Erdogan accuses Israel of seeking to 'dynamite' Syria's post-Assad 'revolution' by stoking divisions | Live

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Emmanuel Macron on Friday deplored the "shortcuts" and "false information" about France's possible recognition of a Palestinian state and called for "no effort" to be spared to achieve peace in the region. "I'm reading all sorts of things here about our intentions for Gaza," the president wrote on X.

"Let us not give in to any shortcuts, to any provocation. Let us not allow false information and manipulation to flourish. Above all, let us remain united," he stated.

The Israeli Air Force intercepted a drone launched "from the east" before it reached Israeli territory, the Israeli army said.

The Israeli military said it attacked more than 370 targets in the Gaza Strip over the past week, according to Haaretz.

It was also reported that Gaza Division forces are operating in the Tal al-Sultan and Shabura neighborhoods of Rafah, as well as on the outskirts of Khan Younis. Forces of the 36th Division are deployed in Rafah and the Morag area, while those of the 252nd Division are operating in Shajaiyeh and Beit Lahia in the northern Gaza Strip.

The Israeli army also claimed to continue its operations in Syria.

The Israeli army said a soldier from the Golani Brigade was seriously wounded during fighting in the southern Gaza Strip, according to Haaretz.

He was taken to hospital for medical treatment and his family has been informed, the newspaper added.

During a meeting Friday with members of the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD), Lebanese Finance Minister Yassine Jaber said that the government was fully committed to reforms, but that he was also counting on the international community to stabilize the security situation, particularly on the border between Lebanon and Israel.

"If the international community considers that commitment to the reform program we are developing with the IMF constitutes the fundamental basis of all international assistance, Lebanon also considers, in parallel, that security and stability are priorities just as fundamental as reforms. It is up to the international community to make the necessary efforts to guarantee them so that Lebanon benefits from a secure climate conducive to financing and investment," the minister said.

The Gaza Health Ministry reported that the bodies of 26 people and 106 wounded people were taken to hospitals in the enclave over the past 24 hours, according to Al Jazeera.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan accused Israel on Friday of seeking to "dynamite" the "revolution" in Syria by stoking divisions in the country following the fall of Bashar al-Assad.

Israel is "trying to dynamite the Dec. 8 revolution by stirring up ethnic and religious differences in Syria and inciting the country's minorities to oppose the government," the Turkish head of state said at a diplomatic forum in Antalya, southern Turkey, reports AFP.

The Turkish president also accused Israel of "barbarism" after the Palestinian Civil Defense announced the death of 10 members of the same family in a nighttime strike in the southern Gaza Strip.

For the second time today, Israeli forces located in the occupied Hamames hill fired machine guns at the southern part of Khiam (Marjayoun), according to L'Orient Today's correspondent in the south.

Iran

According to the New York Times (NYT), Iranian officials met with Iran's Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, last month and pressured him to agree to talks with the United States on the nuclear issue.

NYT reported that the officials argued that war with the U.S. and the worsening economic crisis would topple the Iranian regime.

Israeli army announces evacuation in Gaza ahead of new offensive

The Israeli military’s Arabic-language spokesperson, Avichay Adraee, has called on residents in Khirbet Khuza’a, Absan al-Kabira, and al-Jadida both areas in south Khan Younis to evacuate immediately.

“The Israeli army has begun a strong offensive to destroy the capabilities of terrorist organizations. This area is considered a dangerous combat zone! For your safety, you must evacuate immediately to the known shelters in Khan Younis city,” Adraee posted on X. “Remaining in shelters, houses or tents endangers your lives and the lives of your family members.”

Saudi Arabia urges pressure to ensure aid flow into Gaza

Saudi Arabia on Friday called for increased pressure to guarantee the steady delivery of humanitarian aid to war-torn Gaza, following Israel’s blockade on essential supplies.

“I call for maximum pressure to be exerted to ensure a continuous and sufficient flow of aid into the Gaza Strip,” said Saudi Foreign Minister Faisal bin Farhan after a meeting with regional counterparts in southern Turkey, according to AFP.

Medicine critically low in Gaza due to aid block – WHO

The World Health Organization has warned that medical supplies in Gaza are nearing depletion as a result of continued restrictions on humanitarian aid. “We are critically low in our three warehouses, on antibiotics, IV fluids and blood bags,” said WHO official Rik Peeperkorn, speaking from Jerusalem.

Since March 2, Israel has halted all humanitarian aid into Gaza, linking the move to demands for the release of remaining hostages. The blockade has made it increasingly difficult to keep hospitals even partially functional. The aid freeze is tied to stalled negotiations over the second phase of a ceasefire agreement, which was expected to include talks on a permanent end to hostilities.

Gaza

36 Israeli strikes targeting civilians killed only women and children, says U.N.

The U.N. has condemned the impact of recent Israeli airstrikes on Gaza, noting that a "large percentage" of the victims are women and children.

Between March 18 and April 9, 2025, approximately 224 Israeli strikes hit residential buildings and displacement tents. The U.N.'s High Commissioner for Human Rights reported that 36 of these strikes, verified by their office, resulted in the deaths of only women and children.

Hundreds of Israeli reservists join call to end Gaza war

Hundreds of current and former reservists from Israel’s Intelligence Unit 8200 have joined Air Force personnel in urging the government to end the war in Gaza, according to the Israeli Broadcasting Authority.

This move follows the military’s decision — backed by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu — to discharge active-duty reservists who signed a letter calling for an end to the conflict, which they argue now serves political rather than security purposes.

“We share the grave and troubling view that the war currently serves mainly political and personal interests,” the Intelligence Unit petition stated, warning that its continuation risks the lives of both hostages and soldiers without advancing any of its declared goals.

Meanwhile, around 2,000 university faculty members have also signed the petition, Channel 12 reported.

Iran

A senior adviser to Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has stated that Iran is seeking a "serious and fair" nuclear agreement with the U.S., on the eve of indirect talks in Oman, according to AFP.

"Iran's Foreign Minister will travel to Oman with full authority to conduct indirect negotiations with the U.S.

"Rather than putting on a show or speaking for the cameras, Tehran is pursuing a real and fair agreement," said the adviser, Ali Shamkhani, on X.

UNRWA: Nearly 400,000 displaced in Gaza amid longest aid blockade since war began

In a statement posted on X, the U.N. agency for Palestinian refugees (UNRWA) estimated that nearly 400,000 people have been displaced across Gaza following the collapse of the cease-fire on March 18. The agency warned that these civilians are now also facing the longest interruption of humanitarian and commercial supplies since the start of the war.

UNRWA reiterated its call for an immediate renewal of the cease-fire, the dignified release of all hostages held in Gaza, and the unrestricted delivery of aid and essential goods.

Recap: Thursday night incident along blue line

According to local media reports, nine Israeli soldiers crossed the Blue Line on Thursday evening and cut down trees. Speaking to L’Orient Today, the spokesperson for the Lebanese Army confirmed the incident, stating that UNIFIL, accompanied by Lebanese soldiers, approached the Israeli troops, who then withdrew from the border. “All of this was carried out in full coordination between the Lebanese Army and UNIFIL,” the spokesperson added.

UNIFIL could not yet be reached for comment.

Good morning and welcome to our live blog, keep an eye here for the latest news in Lebanon and the Middle East.

Gaza: 10 killed, including seven children, in Israeli strike

Palestinian Civil Defense reported the death of 10 members of the same family, including seven children, in an overnight Israeli airstrike on Khan Younis, southern Gaza.

The victims, aged between 3 and 58, were killed around 3:30 a.m. local time (00:30 GMT), said Civil Defense spokesperson Mahmoud Bassal to AFP.

Israeli shells hit Aita al-Shaab in South Lebanon

Israeli artillery fired three shells on the "Abou Laban" neighborhood of Aita al-Shaab, in the Bint Jbeil district of South Lebanon, according to our correspondent.

Earlier in the night, the Israeli army fired flares over the Kfarchouba region (Hasbaya). These incidents followed local media reports of a tense standoff between an Israeli patrol and Lebanese soldiers along the border.

Tehran says it’s giving diplomacy a 'real chance' in Oman talks, despite US pressure

Iran is giving diplomacy a “real chance” at upcoming weekend talks in Oman with the U.S., despite increasing pressure from Washington, the Iranian Foreign Ministry said. Unprecedented discussions on Iran’s nuclear file are set for Saturday in Oman, with U.S. envoy Steve Witkoff and Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi expected to attend.

“We are giving diplomacy a real chance, in good faith and with full vigilance. The U.S. should appreciate this decision, made despite its hostile rhetoric,” said Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmail Baghaei on his X account.

Israel and Egypt exchange draft proposals for a cease-fire, according to Israeli media

Israel and Egypt have reportedly exchanged documents related to a proposed cease-fire agreement in exchange for the release of hostages, according to Israeli public broadcaster Kan. The new proposals aim to bridge the gap between a cease-fire plan presented by U.S. envoy Steve Witkoff and a counterproposal from Egypt and Qatar in late March.

Witkoff’s plan, presented last month, calls for the release of five Israeli hostages in exchange for a two-month cease-fire and the release of a large number of Palestinian prisoners. Egypt’s proposal involves Hamas releasing eight living captives and handing over the bodies of eight others, in return for a 40 to 70-day truce and the release of many Palestinians held in Israeli prisons.