Hamas has said it will review the outline of the Gaza peace plan, as leaders across the Middle East voiced support for the proposal

The Israeli military said it will close on Wednesday the last remaining route for residents of southern Gaza to access the north, as it presses its offensive on Gaza City.

The military’s Arabic-language spokesperson Avichay Adraee said on X:

Al-Rashid Street will be closed to traffic from the southern sector area at 12:00 (0900 GMT).

Movement southward will be allowed for those who were unable to evacuate Gaza City. At this stage, the [Israeli military] permits free movement southward without inspection.

Australia has been accused of emboldening Israeli atrocities in Gaza by allowing Israel to effectively act with impunity, with only tepid critiques from the federal government. “Israel’s extreme war of vengeance has proved a grave threat to the very survival of Palestinians, as well as endangering Israeli hostages and the future of Israel’s own security,” international law expert Ben Saul told the National Press Club on Wednesday.

As Gaza’s humanitarian crisis grows, some women say they are being exploited by local men promising food, money, or other aid in exchange for sexual interactions. Six women detailed their experiences to the Associated Press, each speaking on condition of anonymity for fear of retribution from their families or the men.

The Palestinian health ministry in Gaza said on Telegram that the death toll from Israel’s military campaign had risen to 66,097 deaths and 168,536 injuries since 7 October 2023. It said on Wednesday that 42 deaths and 190 injuries were recorded in the past 24 hours, though victims remain under rubble and in streets that emergency crews have been unable to reach.

Yemen’s Houthi rebels have claimed responsibility for the attack that left a Dutch-flagged cargo ship ablaze and adrift in the Gulf of Aden. This attack was their most serious assault in the Gulf of Aden since November 2023. The Houthis fired a cruise missile at the Minervagracht, injuring two mariners.

The international flotilla trying to deliver aid to Gaza said on Wednesday that several of its boats were approached by unidentified vessels, some navigating without lights. The Global Sumud Flotilla said in post on Telegram that the vessels have departed, and participants implemented security protocols in anticipation of a possible interception.

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