Israel must respect international law in its military operation in Gaza, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni said on Wednesday, calling the humanitarian situation in the Palestinian enclave increasingly "dramatic and unjustifiable".

At least 22 children were killed in Gaza early on Wednesday in a punishing series of Israeli airstrikes across Gaza, according to local hospitals and health officials. The strikes killed at least 60 people in total,

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has firmly stated that the war in Gaza will not end until Hamas is completely destroyed - even if more hostages are released. His comments follow renewed ceasefire talks and the release of Israeli-American soldier Edan Alexander by Hamas earlier this week.

Opposition Leader Yair Lapid is set to receive a security briefing from Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at 4 p.m. at the Kirya military headquarters in Tel Aviv. The leader of the opposition is traditionally briefed once a month by the prime minister on sensitive national security issues,

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu would normally celebrate a hostage release such as that taking place on Monday, though in this case the deal with Hamas is another sign US President Donald Trump is starting to make decisions without him.

The Israeli military will resume its operations in Gaza "with full force" in the coming days, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Tuesday. "Completing the operation means defeating Hamas. It means destroying Hamas,

Benjamin Netanyahu and Israel are "worried about any deal" President Trump might strike with Iran, one source told NBC News.

Israel alleges several buildings are being used by Hamas. Local authorities and aid agencies say thousands of civilians are sheltering there.