The United Nations is calling for an inquiry after bodies were found beneath Gaza's Nasser Hospital, in the city of Khan Younis. The hospital was recently abandoned by Israeli troops who said they’d finished searching it for Hamas fighters.

Sderot

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu declared that Israel is 'at war' following a surprise attack from Gaza by Hamas militants.

Israel-Gaza War

The United Nations has urged for an investigation following the discovery of unmarked graves underneath Gaza's Nasser Hospital in the city of Khan Younis. This development comes after Israeli troops vacated the hospital, marking the completion of their search for Hamas fighters. According to a report by CBC News, civil defense officials have unearthed 320 bodies over five days, with signs indicating some were subjected to torture prior to death.

Civil defense official Mohammed al-Mughai revealed distressing findings from the excavation, stating that some of the bodies had their hands tied, while others were decapitated. Relatives of the deceased have been searching for their loved ones, with Karima al-Ras finally locating her 21-year-old son Ahmed's body, who has been missing since January. The Israeli government has denied allegations of creating mass graves, although it acknowledged unearthing some bodies in the search for hostages, claiming the procedure was conducted with respect to the deceased.

The United Nations is advocating for an international inquiry into the matter, citing a long-standing issue of impunity surrounding severe violations. These revelations have also prompted a response from Washington, which has expressed its concern through engagements with the Israeli government at various levels. This situation unfolds as the U.S. President Joe Biden announces plans to provide Israel with $15 billion in military aid and $1 billion in humanitarian assistance to Gaza. 

Moreover, the report comes in the wake of efforts to secure the release of an Israeli American, Hirsch Goldberg Poland, who was kidnapped by Hamas militants. Hamas recently released a video showing Poland, offering the first proof he might still be alive, though details regarding the video's date and the conditions of his captivity remain unclear. Concerns for the health and well-being of Poland and the approximately 130 other hostages believed to be held by Hamas in Gaza have been vocalized.



U.N. calls for inquiry after unmarked graves found in Gaza

Next to Nasser Hospital in southern Gaza there seems to be a whole new layer of horror underground. Bodies shown being dug up in video shot for CBC News. Hamas calls it a mass grave claiming many had been tortured. We've been digging for five days says civil defense official Mohammed al-Mughai. We found 320 bodies. He says some had their hands tied others were missing heads. Karima al-Ras has been looking for her 21-year-old son Ahmed since he was killed in January. I have been coming all this time she says until I found his body. The hospital was recently abandoned by Israeli troops after they said they'd finished searching it for Hamas fighters. Israel calls the allegations that they buried the bodies in mass graves baseless. Though it says soldiers did dig up some bodies looking for hostages. The examination was carried out respectfully while maintaining the dignity of the deceased. The UN is pushing for an inquiry. We are stressing the need for international investigations. There's a history here of impunity for gross violations. Washington also wants to know more. Those reports were deeply disturbing. We have been in touch at multiple levels with the Israeli government. This comes as U.S. President Joe Biden prepares to send 15 billion dollars in military aid to Israel. A billion in humanitarian aid to Gaza. The security of Israel is critical. The U.S. has also been working to release an Israeli American injured as he was kidnapped by Hamas militants on October 7th. Hamas released a video of Hirsch Goldberg Poland. The first sign he might still be alive. But it's not clear when the video was taken or under what conditions. We're relieved to see him alive. But we are also concerned about his health and well-being. He is among some 130 hostages still believed to be held by Hamas in Gaza. Though no one knows how many are still alive. Sasha Petrusik, CBC News, Washington.

Ukraine is eagerly waiting for Western aid as Russia racks up more victories on the battlefield. Meanwhile, British Foreign Secretary David Cameron on a visit to Kyiv gave Ukraine the go-ahead to use British weapons to strike directly at Russia.

Kyiv

Ukraine Invasion

U.K. allows its weapons to be used on Russian soil

Canadian police have charged three Indian men with the murder of Sikh separatist leader Hardeep Singh Nijjar last year and said they were probing whether the men had ties to the Indian government.

Surrey

Canada police charge three with murder of Sikh leader

Mexican authorities say three bodies have been found in an area where two Australian brothers and their American travel companion are missing. It follows the arrest of three people in relation to their disappearance.

Baja California

Bodies found in search for missing Perth brothers

China has launched an uncrewed spacecraft on a nearly two-month mission to retrieve rocks and soil from the far side of the moon, the first country to make such an ambitious attempt.

Wenchang

China launches mission to far side of the moon

Britain's opposition Labour Party won a parliamentary seat in northern England on Friday (May 3) and control of several councils, inflicting heavy losses on the governing Conservatives to pile more pressure on Prime Minister Rishi Sunak.

London

U.K.'s Labour claims big early win over Conservatives

Turkey has announced that it is halting trade with Israel, worth $7 billion a year, until a permanent ceasefire and humanitarian aid are secured in Gaza. Israel denounced the decision as breaking trade agreements.

Ankara

Turkey to stop trade with Israel until Gaza ceasefire

Media watchdog group Reporters Without Borders warned of declining government support for press freedom as it unveiled its annual world rankings on Friday, highlighting Argentina among the countries where the situation has deteriorated.

Paris

States doing less to support press freedom, says watchdog

Arizona's Democratic governor signed a bill overturning an 1864 law banning abortion, a month after the state's supreme court said the Civil War-era rule was valid.

Arizona

Arizona governor signs bill repealing 1864 abortion ban

U.S. President Joe Biden said that both freedom of speech and the rule of law must be respected in protests at college campuses over Israel's war in Gaza. In response to a reporter's question, Biden said that the campus protests had not forced him to reconsider his policies in the Middle East.

Washington

Biden breaks silence on protests at University Campuses

From suspensions to expulsions to criminal charges, college students across the U.S. involved in these pro-Palestinian protests could face life-changing consequences. Some are demanding amnesty for these protesters.

New York

More than 1,000 student protesters arrested across U.S.

English voters are heading to polling stations to pick mayors, councilors and a new lawmaker in the last electoral test for British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak before a national vote later this year.

Voters head to polls in last test for U.K.'s Sunak

The US State Department accused Russia of having used a chemical weapon against Ukrainian forces in violation of the Chemical Weapons Convention, while also announcing fresh sanctions against Moscow. In addition to the chemical agent chloropicrin, Russia also used "riot control agents (tear gas) as a method of warfare in Ukraine, also in violation of the CWC," the department said in a factsheet.

Zaporizhzhia

U.S. accuses Russia of using chemical weapons in Ukraine

There are grave concerns for Perth brothers Jake and Callum Robinson who are missing on a surf trip in Mexico's Baja region. The pair have failed to arrive at their accommodation and are not responding to contact from their families.

Council of the City of Sydney

Grave fears for brothers missing on Mexico surf trip

Federal Treasurer Jim Chalmers has kept open the prospect of tax incentives in the budget as business warned that changes to foreign investment laws. It comes amid criticism that budget spending could prompt further inflation and prompt rate rises.

Government hints at further tax incentives in Budget

Colombian President Gustavo Petro says his country will break diplomatic relations with Israel. He's criticised Israel's conduct since the start of the war on Gaza. Petro requested to join South Africa's case at the International Court of Justice accusing Israel of genocide.

Bogotá

Colombia ends diplomatic relations with Israel

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken met Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Wednesday, pushing to get more aid into Gaza, while urging Hamas to accept a deal that would halt fighting and bring some hostages home from the enclave.

Jerusalem

Blinken pushes for sustained aid into Gaza during Israel trip

Police in Georgia fired teargas and rubber bullets at protesters demonstrating against a bill that would require organizations – including media and NGOs – that receive more than 20 percent of their funding from abroad to register as agents "pursuing the interests of a foreign power." The bill has been dubbed the "Russian law" by its detractors.

Tbilisi

Thousands protest against Georgia's 'foreign influence' bill

A diplomatic push is underway to reach a ceasefire in Gaza, with the U.S. exerting pressure on Hamas to agree to Israel's terms. But Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has vowed to attack Rafah in southern Gaza, whether there's a ceasefire or not.

Netanyahu vows to invade Rafah 'with or without' ceasefire deal

Qantas has apologised to customers after its app exposed personal passenger data. The airline blames a technical disruption and says the data breach was not a cyber security incident.

Qantas app data breach exposes customer data

The International Court of Justice has ruled against issuing emergency measures over German arms sales to Israel as requested by Nicaragua, which had argued that there was a serious risk of genocide in Gaza amid Israel’s assault on the Palestinian territory.

The Hague

ICJ rejects measures over German arms exports to Israel

New York police have entered Columbia University and arrested protesters barricaded inside a building who have been calling on the New York school to divest itself from companies associated with Israel.

Police enter Columbia University, arrest protesters

A smiling and healthy-looking King Charles returned to public duties on Tuesday (April 30) for the first time since he was diagnosed in February with cancer, paying a visit to a treatment center for the disease in London.

King Charles returns to public duties, visits cancer center

A 14-year-old boy is dead and multiple people injured after a daylight sword attack in Hainault, in east London. The alleged attacker tasered and arrested by Police shortly afterwards.

Hainault

Teenage boy killed in London sword attack

Brittany Higgins has failed in a bid to delay a defamation trial brought against her by Senator Linda Reynolds over social media posts made in July last year. Fiancé David Sharaz, also named in the case, calling for the Senator to drop the case.

Canberra

Brittany Higgins fails in bid to delay defamation trial

Since taking office four months ago, Argentina's new president Javier Milei has slashed public employment in an effort to cut the country's deficit. So far, 24,000 people have been let go, and Milei has said he wants that figure to hit 70,000, about 10 percent of overall government employees.

Buenos Aires

Argentina's Milei slashes 24,000 government jobs

A Russian missile attack on an educational institution in a popular seafront park in the Ukrainian Black Sea port of Odesa killed at least five people and injured 32, local officials said. Odesa has been a frequent target of Russian missile and drone attacks, particular port infrastructure.

Odesa

Russian missile attack kills five in Ukraine's Odesa

Scotland's leader Humza Yousaf resigned, further opening the door to the UK opposition Labour Party regaining ground in its former Scottish heartlands during a national election expected to be held later this year.

Edinburgh

Scotland's First Minister Humza Yousaf quits

A 17-year-old girl charged with the stabbing murder of her 10-year-old sister in a suburb of Lake Macquarie in New South Wales will remain in custody.

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Israel-Gaza War