Cincunri Sakia

Kamis, 21 Desember 2023

Iceland volcano eruption - live: Stunning footage shows 100m high lava waves - The Independent

Iceland volcano erupts after weeks of earthquakes

Stunning footage has shown 100m high lava waves lap up out of an Icelandic ridge following the eruption of a volcano on the island.

The dramatic scene can be seen up to 20km away after the skies over the eruption turned orange. You can watch a live stream of the ongoing eruption here.

It comes as a hiker was rescued by a helicopter after sending a SOS signal when he got lost near the raging lava and toxic fumes overnight.

Meanwhile, Iceland’s foreign minister said scientists had warned that the volcanic eruption in Iceland could go on for months.

Bjarni Benediktsson added that the eruption on Monday was “much larger” than those seen in recent years, which he described as “nice touristic eruptions”.

More vents are expected to open as the volcanic eruption in southwest Iceland continues, the Icelandic Met Office has warned.

Three out of five vents are still active after the volcano on the Reykjanes peninsula began to erupt on Monday night, spewing lava and smoke over 100m into the air.

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Hazard map updated as risk of new vents opening near Grindavik lessens

The Icelandic Met Office has updated their hazard assessment map to reflect that the likelihood of new volcanic vents opening near the evacuated town of Grindavik has reduced.

The new hazard map will come into effect tomorrow and be valid until December 28 unless updated otherwise.

“The Icelandic Meteorological Office (IMO) assesses that the likelihood of a new eruption forming without warning nearby Grindavík has decreased,” they said, citing that the eruption had remained steady on Wednesday.

They added: “It should be noted that although the likelihood of vent formation within area 4 has decreased, the hazard level in that area is nevertheless considered substantial.

“Even though the activity has decreased since the eruption began, the intensity of the eruption is still significant and comparable to eruptions at Fagradalsfjall.”

It comes as residents of Grindavik will be allowed to return home during the day from this morning.

Athena Stavrou21 December 2023 07:00

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Grindavik residents allowed home temporarily today

The residents of Grindavík will be allowed back into the town during the day starting today. People will begin to be allowed into the town at 7am on Thursday, but they must evacuated again by 4pm.

The town was first evacuated when earthquakes began in November, and residents have been left in limbo ever since.

Úlfar Lúðvíksson, police chief in the region, said: “Many things have changed in the eruption area. Watching the eruption today is completely different than on Monday night. There have been changes there, hopefully positive.”

People entering Grindavík will not be registered and will not be escorted, but emergency personnel will be in town. Cars going in and out of town will be checked.

Athena Stavrou21 December 2023 06:00

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ICYM:Man rescued by helicopter after getting lost near eruption site

On Monday night, a hiker had to be rescued after getting lost near the eruption site last night.

News website Iceland Monitor cited coast guard officer Asgeir Erlendsson as saying the man was found safe after a search and brought to safety in a helicopter.

Initial reports suggested two people had given an “SOS signal” towards a passing plane from near the eruption site - but it was later confirmed to be one hiker, he said.

“The helicopter found him and took him back to town,” Mr Erlendsson told the website.

“He had become very cold and had left his equipment with a flashlight in another place, which is why it was thought that these were two men.”

Athena Stavrou21 December 2023 05:30

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In pictures: volcanic eruption in Iceland

<p> A team of scientists works on the ridge of a volcanic fissure as lava spews during a volcanic eruption </p> — A team of scientists works on the ridge of a volcanic fissure as lava spews during a volcanic eruption

<p>People watch as the night sky is illuminated caused by the eruption of a volcano in Grindavik on Iceland's Reykjanes Peninsula</p> — People watch as the night sky is illuminated caused by the eruption of a volcano in Grindavik on Iceland's Reykjanes Peninsula
(Copyright 2023 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.)

Athena Stavrou21 December 2023 04:30

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Officials advises people to ‘stay at home and get in the Christmas spirit’ amid volcanic eruption

An Icelandic official has told the national broadcaster RUV that they believe its better for people to “stay at home and get into [the] Christmas spirit” than visit the erupting volcano.

While volcanic activity has died down, the eruption still poses a dangerous threat to tourists who have flocked to the site to catch a glimpse of the sputtering lava.

Hjordis Gudmundsdottir, communications director for Iceland’s civil defence department, said that teams have already spent “a lot of time” turning away people trying to reach the site.

She added that it would be better to do some Christmas shopping, “get into the Christmas spirit or maybe just have a hot cocoa at home and wrap Christmas presents.”

Athena Stavrou21 December 2023 03:30

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What is the Blue Lagoon?

The Blue Lagoon was forced to close its doors just one day after they reopened after a volcano erupted nearby

The spa is a steamy bathing complex of volcanic lava pools that calls itself “one of the 25 wonders of the world.

The pools are filled with water from a nearby geothermal power station. The turquoise hue of the water is acquired from the algae that share the pools with the tourists.

The Blue Lagoon is an increasingly popular “wellness” destination, with an upmarket hotel on the site.

Day visitors are welcome, too: for around £50 you get admission to the Blue Lagoon, a silica mud mask and a drink. The Blue Lagoon is best visited in the depths of winter, when steam rises from the warm water.

Keflavik International Airport is only 10 miles away, with regular buses. During a stopover en route between Europe and North America it is easy to make a side trip to the Blue Lagoon.

Iceland has many more thermal springs around the country – including in Reykjavik – and prices are generally much lower.

<p>The Blue Lagoon, one of Iceland’s top tourist attractions remains closed</p> — The Blue Lagoon, one of Iceland’s top tourist attractions remains closed

Athena Stavrou21 December 2023 02:30

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Official travel advice

Here is the UK’s Foreign Office’s official advice for those wanting to travel to Iceland:

A volcanic eruption started on the Reykjanes peninsula in south-west Iceland on the 18 December. The location is Sundahnúkagígar, 3km north of the town of Grindavík.
All roads to Grindavík are closed and you should stay away from the area. Keflavik International Airport is operating as normal, but you are advised to check for latest updates.
The capital city Reykjavik, and the rest of Iceland has not been impacted by this eruption. You should monitor local media for updates and follow the authorities´ advice on travel to the area.

UK Foreign Office

Athena Stavrou21 December 2023 01:30

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Eruptions are tourism opportunities, says Iceland travel expert

Since a volcano erupted in southwest Iceland on Monday night, tourists have flocked to the site of eruption to catch a glimpse.

While officials have warned against making the journey, volcanic eruptions in Iceland are generally regarded as harmless – and interesting, if temporary, tourist attractions.

Clive Stacey, founder of specialist operator Discover the World, has been sending British tourists to Iceland for decades.

His company operates a “volcano hotline”. He told The Independent: “If there are eruptions in Iceland, and they’re safe, and worth going to see, then we organise special trips. Often they only last for a very short time, so we take people over as soon as the eruption happens.

“It really isn’t dangerous. They take all the correct precautions. They look after tourists very, very well.”

Athena Stavrou21 December 2023 00:30

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Map shows exactly how far lava has travelled

A map released by the Icelandic Met Office has shown how far the lava has travelled following a volcanic eruption in the Reykjanes Peninsula on Monday night.

The lava has mostly flowed east from the eruption site, but there is also a lava tongue flowing west from the region north of Stóra-Skógfell.

Athena Stavrou20 December 2023 23:30

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Hazard map updated as risk of new vents opening near Grindavik lessens

The Icelandic Met Office has updated their hazard assessment map to reflect that the likelihood of new volcanic vents opening near the evacuated town of Grindavik has reduced.

The new hazard map will come into effect tomorrow and be valid until December 28 unless updated otherwise.

They added: “It should be noted that although the likelihood of vent formation within area 4 has decreased, the hazard level in that area is nevertheless considered substantial.

“Even though the activity has decreased since the eruption began, the intensity of the eruption is still significant and comparable to eruptions at Fagradalsfjall.”

Athena Stavrou20 December 2023 22:30

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2023-12-21 07:00:00Z
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More than 100 container ships rerouted from Suez canal to avoid Houthi attacks - The Guardian

More than 100 container ships have been rerouted around southern Africa to avoid the Suez canal, in a sign of the disruption to global trade caused by Houthi rebels attacking vessels on the western coast of Yemen.

The shipping company Kuehne and Nagel said it had identified 103 ships that had already changed course, with more expected to go around South Africa’s Cape of Good Hope.

The diversion adds about 6,000 nautical miles to a typical journey from Asia to Europe, potentially adding three or four weeks to product delivery times.

The Houthi rebels, who are aligned with Iran, have said they attacked ships in response to Israel’s bombardment of Gaza. Israel is retaliating against an attack by Hamas, which controls Gaza. The US said on Tuesday it would try to lead a naval coalition to protect shipping in the Suez canal.

About 19,000 ships navigate the Suez canal every year, making it one of the world’s key routes, particularly for fossil fuels and goods moving between Asia and Europe.

The ships that had diverted so far had the capacity to carry 1.3m 20ft (6-metre) containers, Kuehne and Nagel said. Oil and gas tankers have also diverted, with BP the biggest company to publicly state that it has done so. Its rival Shell declined to comment.

The disruption has contributed to higher oil prices. The price of Brent crude oil futures, the global benchmark, rose by 1.2% on Wednesday above $80, having fallen below $74 a week earlier. Further price increases could eventually feed through to consumer energy tariffs, adding to inflation.

Michael Aldwell, Kuehne and Nagel’s board member for sea logistics, said: “The extended time spent on the water is anticipated to absorb 20% of the global fleet capacity, leading to potential delays in the availability of shipping resources. Moreover, delays in returning empty equipment to Asia are likely to pose challenges, further impacting the overall reliability of supply chains.”

Companies around the world, including several large carmakers, are monitoring the situation to work out if their supply chains could be affected. The last big unexpected closure of the Suez canal came in March 2021, when the Ever Given container ship blocked passage for six days.

The latest disruption will not affect the retail industry this Christmas, because stocks are built up weeks or even months in advance, meaning products are already in stores or in UK warehouses.

An extended disruption to normal shipping patterns could eventually cause shortages of products for consumers or parts for manufacturers, although few have reported any effects so far.

The disruption has coincided with a period in which many factories shut down temporarily for Christmas, giving some extra time for companies to receive crucial supplies.

Some manufacturers had already switched from “just-in-time” supply chains that relied on goods arriving promptly, to a less efficient – but more resilient – “just-in-case” model with more emergency stockpiles of parts.

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2023-12-21 02:30:00Z
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Israel-Hamas war live: Hamas 'rejects' Israel ceasefire offer - The Telegraph

Hamas has rejected a new ceasefire offered by Israel after Egyptian-brokered talks on Wednesday, the Wall Street Journal has reported.

Egyptian intelligence officials told the newspaper that the terror group rejected an Israeli offer to stop the war in Gaza for seven days in exchange for dozens of hostages.

Hamas’s leader in Gaza Ismail Haniyeh attended the discussions with Egyptian officials on Wednesday.

Taher Al-Nono, Mr Haniyeh’s media adviser, told Reuters that Hamas would not discuss releasing any more Israeli hostages “while Israel continues its aggression” and until inflows of aid increase.

Israel wants all remaining women and infirm men who are being held hostage to be released, a source told Reuters.

Joe Biden said on Wednesday that he was “pushing” for a new ceasefire but that he did not expect a deal to be agreed soon.

Follow the latest updates below and join the conversation in the comments

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2023-12-21 08:35:00Z
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Rabu, 20 Desember 2023

Voters react to Trump being kicked off Colorado's ballot - BBC

By Matt Murphy

BBC News, Washington

Colorado's top court has ruled that Donald Trump cannot run in the state's Republican primary election.

Its ruling said the former president's actions before the Capitol Riot in 2021 amounted to insurrection, and disqualified him from the contest under the 14th Amendment.

We asked US voters what they made of the decision, and whether the courts should have any role in deciding who appears on presidential ballots.

Crystal Myers-Barber has been vocal about her support for Donald Trump. She voted for him in 2016 and 2020.

I have tried to avoid being drawn into the drama, simply because this bad decision will be appealed. At this stage, nobody has been able to prove that Donald Trump did anything wrong on 6 January, so there is no reason to keep him off the ballot.

I do not think a court should decide on who appears on a ballot, it is up to the voters! It's very simple. Let the people decide by their votes.

We know Trump will be back on the ballot in Colorado, and he could even capitalise on the judges' poor decision by raising more money from supporters.

Sandra's key issues are reproductive rights and gun control. She is worried by the prospect of Trump returning to the White House.

My first response when I read about the Colorado verdict was 'it's about damn time'.

It's been so distressing, having an entire segment of the country acting like Donald Trump is eligible to run again. Mr Trump opposed a peaceful transition of power, in direct violation of the 14th Amendment of the United States Constitution.

I'm hoping other states will step up and exclude him from their 2024 ballots as well. I know the decision to include or exclude will ultimately rest with the Supreme Court, and I don't have a lot of faith in our Supreme Court because it's obviously compromised.

Kathleen McClellan is a strong anti-abortion voter and backed Donald Trump twice.

My concern with the Colorado decision is that the make-up of the court - appointed entirely by Democratic governors - could suggest that it is politically influenced.

And even if there's an actual legal issue impeding someone's eligibility to be on the ballot and the courts strike them off, in most states voters could just write them in anyway.

I had been hoping that both parties would give younger candidates a chance this time around. If Mr Trump is nominated I'll vote for him, but I'd really prefer someone like Governor Ron DeSantis.

Karen Kemp-Prosterman, 47, Connecticut, Democrat

Karen Kemp-Prosterman says protecting democracy and ensuring voting rights are her most important voting issues.

I am pleased to finally see the judicial system embracing the clear threat of having a former president who provided comfort and aide to insurrectionists, as well engaged in active steps to delay congress in their official role.

I do believe the current situation our country finds itself in, is one in which citizens must choose to recognise the danger of re-electing Mr Trump. What happens to the current rule of law as we know it? What happens to global ties? And what about the significant impact on the health of democracy?

We already exist with rules and regulations that prohibit certain individuals from being eligible for electoral positions, therefore the precedent being set in Colorado is not an extreme position but one that finally addresses the current predicament the former president cultivated.

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Iceland volcano tourists told to ‘think four times’ before getting too close - The Guardian

Icelandic police have warned tourists to “think four times” before attempting to get close to the site of a spectacular volcanic eruption, after they had to rescue an exhausted hiker by helicopter.

Within hours of Monday night’s eruption, which followed weeks of earthquake activity, the site near the south-western town of Grindavík had become an attraction for inquisitive volcano enthusiasts.

Police said a hiker had to be rescued by helicopter on Tuesday after becoming “exhausted, cold and shocked halfway to the eruption”.

The 11-12 miles (18-20km) route to the site was “extremely challenging”, they added.

They said: “A little information about the location of the eruption that will hopefully make people think four times before they set off. The first 500 metres are on a decent path, but then rough, rough lava takes over, which is extremely difficult to cross. It can be assumed that it will take an experienced hiker about 4-5 hours to walk this route, which is not for everyone.”

Warning that the wet surface was expected to freeze over on Wednesday, they added there was also “considerable gas pollution and uncertainty in the area”, adding to the difficulty of the conditions. “Be careful,” they said.

Visiting volcanoes after an eruption has been a popular pursuit among locals, scientists and international tourists in recent years, during which time there have been a series of eruptions on the Reykjanes peninsula.

The unique nature of this week’s eruption – spread across a 4km lava-spewing fissure – makes visiting the site especially challenging.

In the hours after the eruption, a bright orange glow was visible from miles around and many went to view the scene from a safe distance.

Unnur Íris Bjarnadóttir, 40, drove with her family from their home in Reykjavík to see the fissure from the road towards Keflavik airport. The architect, her husband and their children, aged 11 and 13, pulled over to witness the once-in-a-lifetime sight on Monday night.

“It had just started snowing in the morning, the earth was really white,” she said. “And then there was a really big orange sky in front of us.”

In the 30 minutes or so that they stood there watching, until about midnight, they saw the fissure extend. “You could see the earth was opening up and the line was getting longer. It was beautiful to see,” she said.

The Icelandic meteorological office said on Wednesday that the power, seismicity and deformation of the volcanic fissure eruption, which started with a powerful seismic swarm at 9pm on Monday, resulting in an eruption at 10.17pm, had now decreased.

The latest surveillance photos showed activity was now constrained to two craters, down from three, they said.

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Iceland volcano tourists told to ‘think four times’ before getting too close - The Guardian

Police said a hiker had to be rescued by helicopter on Tuesday after becoming “exhausted, cold and shocked halfway to the eruption”.

The 11-12 miles (18-20km) route to the site was “extremely challenging”, they added.

The unique nature of this week’s eruption – spread across a 4km lava-spewing fissure – makes visiting the site especially challenging.

In the hours after the eruption, a bright orange glow was visible from miles around and many went to view the scene from a safe distance.

“It had just started snowing in the morning, the earth was really white,” she said. “And then there was a really big orange sky in front of us.”

The latest surveillance photos showed activity was now constrained to two craters, down from three, they said.

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Israel-Gaza war live: Hamas chief expected in Egypt for ceasefire talks; Israel open to another pause in exchange for hostages - The Guardian

Greece has advised commercial vessels sailing in the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden to avoid Yemeni waters, keep only the necessary crew on the bridge and follow alerts issued by maritime authorities to avoid attacks in the area.

Greek ship-owners control about 20% of the world’s commercial vessels in terms of carrying capacity.

A shipping ministry advisory was issued on Saturday, as recent attacks by the Iran-aligned Houthi militant group on vessels have forced leading shipping companies to reroute via the cape of Good Hope to avoid the Suez Canal, the shortest shipping route between Europe and Asia.

According to a document seen by Reuters, vessels should also conduct fire drills for regular checks of their safety equipment before they reach Yemeni shores, and are advised to sail through the southern Red Sea and the Bab-el-Mandeb Strait at night.

The Houthis, who control much of Yemen, say the shipping attacks are a response to Israel’s military campaign in the Hamas-ruled Gaza Strip and have said they will continue until Israel stops the offensive.

The UK foreign secretary, David Cameron, will travel to Jordan and Egypt this week to push for a sustainable ceasefire and further humanitarian pauses in Gaza, the Foreign Office said on Wednesday.

Cameron will travel with Britain’s Middle East minister, Tariq Ahmad, and “progress efforts to secure the release of all hostages, step up aid to Gaza and end Hamas rocket attacks and threats against Israel”.

In Jordan, Cameron will meet his counterpart, Ayman Safadi, and in Egypt, he will travel to Al Arish, near the Egypt-Gaza border, to see the impact of UK aid being sent to Gaza.

Intensive Qatari and Egyptian-mediated talks are under way for a possible second Gaza truce under which Hamas would return some hostages in exchange for Israel releasing Palestinian prisoners, a person briefed on the matter told Reuters on Wednesday.

While the number of people slated to go free was still being discussed, Israel is insisting that women and infirm male hostages be included, said the source, adding that Palestinians jailed for serious offences could also be on the roster.

The Hamas leader, Ismail Haniyeh, arrived in Cairo on Wednesday to hold talks with Egyptian officials, mainly on developments in the war with Israel in the Gaza Strip, the Palestinian group said.

In case you missed it last night, the US has announced the creation of an enhanced naval protection force operating in the southern Red Sea in an attempt to ward off mounting attacks from Yemen’s rebel Houthis on merchant shipping.

Britain said it would be among the countries participating but notable absentees were Arab nations Egypt and Saudi Arabia, while analysts speculated that shipping would continue to be disrupted with attacks.

Lloyd Austin, the US defence secretary, said the new effort would be called Operation Prosperity Guardian and was necessary to tackle the “recent escalation in reckless Houthi attacks originating from Yemen”.

Other participants in the effort, Austin said, included Bahrain, Canada, France, Italy, the Netherlands, Norway, Seychelles and Spain.

Palestinians gather at the site of an Israeli strike on a house in Khan Younis in the southern Gaza Strip on 20 December.

Israel appears to be nearing the final stages of its clearing operation in the northern Gaza Strip, according to the Institute for the Study of War.

The US-based thinktank said Israel had degraded Hamas’s north Gaza brigade, with the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) announcing on Tuesday that it had completely “dismantled” Hamas’s three battalions operating in Jabaliya, just north of Gaza City.

It said in its update with the Critical Threats Project that about 500 suspected Palestinians fighters had surrendered to Israeli forces in the Jabaliya refugee camp.

Israeli Army Radio reported that the IDF fought “hard battles” in Jabaliya against Palestinian militias for more than two weeks and Israeli forces had killed more than 1,000 fighters, the update said. It added that the IDF estimated there were only a few militia fighters left in the Jabaliya area.

The update also said Palestinian militias were continuing to use the “relative safe haven” of the Gaza Strip’s central governorate to attack Israeli forces south of Gaza City.

Circling back to the latest casualties in Gaza, Israeli missiles hit the southern city of Rafah on Tuesday, killing at least 20 people and wounding dozens as they slept at home, health officials in the Hamas-run territory said.

Hundreds of thousands of refugees have amassed in Rafah in recent weeks.

Reuters also reports that residents said they had to dig in the rubble with bare hands.

Mohammed Zurub, whose family lost 11 people in the attack, said:

This is a barbarian act.

Palestinians search for survivors and bodies in the rubble of a residential building destroyed in an Israeli airstrike in Rafah, southern Gaza

In the north, another strike killed 13 people and wounded about 75 in the Jabaliya refugee camp, the health ministry said. Palestinians reported intensifying Israeli aerial and tank bombardment of Jabaliya as darkness descended late on Tuesday.

As reported earlier, Gaza health officials said 12 Palestinians were killed in an Israeli strike on a house in Khan Younis, southern Gaza, while residents reported intensifying gun battles between Hamas fighters and Israeli forces in the city’s central and eastern districts.

Israeli military officials said on Tuesday that heavy civilian casualties were the cost of Israel’s campaign to destroy Hamas and the militants’ urban warfare strategy, despite global alarm at the huge human toll.

Here are some of the latest images coming in from the Gaza Strip and Israel over the newswires, as residents of Khan Younis in southern Gaza reported intensifying gun battles between Hamas militants and Israeli forces on Wednesday.

Smoke rises over the Bani Suheila area of Khan Younis after Israeli strikes

Injured Palestinians including children are brought to Nasser hospital in Khan Younis

Friends and family mourn Israeli army reservist Capt Rotem Yoseff Levy, 24, who was killed while serving in Gaza, at his funeral in Petah Tikva, Israel

Palestinians inspect a destroyed house after an Israeli airstrike in Deir al Balah, central Gaza

A rabbi brings sweets to Israeli solders in southern Israel

A truck carrying humanitarian aid moves at the Israeli side of the Kerem Shalom border crossing with southern Gaza

In case you missed this report from Julian Borger in Washington earlier, a vote on a Gaza ceasefire resolution has been postponed for a second time at the UN security council amid reported policy differences inside the Biden administration.

His report says:

The UN draft resolution, drafted by the United Arab Emirates, had been changed on Tuesday in an effort to avoid a third US veto since the conflict began more than two months ago. Instead of calling for an “urgent and sustainable cessation of hostilities,” the amended text referred to “the urgent suspension of hostilities to allow safe and unhindered humanitarian access, and for urgent steps towards a sustainable cessation of hostilities”.

According to diplomatic sources, the US mission in New York believed it had negotiated a text that it could at least abstain on, but when Washington was consulted, new objections were raised, with the White House reportedly taking a more pro-Israel line than the state department.

The full report is here:

The head of Hamas was due in Egypt on Wednesday for talks on a fresh ceasefire in Gaza, after Israel said it was willing to agree to another pause in exchange for more hostages.

Agence France-Presse reports that international pressure is mounting for a new truce that could ramp up aid to the besieged Palestinian territory, with the United Nations security council due to vote Wednesday on calling for a ceasefire.

The Qatar-based Hamas chief, Ismail Haniyeh, was expected to lead a “high-level” delegation to Egypt for talks with the country’s spy chief and others on “stopping the aggression and the war to prepare an agreement for the release of prisoners”, a source close to the group told the news agency.

Israel’s leaders are facing growing calls to secure the release of 129 hostages they say are being held in Gaza and, on Tuesday, signalled a willingness to return to the negotiating table with Hamas.

The Israeli president, Issac Herzog, said his country was “ready for another humanitarian pause and additional humanitarian aid in order to enable the release of hostages”.

The Israeli prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, said he had recently sent his spy chief on two trips to Europe in an effort to “free our hostages”.

US news site Axios reported Monday that David Barnea, head of the Israeli intelligence agency Mossad, met with the Qatari prime minister, Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani, and the CIA director, Bill Burns, in Europe to discuss a potential new deal to free hostages.

Axios also reported on Tuesday that Israel had offered to pause the fighting in Gaza for at least one week in exchange for more than three dozen hostages held by Hamas.

Welcome back to our live coverage of the Israel-Gaza war. This is Adam Fulton and here are the latest developments as it nears 7am in Gaza City and Tel Aviv.

The leader of Hamas is due in Egypt on Wednesday for talks on a fresh ceasefire in Gaza after Israel said it was willing to agree to another pause in exchange for more hostages.

The Qatar-based Hamas chief, Ismail Haniyeh, was expected to lead a “high-level” delegation for talks with the country’s spy chief and others on “stopping the aggression and the war to prepare an agreement for the release of prisoners”, a source close to the Palestinian militant group told Agence France-Presse.

International pressure is growing for a new truce that could ramp up humanitarian aid to the battered Palestinian territory, with the UN security council due to vote on Wednesday on a resolution for an urgent ceasefire after the vote was postponed for a second time amid reported policy differences within the US government.