Gaza Under Siege: Israel Hamas War
October 7, 2023
On October 7, Hamas launched a significant assault on Israel, resulting in over 1,400 Israeli casualties and more than 220 hostages taken to Gaza. In response, the Israeli military conducted air and artillery strikes, leading to the loss of over 5,000 Palestinian lives. The situation remains dire, with Israeli troops massing along the Gaza boundary and Palestinians preparing for a potential major ground operation. Israel has imposed severe measures, cutting off vital resources and halting imports, though limited aid has been allowed in through Egypt's Rafah crossing.
Jewish Voice for Peace Protesters Shut Down Grand Central Station in NYC
562 days ago
Grand Central Terminal closes amid sit-down calling for cease-fire in Gaza. Protesters with a Jewish peace activist group are calling for an immediate cease-fire in Gaza in a large, ongoing demonstration Friday at Grand Central Terminal in New York City. Grand Central is closed due to the protest.
Communications blackout sparks panic in Gaza.
562 days ago
People in the Palestinian territory are “panicking” because of the communications blackout and intensifying bombing. “The people are very much fearful, and they are very much panicking – unable to communicate with others who have been displaced.
UN General Assembly passes Jordanian resolution calling for humanitarian truce in Gaza
562 days ago
The General Assembly has overwhelmingly adopted a non-binding resolution, as Israel expands ground operations and cuts off communications in Gaza.
Israeli ground forces ‘expanding operations’ in Gaza
562 days ago
Israeli bombing of Gaza, particularly in the north of the enclave, increases in its intensity as communications in the enclave are cut, military spokesperson says Israeli ground forces “expanding operations”
Hamas Launches a Dozen Rockets at Tel Aviv
562 days ago
Militant group Hamas launched a dozen rockets at the bustling city of Tel Aviv earlier today. The rockets, fired from the Gaza Strip were intercepted by the Iron Dome System
Significant Airstrikes Target Gaza Throughout the Night
562 days ago
A significant number of air strikes are being carried out on Gaza throughout the night. Communication infrastructure in the territory is failing
Service at major Gaza internet provider has collapsed
562 days ago
One of the largest internet providers in Gaza, NetStream, appears to have suffered a near-total connectivity outage. NetStream’s service "collapsed" late Thursday, according to NetBlocks, a company that tracks internet connectivity. Groups that track internet connectivity in Gaza have seen a steady decline as Israel has cut electricity and bombed targets in the area.
53 UNRWA staffers killed in Gaza, highest number of casualties in conflict ever
562 days ago
The United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East says 53 of its staffers have died in Gaza since Oct. 7. This is the agency's highest number of casualties in conflict ever, a spokesperson told NBC News. Fifteen staffers died in one day, UNRWA Commissioner-General Philippe Lazzarini said.
Medical supplies arrive at Nasser Hospital in Khan Younis
562 days ago
A truck pull into the hospital filled with medical supplies. Those medical supplies include antiseptic, injections, medical mattresses, and other materials needed for operations. This truck was crucial today. Before the car pulled in, we spoke to the emergency department director, who is concerned because the hospital “does not offer any medical services to anyone; the doors are open because we have to stay open as a hospital”.
4 Killed in pre-dawn raid on occupied West Bank’s Qalqilya.
563 days ago
Four people were killed after the latest pre-dawn raid carried out by Israeli forces in the occupied West Bank. One of the three people killed was a fighter of the armed group, Jenin Battalion. Israeli forces, who were carrying out a deadly pre-dawn raid in the occupied West Bank’s Jenin, have withdrawn from the area, shifting its operation towards Qalqilya in the northwest of the Palestinian territory.
Two people killed, journalist among those injured in Israeli raid in Jenin
563 days ago
Two Palestinians were confirmed killed and 10 others injured, after the latest Israeli raid in the occupied West Bank’s city of Jenin. One of those killed was believed to be an armed man. That brings the total number of people killed in the occupied West Bank since October 7 to 108. Our correspondent also reported that 10 other people were injured, including journalist Hamza Zyoud, who was covering the raid.
US carried out strikes in Syria following attacks on American personnel
563 days ago
The US conducted two strikes on Thursday against facilities in Syria allegedly used by Iran’s Revolutionary Guard Corps and Iran-backed groups, the US Secretary of Defence, Lloyd Austin, said in a statement. The strikes were ordered by President Biden in response to attacks on American personnel in Syria this week.
Egyptian media: Five injured after rocket falls on Taba
563 days ago
Egyptian media outlets are now reporting that at least five people have been injured after a missile linked to the Israel-Hamas war fell on a building in the Red Sea town of Taba. Taba lies just across the border from Israel, with the Israeli city of Eilat nearby. There has been no official confirmation of the incident from the Egyptian government.
‘Massive artillery shelling’ in eastern Gaza in last hour
563 days ago
The Israeli shelling took place in the last hour. Reporting from Khan Younis in southern Gaza, Al Jazeera’s Tareq Abu Azzoum says the Israeli military also fired illuminating flares to help them see what is happening on the ground inside the Palestinian enclave.
Israel blocking most aid into Gaza is ‘war crime’: Former HRW chief
563 days ago
Kenneth Roth, the former longtime leader of Human Rights Watch, says the Israeli policy is an act of “collective punishment, not a targeted attack on Hamas”. Israel's blocking of most humanitarian aid to the deeply needy civilian population of Gaza is a war crime. It is collective punishment, not a targeted attack on Hamas militants. — Kenneth Roth (@KenRoth) October 26, 2023
Mass arrests reported in East Jerusalem neighbourhood
563 days ago
Israeli forces have raided the al-Issawiya neighborhood in occupied East Jerusalem and carried out several arrests. Al Jazeera Arabic’s correspondent said a massive arrest campaign against Palestinians there is underway. Israel has arrested more than 1,000 Palestinians across Jerusalem and the occupied West Bank in the last two weeks alone. It has also arrested about 4,000 laborers from Gaza.
Qassam Brigades says rockets launched towards Tel Aviv
563 days ago
Hamas’s armed wing, the Qassam Brigades, says in the messaging app Telegram that it has launched rockets towards Tel Aviv “in response to Zionist massacres committed against civilians”. The statement comes as Israel renews its bombardment of the Gaza Strip, hitting several areas in the past couple of hours and destroying multiple residential buildings.
IDF says it will closely monitor UNRWA fuel facility in Rafah following Hamas fuel theft
563 days ago
The IDF said it will not target the UNRWA fuel facility in Rafah, and will instead monitor it closely from the air, said IDF spokesperson Daniel Hagari. Hagari said that the IDF informed UNRWA and the UN that fuel had been stolen from UNRWA warehouses by Hamas. He added that the IDF will continue ground raids into the Gaza Strip tonight and over the coming days "so that we are ready for the next stages of the war."
Pentagon says 900 additional US soldiers heading to Middle East but will not go to Israel
563 days ago
The soldiers are heading to the Middle East as part of “efforts to deter a broader conflict and further bolster our force protection capabilities”, Pentagon spokesperson Brigadier General Patrick Ryder says at a news briefing. The soldiers include “forces that have been on prepared-to-deploy orders and which are deploying from the continental United States”, Ryder said without giving an exact location of where the soldiers would be sent. “I can confirm that they are not going to Israel,” he said.
Telegram censors Hamas on official Android and iPhone apps
563 days ago
Telegram, the chat and video app that has served as the primary source for most Hamas videos that are then shared on other platforms, has blocked the terror group’s official channels for some users. The versions of the Telegram app available at the Google Play and iPhone App Store now block those accounts and show users a message that they are restricted.
State Department says Egypt is ready to process Americans in Gaza, but Hamas is blocking their exit
563 days ago
Egypt is ready to process American citizens if they make it through the gate on the Gaza side of Rafah crossing and across no man's land to the Egyptian side, but Hamas is blocking their exit, said U.S. State Department spokesperson Matt Miller.
Israeli military says it killed deputy head of Hamas intelligence
563 days ago
Military spokesman Daniel Hagari has said an Israeli airstrike killed Shadi Barud. Hagari said Barud worked with Yahya Sinwar, Hamas’s top official in Gaza, in planning the October 7 attack on Israel. Sinwar is considered one of Israel’s top Hamas targets. Hamas’s armed wing, the Qassem Brigades, did not immediately confirm the death.
‘Permission to kill’: Syria blasts the West over Israel support
563 days ago
The United States and Western allies have given Israel open-ended permission “for Israeli fascists to kill the Palestinian people”, Syria’s foreign minister says. By saying Israel has “the right to defend itself”, those countries provided carte blanche for it to bombard and destroy Gaza, said Faisal Mekdad. Demolishing homes of Palestinians “over their heads” and depriving them of electricity and water “are war crimes and crimes against humanity”, Mekdad added in comments carried by state media.
Relief agency says ‘out of money’ to help Gaza families
563 days ago
Jan Egeland, head of the Norwegian Refugee Council, said the group typically has been able to help Palestinian families in the territory “with small cash transfers for food & medicines they may find in local markets” – but not anymore. “We have run out of money. There is no relief for women & children under bombardment, siege & cross-fire,” he said.
Hamas Al-Qassam Brigades spokesperson says around 50 hostages were killed in Israeli airstrikes
563 days ago
Abu Ubaida, a spokesperson for Hamas' Al-Qassam Brigades, estimated that approximately 50 hostages were killed in the Gaza Strip by Israeli airstrikes. The Al-Qassam Brigades is the military wing of Hamas, led by Mohammed Deif.
Hospitals facing an ‘overwhelming’ situation in Khan Younis
563 days ago
From Hani Mahmoud in Khan Younis, in southern Gaza\n\nThe medical teams are overwhelmed, exhausted, and can’t keep up with the large influx of casualties. Outside the main entrance of Nasser Hospital’s emergency department in Khan Younis, a tent was set up to accommodate the bodies piled inside the building and for families to identify them for burial. The morgue is filled with dead bodies. The large number of casualties is adding more pressure on hospitals already running out of essential needs and capabilities. The corridors are filled with people who are either injured or have evacuated there, while the operation rooms are packed and desperate surgeries are taking place on the floor.
Special forces and tank brigade in special Gaza incursion
564 days ago
As Israeli airstrikes flattened the Gaza Strip, the country's military carried out a significant incursion into the enclave, sending in special forces and tanks from the Givati Brigade. “Israeli soldiers located and struck numerous terrorists ... and operated to prepare the battlefield,” the Israeli military said. The troops withdrew after the mission and this was not Israel’s much-anticipated full-scale invasion. Thousands of Israeli troops — many of them reservists — remain inside Israel, ringing Gaza.
Israeli military arrests dozens of suspected Hamas members in the West Bank
564 days ago
Israeli authorities have arrested more than 60 people in the West Bank, including 46 suspected Hamas members, the IDF said in a statement today. The detentions came after an "extensive arrest operation to thwart terrorism and confiscate weapons" carried out by the IDF and Shin Bet, the internal Israeli security service.
Hezbollah marks ‘deadliest day’ after more than a dozen fighters killed
564 days ago
Hezbollah announced that more than a dozen of its militants were killed, marking its “deadliest day” since the Hamas attack. The group claims it is deterring Israel’s ground assault on Gaza as questions mount over how powerful the group is.
At least 77 confirmed dead overnight in Khan Younis as rescuers pull children out of the rubble
564 days ago
At least 77 people were killed last night in the southern Gaza town of Khan Younis, health officials have said. Dr. Nahid Abu Taema, director of the Nasser Hospital, "Most of them children and women, some of whom were in pieces."
'Nowhere is safe in Gaza' — U.N. calls for protection of civilians
564 days ago
The U.N.'s humanitarian coordinator for the Palestinian Territories has declared that "Nowhere is safe in Gaza" and warned that Israel's “advance warnings make no difference” to the safety of the enclave's 2.3 million population. Lynn Hastings said in a statement today that evacuation routes to humanitarian sites are bombed, leaving people with nowhere to go.
Hamas calls for worldwide protests to 'stop the war of extermination'
564 days ago
Hamas today called on Muslims and Arabs across the world to "escalate the mass movement" calling for an end to the Israeli bombardment of Gaza and to permanently open the Rafah crossing with Egypt to allow humanitarian aid to cross. The group said in a statement it wanted supporters to "participate actively and intensively in the coming Friday and Sunday," using the slogans "Open the Rafah crossing" and "Stop the war of extermination on Gaza."
FBI and DHS issue announcement about threats associated with the war
564 days ago
The FBI and the Department of Homeland Security issued a rare joint public service announcement last night about threats associated with the Israel-Hamas conflict, both in the U.S. and overseas. The announcement comes after a similar PSA issued on Oct. 10 and an FBI/DHS intelligence bulletin that went out to law enforcement on Oct. 18.
Ceasefire means ‘life and death’, says China’s UN ambassador
564 days ago
"Russia and China vetoed a US resolution that called for a pause to allow humanitarian aid access instead of a ceasefire. “At this moment, ceasefire is not just a diplomatic term. It means the life and death of many civilians,” China’s UN Ambassador Zhang Jun told the UNSC after the vote. “The draft does not reflect the world’s strongest calls for a ceasefire, an end to the fighting, and it does not help resolve the issue,” said Zhang.
Israeli ground forces conducted ‘relatively large’ Gaza incursion
564 days ago
Israeli ground forces carried out a relatively large incursion into the Gaza Strip overnight to attack Hamas positions, according to Reuters news agency quoting Israel’s Army Radio. It described the raid as larger than previously carried out during the Gaza war, now in its 20th day.
Gaza doctor says ICUs have no water
564 days ago
Gaza’s Health Ministry says that a lack of supplies is putting vulnerable patients, including 130 premature babies, at risk. “We have part of the hospitals now without electricity, we have the ICUs without water now,” Dr Mohammed Qandeel from Nasser Hospital.
'We’re losing an inner sense of humanity': UNRWA director who has family sheltering in Gaza
564 days ago
UNRWA Director of Philanthropy Hani Almadhoun details the increasingly dire reality for thousands of Gazans.
Fire underway after Israeli air strike on Gaza’s Tal al-Hawa
564 days ago
Israeli forces targeted several areas in central Gaza’s Tal al-Hawa neighborhood with air strikes, causing a huge fire to erupt. Thick plumes of smoke were also seen rising from the area. There were no immediate reports of casualties from either the air raids or the ongoing fire.
Israel ramps up West Bank raids amid Gaza attacks
564 days ago
Israeli military ramps up its overnight raids across the occupied West Bank as it presses on with its deadly bombardment of Gaza.
More than half of Hamas’ hostages have foreign nationality, Israel says
564 days ago
More than half the estimated 220 hostages held by Hamas have foreign passports from 25 different countries, including 54 Thai nationals, the Israeli government said. In providing updated figures, the government also said 328 people from 40 countries were confirmed as dead or missing after the surprise Oct. 7 attack by Hamas fighters on southern Israel. In all, an estimated 1,400 people were killed in the assault. Israel said 138 of the hostages had foreign passports, including 15 Argentines, 12 Germans, 12 Americans, six French and six Russians.
New Israeli raids on the city of Khan Yunis
564 days ago
New Israeli raids on the city of Khan Yunis, artillery shelling east of the city of Khan Yunis. 17 citizens were killed in an Israeli bombing that targeted a house in the city of Khan Yunis
Three more U.N. workers killed in Gaza; shelters 'no longer provide dignified living conditions'
564 days ago
Three more workers with the U.N. relief agency UNRWA were killed over the last 24 hours, the organization said today. The new deaths bring the number of UNRWA workers killed to 38 since Hamas launched its attack on Israel on Oct. 7, triggering a war, it said.
Meta says it locked pro-Palestinian accounts after signs of security compromise
564 days ago
Meta, the owner of Instagram and Facebook, said Wednesday that its security staff had detected a possible hacking attempt on pro-Palestinian accounts with millions of followers and locked the accounts while it tried to reach the accounts' owners. The accounts focused on posting media from Gaza, including videos and images of injured people. The material was generally unverified by international journalists. It’s not clear who or how many people posted to the pages. Meta said late Wednesday that it had disabled the accounts because of security concerns.
Barrage of Rockets Hits Tel Aviv, Injuring Three Israeli Citizens
564 days ago
A video captures streets filled with dust in Tel Aviv following a rocket barrage that injured three civilians in the city.
US Resolution does not pass U.N. Security council
564 days ago
Russia & China veto vote on a resolution proposed by the United States to U.N. security council
Australia pledges additional $15 million in aid to Gaza
564 days ago
Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese announced that an additional $15 million in humanitarian aid will be given to civilians in Gaza, bringing the total aid from his country to $25 million.
Protesters Stage Sit-In at Congressional Offices, Demanding Ceasefire in Gaza
564 days ago
Demonstrators occupy congressional offices, demanding favorable votes and support for resolutions advocating a ceasefire in Gaza.
Israel to refuse visas to UN officials after Guterres speech on Gaza war
564 days ago
In response to UN Chief Antonio Guterres' criticism of Israel's evacuation orders in Gaza, Israel's UN envoy announced a refusal to grant visas to UN officials. Tensions have escalated, with the envoy stating that it's time to "teach them a lesson.", after Guterres indirectly criticized Israel's actions in Gaza.
Tragic Loss: Al Jazeera Correspondent's Family Victims of Israeli Airstrike in Gaza - Heartbreaking Footage Reveals Devastating Toll
564 days ago
In a heartbreaking event, the family of Wael Al-Dahdouh, Al Jazeera's Gaza correspondent, fell victim to an Israeli airstrike in the Al-Nuseirat refugee camp. His wife, son, and daughter lost their lives in the attack. Al-Dahdouh's emotional identification of their bodies at a local hospital was captured on camera, highlighting the devastating toll on innocent lives in the conflict.
Israeli Settlers attack West Bank village
564 days ago
Unidentified Israeli settlers reportedly assaulted Palestinian farmers in the northern occupied West Bank village of Burin, as per an anonymous human rights activist. The attackers, armed and threatening, targeted olive pickers in the southeastern part of the village. After the farmers fled, the settlers set fire to equipment and vehicles and looted villagers' tools, personal cellphones, and olive crops.
U.N. Reports Over 690,000 Women and Girls Displaced by Conflict
564 days ago
The ongoing conflict has forced over 690,000 women and girls to flee, with women and children comprising 67% of casualties in Gaza, stated Sima Bahous, UN-Women's executive director. She emphasized the unprecedented impact of the conflict on women and girls. The war has also led to the formation of over 1,100 female-headed households. Bahous highlighted that among the 200+ Israeli hostages, a significant number are women and children, underscoring the widespread suffering due to conflicts largely orchestrated by men.
IDF shares gruesome extended footage of Hamas attack with journalist
564 days ago
The Israel Defense Forces presented journalists with a disturbing compilation of footage capturing parts of Hamas' deadly attack on October 7. The video depicts horrifying scenes of people, including children, lying dead on the floor, some unrecognizably burnt or shot. Others are shown desperately seeking shelter in their homes, under tables, or in safe rooms. Some attempt to run or hide, including those at the music festival near Re'im, before tragically succumbing to the attack.
In Gaza, Unidentified Bodies Buried in Mass Graves Prompt Families to Use Bracelets for Identification
564 days ago
Due to the overwhelming number of bodies, Palestinians in Gaza are resorting to burying unidentified deceased individuals in mass graves, assigned only numbers instead of names, as reported by residents. To aid in identification, some families are now using bracelets, holding onto the hope of locating their loved ones if they tragically lose their lives.
Hamas Alleges Israeli Strike on Refugee Camp Bakery
564 days ago
Hamas accused the IDF of striking the only bakery in the Al-Maghazi refugee camp, despite reports that it had received supplies from the U.N. relief agency just hours before. The IDF denied these allegations, emphasizing that they target only military sites and labeling the claims as misinformation that endangers civilians. The U.N. relief agency has not provided additional information regarding the incident.
WHO: 171 attacks on health care in occupied Palestinian territory
564 days ago
The World Health Organization said there were 171 attacks on health care in the occupied Palestinian territory, resulting in 493 deaths — including 16 health workers on duty.
Oxfam Director Condemns Starvation Used as a Weapon of War
565 days ago
Oxfam's Sally Abi Khalil accused Israel of using civilian suffering as a war tactic in Gaza. Oxfam called on the U.N. Security Council to act swiftly for a cease-fire and aid access. Shortages in clean water and food for over 2 million Gaza residents are critical. Khalil decried the inhumanity and the destruction of bakeries due to airstrikes.
Fuel runs out in Gaza as Israel rejects cease-fire calls
565 days ago
The power is flickering and fading at hospitals in Gaza, as medical officials say generators are on their last drops of fuel. The health system run by Hamas is in a state of collapse, just as casualties are flooding in from hundreds of Israeli airstrikes a day.
Gaza death toll spikes to more than 6,500
565 days ago
More than 6,500 people have been killed in Gaza, Palestinian officials said. The death toll grew to 6,546 today, that's almost 800 more than was reported less than 24 hours ago. Gaza Health Ministry spokesman Ashraf Al-Qudra said 756 people had been killed since yesterday, including 344 children.
3 killed in Israeli raid near Jenin in the West Bank
565 days ago
Palestinian health officials said three people were killed in an overnight raid near Jenin in the occupied West Bank after the Israeli military said it conducted "counterterrorism activities." The IDF said it apprehended two people "suspected of involvement in terrorist activities" in Wadi Bruqin, in Jenin, during a raid with Israel's border police. "Additionally, the forces opened fire toward armed terrorists," it said in a statement. "Hits were identified."
IDF says it killed senior Hamas commander
565 days ago
Israel's military says it killed the commander of the North Khan Yunis sector battalion of Hamas. IDF spokesman Daniel Hagari said this morning that Taysir Mubasher served in the past as the commander of the naval force of Hamas and led many attacks against Israel.
4th Convoy of Aid Enters Gaza
565 days ago
A fourth humanitarian aid convoy, comprising 8 trucks filled with essential supplies including food, water, and medicine, has entered Gaza. However, the transportation of fuel into Gaza remains prohibited, jeopardizing ongoing humanitarian initiatives in the region.
Hezbollah has confirmed six of its members have been killed.
565 days ago
Today, Hezbollah has so far confirmed six of its members have been killed. The number will likely continue to rise
Palestine Red Crescent Society says 15 hospitals out of service in Gaza
565 days ago
The Health Prime Minister declared a dire situation in Gaza's healthcare sector: 15 hospitals are now non-operational, lacking water, medicine, and backup generator fuel. Gaza's health care system is in a state of collapse.
Google Maps and Waze Temporarily Halt Live Traffic Updates in Israel and Gaza Amidst Rising Tensions
565 days ago
Amidst the Israel-Gaza conflict, Google and Apple have disabled live traffic updates on Google Maps and Waze. This move prioritizes user safety and national security, underscoring the challenges faced by tech companies during crises.
Macron in Israel warns against widening Gaza conflict
566 days ago
French President Macron emphasized the immediate need for releasing all Hamas hostages during his visit to Israel. He supported Israel's fight against Hamas but warned against escalation, urging targeted operations.
Indonesian Hospital in Gaza Faces Electricity Shortage Due to Fuel Scarcity, Hamas Reports
566 days ago
The Indonesian Hospital in northern Gaza is currently without electricity due to fuel shortages, according to a statement by Hamas issued early Tuesday. Hamas has accused Israel of committing a "crime against humanity" by not allowing fuel into Gaza since imposing a "complete siege" on the territory following the attacks by Hamas on Israeli civilians. Hamas has called on the United Nations, Arab, and Muslim countries to intervene urgently and provide fuel to hospitals in the region.
U.S. readies plans for mass evacuations if Gaza war escalates
566 days ago
Officials have expressed specific concerns about the safety of over 600,000 Americans residing in Israel and Lebanon. They underscored that evacuating such a large number of citizens is a worst-case scenario. The Biden administration is making preparations for the potential evacuation of hundreds of thousands of American citizens from the Middle East if the violence in Gaza escalates further, as reported by four sources familiar with U.S. government contingency planning.
Two Israeli hostages freed by Hamas
566 days ago
On Monday, Hamas announced the release of two Israeli women, part of the more than 200 hostages taken during their violent attack in southern Israel on October 7. Concurrently, sources revealed that the U.S. had advised Israel to refrain from launching a ground assault in the Gaza Strip.
Hamas and Israeli troops clash in Gaza as airstrikes intensify
567 days ago
Hamas fighters and Israeli forces engaged in limited clashes inside Gaza on Sunday as the Israeli military ramped up airstrikes on the Palestinian enclave ahead of what its spokesperson described as the “next stage” of its war on the militant group.
IDF confirms Israel found Hamas files with instructions for making chemical weapons
568 days ago
Israeli President Isaac Herzog confirmed on Sunday Axios' report that the IDF found a USB key with instructions for producing a "cyanide dispersion device" on the body of a Hamas operative who participated in the Oct. 7 terrorist attack.
Survival Struggles: Impact of Gaza Conflict on Palestinian Businesses Demands Urgent Global Support
570 days ago
In the wake of the ongoing Gaza conflict, Palestinian businesses face unprecedented challenges. The once-vibrant startup scene now grapples with immense economic struggle, compounded by the destruction of infrastructure and livelihoods. International aid and global cooperation have become paramount, offering a glimmer of hope amid the devastation. The resilience of entrepreneurs is tested, emphasizing the urgent need for peace, stability, and immediate support from the international community.
Israeli Artillery Strike Claims Journalist's Life and Injures Reporters Near Lebanese Border
576 days ago
In a devastating incident near the Lebanese border, an Israeli artillery strike resulted in the tragic death of a journalist and injuries to several others, including Al Jazeera reporters. This sobering event underscores the pressing need for enhanced safety measures for journalists in conflict zones. Explore the details of this incident and the urgent global demands for accountability and journalist protection.
What we know
- Gaza's health care system is failing, and the U.N. warned it may be forced to halt operations today as fuel runs out. Israeli airstrikes led to the deadliest day yet in the besieged enclave, Palestinian officials said.
- Growing international calls for a humanitarian cease-fire have been met with fury by Israel, which angrily denounced the head of the U.N. for his comments and said it was time to teach the world body "a lesson."
- Talks with Hamas about the release of a larger group of hostages are "progressing positively," a diplomat with knowledge of the discussions said, although there has been "no breakthrough yet."
- Israel conducted new strikes on the occupied West Bank and against Syria overnight, adding to concerns about a broader escalation amid frequent clashes with Hezbollah across the Lebanon border.
- More than 6,546 people have been killed in Gaza, an increase of more than 700 in the last day, according to the enclave's health spokesman. In Israel, 1,400 people have been killed, including 308 members of the Israeli forces.
Current Developments:
Advisement from the United States:
According to credible sources, the United States is advising Israel to exercise restraint and postpone any ground invasion of Gaza. This strategic decision aims to facilitate extended periods for hostage negotiations and humanitarian aid efforts. This counsel has been conveyed by four high-ranking U.S. officials.
Israeli Military Approach:
While refraining from a ground assault, the Israeli military has intensified its aerial bombardment of the Gaza Strip. Concurrently, Israel has issued repeated appeals to civilians, urging them to relocate southward for their safety. It is worth noting that there is hesitation among some residents to vacate their homes, despite the prevailing risks.
Aid Initiatives:
Both the United States and Israel have committed to ensuring an uninterrupted flow of aid into Gaza. Initial convoys have successfully entered the besieged Palestinian enclave through the Rafah border crossing with Egypt. Despite these efforts, health officials on the ground have emphasized the urgent need for significantly more aid to adequately address the escalating humanitarian crisis in the region.
U.S. Military Presence and Preventive Measures:
Against the backdrop of rising tensions, the United States has opted to bolster its military presence in the Middle East. This strategic move is driven by the objective of preventing a broader conflict. Recent incidents, including clashes at the Lebanon border and an unfortunate occurrence where an Israeli tank mistakenly struck an Egyptian position, have heightened concerns about the potential for a wider escalation of hostilities in the region.
Recap Oct 25th
- Omar Shakir, the Israel and Palestine director at Human Rights Watch (HRW), has said that the Palestinian death toll provided by the Ministry of Health in the Gaza Strip is reliable, after United States President Joe Biden questioned the numbers of people killed.
- An Israeli air raid has killed the wife, son, daughter and infant grandson of Al Jazeera Arabic’s Gaza bureau chief Wael Dahdouh in central Gaza after they evacuated to the area from Gaza City following a warning from Israel.
- Israel is continuing raids and arrests in the occupied West Bank, where Palestinian authorities say there are now more than 1,200 people detained by Israel.
- The charity Oxfam has said that Israel is using starvation as a “weapon of war” as the blockade of Gaza continues.
- UN member states, frustrated by US and Russian veto of UN Security Council resolutions, are working on alternatives, including a resolution to be considered by the UN General Assembly.