Middle East crisis live: Satellite images show 35% of Gaza’s building destroyed, says UN; more than 140 militants killed at al-Shifa hospital, IDF says

Joshua Leifer writes: “How Israeli, Palestinian and US political actors understand Hamas is not merely a theoretical question – it will determine what kind of agreement can be reached to end the current war, and what the future of Gaza will look like.”

But lack of infrastructure is an issue; the World Central Kitchen which dispatched aid from Cyprus last week made a landing jetty out of rubble, while the US has also announced plans to create a floating pier.

EU leaders have gathered today in Brussels for a two-day meeting during which they will discuss the war in Gaza amid deep concern about Israeli plans to launch a ground offensive in the city of Rafah.

According to the Associated Press (AP), the UN secretary general António Guterres will join the leaders at the start of their two-day meeting, in part to encourage some member countries to resume funding for the UN Palestinian relief agency (Unrwa), the main provider of aid in Gaza.

“Palestine Red Crescent ambulance teams have just transported an 18-year-old young man who was killed by the Israeli occupation forces in Nur Shams camp,” the group said on X, adding his death brought the toll to four.

Supporters, friends and family members of Israeli hostages kidnapped by Hamas, take part in an event called ‘unite for mental health’ at a square in Tel Aviv on Wednesday evening.