Thank you for joining our coverage of the latest developments in Israel and Gaza. Here's a reminder of the main updates from today:

• The Israeli military says it has taken control of al-Shifa hospital in Gaza City after an operation to "thwart terrorist activity"
• The IDF said it killed 20 "terrorists", including a senior commander of Hamas's internal security force, and detained dozens of suspects
• Gaza's Hamas-run health ministry accused Israel of committing a war crime
• Meanwhile, a UN agency warned that famine was "imminent" in northern Gaza, with around 70% of the 300,000 people living there experiencing catastrophic levels of hunger
• The head of the UN's Palestinian aid agency, UNRWA, has been denied entry into Gaza, the organisation says
• US President Joe Biden and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu held a phone call today to discuss how to increase aid to Gaza, and Israel's goals in its war with Hamas

You can read more about how Gaza faces a famine during Ramadan - the holy month of fasting - here.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and US President Joe Biden have spoken over the phone today to discuss Israel's war in Gaza.

Posting to social media, Netanyahu said the pair discussed Israel's goals in Gaza, which he said were: "The elimination of Hamas, the release of all our hostages, and the promise that Gaza will no longer pose a threat to Israel - while providing the necessary humanitarian aid."

Image source, Reuters

Human Rights Watch says Israel could change the impending threat of famine in Gaza if it allowed more aid and humanitarian supplies to enter the Strip, adding that "the ball is in Israel's court".

Sari Bashi, its programme director, says: "This can change tomorrow. The Israeli military can open up adequate routes, and commit itself to providing the security needed to deliver food," she tells the BBC.

She says that because the Israeli military is an occupying power in Gaza, it's not only obligated to facilitate humanitarian supplies, it's also obligated to bring them.

"The Israeli military should not be bargaining how much food to let into Gaza in exchange for hostages, and Hamas and Islamic Jihad should not be bargaining how many hostages to release in exchange for food."

US President Joe Biden and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu have spoken about the situation in Israel and Gaza via phone call, the White House says - the first time the pair have spoken in more than a month.

"President Biden spoke with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of Israel to discuss the latest developments in Israel and Gaza, including the situation in Rafah and efforts to surge humanitarian assistance to Gaza," a White House spokesperson says.

They add that full details of their discussion would come shortly.

The US remains Israel's closest ally and biggest provider of military aid, but an already troubled relationship between Biden and Netanyahu has atrophied into a clash increasingly on public display. More here.

Imogen Foulkes
Geneva correspondent

Jamie McGoldrick, the UN’s humanitarian coordinator, also warned of imminent famine in Gaza, as reported by the UN’s food security monitor earlier today, but said it could be averted if there was an "enabling environment" for aid supplies.

He called for all road crossings into Gaza to be opened, warning that air and sea deliveries would not be sufficient.

Responding to questions about Israel’s claims that it has "no limits" on the amount of aid that can enter Gaza, McGoldrick said UN supplies of medical equipment, solar panels, chemicals for water sanitation and even communication equipment for UN aid workers, had all been prevented from entering Gaza.

He added that food supplies, already limited by the restricted road crossings, were regularly held up at Israeli checkpoints.

Imogen Foulkes
Geneva Correspondent

The UN’s humanitarian coordinator in Gaza says the UN will not participate in the evacuation of civilians from Rafah ahead of a possible Israeli ground attack there.

Speaking to journalists in Geneva, Jamie McGoldrick said moving people to so-called "humanitarian islands" would amount to forced displacement.

He added that so far the UN had been given no details by Israel about how exactly the estimated 1.5 million people currently sheltering in Rafah would be moved.

Would they be "pushed, forced, or encouraged?" McGoldrick asked.

Image source, Reuters

We've been reporting on the UN-backed report which found famine is imminent and likely to occur in the next two months in the northern Gaza Strip.

Martin Griffiths, the UN's head of humanitarian affairs and emergency relief says the international community should "hang its head in shame" for failing to prevent famine in Gaza.

"More than one million people are at risk because they have been cut off from life-saving aid, markets have collapsed, and fields have been destroyed," he says in a social media post.

He calls on Israeli authorities to allow complete and unfettered access for humanitarian goods - right now all aid is being checked over before being allowed in.

We've just received a new statement from the Israel Defence Forces (IDF), which says the al-Shifa hospital raid is ongoing.

Twenty people, who the IDF describe as "terrorists", have been killed and "dozens of apprehended suspects are currently in questioning", the statement says.

The BBC is unable to independently verify the details of the raid.

The IDF claims to have found "terror funds" and "weapons" in the hospital.

Our colleagues at BBC Arabic have been hearing from Gazans who were nearby when Israel began its raid of al-Shifa Hospital.

One man, who was sheltering in al-Nasr Hospital in Gaza City, says shelling began some time around 2:30am before soldiers stormed the hospital. He says at 8:00am the bombing grew in intensity. He and others eventually escaped down side streets, and described coming under fire as they fled.

A woman who was also at al-Nasr with her children said violent clashes echoed through the night. She expected the bombardment to subside in the morning, but she says the shelling continued.

"I did not know where to go or where to seek shelter. There was no longer a safe place to go to. All the places have been bombed," she says.

Bernd Debusmann Jr
US reporter

A private US firm that is partnering with the US military to deliver aid to Gaza can begin aid shipments within weeks of getting funded, the BBC has learned.

A source familiar with the planning told the BBC that the group - known as Fogbow - is planning to meet with prospective donors at an event hosted by the Cypriot government soon.

The BBC as reached out to Cyprus' government for comment.

The source said that, if funded, Fogbow will be able to begin deliveries within three weeks, directly to a beach in Gaza.

In the first month, the group believes it could deliver 6,000 truck equivalent units of aid - which would then be expanded once the US military pier is completed.

• Read more about the plan here

Image source, .

Image source, Reuters

US President Joe Biden will speak with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu today, the BBC's US broadcast partner CBS News has confirmed.

It will be the first call between the pair since 15 February. There's been growing criticism from the US, Israel's top ally, about civilian casualties from its war in Gaza.

US Senate majority leader Chuck Schumer called on Israel to hold a new election, and said Netanyahu had "lost his way", in a recent speech praised by President Biden.

It will also be the first call since Biden's State of the Union address, when he was heard on a hot mic telling members of Congress that he'd told Netanyahu "you and I are going to have a 'come-to-Jesus' meeting".

Image source, EPA

UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres has described a new report on the level of hunger in Gaza as an "appalling indictment of the conditions on the ground".

Earlier, we reported the findings of the report from the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC), the global body responsible for declaring famine.

It said more than half of all Palestinians in Gaza - 1.1 million people - have completely exhausted their food supplies and are facing catastrophic hunger.

"This is the highest number of people facing catastrophic hunger ever recorded by IPC system anywhere - anytime," Guterres says.

"This is an entirely manmade disaster and the report makes clear that it can be halted. Today's report is exhibit A for the need for an immediate humanitarian ceasefire."

Image source, Getty Images

As we reported earlier, the chief of the UN's Palestinian aid agency, UNRWA, claimed he was denied entry into Gaza today.

Philippe Lazzarini said he was trying to access the enclave to "coordinate & improve the humanitarian response".

Israel has yet to respond to the claims.

In a post, external on social media, Lazzarini drew attention to the humanitarian situation in Gaza.

"Famine is imminent in the northern Gaza Strip, expected to arrive between now and May," he said.

"This man-made starvation under our watch is a stain on our collective humanity.

"Children are now dying of dehydration & hunger", he said.

Relations between Israel and UNRWA hit rock bottom following allegations levelled by the Israeli government that 13 of the agency's staff placed a direct or indirect role in the 7 October Hamas attacks.

A raft of countries withdrew funding for UNWRA following the claims, while the UN has launched an investigation.

While the Israeli Defence Forces (IDF) launched a raid on al-Shifa hospital overnight, it says it also carried out strikes on Hezbollah hotspots in southern Lebanon.

"During the night, warplanes attacked a military building and an observation post of the Hezbollah terrorist organization in the Ramya area," it says in a social media post.

It adds that on Sunday, other Hezbollah "infrastructures" in Lebanon had also been hit in the city of Naqoura.

Image source, Getty Images

The Israel Defense Force (IDF) says it is now in control of the al-Shifa hospital in Gaza City, claiming it launched a raid on the site overnight because it was being used as a Hamas base. If you're just joining us, here are the latest developments:

• A spokesperson said the IDF would ensure the hospital's work could continue during the operation

• The Hamas-run health ministry in Gaza accused Israel of committing a war crime and using "fabricated narratives". In a statement, Hamas calls it a "new crime" and claims hospital buildings were "directly targeted"
• People in the hospital and wider area have been told to evacuate to a nearby "humanitarian area" amid reports of heavy gunfire. Thousands had already fled the area since Israel began its operation in October, but the hospital has since been used as a shelter for displaced people
• A doctor at al-Shifa tells the BBC his team began hearing gunfire in the early hours. "Anyone in the grounds were targeted," he says. "There is a lot of injured, people are bleeding"
• The IDF says 80 suspects were arrested in the hospital raid, including Hamas militants. It's also saying one of its own soldiers was killed in the northern Gaza strip on Monday - Israel’s Kan News reports he died in the operation at the hospital
• The IDF also says Hamas's head of internal security operations Faiq al-Mabhouh was killed during an exchange of gun fire during the operation. Hamas has not confirmed or acknowledged his death

• Both sides are expected to hold fresh talks in Qatar today on a potential ceasefire deal

Stay with us for more.

Dr Mohammed Obeid, a consultant orthopaedic surgeon in Al-Awda Hospital, northern Gaza, says medical workers in Gaza are experiencing "weight loss and muscle weakness" due to a lack of nutrition.

His comments follow a new report backed by the UN, which says famine is expected between now and May in the north of the Gaza Strip.

"They consistently experience low energy levels, impacting their productivity at work and [they] will not be able to last all day long," Dr Obeid tells charity ActionAid.

Speaking about those observing Ramadan, he says most weren't able to "have a proper Iftar meal to break our fast".

"Providing food, whether for patients or doctors, is extremely challenging."

Food items are being sold at prices up to 100 times higher than their original cost, he adds.

"The market does not provide many supplies of any kind, even when you have the money, you still can't obtain a meal for yourself, your children, or even the medical staff," Dr Obeid says.

Image source, Reuters

The head of the UN's Palestinian aid agency, UNRWA, has been denied entry into Gaza, the organisation says.

Philippe Lazzarini is in Cairo, where he was speaking alongside Egyptian foreign minister Sameh Shoukry.

Lazzarini said he had intended to go to Rafah on Monday "but I have been informed an hour ago that my entry into Rafah is declined".

Shoukry then blamed Israel for the refusal.

"You were declined by the Israeli government, refused the entry which is an unprecedented move for a representative at this high position," Shoukry said.

Israeli officials are yet to comment.

Lazzarini has visited the Gaza Strip four times since the Gaza war began, and on numerous occasions prior to that, an UNRWA spokesperson said.

Israel has previously alleged 13 UNWRA staff played a direct or indirect role in the 7 October Hamas attacks.

The UN has launched an investigation into UNWRA, but top officials warned the withdrawal of international funding for the agency could could lead to the "collapse of the humanitarian system".

Image source, Getty Images

The World Health Organization (WHO) says it is "terribly worried" about what is happening at al-Shifa hospital.

In a post on social media, WHO director-general Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus says the situation at the hospital is "endangering health workers, patients and civilians".

He says al-Shifa had only recently restored "minimal health services", and that any hostilities or militarisation of the hospital "jeopardize health services, access for ambulances, and delivery of life-saving supplies".

"Hospitals should never be battlegrounds," he says, ending the post with: "Hospitals must be protected. Ceasefire!"

Joel Gunter
Reporting from Jerusalem

As we reported earlier, news network Al Jazeera said Israeli forces had arrested one of its journalists during an overnight raid on al-Shifa hospital in Gaza City.

Al Jazeera has now issued a statement about the reported arrest of the network’s journalist by Israel's military.

The statement says: “We demand the immediate release of our correspondent Ismail al-Ghul and the journalists with him.

"We hold the occupation responsible for their safety and confirm that this targeting is an attempt by the Israeli army to intimidate journalists, in order to prevent them from reporting their crimes against civilians in Gaza.”

The IDF has not responded to requests for comment from the BBC regarding the arrests.

The Israel Defence Forces (IDF) say that Hamas's head of internal security operations has been killed in its raid on al-Shifa hospital overnight.

In a post on X, the IDF claims Faiq al-Mabhouh, who was hiding inside the hospital, was killed in an exchange of gun fire earlier.

Al-Mabhouh was responsible for overseeing Hamas units in the Gaza Strip, according to the IDF and Shin Bet - the Israeli secret service - adding that weapons were found in a room near where he was killed.

His death has been not been confirmed or acknowledged by Hamas.

Israel has repeatedly said Hamas is using the hospital as a base and today it told Gazans to leave the area.

The Hamas-run health ministry have accused Israel of war crimes following their subsequent raids on the building.

BBC Verify is still working to analyse videos claiming to show gunfire towards IDF troops from the hospital.