al jazeera

By Lyndal Rowlands
   Marc Owen Jones, assistant professor at Hamad bin Khalifa University, says it is increasingly clear that Israel is deploying untested Artificial Intelligence (AI) systems in Gaza war. “This is an AI-assisted genocide, and going forward, there needs to be a call for a moratorium on the use of AI in the war,” Jones said.
   The UN is pausing night-time aid operations in Gaza, as calls for Israel to be held accountable for the deadly attack on a food aid convoy continue.
   Israel calls up air defence reservists for duty two days after a suspected Israeli missile attack killed seven people at the Iranian consulate in Syria’s capital Damascus.
   Israeli army chief says Israel wants “movement” in captive talks, but Hamas’s Haniyeh says Israel continues to “evade” the groups’ requests, which include a ceasefire, food and for people in Gaza to be able to return to their homes.
   At least 32,975 Palestinians have been killed and 75,577 wounded in Israeli attacks on Gaza since October 7. The death toll in Israel from Hamas’s October 7 attack stands at 1,139 with dozens still held captive.

    Israeli settler attacks on Palestinians in West Bank tops 700 since Oct 7

    The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (UNOCHA) has recorded 704 attacks by Israeli settlers on Palestinians in the occupied West Bank, including occupied East Jerusalem.

    On average, there were four attacks perpetrated by Israeli settlers against local Palestinians in the six months since the Hamas raid on southern Israel and Israel’s war on Gaza on October 7, UNOCHA reports.

    The more than 700 attacks led to casualties in 69 reported incidents, damage to Palestinian-owned property in 558 incidents, and damaged property and casualties in 77 cases.

    “In total, 17 Palestinians have been killed and over 400 injured within this context, over 9,900 trees were damaged, and 40 houses were vandalized,” UNOCHA said.

    Scottish First Minister demands UK Prime Minister end the sale of weapons to Israel

    Scotland’s First Minister Humza Yousaf has written to British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak seeking an “immediate end” to arms sales by the UK to Israel.

    Following Israel’s killing of seven aid workers – three of them British – with the World Central Kitchen charity in Gaza, Yousaf said that he was writing once again to “demand” that the UK end the sale of arms to Israel.

    “The civilian death toll is intolerable, as is the killing of humanitarian workers who deliver vital aid to Palestinians facing starvation and violence at the hands of this Israeli government,” First Minister Yousaf said in his letter to Sunak.

    “By not stopping arms sales to Israel, the UK is in danger of being complicit in the killing of innocent civilians,” he said.