Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh is reported to have met Iran’s Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian in Qatar.
Amir-Abdollahian agreed to continue co-operation with the group to achieve its goals, according to a Hamas statement quoted by Reuters news agency.
During their meeting in Qatar’s capital Doha, Amir-Abdollahian praised Hamas’s attack on Israeli targets a week ago as a “historic victory” that had dealt a setback to what he said was Israel’s occupation of Palestinian territory.
Meanwhile, the Israeli military is planning an attack by land, air and sea, it says in a statement – but gives no timings or specifics. A ground offensive by Israel into Gaza is expected. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu tells frontline soldiers: “The next stage is coming”.
Israel has warned 1.1m Palestinians living in north Gaza to evacuate south, and thousands have been fleeing by vehicle or on foot.
The World Health Organization has condemned the evacuation order and says forcing hospital patients to relocate would be “a death sentence.”.
Meanwhile, BBC Verify has confirmed women and young children were killed when a strike hit their vehicles as they headed away from northern Gaza.
More than 1,300 people were killed in Israel last weekend when Hamas fighters crossed the border to attack civilians and soldiers.
More than 2,300 people have been killed in Israel’s bombing campaign of the Gaza Strip launched in the aftermath, Palestinian authorities say.
