Key points
- 'Incident' reported off Saudi Arabia, UK maritime agency says
- US proposes UN resolution calling for ceasefire in Gaza
- Reports of Israeli soldiers raping Palestinian women and girls, UN says
- Rafah offensive to begin if hostages 'not home by Ramadan'
- Sean Bell:Identifying Hamas fighters in Rafah's tent city would prove very difficult for IDF
- Watch:IDF troops fighting in Khan Younis
- Houthis say 'catastrophic' attack has put British ship at risk of sinking
- Live reporting by Andy Hayes and (earlier)Brad Young
In pictures: Flour handed out in Gaza
These pictures show Palestinians gathering for bags of flour delivered by an aid truck close to an Israeli checkpoint in Gaza.
The United Nations said last month that one in four of the enclave's residents face starvation, with only a trickle of food, water, medicine and other aid getting through.
Attack on Rafah 'unconscionable', Irish foreign minister says
A military offensive in the southern Gazan city of Rafah would be "absolutely catastrophic" and "unconscionable", Ireland's foreign minister has said.
MichealMartin was speaking alongside ameeting of foreign ministers from the 27EU member states in Brussels.
As the talks concluded, the EU's chief diplomat,JosepBorrell, said 26 countries were calling for an "immediate humanitarian pause" in the fighting (see our post at 17.22).
Annalena Baerbock, the German foreign minister, saidIsrael had the"right to self-defence", adding it was clear that Hamas fighters werestill operating from Rafah.
"The most important thing would be that Hamas would lay downits weapons," she said while calling for a "humanitarian ceasefire".
She added: "Over a million people went to the south of Gaza because theIDF told them so.
"They can't just disappear in the sky."
Report of 'incident' off Saudi Arabia
The United Kingdom MaritimeTrade Operations agency says it has received areport of an "incident" 90 nautical miles west of ji*zan in Saudi Arabia.
ji*zan is a port city on the Red Sea, not far from the border with Yemen.
Yemen's Houthi militants, who support Hamas, have been attacking ships in the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden.
Earlier (see our post at 16.09) they claimed to have attacked a Belize-flagged, British-registered cargo ship yesterday.
IDF releases footage showing mother and children 'being moved by kidnappers'
The Israeli military has released footage it says shows a mother and her twosmall children being moved byPalestinian militants in Gaza shortly after the family waskidnapped in southern Israel on 7 October.
The IDF says the CCTV featuresShiri Bibas and her sons Ariel - aged four when he was taken - and Kfir, the youngest hostageseized, who was nine months old at the time.
The images were recovered a few days ago and come from thearea of Khan Younis in southern Gaza.
"The footage shows the terrorists wrapping Shiri and herbabies in a sheet, trying to hide them," chief militaryspokesman Daniel Hagari told reporters.
It is from the day of their abduction, he added.
They are being held by a group called the Mujahideen Brigades, he said.
Ms Bibas's husband,Yarden, was also kidnapped from theNir Oz kibbutz.
The Bibas family said: "These videos tear our hearts out.
"Witnessing Shiri, Yarden, Ariel and Kfir ripped away from their home in Nir Oz into this hellscape feels unbearable and inhumane."
They added: "Kidnapping children is a crime against humanity and a war crime.
"Ariel and Kfir are victims of monstrous evil.
"Our whole family have become hostages along with all the hostages."
They continued: "We desperately call on all decision makers in Israel and worldwide involved in negotiations: bring them home immediately.
"Make it clear to Hamas that taking children is beyond the pale.
"Prioritise the return of these children first and foremost in any agreement."
26 EU countries call for 'immediate humanitarian pause' and 'sustainable ceasefire' in Gaza
Almost all the countries in the EU - 26 of 27 - are calling for an "immediate humanitarian pause that would lead to a sustainable ceasefire" in Gaza.
The bloc's top diplomat, Josep Borrell, told reporters the countries are also calling for the "unconditional release of hostages and the provisionof humanitarian assistance".
He did not reveal which country was in disagreement, but diplomats have said Hungary blocked a similar statementa few days ago.
Palestinian ambassador pleads for 'children to be treated as children'
The Palestinian ambassador to the United Nations has made an emotional speech to the International Court of Justice, calling for a "just and lasting peace" with Israel.
Riyad Mansour, his voice breaking at times, said: "The state of Palestine appeals to this court to guide the international community in upholding international law, ending injustice and achieving a just and lasting peace.
"To guide us towards a future in which Palestinian children are treated as children and not a demographic threat."
He added that he wanted a future in which the "identity of the group to which we belong does not diminish the human rights to which we are all entitled".
He went on: "A future in which no Palestinians and no Israelis are killed, a future in which two states live side by side, in peace and security."
Mr Mansour said the Palestinian people "only demand respect for their rights" and "ask for nothing more".
He said: "They cannot accept anything less and nothing else.
"The future of freedom, justice and peace can begin here and now.
"It is within your power to give the clearest statement possible on what the law is, what it requires, and what it means in practice for all members of the United Nations."
Israel is still trying to free some of the hostages taken by Hamas on 7 October.
Is that does not happen, retired general Benny Gantz said a ground offensive could begin in Rafah by the start of Ramadan, which begins on 10 March.
US proposes UN resolution calling for ceasefire in Gaza
The United States hasproposed a draft UN Security Council resolution that would underscore the body's "support for a temporary ceasefire in Gaza as soon as practicable".
The text also"determines that under currentcirc*mstances a major ground offensive into Rafah would resultin further harm to civilians and their further displacementincluding potentially into neighbouring countries".
Such a move "would have serious implications forregional peace and security, and therefore underscores that sucha major ground offensive should not proceed under currentcirc*mstances".
It is not clear whether thedraft resolutionwill be put to a vote.
Washington made its move afterAlgeria requested the 15-member council vote tomorrow on a draft resolution demanding an immediatehumanitarian ceasefire between Israel and Hamas.
Israel is thought to be planning to invade Rafah as it seeks to destroy Hamas.
More than one million Palestinians have reportedly sought shelter there.
It is feared that a military offensive in the southern city would make the humanitarian crisis in Gaza considerably worse.
Houthis claim another cargo ship attack
Yemen's Houthimilitants claim they have attacked another cargo ship in the Gulf of Aden, south of the Red Sea.
Houthi military spokesperson Yahya Sarea said the Rubymar's crew was safe but the ship was badlydamaged and at risk of sinking.
The vessel, which is Belize-flagged,British-registered and Lebanese-managed, was apparently attacked onSunday.
Thevessel's security company,LSS-SAPU, said it was damaged after two missiles were fired at it from Yemen.
A spokesperson saidthe vessel was struck on its stern, although there was nothingflammable aboard.
"We are unsure (of the ship's condition)," the spokesperson said.
"There is nobody onboard now. The owners and mangers are considering options for towage."
Sarea also claimed the Houthis shot down a US drone over the Yemeniport of Hodeidah.
Meanwhile, a Greece-flagged, US-owned cargoship reported two missile attacks on Monday in the Gulf of Adenand called for military assistance.
That was according to Greek shipping ministry sources and British maritime security firm Ambrey.
The Houthis, who support Hamas, have been targeting ships thought to be heading to or from Israel.
Reports of Israeli soldiers raping Palestinian women and girls, UN says
Reports of Israeli officers raping and sexually assaulting detained Palestinian women and girls have been received by experts at the United Nations Human Rights Office.
"Credible" allegations revealed in a statement issued today by the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) included that women and girls have been arbitrarily executed in Gaza, often together with family members including their children.
"We are shocked by reports of the deliberate targeting and extrajudicial killing of Palestinian women and children in places where they sought refuge, or while fleeing. Some of them were reportedly holding white pieces of cloth when they were killed by the Israeli army or affiliated forces," the experts said.
"We are particularly distressed by reports that Palestinian women and girls in detention have also been subjected to multiple forms of sexual assault, such as being stripped naked and searched by male Israeli army officers. At least two female Palestinian detainees were reportedly raped while others were reportedly threatened with rape and sexual violence."
The OHCHR said the experts noted that photos of female detainees in degrading circ*mstances were also reportedly taken by the Israeli army and uploaded online.
They said they also expressed serious concern about the arbitrary detention of hundreds of Palestinian women and girls, including human rights defenders, journalists and humanitarian workers, in Gaza and the West Bank since 7 October.
It said many have reportedly been subjected to inhuman and degrading treatment, denied menstruation pads, food and medicine, and severely beaten.
"On at least one occasion, Palestinian women detained in Gaza were allegedly kept in a cage in the rain and cold, without food," the agency added.
The UN experts said: "We remind the Government of Israel of its obligation to uphold the right to life, safety, health, and dignity of Palestinian women and girls and to ensure that no one is subjected to violence, torture, ill-treatment or degrading treatment, including sexual violence."
Israel's defence ministry has been contacted for comment.
Hamas calls for Palestinians to 'mobilise' over restrictions on prayer at Jerusalem mosque
Benjamin Netanyahu will allow worship at Jerusalem's al Aqsa mosque during Ramadan "within the security needs determined by professionals", his office has said.
Hamas has called on Palestinians to "resist the arrogance of the occupation and to mobilise and march" to the mosque.
Al Aqsa has long been a flashpoint for deadly violence over matters of sovereignty and religion.
It lies at the heart of Jerusalem's Old City on a hill known to Jews as Temple Mount and to Muslims as the Noble Sanctuary.
The compound is home to two Muslim holy places: the Dome of the Rock and the al Aqsa Mosque.
It overlooks the Western Wall, a sacred place of prayer for Jews, for whom the Temple Mount is their most sacred site.
Israel captured the site in the 1967 Middle East war and annexed it with the rest of East Jerusalem and adjoining parts of the West Bank.
Under the longstanding "status quo" arrangement governing the area, non-Muslims can visit but only Muslims are allowed to worship in the mosque compound.
Protests and outbreaks of violence have previously occurred after Israel imposed restrictions on Muslim worshippers' access and some Jewish visitors prayed more or less openly at the site in defiance of the rules.
Clashes in 2021 contributed to setting off a 10-day war with Gaza.
