Middle East latest: Israeli strike outside a Gaza hospital kills a medic and wounds several

DEIR AL-BALAH, Gaza Strip — An Israeli airstrike hit the northern gate of the Kuwaiti Field Hospital in the Gaza Strip on Tuesday, killing a medic and wounding nine other people — all patients and medics — according to a spokesman for the hospital in the Muwasi area, where hundreds of thousands have sought shelter in sprawling tent camps.

There was no immediate comment from the Israeli military.

Israel has bombarded and raided hospitals throughout the 18-month war in Gaza, accusing Hamas militants of hiding out in them or using them for military purposes. Hospital staff have denied the allegations and accuse Israel of recklessly endangering civilians and gutting Gaza's health system.

The number of people killed by Israel's war in Gaza has climbed above 51,000 people, according to an updated toll released by the territory's Health Ministry on Tuesday. Since Israel ended the ceasefire last month, it has blocked all food, medicine and other aid from entering Gaza and its forces have seized more than half of the coastal territory.

The war in Gaza started when the Palestinian militants stormed into southern Israel on Oct. 7, 2023, killing some 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and abducting 251. Fifty-nine hostages are still inside Gaza, 24 of whom are believed to be alive.

Here's the latest:

Jordan's government arrests 16 people in anti-terror operation

The suspects are accused of trying to undermine national security and incite chaos in the kingdom, and have been under surveillance since 2021, said government spokesperson Mohammad al-Momani.

Among other things, they're accused of manufacturing short-range missiles, possessing explosives and automatic weapons, concealing a ready-to-use missile, and illegally recruiting and training people. They are being held in custody until trial.

Jordan's government said the accused have political affiliations and belong to what it called ''unlicensed groups,'' referring to the Muslim Brotherhood. Jordan's judiciary dissolved the Muslim Brotherhood in 2020.

In a statement Tuesday, the Muslim Brotherhood called the accusations unfair and said it was committed to Jordan's stability and security. The Muslim Brotherhood is a pan-Arab Islamist political movement with branches in many countries, describing itself as a charitable and political organization, although experts say some branches have apparent ties to militants.

Hamas says it lost contact with US-Israeli hostage after a strike

''A direct bombardment targeted their location. We are still trying to reach them,'' said Abu Obeida, a spokesman for Hamas' armed wing, on Tuesday.

Hamas had released a video of the 21-year-old soldier just days earlier, likely speaking under duress. He is the last living American being held captive by Hamas.

Hamas did not say where in Gaza the strike may have taken place. The Associated Press could not independently verify the claims, and there was no immediate comment from the Israeli military.

The Hamas announcement comes as Israeli leaders face growing domestic pressure to halt the fighting and reach a deal to bring home the hostages.

Netanyahu makes a surprise visit to Gaza

Netanyahu has previously entered Gaza a handful of times during the war.

The visit comes as Israel's longest-serving prime minister faces dueling, possibly incompatible pressures: Families of the Israeli hostages want him to cut a deal with Hamas to free them, while his far-right coalition partners want to continue the war with the aim of annihilating the militant group.

A second US aircraft carrier is in Mideast waters ahead of second round of Iran-US nuclear talks

That's according to satellite photos analyzed Tuesday by The Associated Press, which show the USS Carl Vinson and its strike group are operating in the Arabian Sea to back up the USS Harry S. Truman.

The operation of the USS Carl Vinson and its strike group in the Arabian Sea comes as suspected U.S. airstrikes pounded parts of Yemen controlled by the Iranian-backed Houthi rebels overnight into Tuesday. American officials have repeatedly linked the United States' expanded bombing campaign against the Houthis under President Donald Trump as a means to pressure Iran in the negotiations.

The U.S. Navy's Bahrain-based 5th Fleet, which oversees the Mideast, declined to discuss details of the Vinson's operations. However, hours after the AP's report, the U.S. military's Central Command posted videos from the two carriers on the social platform X saying there had been ''24/7 strikes'' on the Houthis by the two carriers.

Netanyahu rejects Palestinian state in call with Macron

In the call with Macron, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the creation of a Palestinian state would be ''a huge reward for terrorism'' and result in a militant-run entity just miles from Israeli cities.

In his own statement posted on X, French President Emmanuel Macron called for another ceasefire, the release of hostages and renewing the delivery of humanitarian aid to Gaza, which Israel has blocked for over a month. He did not mention recognition of a Palestinian state.

Macron said last week that France should aim to recognize a Palestinian state by June when it joins Saudi Arabia in hosting an international conference on implementing a two-state solution.

A number of European states have recently recognized a Palestinian state in what is largely a symbolic move aimed at reviving the peace process.

Dozens of civilians killed in Lebanon since ceasefire, UN says

The office of the U.N. high commissioner for human rights said Tuesday that at least 71 civilians, including 14 women and nine children, have been killed by Israeli strikes in Lebanon since a ceasefire took effect on Nov. 27, ending the latest Israel-Hezbollah war.

Israel has continued to launch near-daily strikes on what it says are Hezbollah facilities and officials since then, saying it aims to keep the militant group from rearming. Lebanon has accused Israel of violating the ceasefire deal through the strikes as well as by continuing to occupy five strategic points in southern Lebanon.

U.N. Human Rights spokesperson Thameen Al Kheetan said in a statement the Israeli strikes have also hit ''civilian infrastructure,'' including ''residential buildings, medical facilities, roads and at least one café.''