Gaza latest: IDF claims aid site shootings are 'fake news'

UN reports less than 10% of Gaza's cropland is accessible

We've got a bit more to bring you from the UN now.

A new report by the body's Food and Agriculture Organisation and its satellite centre has found just 8.6% of Gaza's cropland is accessible.

This follows sweeping evacuation orders made by the Israeli military in recent months.

Just 1.5% is both accessible and undamaged, the report added.

Israel's offensive and a breakdown in security have made it extremely difficult for anyone to safely deliver aid, with humanitarian groups reporting recent Israeli measures to facilitate more help are not enough.

Why is Lebanon trying to disarm Hezbollah - and could they do it?

An issue we've been reporting alongside our coverage of the war in Gaza in this blog is the question of Hezbollah limiting its arms.

The Lebanese militant group - which is separate from the government - is under pressure from Beirut and Washington to disarm.

This would be a significant development, given the group's stated support for Gaza and longstanding opposition to Israel.

Lebanon's cabinet yesterday tasked the army with drawing up a plan to establish a state monopoly on arms by the end of the year - something Hezbollah warns would be a "grave sin" only serving Israel. 

So, why is this happening now?

Hezbollah was left reeling after Israel killed much of its top brass last year, before a US-brokered truce officially brought that fighting to an end in November.

That deal committed Lebanon to restricting arms to six specific state security forces, and stipulated it should confiscate unauthorised weapons and prevent rearmament by non-state groups - Hezbollah being one.

Despite that ceasefire, Israel has continued strikes on what it says are Hezbollah arms depots and fighters, mostly in southern Lebanon.

In June, US envoy Thomas Barrack put forward a roadmap to Lebanese officials to fully disarm Hezbollah.

That would be in exchange for Israel halting its strikes on Lebanon and withdrawing troops from five points they still occupy.

Fears of backlash

Hezbollah chief Naim Qassem rejected each clause in Barrack's roadmap.

And looming over any bid to force Hezbollah to disarm is the memory of previous bouts of civil unrest.

Political complication

Moreover, Lebanon's power-sharing system adds to the obstacles. 

This is a system that apportions public sector posts - including in parliament and the cabinet - to different religious sects.

This is meant to ensure no sect is left out of decisions, but critics say it causes political paralysis.

Shi'ite representation is dominated by Hezbollah and its political ally Amal.

Key deadlines

But this month could be key, with the cabinet giving the army a deadline of the end of August to submit a disarmament plan.

Tomorrow, another session is scheduled to discuss Barrack's proposal.

Some Lebanese parties may try to find a workaround that avoids a confrontation between Hezbollah and the state.

UN: Situation in Gaza 'beyond catastrophic'

Comments coming out of the UN continue to highlight growing concerns over the humanitarian crisis in Gaza.

Today, the secretary-general's spokesperson told reporters the situation is "beyond catastrophic".

"Hospitals are overstretched," said Farhan Haq.

"Patients are lying on the floor or in the streets, suffering, as beds, medical supplies and equipment are severely lacking."

Yesterday, he added, emergency medical teams were "denied entry" into Gaza.

Limited fuel is also impacting life-saving operations, Haq said.

"Our partners working in health warned today that the lives of more than 100 premature babies are in imminent danger due to the lack of fuel," he added.

"Benzene has reached very low levels, with hardly any entering Gaza during the past 10 days."

Public opinion shifts against Israel - does this explain Netanyahu's thinking?

Any expansion into Gaza will only lead to more death and more chaos, our international correspondent Diana Magnay says.

But this likely isn't at the forefront of Benjamin Netanyahu's mind, she adds, as he reportedly considers a full occupation of the territory.

With a potential decision looming tomorrow - and as public opinion abroad appears to shift against him - this may even be Netanyahu trying every option he can.

Israel's neighbour blasts world's 'shameful' response to Gaza sufferng

What's happening in Gaza is a "stain on the conscience of the international community".

That's according to Egypt's foreign minister, who added the world should be "ashamed of the tragic situation unfolding in Gaza and the devastating actions being carried out by Israel".

Speaking to reporters in Greece during a visit, Badr Abdelatty described Israel's war in the territory as a "systematic genocide".

He also said his country, which neighbours Israel and shares a border with Gaza, "firmly rejects any displacement of the Palestinian people from their ancestral lands".

Israel has consistently denied any allegations of genocide.

Slovenia bans imports produced in Israeli-occupied Palestinian territories

Slovenia's government has today released this statement:

"The government today banned the import of goods originating from settlements in the occupied territories, including a ban on circumventing the ban on these imports."

The country's prime minister added his own criticism of Israel.

"Israeli government's actions, including the construction of illegal settlements, expropriations, the forced displacement of the Palestinian population, the destruction of their homes... constitute serious and repeated violations of international humanitarian law," Robert Golob said, as quoted by the STA news agency.

"These actions not only threaten the lives and dignity of the Palestinian population, but also the foundations of the international order."

Most of the international community considers the Israeli settlements to be illegal.

Israel deems settlements legal under its own laws, while some so-called "outposts" aren't but are often tolerated and sometimes later legalised.

At least 38 Palestinians killed overnight, health authorities say

More Palestinians have been killed while trying to get aid in Gaza, the territory's health authorities have said.

At least 38 were killed overnight and into today, they said, with many killed in the Morag Corridor in the south, where UN convoys have been overwhelmed by looters and desperate crowds in recent days.

The Israeli military said it had fired warning shots when crowds approached its forces and was not aware of casualties.

The widely criticised Gaza Humanitarian Foundation, an Israeli-backed US contractor, said there were no violent incidents near its sites.

Far-right Israeli minister suggests he'll fund aid for Gaza - despite previous opposition

Israel's finance minister appears to be reversing his stance on aid in Gaza, according to comments reported in Israeli media.

Bezalel Smotrich - who is sanctioned by the UK for "extremist violence and serious abuses of Palestinian human rights" - had suggested last month he may resign over Israel's decision to allow aid into Gaza.

But according to public broadcaster Kan, he is now planning to direct millions of shekels (100 shekels amounts to around £20) towards providing aid.

He said it's "not money for humanitarian aid, it's money to win the war".

"Had we controlled the humanitarian aid to Gaza we would have won the war a while ago," he added.

Smotrich suggested it would be better to put money towards "supporting the American companies who are managing the humanitarian aid".

In May, Israel partially lifted a nearly three-month blockade on aid.

Gaza occupation a 'very bad idea', opposition leader warns

Since reports emerged that Benjamin Netanyahu has decided on a full occupation of Gaza, concerns have been raised abroad.

This was on show at the UN, which last night said the notion is "deeply alarming".

But there also appears to be discontent within Israel.

We've already reported today that the IDF's chief is said to be at odds with the prime minister over the plan - see our 7.22 post.

Since then, opposition leader Yair Lapid has warned occupation would be a "very bad idea".

Israeli media quotes him as saying: "You don't send the state of Israel to war unless the majority of the people are behind you, and the people of Israel are not interested in this war."

He added the price would be "too heavy" for Israel, both financially and in terms of casualties.

It follows a similar warning from former Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert, who said the public should consider civil disobedience to act against Netanyahu.

More than 20 Palestinians killed after aid truck overturns

According to the health authorities in Gaza, several Palestinians have died at an aid truck.

They report more than 20 died when a truck believed to be carrying food overturned as it was surrounded by a desperate crowd.

Dozens are also said to be injured.

-SKY NEWS