Summary

  • Hamas says that Palestinian groups have rejected the prospect of further hostage releases until Israel agrees to end the war in Gaza

  • The statement was released as talks in Cairo continue over reaching a new truce in the war

  • But Israel has repeatedly rejected a permanent ceasefire, with its national security minister saying ending the war before Hamas is defeated would constitute a "failure"

  • More than 240 Israeli hostages were captured during Hamas's 7 October attacks, with more than 100 of them released in a previous truce in November

  • The UN Security Council is again due to a hold vote on "urgent humanitarian pauses" in Gaza after the previous vote was postponed on Wednesday

  • The World Food Programme says Gaza is at risk of famine within six months if the conflict doesn't end

  • Meanwhile, Israeli forces say they’ve uncovered a network of tunnels in the heart of Gaza City with entrances connected to the houses of Hamas leaders

  • On Wednesday, the Hamas-run Gaza government said 20,000 people had been killed there since Israel launched its military campaign against the group

  • Israel began its campaign in Gaza after Hamas broke through the heavily-guarded perimeter with Israel on 7 October, killing 1,200 people

Live Reporting

Edited by Brandon Livesay

  1. Aid workers despair as UN vote delayed

    Displaced Palestinians in the Khan Yunis refugee camp in southern Gaza on 19 December 2023EPA

    Palestinian refugees in the Khan Yunis camp in southern Gaza on 19 December

    Ahead of the Security Council meeting on Wednesday, UN aid workers in Geneva could not hide their despair at the failure of the international community to put an end to the conflict.

    Unicef spokesman James Elder, who recently returned Gaza, told reporters that "every single child is enduring these 10 weeks of hell and not one of them can escape".

    He lamented that "not even lip service" had been paid to requirements to safeguard medical facilities, food and water.

    Only eight of Gaza's 36 hospitals are even partially functioning, says the World Health Organization.

    They're overwhelmed by casualties, running out of medical supplies and fuel, while also providing shelter for thousands of displaced people.

  2. Malaysia blocks Israeli shipping company

    Malaysia has announced it will ban any ships from the Israeli shipping company ZIM from docking at its ports effective immediately.

    The South-East Asian country said this was a direct response to Israel's actions in Gaza.

    "This restriction is a response to Israel's actions that violate basic humanitarian principles and international laws," said Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim.

  3. Welcome to our coverage

    Yvette Tan
    Live editor

    It's just past 06:30 in Gaza and Israel and 04:30 in London. If you're just joining us, here's a quick look at what's happened over the last few hours:

    • Efforts to get a United Nations Security Council ceasefire motion are set to resume after Tuesday's vote was delayed
    • Negotiators are trying to agree on a wording that will not be vetoed by Washington - for example, by replacing the word "ceasefire" with "an urgent suspension of hostilities"
    • The US vetoed the last draft resolution because of the language that it contained
    • The latest attempt to agree on a motion comes as fighting rages, with the Hamas-run health ministry in Gaza saying 100 Palestinians were killed in Israeli strikes across the territory on Tuesday
    • Aid agencies have voiced anger and frustration over the continuing plight of civilians in Gaza ahead of the vote
    • Israeli President Isaac Herzog has said his country is ready for another humanitarian pause but Hamas says it will not negotiate while Israel's military operation continues
    • Meanwhile, British Foreign Minister David Cameron will travel to Jordan and Egypt this week to push for a sustainable ceasefire, said the Foreign Office
    • Nearly 20,000 people are now reported to have been killed and more than 52,000 injured in Gaza since the start of the war

    Stay with me and my colleague Frances Mao as we bring you the latest updates through the day.