Israel says Hamas uses hospitals and civilians as human shields, and has made public videos and photos to support that claim. Hamas rejects the allegations and says it does not use the civilian population or facilities for military purposes.

Mohammed Afif, the head of media relations for Hezbollah, was killed in a strike on the Arab socialist Baath party's office in central Beirut, officials said.

The Israeli war on Gaza has killed more than 43,000 Palestinians and left almost the entire population of 2.2 million with shelter and on the brink of starvation, according to the besieged territory’s health ministry, the UN and a host of humanitarian agencies.