Israeli raid destroys Gaza homes, 19 reported killed

By Nathan Morley

Reports carried on WAFA, the Palestinian news agency, suggest 19 Palestinians, including women, children and a baby, were killed and scores of others wounded in Israeli air strikes targeting homes in eastern Gaza City.

Other reports put the death toll at 28, but the figures are not confirmed.

Elsewhere, as Gaza endures a blistering heatwave, footage posted on the internet shows Israeli bulldozers demolishing damaged homes near Rafah.

The scenes on the ground in Gaza are horrifying.

 The United Nations is reporting that more than 330,000 tons of solid waste is piling up in and out of populated areas of the Gaza Strip, creating a huge health hazard. Much of it is now literally boiling in temperatures which have exceeded 40C this week. 

UNRWA insists unimpeded humanitarian access and a ceasefire are crucial to restore humane living conditions. The UN children's agency Unicef said a convoy carrying aid was refused entry to northern Gaza, despite having all the correct paperwork. 

Earlier, World Health Organization Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said a sizable proportion of Gaza's population faced catastrophic hunger and famine-like conditions.

The war erupted after Hamas launched a brutal attack on Israel on 7 October 2023, killing about 1,200 people and taking 251 hostages.

Elsewhere, radio in Lebanon is reporting an Israeli drone strike hit a motorcycle in southern Lebanon.

Over the last 48 hours, attacks between Hezbollah and Israeli forces have intensified.