Israeli strikes in Gaza killed eight Palestinians, including a four-year-old boy, while Qatar's national liquefied natural gas shipping company reported that one of its vessels was hit by unidentified objects in the Persian Gulf.

Meanwhile, the United Nations has called for an investigation into the death of one of its staff members who had been held by Yemen's Iran-backed Houthi rebels.

Here are the latest developments in the Middle East on Sunday.

Israeli strikes kill 8 Palestinians, including child

Israeli strikes in Gaza killed eight people, including a four-year-old boy, on Sunday, according to hospital authorities.

Five people were killed in a strike in the southern city of Khan Younis, with their bodies taken to Nasser Hospital, while another strike in Gaza City killed three people, including the child, and seriously injured a woman, according to Shifa Hospital.

The Israeli military said it had targeted several militants in Khan Younis and a Hamas militant in northern Gaza.

The war began on October 7, 2023, when Hamas-led militants launched an attack on southern Israel, killing around 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and taking 251 others hostage.

A ceasefire that came into effect in October 2025 has largely stopped major fighting, although Israeli strikes have continued almost daily.

More than 1,570 Palestinians have been killed since the truce began, according to Gaza's Health Ministry, raising the overall death toll from the war to more than 74,500.

The ministry, which operates under the Hamas-run government, does not distinguish between civilian and militant casualties. Israel maintains that its strikes target militants and accuses Hamas of using civilians as human shields.

Qatari vessel hit by unidentified objects in Persian Gulf

Qatar's liquefied natural gas shipping company Nakilat said on Sunday that one of its vessels was struck by unidentified objects while sailing in the Persian Gulf.

The company, officially known as Qatar Gas Transport Co., said the vessel, Al Mayeda, was damaged on Friday night. However, no crew members were injured, and there was no environmental impact.

The vessel remained operational following the incident, the company said.

Nakilat did not identify who was responsible for the strike.

Iran has previously claimed responsibility for attacks on ships and warned that vessels attempting to pass through the Strait of Hormuz without its permission could face destruction.

UN calls for probe into death of staffer held by Houthis

The United Nations has called for an investigation into the death of a staff member of its human rights office who died in the custody of Yemen's Iran-backed Houthi rebels.

Mohammad el Shami had been detained since June 2024, but the Houthis never provided any information about his condition or proof that he was alive despite repeated requests from the United Nations, UN spokesperson Stéphane Dujarric said late Saturday.

He was the second UN employee to die in Houthi custody. A World Food Programme worker died while in detention in February 2025.

Iran designates British naval, air forces as terrorist groups

Iran on Sunday designated Britain's Royal Navy and Royal Air Force as terrorist organisations and declared its foreign intelligence service MI6 a hostile entity, state-run news agency IRNA reported.

Iran's Foreign Ministry accused the United Kingdom of supporting US-Israeli military attacks on Iran by providing military bases and logistical assistance.

The designation could lead to the prosecution under Iranian law of individuals accused of working with MI6 and potentially increase the risk of military confrontation between the two countries.

US says all options remain open on Iran

US Assistant Secretary of State for Near Eastern Affairs Donald Blome said Washington had extended an offer of negotiations to Tehran but remained prepared to pursue other options.

Speaking on Sunday at the Manama Dialogue, a security forum in Bahrain, Blome said diplomatic channels remained open and active.

"The hand of negotiation has been extended, and those channels have continued to be open and active. At the same time, we've been also prepared to go in another direction," he said.

"We just can't allow Iran to take this region and the global economy hostage," Blome added.