Former President Barack Obama on Friday criticized Israel’s ongoing military action in Gaza, saying that “there’s not a military rationale for continuing to pummel what is already rubble” and arguing for Palestinian statehood.

Doctors Without Borders pulled its staff from Gaza City as the medical system buckled. The U.N. has warned that more hospitals may have to close.

Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni has asked the Global Sumud Flotilla -- which is trying to ferry humanitarian aid through an Israeli naval blockade to the Gaza Strip -- to deliver its aid to Cyprus, after the group's boats came under drone attack in the Mediterranean Sea.

The former prime minister has been in high-level planning talks over the territory's future, the BBC understands.

The Israeli prime minister's speech was defiant, despite his growing international isolation over his refusal to end the devastating war to eradicate Hamas.

The city had been spared from widespread demolitions during previous military operations there. This time is different.

A Belfast man on board an aid flotilla which is trying to reach Gaza said volunteers are "risking their life and their liberty" to take part in the mission. Fra Hughes is among about 350 activists who are attempting to breach Israel's naval blockade of Gaza to deliver food and medical aid to starving Palestinians.

Spain and Italy have said they are sending navy ships to where a flotilla of dozens of boats carrying activists seeking to break Israel’s blockade of Gaza is sailing.