Middle East latest: US believes Israel 'planning limited strike inside Iran'; Cameron arrives in Israel (2024)

Key points
  • Cameron arrives in Israel for talks as Netanyahu considers next move
  • US believes Israel 'planning narrow and limited strike inside Iran'
  • Israel denied 'more than 40%' of UN aid delivery requests to northern Gaza last week
  • Dominic Waghorn analysis:The coming hours could decide whether the Middle East is plunged into a widening war
  • Michael Clarke analysis:All Israel's options for retaliation come with complications
  • Live reporting by Brad Young

08:07:40

Italy calls on Israel to halt military operation in Gaza

Italy has called on Israel to halt its military operations in Gaza.

Antonio Tajani said it was time for aceasefire.

In an interview with La Stampa, Mr Tajani stressed thatthe war in Gaza was triggered by Hamas's "barbaric" assault.

He then added: "However, now a ceasefire is necessary.Israel must stop the military operations that have massivelyaffected the Palestinian population."

The interview was conducted ahead of a meeting of foreignministers of the Group of Seven which will behosted by Mr Tajani.

07:35:49

Cameron arrives in Israel for talks as Netanyahu considers next move

The British foreign secretary has arrived in Israel for talks with Benjamin Netanyahu, as the prime minister considers his response to Iran's missile and drone attack.

Lord Cameron will attempt to "limit" Israel's next move - though there is some acceptance among Western governments that Israel will react, says ourMiddle East correspondent Alistair Bunkall, reporting from Jerusalem.

"The question is what and how can that be limited to the extent that it doesn't create an even worse situation," he says.

He explains the foreign secretary will likely point to US diplomatic and economic punishments for Iran as evidence the West is assisting Israel, and try to use this as leverage to ensure Israel does not lead the region down the path of war.

The US has announced it will enact new sanctions against Iran's defence ministry, the Revolutionary Guards and the country's missile and drone programmes, and Bunkall says he would be surprised if the UK did not follow along those lines.

Lord Cameron told Sky News earlier this week that Israel should "think with head as well as heart".

"I think the smart thing to do is actually to recognise that Iran's attack was a failure and we want to keep the focus on that, on Iran's malign influence and actually pivot to looking at what's happening in Gaza," he said in an interview with Kay Burley.

The humanitarian and hostage crises in Gaza will also be an important part of the talks today, despite the world's focus on Iran, Bunkall adds.

Watch Lord Cameron's interview with Sky News below...

07:04:36

UN chief holds call with Iranian foreign minister

The UN secretary-general has held a phone call with Iran's foreign minister, calling for "urgent de-escalation".

Antonio Guterres said there must be a "renewed focus on bringing peace to the Middle East", according to spokesman Stephane Dujarric.

Mr Guterres reiterated his condemnation of the attack on the Iranian consulate in Syria's capital, Damascus, on 1 April, which he said violated the principle of "inviolability" of diplomatic premises under the Vienna conventions.

"We do not want to see another cycle of an eye for an eye, which is not a policy that will lead to peace," said Mr Dujarric.

The UN chief did not speak to any senior Israeli officials, said Mr Dujarric.

06:41:34

US says full UN membership won't help Palestinians with statehood

The US ambassador to theUN has said she did not see a resolution recommending the Palestinian Authority become a full UN member leading to a two-state solution.

The Palestinian Authority, based in the West Bank, is expected to push the Security Council to vote as early as tomorrow on a draft resolution, diplomats said.

A UN Security Council committee considering the application "was unable to make a unanimous recommendation" on whether it met the criteria.

Ambassador Linda Thomas-Greenfield said: "We do not see that doing a resolution in the SecurityCouncil will necessarily get us to a place where we can find...a two-state solution moving forward."

She added Joe Biden had categorically said Washington supported a two-state solution and wasworking to get that in place as soon as possible.

An application to become a full UN member needs to beapproved by the Security Council - where the United States cancast a veto - and then at least two-thirds of the 193-memberGeneral Assembly.

06:33:31

Israel denied 'more than 40%' of UN aid delivery requests to northern Gaza last week

The UN says it is still facing obstacles to prevent famine in Gaza.

Aid deliveries met significant Israeli checkpoint delays, said Andrea De Domenico, head of the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs in the Occupied Palestinian Territory.

Last week, 41% of UN requests to deliver aid to northern Gaza were denied, he said.

"We're dealing with this dance where we do one step forward, two steps backward, or two steps forward, one step backward, which leaves us basically always at the same point," said MrDe Domenico.

"For every new opportunity that we've been given, we will find yet another challenge to deal with, so it's really, really difficult for us to scale up to where we would like to be."

There had been a "steady increase" in the number of trucks entering Gaza, he said, but the problem was "not just about food".

"The problem is that famine is much more complex... it's much bigger than simply bringing in flour," said Mr De Domenico.

"Water, sanitation and health are fundamental to curb famine."

US officials have noted progress in the amount of aid that goes into Gaza, but say it is still not at the desired level.

Israel approved reopening the Erez crossing into northern Gaza following global outrage at Israeli airstrikes that killed World Central Kitchen aid workers on 1 April.

06:11:25

Good morning

Welcome to our live coverage of the Israel-Hamas war and wider tensions in the Middle East.

The region is braced for a response from Israel after Iran attacked the country with hundreds of drones and missiles at the weekend.

Israel's war cabinet has met several times since and has vowed to respond, but it's not known if or when it will retaliate.

Its Western allies have urged it not to hit back, fearing this could escalate tensions and lead to a wider war in the Middle East.

Among those urging caution is the UK - which sent its foreign secretary to Israel overnight.

Lord Cameron will be holding talks with Benjamin Netanyahu as well as his Israeli counterpart today.

Before we bring you today's news, here's what has happened in the past 24 hours...

  • The US believes Israel's military response to Iran will be limited in scope, sources told CNN;
  • Israel's military said it had killed the commander of Hezbollah's coastal sector in Lebanon;
  • Vladimir Putin held a phone call with the Iranian president, in which he called for restraint from all parties in the Middle East;
  • The UN nuclear watchdog said it was "concerned" Israel could target Iranian nuclear facilities.

02:28:02

Palestinian bid for full UN membership appears stalled at Security Council level

A few days ago we reported that the Palestinian Authority was preparing its bid for full United Nations membership.

Late on Tuesday night a UN Security Council committee considering the bid said it was "unable to make a unanimous recommendation" on whether it met the criteria.

"Differing views were expressed" on the issue, according to a committee report seen by Reuters news agency.

The Palestinian Authority is still expected to push the 15-member council to vote, possibly on Thursday, on a draft resolution recommending its full membership.

The Palestinians are currently a non-member observer state - a position granted in 2012 - but full membership would effectively recognise a Palestinian state.

Success for the Palestinians here, however, is unlikely - they need their bid to be approved by the Security Council, and Israel's main ally the US has the power to block it. It also needs support from at least two-thirds of the UN General Assembly.

01:07:03

US forces 'engage' two UAVs in Houthi-controlled areas

US Central Command (CENTCOM) says its forces "engaged" two unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) in areas controlled by Iranian-backed Houthis in Yemen.

"It was determined the UAVs presented an imminent threat to US coalition and merchant vessels in the region," it said.

There were no injuries or damage reported by US coalition or commercial ships.

"These actions are taken to protect freedom of navigation and make international waters safer and more secure for US, coalition and merchant vessels."

The command also posted on X about an aid drop earlier in the day, with photos.

23:46:18

US to target Iran missile programme with new sanctions

Statement by National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan:

"Following Iran's unprecedented air attack against Israel, President Biden is coordinating with allies and partners, including the G7, and with bipartisan leaders in Congress, on a comprehensive response.

"In the coming days, the United States will impose new sanctions targeting Iran, including its missile and drone program as well as new sanctions against entities supporting the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) and Iran’s Defense Ministry.

"We anticipate that our allies and partners will soon be following with their own sanctions. In addition, we continue to work through the Department of Defense and US Central Command to further strengthen and expand the successful integration of air and missile defense and early warning systems across the Middle East to further erode the effectiveness of Iran's missile and UAV capabilities.

"These new sanctions and other measures will continue a steady drumbeat of pressure to contain and degrade Iran's military capacity and effectiveness and confront the full range of its problematic behaviours.

"Over the last three years, in addition to missile and drone-related sanctions, the United States has sanctioned over 600 individuals and entities connected to terrorism, terrorist financing and other forms of illicit trade, horrific human rights abuses, and support for proxy terrorist groups, including Hamas, Hezbollah, the Houthis, and Kataib Hezbollah.

"The pressure will continue. We will not hesitate to continue to take action, in coordination with allies and partners around the world, and with Congress, to hold the Iranian government accountable for its malicious and destabilizing actions."

22:45:01

UK alarmed by 'shocking levels of violence' in West Bank

The Ministry of Defence has commented on escalating violence in the West Bank, which increased following the death of a 14-year-old Israeli.

The MoD said it was alarmed by the "shocking levels of violence" in the occupied area.

"These killings, and subsequent actions, are escalatingviolence in the Occupied West Bank and the wider region at acritical time," it said.

"It is vital that Israeli authorities restore calmand conduct urgent and transparent investigations into alldeaths."

Seven Palestinians have been killed by Israeli forces or settlers since the attacks began on Friday, according to the Palestinian Health Ministry.

Israeli authorities have urged people not to resort to vigilante attacks.

Middle East latest: US believes Israel 'planning limited strike inside Iran'; Cameron arrives in Israel (2024)

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