War-battered Gaza faces uphill battle against polio

The BBC's Anna Foster hosts a special Today Debate titled "Israel-Gaza - are we witnessing war crimes?" The panel includes Lyse Doucet, BBC's chief international correspondent, and Michael Kleiner, president of the Supreme Court of the Israeli Likud party. Additional voices in the discussion feature Afif Safieh, who played a role in the first official US-Palestinian dialogue, Baroness Helena Kennedy, a Labour peer and human rights lawyer, and Daniel Levy, a former Israeli peace talks...

The IDF confirmed early Wednesday that it conducted airstrikes in southern Syria, targeting Syrian regime weapons after rockets were fired into the Golan Heights from Syria, attributed to a group named the Martyr Muhammad al-Deif Brigades. The IDF stated that the Syrian regime is responsible for the hostile actions originating from its territory, while the Syrian Defense Ministry condemned the Israeli strikes as a violation of sovereignty that escalates regional tensions. This exchange follows artillery...

Aid distribution centres in Gaza will be closed for one day due to Israeli military warnings that roads to these sites are combat zones, following deadly incidents involving Israeli fire. The Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF), a controversial aid network, cited the closure for updates and efficiency improvements but plans to resume aid distribution on Thursday despite ongoing humanitarian concerns. Critics argue the GHF's distribution model, which requires Gazans to travel long distances to collect aid...

UN experts have called for the protection of a Freedom Flotilla Coalition ship that departed from Italy with essential supplies for Gaza, emphasizing the urgent need for aid in the region. The experts condemned Israel's blockade on Gaza and asserted that it is a legal right for Palestinians to receive aid via their territorial waters, urging Israel to respect international law regarding navigation. They highlighted the dire humanitarian crisis, with over 54,500 Palestinians killed since...

A British doctor, Dr. Victoria Ross, reported on her third visit to the besieged Gaza Strip since October 7, 2023, describing it as the worst, with many children arriving at the hospital with amputated limbs due to explosions. She recounted specific cases, including a six-year-old girl and an orphan boy who lost all nine of his siblings. Despite working 14-hour days under constant threat of bombing, she documents her experiences on Telegram, highlighting the severe...

Ongoing Israel-Hamas NegotiationsNegotiations between Israel and Hamas, mediated by Egypt, Qatar, and the US, continue despite significant gaps, with Hamas seeking US guarantees for post-60-day ceasefire talks. Qatar’s Prime Minister met with Hamas officials in Doha as efforts to finalize an agreement before Eid al-Adha are underway. Israeli officials noted Hamas has proposed alternative frameworks that diverge from the original plan for hostages, which have been rejected, indicating increasing pressure on Hamas amidst intensified military...