suggests that two components from the previous bombing and today's attack on the school carry the same manufacturer and category numbers. 

An Oxfam spokesperson has slammed the Israeli army's attack on an Unwra school, saying it is "a disgrace that a ceasefire is still not in place and that [international humanitarian law] is broken by Israel time and again with full impunity”.

“Dozens of people – including children – were slaughtered while they slept,” the spokesperson of the international NGO said. 

He added: “Civilians in Gaza must be protected and world leaders must both stop Israel from continuing this carnage and providing the political cover for them to do so."

At least 40 people were killed when Israeli forces attacked a school that was serving a shelter for disabled people in Nuseirat refugee camp in central Gaza this morning.

Yemen’s Houthi rebels and an allied paramilitary group in Iraq, the Islamic Resistance, carried out two joint military operations against Israel on Thursday, according to a statement by the Yemeni group.

The first targeted “two ships carrying military equipment” in the largest seaport in Israel, Haifa Port.

“The second targeted a ship that violated the entry ban at Haifa Port in occupied Palestine,” the Houthis said.

“Both operations were executed using a number of drones and hit their targets accurately with the help of God,” the Houthi military spokesman said in a statement sent to Middle East Eye.

The group added that the Haifa port operation was in response to Israel’s “massacres” in Rafah, referring to several deadly attacks against Palestinian civilians over the past week.

“The Israeli enemy should expect more high-quality joint operations in the coming period until its brutal criminal aggression stops and it lifts the siege on our brothers in the Gaza Strip,” the Houthis said.

The National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) in the US has called on President Joe Biden to halt the provision of all weapons to Israel and pressure it to end the Gaza war.

According to a statement shared with Reuters, the message by the 115-year-old US civil rights group is a reminder to Biden that his administration’s support for Israel could have an impact on Black voters in the November election.

"The NAACP calls on President Biden to draw the red line and indefinitely end the shipment of all weapons and artillery to the state of Israel and other states that supply weapons to Hamas and other terrorist organisations. It is imperative that the violence that has claimed so many civilian lives, immediately stop," the statement said.

NAACP President Derrick Johnson told Reuters that the organisation’s decision to speak out was “driven in part by young Black Americans horrified by the images of dead Palestinian civilians on their smartphones”.

"It's raising a lot of questions around why our tax dollars are being used to harm civilians," Johnson said.

The head of the UN agency for Palestinian refugees (Unrwa) Philippe Lazzarini said that Israeli forces hit a UN school overnight in Nuseirat “without prior warning to the displaced or Unrwa”.

Lazzarini said 6,000 displaced people were sheltering at the school when it was targeted. At least 40 have been killed as a result, according to the Palestinian health ministry. 

“Claims that armed groups may have been inside the shelter are shocking. We are however unable to verify these claims,” he wrote, referring to the Israeli army’s allegation that Hamas fighters were targeted in the attack.

 “Attacking, targeting or using UN buildings for military purposes are a blatant disregard of international humanitarian law,” he added.

“Since the war in Gaza began, over 180 buildings were hit and more than 450 displaced people were killed as a result,” said Lazzarini.

The White House issued a statement where, along with several US allies, it called on Hamas to accept the Israeli ceasefire proposal that was outlined by US President Joe Biden last week.

The statement, attributed to the leaders of the US, Argentina, Austria, Brazil, Bulgaria, Canada, Colombia, Denmark, France, Germany, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Serbia, Spain, Thailand and the UK, said they "fully support the movement towards a ceasefire and hostage release deal now on the table and as outlined by President Biden on May 31, 2024."

They added that "Israel is ready to move forward with the agreement" and called on Hamas to accept it and start releasing hostages.

"There is no time to lose," the statement said, claiming that this deal would lead to an "immediate ceasefire and rehabilitation of Gaza together with security assurances for Israelis, and Palestinians, and opportunities for a more enduring long-term peace and a two-state solution".

"At this decisive moment, we call on the leaders of Israel as well as Hamas to make whatever final compromises are necessary to close this deal."

Hamas said in a statement that fighters from its Qassam Brigades conducted an attack 'behind enemy lines' near the Gaza-Israel border in Rafah, where it says the fighters reached Israeli territory and engaged with Israeli forces.

The Israeli army said one soldier was killed in the attack, and their forces killed the three armed Palestinian men.

The Israeli military insists the Hamas fighters did not enter Israeli territory.

Gaza's health minister said that Israeli forces killed 68 Palestinians in the enclave in the past 24 hours, bringing the total to 36,654 killed since 7 October.

An additional 83,309 have been wounded since the start of the war.

Over 230 artists, content creators and public figures in France have called on President Emmanuel Macron to recognise the State of Palestine in an open letter.

"We are witnessing a genocide in real time, filmed, documented, taking place on our screens daily, and before which many of us feel helpless," write the signatories in a column published by the newspaper Libération on Tuesday. "The time is no longer for debate, it is for action."

“Today, we appeal to the President of the Republic to ask for this recognition. Let's not go against history. Let's not be in the camp of shame.”

Amongst the 235 signatories are the actors Adele Exarchopoulos, Lea Seydoux, Reda Kateb, Ludivine Sagnier, Beatrice Dalle, Leila Bekhti; singers Angele, Camelia Jordana, Renaud; DJ and musician DJ Snake and rapper JoeyStarr.

The UN's agency for Palestinian refugees, Unrwa, warned of the risk of cholera spreading in the Gaza Strip due to the lack of drinking water and hot temperatures.

"There is a real concern that cholera may become prevalent, further deteriorating inhumane living conditions," the agency said on X.

"People in Gaza need a ceasefire now."

With minimal access to clean water in #GazaStrip & harsh summer heat continuing, there’s a risk of disease outbreaks & dehydration.

There is a real concern that cholera may become prevalent, further deteriorating inhumane living conditions

People in #Gaza need a #CeasefireNow pic.twitter.com/VoaCv56KbT

— UNRWA (@UNRWA) June 6, 2024

The Gaza government's media office told Reuters the death toll from the Israeli strike on an Unrwa school in Nuseirat, central Gaza, has risen to 40.

Spain will join South Africa's genocide case at the International Court of Justice against Israel's actions in the Gaza Strip, Foreign Minister Jose Manuel Albares said on Thursday.

Spain is the second European country to intervene in the case, after Ireland.

Lebanese media reports that at least one person was killed in an Israeli strike that targeted a motorcycle in Aytaroun, southern Lebanon on Thursday.

At least one other person was injured.

مراسل "#النهار": قتيل وجريح جرّاء غارة من مسيّرة استهدفت درّاجة نارية في ساحة #عيترون

— Annahar (@Annahar) June 6, 2024

Colombia's trade ministry is recommending restrictions on coal sales to Israel, according to an internal document seen by Bloomberg and a person with direct knowledge of the matter.

The report says the ministry is seeking limits on shipments of coal from a committee on tariffs and foreign trade.

Bloomberg says Colombia is Israel's biggest coal supplier, having sold it about $450m of the fuel last year.

The Colombian government has been one of the world's most vocal critics of Israel since the outbreak of the current war in Gaza.

President Gustavo Petro called Israel's war a "genocide" and announced in May that he would break off relations with Israel.

The Israeli army said a reservist was killed in Wednesday's Hezbollah drone attack on the northern Israeli town of Hurfeish.

Ten other Israelis were wounded in the attack.