Shani Louk, 22; Amit Esther Bouskila, 28; and Itzhak Gelerenter, 58, were named as the hostages whose bodies were discovered in Gaza. Speaking to reporters on Friday evening, Israeli military spokesman Daniel Hagari said the three had attended the Nova music festival that was attacked by Hamas on Oct. 7 and had tried to flee. Hagari said the three were killed in Israel and that their bodies were transported to Gaza.
At the International Court of Justice, Israel on Friday said South Africa’s case against it was “completely divorced from the facts and circumstances.” South Africa has asked the court to order Israel to cease all military operations in Gaza, arguing that Israel’s assault on Rafah and its closure of key crossings are aimed at destroying “the essential foundations of Palestinian life.”
White House national security adviser Jake Sullivan and top Biden administration officials will travel to Israel this weekend to continue urging against a major new military operation in Gaza and to try to advance stalled cease-fire and hostage talks, according to people familiar with their plans who spoke on the condition of anonymity about the still-unannounced trip.
FIFA, soccer’s international governing body, will seek independent legal analysis to assess a Palestinian request to suspend Israel from international competition due to its war in Gaza. FIFA President Gianni Infantino said Friday that the body will hold an extraordinary meeting in July to review the legal assessment before making a decision.
The death toll in Gaza has risen to 35,303, and 79,261 people have been injured in the enclave since the war began, according to the Gaza Health Ministry, which does not distinguish between civilians and combatants. It says the majority of the dead are women and children.
Israel estimates that 1,200 people were killed in Hamas’s Oct. 7 attack, including more than 300 soldiers, and says 279 soldiers have been killed since the launch of its military operation in Gaza. » …
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