Israeli soldiers suspended for mocking detained Palestinians in viral video: Live updates

The Israeli army has suspended a group of soldiers who laughed and smoked a water pipe while mocking detained Palestinians in a video that drew millions of views on social media.

The video is one of several to emerge in recent days showing soldiers displaying questionable behavior in Gaza as global opposition to Israel's war in Gaza grows stronger.

The video shows the soldiers laughing and eating snacks as at least seven Palestinians are sitting blindfolded in the room in the Israeli-occupied West Bank city of Jenin.

"I never imagined Jenin like this, what do I say?" one soldier says to the camera as he smokes hookah. "Show them what I have here.

The camera then pans to the Palestinian detainees sitting on the floor.

The enclave has been occupied by Israel for 16 years but has drawn the full force of Israel's relative military might since Oct. 7, when Palestinian militants raced across the border on a violent spree that killed 1,200 Israelis. The Gaza Health Ministry said this week the death toll in Gaza had surpassed 19,000.

“The behavior of the soldiers in the videos is deplorable and stands in stark contrast to the values of the IDF (Israel Defense Forces),” an Israeli army spokesperson told the Associated Press. After a disciplinary hearing, the reserve duty soldiers were suspended until further notice, the spokesperson said on condition of anonymity.

Developments:

∎ The U.N. Security Council was scheduled to vote Tuesday on a resolution calling for cease-fire that would allow unhindered deliveries of humanitarian aid. Talks were underway for a version that would avoid a U.S. veto of the Arab-sponsored resolution. A similar resolution was vetoed less than two weeks ago.

∎ Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was scheduled to meet with the families of 15 hostages Tuesday in Tel Aviv. The families of many hostages have been lobbying the government to reopen talks with Hamas aimed at winning release of those still being held.

UN delays vote on cease-fire resolution:Austin pushes Israel to 'protect' Gazans

Biden effort to resolve Israel-Hamas conflict draws low grades at home

U.S. voters broadly disapprove of President Joe Biden's handling of the war, and younger voters are far more critical of Biden's efforts and Israel's conduct than older voters, a New York Times/Siena College poll released Tuesday found. Only 33% of those surveyed in all age groups approve of Biden's efforts while 57% disapprove.

The survey showed 44% of all those surveyed said Israel should stop its military campaign to protect against civilian casualties, while 39% said Israel should continue to fight despite the rising death toll of Palestinian civilians. But 48% of all voters surveyed said they believed Israel was not taking enough precautions to avoid civilian casualties in Gaza.

Hamas financier 'eliminated' in Israeli strike

A prominent Hamas financier has been "eliminated" by an Israeli jet attack in the heart of the southern Gaza border city of Rafah, the Israeli military said Tuesday. Israel says Tzavahi Proana transferred tens of millions of dollars to Hamas, most for the organization's military arm, and that Hamas uses financiers to launder money from Iran and other international sources. The strike was guided by intelligence from the Israeli security agency Shin Bet.

"Proana was one of the few and prominent money changers who was able to transfer to the military wing of Hamas the amount of money needed for the fighting," the Israeli military said in a statement.

Hamas: US a 'partner in these crimes'

The expansion of Israel's "punitive" bombing and ground assault in Gaza constitutes war crimes and is being fueled by U.S. support, making the U.S. a "partner in these crimes," Hamas leaders said in a statement Tuesday. The statement said the attacks won't deter Palestinians from demanding that a Palestinian state be established with Jerusalem as its capital.

The U.S. and most of the world support a two-state solution that would provide Palestinians with a homeland. But the U.S. also has steadfastly supported Israel's right to crush Hamas and is helping provide the weapons to do so. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has insisted that Israel retain security control over Gaza after the war. A two-state solution has drawn little support within Israel's overwhelmingly Jewish population.