By Alastair Mccready and Zaheena Rasheed

    Israel’s military continued to pound Gaza, killing 40 more Palestinians as international condemnation mounted over an Israeli attack that killed at least 18 people at a United Nations-run school, including six aid workers.

    UN chief Antonio Guterres reiterated his demand for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza following the attack on al-Jaouni school, saying the “horrific violence” in the Palestinian enclave “must stop”.

    About 25 percent of people wounded in Israel’s war on Gaza – at least 22,500 Palestinians – have “life-changing” injuries, according to the World Health Organization.

    At least 41,118 people have been killed and 95,125 wounded in Israel’s war on Gaza. In Israel, the number of those killed in the Hamas-led attacks on October 7 is at least 1,139, while more than 200 people were taken captive.

    Father of slain US-Turkish activist welcomes Turkey’s probe into her death

    Mehmet Suat Eygi said he was pleased to hear Turkish authorities have opened an investigation into Aysenur Ezgi Eygi’s death, saying he “hope[s] that the American government does the same”.

    Speaking to The Associated Press, Mehmet described the Israeli military’s killing of Aysenur at a protest in the occupied West Bank last week as “arbitrary murder”.

    He said his daughter has lived in the US for virtually her whole life, with the family having moved there from Turkey when she was 10 months old, as he called on US authorities to investigate.

    “She studied in the schools there, she grew up with freedoms there. She is a citizen of that country,” he said. “I hope the American government will show the same sensitivity [as Turkish authorities].”

    Earlier, we reported that Turkish authorities will be seeking international arrest warrants for those responsible for Aysenur’s killing.

    HRW calls for sanctions on Israel’s Ben-Gvir

    The Human Rights Watch has called on Western governments to do more to end Israel’s abuses in the occupied West Bank, including by imposing sanctions on government ministers responsible for the unlawful use of lethal force in the territory.

    These include far-right National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir, who has been distributing weapons to Israeli settlers and directing police not to enforce laws against violent settlers, the group said.

    “For months, the world’s eyes have been on Gaza, but atrocity prevention is needed in the West Bank too,” said HRW’s Director of Crisis Advocacy Akshaya Kumar.

    Israel’s war on Gaza complicating Yemen peace efforts, envoy says

    Hans Grundberg, the UN’s special envoy for Yemen, made the statement during a briefing of the UN Security Council on Thursday.

    He said his primary objective remained “the mediation of a sustainable and just resolution to the conflict” between the Houthi rebels and Yemen’s internationally recognised government.

    But, “unfortunately, the ongoing war in Gaza, and the regional escalation associated with it, complicates my efforts”, he added.

    The Houthis, who have launched attacks on Red Sea shipping in a bid to pressure Israel to stop its war, are continuing their attacks, Grundberg said, while the US and UK are also pressing on with their assaults against Houthi targets inside Yemen.

    “I reiterate my concern over this escalatory trajectory and repeat my call for the parties to put Yemen first and to prioritise a settlement of the conflict in Yemen,” the envoy said.