Israel kills 64 Palestinians in Gaza, at least 9 of them aid seekers
Israeli airstrikes killed 64 Palestinians in Gaza today, including nine near a Gaza Humanitarian Foundation aid hub in Rafah, hospital sources said. The death toll at GHF centres has reached 743, Al Jazeera reported.
Hamas says it is ready for immediate talks on a 60-day ceasefire to allow aid access. Islamic Jihad supports talks but demands guarantees for a permanent truce.
The announcement comes ahead of Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu’s visit to Washington, where US President Trump is pushing to end the 21-month war.
Gaza’s Health Ministry reports 57,338 Palestinians killed and over 135,000 wounded. Israel recorded 1,139 deaths in the October 7 attacks, according to Al Jazeera.
Over 300 arrested in Sri Lanka crime crackdown
Sri Lankan authorities arrested over 300 people on Friday night during a joint operation in the Western Province. Police and military forces carried out the raid to tackle rising crime and recent shootings, according to Xinhua.
The government said the move was meant to improve public safety and trust. Similar actions are planned in other high-risk areas.
India reports two new Nipah virus cases in Kerala
India has reported two new cases of Nipah virus in the southern state of Kerala, resulting in the death of an 18 year old girl and leaving a 38 year old woman in critical condition. The cases were confirmed by the National Institute of Virology, according to Xinhua.
The teenager, referred to a hospital in Kozhikode from Kottakkal, was declared brain-dead on arrival whereas other patient developed symptoms nearly 20 days ago and is undergoing treatment.
The resurgence of the virus has raised fresh concerns among health officials. The World Health Organization describes Nipah as a zoonotic virus that causes severe illness in humans, often leading to encephalitis, coma, and death, Xinhua reported.
Gaza hospital overwhelmed as aid site violence rises
Nasser Hospital in Gaza is overwhelmed with trauma patients, most of whom are injured near aid distribution points run by the non-UN Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF), according to the World Health Organization (WHO).
Dr. Rik Peeperkorn, WHO Representative for the occupied Palestinian territory, said the hospital, originally a general facility, has suspended outpatient services due to rising casualties and limited supplies, effectively functioning as a trauma center, UN News reported.
The GHF, which is run by US security contractors and approved by Israel, operates only four fortified distribution facilities throughout Gaza, replacing the UN's previous 400 assistance hubs.
The UN human rights office said that at least 613 individuals were killed in attacks near relief centers since late June, 509 of them were near GHF-run locations, raising major concerns about the foundation's operations, according to UN News.
