The Israeli military said Wednesday it will conduct criminal investigations into the killings of a 5-year-old Palestinian girl and her family and the separate killings of 15 paramedics, following a review of troop conduct during the
Meanwhile, France announced it will expel two Iranian diplomats in response to the expulsion of French diplomats from the Islamic Republic this week. And the Iranian parliament speaker and chief negotiator landed in neighboring Iraq for a three-day visit.
Here鈥檚 a look at the latest developments in the Iran war and the wider Middle East on Wednesday. Full coverage can be found .
Israel’s military plans criminal investigation into Gaza attacks
The Israeli military said it would investigate the killings of and her family members in February 2024, and the in March 2025. Both drew international attention.
The announcement followed reviews of 150 incidents of troop conduct during the war in Gaza. The military said it would not launch criminal investigations into three other attacks that killed aid workers from and Doctors Without Borders.
Rajab was killed when Israeli troops opened fire on a vehicle that also was carrying her aunt, uncle and four cousins as they tried to flee Gaza City amid an Israeli offensive.
The 15 paramedics were killed when Israeli troops opened fire on their vehicles in the southern city of Rafah, then bulldozed over the bodies and buried them in a mass grave. Troops first shot at an ambulance that was driving to retrieve casualties from an Israeli offensive, then fired on several other emergency vehicles that went out to look for the first one,
Israeli airstrikes in Gaza kill 10 as ceasefire is in doubt
At least 10 people were in two airstrikes in Gaza, according to local hospitals and the Palestinian Red Crescent.
The attacks cast further doubt on whether new U.S. efforts can advance a tenuous ceasefire in the Palestinian territory.
Just two days after to draw down attacks in Gaza, Israeli troops also crossed the in southern Gaza and detained a Hamas police colonel at dawn, two witnesses and a Hamas official said. They spoke on condition of anonymity for their safety.
鈥� Samy Magdy and Wafaa Shurafa
Iran’s parliament speaker and top negotiator visits Iraq
Iranian Parliament Speaker arrived in Iraq for a three-day visit where he will meet with Iraqi officials and leaders of an Iran-backed political coalition.
Iran-backed Iraqi militias have launched drone attacks on U.S. military and diplomatic targets both within Iraq and abroad, piling pressure on Baghdad, which for years has delicately tried to maintain strong ties with both and Tehran.
Qalibaf praised the country鈥檚 Tehran-backed militias, which he called the 鈥渞esistance in Iraq,” describing them as a 鈥渒ey component of the country鈥檚 national power.鈥�
Iraq is asking Iran to grant special status to Iraqi oil exports through the Strait of Hormuz because the country has been affected greatly by Iran’s war with the U.S. and needs to guard its economic interests, according to a statement from Iraqi Parliament Speaker Haibet al-Halbousi.
Iraq relies on oil revenues for roughly 90% of its budget, and most of its oil is exported through the strait. Since the war erupted and Iran asserted control over the strait, halting most shipping traffic, Iraq has turned to alternate routes, including sending oil over land to Syria, which is less efficient and more expensive.
France and Iran expel diplomats
France announced it will expel two staff members of the Iranian Embassy in France, in response to what the French Foreign Ministry described as an assault by Iranian security forces against two French diplomatic staff in the Islamic Republic last month.
Iran accused the French pair of taking part in a secret meeting with 鈥渟uspects in a major case involving foreign infiltration and interference,鈥� Iran鈥檚 state-run Islamic Republic 91欧美激情 Agency reported. The French diplomats were expelled on Monday.
Foreign Minister Jean-No毛l Barrot slammed the Iranian authorities for not investigating what he called a 鈥減remeditated and deliberate attack.鈥� He called the allegations fabricated and said the two Iranians will leave Paris in the coming days.
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Associated Press writers Kareem Chehayeb in Beirut, Nasser Karimi in Tehran, Sylvie Corbet in Paris and Qassim Abdul-Zahra in Baghdad contributed to this report.
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