BIDEN CONFIRMS ISRAEL VISIT ON WEDNESDAY, AS IRAN WARNS AGAINST GAZA OFFENSIVE

 US President Joe Biden will visit Israel on Wednesday to hear about its plans for a ground offensive against Hamas militants in Gaza

1. Biden will also discuss how Israel will conduct its operations in a way that "minimises civilian casualties", the US says
2. In its strongest warning yet, Iran, which backs Hamas, says it could take "pre-emptive action" against Israel in the coming hours
   
   
   
   It's thought this would involve the Iranian-backed Hezbollah militia in southern Lebanon, which has been exchanging fire with Israel
3. Palestinian officials say Israeli strikes on southern Gaza, including near the Rafah border crossing, killed 49 people on Monday evening
4. A 13-year-old British girl who went missing when Hamas attacked Kibbutz Be'eri is now confirmed to have been killed
5. More than 1,300 people in Israel have been killed by Hamas since 7 October; More than 2,700 people have died in Israeli retaliatory strikes in Gaza.

6. 'There's no humanitarian crisis in Gaza?' IDF: 'Correct'

   An Israeli military spokesman has denied there is a humanitarian crisis in Gaza.

   Since the deadly Hamas attacks on 7 October, Israel has blocked cross-border supplies of electricity, fuel, and water to the Gaza Strip, as well as carrying out air strikes.

   This morning, the UN agency for Palestinian refugees warned that waterborne diseases could begin to spread as "most of Gaza" has no running water.

   But in an interview with BBC Newsnight, Lt Col Richard Hecht insisted there was electricity and water in Gaza.

   "We do not have the commitment to supply Hamas electricity," Hecht says. "People who attacked us, they’ve been in control for multiple years already in the Gaza Strip. They have electricity."

7. FULL ARTICLE AT: Israel Gaza live news: Biden confirms Israel visit as Iran warns against Gaza offensive - BBC News