The Rafah border crossing opened for the first time on Thursday since the start of Israel's war with Iran for the evacuation of patients in need of medical treatment and the return of residents.
According to the Israeli Forum of Experts and Civil Society for Humanitarian Aid to Gaza Coordinator Lihi Levian Joffe, Israel's prevention of medical evacuations from Gaza violates international law.
"This is a critical humanitarian need, as hospitals in the Strip do not always have the equipment or specialists required for some of the sick or wounded," she said. "Israel can take the moral action and allow the consistent entry of humanitarian aid into the Strip."
As thousands wait for urgent evacuation, the closure prevented those requiring medical help from leaving the enclave, as well as those outside of Gaza from returning.
Here are the latest updates from day 20 of the war in Israel, the West Bank, Gaza, Lebanon, Iran and the Middle East:
■ Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan bin Abdullah called on Iran to end strikes on Gulf and Arab countries on Thursday, warning of retaliation at a foreign ministers' meeting in Riyadh.
■ Kuwait Petroleum Corporation said one of the operational units was hit by a drone, resulting in a limited fire; no casualties were reported.
■ Saudi Arabia's Red Sea port of Yanbu, currently the only export outlet for its crude, was targeted in an aerial attack, an industry source said, adding there was minimal impact.
■ QatarEnergy said several of its liquefied natural gas (LNG) facilities were targeted in missile attacks, causing "sizeable fires" and extensive damage.
■ U.S. President Donald Trump said late on Wednesday the attack on Iran's South Pars gas field was carried out by Israel after it had "violently lashed out" and the U.S. and Qatar were not involved in it.
■ U.S. officials detected unidentified drones above an army base in Washington where Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Pentagon chief Pete Hegseth live, the Washington Post reported on Wednesday, citing three people briefed on the situation.
■ The Pentagon has asked the White House to approve a more than $200 billion request to the U.S. Congress to fund the war in Iran, the Washington Post reported on Wednesday, citing a senior administration official.
■ Three Palestinian women killed in the West Bank during an Iranian missile barrage were relatives, Palestinian medical sources reported, adding that 13 were wounded, including two in critical condition, the Red Crescent said.
■ The IDF reported that it killed more than 20 Hezbollah operatives in 24 hours and struck dozens of military infrastructure buildings in southern Lebanon.
■ Israel's National Cyber Directorate issued a warning that text messages impersonating official Home Front Command messages were reported in the early hours of Monday.
■ Sirens sounded across Israel due to Iranian missile barrages.
■ Iran executed three men on Thursday convicted of killing two police officers during unrest earlier this year, state media reported, saying the sentences had been upheld by the Supreme Court.
Three Palestinian women killed in the West Bank during an Iranian missile barrage were relatives, Palestinian medical sources reported, adding that 13 were wounded, including two in critical condition, the Red Crescent said.
According to Palestinian reports, the missile hit a caravan used as a beauty salon, frequented by many women ahead of the Eid al-Fitr holiday. Initial reports stated that four women had been killed in the strike, but the Red Crescent later clarified that the death toll was three.
The three women who wre killed were reported to be relatives: Mais Aazi Masalma, 17; Sahra Razak Masalma, 50; and Amal Sabhi Abd al-Karim Matawa Masalma, 36.
The three relatives killed by an Iranian missile strike in the West Bank's Beit Awwa ahead of Eid al-Fitr.The three relatives killed by an Iranian missile strike in the West Bank's Beit Awwa ahead of Eid al-Fitr.Read the full article
Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan bin Abdullah called on Iran to end strikes on Gulf and Arab countries on Thursday, warning of retaliation at a foreign ministers' meeting in Riyadh.
The ministers denounced "the deliberate use of ballistic missiles and drones targeting residential areas and civilian infrastructure, including oil facilities, desalination plants, airports, residential facilities and diplomatic missions."
"The Kingdom is not going to succumb to pressure, and on the contrary, this pressure will backfire... and certainly, as we have stated quite clearly, we have reserved the right to take military actions if deemed necessary," Prince Faisal said, adding, "What little trust there was before has completely been shattered."
"If Iran doesn't immediately cease its attacks, then nothing will be able to restore trust with it," he continued. "The patience we have shown is not limitless and Iran's escalation will be met with escalation, whether on the political level or others."
Saudi Arabia's Red Sea port of Yanbu, currently the only export outlet for its crude, was targeted in an aerial attack on Thursday, an industry source said, adding there was minimal impact.
It was not immediately clear what specifically was targeted in Yanbu.
An industry source reported that Saudi company Aramco's Samreef refinery was targeted in the aerial attack, reporting minimal impact.
Saudi Aramco did not immediately respond to an emailed request for comment.
Israel's National Cyber Directorate issued a warning that text messages impersonating official Home Front Command messages were reported in the early hours of Monday.
The messages contain harmful links to download an app "for staying in shelters," the agency said, emphasizing that the links could be used to steal personal data or cause damage to the device.
The agency emphasized that Home Front Command does not distribute links to download apps via text messages.
A graphic from the National Cyber Directorate warning of fake Home Front Command texts sent across Israel.Credit: National Cyber DirectorateA graphic from the National Cyber Directorate warning of fake Home Front Command texts sent across Israel.Credit: National Cyber Directorate
