The Israeli military's actions in southern Gaza had a "circumstantial influence" on a decision by Hamas militants to kill six hostages in August, according to an investigation published by the IDF on Tuesday.

The bodies of six Israeli hostages — including American-Israeli Hersh Goldberg-Polin — were recovered in September, prompting half a million people in Israel to stage street protests demanding the government enter a hostage deal with Hamas.

The six, seized by Hamas militants on October 7 last year, are estimated to have been shot dead 48 to 72 hours before they were found by Israeli forces.

The IDF's investigation found the hostages were killed by their captors, but the Israeli military's activity "in the area, although gradual and cautious, had a circumstantial influence" on the militants' decision to carry out the killings.

The Israeli military had no prior intelligence about the presence of the six hostages in the area, the investigation found.

"The investigation published tonight proves once again that the return of all hostages will only be possible through a deal," the Hostages and Missing Families Forum said in a statement on Tuesday.

Iran condemns Israel's admission for killing Ismail Haniyeh

Iran on Tuesday denounced what it termed Israel's "brazen admission" of having killed former Hamas chief Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran earlier this year, accusing the country of having carried out a "heinous crime" and defending its missile-strike response.

"This brazen admission marks the first time the Israeli regime has openly confessed to its responsibility for this heinous crime," said Iran's ambassador to the United Nations Amir Saeid Iravani in a letter addressed to the UN secretary-general.

On Monday, Israel's Defense Minister Israel Katz acknowledged his country was responsible for the killing, the first time an official admission had been made.

Haniyeh — who was seen as leading Hamas's negotiation efforts for a ceasefire in Gaza — was killed in a guesthouse in Tehran on July 31, reportedly by an explosive device that had been placed by Israeli operatives weeks before.

Israel was assumed to have killed Haniyeh but had never admitted to it until Monday.

Mr Iravani termed Israel's killing of Haniyeh a "heinous terrorist act," adding that Katz's statement showed Iran was justified in striking Israel in retaliation.

"It also reaffirms the legitimacy and legality of Iran's defensive response on 1 October 2024, as well as Iran's consistent position that the occupying and terrorist regime of Israel remains the most serious threat to regional and international peace and security."

At least eight killed in Christmas Eve raids on West Bank

Israeli forces killed at least eight Palestinians in raids on a refugee camp near the city of Tulkarm in the West Bank on Tuesday, Palestinian and Israeli officials said.

Fifty-three-year-old Khawla Abdo was killed as a result of shelling by Israeli forces at dawn, while 18-year-old Fathi Saeed Odeh Salem died after being shot in the abdomen and chest, the Palestinian Health Ministry said.

Another Palestinian woman died in the afternoon due to sustained injuries from the attack.

Later on Tuesday, the health ministry updated its death toll to eight after a new round of shelling in Tulkarm by Israeli forces.

Hamas' armed wing al-Qassam Brigades said in a statement that two of its members were killed by Israeli forces in Tulkarm.

The Israeli military said earlier it killed one Palestinian in a "counter-terrorism" operation in Tulkarm, while its forces arrested 18 other wanted individuals and confiscated dozens of weapons.

The Israeli army said one of its commanders was moderately injured after his vehicle was hit by an explosive device during the operation in the area of Tulkarm.

"The Commander of the Menashe Regional Brigade was moderately injured and was evacuated to receive medical treatment. The rest of the passengers in the vehicle did not get injured," the IDF said in a statement.

Israel intercepts Houthi missile

Yemen's Houthi rebels said on Wednesday that they had fired a ballistic missile at central Israel, with Israeli forces saying they intercepted the attack.

The missile was aimed at the Tel Aviv area, the Houthis said.

Air raid sirens sounded over a wide swathe of central Israel as a precaution against falling debris.

Israel said the missile was shot down before it entered Israeli territory, but the Houthis said in a statement that "the operation has successfully achieved its objectives".

No injuries were reported, according to Israel's emergency medical services.

Reuters/AFP