Israel says drone launched at Netanyahu's house - as dozens reportedly killed in strikes on Gaza

A drone was launched towards the house of Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, his spokesman has said.

It comes as more than 50 people have been reportedly killed in Gaza in the last 24 hours.

Shockwaves from the killing of Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar continue to reverberate in the region, and speculation persists Israel could strike Iran’s nuclear facilities.

Follow latest: ‘Drone launched at Netanyahu’s house’

At least 21 people, including children, were killed in Israeli strikes on Gaza on Saturday, according to hospital officials.

This includes a strike on the Maghazi refugee camp that killed 11 members of the same family, and another 10 who died when a house in the town of Zawayda was hit, according to the al-Aqsa Martyrs Hospital in Deir al-Balah.

It comes after a reported 33 people were killed in a strike on the Jabalia refugee camp late last night, according to the Palestinian WAFA news agency.

If the reported figures are confirmed, it would mean at least 54 people have been killed in strikes on Gaza in the last 24 hours.

At least 42,519 Palestinians have been killed and 99,637 others wounded during Israel’s offensive in Gaza since 7 October 2023, according to Gaza’s Hamas-run health ministry.

The health ministry does not differentiate between civilians and militants in its reporting of the figures.

Drone launched at Netanyahu’s house

In Israel, sirens warned of incoming fire from Lebanon, with a drone launched towards a house owned by Prime Minister Netanyahu in Caesarea, the Israeli government said.

Neither Mr Netanyahu nor his wife were home at the time and there were no casualties, according to the Israeli leader’s spokesperson.

The IDF said 55 projectiles were fired at northern Israel from Lebanon on Saturday morning, with some intercepted on route.

Deputy commander of Hezbollah killed

Israel also said on Saturday it killed Nasser Rashid in the town of Bint Jbeil in southern Lebanon.

The deputy commander of Hezbollah supervised attacks against Israel, the army said.

Lebanon’s health ministry said an airstrike on Saturday hit a vehicle on a main highway north of Beirut, killing two people. It was unclear who was in the car.

Israel’s conflict with the militant group has intensified in recent weeks as fallout from the killing of leader Hassan Nasrallah continues.

Khamenei: Hamas will live on

Meanwhile, Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei says the death of Hamas leader Sinwar will not halt the so-called “Axis of Resistance” and that Hamas would live on.

“His loss is undoubtedly painful for the Axis of Resistance, but this front did not cease advancing with the martyrdom of prominent figures,” he said in a statement.

“Hamas is alive and will remain alive.”

Leaflets dropped over southern Gaza

Israeli planes dropped leaflets over southern Gaza on Saturday, showing a picture of the recently assassinated Hamas chief Sinwar.

They carried the message: “Hamas will no longer rule Gaza”, echoing language used elsewhere by Israel’s most senior politicians.

Meanwhile, two people were killed as they travelled along one of Lebanon’s main roads near the Christian-majority town of Jounieh in the first such attack on the area.

A spokesperson for Israel’s military said it was looking into it.

Another strike killed at least four people in Lebanon’s Bekaa Valley, health authorities said.

As the UN warned that almost half of “humanitarian movements” for Gaza were being denied access by Israel, Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer said the world “will not tolerate any more excuses” from Israel on getting vital aid into the enclave.

Then in London, several thousand people turned out for another demonstration against the war in the Middle East.