Israel-Hamas war: Hamas truce draft 'unrealistic' — Israel

Israel has described a proposal for a cease-fire in Gaza presented by the Palestinian militant group Hamasas "unrealistic."

Reuters news agency reported that the Hamas proposal involved the release of Israeli hostages, including women, Israeli "female recruits," children, the elderly and the ill in exchange for 700-1,000 Palestinian prisoners in Israeli jails, including about 100 serving life sentences.

Reuters, which said it saw the proposal, reported that the proposition was presented to mediators and the US.

The militant group said it would agree on a date for a permanent cease-fire, following the exchange of hostages and prisoners. A deadline for an Israeli withdrawal from Gaza would also be agreed upon after the hostages and prisoners were exchanged.

"Hamas is continuing to hold to unrealistic demands," the Israeli prime minister's office said in a statement on the social media platform X. The office added that "an update on the issue will be submitted to the War Cabinet and the Security Cabinet." 

Hamas is listed as a terrorist organization by several countries, including Israel, the United States and Germany.

Aid ship reaches Gaza coast

A ship loaded with some 200 tons (187 metric tons) of food arrived off Gaza's coast on Friday in an attempt to open a new aid corridor via sea to counter the risk of famine looming over the besieged enclave.

The Open Arms ship, operated by a Spanish aid agency of the same name, is carrying food arranged by the US World Central Kitchen charity. 

Footage by the French AFP news agency showed a handful of civilians gathered on the coast to watch the approaching vessel.

Few details have been given on how the aid delivery and distribution will take place once the ship is ready to unload. UN relief agencies have described huge obstacles in delivering relief supplies to those in need.

If successful, a new sea route could help ease the hunger crisis in Gaza. However, aid agencies have repeatedly warned that delivering aid via sea and air was not enough to make up for the difficulties of getting aid supplies by land.

World Central Kitchen told US broadcaster CNN earlier this week that 200 tons of aid represents roughly 500,000 meals. With a population of some 2.3 million people, that's enough food to feed less than one-fourth of the people in the Gaza Strip once.

Israel denies shooting aid seekers in Gaza

The Hamas-run Health Ministry in Gaza said the death toll for people trying to reach humanitarian aid in Gaza City on Thursday has increased to 20.  Israel denied killing people seeking aid.

The Gaza Health Ministry said the attack also left 155 injured, adding that health crews were unable to deal with the injuries amid a lack of resources.

Health officials accused Israeli troops of opening fire as Palestinians gathered at a roundabout in Gaza City in the north of the Gaza Strip.

Mohammed Ghurab, director of emergency services at a hospital in northern Gaza, told the AFP news agency there were "direct shots" by Israeli forces on people waiting for a food truck.

An AFP journalist on the scene saw several bodies and people who had been shot.

Israeli Arabic spokesperson Avichay Adraee said reports that the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) targeted civilians in Gaza at an aid distribution point were "erroneous." He added that the IDF was "analyzing the incident seriously."

Australia to resume funding for UNRWA

Australia has announced it is resuming its funding to the United Nations relief agency for Palestinians (UNRWA), after a freeze over Israeli accusations that some UNRWA staff members were involved in the October 7 terror attacks.

Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong said Friday that the decision came in response to "a humanitarian situation in Gaza which is dire and only worsening."

"The Australian Government will work with UNRWA on an ongoing basis to ensure its integrity and neutrality are beyond reproach," Wong said.

Canberra is due to release 6 million Australian dollars (3.9 million US dollars, €3.6 million) in funding to UNRWA, which had been temporarily suspended following the Israeli allegations.

"Only UNRWA has the infrastructure to receive and distribute aid on the scale needed right now in Gaza," Wong added. "But aid can only reach the civilian population at scale if Israel lets it into Gaza. Australia implores Israel to allow this to happen."

Australia also pledged an additional $4 million Australian dollars to UNICEF to provide urgent services in Gaza. The country will also contribute to international efforts to airdrop aid into Gaza. 

In its decision to resume funding to the UNRWA, Australia joins Canada, Sweden and the European Commission. 

In January, over a dozen countries froze their funding to the UN relief agency, following the Israeli accusations that 12 of UNRWA's 30,000 employees were involved in the October 7 terror attacks. They included major donors such as the United States and Germany.

UNRWA Commissioner-General Philippe Lazzarini thanked Australia for the resumption of funding in a post on X, formerly Twitter. 

"I hope that other donors who have temporarily paused their contribution will make similar announcement & support the Agency to reverse the widespread hunger in #Gaza & to remain a life line for Palestine Refugees across the region."

Merchant ship damaged in suspected Houthi attack

A missile struck and damaged a merchant ship off the Yemeni port of Hodeida in the Red Sea early on Friday.

The suspected Houthi attack caused no injuries to the vessel's crew, and the ship was able to resume its journey, the United Kingdom Marine Trade Operations (UKMTO) said.

"The vessel has sustained some damage. The crew are reported safe and the vessel is proceeding to its next port of call," the UKMTO said in an advisory note.

British security firm Ambrey also reported the attack and the damage to the ship, confirming as well that no crew members were injured.

While no group has claimed responsibility for the attack, Yemen's Iran-backed Houthi rebels have said they would continue attacks on ships in the Red Sea until the end of the conflict in Gaza.