Death toll from Israel's genocidal war on Gaza rises to 50,886
France could recognise Palestine 'in June'
US Senate confirms Mike Huckabee for ambassador to Israel
Israel denied 68% of aid access attempts into Gaza since March 18
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US President Donald Trump said progress was being made regarding the return of the captives being held in Gaza and that he was dealing with both Israel and Hamas, but he gave no other details about the talks.
The UN reported that more than 60,000 children in Gaza are suffering from malnutrition as the humanitarian situation in the region deteriorates rapidly.
Citing the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), UN spokesperson Farhan Haq stressed "the urgency of reopening the crossings to allow critical supplies to enter."
"More than 60,000 children are reportedly suffering from malnutrition, at a time when community kitchens are rapidly running out of fuel and supplies," he said at a news conference.
The Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) and the Arab League Ministerial Committee will meet Friday in the Turkish southwestern coastal city of Antalya, for a “two-state solution and lasting peace in the Middle East” meeting, according to diplomatic sources.
The Gaza Contact Group meeting, hosted by Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan, will take place before the Antalya Diplomacy Forum that is set for April 11-13.
The UN Security Council convened for an emergency session to address Israel's continued attacks in Syria. Several member states warned that the actions threaten regional peace and violate international law.
At least 13 Palestinians have been killed in Israeli air strikes across Gaza, as Israel continued its deadly onslaught on the blockaded territory, medics said.
A medical source said five people, including a child, were killed when an Israeli drone shelled a group of civilians in central Gaza City. Several other people were injured in the attack.
A New York-based pro-Israel group urged US Attorney General Pam Bondi to investigate popular children's content creator Ms. Rachel for allegedly spreading "Hamas propaganda" to her massive audience of millions of followers.
StopAntisemitism on Monday accused Ms. Rachel, whose real name is Rachel Griffin Accurso, of transforming "into an amplifier of Hamas propaganda" since October 7, 2023.
"StopAntisemitism is calling on Attorney General Bondi to investigate if Ms. Rachel is being funded by a foreign party to push anti-Israel propaganda to skew public opinion," the group said on X, calling supporters to send a letter to Bondi.
Israel’s Supreme Court rejected a petition filed by families of Israeli captives in Gaza demanding the restoration of electricity supply to the blockaded enclave.
“Israel is under no obligation to provide electricity to Gaza,” Judge Alex Stein said in his verdict.
He argued that the electricity supply to Gaza was not subject to a judicial review but to a decision of the political leadership.
Hamas has said that the Israeli relentless bombing of homes, residential areas, and infrastructure in Rafah marks a dangerous escalation in Israel’s brutal war, accusing Netanyahu’s government of committing blatant crimes and violating international law.
“Netanyahu’s declaration of a so-called ‘Philadelphia Corridor 2’ and the forced displacement of Rafah’s residents reveal a broader plan to fully isolate Gaza from its Arab neighbours,” the Palestinian resistance group said in a statement on its official Telegram account.
Hamas added that the Israeli assault aims to annex Rafah into a buffer zone near Egypt, cutting off Palestinians from their last gateway to the outside world, a move described as ethnic cleansing and collective punishment.
Lebanese media reported a new Israeli air strike in southern Lebanon, in the latest violation of a ceasefire agreement.
According to the state news agency NNA, an Israeli drone fired two missiles into an excavator and bulldozer in the border town of Aita al-Shaab.
Hamas said that the announcement by President Emmanuel Macron that France could recognise a Palestinian state by June was an "important step", after Israel's foreign minister slammed the plan.
"We welcome the statements made by French President Emmanuel Macron regarding his country's readiness to recognise the State of Palestine," Hamas official Mahmud Mardawi told AFP.
He said the announcement was "an important step that, if implemented, would constitute a positive shift in the international position towards the legitimate national rights of our Palestinian people".