Intense air strikes, Israeli tanks present in Gaza City, Hamas denounces 'dangerous escalation' by Israel l LIVE

That concludes our live coverage for the evening. Thanks for joining us and we'll be back tomorrow morning with more news updates and analysis. Goodnight.

Israel kills 89 Palestinians across Gaza since dawn

Israel has killed at least 89 people across Gaza since dawn this morning, Al Jazeera reports, citing medical sources in the besieged enclave. At least 26 of those who were killed were attacked while attempting to collect aid from distribution sites. Fifty-two of the overall toll was killed in Gaza City, upon which the Israeli army has intensified its attacks since announcing plans to occupy the entire Strip, starting with this major city.

Israel in talks with five countries on displacing Palestinians

Israel is in talks with five countries — Indonesia, Somaliland, Uganda, South Sudan and Libya — about the potential resettlement of Palestinians from the Gaza Strip, Channel 12 reports, cited by Times of Israel, as part of a plan widely condemned as ethnic cleansing.

“Some of the countries are showing greater openness than before to accepting voluntary immigration from the Gaza Strip,” a diplomatic source told the outlet, naming Indonesia and Somaliland in particular. However, no concrete decisions have reportedly been made.

Somaliland is a breakaway region of Somalia that is reportedly hoping to secure international recognition through the deal.

The report comes alongside claims from The Associated Press that Israel had discussed sending Gazans to South Sudan — an assertion the African nation’s government has rejected as “baseless” and not reflective of its official policy.

One killed in Israeli attack on car in Bint Jbeil

The Israeli army has killed one person in a drone strike against a car that was driving between the villages of Haris and Hadatha in Bint Jbeil district, our correspondent in the South is reporting. The Israeli drone attacked the car with two rockets.

Israeli soldiers burst into Knesset meeting, protest high suicide rates

Israeli soldiers wounded in combat and with PTSD burst into the Knesset National Security Committee hearing this morning, protesting the unprecedent number of suicides among reservists, Haaretz reports.

"You don't care about us," one of the yelled, during the debate on the ultra-Orthodox draft evasion law. "You are discussing nonsense here while [soldier] suicides are rampant."

"There can't be 57 suicides in almost two years," they said, citing Haaretz's tally, according to which 45 soldiers on active duty have died by suicide since the beginning of the war, and at least 12 more did so after completing their service.

“Every day, someone dies,” one of the reservists said. “Stop everything — my brothers are killing themselves!”

Hamas eager to return to negotiating table

Hamas expressed its keenness on a speedy return to Gaza cease-fire negotiations during a meeting with the Egyptian intelligence chief in Cairo, as mediators push for talks, Egypt's state-affiliated al-Qahera News TV reported, cited by Reuters.

Netanyahu coalition fails to muster majority for reservist call-up vote

A vote in the Knesset’s Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee to extend emergency call-up orders for reservists has been once again postponed after the coalition failed to secure a majority, Times of Israel reports.

“We just prevented ... an increase in the burden on reservists by blocking the proposal to extend emergency call-up orders for them,” Opposition Leader Yair Lapid said in a statement. “Once again, the coalition has no majority. Israel has a non-functioning and illegitimate minority government.”

“They want to draft 300,000 reservists to retake Gaza," Knesset member Merav Ben Ari added, "but they couldn’t find enough MKs to secure a majority in the Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee vote, so the vote was canceled.”

Netanyahu’s coalition currently has 60 members, short of a majority in the 120-seat Knesset, after the departure of the ultra-Orthodox United Torah Judaism party and MK Avi Maoz last month.

The vote is expected to be postponed until next week and comes as Israel has launched plans for a complete military occupation of Gaza.

South Sudan denies reports of discussions with Israel on Palestinian resettlement

South Sudan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation released a statement firmly refuting recent media reports that claim the country is engaged in discussions with Israel regarding the resettlement of Palestinian Nationals from Gaza in South Sudan.

These claims are baseless and do not reflect the official position or policy of ... South Sudan," the ministry said in a statement posted on X.

The Associated Press reported the news earlier today, adding that it is unclear how far the talks have advanced, but that if implemented, the plans would amount to transferring people from one war-ravaged land at risk of famine to another, and raise human rights concerns.

Meanwhile, an Israeli source told Haaretz that there are "quiet talks aimed at finding a country willing to take in residents from Gaza, but there has been no progress beyond that at this stage."

Turkey's foreign minister and his Syrian counterpart on Wednesday warned Israel not to stir up chaos in Syria and demanded an end to all external interventions aimed at destabilising the war-torn country. 

"Certain actors are bothered by the positive developments in Syria," Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan said after talks with Syria's Asaad al-Shaibani in Ankara, referring to Israel and Kurdish YPG fighters operational in northeastern Syria. 

Read more here.

In light of Iranian high-ranking official Ali Larijani's visit to Lebanon today, here's a throwback to the Hacking Lebanese Politics edition about Iran's influence in Lebanon.

Revisit the overall context, which we've simplified for you in the link below.

Hacking Lebanese Politics #13: Iran in Lebanon: How deep does the influence go?

Israeli forces are “carrying out aggressive incursions into the city of Gaza,” Ismail al-Thawabta, director of the Hamas government press office in Gaza, told AFP, denouncing a “dangerous escalation” on the part of Israel.

These incursions are taking place “particularly in the Zeitoun neighborhood and in the area surrounding southern Tal al-Hawa ... and are accompanied by intense bombardments, fire belts and the demolition of houses on top of residents, operations that have intensified this week,” the official said.

“These attacks represent a dangerous escalation aimed at imposing a new reality on the ground by force, through a scorched earth policy,” he said.

Larijani from Ain al-Tineh: 'If part of the government asks for help, we will help them'

“President Berri is our friend and an influential man in Lebanon,” Ali Larijani added in front of the press. He emphasized that Tehran has not prepared “a document, as the Americans have done,” referring to the “Barack plan,” and therefore does not “interfere in the internal affairs” of Lebanon.

“Who attacked your country, wasn't it Israel?” he asked, saying he “respects any decision taken by the government in coordination with the factions.” “If part of the government asks for help, we will help them,” he said.

(Credit: Mohammad Yassin/L'Orient-Le Jour)

Larijani from Ain al-Tineh: Iran 'does not support decisions setting a specific timetable' but advocates 'friendly and serious dialogue'

Furthermore, from Ain al-Tineh, where he was received by Lebanese Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri, an ally of Hezbollah, Larijani stated that Iran “does not support certain decisions setting a specific timetable” for Hezbollah's disarmament, as per the U.S. roadmap. However, Iran favors "friendly, comprehensive, and serious dialogue in Lebanon," which could help the country "make the right decisions.”

“We have excellent relations with Lebanon and the Lebanese people, who have distinguished themselves in their struggle against the Zionist occupier,” added the Iranian envoy, who stressed that "Lebanon's unity, development, and prosperity are of paramount importance."

"Iran's policy is based on the principle that the independent countries of the region must be strong and powerful, which runs counter to the tendency of some countries to want to subjugate the countries of the region."

Gaza: 123 Palestinians killed in 24 hours, according to the Health Ministry

At least 123 Palestinians, including 21 people who had come to seek help, were killed and 437 wounded in 24 hours in Israeli attacks across the Palestinian enclave, according to the latest figures available from the Gaza Ministry of Health. During the same period, at least eight people, including three children, died of starvation, bringing the total number of deaths related to malnutrition to 235, including 106 children.

Since Oct. 7, 2023, Israel's war against Gaza has left 61,722 dead and 154,525 wounded, according to the ministry. Since the introduction on May 27 of a new aid distribution mechanism by the American NGO GHF, 1,859 people who came to seek aid have been killed and more than 13,594 wounded.

Agriculture Minister Nizar Hani, during a call with the president of the National Meeting of Agricultural Authorities in Lebanon, Jihad Ballouq, condemned “the attack on fishermen in Naqoura, which caused serious injuries to several of them,” emphasizing that “these crimes are not isolated incidents, but part of a series of systematic attacks targeting Lebanese farmers, threatening their lives and property with the aim of breaking their resilience.”

On Tuesday, the Israeli army carried out a strike on the fishing port of Naqoura, in the district of Sour, in southern Lebanon. The strike injured two fishermen at work, one of them seriously.

For his part, Ali Larijani invited Aoun to visit Tehran and expressed Tehran's desire to support the reconstruction of infrastructure destroyed by the Israeli offensive during the last war.

“Iran wishes to strengthen its relations with the Lebanese state and the Lebanese people at all levels,” he said, praising the president's role in “consolidating national unity.”

He also stressed that Iran “does not interfere in Lebanese internal affairs” and does not want to create a “rift” in relations between the two countries.

Joseph Aoun further emphasized that the challenges posed by Israel's ongoing attacks on Lebanon are a challenge “for all Lebanese, not just one side.”

“We reject any interference in our internal affairs, regardless of its source, and we want the Lebanese scene to remain secure and stable, in the interest of all Lebanese, without discrimination,” added President Aoun, who stressed that his country "never interferes in the affairs of other countries and does not accept anyone interfering in its internal affairs.

“Seeking outside support to confront other Lebanese inside the country has cost all parties dearly, and the lesson we learn from this is that no party, without exception, can be allowed to bear arms and rely on foreign parties,” he insisted. The Lebanese state and its armed forces are responsible for the security of all Lebanese, without exception.

In a statement published on X, the Baabda press office further reported that the head of state told Ali Larijani that “the friendship we want to see between Lebanon and Iran must not be limited to a single denomination or a single Lebanese group, but must concern all Lebanese,” in reference to Tehran's support for Hezbollah.

“Lebanon is a permanent homeland for all its children, whether Christian or Muslim, and the Lebanese state, through its constitutional and security institutions, is responsible for protecting all Lebanese components,” he added, while the army is tasked with establishing a plan for the state to regain its monopoly on weapons, and thus disarm Hezbollah in particular, by the end of the year.

Lebanese President Joseph Aoun told Iranian envoy Ali Larijani during their meeting in Baabda that Lebanon “wishes to cooperate with Iran but within the limits of respect for sovereignty and friendship, based on mutual respect.”

He condemned “the recent language used by certain Iranian officials toward Lebanon, which is not helpful.”

(Credit: Mohammad Yassin/L'Orient-Le Jour)

After leaving the Baabda Palace without comment, Ali Larijani arrived in Ain al-Tineh for a meeting with Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri.

Berri is also the leader of the Amal movement, an ally of Hezbollah.

Israeli military says chief of staff approved 'main concept' for attack plan in Gaza

The Israeli military said on Wednesday that chief of staff Eyal Zamir has approved the 'main concept' for an attack plan in Gaza, Reuters reported. Israel has said it will launch a new offensive and seize control of Gaza City, which it captured shortly after the war's outbreak in October 2023, before pulling out.

The meeting between President Joseph Aoun and Iranian envoy Ali Larijani has begun, local media reported.

Israel in talks with South Sudan to 'resettle' Palestinians from Gaza

Israel is exploring the possibility of relocating Palestinians from the Gaza Strip to South Sudan, six people familiar with the matter told AP.

An Israeli source told Haaretz, there are "quiet talks aimed at finding a country willing to take in residents from Gaza, but there has been no progress beyond that at this stage."

It is unclear how far the discussions with South Sudan have advanced. If implemented, the plans would transfer people from one war-ravaged region at risk of famine to another facing similar challenges. South Sudan is currently mired in civil conflict, with parts of the country also experiencing severe food insecurity.

New Zealand's prime minister says Netanyahu ‘gone too far ... lost the plot’ over Gaza

New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon on Wednesday sharply criticized Israeli leader Benjamin Netanyahu, saying his actions in Gaza have “gone way too far” and describing the situation as “utterly, utterly appalling.”

“He is not listening to the international community and that is unacceptable,” Luxon added.

New Zealand signaled Monday it could join Australia, Canada, France, and Britain in recognizing a Palestinian state. Foreign Affairs Minister Winston Peters said a formal decision on recognition will be made in September.

South Lebanon: Israeli drone wounds two in Zebqine

As Ali Larijani arrived in Beirut this morning, a representative of the Amal movement noted Lebanon faces daily Israeli attacks. Hours later, an Israeli drone struck a motorcycle in northern Zebqine, Sour district, wounding two people, including the driver seriously, according to our regional correspondent.

Katz: Army chief’s actions hurting IDF

Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz said this morning that Israeli army's Chief of Staff Eyal Zamir’s behavior is harming the army. The remark follows a public spat after Katz challenged military promotions approved by Zamir. The chief has also faced criticism for opposing Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s plan to "take control" of Gaza.

In Gaza, Israel’s onslaught continues, killing dozens daily as Palestinians face a worsening humanitarian crisis due to the Israeli blockade.

Since the war began in October 2023 and amid Israel's aid restriction, 227 people have died of starvation and malnutrition, Gaza’s Health Ministry says.

Al-Awda hospital, cited by Al Jazeera, says one person was shot dead this morning while collecting aid in central Gaza. The Health Ministry reports that 1,838 aid seekers have been killed in recent months.

According to the schedule provided by the state-run National News Agency, Larijani is to meet:

- President Joseph Aoun at the Baabda Presidential Palace at 11 a.m.

- Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri at Ain al-Tineh at noon

- Prime Minister Nawaf Salam at the Grand Serail at 6 p.m.

- He will also meet Lebanese religious and political figures, as well as Lebanese and Palestinian parliamentary, political and partisan representatives, at 4:30 p.m. at the Iranian embassy.

The Iranian envoy’s visit comes amid a flurry of diplomatic activity in Beirut. U.S. envoy Tom Barrack is due along with his predecessor, Morgan Ortagus, while France is preparing a trip by Jean-Yves Le Drian ahead of an international conference on Lebanon’s reconstruction. Saudi envoy Yazid bin Farhan is also reportedly planning a visit.

For more on the upcoming diplomatic push in Beirut, click here.👈

(Credit: Mohammad Yassin/L'Orient Today)

On arrival at Beirut airport, Ali Larijani said Iran “will support the Lebanese people whatever the circumstances” and “strive to defend Lebanon’s interests.” His convoy was met by dozens of Hezbollah supporters along the airport road.

Larijani was received by Foreign Ministry representative Rodrigue Khoury, as well as delegations from the Amal Movement, Hezbollah, Hamas and Islamic Jihad, according to al-Manar TV. Khalil Hamdan, representing Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri and the Amal leadership, said Iran “has always stood by Lebanon and its people in the most difficult times and hardships.” Citing Israel’s daily attacks against Lebanon, he described Larijani’s visit as a show of “support and solidarity.”

Good morning ☀

Thank you for joining our live coverage of the events in the Middle East. 

To catch up on yesterday's major events and learn what to expect today, read the Morning Brief.👈