Pope Francis appealed for peace in Gaza and Ukraine, mourning the death of aid workers in an Israeli airstrike and honoring a Ukrainian soldier killed in the conflict. Seven World Central Kitchen volunteers were killed in Gaza, prompting the Pope to express regret and call for an immediate ceasefire. He also held a moment of silence for the Ukrainian soldier, Oleksandr, who died in the war against Russia.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu expressed his regret over an Israeli airstrike that unintentionally killed seven people working for Jose Andres’ World Central Kitchen charity in Gaza. The airstrike hit a WCK convoy, killing citizens of Australia, Britain, and Poland, as well as Palestinians and a dual citizen of the United States and Canada. The Israeli military pledged an independent inquiry into the incident, which drew widespread condemnation and increased pressure to address the humanitarian crisis in Gaza.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is pushing to shut down Qatari satellite television station Al Jazeera in Israel, with plans to ratify a law in parliament and take immediate action. Israel has accused the station of agitating against it among Arab viewers. Qatar’s involvement in Palestinian construction projects in Gaza has previously deterred Israeli action against Al Jazeera. Netanyahu has called on Qatar to apply pressure on Hamas amid ceasefire negotiations. Israeli officials have accused Al Jazeera of pro-Hamas incitement, leading to the shutting down of a different channel, Al Mayadeen, under emergency regulations.