TRANSCRIPT
An Australian woman is one of at least five international aid workers believed to have been killed by an Israeli airstrike in the Gaza city of Deir al-Balah.
Zomi Frankcom worked with food relief charity World Central Kitchen, and was part of helping to deliver food and aid supplies to northern Gaza.
Others killed in the incident included citizens of Poland and the United Kingdom, as well as a Palestinian driver.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese says the killing is unacceptable, and has offered his condolences to her family.
"This is someone who volunteered in Australia to help people during the bushfires. This is someone who was volunteering overseas to provide aid through this charity for people who are suffering tremendous deprivation in Gaza. And this is just completely unacceptable. Australia expects full accountability for the deaths of Aid workers. Aid workers, and those doing humanitarian work. And indeed, all innocent civilians need to be provided with protection."
In Syria's capital, Damascus, efforts are underway to clear rubble, after Syrian and Iranian officials as Israeli air strikes destroyed the Iranian embassy's consular annex.
The attack was the first time Israel hit the embassy compound itself.
Omm Ismail was one of the witnesses to the attack.
“It was a strong strike. We felt the building was going to fall. We live in Dar el Saada and we felt like it was inside our house. It was very strong. I don’t even know what to say.”
Iran's Revolutionary Guard says senior commander brigadier general Mohammad Reza Zahedi, and high-ranking officer, brigadier general Mohammad Hadi Haji Rahimi, were among the several people killed.
An Israeli military spokesperson has refused comment on the strike.
Iranian Ambassador to Syria, Hossein Akbari, says his country will respond to the attacks, and told Iranian state media it would be harsh.
"Definitely the Zionist regime knows better than anyone that such crimes and violating international law will have its response in an appropriate time."
In Gaza, the health ministry says Israel forces have withdrawn from the Al-Shifa hospital, the city largest hospital, after a two-week operation.
The ministry says dozens of bodies had been found at the complex.
Gaza officials say Israeli forces also killed 400 Palestinians around Al Shifa.
This displaced woman has given an account of her journey finding safety.
"I helped the wounded walk until we reached the al-Maamadani (hospital). Just me and my daughters, we didn't have any men with us and it was dark. Under snipers, Jews (referring to Israelis) and tanks, we evacuated hoping to come back and find my belongings. I have nothing left. My house was bombed and everything has gone. I have nothing left. I sought shelter at schools but they told me there was no space for me. Where do I go? I'm currently staying with some people."
The United Nations says its planning a mission to Al-Shifa hospital.
Spokesperson Stephane Dujarric says U-N staff will arrive shortly.
"To help people receive medical attention and to assess the state of the hospital. This comes as we saw the reports that Israeli Defence Forces have vacated the premises of al-Shifa hospital."
In a social media post on X, formerly known as Twitter, Director-General of the World Health Organization, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus [[ga-bray-uh-suss]], said hospitals must be respected and protected, and must not be used as battlefields.
The medical complex's Acting Director, Dr Marwaan Abu Saadah, says the hospital is almost completely destroyed.
"Most of the buildings of the Al-Shifa Medical Complex were completely destroyed and burned, and there is such huge destruction in the buildings and in the facilities of the Ministry of Health that it is no longer possible to work in Al-Shifa Medical Complex. Al-Shifa Medical Complex is gone forever."
Spokesperson for Israel's National Public Diplomacy Directorate, Avi Hyman, has praised the military operation, saying its a victory over Hamas.
"I believe that the terrorist takeover of Shifa, and the subsequent special forces operation to clear the hospital of terrorists, will be studied by future generations of military strategists at West Point and Sandhurst as the gold standard for urban warfare. The prime minister confirmed, and I quote, 'our forces operated there in an exemplary fashion. Shifa has become a main terrorism command centre for Hamas. The surprise action by our forces was precise and surgical."
Meanwhile, Israel's parliament, the Knsesset [[kuh-ness-ett]] has passed a law to allow the closure of the local office of Qatari satellite television network, Al Jazeera.
It's a station that has been has been critical of Israel's military.
The law would allow Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and the security cabinet to shut the station for a period of 45 days and would stay in place until the end of July, or until the end of major military operations in Gaza.
Knesset member Erez Malul announced the passage of the bill.
"I announce that the bill to prevent foreign broadcaster from harming the state’s security, an interim order, iron swords until 2024, was accepted in the second and third readings and will be entered into the law book"
On social media, Mr Netanyahu has pledged to take immediate action to close Al Jazeera, saying they harmed Israel's security, incited against Israeli soldiers, and participated in the attack of October the 7th.
In a statement, Al Jazeera say the measure is an escalation and comes as part of a series of systematic Israeli attacks to silence the network.
They rejected accusations that it harmed Israel's security as a dangerous and ridiculous lie that puts its journalists at risk.
White House press secretary, Karine Jean-Pierre, says the U-S sees the move as potentially an attack on the freedom of the press.
"If it is true, a move like this is concerning. We believe in the freedom of the press. It is critical. It is critically important. And the United States supports the critically important work journalists around the world do. And so, and that includes those who are reporting in, in the conflict in Gaza. So we believe that work is important. The freedom of the press is important. And if those reports are true, it is concerning to us."
France has also proposed a draft United Nations Security Council resolution seeking options for possible UN monitoring for a ceasefire in Gaza.
They also included proposals to help the Palestinian Authority assume responsibilities.
France's ambassador to the U-N, Nicolas De Riviere explains.
"This draft resolution deals with the most pressing matters. It calls for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza without a time limitation. It also demands the immediate and unconditional release of all hostages. It condemns the terrorist attacks by Hamas that took place on October 7th, and it demands an immediate and full humanitarian access."
