Scholars accuse Israel of genocide; aid boats with Greta Thunberg on board set off

Israel starts mobilising thousands of reservists

Israel is starting to mobilise tens of thousands of reservists as part of its plan to widen its offensive in Gaza City, one of the last few shelters for civilians in the north of the besieged enclave.

It comes after plans to call up 60,000 reservists were announced last month, as Israel plans to expand its military offensive in Gaza.

Last week, Gaza City, which is the largest city in the besieged enclave, was declared a combat zone.

The city is the main military and governing stronghold of Hamas and Israeli troops will target the group's vast underground network, a military of

'Stop killing journalists in Gaza': Media groups unite against Israeli attacks

Media organisations from across the world have renewed calls for the killing of journalists in Gaza to stop - warning there will "soon be no one left to keep you informed".

The campaign is also demanding foreign media is allowed free access to Gaza and an "end to the impunity for crimes perpetrated by the Israeli army" against Palestinian journalists.

Reporters Without Borders (RSF) and Avaaz, a non-profit organisation which promotes global activism, said hundreds of media groups in more than 50 countries were supporting its demands.

It follows outcry over the killing of five journalists following Israeli strikes on a hospital in southern Gaza at the end of last month.

Al Jazeera, the Associated Press and Reuters said their journalists were among those killed.

That followed the death of six media workers at the start of August. 

RSF said 220 journalists had been killed in Gaza since October 2023 by the Israeli army, which has previously insisted its forces do not target the media.

Palestinian officials welcome Belgium's statehood announcement

The Palestinian foreign ministry has welcomed Belgium's decision to recognise a Palestinian state later this month. 

On X, it says it "considers it to be in line with international law and United Nations resolutions, and protective of the two-state solution and supportive of achieving peace".

As we reported earlier (see post at 7.38am), Belgium's foreign minister, Maxime Prevot, announced it would join the UK, France, Canada and Australia in recognising a Palestinian state at a UN meeting this month.

Belgium will also introduce "firm sanctions" against the Israeli government, he said, including a ban on imports from West Bank settlements and possible judicial prosecutions.

At least 31 people killed in recent strikes, hospitals say

At least 31 people were killed in Israeli strikes across Gaza yesterday, more than half of whom were women and children, according to hospitals.

At least 13 people were killed in Gaza City, where Israel has been carrying out a major offensive.

The city, which is Gaza's biggest, was declared a combat zone last week.

A total of 63,557 Palestinians have been killed in the war, according to Gaza's Hamas-run health ministry, which says another 160,660 people have been wounded. The ministry doesn't differentiate between civilians and combatants in its figures, but says women and children make up around half the dead.

Aid flotilla with Greta Thunberg and activists on board sets off after delay

Dozens of boats carrying desperately needed aid to Gaza have set off from Barcelona, with activist Greta Thunberg and others on board. 

The vessels are part of the Global Sumud Flotilla Mission, which departed on Monday evening after previously being forced to turn back due to stormy weather. 

Pro-Palestinian activists including climate campaigner Thunberg and Game of Thrones actor Liam Cunningham are taking part in the mission aimed at breaking the Israeli blockade of the Palestinian territory by sea.

While it's unclear how many boats actually departed on Monday, organisers previously said around 20 vessels carrying people from 44 countries would be taking part.

Scholars accuse Israel of genocide

The biggest professional organisation of scholars studying genocide has said Israel is committing genocide in Gaza.

A resolution from the International Association of Genocide Scholars, which has around 500 members worldwide, including a number of Holocaust experts, said that "Israel's policies and actions in Gaza meet the legal definition of genocide", as well as crimes against humanity and war crimes. 

The resolution was supported by 86% of those who voted. 

Israel vehemently rejects the allegation. 

"People who are experts in the study of genocide can see this situation for what it is," Melanie O'Brien, the organisation's president and a professor of international law at the University of Western Australia, said.

The Israeli foreign ministry called it "an embarrassment to the legal profession and to any academic standard".

It said the determination was "entirely based on Hamas's campaign of lies."

Belgium joins Western allies with announcement it will recognise Palestinian state

The Belgian government says it will officially recognise the Palestinian state at the UN General Assembly this month.

The country's foreign minister, Maxime Prevot, announced it would join the UK, France, Canada and Australia in recognising a Palestinian state.

Belgium will also introduce "firm sanctions" against the Israeli government, he said, including a ban on imports from West Bank settlements and possible judicial prosecutions.

-SKY NEWS