Netanhayu set to resist US attempt to rein in Israel’s Gaza destruction | First Thing

Joe Biden left in a bind as Israel tells US it needs months' to defeat Hamas. Plus, Ukraine stung after Hungary's Viktor Orban blocks EU war funding

Good morning.

Israeli tanks and planes on Friday intensified their bombardment of northern Gaza as well as Khan Younis and Rafah in the territory's south - with four people including two children killed in an Israeli airstrike on a house in Khan Younis early on Friday, Palestinian health officials said.

What is the humanitarian death toll of Israel's offensive so far? At least 18,787 Palestinians have been killed and 50,897 wounded in Israeli strikes on Gaza since 7 October, the Hamas-run Gaza health ministry said on Thursday. The strikes followed Hamas's attack that killed about 1,200 people in Israel, with more than 200 others taken hostage.

What do Israelis think of Netanyahu's actions? A poll of Israelis revealed widespread dissatisfaction with Netanyahu's handling of US-Israel relations during the war. About 43% disapproved of Netanyahu's treatment of Biden with 36% supporting, according to a Maariv/Jerusalem Post poll conducted this week.

How are diplomatic efforts playing out? France's foreign minister will travel to Lebanon on Saturday as part of diplomatic efforts by Emmanuel Macron's government to help contain the Middle East conflict. Fears of a widening war have been growing, with Iran-backed groups targeting US and allied forces in Iraq and Syria, and daily exchanges of fire along Israel's border with Lebanon.

What is Adnoc is planning to invest? $150bn over seven years in oil and gas, which Al Jaber said would maintain current production levels rather than increase output. He said Adnoc was forgoing much of its potential extraction.

What was the significance of the Cop deal? It marked the first time in 30 years of climate talks that a global resolution had been made addressing the future of all fossil fuels.

What have critics of the Cop deal said? Indigenous people, frontline communities and climate justice groups rebuked the deal as unfair, inequitable and business as usual.