UN aid chiefMartin Griffiths will travel to the Middle East to support negotiations on getting aid into the blockaded Gaza Strip.

Griffiths said his office was in “deep discussions” with Israel,Egypt and others.

“I shall be going myself tomorrow to the region to try to help in the negotiations,to try to bear witness and to express solidarity with the extraordinary courage of the many thousands of aid workers who have stayed the course and who are still there helping the people in Gaza and in the West Bank,” he said in a statement.

Not all leaders condemn Hamas.

In Malaysia,Prime MinisterAnwar Ibrahimsaid he did not agree with Western pressure to condemn the organisation over the deadly massacre it waged on Israeli men,women,children and babies on October 7.

He said that Western leaders had been asking him to condemn the group,which is listed as a terrorist organisation in Australia,the United States,UK and EU.

“I said that we,as a policy,have a relationship with Hamas from before and this will continue,” Anwar told parliament.

“As such,we don’t agree with their pressuring attitude,as Hamas too won in Gaza freely through elections and Gazans chose them to lead.”

Muslim-majority Malaysia does not have diplomatic relations with Israel.

China has called on the UN Security Council (UNSC) to take action,as it called for a ceasefire ahead of Israel’s planned air,sea and land assault on the Gaza Strip,in pursuit of Hamas.

Foreign MinisterWang Yimade the comments Beijing after holding talks with Russian counterpartSergei Lavrov.

“The United Nations Security Council must take action,and the major powers should play an active role,” Wang told Lavrov,according to a Chinese transcript of the meeting.

“It is imperative that a ceasefire be put in place,that the two sides be brought back to the negotiating table,and that an emergency humanitarian channel be established to prevent a further humanitarian disaster.”

China is providing aid to the UN and Palestinian National Authority.

China’s call for the UNSC,on which China and Russia both sit,is in stark contrast to the position they have taken on Russia’s invasion of Ukraine where their veto votes have rendered the UNSC all but useless.

with Reuters

The Israeli military has upgraded the number of people it now believes Hamas is holding hostage to 199.

Previously the number had been estimated to be around 150.

Hamas captured civilians,including babies and children,during their deadly raids on southern Israel on October 7.

Late Sunday,the EU’s 27 member countries called on Hamas to “immediately release all hostages without any precondition” but Hamas has refused to heed their pleas and those of other world leaders who have made the same demand.

Hamas has also claimed that Israeli airstrikes on Gaza have killed a number of the hostages.

On Sunday,Mark Regev,an Australian and advisor to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahutold British television that while Israel wanted to bring all the hostages home,he could not guarantee doing so.

More than 1000 Palestinians are trapped under the rubble in Gaza,according toEyad Al-Bozom, a spokesman for the Hamas Interior Ministry.

Israel has been bombarding Gaza as it seeks to eradicate Hamas.

The Palestinian Health Ministry said that at least 2750 Palestinians have been killed and 9700 wounded as a result of the Israeli air strikes since October 7.

Hello,Latika Bourkehere taking you through developments tonight.

It’s approaching 10.30am in Israel as the world watches and waits for Israel’s ground,air and sea assault on Gaza in its bid to decapitate Hamas.

A short time ago,Israel’s National Emergency Management Authority (NEMA),Ministry of Defence and the Israeli Defence Force announced they would begin evacuating residents of 28 communities living within two kilometres of the Lebanese border.

This announcement comes amid fears that Hezbollah,which like Hamas is funded by Iran,could open up a second front of fighting.

Israel appeared to deny that a truce was underway in southern Gaza,just half an hour after Reuters reported that security sources in neighbouring Egypt said a deal was likely.

“There is currently no truce and humanitarian aid in Gaza in exchange for getting foreigners out,” a statement from Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office said.

Reuters

NSW Police have released footage of a man throwing a flare during a pro-Palestinian protest at the Opera House last Monday night.

In the aftermath of the October 9 rally,police established a strike force to investigate reported unlawful activity including the use of flares and some people chanting antisemitic slurs.

Investigators today released an image of a man they wish to speak with as part of their inquiries.

He is described as being of medium to heavy build,with short dark hair and a beard,and at the time he was wearing spectacles.

In the photo,the man is shown wearing a black hooded jacket,grey pants,black shoes and a black and white scarf.

Anyone with further information is urged to contact Sydney City Police or Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.