Israel kills correspondents in Gaza, alleges Hamas role

The Israeli army on Sunday killed four correspondents working for Qatar's Al Jazeera channel, by attacking their tent in front of Al-Shifa Hospital in Gaza City, according to Al Jazeera and Gaza-based medical sources.

Al Jazeera reported that its journalists Anas Al-Sharif and Mohammed Qreiqeh, along with cameramen Ibrahim Zaher and Mohammed Noufal, were killed in an Israeli strike on Gaza.

Mohammed Abu Selmiya, director of Al-Shifa Hospital, told Xinhua that five Palestinians were killed in the Israeli strike. "Anas Al-Sharif and Mohammed Qreiqeh, both correspondents for Al Jazeera, and two cameramen, Ibrahim Zaher and Mohammed Noufal, were among the victims."

Palestinian civil defense sources told Xinhua that the Israeli army directly targeted the journalists' tent, killing the four, while the fifth victim remained unidentified as his body "was turned into pieces."

Israeli PM says army to seize remaining Hamas strongholds in Gaza

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Sunday the military had been ordered to enter the "decisive stage" of the Gaza war, aimed at seizing the remaining Hamas strongholds in Gaza City, refugee camps in central Gaza and the southern area of Al Mawasi.

He made the remarks in a press conference amid growing criticism around the world and within Israel over a security cabinet decision on Thursday to take over Gaza City.

According to figures presented by Netanyahu, since Israel resumed its assaults in the Gaza Strip in March, the military has taken control of about 70 percent of Gaza.

He said that following the security cabinet decision, the army was instructed to begin the operation in Gaza City.

IAEA's deputy chief to visit Tehran: media

The deputy director general of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) will visit Iran on Monday, reported the semi-official Tasnim news agency on Sunday, citing Iran's Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi.

According to the report, the foreign minister made the remarks in an address to reporters on the sidelines of a cabinet meeting.

Araghchi stressed that the visit would be aimed at holding negotiations between Iran and the agency, noting that Iran had already provided the IAEA with the necessary explanations about a new framework for bilateral cooperation in view of a law passed in late June by the country's parliament and Constitutional Council on the suspension of collaborations.

He emphasized that no inspection or visit of the Iranian nuclear facilities had been planned during the trip by the IAEA's deputy director general, saying, "We have not yet reached a new agreement and the cooperation would not begin."

8 killed, 3 injured in nightclub shooting in western Ecuador

Eight people were killed and three others injured Sunday when a group of armed gunmen opened fire on a crowd outside a nightclub in Santa Lucia, a city in Ecuador's western province of Guayas, local media reported.

The armed gunmen arrived at the nightclub early Sunday in two cars and opened fire on those present, according to a media report.

Police said one of those killed, Jorge Urquizo, was the brother of the city's mayor, Ubaldo Urquizo.

The province of Guayas has seen a sharp rise in violent crime, driven largely by gang activity.

On Aug. 6, Ecuadorian President Daniel Noboa declared a state of emergency for 60 days in four provinces, including Guayas and Manabi, citing serious internal unrest.

London police confirm 532 arrests at pro-Palestine Action protest

The number of people arrested at a Saturday protest in support of advocacy network Palestine Action has been confirmed as 532, London's Metropolitan Police said in an update on Sunday.

As of 1 p.m. local time (1200 GMT) on Sunday, 18 people remained in custody. Police said those whose details could be confirmed had been released on bail.

Around 500 to 600 people participated in the protest, which began at Parliament Square, and at least 365 were arrested during the event, London's Metropolitan Police said on Saturday.

Pictures on social media showed protestors holding signs reading "I oppose genocide." A video released by The Guardian features an arrested woman speaking to the camera, saying, "Arrest the people who are selling arms, killing and bombing ..."

In July, Members of Parliament voted to proscribe Palestine Action as a terrorist group after its members broke into Royal Air Force Brize Norton in June.