Walsall doctor says relatives killed in bombardment in Gaza

Dr Omar Hassouna said his niece and her family were killed in a bombardment in Gaza

A Palestinian doctor has said three of his relatives including a baby were killed in a bombardment in Gaza.

Dr Omar Hassouna, who moved to Walsall, said he found out in a phone call from his brother on Tuesday.

His niece, her husband and their two-month-old baby "instantly died" after a wall fell on them when they were sleeping, he said.

Dr Hassouna said his brother "just could not speak" and it was "very, very upsetting".

"She was very close to me personally," he added. "I just cried today, so incredibly unbelievable."

Dr Hassouna has lived in Walsall for more than 40 years but recently visited Gaza to see his family.

He said the current situation was "very frightening" and his family were "not sure whether [they're] going to live tomorrow or not."

"These people, they don't know where to go," he added,

Abas Mobarak said about 250 members of his family lived in Gaza

The Israeli military has carried out heavy bombing across Gaza since the Hamas attacks on 7 October.

Another Birmingham resident, Abas Mobarak, who moved to the city from Gaza, said about 250 members of his family, including his brothers and sisters, were living there.

He told BBC WM he managed to speak to his elder brother for just "twenty seconds" on the phone, only long enough for him to tell him he was alive.

"He told me, we are not OK but we still alive," he said.

"Imagine your own brothers and sisters, you can't do nothing for them, you are just living and watching on the screens."

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Mr Mobarak said he could not sleep due to the "crazy" situation and because he wanted to know his family were safe.

"There is no water, they are struggling to find water, it's against basic human rights." he explained.

"We are trying to tell the Israelis this, we are human [and] we deserve to live a respected life."

Israel said it was not targeting the civilian population in Gaza.

The US president is expected to meet the Israeli war cabinet later and the US said it would stress the need for humanitarian aid to enter Gaza and the obligation to avoid civilian casualties.