US EXPRESSES SUPPORT FOR UN AID RESOLUTION ON GAZA

 The US has expressed support for the UN's latest draft resolution on humanitarian aid for Gaza - a vote for which is expected later today.The original draft called for a sustainable cessation of hostilities, but the final version calls for creating the conditions for one

1. It comes as the World Food Programme says Gaza is at risk of famine within six months if the conflict doesn't end
2. Meanwhile, Hamas says Palestinian groups have rejected the prospect of further hostage releases until Israel agrees to end the war in Gaza
3. More than 240 Israeli hostages were captured during Hamas's 7 October attacks, with more than 100 of them released in a truce last month
4. On Wednesday, the Hamas-run Gaza government said 20,000 people had been killed in the enclave since the war erupted
5. Israel began its offensive after Hamas fighters crossed the border, killing 1,200.
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7. Israelis hold vigil in Jerusalem for Palestinians and urge ceasefire
   
   

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   Elsewhere in the Middle East, Israelis have been holding banners urging a ceasefire outside the US consulate in central Jerusalem.

   As part of a vigil, some have posed holding pictures of Palestinians who have died during the Israeli-Hamas conflict which began 77 days ago.

8. Hamas says nearly 400 Palestinians killed in last 48 hours

   The Hamas-run health ministry in Gaza says nearly 400 people have been killed inside the Gaza Strip in the last two days.

   It says in total 390 people have died and a further 734 have been injured.

   Since the war broke out on 7 October, the health ministry says more than 20,000 people have been killed.

   The BBC has not been able to independently verify the death toll.

9. Watch: US signals support to amended UN resolution aimed at boosting Gaza aid 

   Video caption: US Ambassador Linda Thomas-Greenfield spoke to reporters after the UN meetingUS Ambassador Linda Thomas-Greenfield spoke to reporters after the UN meeting

   

   
   As a reminder, the US Ambassador to the United Nations has said Washington is ready to support the latest draft of a UN Security Council resolution about the war in Gaza.

   The US vetoed the last draft resolution because of the language that it contained. The latest draft calls for urgent steps to increase humanitarian aid into Gaza, but does not call for an immediate end to fighting.

   As the vote was postponed into a fourth day, Linda Thomas-Greenfield told reporters it is still a strong resolution.

10. Hamas: No more hostage releases until war ends

    A key development from yesterday, as we said in our last post, was Hamas ruling out any more hostage releases until Israel agrees to a "full cessation of aggression".

    A truce last month saw more than 100 hostages freed by Hamas, but around 120 more abducted from Israel on 7 October are believed to be still in captivity in Gaza.

    In a statement, Hamas said:

    Quote Message: There is a Palestinian national decision that there should be no talk about prisoners or exchange deals except after a full cessation of aggression."

    There is a Palestinian national decision that there should be no talk about prisoners or exchange deals except after a full cessation of aggression."

    It is unclear to which other Palestinian factions the statement was referring. Islamic Jihad, a smaller group in the Gaza Strip, is among those known to also be holding Israeli hostages.

    The statement puts the Israeli government in a difficult position.

    It has said it thinks the best way to get the release of hostages is military pressure on Hamas and by staging rescue operations. But so far only one hostage - Ori Megidish - has actually been rescued.

11. MORE ON THESE REPORTS AND EVEN MORE UPDATES  AT: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/live/world-middle-east-67799517

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