Israel Gaza war latest: Thousands of pro-Palestine protesters march through London

UN agencies have reiterated calls for a ceasefire and unrestricted humanitarian access throughout Gaza, after 20 trucks carrying a shipment of aid reached the enclave through the Rafah crossing.

“We call for a humanitarian ceasefire, along with immediate, unrestricted humanitarian access throughout Gaza to allow humanitarian actors to reach civilians in need, save lives and prevent further human suffering,” the joint statement from the UNDP, UNFPA, UNICEF, WFP and WHO said.

“Flows of humanitarian aid must be at scale and sustained, and allow all Gazans to preserve their dignity.”

Canada will continue to work with Qatar to secure the release of hostages held by Hamas, Canadian prime minister Justin Trudeau has said, after two American civilians were released yesterday.

Hamas released two US hostages on Friday, mother and daughter Judith and Natalie Raanan. Mr Trudeau thanked Qatar for its assistance on the hostage release.

Israel plans to step up its attacks on the Gaza Strip starting Saturday as preparation for the next stage of its war on Hamas, a military spokesperson has said.

Asked about a possible ground invasion into Gaza, Israeli Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari told reporters Saturday night that the military was trying to create optimal conditions beforehand.

“We will deepen our attacks to minimize the dangers to our forces in the next stages of the war. We are going to increase the attacks, from today,” Mr Hagari said.

He repeated his call for residents of Gaza City to head south for their safety.

Police are engaging with protesters near the Israeli embassy in Kensington, Scotland Yard has said, after an estimated 100,000 people turned out to show solidarity with Palestinians.

Aid trucks have entered southern Gaza for the first time since Israel sealed it off in the wake of the deadly attack by Hamas two weeks ago – but aid agencies have warned it is a tiny fraction of what is required to alleviate the humanitarian crisis there.

There were cheers from aid workers at the Egypt border as the convoy carrying coffins and medicine passed through the Rafah crossing into the besieged enclave, which is also facing near-continuous bombardment from Israel in its war against Hamas.

Our chief international correspondent Bel Trew and international editor Chris Stevenson have more in this report:

The United Nations is hoping a second convoy of trucks will be sent into Gaza on Sunday under a light inspection system that will allow relief deliveries to scale up into next week, its humanitarian chief said.

A first convoy of 20 trucks arrived in Gaza through the Rafah crossing with Egypt on Saturday, but efforts to deliver supplies to the besieged enclave have been held up by Israeli demands to verify aid.

The 20-truck convoy was announced by US president Joe Biden following a trip to Israel on Wednesday and was not subject to inspection of the kind that officials say will be needed for continuous deliveries.

“I’ve been hearing this afternoon – but we’re in negotiation on it right now – that we may get another convoy tomorrow, maybe even slightly bigger, 20 to 30 trucks,” UN aid chief Martin Griffiths said in an interview on the sidelines of a conference about Gaza in Cairo.

“It’s incredibly important that there is no gap in the aid going across the border,” he said. The UN says 100 trucks daily are needed to meet essential needs in Gaza, where Israel has imposed a “total siege” as it bombards the enclave in retaliation for a deadly incursion by Hamas militants.

The entry of 20 UN aid trucks into Gaza from Egypt through the Rafah crossing is “a welcomed glimpse of hope” but “represents “a drop in the ocean” of what help is needed, the Palestinian Red Crescent Society has said.

The group said a statement: “Today’s entry of the 20 trucks is a welcomed glimpse of hope but this minuscule aid represents a drop in the ocean. We call on the international community to secure the continued flow of humanitarian aid into Gaza including through the Israeli controlled crossings.

“Furthermore, without fuel entering the Gaza Strip to support generating electrcity, thousands of Palestinian lives are at risk of death in hospitals.

“Ambulances will no longer be able to save lives. Bakeries will no longer be able to provide bread. It shall also leave the population without potable water, and risking the outbreak of diseases.”

Police have made two arrests after fireworks were launched at officers in Trafalgar Square.

The Metropolitan Police said: “Whitehall is now mostly clear with a small demonstration remaining at the gates to Downing Street.

“Officers are now focusing their efforts on clearing Trafalgar Square, as fireworks have been launched at officers from within the crowd.

“Two arrests have been made for offences under the Explosives Act 1875.”

Arab leaders at a Cairo peace summit condemned the Israeli bombardment of Gaza – but with Israel and senior US officials absent there was no agreement towards containing the violence.

Egypt, which called the meeting and hosted it, said it had hoped participants would call for peace and resume efforts to resolve the decades-long Palestinian quest for statehood.

But the meeting ended without leaders and foreign ministers agreeing a joint statement.

Palestinian president Mahmoud Abbas said Palestinians would not be displaced or driven off their land, while France called for a humanitarian corridor into Gaza that it claimed could lead to a ceasefire, the UK and Germany both urged Israel’s military to show restraint, and Italy said it was important to avoid escalation.

European Council President Charles Michel said the main goal of the summit was “to listen to each other”. However, “we understand that we need to work more together” on issues including the humanitarian situation, avoiding a regional escalation and a Palestinian-Israeli peace process, he added.

There has been one arrest in relation to an incident last week, as tens of thousands of people gathered in London to show solidarity with Palestinians.

“We thank everyone for their cooperation and have made only one arrest in relation to an incident last week,” the Metropolitan Police said.