Qatar continues to make efforts to restore the truce, release hostages, and exchange prisoners,” Reuters reports sheikh Mohammed Bin Abdulrahman al-Thani said at a press conference after a summit for the Gulf cooperation council.

Top United Nations officials are warning Israel against taking actions that would worsen "the already catastrophic humanitarian situation in Gaza."

Israeli forces pressed ahead with their air and ground bombardment of southern Gaza Strip, killing and wounding dozens of Palestinians, even as the United States and the United Nations repeatedly urged them to protect civilians.

Good morning, Israel has been urged by UN and US officials to avoid a repeat of the devastating impact that its operations in northern Gaza had on civilians as the Israel Defence Forces (IDF) expanded its ground offensive against Hamas further south to the city of Khan Younis.