Hamas

A first boat loaded with 200 tonnes of food aid was making slow progress towards the Gaza Strip on Thursday as efforts grew to bring more humanitarian assistance to the Palestinian territory besieged by Israel.

Main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP) leader Özgür Özel has condemned Israel's ongoing attacks in Gaza, urging an immediate cessation during the holy month of Ramadan.

In a recorded speech, Haniyeh, who is in Qatar, said Israel had avoided giving clear guarantees regarding a ceasefire, the withdrawal of its forces or guarantees for the return of displaced Gazans, The Times of Israel reported.

As the Muslim holy month of Ramadan dawns upon the Gaza Strip, the region finds itself entrenched in the throes of conflict. Within this turbulent atmosphere, the radical Palestinian movement Hamas points fingers at Israel for the breakdown in ceasefire negotiations.

The Muslim holy month of Ramadan begins Monday in Gaza with no truce in sight, as fighting rages between Israeli forces and Hamas militants and a dire humanitarian crisis grips the besieged Palestinian territory.

A Spanish charity ship with food aid prepared to sail from Cyprus to the coastal Gaza Strip, where the U.N. has repeatedly warned of famine.

A spokesperson for the Turkish Foreign Ministry has responded to recent statements made by Israeli officials against President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, accusing them of attempting to shift the focus away from their country's actions in Gaza.

At least five people were killed Saturday, four from the same family, and nine wounded in an Israeli strike on a house in southern Lebanon, the country's official National News Agency reported.

A boat carrying desperately needed aid for war-ravaged Gaza, where the U.N. has repeatedly warned of famine, prepared to sail from Cyprus as deadly fighting raged Saturday between Israeli troops and Hamas militants ahead of Ramadan.

Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan told his U.S. counterpart Antony Blinken that the situation in Gaza is grave and requires urgent attention as he called for an immediate ceasefire and uninterrupted humanitarian aid in the Gaza Strip.

The head of the European Commission said on Friday a maritime aid corridor could start operating between Cyprus and Gaza this weekend, part of accelerating Western efforts to relieve the humanitarian crisis in the war-ravaged Palestinian enclave.