Gaza live: Israel strike kills 30 Palestinians, mostly children

The UN Human Rights Office (OHCHR) has issued a statement condemning Israel's targeting of journalists in Gaza.

The statement, which came in response to the killing of Al Jazeera's Ismail al-Ghoul and Rami al-Rifi in an Israeli air strike, reiterated that "the intentional killing of journalists is a war crime.

“Palestinian journalists play a critical role in informing the world of the reality in Gaza, where Israel has not allowed international journalists to enter. Silencing Palestinian journalists conceals the shocking reality in Gaza," the statement read.

The Israeli military has said that its forces arrested 24 people in the occupied West Bank, claiming that all the detainees are affiliated with Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad armed groups.

Al Jazeera journalists gathered at the media network's headquarters in Doha to condemn the killing of their colleagues, Ismail al-Ghoul and Rami al-Rifi, by Israeli forces in Gaza on Wednesday.

Holding banners reading “Killing Journalists is a Crime", they called for the perpetrators to be held accountable.

Al Jazeera colleagues gathered to condemn the cold-blooded assassination of Ismail Al Ghoul and Rami Al Rifi in Gaza by Israeli occupation forces and to call for holding the perpetrators accountable.#Justice4Journalists https://t.co/Tl16rDKK0S pic.twitter.com/pwFikYhzYD

— Al Jazeera PR (@AlJazeera) August 1, 2024

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has said that Israel is "prepared for any scenario" amid growing expectations of a retaliation from Iran and its allies for the assassination of senior leaders of Hezbollah and Hamas.

"We will exact a very heavy price for any act of aggression against us from any arena," he said in comments released by his office following a visit to the Home Front Command.

Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah has said that the "only solution" to the escalating tensions between the group and Israeli forces is to "end hostilities in Gaza".

"We will resume tomorrow morning; we have reorganised to continue on the support front," he said, adding that Israel should "expect its response".

Hassan Nasrallah has said that Fouad Shukur will quickly be replaced, as Hezbollah has enough commanders to fill the gap.

"When one of our commanders is martyred, we quickly replace him with one of his pupils. We have an excellent new generation of commanders."

Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah has said in his speech at the funeral of slain commander Fouad Shukur, that Israel's attack on Beirut "is not a response to the strike on Majdal Shams. It is part of the war and a response to the Lebanese support front."

"We are paying the price for our support for Gaza and the Palestinian people," he added.

Hassan Nasrallah, Hezbollah Secretary-General has said in a speech at the funeral of slain commander, Fouad Shukur that the group were not responsible for the apparent attack on Majdal Shams in the occupied Golan Heights on 27 July.

He said that Hezbollah would have admitted if it had made a 'mistake' that led to the projectile striking the town and killing 12 children.

An Israeli government spokesperson has warned that Israel will respond harshly to any retalition by Iran and its allies for the killing of senior leaders of Hezbollah and Hamas.

"Israel will exact a very high price for aggression against us from whatever quarter," the spokesperson told reporters.

Israel has carried out 3,457 "massacres" since the start of its war on Gaza in October of last year, according to a report published on Thursday by Gaza's government media office.

These attacks have resulted in 39,480 deaths and 91,128 injuries, with an estimated 10,000 people missing.

The office also reported that Israeli forces have dropped 82,000 tonnes of explosives on Gaza, causing $33bn in damage and razing most of its infrastructure. This includes nearly 200 government buildings, over 100 schools and universities and 150,000 housing units.

Turkey has vetoed all Nato engagement with Israel since October due to the war in Gaza, Reuters reports, citing sources familiar with the situation.

The sources say Turkey views Israel's ongoing assault on Gaza as a violation of Nato's founding principles and has urged the alliance not to engage with Israel until the aggression stops. They added that Ankara would maintain this block until the war ends.

Israel carries the status of Nato partner and has fostered close ties with the military alliance and some of its members, particularly its largest ally, the United States.

Reporting by Reuters

France has advised its citizens against travelling to Lebanon, Israel and occupied Palestinian lands, citing "risks of military escalation".

"Due to risks of military escalation in the Middle East, citizens are strictly advised … against travelling to Israel and the Palestinian territories," the French foreign ministry said in a statement on its website.

Israeli authorities have announced the seizure of eight dunams (0.8 hectares) of land from the village of Iskaka, near Salfit city in the occupied West Bank, according to the Wafa news agency.

The head of the village council also reported that Israeli authorities had seized 7,902 dunams of land in the al-Qaniya area, northeast of Iskaka, to expand the illegal settlement of Nofim Haniya.

German airline Lufthansa announced on Thursday that it has temporarily suspended all flights to and from Tel Aviv due to "current developments" in the region.

Effective immediately, all passenger and cargo flights to and from Israel will be cancelled until 8 August.

Medical sources told Al Jazeera Arabic that at least 15 people have been killed in Israeli strikes across the Gaza Strip since dawn today.