Red Cross confirms 27 killed in gunfire near Gaza aid site | LIVE

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U.S.-backed humanitarian aid to Gaza a 'success' but can 'improve,' says Washington

The White House says the humanitarian aid operation in Gaza, supported by the United States, has been a “success” so far but acknowledges there is room for improvement.

White House 'reviewing authenticity' of reports of deadly gunfire near Gaza aid center

The White House is “reviewing the authenticity” of reports about deadly gunfire near an aid distribution center in southern Gaza, said spokesperson Karoline Leavitt.

“The administration is aware of these reports and is examining their authenticity,” she said, adding, “Unlike some media outlets, we do not fully trust information coming from Hamas.”

Israeli jets are flying over the Bekaa region at high altitude, our correspondent in the area reports.

Clash in Seddiqine between residents and UNIFIL

An altercation broke out in Seddiqine between local residents and UN peacekeeping forces (UNIFIL).

The Israeli army has launched incendiary bombs in the eastern outskirts of the city of Blida, in the Marjayoun district, our correspondent in South Lebanon reports.

Deadly gunfire near Gaza aid center: UN chief 'condemns' an 'unacceptable' situation

The U.N. Secretary-General condemned the gunfire near an aid distribution center in southern Gaza that caused deaths, according to the Red Cross, his spokesperson said, describing the loss of life as "unthinkable."

“It is unacceptable that civilians risk and sometimes lose their lives simply by trying to get food,” Stéphane Dujarric told the press, repeating the call for an independent investigation following similar incidents earlier this week.

A small Israeli drone dropped a grenade on the town of Aita al-Shaab (Bint Jbeil district), according to our correspondent in the South.

Gunfire near Gaza aid distribution center: Red Cross confirms 27 deaths

The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) confirmed the death of 27 people following gunfire at dawn near an aid distribution center in southern Gaza, earlier reported by local rescue teams.

"Early this morning, the Red Cross field hospital in Rafah (south), with a capacity of 60 beds, received a massive influx of 184 patients. Nineteen were declared dead on arrival, and eight others died shortly after from their injuries. Most of the patients were shot," the ICRC said in a statement.

(Credit: NNA.)

The Lebanese Army's engineering unit has neutralized an unexploded missile in the village square of Qana (Sour district), the National News Agency (NNA) reported.

Israeli drones are currently flying at medium altitude over the villages of Shmestar, Taraya, Bodai, and Bednayel in the Baalbek district, according to our correspondent in the Bekaa.

Gaza: 102 aid seekers killed by Israel in eight days

The Israeli army has killed at least 102 Palestinians over the past eight days during aid distributions organized by the "Humanitarian Foundation for Gaza," which began on May 27, according to the Gaza Media Office. At least 490 more were injured during these distributions in Rafah and along the Netzarim corridor, coordinated by an organization supported by Israel and the United States.

The Gaza Media Office accused Israel of committing “a horrific and deliberately repeated crime” by luring starving Palestinians to aid distribution centers and then opening fire on them.

UN calls on Yemeni rebels to release humanitarian workers

U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has called on Houthi rebels in Yemen to release dozens of humanitarian workers, including U.N. personnel, who were detained more than a year ago, AFP reports.

The Houthis, who have controlled much of the war-torn country since 2014, arrested 13 U.N. staff members and more than 50 humanitarian workers in June 2024.

"I renew my call for their immediate and unconditional release," Guterres said in a statement issued by the office of his Special Envoy for Yemen, Hans Grundberg. "The U.N. and its humanitarian partners must never be targeted, arrested, or detained for carrying out their mandate," he added.

58 Palestinians killed by Israel since Tuesday morning

At least 58 Palestinians were killed in Israeli attacks on the Gaza Strip since this morning, according to medical sources cited by Al Jazeera.

Nasser Hospital in Khan Younis, in the southern Gaza Strip, received 35 of those killed today, including 27 who were shot near an aid distribution site in Rafah. Six other bodies were received at al-Aqsa Martyrs Hospital in Deir al-Balah, in the center of the enclave.

In Gaza City, al-Shifa Hospital received 14 victims, while three others were taken to al-Ahli Hospital.

Kremlin defends Iran's 'right' to civilian nuclear energy

The Kremlin on Tuesday defended Iran's "right" to develop its civilian nuclear energy, as tensions rise between the United States and Iran amid negotiations on a new Iranian nuclear deal, AFP reported.

"Countries have the right to civilian nuclear energy ... and we obviously believe they must maintain this right," said Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov, when asked during his daily briefing about U.S. President Donald Trump's opposition to any "uranium enrichment" in Iran.

"We are primarily assuming that, according to official statements from the Iranian side, there are no such plans, that Iran does not want to acquire ... nuclear weapons," Peskov explained.

"Russia fully supports efforts to find a peaceful settlement of the Iranian nuclear issue," he added.

Rescuers announce new death toll of 27 in Gaza after Israeli gunfire near aid center

Gaza's Civil Defense said 27 people were killed by Israeli army fire near a humanitarian aid distribution center in Rafah, in the south of the Palestinian territory, in a new death toll.

"27 people were killed and more than 90 wounded in the massacre of civilians waiting for American aid in the Al-Alam area of ​​Rafah," Civil Defense spokesperson Mahmoud Bassal told AFP, adding earlier that the victims had succumbed "to gunfire from Israeli forces."

UN calls attacks near aid centers 'war crimes'

The U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights, Volker Türk, described the attacks on civilians near aid centers in the Gaza Strip as "war crimes."

"The deadly attacks on desperate civilians trying to access paltry amounts of food aid in Gaza are unacceptable," said Türk, in a statement read by a spokesperson at a press briefing in Geneva. The High Commissioner stressed that "attacks against civilians constitute a grave violation of international law and a war crime."

"For the third consecutive day, people have been killed around an aid distribution site run by the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation. This morning, we received reports that dozens more people have been killed and injured," he added.

The U.N. human rights office said that obstruction of access to food and relief supplies for civilians in Gaza may constitute a war crime, calling attacks on civilians trying to access food aid unacceptable.

For the third consecutive day, people were killed around an aid distribution site run by the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation.

"This morning, we received reports that dozens more people have been killed and injured," Jeremy Laurence, spokesperson for the U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights, told reporters in Geneva, according to Haaretz.

An altercation broke out between residents of Seddiqine (Sour) and a UNIFIL patrol, which entered the Jabal al-Kabir area, inside the village, without army escort, according to L'Orient Today's correspondent in the region.

Several such incidents have occurred in southern Lebanon since the cease-fire between Israel and Hezbollah began last November.

President Joseph Aoun met Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi at Baabda Palace shortly before noon. He arrived in Beirut in the morning, the presidency posted on X.

The meeting was held in the presence of Lebanese Foreign Minister Joe Rajji.

Israeli drones are currently flying over the Bekaa, according to L'Orient Today's correspondent in the region.

Israeli security sources revealed a new list of Hamas targets on Monday, including the movement's former representative in Lebanon, Osama Hamdan, and its spokesperson, Sami Abu Zuhri, according to the Israeli daily Maariv.

On Saturday, Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz threatened to assassinate senior officials from Hamas's political and military wings, including Ezz al-Din al-Haddad, a member of the Ezzedine al-Qassam Brigades in Gaza City, and Khalil al-Hayya, an influential member of the movement's political bureau.

The list revealed by Maariv cites these three names, as well as that of the Hamas representative in Algiers, Sami Abu Zahri.

A Lebanese security official, speaking on condition of anonymity, told An-Nahar that the plan to disarm the Palestinian camps by the Lebanese state will be launched on the dates set for the first and second phases, and that the third phase will be decided in light of these.

"There will be no compromise on the issue, whether the factions like it or not, because it is about Lebanese sovereignty and the restoration of state control," the Lebanese daily reported.

As June 15 approaches, the date set by the government for the start of operations to disarm Palestinian camps, this project promises to be complicated.

For more on the plans to disarm the camps, click here.

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Gaza cease-fire talks stall; Talks on disarming Palestinian camps in Lebanon: Everything you need to know this Tuesday

Gaza cease-fire talks stall; talks on disarming Palestinian camps in Lebanon: Everything you need to know this Tuesday

(Credit: Mohammad Yassin/L'Orient Today)

The Arida border crossing, one of the crossing points into Syria from Lebanon, reopened this morning at 8 a.m., according to L'Orient Today's journalists on the ground.

Traces of the Israeli strike that targeted this site last November, before the cease-fire between Israel and Hezbollah, were still visible. Part of the bridge remains destroyed.

Around 7 a.m., about 10 cars were already waiting to pass through the General Security checkpoint. As the minutes ticked by, the vehicles continued to arrive.

In line, Siham, 43, did not sleep a wink all night. "Because of the joy," she said, letting a few tears flow. At 4:30 a.m., she and her family left Jdeideh (Metn) for Hassakeh. A mother of three daughters, she had not seen her family in over nine years. After the fall of the regime, she could not immediately pass through Masnaa because her husband – who had a work permit – was ill. "We were waiting for him to get better," she explained.

Shortly before 9 a.m., more than 100 people crossed the Arida border crossing from Lebanon into Syria.

In the other direction, from the Syrian side toward Lebanon, about eight cars crossed, most of them driven by chauffeurs. The vehicles bore Syrian license plates. The drivers presented their stamped documents before passing through the checkpoint.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi landed in Beirut. He is scheduled to meet with President Joseph Aoun, Prime Minister Nawaf Salam and Parliamentary Speaker Nabih Berri, and is also expected to meet with Hezbollah Secretary-General Naim Qassem.

"We respect Lebanon's internal affairs and do not interfere in them. We support Lebanon's sovereignty and the unity of its territories, and we hope to open a new chapter in relations with it, based on mutual respect," he said upon his arrival at Beirut airport, according to al-Nashra.

“My visit is part of my regional tour, following my visit to Cairo. I will meet with the country's leaders. Our relations with Lebanon are historic and deep, based on mutual respect, and we are determined to develop them,” he added.

In Gaza, no truce appears to be in sight, despite the willingness expressed earlier this week by Hamas, which said it was ready to begin a new round of negotiations “immediately.”

This morning, health officials in Gaza reported that 24 Palestinians were killed and dozens more wounded by Israeli army gunfire while waiting for humanitarian aid to be distributed in the Mawassi area of ​​Rafah, in the southern Gaza Strip.

The incident deeply shocked residents and activists, who described it as "another aid massacre" targeting defenseless civilians. It is believed to be one of the deadliest episodes since aid distribution operations began in the region.

On Monday, U.N. Secretary-General António Guterres called for an "immediate and independent investigation" into the deaths at humanitarian distribution sites.

"It is unacceptable that Palestinians risk their lives for food," he said, recalling that Israel is obliged under international law to facilitate the delivery of humanitarian aid.

Donald Trump on Monday opposed any "uranium enrichment" as part of a possible Iranian nuclear deal, after Tehran ruled out being deprived of its "peaceful activities," with negotiations between the two countries stumbling over this key point.

"We will not authorize any uranium enrichment as part of a potential agreement" with Iran, Donald Trump posted on his Truth Social network.

The U.S. president's message comes after Axios revealed that the latest proposal made by the Americans on Saturday allowed the Iranians to carry out limited uranium enrichment, something the Trump administration has opposed.

Iran said that it had received "elements" of a U.S. proposal for a new agreement on its nuclear program following five rounds of negotiations mediated by Oman. "If the objective of the negotiations is to ensure that Iran does not seek nuclear weapons, then an agreement seems possible to me," Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said on Monday.

But if "the goal is to deprive Iran of its peaceful activities, then there will certainly be no agreement," he stated in Cairo, before a tripartite meeting with his Egyptian counterpart Badr Abdelatty and the head of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), Rafael Grossi.

Reacting to the killings of more than 20 Palestinians in Gaza this morning, the Israeli army said in a statement Tuesday that it had shot at a "few individual suspects who advanced toward the troops" as Palestinians moved along designated routes to aid distribution points in the southern Gaza Strip.

According to the army, the suspects had deviated from these routes.

The Israeli military is "aware of reports regarding casualties, and the details of the incident are being looked into," it said, adding that it allows the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation, which distributes the aid, to "operate independently in order to enable the distribution of aid to the Gazan residents — and not to Hamas."

The army was "not preventing the arrival of Gazan civilians to the humanitarian aid distribution sites. The warning shots were fired approximately half a kilometer away from the humanitarian aid distribution site toward several suspects who advanced toward the troops in such a way that posed a threat to them," it said.