War

Israel says Hamas uses high-rises as shields - the UN says mass demolitions may amount to ethnic cleansing.

The former Prime Minister wrote for The Guardian on "women give birth during war".

Israel has lost any chance of getting its hostages out of the territory - dead or alive - Hamas now says.

"We have done the demolition phase, which is always the first phase of urban renewal - now we need to build."

Huge numbers of Palestinians are fleeing Gaza City by any means as the Israeli military pressed its ground offensive, killing dozens in strikes.

Members of the clergy who chained themselves together outside the finance minister's office in Wellington have ended their protest after 32 hours.

Priests say they will stay until the Finance Minister meets them to discuss sanctions on Israel. Audio

A reverend who spent the night chained to Finance Minister Nicola Willis' office says the government must impose sanctions on Israel. Audio

It comes as Arab and Muslim leaders meet at a summit to express their solidarity with Qatar.

Reports say children as young as 15 died in a Rakhine airstrike, as the junta ramps up assaults before a widely dismissed election.

Moscow says it will pursue European countries "until the end of the century" if its frozen assets are used to back Ukraine. Audio

An armed opposition group says a junta air strike killed at least 19 students, including children and wounded 22 more.

The US president voiced displeasure at Israel's strike in Doha, reassuring Qatar of its role as a regional mediator. Audio

Many are staying put despite Israeli evacuation orders because they have nowhere safe to go.