It is almost three weeks since the Hamas attacks of 7 October.

Israel has said the group killed more than 1,400 people and took over 220 others hostage.

It has been bombing Hamas targets in Gaza in retaliation.

Gaza’s Hamas-run health ministry said on Thursday that 7,028 Palestinians had been killed, including 2,913 children. 

The Israeli military maintains it does its best to avoid civilian casualties.

US troops attacked at least 16 times in Iraq and Syria in past week

American troops were attacked at least 12 times in Iraq and four times in Syria in the past week by Iran-affiliated groups, the Pentagon has said. 

One attack in Iraq was thwarted today, it added.

Some 900 troops are deploying or have been deployed to the Middle East from the US. 

The threat to hundreds of US troops at bases across the Middle East is expected to grow as Israel prepares for a ground invasion of Gaza.