Middle East: Gaza a 'mass grave of Palestinians,' MSF says

The Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ) extremist militia released a video of Israeli-German hostage Rom Braslavski on Wednesday.

In the nearly seven-minute video, Braslavski begs Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and US President Donald Trump to "get me out of here," as he complains of suffering from a disease while scratching himself and showing red skin under his shirt.

Braslavski, who is from Jerusalem, was 21 years old when he was abducted from the Nova music festival by Hamas and PIJ militants on October 7, 2023. He was working as a festival security guard.

Some 251 people were kidnapped by Palestinian militants on October 7. Israeli intelligence says Islamists in Gaza still hold 24 living hostages and the bodies of 34 more.

The circumstances under which the video was produced are unclear, but Braslavski is clearly under duress and speaks of enduring an inhumane situation.

His family agreed to allow an edited version of the video to be made public. His brother Amit wrote on Instagram: "I really hope that this video will shock those who need it and that you will return to us from this nightmare."

"It is painful to see our young fellow German Rom Braslavski, held hostage in Gaza for 558 days, cruelly paraded in a video," wrote German Ambassador to Israel Steffen Seibert on X, adding, "The terrorists must release him and all hostages now."

Doctors without Borders, known by its French acronym MSF, lambasted Israel's ongoing military operations in Gaza in a press release on Wednesday. It came after Israel restarted its military campaign in Gaza in March. 

"Gaza has been turned into a mass grave of Palestinians and those coming to their assistance. We are witnessing in real time the destruction and forced displacement of the entire population in Gaza," MSF emergency coordinator in Gaza Amande Bazerolle said. 

"With nowhere safe for Palestinians or those trying to help them, the humanitarian response is severely struggling under the weight of insecurity and critical supply shortages, leaving people with few, if any, options for accessing care," she added.     

MSF was extremely critical of a recent "ruthless attack" by the Israel military on 15 aid workers in Gaza's southern city of Rafah.

"This horrific killing of aid workers is yet another example of the complete disregard shown by the Israeli forces for the protection of humanitarian and medical workers," Claire Magone, General Director of MSF France said. 

"The silence and unconditional support of Israel's closest allies further emboldens these actions," Magone added. 

MSF criticized the lack of food, fuel and medical stocks in Gaza, as it faces a blockade from both Israel and Egypt.  

MSF's Bazerolle said the decision to block supplies to Gaza "is a political choice, and a deliberate assault on a people's ability to survive, carried out with impunity."

The organization urged Israeli authorities to "end their collective punishment of Palestinians."

The Israeli military campaign in Gaza came after Hamas carried out terror attacks on Israel on October 7, 2023.

Hamas is considered a terrorist organization not only by Israel, but also the United States, Germany and several other countries.    

At least 13 people were killed by Israeli air strikes in northern Gaza on Wednesday, according to Palestinian medics.

Palestinian news agency Wafa reported that the attack targeted the Hassouna family home on al-Nafaq street in Gaza City. Fatema Hassouna, a well-known writer and photographer who had documented the war, was among those killed, Palestinian medics said.

Palestinian medics also said three more people were killed in another Israeli strike on a house further north.

Israel did not immediately comment on the reports.

Much of Gaza City has been destroyed since Israel launched its military campaign in October 2023.  

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi said that Iran has a "non-negotiable" right to uranium enrichment as part of its nuclear program. 

The statement comes as US President Donald Trump's administration is expected to take part in another round of nuclear talks with Iranian officials this weekend in Oman.

US Special Envoy Steve Witkoff, who is Trump's top representative on reaching a nuclear deal with Iran, has said the Iranian government must "stop and eliminate its nuclear enrichment."

But Iran said continuing its nuclear enrichment program was "non-negotiable."

"Iran's enrichment is a real, accepted matter. We are ready to build confidence in response to possible concerns, but the issue of enrichment is non-negotiable," Aragchi said a after a meeting of Iranian cabinet members.        

Trump pulled out a nuclear deal with Iran in 2018 during his first term in the White House. That deal, known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, removed sanctions on Iran in exchange for the country committing to curb its nuclear program and allow international checks of its enrichment facilities.  

Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz said that the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) will stay in "security zones" it has set up in Gaza, Lebanon and Syria.

Katz said the IDF will not vacate territories as it has done earlier. He also said that if Hamas doesn't release the Israeli hostages in captivity, Israel would expand its military operations. 

Hamas has called for Israel to take out its troops from the "security zones" as a condition to release the hostages.  

Katz also reiterated Israeli policy to not let humanitarian aid into Gaza.

"Israel's policy is clear: no humanitarian aid will enter Gaza, and blocking this aid is one of the main pressure levers preventing Hamas from using it as a tool with the population," Katz said. 

According to the Times of Israel, Katz said Israel intend to resume aid to Gaza in the future but only via "civilian companies" so Hamas doesn't get it.  

The UN has criticized the dire humanitarian situation in Gaza amid the Israeli blockade. 

"The humanitarian situation is now likely the worst it has been in the 18 months since the outbreak of hostilities," the UN's Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs said in a statement on Monday, saying aid workers are forced to ration aid deliveries amid border closures.     

Welcome to our latest coverage of developments in Gaza, the West Bank, Israel and other parts of the Middle East region.

We are also covering the latest moves by US President Donald Trump's administration in the Middle East, such as its bombing campaign of the Houthis in Yemen and negotiations with Iran for a new nuclear deal. 

This blog will bring you the latest news, analysis, videos and insight from our correspondents from the region.