Israel: Attack on Hamas compound kills terrorists who took part in October 7 massacre (2024)

The United Nations nuclear watchdog's board on Wednesday censured Iran for failing to cooperate fully with the agency, diplomats said, calling on Tehran to provide answers in a long-running investigation and reverse its decision to bar several experienced U.N. inspectors.

Iran's Foreign Ministry issued a late-night statement in response to the vote, saying it "strongly condemns" the action taken by the IAEA's board of governors and called the move political.

The censure followed a report by the International Atomic Energy Agency a week ago that said Iran has further increased its stockpile of uraniumenriched to near weapons-grade levels, the latest in Tehran's attempts to steadily exert pressure on the international community.

The vote by the 35-member board at the IAEA headquarters in Vienna sets the stage for a likely further escalation of tensions between the agency and Iran, which has reacted strongly to similar previous resolutions.

"The Islamic Republic of Iran considers the presentation and approval of this resolution to be a political and non-constructive action and a continuation of the previous failed policies of some Western countries and an attempt to politically abuse international mechanisms against independent countries," the statement from Iran's Foreign Ministry read.

The IDF announced that the Israeli Air Force attacked a Hamas compound at an UNRWA school in Nuseirat in the central Gaza Strip, where members of the Nukhba Force who took part in the October 7 attack were staying. The IDF said that prior to the attack, it had taken steps to reduce the chances of harm to uninvolved civilians, including "visual checks from the air, the use of precision resources and additional intelligence information."

The Israeli military statement came after the Hamas-run Gaza government media office said at least 27 people were killed and dozens injured in a school housing displaced persons in Nuseirat in the central Gaza Strip. There was no immediate comment from Hamas itself.

The Hamas-run Gaza government media office said at least 27 people were killed and dozens injured in a school housing displaced persons in Nuseirat in the central Gaza Strip.

There was no immediate confirmation by the health ministry, and Reuters could not immediately verify the announcement.

British security firm Ambrey said on Thursday a Greek-owned bulk carrier was allegedly targeted by Yemen's Houthis while travelling northbound in the Red Sea.

The ship's transmissions stopped 118 nautical miles east of Massawa, Eritrea when it was underway from Mormugao, India, with its destination as Suez, Egypt, the firm said in a statement that did not name the ship.

"The alleged 'targeting' of the vessel was aligned to the stated Houthi intent," Ambrey said. "The Houthi language did not indicate they were claiming to have damaged the vessel. At the time of writing, the event had not been verified."

Yemen's Houthis conducted military operations targeting three vessels in the Red Sea and the Arabian Sea, the group's military spokesperson Yahya Saree said on Wednesday.

Houthi militants targeted two vessels in the Red Sea, Roza and Vantage Dream, with a number of missiles and drones, Saree said in a televised speech.

The third ship, the U.S. vessel Maersk Seletar, was targeted in the Arabian Sea with a number of drones, Saree added.

Here are the latest updates for day 243 of the Israel-Hamas war:

■ Retired Supreme Court President Aharon Barak resigned as an ICJ judge in the hearing accusing Israel of committing genocide in Gaza, citing personal reasons.

■ National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir at Jerusalem Day flag march: "Jerusalem is ours. Damascus Gate is ours. Temple Mount is ours."

■ Eleven people were wounded, one critically, in a drone strike in the northern Israeli town of Hurfeish.

■ Israeli President Isaac Herzog: 'Israel is attacked every day by Iran's proxies in Lebanon. Do not complaint when things get out of control.'

■ Iranian Revolutionary Guards chief Hossein Salami warned that Israel would pay a price for the death of an Iranian military adviser in an attack on the Syrian city of Aleppo on Sunday.

■ Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu visited the northern Israeli town of Kiryat Shmona, near the Lebanese border, following the fires that set the city ablaze over the past few days.

■ The Israeli government will vote on authorizing the IDF to raise the number of reservists to 350,000 by the end of August.

■ Israel's far-right Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich shirked responsibility on Wednesday for the October 7 Hamas attack, saying "it had nothing to do with me."

■ Dozens of Jewish religious youths who arrived in Jerusalem Wednesday morning ahead of Jerusalem Day clashed with Palestinians in the Old City. Police broke up the clashes, and there were no casualties.

■ The Israeli government is behind a large-scale influence campaign primarily aimed at Black lawmakers and young progressives in the United States and Canada.

■ The Israel Defense Forces is establishing a dedicated reservist unit for combating terrorism in Gaza border communities, whose goal will be to provide a "quick and available response" to acts of terror in the area.

Saudi Arabia has strongly condemned the flag parade held in the Old City of Jerusalem on Wednesday, accusing the Israeli government of allowing extremist elements to undermine the status quo on the Temple Mount (Al-Aqsa). According to the statement from Riyadh, Israel approved a "provocative parade" which risks inflaming the anger of Muslims around the world.

In a separate statement issued shortly before the condemnation, Saudi Arabia welcomed the decision of Slovenia's parliament to recognize a Palestinian state. In recent weeks, the Kingdom has taken a highly critical public line towards Israel, against the background of growing frustration in Riyadh over the failure of normalization talks due to the influence of extreme right-wing ministers in the government.

Russian President Vladimir Putin on Wednesday condemned the "complete elimination of the civilian population" in Gaza and said that Russia is also able to contribute to efforts to find peace in the Middle East.

During a dialogue with delegates from foreign news agencies, including AFP, Putin said, "What is currently happening in Gaza in response to the terrorist attack on Israel does not resemble a war at all. It is akin to the complete elimination of the civilian population."

Putin also said that no power should try to monopolize the search for peace in the Middle East and that Russia is trying to make a contribution to these efforts. He added that United States also has a key role to play and that Washington and Moscow should work to find agreements.

Putin also said that he is hopeful on the issue of Palestinian statehood.

Retired Supreme Court President Aharon Barak has resigned from his position as judge at the hearing concerning South Africa's petition accusing Israel of committing genocide in Gaza at the International Court of Justice in The Hague, citing personal reasons.