Gaza live: Israeli protesters demand ceasefire as war enters 10th month

During an Israeli army operation in Tulkarem, occupied West Bank, soldiers killed a boy and a woman, according to the Palestinian health ministry.

Tulkarem |

Early this morning, the Israeli military invaded the camp and their unit was ambushed by fighters.

In retaliation, they executed two Palestinians: a woman and a child. Then they withdrew, leaving behind huge destruction. pic.twitter.com/IIPwPXI3Kp

— Younis Tirawi | يونس (@ytirawi) July 1, 2024

Gaza's health ministry said that 23 people were killed in Israeli attacks on the enclave in the past 24 hours, bringing the total to 37,900 killed since 7 October.

Additionally, 87,060 people were wounded since the start of the war.

The International Court of Justice (ICJ) said that Spain has filed a declaration of intervention in South Africa's genocide case against Israel.

PRESS RELEASE: #Spain filed in the #ICJ Registry a declaration of intervention in the case concerning Application of the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide in the Gaza Strip (#SouthAfrica v. #Israel) https://t.co/If4vvMg0Tq pic.twitter.com/F3l9SxopQq

— CIJ_ICJ (@CIJ_ICJ) July 1, 2024

Israel's national intelligence agency, the Shin Bet, said that the release of the Shifa hospital director along with roughly 50 other Palestinian detainees from Gaza was due to lack of space in Israeli jails and the plans to phase out the Sde Teiman detention centre.

A decision had recently been made to hold hold Palestinians in Sde Teiman for short periods, which the Shin Bet say forced them and the Israeli army to release detainees to make room for what they considered more significant suspects.

"For about a year now, the Shin Bet has been warning in every possible forum... about the incarceration crisis and the obligation to increase the number of [cells], in light of the need to arrest terrorists in the West Bank and the Gaza Strip," the agency said in a statement.

"The incarceration crisis leads to the cancellation of arrests of suspects involved in terror activities daily, and to a direct harm to the security of the state," they added, claiming that several overnight arrests of Palestinians were cancelled.

"Unfortunately, these requests... which were forwarded to all the relevant parties, chief among them the national security minister, which is responsible for this, were of no use, and in practice the number of [cells] did not increase as needed," the agency said, referring to Israeli far-right National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir.

In leaked private conversations reported on Israeli media, Ben Gvir called for the dismissal of Ronen Bar, the director of Shin Bet.

The release of Shifa hospital director Dr. Muhammad Abu Salmiya has sparked angry reactions in Israel where many politicians are inciting against him. 

According to Walla news, ministers expressed rage at his release in a WhatsApp group chat.

“Why is this man, in whose hospital hostages were murdered and a Hamas command centre operated, being released?” said Amichai Chikli, diaspora affairs minister. 

Orit Strock, settlements minister, replied: “It is unthinkable to do such a thing without a cabinet meeting. I’m seriously asking, under what authority [was this done]?”

Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir said on X the release was the result of “security negligence”.

The father of a slain Israeli captive, Noa Marciano, who was killed by Israeli air strikes according to Hamas, accused Abu Salmiya of being  "indirectly responsible for her murder" as he criticised the government for his release.  

Benny Gantz, an opposition leader and a former war cabinet, described often as a "moderate" figure, said Abu Salmiya's release was "a moral and ethical operational error" by the government. 

The office of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the release came following a petition filed to the high court against the detention of prisoners at the notorious Sde Teiman detention facility.

He said he ordered an immediate investigation, adding that the identity of the released prisoners is "determined independently by the security officials based on their professional considerations".

Defence Minister Yoav Gallant issued a similar statement distancing himself from the release. 

"The procedure for incarcerating security prisoners and their release is under the Shin Bet and the Israel Prison Service, and is not subject to the approval of the defence minister," his office said. 

Abu Salmiya said he was surprised by the Israeli reactions.

He told reporters his release followed a formal legal process during which he was not found guilty of anything. 

According to Israeli broadcaster Kan, he was released with other Palestinians on Monday due to overcrowding in Israeli detention facilities. 

Israeli forces have released Doctor Muhammad Abu Salmiya, director of the Al-Shifa Medical Complex, who was arrested on November 23 during the first invasion of the hospital. pic.twitter.com/t73joXHeDR

— Middle East Eye (@MiddleEastEye) July 1, 2024

Israel's far-right National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir said on X that Dr Muhammad Abu Salmiya’s release was the result of “security negligence”.

There was no official comment from Israeli authorities on Abu Salmiya’s release, but several ministers are reportedly outraged by Abu Salmiya's release.

READ MORE: Al-Shifa hospital director released from Israeli detention

Israel's Ministerial Committee for Legislation approved a bill on Sunday that makes administrative only allowed if there are "reasonable grounds for assuming" that the person belongs to a terrorist organisation "whose goal is to undermine the existence of the state or commit terror against its citizens".

According to Haaretz, this bill would make it very difficult to issue administrative detention orders against Israeli settlers in the West Bank, as they are not considered a threat to the state of Israel.

The Israeli outlet says this law would effectively reserve administrative detention to Arabs and not Jews.

When Hamas launched its offensive against Israel last October, Argentine voters were heading to the first round of the presidential election.

Politicians and candidates across the political spectrum quickly took to X to share their thoughts.

The centre-left outgoing president, Alberto Fernandez, continuity candidate Sergio Massa, and others, including the centre-right Patricia Bullrich and Juan Schiaretti, and the right-wing Javier Milei, expressed their solidarity with Israel and condemned the Palestinian group.

None of the posts made any mention of Gaza, Palestine, or the Palestinians.

Left-wing candidate Myriam Bregman, however, lamented the loss of innocent lives and blamed Israeli occupation and apartheid for the current violence during the second round of the presidential debate on 9 October.

READ MORE: Why is Argentina becoming a 'great friend' of Israel amid its war crimes in Gaza? Opinion by Jodor Jalit

The Palestinian Islamic Jihad's armed wing, al-Quds Brigades, claimed an air attack on several Israeli kibbutzim near the Gaza Strip, including Kissufim, Third Eye, Nirim, Sufa and Holit.

The Israeli army says that at least 20 rockets were fired from Khan Younis, southern Gaza, towards several kibbutzim in southern Israel.

The military says some of the rockets were intercepted while others impacted, but no injuries or damages have been reported yet.

The Times of Israel say this is the largest attack from Gaza in months.

Muhammad Abu Salamiya, director of Gaza's Shifa Medical Complex, was released from Israeli detention on Monday.

Speaking after his release, Abu Salamiya said the situation of Palestinian prisoners in Israeli jails is "tragic".

"What the prisoners are going through is something the Palestinian people have not gone through from the Nakba until today," he said, referring to the mass displacement of Palestinians following the creation of Israel in 1948.

He says prisoners are not getting enough food or water and are facing "bodily humiliation" and called 

"We will rebuild Gaza from zero, and we will return the Shifa Medical Complex, which we were arrested from, to the way it was and better, God permitting."

#عاجل مدير مستشفى الشفاء د. محمد أبو سلمية في أول كلماته بعد الإفراج عنه:
"وضع السجون مأساوي وصعب جدا، ويجب أن يكون هناك كلمة حاسمة للمقاومة والشعوب العربية من أجل حرية الأسرى". pic.twitter.com/p5J8UW5suk

— أنس الشريف Anas Al-Sharif (@AnasAlSharif0) July 1, 2024

Good morning Middle East Eye readers,

Here are the latest updates:

• Several people were killed and wounded in overnight Israeli strikes on Gaza City's Sabra neighbourhood, the Wafa news agency reports
• Intense battles continue in Gaza City's Shujaiya, as the neighbourhood is surrounded by Israeli tanks and strikes
• The Tulkarem Brigade said they attacked the Israeli military as the latter continue their siege of the Nur Sham camp in Tulkarem, occupied West Bank
• Palestine's education ministry postponed official school exams in Tulkarem due to the Israeli attack on the area
• The Islamic Resistance in Iraq claim they attacked the Israeli city of Eilat
• The Israeli army launched several attacks on southern Lebanon after an attack injured 18 Israeli soldiers in northern Israel

Hello MEE readers, 

Our live coverage from Gaza will shortly be closing until tomorrow morning.

Here are some of today's key developments:

• A national coalition of American Muslim political organizations called on US President Joe Biden to withdraw from the 2024 presidential race over his policies on Israel's war in Gaza and "widespread concern about his ability to serve as president for another four years."

• The funeral of Saeed Jaber, 24, who was killed by Israeli forces in the Nur Shams refugee camp, east of Tulkarm in the occupied West Bank, was held later on Sunday. The Palestinian Islamic Jihad group confirmed that "the martyred leader" was one of its commanders, adding that he had previously "survived several assassination attempts".

• The Palestinian Red Crescent has called for all crossings into Gaza to be opened to help aid get into the enclave, calling the situation "catastrophic". 

• One soldier was seriously wounded and 17 were lightly wounded in a drone attack in the northern Golan Heights, according to the Israeli army.

One soldier was seriously wounded and 17 were lightly wounded in a drone attack in the northern Golan Heights, the Israeli army has said.

The army said that Israeli fighter jets attacked Hezbollah targets in southern Lebanon following the attack, including an observation post in the area of Markaba and a launch pad in the Ayta ash Shab area.

Israeli air forces bombed southern Lebanon overnight Saturday. 

The Palestinian Red Crescent has called for all crossings into Gaza to be opened to help aid get into the enclave, calling the situation "catastrophic". 

“The humanitarian situation in Gaza is catastrophic, with almost the entire population experiencing severe food insecurity,” the group said on X social media.

"All crossing points must be opened to ensure sustained, unimpeded humanitarian aid flows into all areas..."

The humanitarian situation in Gaza is catastrophic, with almost the entire population experiencing severe food insecurity. All crossing points must be opened to ensure sustained, unimpeded humanitarian aid flows into all areas of the #Gaza Strip. #HumantarianAid #IHL pic.twitter.com/CI5gh4LdjN

— PRCS (@PalestineRCS) June 30, 2024