Live: Iran’s Khamenei says Hamas ‘alive’ despite leader Sinwar’s death

Israel says drone from Lebanon hits town, two others intercepted

The Israeli military said a drone spotted crossing into the country from Lebanon on Saturday struck the central town of Caesarea, while two others were intercepted.

The drone “hit a structure in the area of Caesarea” without causing any casualties, the military said, without elaborating. It added that two other drones were intercepted.

Gaza authorities accuse Israeli forces of attacking hospital

Health authorities in Gaza said Israeli forces surrounded and shelled the Indonesian Hospital in the territory’s northern town of Beit Lahia at dawn on Saturday.

“Israeli tanks have completely surrounded the hospital, cut off electricity and shelled the hospital, targeting the second and third floors with artillery,” said the facility’s director, Marwan Sultan.

“There are serious risks to medical staff and patients.”

In a statement, Gaza’s health ministry also said Israel had targeted the upper floors, adding there were “more than 40 patients and wounded in addition to the medical staff” present.

“Heavy gunfire” towards the hospital and its courtyard had sparked a “state of great panic” among patients and staff, it added.

• Iran’s supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said Saturday that Hamas was alive and well despite the death of its leader Yahya Sinwar.

• Hamas confirmed the death of the group’s leader, Yahya Sinwar, and vowed it will not release the hostages it seized on October 7 until the Gaza war ends.

• Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni called on Friday for the strengthening of the UN peacekeeping mission to Lebanon, known as UNIFIL, during a visit in Beirut.

• At least 42,500 Palestinians have been killed and 99,546 wounded in the Gaza Strip since the war began on October 7, 2023, according to the Gaza health ministry 

Iran’s Khamenei says Hamas will survive after Sinwar death

Iran’s supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said on Saturday that Hamas was alive and well despite the death of its leader Yahya Sinwar in an Israeli military operation in Gaza.

“His loss is certainly painful for the resistance front” against Israel, “but it will not end at all with the martyrdom of Sinwar”, Khamenei said in a statement.