BODIES OF THREE HOSTAGES FOUND SAY ISRAEL, AS GAZA STRIKES CONTINUE INCESSANTLY

 Israel’s military says it has recovered the bodies of two Israeli soldiers, Nik Beizer and Ron Scherman, 19, who were taken hostage by Hamas on 7 October. It comes hours after Israel retrieved the body of hostage Elia Toledano, 28, who was taken by Hamas from the Supernova music festival

1. Israel has continued its heavy bombardment of Gaza overnight with children reportedly among those killed
2. White House National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan is due to meet Palestinian Authority officials in the occupied West Bank later
3. Sullivan said his meeting with Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu about shifting to a more precise phase of military operations had been "constructive"

1. Hamas broke through Israel's heavily guarded perimeter on 7 October, killing 1,200 people and taking 240 hostages - some of whom were released during a brief truce
2. The health ministry in Gaza, which is run by Hamas, says more than 18,700 people have been killed and 50,000 injured in the enclave since the start of the Gaza war.
3. WHAT HAS BEEN HAPPENING TODAY
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   Getty ImagesCopyright: Getty Images

   Palestinians check a heavily damaged house in Rafah, in the southern Gaza StripImage caption: Palestinians check a heavily damaged house in Rafah, in the southern Gaza Strip

   If you're just joining us, here's the latest on the situation in the Israel-Gaza conflict this morning:

   • The bodies of three Israeli hostages have been recovered including two Israeli soldiers, Nik Beizer and Ron Scherman who were taken by Hamas on 7 October
   • It follows the retrieval of the body of hostage Elia Toledano, 28, who was abducted from the Supernova music festival on 7 October by Hamas
   • US National Security Advisor, Jake Sullivan, will meet the Palestinian President, Mahmoud Abbas, in the West Bank later today
   • Speaking in Israel this morning, Sullivan said the US wants to see results on Israel's intent to avoid civilian casualties in Gaza, but added "the United States stands with Israel"
   • Meanwhile, a missile launched from an area of Yemen controlled by Houthi rebels has hit a cargo ship in the Red Sea. The Iran-backed Houthis have said they'll target any vessels travelling to Israel
   • The intense bombardment of Gaza continues with reports of dead and wounded including children in the southern Strip
   • Israeli forces say they have wiped out a Hamas base in northern Gaza, the HQ of the group's Shejaya Battalion

5. In Pictures: Southern Gaza bombardment

   Israel has continued its heavy bombardment of Gaza with the southern cities of Khan Younis and Rafah hit.

   Here are some images from this morning showing the destruction in the area.

   

   ReutersCopyright: Reuters

   Buildings in southern Gaza lie in ruins after Israeli strikesImage caption: Buildings in southern Gaza lie in ruins after Israeli strikes

   

   ReutersCopyright: Reuters

   In Rafah, a Palestinian man walks in the ruins of a house

6. International calls for Israel to act on West Bank settler violence

   The UK and more than a dozen partner countries have issued a joint statement calling on Israel to take "immediate and concrete steps to tackle record high settler violence" in the occupied West Bank.

   "This rise in extremist settler violence committed against Palestinians is unacceptable," a joint statement published by the British government said.

   The countries, including Australia, Canada and France, said: "Proactive steps must now be taken to ensure the effective and immediate protection of Palestinian communities."

   The statement also said the partner nations believe Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank are illegal under international law.

7. FULL DETAILS AND EVEN MORE REPORTS AT: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/live/world-middle-east-67709805

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