Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said on Wednesday (May 15) that the 98th Division pushed into the Jabalia refugee camp in the northern Gaza Strip overnight, killing many gunmen. According to the IDF, the division's 7th and 460th armoured brigades battled "dozens of armed squads and eliminated a large number of terrorists" the previous day.&nbsp;

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The IDF claimed in a message on its official Telegram channel that overnight it started "an operation against terrorist operatives and infrastructure in the centre of the Jabalia camp"&nbsp;and has "eliminated a large number of terrorists".&nbsp;

Residents in the Jabalia camp said that Israeli tanks had destroyed clusters of homes but were facing heavy resistance.&nbsp;"They are bombing houses on top of their inhabitants. We know of many families being trapped inside their homes," said Abu Jehad, as quoted by the news agency Reuters.

Hamas ally Islamic Jihad said it killed some foot soldiers in Jabalia - a camp which was claimed to have been cleared by Israel months ago.&nbsp;

The military said that in the same area, a drone strike killed members of a cell responsible for rocket fire on Sderot yesterday.&nbsp;

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The IDF said that its 162nd Division is continuing operations in the eastern part of Rafah in southern Gaza. The IDF said that troops of the Givati Brigade raided a Hamas training camp during the Rafah operations. The soldiers killed several gunmen at the Hamas base and captured weapons. It also claimed that have located mock IDF vehicles used by the militant group for training.&nbsp;

"In the Nahal Brigade's operation in the Zeytun area, the fighters eliminated dozens of terrorists in ground encounters and airstrikes," the military said in a post on social media platform X.&nbsp;

It added that the "military destroyed terrorist infrastructure and located many weapons - dozens of Kalashnikov rifles, grenades, cartridges and means of intelligence control of the terrorist organisation Hamas."&nbsp;

"The battle team of the Nahal Brigade completed their mission in the Zeyton area and are preparing for further offensive operations," it said in a post.&nbsp;

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Watch:&nbsp;Malaysia PM Ibrahim meets Hamas leader Haniyeh and former chairman in Qatar&nbsp;

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<h2>Israel shows images of gunmen at UN site&nbsp;&nbsp;</h2>

Israel said its troops had identified fighters in the central logistics compound of the UN Palestinian relief agency UNRWA east of Rafah, demanding an explanation.&nbsp;

"The U.N. has in part become a terrorist entity in itself because it cooperates with Hamas and covers for it," Israel's ambassador to the U.N. Gilad Erdan told Army Radio.

UNRWA has denied allegations of cooperating with Hamas. Meanwhile, the agency said it was examining the footage and would share information when possible.&nbsp;

While speaking to the news agency Reuters, senior Hamas official Sami Abu Zuhri said that the men were there to protect aid distribution.&nbsp;

"These are false allegations and lies. This is a police force tasked with securing aid centers against acts of theft and looting," Abu Zuhri told Reuters.&nbsp;

Disclaimer: WION takes utmost care to accurately and responsibly report ongoing developments on the Israel-Palestine conflict after the Hamas attacks. However, we cannot independently verify the authenticity of all statements, photos and videos.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)&nbsp;

Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said on Wednesday (May 15) that the 98th Division pushed into the Jabalia refugee camp in the northern Gaza Strip overnight, killing many gunmen.

Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said on Wednesday (May 15) that the 98th Division pushed into the Jabalia refugee camp in the northern Gaza Strip overnight, killing many gunmen. According to the IDF, the division's 7th and 460th armoured brigades battled "dozens of armed squads and eliminated a large number of terrorists" the previous day. The IDF claimed in a message on its official Telegram channel that overnight it started "an operation against terrorist operatives and infrastructure in the centre of the Jabalia camp" and has "eliminated a large number of terrorists". Residents in the Jabalia camp said that Israeli tanks had destroyed clusters of homes but were facing heavy resistance. "They are bombing houses on top of their inhabitants. We know of many families being trapped inside their homes," said Abu Jehad, as quoted by the news agency Reuters. Hamas ally Islamic Jihad said it killed some foot soldiers in Jabalia - a camp which was claimed to have been cleared by Israel months ago. The military said that in the same area, a drone strike killed members of a cell responsible for rocket fire on Sderot yesterday. Also read: Mysterious new symbol appears on Russia’s military equipment. Here’s what it is The IDF said that its 162nd Division is continuing operations in the eastern part of Rafah in southern Gaza. The IDF said that troops of the Givati Brigade raided a Hamas training camp during the Rafah operations. The soldiers killed several gunmen at the Hamas base and captured weapons. It also claimed that have located mock IDF vehicles used by the militant group for training. "In the Nahal Brigade's operation in the Zeytun area, the fighters eliminated dozens of terrorists in ground encounters and airstrikes," the military said in a post on social media platform X. It added that the "military destroyed terrorist infrastructure and located many weapons - dozens of Kalashnikov rifles, grenades, cartridges and means of intelligence control of the terrorist organisation Hamas." "The battle team of the Nahal Brigade completed their mission in the Zeyton area and are preparing for further offensive operations," it said in a post. Also read: Zelensky cancels Friday visit to Spain amid fresh Russian offensive in Kharkiv Watch: Malaysia PM Ibrahim meets Hamas leader Haniyeh and former chairman in Qatar × Israel shows images of gunmen at UN site Israel said its troops had identified fighters in the central logistics compound of the UN Palestinian relief agency UNRWA east of Rafah, demanding an explanation. "The U.N. has in part become a terrorist entity in itself because it cooperates with Hamas and covers for it," Israel's ambassador to the U.N. Gilad Erdan told Army Radio. UNRWA has denied allegations of cooperating with Hamas. Meanwhile, the agency said it was examining the footage and would share information when possible. While speaking to the news agency Reuters, senior Hamas official Sami Abu Zuhri said that the men were there to protect aid distribution. "These are false allegations and lies. This is a police force tasked with securing aid centers against acts of theft and looting," Abu Zuhri told Reuters. Disclaimer: WION takes utmost care to accurately and responsibly report ongoing developments on the Israel-Palestine conflict after the Hamas attacks. However, we cannot independently verify the authenticity of all statements, photos and videos. (With inputs from agencies)

War rages across Gaza Strip, Israel claims to have intensified operations in Jabalia refugee camp

The United States (US) Secretary of State Antony Blinken said on Sunday (May 12) that an all-out Israeli offensive in the Gaza Strip's Rafah would provoke "anarchy" without eliminating Hamas.

The United States (US) Secretary of State Antony Blinken said on Sunday (May 12) that an all-out Israeli offensive in the Gaza Strip's Rafah would provoke "anarchy" without eliminating Hamas. "Israel's on the trajectory, potentially, to inherit an insurgency with many armed Hamas left, or if it leaves, a vacuum filled by chaos, filled by anarchy and probably refilled by Hamas," Blinken told CBS News. On being asked whether the US concurred with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's statement that Israeli forces had killed more civilians than Hamas militants since the war began, Blinken replied simply, "Yes, we do." Speaking to another American media outlet, the US Secretary of State said on Sunday that Washington was continuing to press Israeli leaders to provide a plan for Gaza once the war is finally over. Blinken further said Hamas militants had already returned to certain areas of northern Gaza that Israel had "liberated." Fighting rages across Gaza Blinken remarks came as fighting raged across the Gaza Strip on Sunday. The Israeli military sent tanks into eastern Jabalia in northern Gaza after a night of heavy aerial and ground bombardments, killing 19 people and wounding dozens of others, Palestinian health officials said. Jabalia is the biggest of Gaza's eight historic refugee camps and is home to more than 100,000 people, most of whom were descendants of Palestinians who were driven from towns and villages in what is now Israel during the 1948 Arab-Israeli war that led to the creation the state of Israel. Addressing a press conference, IDF spokesperson Daniel Hagari said, "We identified in the past weeks attempts by Hamas to rehabilitate its military capabilities in Jabalia. We are operating there to eliminate those attempts." Thousands of families were leaving Rafah as the Israeli military pressure intensified. Meanwhile, the armed wing of Hamas and the Islamic Jihad said their fighters attacked Israeli forces in several areas inside Gaza with anti-tank rockets and mortar bombs, including in Rafah. Death toll in Gaza over 35,000 The war between Israel and Hamas began last year when Hamas launched an unprecedented attack on Israel on October 7, killing 1,200 people, mostly civilians. The Palestinian militant group took hundreds of people as hostages. Israel estimates 128 captives remain in Gaza. It is presumed that 36 of these 128 captives are dead. Israel struck back hard in Gaza, killing thousands of Palestinians and displacing tens of thousands of more. On Sunday, the death toll in the war crossed 35,000, as per the Hamas-run health ministry. (With inputs from agencies)

Gaza war: Israel's Rafah offensive will provoke 'anarchy' without eliminating Hamas, says Blinken

Sixteen people were killed in Israeli airstrikes in the Gaza Strip's Rafah city, the news agency AFP reported early Monday (May 6), citing medics and first responders.

Sixteen people were killed in Israeli airstrikes in the Gaza Strip's Rafah city, the news agency AFP reported early Monday (May 6), citing medics and first responders. "The toll of martyrs in Rafah reached 16," emergency first responders told AFP, adding that seven people from one family and nine from another family were killed in the Israeli attacks. Medical sources, meanwhile, confirmed two strikes they said took place at two different locations around Rafah. 'Three Israeli soldiers killed in Hamas attack' The airstrikes came hours after Hamas claimed responsibility for a rocket attack near Rafah which Israel said killed three of its soldiers and injured 11 more. Hamas' armed wing said it fired rockets at an Israeli army base by the Kerem Shalom crossing into Gaza. Also read | Israel cabinet votes to shut down Al Jazeera offices in country; Hamas reacts The Israeli military confirmed the counter-strike, saying it struck the launcher from which the Hamas projectiles were fired, as well as a nearby "military structure." The military said 10 projectiles were launched from Rafah in southern Gaza towards the area of Kerem Shalom, which it said was now closed for aid trucks going into the coastal enclave. Other crossings remained open. "The launches carried out by Hamas adjacent to the Rafah Crossing ... are a clear example of the terrorist organisation's systematic exploitation of humanitarian facilities and spaces and their continued use of the Gazan civilian population as human shields," the military added. Hamas delegation to be in Qatar for truce talks Sunday's attacks came as hopes dimmed for ceasefire talks between the warring factions. A Hamas official said that the group's delegation for Gaza truce talks in Cairo was leaving for "consultations" in Qatar after public disagreement with Israel intensified over demands to end their seven-month war. Also watch | Future of war: Will private military contractors take over? | WION Decodes × The official, who chose to remain anonymous, told AFP that "the meeting with the Egyptian intelligence minister has ended and the Hamas delegation is leaving for Doha for further consultations." Earlier, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said "surrendering" to a demand to end the war would amount to defeat. (With inputs from agencies)

Gaza war: 16 killed in Israeli airstrikes in Rafah following rocket attack by Hamas

Palestinian militant group Hamas on Sunday (Apr 21) released a statement condemning the approval of billions of dollars in military aid to Israel stating that this would give Tel Aviv a "licence" for the Gaza "aggression".

"This support, which violates international law, is a licence and a green light for the Zionist extremist government (Israel) to continue the brutal aggression against our people," Hamas said in a statement.

"We consider this step a confirmation of the official American complicity and partnership in the war of extermination waged by the fascist occupation army against our Palestinian people in the Gaza Strip."

The US House on Saturday (Apr 20) approved a $13 billion military aid package for Israel amid its ongoing war in the Gaza Strip.

Following the significant development, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said that the "much-appreciated aid bill" exhibits support for Israel and "defends Western civilisation".

The US bill said that more than $9 billion will also be dedicated to address "the dire need for humanitarian assistance for Gaza as well as other vulnerable populations around the world". &nbsp;

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-aid-for-ukraine-will-kill-even-more-ukrainians-warns-kremlin-713449">US aid for Ukraine 'will kill even more Ukrainians', warns Kremlin</a>

<h2>Turkey's Erdogan meets Hamas leader</h2>

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Saturday (Apr 20) called on the Palestinians to unite amid the ongoing war in the Gaza Strip after his meeting with the Hamas chief in Istanbul.

As per the Turkish media reports, the talks between the Turkish President and the Hamas chief lasted for about more than two and a half hours.

"It is vital that Palestinians act with unity in this process. The strongest response to Israel and the path to victory lie in unity and integrity," Erdogan said according to a Turkish presidency statement.

<h2>Turkish President slams Netanyahu</h2>

Earlier, on Tuesday (Apr 16), Erdogan hit out at Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and the Israeli leadership condemning them for the escalation of tensions in the Middle East.

"Israel violating international law and the Vienna Convention by targeting the Iranian Embassy in Damascus was the straw that broke the camel's back," Erdogan said during a press conference after a cabinet meeting in Ankara.

He also launched a scathing attack on Netanyahu stating that he was solely responsible for the lives lost during the war and that he was endangering his own countrymen and people in the region.

"Netanyahu is endangering the lives of both his own citizens and all the people of the region to extend his political life. This is an indisputable fact: the one responsible for the tension that made our hearts skip a beat on the night of April 13 is Netanyahu and his government, which is seeing red," he added.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)

Palestinian militant group Hamas on Sunday (Apr 21) released a statement condemning the approval of billions of dollars in military aid to Israel stating that this would give Tel Aviv a "licence" for the Gaza "aggression".

Palestinian militant group Hamas on Sunday (Apr 21) released a statement condemning the approval of billions of dollars in military aid to Israel stating that this would give Tel Aviv a "licence" for the Gaza "aggression". "This support, which violates international law, is a licence and a green light for the Zionist extremist government (Israel) to continue the brutal aggression against our people," Hamas said in a statement. "We consider this step a confirmation of the official American complicity and partnership in the war of extermination waged by the fascist occupation army against our Palestinian people in the Gaza Strip." The US House on Saturday (Apr 20) approved a $13 billion military aid package for Israel amid its ongoing war in the Gaza Strip. Following the significant development, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said that the "much-appreciated aid bill" exhibits support for Israel and "defends Western civilisation". The US bill said that more than $9 billion will also be dedicated to address "the dire need for humanitarian assistance for Gaza as well as other vulnerable populations around the world". Also read: US aid for Ukraine 'will kill even more Ukrainians', warns Kremlin Turkey's Erdogan meets Hamas leader Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Saturday (Apr 20) called on the Palestinians to unite amid the ongoing war in the Gaza Strip after his meeting with the Hamas chief in Istanbul. As per the Turkish media reports, the talks between the Turkish President and the Hamas chief lasted for about more than two and a half hours. "It is vital that Palestinians act with unity in this process. The strongest response to Israel and the path to victory lie in unity and integrity," Erdogan said according to a Turkish presidency statement. Turkish President slams Netanyahu Earlier, on Tuesday (Apr 16), Erdogan hit out at Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and the Israeli leadership condemning them for the escalation of tensions in the Middle East. "Israel violating international law and the Vienna Convention by targeting the Iranian Embassy in Damascus was the straw that broke the camel's back," Erdogan said during a press conference after a cabinet meeting in Ankara. He also launched a scathing attack on Netanyahu stating that he was solely responsible for the lives lost during the war and that he was endangering his own countrymen and people in the region. "Netanyahu is endangering the lives of both his own citizens and all the people of the region to extend his political life. This is an indisputable fact: the one responsible for the tension that made our hearts skip a beat on the night of April 13 is Netanyahu and his government, which is seeing red," he added. (With inputs from agencies)

Hamas chief condemns US military aid to Israel as ‘green light for Gaza aggression’

Disclaimer: WION takes utmost care to accurately and responsibly report ongoing developments on the Israel-Palestine conflict after the Hamas attacks. However, we cannot independently verify the authenticity of all statements, photos and videos.

Disclaimer: WION takes utmost care to accurately and responsibly report ongoing developments on the Israel-Palestine conflict after the Hamas attacks. However, we cannot independently verify the authenticity of all statements, photos and videos. Israeli soldiers shot dead two Palestinian men in Gaza with one of them waving what appeared to be a white flag. The video of this incident obtained by Al Jazeera showed that the two men were buried in sand and rubbish by an Israeli army bulldozer. A report by Al Jazeera said that the two men were near the Nabulsi Roundabout, southwest of Gaza City. They were trying to return to their homes in the north of Gaza via the al-Rashid street. This is where they met the Israeli soldiers. The video shows one of the two Palestinian men approaching the troops, waving, before he disappears from view behind a building. Also read | International Court of Justice orders Israel to address famine in Gaza, ensure unhindered supply of food The second man, meanwhile, turned around and appeared to raise a piece of white fabric. He was seen being pursued by an armoured vehicle. The soldiers opened fire on him, and the first man was also shot dead. The army bulldozer was used to bury the bodies. The condemnation American civil rights and advocacy group Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) called for a United Nations (UN) probe into these killings. The CAIR said that Israel appeared to kill Palestinians on a whim and then treat their bodies like trash. Hamas, which has been at war with Israel since early October last year, condemned the killings and called on the International Criminal Court (ICC) to take necessary measures to hold Israel accountable. Also watch | Israel accused of state-led genocide in Gaza × A spokesperson for the Palestine Red Crescent Society (PRCS) told Al Jazeera that Israel was getting away with these crimes due to the silence of the international community. 'Video is edited' The Israeli army, meanwhile, told the network that the video was edited and did not show the context of the incident. The army said that a thorough and professional examination was needed to assess the details of the incident. (With inputs from agencies)

Israeli soldiers kill two unarmed Palestinians in Gaza. One of them was holding a white flag: Report

The United Nations Satellite Centre (UNOSAT) on Wednesday (Mar 20) released an updated assessment of the Gaza Strip, highlighting the extent of damage inflicted on buildings in the region amid the ongoing war between Israel and Hamas.&nbsp;

The recent analysis based on satellite imagery stated that around 35 per cent of Gaza Strip structures have been damaged since the conflict began.&nbsp;

<h2>Israel-Hamas War&nbsp;</h2>

The war between Israel and Hamas began when the Islamist group launched an unprecedented October 7 attack on Israel, which resulted in the deaths of around 1,200 people, mostly civilians, according to official figures released by Israel.&nbsp;

Israel vowed to eliminate Hamas and launched a massive military offensive in Gaza, which also included ground incursions. Since the war started, Israeli forces have killed more than 31,000 Palestinians, according to Gaza health authorities.&nbsp;

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/gaza-war-us-submitted-draft-resolution-to-unsc-calling-for-immediate-truce-says-blinken-702522">Gaza war: US submitted draft resolution to UNSC calling for immediate truce, says Blinken</a>&nbsp;

<h2>Satellite image assessment&nbsp;</h2>

UNOSAT noted that the analysis is based on very high-resolution satellite imagery collected on&nbsp;February 29, 2024. The image revealed a significant increase in destruction compared to previous assessments.&nbsp;

An official release mentioned that UNOSAT compared the image with others dated: May 1 and May 10 in 2023; September 18, 2023; October 15 in 2023; November 7 and 26 in 2023; and January 6 and 7 in 2024.&nbsp;

The report mentioned that 35 per cent of&nbsp;buildings in the Gaza Strip have been damaged. The percentage represents 88,868 structures, among which 31,198 of them have been identified as destroyed. A total of 16,908 have been severely damaged, and 40,762 are moderately damaged.&nbsp;

<img alt="UNOSAT" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="84e64351-ef83-4eac-8ccb-de3250d17d71" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/UNOSAT.png" />

Image source:&nbsp;United Nations Satellite Centre.&nbsp;

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/gaza-war-nearly-70-former-us-officials-urge-president-biden-to-warn-israel-of-consequences-if-702457">Gaza war: Nearly 70 former US officials urge President Biden to warn Israel of consequences if...</a>&nbsp;

Watch this report:&nbsp;

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"This represents an increase of nearly 20,000 damaged structures compared to the previous assessment realized in January 2024," the report stated.&nbsp;

As per the UNOSAT report, the governorates of Khan Yunis and Gaza have experienced the "most significant" rise in damage, with Khan Yunis seeing 12,279 additional damaged structures and Gaza experiencing 2,010. In Khan Yunis City, there are 6,663 newly destroyed structures.&nbsp;

"Beyond the number of damaged buildings, this update provides an estimate of 121,400 housing units impacted by the destruction in the Gaza Strip," the UNOSAT report added.&nbsp;

Disclaimer: WION takes utmost care to accurately and responsibly report ongoing developments on the Israel-Palestine conflict after the Hamas attacks. However, we cannot independently verify the authenticity of all statements, photos and videos.

(With inputs from agencies)&nbsp;

The United Nations Satellite Centre (UNOSAT) on Wednesday (Mar 20) released an updated assessment of the Gaza Strip, highlighting the extent of damage inflicted on buildings in the region amid the ongoing war between Israel and Hamas.

The United Nations Satellite Centre (UNOSAT) on Wednesday (Mar 20) released an updated assessment of the Gaza Strip, highlighting the extent of damage inflicted on buildings in the region amid the ongoing war between Israel and Hamas. The recent analysis based on satellite imagery stated that around 35 per cent of Gaza Strip structures have been damaged since the conflict began. Israel-Hamas War The war between Israel and Hamas began when the Islamist group launched an unprecedented October 7 attack on Israel, which resulted in the deaths of around 1,200 people, mostly civilians, according to official figures released by Israel. Israel vowed to eliminate Hamas and launched a massive military offensive in Gaza, which also included ground incursions. Since the war started, Israeli forces have killed more than 31,000 Palestinians, according to Gaza health authorities. Also read: Gaza war: US submitted draft resolution to UNSC calling for immediate truce, says Blinken Satellite image assessment UNOSAT noted that the analysis is based on very high-resolution satellite imagery collected on February 29, 2024. The image revealed a significant increase in destruction compared to previous assessments. An official release mentioned that UNOSAT compared the image with others dated: May 1 and May 10 in 2023; September 18, 2023; October 15 in 2023; November 7 and 26 in 2023; and January 6 and 7 in 2024. The report mentioned that 35 per cent of buildings in the Gaza Strip have been damaged. The percentage represents 88,868 structures, among which 31,198 of them have been identified as destroyed. A total of 16,908 have been severely damaged, and 40,762 are moderately damaged. Image source: United Nations Satellite Centre. Also read: Gaza war: Nearly 70 former US officials urge President Biden to warn Israel of consequences if... Watch this report: × "This represents an increase of nearly 20,000 damaged structures compared to the previous assessment realized in January 2024," the report stated. As per the UNOSAT report, the governorates of Khan Yunis and Gaza have experienced the "most significant" rise in damage, with Khan Yunis seeing 12,279 additional damaged structures and Gaza experiencing 2,010. In Khan Yunis City, there are 6,663 newly destroyed structures. "Beyond the number of damaged buildings, this update provides an estimate of 121,400 housing units impacted by the destruction in the Gaza Strip," the UNOSAT report added. Disclaimer: WION takes utmost care to accurately and responsibly report ongoing developments on the Israel-Palestine conflict after the Hamas attacks. However, we cannot independently verify the authenticity of all statements, photos and videos. (With inputs from agencies)

Gaza Strip: Satellite image analysis shows massive destruction in war-ravaged region

At least 29 people were killed and more than 150 injured in the Gaza Strip in two separate attacks by Israel while they were waiting for aid, said the health ministry of Hamas-ruled Gaza.&nbsp;

In the first firing, eight people were killed after Israeli forces carried out an airstrike on Al-Nuseirat camp's aid distribution centre in the central Gaza Strip, said Palestinian health officials.&nbsp;

Gaza's health ministry informed that in another incident Israeli forces opened fire at a crowd of Palestinians waiting for aid trucks at a northern Gaza roundabout, in which at least at least 21 people were killed and more than 150 injured.

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/explained-historical-conflict-between-israel-palestine-amid-unprovoked-escalation-by-hamas-644471">Explained: Revisiting Israel-Palestine historical conflict amid new escalation by Hamas</a>

<h2>Israel denies attacks on aid centres, calls reports 'false'</h2>

In a statement, Israel's military denied attacking aid centres, describing the reports as "false".

"As the IDF assesses the incident with the thoroughness that it deserves, we urge the media to do the same and only rely on credible information," read the statement.

More than 2.3 million people, who were living in the Gaza Strip, have been displaced due to the conflict. During aid distribution, several deadly incidents and chaotic situations have been reported as people scramble&nbsp;for food.

Palestinian health authorities on February 29 had said that Israeli forces killed more than 100 Palestinians&nbsp;who were waiting for an aid delivery near Gaza City.

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/explained-how-gaza-strip-became-the-worlds-largest-open-air-prison-646668">Explained | How Gaza Strip became the ‘world’s largest open-air prison’</a>

According to Israel, the deaths took place because the crowds had surrounded aid trucks which led to victims getting trampled or run over.

In Deir Al-Balah, central Gaza, a house was hit by an Israeli missile in which nine people were killed, as per Palestinian medics.

As per the residents, Israeli aerial and ground bombardments continued overnight across the Gaza Strip, including in the Rafah border where nearly a million displaced people have taken shelter.

Watch:&nbsp;Israel war: Israeli PM Netanyahu meets Army Officers &amp; soldiers, says 'will enter Rafah'&nbsp;

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The war broke out after Hamas launched a sudden attack on south Israeli towns on October 7 in which 1,200 people were killed and 253 others taken hostage, as per Israeli government tallies.

Since the war started, more than 31,000 people have been killed by Israel's air, sea and ground assault on the Gaza Strip and over 71,500 have been injured, as per Gaza health authorities.

Disclaimer: WION takes utmost care to accurately and responsibly report ongoing developments on the Israel-Palestine conflict after the Hamas attacks. However, we cannot independently verify the authenticity of all statements, photos and videos.

(With inputs from agencies)

At least 29 people were killed and more than 150 injured in the Gaza Strip in two separate attacks by Israel while they were waiting for aid, said the health ministry of Hamas-ruled Gaza.

At least 29 people were killed and more than 150 injured in the Gaza Strip in two separate attacks by Israel while they were waiting for aid, said the health ministry of Hamas-ruled Gaza. In the first firing, eight people were killed after Israeli forces carried out an airstrike on Al-Nuseirat camp's aid distribution centre in the central Gaza Strip, said Palestinian health officials. Gaza's health ministry informed that in another incident Israeli forces opened fire at a crowd of Palestinians waiting for aid trucks at a northern Gaza roundabout, in which at least at least 21 people were killed and more than 150 injured. Also Read: Explained: Revisiting Israel-Palestine historical conflict amid new escalation by Hamas Israel denies attacks on aid centres, calls reports 'false' In a statement, Israel's military denied attacking aid centres, describing the reports as "false". "As the IDF assesses the incident with the thoroughness that it deserves, we urge the media to do the same and only rely on credible information," read the statement. More than 2.3 million people, who were living in the Gaza Strip, have been displaced due to the conflict. During aid distribution, several deadly incidents and chaotic situations have been reported as people scramble for food. Palestinian health authorities on February 29 had said that Israeli forces killed more than 100 Palestinians who were waiting for an aid delivery near Gaza City. Also Read: Explained | How Gaza Strip became the ‘world’s largest open-air prison’ According to Israel, the deaths took place because the crowds had surrounded aid trucks which led to victims getting trampled or run over. In Deir Al-Balah, central Gaza, a house was hit by an Israeli missile in which nine people were killed, as per Palestinian medics. As per the residents, Israeli aerial and ground bombardments continued overnight across the Gaza Strip, including in the Rafah border where nearly a million displaced people have taken shelter. Watch: Israel war: Israeli PM Netanyahu meets Army Officers & soldiers, says 'will enter Rafah' The war broke out after Hamas launched a sudden attack on south Israeli towns on October 7 in which 1,200 people were killed and 253 others taken hostage, as per Israeli government tallies. Since the war started, more than 31,000 people have been killed by Israel's air, sea and ground assault on the Gaza Strip and over 71,500 have been injured, as per Gaza health authorities. Disclaimer: WION takes utmost care to accurately and responsibly report ongoing developments on the Israel-Palestine conflict after the Hamas attacks. However, we cannot independently verify the authenticity of all statements, photos and videos. (With inputs from agencies)

Hamas accuses Israel of killing 29 Gazans waiting for aid, Tel Aviv denies attacks

Protesters in the United States demanding a ceasefire in the war-torn Gaza Strip dismissed Washington's airdrop of humanitarian aid in the Palestinian territory on Saturday (Mar 2).

Protesters in the United States demanding a ceasefire in the war-torn Gaza Strip dismissed Washington's airdrop of humanitarian aid in the Palestinian territory on Saturday (Mar 2). According to a report by the news agency Reuters, the protesters, who gathered outside the Israeli embassy in Washington DC, said that the Biden administration should stop supplying military weapons to Israel. Speaking to Reuters, protester Kathy Boylan said, "We're dropping some food, and we're dropping the bombs, and the tanks and the bullets and everything else at the same time. That's what he's Biden got to do." Also read | US conducts initial airdrop of humanitarian assistance into Gaza, officials say "Stop sending the money in the weapons,” Boylan, who works with the Dorothy Day Catholic Worker Movement, added. US makes first airdrop in Gaza The US on Saturday carried out the first of what it said would be a series of humanitarian airdrops of food into Gaza. Reuters reported that three C-130 US military planes delivered more than 38,000 meals into the territory. The Jordanian military also took part in the operation. Palestinians posted videos on social media showing boxes of aid being dropped. An Israeli official in Washington said, "Israel welcomes the humanitarian airdrops by the US, which were discussed and coordinated with us." Tributes paid to US airman who self-immolated outside embassy Meanwhile, the protesters in Washington DC also paid tributes to US airman Aaron Bushnell, who died after self-immolating outside the embassy in protest of the Israeli offensive in Gaza. Bushnell, 52, a cyber defence operations specialist with the 531st Intelligence Support Squadron, died from injuries sustained in the incident. Also watch | Israel's war cabinet minister Benny Gantz plans US visit without PM Netanyahu's permission × “We also honour the life of Aaron Bushnell, who sacrificed his life outside of this very embassy… in an act of extreme protest. He was an active member of the US Air Force who saw this country’s complicity in genocide and left the world saying the words ‘Free, Free Palestine’. We now ask for a moment of silence in honour of our martyrs and Aaron,” an unidentified speaker told the news agency. (With inputs from agencies)

We're dropping some food and we're dropping bombs: Protesters in US dismiss Washington's aid airdrop in Gaza

The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs&nbsp;(OCHA) stated on Tuesday (Feb 27) that Israeli forces are systematically preventing civilians from entering Gaza, making it more difficult to provide help in what has turned into a lawless conflict zone.

According to Jens Laerke, a spokesperson for the UN agency OCHA, it is getting harder and harder to evacuate the sick and injured and provide supplies in the northern part of Gaza and harder to do so in the southern part.

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All planned aid convoys into the north have been denied by Israeli authorities in recent weeks. The last convoy allowed in was on January 23, according to the World Health Organization.

Even convoys cleared in advance with Israeli authorities have been blocked or come under fire.

Laerke cited an event that occurred on Sunday (Feb 25) in which a convoy led by the Palestinian Red Crescent (PRCS) and the World Health Organization (WHO) to evacuate 24 patients from the besieged Al Amal hospital in the southern city of Khan Yunis was delayed for seven hours, resulting in the arrest of paramedics.

"The WHO-led convoy was delayed by Israeli authorities for several hours as soon as it left the hospital, even though all staff personnel and vehicles had previously coordinated with the Israeli side," Laerke said to reporters in Geneva.

He claimed that "the Israeli military stripped all paramedics of their uniforms and ordered patients and personnel out of ambulances."

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/hamas-says-talks-of-gaza-truce-still-premature-as-it-studies-draft-proposal-694384">Hamas says talk of Gaza truce still premature as ‘big gaps’ still need to be bridged</a>

The convoy was forced to abandon another 31 patients at Amal hospital, which is no longer operational following 40 attacks in the past month alone that have killed at least 25 people.

According to Laerke, "Three PRCS paramedics were subsequently held, despite having previously given their personal information to the Israeli soldiers." There is just one that has been made available. 
 
"This is not an isolated incident," he stressed.

Humanitarian workers face unacceptable and avoidable risks as aid convoys are consistently blocked and even targeted. 
 
In response to Israel's failure to guarantee the safety of its emergency medical teams, the PRCS announced a 48-hour suspension of operations in Gaza.

Jens Laerke emphasised that the organisation would persist in reminding Israeli forces of their minimum obligation to facilitate safe, smooth, and rapid passage during alerted aid missions.

The conflict in Gaza commenced following an October 7 attack by the Palestinian militant group Hamas, resulting in approximately 1,160 deaths in Israel, primarily civilians, as per an AFP tally based on official Israeli figures.

Hamas reportedly took around 250 hostages, with 130 still remaining in Gaza, according to Israel.

Watch |&nbsp;TRIGGER WARNING: Hamas releases new video of three Israeli hostages in Gaza, hours after ICJ ruling

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In response, Israel's extensive military actions have led to the deaths of at least 29,878 people in Gaza, predominantly women and children, according to the Hamas-run health ministry.&nbsp;

The situation in the densely populated Palestinian territory is growing increasingly desperate.

UN aid trucks, lacking armed guards, often face delays upon entering Gaza as crowds of people, desperate for food and other aid, intercept them.

Jens Laerke highlighted the desperation, stating that "desperate people take what they can." Additionally, there are concerns about gangs diverting aid to the black market, indicating a worsening breakdown of civil order within Gaza.

(With inputs from agencies)

The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) stated on Tuesday (Feb 27) that Israeli forces are systematically preventing civilians from entering Gaza, making it more difficult to provide help in what has turned into a lawless conflict zone.

The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) stated on Tuesday (Feb 27) that Israeli forces are systematically preventing civilians from entering Gaza, making it more difficult to provide help in what has turned into a lawless conflict zone. According to Jens Laerke, a spokesperson for the UN agency OCHA, it is getting harder and harder to evacuate the sick and injured and provide supplies in the northern part of Gaza and harder to do so in the southern part. Also read: Saudi Arabia threatens 'catastrophe' if Israel strikes Rafah All planned aid convoys into the north have been denied by Israeli authorities in recent weeks. The last convoy allowed in was on January 23, according to the World Health Organization. Even convoys cleared in advance with Israeli authorities have been blocked or come under fire. Laerke cited an event that occurred on Sunday (Feb 25) in which a convoy led by the Palestinian Red Crescent (PRCS) and the World Health Organization (WHO) to evacuate 24 patients from the besieged Al Amal hospital in the southern city of Khan Yunis was delayed for seven hours, resulting in the arrest of paramedics. "The WHO-led convoy was delayed by Israeli authorities for several hours as soon as it left the hospital, even though all staff personnel and vehicles had previously coordinated with the Israeli side," Laerke said to reporters in Geneva. He claimed that "the Israeli military stripped all paramedics of their uniforms and ordered patients and personnel out of ambulances." Also read: Hamas says talk of Gaza truce still premature as ‘big gaps’ still need to be bridged The convoy was forced to abandon another 31 patients at Amal hospital, which is no longer operational following 40 attacks in the past month alone that have killed at least 25 people. According to Laerke, "Three PRCS paramedics were subsequently held, despite having previously given their personal information to the Israeli soldiers." There is just one that has been made available. "This is not an isolated incident," he stressed. Humanitarian workers face unacceptable and avoidable risks as aid convoys are consistently blocked and even targeted. In response to Israel's failure to guarantee the safety of its emergency medical teams, the PRCS announced a 48-hour suspension of operations in Gaza. Jens Laerke emphasised that the organisation would persist in reminding Israeli forces of their minimum obligation to facilitate safe, smooth, and rapid passage during alerted aid missions. The conflict in Gaza commenced following an October 7 attack by the Palestinian militant group Hamas, resulting in approximately 1,160 deaths in Israel, primarily civilians, as per an AFP tally based on official Israeli figures. Hamas reportedly took around 250 hostages, with 130 still remaining in Gaza, according to Israel. Watch | TRIGGER WARNING: Hamas releases new video of three Israeli hostages in Gaza, hours after ICJ ruling × In response, Israel's extensive military actions have led to the deaths of at least 29,878 people in Gaza, predominantly women and children, according to the Hamas-run health ministry. The situation in the densely populated Palestinian territory is growing increasingly desperate. UN aid trucks, lacking armed guards, often face delays upon entering Gaza as crowds of people, desperate for food and other aid, intercept them. Jens Laerke highlighted the desperation, stating that "desperate people take what they can." Additionally, there are concerns about gangs diverting aid to the black market, indicating a worsening breakdown of civil order within Gaza. (With inputs from agencies)

UN body accuses Israel of systematically blocking access to aid in Gaza Strip

A Houthi official made a statement on the social media platform X not long after the leader of the group declared that the group was intensifying attacks on ships in the Red Sea and other waters, utilizing new "submarine weapons" among other things, in an attempt to replicate Israeli military actions in the Gaza Strip.

Yemen's Houthi rebels warn of more attacks in the Red Sea

A senior Israeli official said on Thursday (Feb 22) that the nation is seeking Palestinians who are not affiliated with Hamas to manage civilian affairs in areas of the Gaza Strip, reported Reuters.

The move&nbsp;appears to look like Israel's testing grounds for post-war administration of the war-ravaged enclave. As per the Israeli official, the planned "humanitarian pockets" would be in districts of the Gaza Strip from which Hamas has been expelled.&nbsp;

However, the success of this plan also depends on Israel achieving its goal of destroying the Palestine-based faction across the tiny coastal territory that it has been governing.&nbsp;

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/ship-ablaze-in-gulf-of-aden-after-suspected-missile-attack-by-yemens-houthis-692706">Ship ablaze in Gulf of Aden after suspected missile attack by Yemen's Houthi rebels</a>&nbsp;

While speaking on the condition of anonymity, the official told Reuters: "We're looking for the right people to step up to the plate. But it is clear that this will take time, as no one will come forward if they think Hamas will put a bullet in their head."&nbsp;

Emphasising the plan, the official further said that it "may be achieved once Hamas is destroyed and doesn't pose a threat to Israel or to Gazans".&nbsp;

Channel 12 TV, which is Israel's top-rated outlet reported that&nbsp;the Zeitoun neighbourhood of northern Gaza City was a candidate for implementation of the plan, under which local merchants and civil society leaders would distribute humanitarian aid.&nbsp;

Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/54-mps-sign-no-confidence-motion-in-commons-speaker-sir-lindsay-hoyle-692699">Gaza ceasefire vote: 57 UK MPs sign motion of no confidence against Speaker Lindsay Hoyle</a>&nbsp;

It said that the Israeli military would provide peripheral security in Zeitoun. The source also spoke of renewed troop incursions there this week to root out remnants of Hamas troops. As per earlier reports, that particular region was hit hard in the early stages of the war.&nbsp;

So far, there's no official confirmation from the Israeli side on the reports.&nbsp;

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<h2>Reports of truce talks&nbsp;</h2>

The health ministry in Hamas-run Gaza said on Thursday that at least 29,410 people have been killed in the Palestinian territory during the war between Hamas-led militants and Israel. A ministry statement said a total of 97 people died in the past 24 hours, while another 69,465 have been wounded since the war began on October 7.

The increasing toll and the dire humanitarian crisis sparked by the war has led to global concern, with world leaders trying to find a way to end the war. But the efforts have so far failed. However, a US envoy is expected in Israel on Thursday in the latest attempt to secure a truce deal.&nbsp;

Disclaimer: WION takes utmost care to accurately and responsibly report ongoing developments on the Israel-Palestine conflict after the Hamas attacks. However, we cannot independently verify the authenticity of all statements, photos and videos.

(With inputs from agencies)&nbsp;

A senior Israeli official said on Thursday (Feb 22) that the nation is seeking Palestinians who are not affiliated with Hamas to manage civilian affairs in areas of the Gaza Strip, reported Reuters.

A senior Israeli official said on Thursday (Feb 22) that the nation is seeking Palestinians who are not affiliated with Hamas to manage civilian affairs in areas of the Gaza Strip, reported Reuters. The move appears to look like Israel's testing grounds for post-war administration of the war-ravaged enclave. As per the Israeli official, the planned "humanitarian pockets" would be in districts of the Gaza Strip from which Hamas has been expelled. However, the success of this plan also depends on Israel achieving its goal of destroying the Palestine-based faction across the tiny coastal territory that it has been governing. Also read: Ship ablaze in Gulf of Aden after suspected missile attack by Yemen's Houthi rebels While speaking on the condition of anonymity, the official told Reuters: "We're looking for the right people to step up to the plate. But it is clear that this will take time, as no one will come forward if they think Hamas will put a bullet in their head." Emphasising the plan, the official further said that it "may be achieved once Hamas is destroyed and doesn't pose a threat to Israel or to Gazans". Channel 12 TV, which is Israel's top-rated outlet reported that the Zeitoun neighbourhood of northern Gaza City was a candidate for implementation of the plan, under which local merchants and civil society leaders would distribute humanitarian aid. Also read: Gaza ceasefire vote: 57 UK MPs sign motion of no confidence against Speaker Lindsay Hoyle It said that the Israeli military would provide peripheral security in Zeitoun. The source also spoke of renewed troop incursions there this week to root out remnants of Hamas troops. As per earlier reports, that particular region was hit hard in the early stages of the war. So far, there's no official confirmation from the Israeli side on the reports. × Reports of truce talks The health ministry in Hamas-run Gaza said on Thursday that at least 29,410 people have been killed in the Palestinian territory during the war between Hamas-led militants and Israel. A ministry statement said a total of 97 people died in the past 24 hours, while another 69,465 have been wounded since the war began on October 7. The increasing toll and the dire humanitarian crisis sparked by the war has led to global concern, with world leaders trying to find a way to end the war. But the efforts have so far failed. However, a US envoy is expected in Israel on Thursday in the latest attempt to secure a truce deal. Disclaimer: WION takes utmost care to accurately and responsibly report ongoing developments on the Israel-Palestine conflict after the Hamas attacks. However, we cannot independently verify the authenticity of all statements, photos and videos. (With inputs from agencies)

Israel-Hamas war: Tel Aviv seeking Palestinians to manage civilian affairs in Gaza Strip

Top U.S and European diplomats sought ways on Sunday to keep the Gaza war from spreading in the Middle East, but three months after the conflict erupted, more bloodshed underlined the challenge and Israel was set on pressing its campaign.

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken and the European Union's top diplomat, Josep Borrell, were on separate trips to the region to try to quell spillover from the war into Lebanon, the West Bank and Red Sea shipping lanes, where Yemen's Iran-aligned Houthis have vowed to keep up attacks until Israel halts its campaign in the Palestinian enclave.

"We have an intense focus on preventing this conflict from spreading," said Blinken, who was in Jordan on Sunday and will also travel to Israel, the West Bank, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia and Egypt during his fourth trip to the region.

Jordan's King Abdullah urged Blinken to use Washington's influence over Israel to press it for an immediate ceasefire, a palace statement said, warning him of the "catastrophic repercussions" of Israel's continued military campaign.

Despite global concern over the death and destruction in Gaza and international pressure for a ceasefire, Israeli public opinion remains firmly behind the operation aimed at wiping out the Hamas group that rules Gaza, although there has been a big drop in support for Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

He has not taken responsibility for the security failures that allowed Hamas to attack southern Israel on Oct. 7. But he has vowed to press on with the retaliatory action.

"The war must not be stopped until we achieve all the goals - the elimination of Hamas, the return of all our hostages and ensuring that Gaza will no longer pose a threat to Israel. I say this to both our enemies and our friends," Netanyahu said at the start of a weekly cabinet meeting on Sunday.

Some 1,200 people were killed and 240 were taken hostage on Oct. 7, according to Israeli officials. More than 100 hostages are still believed to be held by Hamas. For Israelis, the deadliest day in the country's history and the accounts of atrocities that later emerged left a sense that the survival of the country is at stake.

Israel's offensive has so far killed 22,835 Palestinians, according to Palestinian health officials on Sunday. Some 113 Palestinians were killed and 250 others were wounded in separate Israeli strikes on Gaza in the past 24 hours, Gaza health ministry spokesman Ashraf Al-Qidra said.

An Israeli air strike on a car near Rafah in southern Gaza on Sunday killed two Palestinian journalists who were out reporting, according to health officials in Gaza and the journalists' union there.

The fighting has displaced most of the enclave's 2.3 million population, with many homes and civilian infrastructure left in ruins amid acute shortages of food, water and medicine.

“We hope that ... Blinken looks at us with an eye of mercy, ends the war, ends the misery we are living in. We are a people that must live a free and dignified life," said one woman, Um Mohamad Al-Arqan, standing by the tent where she is living.

Blinken, who visited Turkey and Greece at the start of his trip, will aim to press hesitant Muslim nations in the region to prepare to play a role in the reconstruction, governance and security of Gaza if and when Israel achieves its goal of eliminating Hamas, said a senior State Department official.

<h2>Focus on Central, Southern Gaza</h2>

Israeli military spokesperson Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari summarised the offensive on Saturday, saying Israeli forces had completely&nbsp;dismantled Hamas' "military framework" in northern Gaza and had killed around 8,000 militants in that area.

"We are now focused on dismantling Hamas in the centre of and south of the (Gaza) strip," he said in an online briefing.

Palestinian health ministry casualty figures do not differentiate between fighters and civilians, but the ministry claims that 70% of Gaza's dead are women and people under 18.

Gun battles intensified in the southern Gaza town of Khan Younis as well as in districts in the centre of the densely populated Palestinian enclave.

Smoke rose from the sites of Israeli bombing on Sunday morning east and north of Khan Younis. Israeli strikes on houses in Khan Younis killed 50 people, health officials in Nasser Hospital said on Sunday.

Israeli soldiers in the Gaza Strip killed gunmen loading weapons into a vehicle and dismantled a launch site that fired rockets towards Israel, the Israeli military said.

Hamas' armed wing said its fighters destroyed a troop carrier in Al-Maghazi refugee camp in the central Gaza Strip.

Outside Gaza, there was fresh violence in the occupied West Bank. Israeli aircraft fired on Palestinian militants who had attacked troops in the West Bank, the military said, and Palestinian health officials said seven Palestinians were killed in the strike.

An Israeli border police officer was killed and others wounded when their vehicle was hit by an explosive device during operations in the West Bank city of Jenin, the military and police said.

The West Bank had already seen its highest levels of unrest in decades during the 18 months before the Gaza war, and confrontations have since risen sharply. Hundreds of Palestinians have been killed in clashes with Israeli soldiers and settlers over the past weeks in the West Bank and security forces have made thousands of arrests.

Disclaimer: WION takes utmost care to accurately and responsibly report ongoing developments on the Israel-Palestine conflict after the Hamas attacks. However, we cannot independently verify the authenticity of all statements, photos and videos. 
 
(With inputs from agencies)

Top U.S and European diplomats sought ways on Sunday to keep the Gaza war from spreading in the Middle East, but three months after the conflict erupted, more bloodshed underlined the challenge and Israel was set on pressing its campaign.

Top U.S and European diplomats sought ways on Sunday to keep the Gaza war from spreading in the Middle East, but three months after the conflict erupted, more bloodshed underlined the challenge and Israel was set on pressing its campaign. U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken and the European Union's top diplomat, Josep Borrell, were on separate trips to the region to try to quell spillover from the war into Lebanon, the West Bank and Red Sea shipping lanes, where Yemen's Iran-aligned Houthis have vowed to keep up attacks until Israel halts its campaign in the Palestinian enclave. "We have an intense focus on preventing this conflict from spreading," said Blinken, who was in Jordan on Sunday and will also travel to Israel, the West Bank, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia and Egypt during his fourth trip to the region. Jordan's King Abdullah urged Blinken to use Washington's influence over Israel to press it for an immediate ceasefire, a palace statement said, warning him of the "catastrophic repercussions" of Israel's continued military campaign. Despite global concern over the death and destruction in Gaza and international pressure for a ceasefire, Israeli public opinion remains firmly behind the operation aimed at wiping out the Hamas group that rules Gaza, although there has been a big drop in support for Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. He has not taken responsibility for the security failures that allowed Hamas to attack southern Israel on Oct. 7. But he has vowed to press on with the retaliatory action. "The war must not be stopped until we achieve all the goals - the elimination of Hamas, the return of all our hostages and ensuring that Gaza will no longer pose a threat to Israel. I say this to both our enemies and our friends," Netanyahu said at the start of a weekly cabinet meeting on Sunday. Some 1,200 people were killed and 240 were taken hostage on Oct. 7, according to Israeli officials. More than 100 hostages are still believed to be held by Hamas. For Israelis, the deadliest day in the country's history and the accounts of atrocities that later emerged left a sense that the survival of the country is at stake. Israel's offensive has so far killed 22,835 Palestinians, according to Palestinian health officials on Sunday. Some 113 Palestinians were killed and 250 others were wounded in separate Israeli strikes on Gaza in the past 24 hours, Gaza health ministry spokesman Ashraf Al-Qidra said. An Israeli air strike on a car near Rafah in southern Gaza on Sunday killed two Palestinian journalists who were out reporting, according to health officials in Gaza and the journalists' union there. The fighting has displaced most of the enclave's 2.3 million population, with many homes and civilian infrastructure left in ruins amid acute shortages of food, water and medicine. “We hope that ... Blinken looks at us with an eye of mercy, ends the war, ends the misery we are living in. We are a people that must live a free and dignified life," said one woman, Um Mohamad Al-Arqan, standing by the tent where she is living. Blinken, who visited Turkey and Greece at the start of his trip, will aim to press hesitant Muslim nations in the region to prepare to play a role in the reconstruction, governance and security of Gaza if and when Israel achieves its goal of eliminating Hamas, said a senior State Department official. Focus on Central, Southern Gaza Israeli military spokesperson Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari summarised the offensive on Saturday, saying Israeli forces had completely dismantled Hamas' "military framework" in northern Gaza and had killed around 8,000 militants in that area. "We are now focused on dismantling Hamas in the centre of and south of the (Gaza) strip," he said in an online briefing. Palestinian health ministry casualty figures do not differentiate between fighters and civilians, but the ministry claims that 70% of Gaza's dead are women and people under 18. Gun battles intensified in the southern Gaza town of Khan Younis as well as in districts in the centre of the densely populated Palestinian enclave. Smoke rose from the sites of Israeli bombing on Sunday morning east and north of Khan Younis. Israeli strikes on houses in Khan Younis killed 50 people, health officials in Nasser Hospital said on Sunday. Israeli soldiers in the Gaza Strip killed gunmen loading weapons into a vehicle and dismantled a launch site that fired rockets towards Israel, the Israeli military said. Hamas' armed wing said its fighters destroyed a troop carrier in Al-Maghazi refugee camp in the central Gaza Strip. Outside Gaza, there was fresh violence in the occupied West Bank. Israeli aircraft fired on Palestinian militants who had attacked troops in the West Bank, the military said, and Palestinian health officials said seven Palestinians were killed in the strike. An Israeli border police officer was killed and others wounded when their vehicle was hit by an explosive device during operations in the West Bank city of Jenin, the military and police said. The West Bank had already seen its highest levels of unrest in decades during the 18 months before the Gaza war, and confrontations have since risen sharply. Hundreds of Palestinians have been killed in clashes with Israeli soldiers and settlers over the past weeks in the West Bank and security forces have made thousands of arrests. Disclaimer: WION takes utmost care to accurately and responsibly report ongoing developments on the Israel-Palestine conflict after the Hamas attacks. However, we cannot independently verify the authenticity of all statements, photos and videos. (With inputs from agencies)

Israel-Hamas war: Western diplomats aim to prevent Gaza spillover after three months of conflict

Pregnant women in the Gaza Strip are facing medical uncertainty as dozens of hospitals and health centres are closed due to the ongoing war between Israel and Hamas.

Pregnant women in the Gaza Strip are facing medical uncertainty as dozens of hospitals and health centres are closed due to the ongoing war between Israel and Hamas. According to a report by the news agency Reuters on Friday (Jan 5), 29-year-old Iman Al-Masry recently gave birth to quadruplets via a c-section at the Al-Awda Hospital in the Nuseirat refugee camp in central Gaza. Her fourth child was still in the hospital's nursery. Weeks ago, Al-Masry, together with her husband Ammar Yasser, and their three children, fled from the severe Israeli bombing on the Jabalia refugee camp in northern Gaza. The family was staying inside the Rufaida school in Deir al-Balah. Click here to follow all updates on the Israel-Hamas war Speaking to Reuters, Yaseer said, "I had to evacuate our home because of my fear for the newborns, and my wife was very ill. Unfortunately, we had to separate from my family. My father stayed at home when I was displaced. I cannot bear being separated from my father and leaving him there after we were displaced. It is a difficult and painful feeling." 'Suffered a lot during my pregnancy' Al-Masry was six months pregnant at the time and walked five kilometres from her home until she found a car to Deir al-Balah. This led to premature delivery. During the first week of her eighth month of pregnancy, doctors decided to induce labour, and the quadruplets were born on Dec 18. "I suffered a lot during my pregnancy due to displacement from place to place and moving on the roads in dangerous situations. This caused me great fatigue and led to premature birth in the eighth month by caesarean section and one of the children remaining in the nursery for care," she told Reuters. Also read: Israel spy agency Mossad's chief says all Oct 7 attackers will be tracked down As the war intensified, hospitals were overcrowded, and the 29-year-old did not have time to recover from the C-section. She was forced to leave her fourth child, a boy, who needed medical supervision, in the nursery. Reuters reported that another woman- 30-year-old Sabreen Abu Warda, and her 15-day-old daughter suffered due to the war. After the girl was born, doctors operated on her oesophagus. But since then, there has been no improvement in the infant's condition because of a lack of medicines and doctor follow-up. War threatening nutritional status of infants Last month, a statement by the Global Nutrition Cluster (GNC) said that the Israel-Hamas war was threatening "the nutritional status of infants, young children, pregnant and breastfeeding mothers, and other vulnerable groups, due to shock, stress and deprivation of food, water and other essential lifesaving services." "About 50,000 pregnant women in Gaza – 5,500 of whom are expected to deliver in the next month – are unable to obtain basic health and nutrition services. There are also an additional 105,800 breastfeeding mothers who are struggling to feed themselves and their babies," the statement said. (With inputs from agencies)

Israel-Hamas war: Pregnant women in Gaza face medical uncertainty with dozens of hospitals closed

The ongoing war between Israel and Hamas has destroyed the Gaza Strip, with the death toll crossing 20,000. According to a report by the news agency Associated Press last Friday (Dec 22), despite the conflict intensifying, major infrastructure projects funded by the US have largely remained unscathed.

The ongoing war between Israel and Hamas has destroyed the Gaza Strip, with the death toll crossing 20,000. According to a report by the news agency Associated Press last Friday (Dec 22), despite the conflict intensifying, major infrastructure projects funded by the US have largely remained unscathed. The report said that since early October, at least five US-funded community and youth projects appeared to be damaged or destroyed, likely by the Israeli military. Satellite images shared by Maxar Technologies on Dec 20 found that over a dozen major projects backed by Washington appeared to be intact. The Israel military has not commented on the damage to these projects and the exact cause of the damage, and the satellite images could not be determined by the photos alone, the report said. 'War is exacting a terrible toll' Speaking to the Associated Press, Sean Carroll, the president of Anera, a US contractor that has built dozens of infrastructure projects in Gaza, including a sports club that was recently damaged in the war, called its destruction “a terrible tragedy.” Also read: At least 68 killed in Gaza Strip following Israeli strike on refugee camp “This war is exacting a terrible toll - on human lives and the infrastructure of daily life - that will be felt for decades to come,” Carroll said. The Gaza YMCA library, which was renovated with $89,000 in American funds, escaped unscathed, while at least one city block next to it was entirely levelled. The report further said that the Rosary Sisters School, which teaches both Muslim and Christian children, sustained some damage in a recent airstrike. Satellite images show debris and damage strewn across the school’s courtyard. Last year, around $495,000 in US taxpayer funds was used to built new classrooms with smart boards, air conditioning, an elevator, and a new floor to have space for a high school. Also read: Israeli military releases video of huge Hamas tunnel where five hostages were found dead Images also showed two different centres serving children with disabilities appear to have been damaged or destroyed in recent days. Since the conflict began on Oct 7, Israel has blamed Hamas for the damage, saying that the Palestinian militant group used Gaza's civilian infrastructure as cover to launch attacks, hide militants and weapons, and build tunnels underground. (With inputs from agencies)

Israel-Hamas war: US-funded infrastructure projects in Gaza largely unscathed in conflict

The Human Rights Watch (HRW) on Monday (Dec 18) accused Israel of intentionally starving civilians in the Gaza Strip as a part of its ongoing offensive against Hamas in the besieged Palestinian territory.

The Human Rights Watch (HRW) on Monday (Dec 18) accused Israel of intentionally starving civilians in the Gaza Strip as a part of its ongoing offensive against Hamas in the besieged Palestinian territory. In a report, the HRW called starvation a war crime, and said, "Israeli forces are deliberately blocking the delivery of water, food, and fuel, while willfully impeding humanitarian assistance, apparently razing agricultural areas, and depriving the civilian population of objects indispensable to their survival." Omar Shakir, HRW's Israel and Palestine director, said that for more than two months, Israel had been depriving Gaza's population of food and water. "World leaders should be speaking out against this abhorrent war crime, which has devastating effects on Gaza’s population," Shakir added. 'A constant search for things needed to survive' Speaking to the HRW, 11 displaced Palestinians in Gaza described their profound hardships in securing necessities. "We had no food, no electricity, no internet, nothing at all. We don’t know how we survived,” one man who left northern Gaza told the New York-based rights group. Click here to follow all updates on Israel-Hamas war Another man from southern Gaza, who is a father of two kids, said, "You are on a constant search for things needed to survive." Gazans living in the southern part of the besieged Palestinian territory described the scarcity of potable water, the lack of food leading to empty shops and lengthy lines, and exorbitant prices. "In addition, Israel’s continuing blockade of Gaza, as well as its more than 16-year closure, amounts to collective punishment of the civilian population, a war crime. As the occupying power in Gaza under the Fourth Geneva Convention, Israel has the duty to ensure that the civilian population gets food and medical supplies," the HRW further said in its report. Israel hits back at HRW, calls it 'antisemitic organisation' The Israeli government on Monday slammed the HRW's report, calling the rights group an "antisemitic and anti-Israeli organisation." "Human Rights Watch ... did not condemn the attack on Israeli citizens and the massacre of October 7 and has no moral basis to talk about what's going on in Gaza if they turn a blind eye to the suffering and the human rights of Israelis," foreign ministry spokesman Lior Haiat told the news agency AFP. Also read: Israel knew about Hamas' financial network in 2018, but did nothing, says report Last Friday, Israel had approved "temporary" delivery of much-needed aid to Gaza via its Kerem Shalom crossing. According to an Egyptian Red Crescent official, a humanitarian aid convoy entered Gaza through the crossing on Sunday. On Monday, 79 trucks would be reaching the war-torn region, the official added. (With inputs from agencies)

Israel-Hamas war: Starvation used as a weapon of war in Gaza Strip, says HRW

Israel has informed several Arab states that it wants a buffer zone in the Gaza Strip once its conflict with Hamas ends, the news agency Reuters reported on Saturday (Dec 2) citing Egyptian and regional sources.

Israel has informed several Arab states that it wants a buffer zone in the Gaza Strip once its conflict with Hamas ends, the news agency Reuters reported on Saturday (Dec 2) citing Egyptian and regional sources. Three of these sources told Reuters that Israel has shared its plans with its neighbours Egypt and Jordan, along with the United Arab Emirates (UAE). The sources added that Saudi Arabia, which does not have ties with Israel, was also informed about the development. Reuters reported that this initiative did not indicate an imminent end to Israel's ongoing offensive, but it showed that Israel was reaching out beyond established Arab mediators. Click here to follow all updates on the Israel-Hamas war So far, no Arab states have shown any willingness to police or administer Gaza in the future. According to Palestinian authorities, the Israeli offensive has killed over 15,000 people in Gaza. Hamas killed 1,200 people in its Oct 7 raid and took more than 200 hostages. Why is Israel demanding a buffer zone? Speaking to Reuters, a senior regional security official said that Israel was demanding a buffer zone in Gaza to prevent any Hamas or other militants from infiltrating or attacking Israel as in the October 7 attack. Ophir Falk, the foreign policy adviser to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, told the news agency that the plan for a buffer zone was based on a three-tier process that involved destroying Hamas, demilitarising Gaza, and de-radicalising the enclave. Also read: Israeli officials knew about Hamas' attack plan over a year ago, says report "A buffer zone may be part of the demilitarisation process," Falk said but declined to answer when asked whether those plans had been raised with international partners, including Arab states. The idea of a buffer zone in the past too Israel has suggested the idea of a buffer zone in the past too. However, Reuters reported that it was now presenting it to Arab states as part of its future security plans for Gaza. A US official told the news agency that Israel had "floated" the buffer zone idea without saying to whom. But the official also repeated Washington's opposition to any plan that reduced the size of Palestinian territory. Meanwhile, a senior Israeli security source said the buffer zone idea was "being examined", adding: "It is not clear at the moment how deep this will be and whether it could be 1 km or 2 km or hundreds of metres (inside Gaza)." Any encroachment into Gaza would cram its 2.3 million people into an even smaller area. (With inputs form agencies)

Israel informs Arab states it wants a buffer zone in Gaza post war: Report

World leaders are attempting to resume negotiations in Gaza. Israeli defence forces are continuing their airstrikes on Gaza against Hamas militants. Over 700 people are killed in 24 hours in Gaza strip.

Israel-Hamas War: Israeli army expands operation in Gaza, over 700 killed in 24 hrs

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Thursday (Nov 30) told Israeli soldiers that the temporary truce between Israel and Hamas was 'producing results' and that the truce should continue.

It was Blinken's third visit to the region since the outbreak of the war eight weeks ago. He said that it was "imperative"&nbsp;that civilians in Gaza are protected if the fighting starts again.

Blinken made these remarks during his meetings with Israeli President Isaac Herzog and PM Benjamin Netanyahu in Tel Aviv and Jerusalem, respectively. He was then due to travel to Ramallah in the occupied West Bank to meet Palestinian Authority president Mahmud Abbas.&nbsp;

Watch | Hamas claims responsibility for Jerusalem shooting

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The pause in fighting is now in its seventh day. During this period, Hamas has released many hostages it took during its October 7 attack. In exchange, Israel has released more than 200 Palestinian prisoners.

<h2>The 'process is producing results'</h2>

"We have seen over the last week the very positive development of hostages coming home, being reunited with their families," Blinken said in his meeting with Herzog.

"It's also enabled an increase in humanitarian assistance to go to innocent civilians in Gaza who need it desperately.

"So this process is producing results. It's important, and we hope that it can continue."

Also Read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/i-have-sworn-to-destroy-hamas-netanyahu-tells-blinken-after-three-israelis-are-killed-in-jerusalem-664826">'I have sworn to destroy Hamas': Netanyahu tells Blinken after three Israelis are killed in Jerusalem</a>

On Thursday, the truce was extended by a day. If an agreement is not reached to extend it further, it will expire on Friday.

Also Read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/cancer-stricken-mother-appeals-for-release-of-daughter-held-hostage-by-hamas-video-664685">Cancer-stricken mother appeals for release of daughter held hostage by Hamas. Watch Video</a>

State Department spokesman Matthew Miller said in a statement that Blinken reaffirmed Israel's right to defend itself during his meeting with Netanyahu but also urged it "to take every possible measure to avoid civilian harm".

"The secretary stressed the imperative of accounting for humanitarian and civilian protection needs in southern Gaza before any military operations there and urged immediate steps to hold settler extremists accountable for violence against Palestinians in the West Bank," he added.

(With inputs from agencies)

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Thursday (Nov 30) told Israeli soldiers that the temporary truce between Israel and Hamas was 'producing results' and that the truce should continue.

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Thursday (Nov 30) told Israeli soldiers that the temporary truce between Israel and Hamas was 'producing results' and that the truce should continue. It was Blinken's third visit to the region since the outbreak of the war eight weeks ago. He said that it was "imperative" that civilians in Gaza are protected if the fighting starts again. Blinken made these remarks during his meetings with Israeli President Isaac Herzog and PM Benjamin Netanyahu in Tel Aviv and Jerusalem, respectively. He was then due to travel to Ramallah in the occupied West Bank to meet Palestinian Authority president Mahmud Abbas. Watch | Hamas claims responsibility for Jerusalem shooting × The pause in fighting is now in its seventh day. During this period, Hamas has released many hostages it took during its October 7 attack. In exchange, Israel has released more than 200 Palestinian prisoners. The 'process is producing results' "We have seen over the last week the very positive development of hostages coming home, being reunited with their families," Blinken said in his meeting with Herzog. "It's also enabled an increase in humanitarian assistance to go to innocent civilians in Gaza who need it desperately. "So this process is producing results. It's important, and we hope that it can continue." Also Read | 'I have sworn to destroy Hamas': Netanyahu tells Blinken after three Israelis are killed in Jerusalem On Thursday, the truce was extended by a day. If an agreement is not reached to extend it further, it will expire on Friday. Also Read | Cancer-stricken mother appeals for release of daughter held hostage by Hamas. Watch Video State Department spokesman Matthew Miller said in a statement that Blinken reaffirmed Israel's right to defend itself during his meeting with Netanyahu but also urged it "to take every possible measure to avoid civilian harm". "The secretary stressed the imperative of accounting for humanitarian and civilian protection needs in southern Gaza before any military operations there and urged immediate steps to hold settler extremists accountable for violence against Palestinians in the West Bank," he added. (With inputs from agencies)

Gaza truce should continue as it's 'producing results,' says Blinken

As the war between the state of Israel and Palestinian militant-political group Hamas enters its seventh week with minimal signs of cessation of violence that has caused unprecedented humanitarian crisis in Hamas-run Gaza Strip, the riddle that is Hamas control centre&nbsp;has emerged as top flashpoint of the ongoing war in West Asia.&nbsp;

While Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's administration is attempting to convince the world — by taking selected international journalists to the sites of what it claims are Hamas sanctuaries in Gaza — about Hamas' use of tunnels under Gaza hospitals as launchpads for attacks on Israel, a definitive answer on where is Hamas control centre is yet to emerge.&nbsp;

Besides, the claim that the elaborate web of tunnels in Gaza are the locations where Israel and the US say Hamas is keeping the hostages it took as captive after the attack on Israel on October 7, is dominating the discourse.&nbsp;

Both Netanyahu and the Biden administration say they have evidence that Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad are operating command centres and ammunition depots under hospitals in Gaza, as part of an effort to use civilians using the hospitals as human shields.

But the purported Command Centre&nbsp;is yet to be discovered.&nbsp;

<h2>Al-Shifa hospital not a Hamas command centre?</h2>

On Thursday (Nov 18) night, Israel Defense Forces (IDF) led a selected few journalists to show a shaft in the ground with a staircase at Gaza City's largest Al-Shifa hospital.&nbsp;

The shaft had electrical wiring, along with a metal staircase, the New York Times reported.&nbsp;

Also watch |&nbsp;Israel-Hamas war: WION takes you inside an IDF base near Gaza | WION Ground Report

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The military said it had sent a drone down at least several metres into the shaft, which it said was found in the sand on the northern side&nbsp;of the hospital complex.&nbsp;

Earlier, the IDF released footage of weapons they said were found at Al-Shifa and the bodies of two Israelis taken hostage in locations adjacent to the hospital.&nbsp;

The local medical staff have denied that the hospital was used as a Hamas command centre.&nbsp;

The opening of the tunnel that was seen at Al-Shifa's grounds could be booby-trapped with bombs that could explode. Such precedent exists. In 2013, six Israeli soldiers were injured when a bomb exploded when they tried to push in a camera into a tunnel in Gaza.&nbsp;

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/israel-palestine-war-al-shifa-hospital-focus-of-international-concern-wion-voa-co-production-659819">Israel-Hamas war: Al-Shifa hospital focus of international concern</a>

But there are conflicting accounts from the Israeli side itself on where exactly is the Hamas command centre.&nbsp;

Former Prime Minister Ehud Olmert told Euronews that Hamas' underground command centre is based in Khan Yunis, a city in the southern Gaza Strip located about 30 km south of Al-Shifa hospital.

"That's where the real headquarters of Hamas is," he said.

"They have the leadership, they are hiding, they have the bunkers, they have the command positions, they have the launching pads."

Khan Younis is the largest city in southern Gaza. After Israel gave ultimatum to the Palestinians in northern Gaza to move towards south, Khan Younis is the place where people fled.

On Friday (Nov 18), Israel Defence Forces (IDF) warned people in some towns of Khan Younis as well to evacuate their homes and move to shelters.

The population of Khan Younis went from 400,000 residents to over a million in the wake of people fleeing towards south.

“With every passing day, there are fewer places where Hamas terrorists can operate,” Israel's Defense Minister Yoav Gallant said, adding that the militants would learn that in southern Gaza “in the coming days."

Conclusively, due to elaborate network of tunnels in Gaza, a&nbsp;definite account of where is Hamas Control Centre&nbsp;may take months or may never come at all, according to the US military officials quoted in the New York Times.&nbsp;

<h2>How big are the Hamas tunnels?</h2>

Qatar-based Hamas leader in Gaza, Yahya Sinwar, had claimed in 2021 that there were 310 miles of tunnels in Gaza.&nbsp;

US officials cited in the western media say that the tunnels in Gaza are akin to "miniature cities" with rooms, cells and even roads for the vehicles.&nbsp;

Besides, since taking over Gaza in 2007, Hamas has invested huge but unspecified amounts of money to revamp the existing tunnel infrastructure and create new ones. The tunnels are used to smuggle weapons, militants, politicians, food and goods necessary to make the rockets often fired into Israel from inside the strip.

<h2>Are Israeli forces entering Hamas tunnels in Gaza?</h2>

So far, there are no specific reports if or not Israel's military has entered the tunnels to "dismantle Hamas".&nbsp;

A Pentagon official was quoted as saying in the New York Times that Israeli forces will view sending soldiers down into the tunnels as a measure of last resort.

(With inputs from agencies)

Disclaimer: WION takes utmost care to accurately and responsibly report ongoing developments on the Israel-Palestine conflict after the Hamas attacks. However, we cannot independently verify the authenticity of all statements, photos and videos.

As the war between the state of Israel and Palestinian militant-political group Hamas enters its seventh week with minimal signs of cessation of violence that has caused unprecedented humanitarian crisis in Hamas-run Gaza Strip, the riddle that is Hamas control centre has emerged as top flashpoint of the ongoing war in West Asia.

As the war between the state of Israel and Palestinian militant-political group Hamas enters its seventh week with minimal signs of cessation of violence that has caused unprecedented humanitarian crisis in Hamas-run Gaza Strip, the riddle that is Hamas control centre has emerged as top flashpoint of the ongoing war in West Asia. While Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's administration is attempting to convince the world — by taking selected international journalists to the sites of what it claims are Hamas sanctuaries in Gaza — about Hamas' use of tunnels under Gaza hospitals as launchpads for attacks on Israel, a definitive answer on where is Hamas control centre is yet to emerge. Besides, the claim that the elaborate web of tunnels in Gaza are the locations where Israel and the US say Hamas is keeping the hostages it took as captive after the attack on Israel on October 7, is dominating the discourse. Both Netanyahu and the Biden administration say they have evidence that Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad are operating command centres and ammunition depots under hospitals in Gaza, as part of an effort to use civilians using the hospitals as human shields. But the purported Command Centre is yet to be discovered. Al-Shifa hospital not a Hamas command centre? On Thursday (Nov 18) night, Israel Defense Forces (IDF) led a selected few journalists to show a shaft in the ground with a staircase at Gaza City's largest Al-Shifa hospital. The shaft had electrical wiring, along with a metal staircase, the New York Times reported. Also watch | Israel-Hamas war: WION takes you inside an IDF base near Gaza | WION Ground Report × The military said it had sent a drone down at least several metres into the shaft, which it said was found in the sand on the northern side of the hospital complex. Earlier, the IDF released footage of weapons they said were found at Al-Shifa and the bodies of two Israelis taken hostage in locations adjacent to the hospital. The local medical staff have denied that the hospital was used as a Hamas command centre. The opening of the tunnel that was seen at Al-Shifa's grounds could be booby-trapped with bombs that could explode. Such precedent exists. In 2013, six Israeli soldiers were injured when a bomb exploded when they tried to push in a camera into a tunnel in Gaza. Also read | Israel-Hamas war: Al-Shifa hospital focus of international concern But there are conflicting accounts from the Israeli side itself on where exactly is the Hamas command centre. Former Prime Minister Ehud Olmert told Euronews that Hamas' underground command centre is based in Khan Yunis, a city in the southern Gaza Strip located about 30 km south of Al-Shifa hospital. "That's where the real headquarters of Hamas is," he said. "They have the leadership, they are hiding, they have the bunkers, they have the command positions, they have the launching pads." Khan Younis is the largest city in southern Gaza. After Israel gave ultimatum to the Palestinians in northern Gaza to move towards south, Khan Younis is the place where people fled. On Friday (Nov 18), Israel Defence Forces (IDF) warned people in some towns of Khan Younis as well to evacuate their homes and move to shelters. The population of Khan Younis went from 400,000 residents to over a million in the wake of people fleeing towards south. “With every passing day, there are fewer places where Hamas terrorists can operate,” Israel's Defense Minister Yoav Gallant said, adding that the militants would learn that in southern Gaza “in the coming days." Conclusively, due to elaborate network of tunnels in Gaza, a definite account of where is Hamas Control Centre may take months or may never come at all, according to the US military officials quoted in the New York Times. How big are the Hamas tunnels? Qatar-based Hamas leader in Gaza, Yahya Sinwar, had claimed in 2021 that there were 310 miles of tunnels in Gaza. US officials cited in the western media say that the tunnels in Gaza are akin to "miniature cities" with rooms, cells and even roads for the vehicles. Besides, since taking over Gaza in 2007, Hamas has invested huge but unspecified amounts of money to revamp the existing tunnel infrastructure and create new ones. The tunnels are used to smuggle weapons, militants, politicians, food and goods necessary to make the rockets often fired into Israel from inside the strip. Are Israeli forces entering Hamas tunnels in Gaza? So far, there are no specific reports if or not Israel's military has entered the tunnels to "dismantle Hamas". A Pentagon official was quoted as saying in the New York Times that Israeli forces will view sending soldiers down into the tunnels as a measure of last resort. (With inputs from agencies) Disclaimer: WION takes utmost care to accurately and responsibly report ongoing developments on the Israel-Palestine conflict after the Hamas attacks. However, we cannot independently verify the authenticity of all statements, photos and videos.

Explained | The riddle that is Hamas' control centre in Gaza—between Al-Shifa and Khan Younis

The first group of Palestinian children wounded in the Israel-Hamas war in the Gaza Strip arrived in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) on Saturday (Nov 18). This rescue is part of a pledged relief effort by the UAE to aid 1,000 children.

The first group of Palestinian children wounded in the Israel-Hamas war in the Gaza Strip arrived in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) on Saturday (Nov 18). This rescue is part of a pledged relief effort by the UAE to aid 1,000 children. According to a report by the news agency Associated Press, the group of 15 people, including children and their families made it across Gaza's Rafah border crossing with Egypt on Friday. They then took a flight from the Egyptian city of El-Arish to the UAE's capital Abu Dhabi, the report said. Some of the seats of the aircraft were removed to make room for the most critically wounded children, who were lying on stretchers. 'My uncle was killed, dad was injured...' Speaking to the Associated Press, 12-year-old Amr Jandieh said that his uncle was killed and his dad was injured in a missile strike. "My dad, uncle, and I were talking on the street. My uncle was killed. My dad was injured ... all of a sudden a missile hit and I lost consciousness. I woke up and found myself in the hospital," a tearful Jandieh said as he arrived in the UAE alone. Click here to follow all updates on the Israel-Hamas war Fourteen-year-old Mohammed Abu Tabikh, who was one of the more seriously wounded children on the flight, suffered injuries to his neck and spine when a car he was travelling in was hit in a strike. “When I got injured, I felt shock. And then I stopped moving,” Tabikh added. Another passenger- Nabila Mahmoud travelled from Gaza with her 17-year-old daughter Rawan, who suffered a broken pelvis. Mahmoud said their house was hit by a direct missile and 13 of her family members were killed. UAE announces $20 million humanitarian package for Gaza Since the beginning of the conflict between Israel and Hamas on Oct 7, the UAE has provided a $20 million aid package for Gaza. Under this package, the country has sent 51 planes carrying 1,400 tonnes of food and relief supplies. Also read: Five countries request for war crimes investigation in Palestinian territories Maha Barakat, the assistant minister of foreign affairs for health, said that all medical and healthcare staff and the UAE's hospitals were prepared to receive the remaining Palestinian children and their families. Barakat also said that as part of the "Gallant Knight 3" operation, UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan ordered the establishment of an integrated field hospital inside Gaza. (With inputs from agencies)

Israel-Hamas war: First group of wounded Palestinian children arrives in UAE

War has become the new normal in the 21st century and so is the reporting and writing of articles about it. Last year, the Russia-Ukraine war started and, this year in October, the Israel-Hamas war broke out which led to thousands of deaths, including children, on both sides.&nbsp;

Palestinians, a section of media, and some prominent figures, have claimed that Israel is carrying out genocide in the Gaza Strip in their act of retaliation to the October 7 assault by Hamas, which according to Israeli authorities killed around 1,200 people, mostly civilians.&nbsp;

A Palestinian ambassador told UN member states on Thursday (Nov 16) that the world must "wake up" to the massive violations that Israel is committing in Gaza.

He insisted it was a "genocide".

Palestinian ambassador Ibrahim Khraishi told a gathering of UN member states in Geneva: "You should wake up in this room. This is a massacre, this is genocide, and we're seeing it on TV. It cannot continue."&nbsp;

Not just Israel-Hamas, in any war, it's the civilians who get caught in the crossfire, and the death of common people becomes the basis of all definitions, whether it's war crime, crimes against humanity or genocide.&nbsp;

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/what-are-white-phosphorus-bombs-that-israel-reportedly-launched-in-gaza-it-is-legal-to-use-645106">What are white phosphorus bombs that Israel reportedly used in Gaza? Is it illegal?</a>

<h2>But what exactly is genocide?&nbsp;</h2>

In simple terms, the intentional killing of a large number of people from a particular nation or ethnic group with the aim of destroying that nation or group is regarded as genocide.&nbsp;

The United Nations Genocide Convention in 1948 defined genocide as any of five "acts committed with intent to destroy, in whole or in part, a national, ethnical, racial or religious group".&nbsp;

A document by the UN mentioned that Polish lawyer Raphäel Lemkin first coined the word "genocide" in 1944 in his book Axis Rule in Occupied Europe. The word consists of the Greek prefix genos, which means race or tribe, and the Latin suffix cide, which means killing.&nbsp;

Lemkin used the term genocide in response to the "systematic" murder of Jews during the Holocaust, not just this, but also in reference to past instances in history of targeted actions against specific groups of people.&nbsp;

He then launched a campaign to have genocide recognised as an international crime and was successful as the term was codified as an independent crime in the 1948 Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide (the Genocide Convention). UN said that a total of 153 States (as of April 2022) have ratified the Convention.&nbsp;

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/israel-hamas-war-social-media-is-the-biggest-devil-how-to-tackle-fake-news-656036">Israel-Hamas war: Social media is the biggest devil. How to tackle fake news?</a>&nbsp;

<h2>What does ICJ say?&nbsp;</h2>

The International Court of Justice (ICJ) has stated often that the Convention includes principles of general customary international law, which means that a nation is obligated by the premise that genocide is a crime under international law whether or not it has ratified the Genocide Convention.&nbsp;

"The ICJ has also stated that the prohibition of genocide is a peremptory norm of international law (or ius cogens) and consequently, no derogation from it is allowed," the UN document noted.&nbsp;

Watch:&nbsp;Israel-Hamas war: Differences in the 'axis of resistance'?

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&nbsp;

<h2>Definition of the crime of genocide&nbsp;</h2>

The UN document said that in the present Convention, genocide means acts committed with intent to destroy, in whole or in part, a national, ethnical, racial or religious group.&nbsp;

The acts include, (a) Killing members of the group; (b) Causing serious bodily or mental harm to members of the group; (c) Deliberately inflicting on the group conditions of life calculated to bring about its physical destruction in whole or in part; (d) Imposing measures intended to prevent births within the group; (e) Forcibly transferring children of the group to another group.&nbsp;

It is easier to understand&nbsp;the theoretical aspect, but it is a massive challenge to prove the intention of genocide. For example, to put forward a case, one needs to prove that the perpetrator not only committed the actions, but they had the specific intent of destroying the group.&nbsp;

For example in the ongoing Israel war, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said that Israel's action was a reaction to what Hamas militants did on October 7. He called it retaliation with an aim to destroy Hamas, which according to Israel is a terrorist group, and free the hostages. There must be a proven intent to physically destroy a national, ethnic, racial or religious group.&nbsp;

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/what-are-core-israel-palestine-issues-whats-the-future-of-peace-attempts-646716">What are core Israel-Palestine issues? What's the future of peace attempts?</a>&nbsp;

However, some scholars have argued that there's intent as many Israelis referred to all Palestinians as "an enemy population" and they used words like "destroy", and "crush", for the militants.&nbsp;

A UN document read: "Cultural destruction does not suffice, nor does an intention to simply disperse a group. It is this special intent, or dolus specialis, that makes the crime of genocide so unique."&nbsp;

"In addition, case law has associated intent with the existence of a State or organizational plan or policy, even if the definition of genocide in international law does not include that element," it added.&nbsp;

It is now established that the victims of genocide are deliberately targeted, not randomly because of their actual or perceived association with groups protected under the Convention.&nbsp;

Genocide can also be committed against only a part of the group, as long as that part is identifiable and "substantial", says the UN as it further notes that the target of destruction must be the group and not its members as individuals.&nbsp;

War has become the new normal in the 21st century and so is the reporting and writing of articles about it. Last year, the Russia-Ukraine war started and, this year in October, the Israel-Hamas war broke out which led to thousands of deaths, including children, on both sides.

War has become the new normal in the 21st century and so is the reporting and writing of articles about it. Last year, the Russia-Ukraine war started and, this year in October, the Israel-Hamas war broke out which led to thousands of deaths, including children, on both sides. Palestinians, a section of media, and some prominent figures, have claimed that Israel is carrying out genocide in the Gaza Strip in their act of retaliation to the October 7 assault by Hamas, which according to Israeli authorities killed around 1,200 people, mostly civilians. A Palestinian ambassador told UN member states on Thursday (Nov 16) that the world must "wake up" to the massive violations that Israel is committing in Gaza. He insisted it was a "genocide". Palestinian ambassador Ibrahim Khraishi told a gathering of UN member states in Geneva: "You should wake up in this room. This is a massacre, this is genocide, and we're seeing it on TV. It cannot continue." Not just Israel-Hamas, in any war, it's the civilians who get caught in the crossfire, and the death of common people becomes the basis of all definitions, whether it's war crime, crimes against humanity or genocide. Also read: What are white phosphorus bombs that Israel reportedly used in Gaza? Is it illegal? But what exactly is genocide? In simple terms, the intentional killing of a large number of people from a particular nation or ethnic group with the aim of destroying that nation or group is regarded as genocide. The United Nations Genocide Convention in 1948 defined genocide as any of five "acts committed with intent to destroy, in whole or in part, a national, ethnical, racial or religious group". A document by the UN mentioned that Polish lawyer Raphäel Lemkin first coined the word "genocide" in 1944 in his book Axis Rule in Occupied Europe. The word consists of the Greek prefix genos, which means race or tribe, and the Latin suffix cide, which means killing. Lemkin used the term genocide in response to the "systematic" murder of Jews during the Holocaust, not just this, but also in reference to past instances in history of targeted actions against specific groups of people. He then launched a campaign to have genocide recognised as an international crime and was successful as the term was codified as an independent crime in the 1948 Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide (the Genocide Convention). UN said that a total of 153 States (as of April 2022) have ratified the Convention. Also read: Israel-Hamas war: Social media is the biggest devil. How to tackle fake news? What does ICJ say? The International Court of Justice (ICJ) has stated often that the Convention includes principles of general customary international law, which means that a nation is obligated by the premise that genocide is a crime under international law whether or not it has ratified the Genocide Convention. "The ICJ has also stated that the prohibition of genocide is a peremptory norm of international law (or ius cogens) and consequently, no derogation from it is allowed," the UN document noted. Watch: Israel-Hamas war: Differences in the 'axis of resistance'? × Definition of the crime of genocide The UN document said that in the present Convention, genocide means acts committed with intent to destroy, in whole or in part, a national, ethnical, racial or religious group. The acts include, (a) Killing members of the group; (b) Causing serious bodily or mental harm to members of the group; (c) Deliberately inflicting on the group conditions of life calculated to bring about its physical destruction in whole or in part; (d) Imposing measures intended to prevent births within the group; (e) Forcibly transferring children of the group to another group. It is easier to understand the theoretical aspect, but it is a massive challenge to prove the intention of genocide. For example, to put forward a case, one needs to prove that the perpetrator not only committed the actions, but they had the specific intent of destroying the group. For example in the ongoing Israel war, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said that Israel's action was a reaction to what Hamas militants did on October 7. He called it retaliation with an aim to destroy Hamas, which according to Israel is a terrorist group, and free the hostages. There must be a proven intent to physically destroy a national, ethnic, racial or religious group. Also read: What are core Israel-Palestine issues? What's the future of peace attempts? However, some scholars have argued that there's intent as many Israelis referred to all Palestinians as "an enemy population" and they used words like "destroy", and "crush", for the militants. A UN document read: "Cultural destruction does not suffice, nor does an intention to simply disperse a group. It is this special intent, or dolus specialis, that makes the crime of genocide so unique." "In addition, case law has associated intent with the existence of a State or organizational plan or policy, even if the definition of genocide in international law does not include that element," it added. It is now established that the victims of genocide are deliberately targeted, not randomly because of their actual or perceived association with groups protected under the Convention. Genocide can also be committed against only a part of the group, as long as that part is identifiable and "substantial", says the UN as it further notes that the target of destruction must be the group and not its members as individuals.

Explained: What is genocide? Is Israel committing genocide against Palestinians?

More than 300,000 pro-Palestinian protesters marched through Central London on Saturday (Nov 11) calling for a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip, as the war between Israel and Hamas is intensifying in the Palestinian enclave.

More than 300,000 pro-Palestinian protesters marched through Central London on Saturday (Nov 11) calling for a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip, as the war between Israel and Hamas is intensifying in the Palestinian enclave. According to a report by the news agency Reuters, the protesters set off green and red flares, waved Palestinian flags, and demanded "occupation no more," while a group of Jewish pro-Palestinian protesters held placards reading "Not in our name". "Murdering 4,000+ children is not self-defence," one of the placards at the protest read as protesters demanded that Israel should stop killing children and stop bombing hospitals. Ministers had called for the cancellation of the march as it falls on Armistice Day, which marks the end of World War One and commemorates those killed in military action, with Interior Minister Suella Braverman saying that the pro-Palestinian protesters were "hate marchers." Skirmishes break out, dozens arrested Police arrested over 80 far-right counter-protesters to stop them from ambushing the pro-Palestinian rally. Skirmishes broke out between police and the far-right groups that had also descended on London. Also read: Palestinian health minister says 39 babies at risk of death in Gaza's Al-Shifa hospital Skirmishes broke out near the Cenotaph war memorial early Saturday. Reuters reported that incidents continued throughout the day, with police in riot gear trying to contain protesters near the House of Commons, in train stations, and side streets, with footage showing police officers with batons working to control the crowds. Some protesters were seen throwing bottles and metal barriers at officers. Met Police said that 82 counter-protesters were arrested, and another 10 arrests were made for other offences. London's Mayor Sadiq Khan and Scotland's first minister, Humza Yousaf, blamed Suella Braverman for inflaming tensions and emboldening the far-right after she accused the police of favouring "pro-Palestinian mobs". (With inputs from agencies)

Murdering over 4K children not self-defence: Pro-Palestinian protesters march in London, demand Gaza ceasefire

The United Nations said late Saturday (Nov 11) that several people had been killed and wounded in strikes on one of its facilities in the war-torn Gaza Strip, where hundreds of Palestinians have taken refuge.

The United Nations said late Saturday (Nov 11) that several people had been killed and wounded in strikes on one of its facilities in the war-torn Gaza Strip, where hundreds of Palestinians have taken refuge. In a statement, the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) said, "The shelling has reportedly resulted in a significant number of deaths and injuries." "The ongoing tragedy of death and injury to civilians ensnared in this conflict is unacceptable and must stop," the statement added. Over 100 UNRWA staff killed since start of war Saturday's announcement by the UN comes a day after its Palestinian agency, the UNRWA, said that over 100 of its employees including teachers, doctors, and support staff died in Gaza since the beginning of the Israel-Hamas war on Oct 7. Click here to follow updates on the Israel-Hamas war In a post on X, UNRWA Chief Philippe Lazzarini said, "Devastated. Over 100 UNRWA colleagues confirmed killed in one month. Parents, teachers, nurses, doctors, support staff." Lazzarini said that ending this conflict needed an immediate humanitarian ceasefire. WHO says situation of healthcare facilities in Gaza desperate The World Health Organization (WHO) said on Saturday that nearly half of the healthcare facilities in Gaza were not functioning, while the rest were operating way below their capacities. "Doctors and nurses are completely exhausted and overwhelmed and a number of hospitals are under attack," WHO's official based in Cairo Rick Brennan told the news agency Reuters. "We are seeing the spread of diseases now, particularly in the overcrowded collective centres, increased rates of chest infections, of diarrhoea, of terrible skin infections such as scabies, which is a disastrous condition, very uncomfortable. And now we are seeing outbreaks of cases of childhood diseases such as measles and mumps," he added. Also read: Palestinian health minister says 39 babies at risk of death in Gaza's Al-Shifa hospital The conflict has now intensified around hospitals in Gaza where people have been seeking refuge. On Sunday, intense fighting raged around the Palestinian enclave's biggest hospital Al Shifa where doctors said thousands of Palestinians were trapped in dire conditions. According to doctors, there is no water, power, food or internet access for about 600 post-operative patients, 37-40 babies and 17 people in intensive care. A Hamas health official said later in the day that an Israeli air strike destroyed the cardiac ward of Al Shifa. Speaking to the news agency AFP, Youssef Abu Rish, deputy health minister in Gaza said, "The occupier (Israel) completely destroyed the cardiac department of Al-Shifa hospital... The two-storey building has been completely destroyed in an air strike." (With inputs from agencies)

Israel-Hamas war: UN says several killed in strikes on its facility in Gaza

The Israeli military said on Friday (Nov 10) that its forces would kill Hamas militants if they were seen firing from hospitals in the Gaza Strip. Addressing a press conference, Israeli military spokesperson Richard Hecht said, "If we see Hamas terrorists firing from hospitals, we'll do what we need to do.

The Israeli military said on Friday (Nov 10) that its forces would kill Hamas militants if they were seen firing from hospitals in the Gaza Strip. Addressing a press conference, Israeli military spokesperson Richard Hecht said, "If we see Hamas terrorists firing from hospitals, we'll do what we need to do... If we see Hamas terrorists we'll kill them." Hect added that the militants were operating from within the hospitals. Also read: UN calls for probe into Israel's use of 'high impact weapons' in Gaza The Israeli military's remarks come as Palestinian officials said earlier in the day that deadly strikes hit hospitals and a school in Gaza where civilians have sought refuge from Israeli attacks. 'No safe place left' Speaking to the news agency AFP, a refugee at the war-torn region's biggest hospital Al-Shifa said, "There is no safe place left. The army hit Al-Shifa. I don't know what to do." "There is a shooting... at the hospital. We are afraid to go out," the refugee added. The hospital's director and the Hamas government claimed that Israeli forces were responsible for the strike at Al-Shifa which killed 13 people. On the other hand, the Palestinian Red Crescent Society said that Israeli snipers shot at the Al-Quds hospital, killing at least one person. Al-Shifa's director also said that around 50 people were killed in strikes at the Al-Buraq school. Israel has not commented on the strikes so far. UN calls for end to carnage in Gaza Meanwhile, the United Nations called for an end to the carnage in Gaza. In an opinion piece, Philippe Lazzarini, head of the United Nations agency for Palestinian refugees UNRWA, said that razing entire neighbourhoods to the ground was not an answer for the "egregious crimes committed by Hamas." "To the contrary, it is creating a new generation of aggrieved Palestinians who are likely to continue the cycle of violence. The carnage simply must stop," Lazzarin added. In a separate post on social media, the top UNRWA official said that more than 100 agency personnel were confirmed killed since the October 7 conflict which included parents, teachers, nurses, doctors and support staff. (With inputs from agencies)

Israel-Hamas war: Will kill Hamas terrorists seen firing from hospitals in Gaza, says Israeli military

Israel will have <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/israel-hamas-war-live-updates-biden-netanyahu-discuss-tactical-pauses-in-gaza-strikes-655892">"overall security responsibility" in Gaza</a> for an "indefinite period" after the war, said Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu during an interview that aired on ABC News on Monday (Nov 6).&nbsp;

Netanyahu has resisted calls for a ceasefire as he says there would be no pause in the ongoing war against Hamas&nbsp;which started after the militant group launched an attack on Oct 7. As per Israeli authorities, Hamas killed 1,400 people and took over 200 back into Gaza as hostages.&nbsp;

On the same day, Israel waged war, bombarding&nbsp;the narrow Gaza Strip and also carrying out incursions, with the Hamas-run health ministry claiming that the death toll in Gaza has&nbsp;surpassed 10,000 people - more than 4,000 of them being children.&nbsp;

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/israel-hamas-war-un-says-88-staff-killed-in-conflict-the-highest-ever-figure-in-any-war-655804">UN says its 88 staffers killed in conflict, the highest ever in any war</a>&nbsp;

Netanyahu said that Gaza should be governed by "those who don't want to continue the way of Hamas," further adding that he thinks Israel will have the security responsibility because it has seen what happens when they don't have it. His remarks hint at what Israel is planning to do after they "destroy" Hamas, considering they win the war.&nbsp;

Netanyahu told the news network that the war would continue until Israel had restored "overall security" control of Gaza.

"Israel will, for an indefinite period, have the overall security responsibility," he said.

"When we don't have that security responsibility, what we have is the eruption of Hamas terror on a scale that we couldn't imagine," he added.&nbsp;

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/israel-hamas-war-iran-says-us-encouraging-israel-to-kill-palestinians-655746">Iran says US encouraging Israel to kill Palestinians</a>&nbsp;

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<h2>What about the 'tactical pauses'?</h2>

Netanyahu's remarks came after the White House said that US President Joe Biden and Israeli PM on Monday discussed the potential for "tactical pauses" during the war for humanitarian reasons and possible hostage releases. It was just talks, there were no announcements for agreements.&nbsp;

Netanyahu said, "There will be no ceasefire, general ceasefire, in Gaza, without the release of our hostages."&nbsp;

"As far as tactical, little pauses -- an hour here, an hour there -- we've had them before. I suppose we'll check the circumstances in order to enable goods -- humanitarian goods -- to come in or our hostages, individual hostages, to leave," he added.

(With inputs from agencies)

Disclaimer: WION takes utmost care to accurately and responsibly report ongoing developments on the Israel-Palestine conflict after the Hamas attacks. However, we cannot independently verify the authenticity of all statements, photos and videos.

Israel will have "overall security responsibility" in Gaza for an "indefinite period" after the war, said Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu during an interview that aired on ABC News on Monday (Nov 6).

Israel will have "overall security responsibility" in Gaza for an "indefinite period" after the war, said Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu during an interview that aired on ABC News on Monday (Nov 6). Netanyahu has resisted calls for a ceasefire as he says there would be no pause in the ongoing war against Hamas which started after the militant group launched an attack on Oct 7. As per Israeli authorities, Hamas killed 1,400 people and took over 200 back into Gaza as hostages. On the same day, Israel waged war, bombarding the narrow Gaza Strip and also carrying out incursions, with the Hamas-run health ministry claiming that the death toll in Gaza has surpassed 10,000 people - more than 4,000 of them being children. Also read: UN says its 88 staffers killed in conflict, the highest ever in any war Netanyahu said that Gaza should be governed by "those who don't want to continue the way of Hamas," further adding that he thinks Israel will have the security responsibility because it has seen what happens when they don't have it. His remarks hint at what Israel is planning to do after they "destroy" Hamas, considering they win the war. Netanyahu told the news network that the war would continue until Israel had restored "overall security" control of Gaza. "Israel will, for an indefinite period, have the overall security responsibility," he said. "When we don't have that security responsibility, what we have is the eruption of Hamas terror on a scale that we couldn't imagine," he added. Also read: Iran says US encouraging Israel to kill Palestinians × What about the 'tactical pauses'? Netanyahu's remarks came after the White House said that US President Joe Biden and Israeli PM on Monday discussed the potential for "tactical pauses" during the war for humanitarian reasons and possible hostage releases. It was just talks, there were no announcements for agreements. Netanyahu said, "There will be no ceasefire, general ceasefire, in Gaza, without the release of our hostages." "As far as tactical, little pauses -- an hour here, an hour there -- we've had them before. I suppose we'll check the circumstances in order to enable goods -- humanitarian goods -- to come in or our hostages, individual hostages, to leave," he added. (With inputs from agencies) Disclaimer: WION takes utmost care to accurately and responsibly report ongoing developments on the Israel-Palestine conflict after the Hamas attacks. However, we cannot independently verify the authenticity of all statements, photos and videos.

Netanyahu says Israel will take control of Gaza’s ‘overall security’ after war

Craig Mokhiber, director of the New York office of the UN High Commissioner for human rights, has stepped down from his position after protesting what he has called a "text book case of genocide" in the Gaza Strip. As reported by multiple media outlets, Mokhiber has said this in his resignation letter in addition to other serious assertions.

Saying that this will be his last communication to UN High Commissioner in Geneva Volker Turk, Mokhiber has said that the United Nations was "failing" to do its duty as Israeli bombardment of the Gaza Strip continues.

He alleged that the US, the UK and large number of countries in Europe were "wholly complicit in the horrific assault". Mokhiber wrote to the UN high commissioner on October 28.

“Once again we are seeing a genocide unfolding before our eyes and the organization we serve appears powerless to stop it,” he said as reported by The Guardian.

In his letter, Mokhiber also said the there have been number of occasions in past when the United Nations has failed to stop a genocide mentioning the Rwandan genocide, Muslims in Bosnia, Yazidis in Iraqi Kurdistan and Rohingya in Myanmar.

Watch | Humanitarian crisis worsen, how much water and power does Gaza have?

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“The current wholesale slaughter of the Palestinian people, rooted in an ethno-nationalist colonial settler ideology, in continuation of decades of their systematic persecution and purging, based entirely upon their status as Arabs … leaves no room for doubt.”

Mokhiber stated that not only the West was "refusing to meet their treaty obligation" under Geneva Conventions but were also arming Israel in addition to providing political and diplomatic cover.

“We must support the establishment of a single, democratic secular state in all of historic Palestine, with equal rights for Christians, Muslims, and Jews,” he wrote, adding: “and, therefore, the dismantling of the deeply racist, settler-colonial project and an end to apartheid across the land.”

Also Read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/15-anti-israel-protesters-jailed-over-anti-israel-riot-at-russian-airport-653986">15 anti-Israel protesters jailed over riots at Russian airport</a>

Mokhiber has been part of the UN since 1992. He served in a number of prominent roles. He has served as a senior human rights adviser in Palestine, Afghanistan and Sudan..

Also Read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/hamas-chief-ismail-haniyeh-says-massacre-by-israel-is-to-hide-its-setback-654021">Hamas chief Ismail Haniyeh says 'massacre' by Israel is to hide its setback</a>

The resignation letter has expectedly stirred conversation on social media. Several journalists and academics have begun posting the resignation letter on social media platforms like X.&nbsp;

The Guardian has quoted a UN spokesperson who said that these were Mokhiber's "personal views".

“I can confirm that he is retiring today. He informed the UN in March 2023 of his upcoming retirement, which takes effect tomorrow. The views in his letter made public today are his personal views,” said the spokesperson.

Craig Mokhiber, director of the New York office of the UN High Commissioner for human rights, has stepped down from his position after protesting what he has called a "text book case of genocide" in the Gaza Strip.

Craig Mokhiber, director of the New York office of the UN High Commissioner for human rights, has stepped down from his position after protesting what he has called a "text book case of genocide" in the Gaza Strip. As reported by multiple media outlets, Mokhiber has said this in his resignation letter in addition to other serious assertions. Saying that this will be his last communication to UN High Commissioner in Geneva Volker Turk, Mokhiber has said that the United Nations was "failing" to do its duty as Israeli bombardment of the Gaza Strip continues. He alleged that the US, the UK and large number of countries in Europe were "wholly complicit in the horrific assault". Mokhiber wrote to the UN high commissioner on October 28. “Once again we are seeing a genocide unfolding before our eyes and the organization we serve appears powerless to stop it,” he said as reported by The Guardian. In his letter, Mokhiber also said the there have been number of occasions in past when the United Nations has failed to stop a genocide mentioning the Rwandan genocide, Muslims in Bosnia, Yazidis in Iraqi Kurdistan and Rohingya in Myanmar. Watch | Humanitarian crisis worsen, how much water and power does Gaza have? × “The current wholesale slaughter of the Palestinian people, rooted in an ethno-nationalist colonial settler ideology, in continuation of decades of their systematic persecution and purging, based entirely upon their status as Arabs … leaves no room for doubt.” Mokhiber stated that not only the West was "refusing to meet their treaty obligation" under Geneva Conventions but were also arming Israel in addition to providing political and diplomatic cover. “We must support the establishment of a single, democratic secular state in all of historic Palestine, with equal rights for Christians, Muslims, and Jews,” he wrote, adding: “and, therefore, the dismantling of the deeply racist, settler-colonial project and an end to apartheid across the land.” Also Read | 15 anti-Israel protesters jailed over riots at Russian airport Mokhiber has been part of the UN since 1992. He served in a number of prominent roles. He has served as a senior human rights adviser in Palestine, Afghanistan and Sudan.. Also Read | Hamas chief Ismail Haniyeh says 'massacre' by Israel is to hide its setback The resignation letter has expectedly stirred conversation on social media. Several journalists and academics have begun posting the resignation letter on social media platforms like X. The Guardian has quoted a UN spokesperson who said that these were Mokhiber's "personal views". “I can confirm that he is retiring today. He informed the UN in March 2023 of his upcoming retirement, which takes effect tomorrow. The views in his letter made public today are his personal views,” said the spokesperson.

Top UN official resigns citing 'genocide' in Gaza Strip

The internet connectivity is getting restored in the Gaza Strip, said the global network monitor Netblocks on Sunday (Oct 29) nearly two days after it was snapped amid heavy Israeli bombardment. 
 
“Confirmed: Real-time network data show that internet connectivity is being restored in the #Gaza Strip; service was disrupted on Friday amid heavy bombardment by Israel, leaving most residents cut off from the outside world at a critical moment," wrote the company on X, formerly known as Twitter.

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⚠️ Confirmed: Real-time network data show that internet connectivity is being restored in the <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Gaza?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Gaza</a> Strip; service was disrupted on Friday amid heavy bombardment by Israel, leaving most residents cut off from the outside world at a critical moment 📈 <a href="https://t.co/I7hBa9L9I9">pic.twitter.com/I7hBa9L9I9</a>
— NetBlocks (@netblocks) <a href="https://twitter.com/netblocks/status/1718457047493083165?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 29, 2023</a></blockquote>
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In Gaza City, an AFP employee shortly after 4 a.m. (0200 GMT) stated that he was able to use the internet and was able to contact people in southern Gaza by phone. 
 
Meanwhile, Palestine Telecommunications (Paltel), in a post on its Facebook page, stated that the landline, cellular and internet connectivity are being restored gradually.

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/how-israel-hamas-war-is-impacting-state-of-india-middle-east-europe-corridor-652417">How Israel-Hamas war is impacting state of India-Middle East-Europe corridor</a>

“Despite the seriousness of the field situation, our technical teams were and are still doing everything in their power to repair as much damage as possible to the network, as much as possible and within the available capabilities,” said Paltel, in its statement Sunday.

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We are pleased to announce that telecommunication services (landline, mobile, and internet) in Gaza Strip, disrupted on Friday, October 27, 2023, due to the ongoing aggression, are gradually being restored. 
 
1/2
— Paltel (@Paltelco) <a href="https://twitter.com/Paltelco/status/1718469093450289659?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 29, 2023</a></blockquote>
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On Sunday, the Jawwal Telecommunication Company also stated that its telecommunication services were "gradually being restored." 
 
However, Qatari-owned telecommunications company Ooredoo, which has also been providing cellular service in Gaza, did not give any update on the services getting resumed.

<h2>Gaza Strip in communications blackout</h2>

The phone and internet access was snapped across the Gaza Strip since Friday, as the territory was bombarded by Israel. A massive bombing campaign was unleashed by Israel after Hamas gunmen entered Israel through the Gaza border on October 7, in which 1,400 people were killed, mostly civilians, and 230 hostages were seized, as per Israeli officials.

WATCH |&nbsp;Israel is occupier: Erdogan at pro-Palestinian rally before Turkey's centenary

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Since then, more than 8,000 people have been killed by relentless strikes carried out by the Israeli army, half of those being children, said the Hamas-controlled health ministry on Saturday (Oct 28). 
 
The Palestinian Red Crescent stated that the emergency calls were blocked due to a communications blackout and critical ambulance services were disrupted.

<h2>Gazans should move south: IDF</h2>

The Israeli military again asked the citizens to move to the south of the territory, where it stated that the humanitarian efforts "will be expanding". 
 
"Civilians in northern Gaza and Gaza City should temporarily move south of Wadi Gaza to a safer area where they can receive water, food and medicine," said IDF spokesperson Daniel Hagari, in a statement recorded on Saturday (Oct 28). 
 
"Tomorrow, the humanitarian efforts to Gaza, led by Egypt and the United States, will be expanding," he said.

Disclaimer: WION takes utmost care to accurately and responsibly report ongoing developments on the Israel-Palestine conflict after the Hamas attacks. However, we cannot independently verify the authenticity of all statements, photos and videos.

(With inputs from agencies)

&nbsp;

WATCH WION LIVE HERE

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The internet connectivity is getting restored in the Gaza Strip, said the global network monitor Netblocks on Sunday (Oct 29) nearly two days after it was snapped amid heavy Israeli bombardment.

The internet connectivity is getting restored in the Gaza Strip, said the global network monitor Netblocks on Sunday (Oct 29) nearly two days after it was snapped amid heavy Israeli bombardment. “Confirmed: Real-time network data show that internet connectivity is being restored in the #Gaza Strip; service was disrupted on Friday amid heavy bombardment by Israel, leaving most residents cut off from the outside world at a critical moment," wrote the company on X, formerly known as Twitter. ⚠️ Confirmed: Real-time network data show that internet connectivity is being restored in the #Gaza Strip; service was disrupted on Friday amid heavy bombardment by Israel, leaving most residents cut off from the outside world at a critical moment 📈 pic.twitter.com/I7hBa9L9I9 — NetBlocks (@netblocks) October 29, 2023 × In Gaza City, an AFP employee shortly after 4 a.m. (0200 GMT) stated that he was able to use the internet and was able to contact people in southern Gaza by phone. Meanwhile, Palestine Telecommunications (Paltel), in a post on its Facebook page, stated that the landline, cellular and internet connectivity are being restored gradually. ALSO READ | How Israel-Hamas war is impacting state of India-Middle East-Europe corridor “Despite the seriousness of the field situation, our technical teams were and are still doing everything in their power to repair as much damage as possible to the network, as much as possible and within the available capabilities,” said Paltel, in its statement Sunday. We are pleased to announce that telecommunication services (landline, mobile, and internet) in Gaza Strip, disrupted on Friday, October 27, 2023, due to the ongoing aggression, are gradually being restored. 1/2 — Paltel (@Paltelco) October 29, 2023 × On Sunday, the Jawwal Telecommunication Company also stated that its telecommunication services were "gradually being restored." However, Qatari-owned telecommunications company Ooredoo, which has also been providing cellular service in Gaza, did not give any update on the services getting resumed. Gaza Strip in communications blackout The phone and internet access was snapped across the Gaza Strip since Friday, as the territory was bombarded by Israel. A massive bombing campaign was unleashed by Israel after Hamas gunmen entered Israel through the Gaza border on October 7, in which 1,400 people were killed, mostly civilians, and 230 hostages were seized, as per Israeli officials. WATCH | Israel is occupier: Erdogan at pro-Palestinian rally before Turkey's centenary Since then, more than 8,000 people have been killed by relentless strikes carried out by the Israeli army, half of those being children, said the Hamas-controlled health ministry on Saturday (Oct 28). The Palestinian Red Crescent stated that the emergency calls were blocked due to a communications blackout and critical ambulance services were disrupted. Gazans should move south: IDF The Israeli military again asked the citizens to move to the south of the territory, where it stated that the humanitarian efforts "will be expanding". "Civilians in northern Gaza and Gaza City should temporarily move south of Wadi Gaza to a safer area where they can receive water, food and medicine," said IDF spokesperson Daniel Hagari, in a statement recorded on Saturday (Oct 28). "Tomorrow, the humanitarian efforts to Gaza, led by Egypt and the United States, will be expanding," he said. Disclaimer: WION takes utmost care to accurately and responsibly report ongoing developments on the Israel-Palestine conflict after the Hamas attacks. However, we cannot independently verify the authenticity of all statements, photos and videos. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE

Internet connectivity getting 'restored' in Gaza Strip: Internet monitors

Israel vowed to reduce the Gaza Strip to rubble in the aftermath of the October 7 Hamas attack, which according to authorities killed more than 1,400 people.

The Palestinian militant group also took hostages back to Gaza. Some of them have been freed.&nbsp;

Israel has bombarded the Gaza Strip as it aims to annihilate the militant group, which is designated as a terrorist organisation by many Western countries.&nbsp;

However, the airstrikes aiming to kill the militants have left the future of common people there in the darkness.

The war has deprived the civilians of food, clean water, medical facilities, and more.&nbsp;

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/israel-ground-forces-conduct-another-night-raid-in-gaza-idf-releases-aerial-footage-651890">Israel 'ground forces' conduct another night raid in Gaza, IDF releases aerial footage</a>&nbsp;

Israel has bombarded the Gaza Strip as it prepares for a ground invasion it says is aimed at annihilating Hamas, even as Russia warned the conflict could spread beyond the Middle East.&nbsp;

Humanitarian supplies in war-ravaged Gaza were critically low amid global failure to agree on a lull to the fighting to deliver aid. Amid the ongoing conflict, residents buried the dead in mass graves as the civilian toll mounted.&nbsp;

Meanwhile, satellite images of Gaza showed before and after the territory was bombed, displaying the extent of destruction.&nbsp;

The satellite pictures show areas in the northern Gaza Strip destroyed following Israel's retaliatory attacks on Hamas last week.&nbsp;

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/trigger-warning-israeli-envoy-plays-video-of-hamas-trying-to-decapitate-thai-worker-with-garden-hoe-651863">Israeli envoy plays video of Hamas trying to decapitate Thai worker with garden hoe</a>&nbsp;

Aerial images taken of Beit Hanoun, near the frontier with Israel showed buildings flattened compared to an image taken before the war began.&nbsp;

Hamas and local residents have said that Beit Hanoun was among the first places hit hard by retaliatory Israeli strikes, with many roads and buildings destroyed and thousands displaced.&nbsp;

Here are some of the satellite images:&nbsp;

<img alt="Beit Hanoun" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="dd8eb2ee-1a58-4157-a24e-e8477ffe7d42" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/Beit%20Hanoun.png" />

This combination of images shows Beit Hanoun neighborhood in the north of Gaza. Images Provided by Maxar accessed via news agency.&nbsp;

<img alt="beit" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="d45eb564-709a-47ec-a736-8530c3f6a6bd" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/beit.png" />

Here's another neighbourhood of Beit Hanoun.&nbsp;Images Provided by Maxar accessed via news agency.&nbsp;

<img alt="Al Karameh " data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="ada47f4e-7127-4799-9221-e5887778b831" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/Al%20Karameh.png" />

This combination of images shows The Al Karameh neighborhood.&nbsp;Images provided by Maxar, accessed via news agencies.&nbsp; 
&nbsp;

<img alt="Al-Atatra" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="2600e774-5359-401a-9010-8f9caf3c5e1a" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/Al-Atatra.png" />

The Al-Atatra area of Beit Lahiya.&nbsp;Images Provided by Maxar.&nbsp;

<img alt="Al-Zahra " data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="87f17854-2c73-4dba-8aac-38afc6981c42" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/Al-Zahra.png" />

The Al-Zahra neighbourhood. Image credit: Planet.&nbsp;

After 20 days of the war, The Hamas-run Gaza Health Ministry said on Thursday (Oct 26) that more than 7,000 Palestinians have been killed so far, which is more than three times the number killed in the six-week-long Gaza war in 2014.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)

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Israel vowed to reduce the Gaza Strip to rubble in the aftermath of the October 7 Hamas attack, which according to authorities killed more than 1,400 people. The Palestinian militant group also took hostages back to Gaza.

Israel vowed to reduce the Gaza Strip to rubble in the aftermath of the October 7 Hamas attack, which according to authorities killed more than 1,400 people. The Palestinian militant group also took hostages back to Gaza. Some of them have been freed. Israel has bombarded the Gaza Strip as it aims to annihilate the militant group, which is designated as a terrorist organisation by many Western countries. However, the airstrikes aiming to kill the militants have left the future of common people there in the darkness. The war has deprived the civilians of food, clean water, medical facilities, and more. Also read: Israel 'ground forces' conduct another night raid in Gaza, IDF releases aerial footage Israel has bombarded the Gaza Strip as it prepares for a ground invasion it says is aimed at annihilating Hamas, even as Russia warned the conflict could spread beyond the Middle East. Humanitarian supplies in war-ravaged Gaza were critically low amid global failure to agree on a lull to the fighting to deliver aid. Amid the ongoing conflict, residents buried the dead in mass graves as the civilian toll mounted. Meanwhile, satellite images of Gaza showed before and after the territory was bombed, displaying the extent of destruction. The satellite pictures show areas in the northern Gaza Strip destroyed following Israel's retaliatory attacks on Hamas last week. Also read: Israeli envoy plays video of Hamas trying to decapitate Thai worker with garden hoe Aerial images taken of Beit Hanoun, near the frontier with Israel showed buildings flattened compared to an image taken before the war began. Hamas and local residents have said that Beit Hanoun was among the first places hit hard by retaliatory Israeli strikes, with many roads and buildings destroyed and thousands displaced. Here are some of the satellite images: This combination of images shows Beit Hanoun neighborhood in the north of Gaza. Images Provided by Maxar accessed via news agency. Here's another neighbourhood of Beit Hanoun. Images Provided by Maxar accessed via news agency. This combination of images shows The Al Karameh neighborhood. Images provided by Maxar, accessed via news agencies. The Al-Atatra area of Beit Lahiya. Images Provided by Maxar. The Al-Zahra neighbourhood. Image credit: Planet. After 20 days of the war, The Hamas-run Gaza Health Ministry said on Thursday (Oct 26) that more than 7,000 Palestinians have been killed so far, which is more than three times the number killed in the six-week-long Gaza war in 2014. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Israel-Hamas war: Before and after satellite images show destruction in Gaza

The first week of the beginning of the war between Israel and Hamas on October 7 had US Secretary of State Antony Blinken dominating the news cycle. Blinken's shuttle diplomacy consisted of 10 stops across multiple West Asian capitals during the course of five days after Israel's retaliatory offence against Hamas in Gaza Strip stoked a rare humanitarian crisis in the region with thousands of lives lost and lifelines — food, water, power and medical supplies — stopped.

From Washington, this was a rare diplomatic overdrive, the kind not seen since Washington under Trump presidency signed the infamous "peace deal" with Taliban in Qatar's capital Doha in February 2020, which culminated with Taliban <a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/a-paranoid-president-us-abandonment-new-report-reveals-why-afghan-forces-collapsed-after-us-withdrawal-566832">retaking</a> Kabul in August 2021.

But yet again, Joe Biden, the current occupant of the White House had Washington's diplomatic setbacks in the foreground amid attempts to pass off his administration's mere attempts for a middle-ground between Israeli and Palestinian stakeholders as accomplishments.

Biden visited Israel on Wednesday but while he was still in the air, half of his West Asia visit was called off <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/spotlight-on-washingtons-waning-political-capital-after-gaza-hospital-blast-sinks-bidens-jordan-summit-648187/amp">unilaterally</a> from Jordanian capital Amman, where he was scheduled to be hosted at a four-way summit with King Abdullah II of Jordan, President Mahmoud Abbas of Palestine Authority and Egypt's President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi.

The summit will be held "when the decision to stop the war and put an end to these massacres has been taken", Jordan's Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi said, referring to a mass casualty <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/video-israeli-airstrike-or-misfired-islamic-jihad-rocket-what-killed-hundreds-at-gaza-hospital-648159">event</a> at a hospital in Gaza for which Israel and Hamas blamed each other but evidence released by Western intelligence agencies showed it was a botched attack against Israel from inside Gaza which ended up claiming hundreds of civilian lives.&nbsp;

So the optics of Biden's West Asia visit showed him beside Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. The balance that his administration had hoped to strike with a simultaneous top-leader summit between Biden and Arab Leaders fell flat.&nbsp;

The result of Washington's failure to strike a balance between Israel and its Arab foes was a much-delayed and vastly limited response to the crisis of food, water and medical supplies that followed in the Gaza Strip following Israel's retaliatory offensive against Hamas in the blockaded region.&nbsp;

The first aid truck entered Gaza via Egypt's Rafah crossing four days after the United States first said that "a plan that will enable humanitarian aid from donor nations and multilateral organisations to reach civilians in Gaza" could be executed.&nbsp;

But just 20 trucks were allowed in, an amount aid workers said was insufficient to address the unprecedented humanitarian crisis. More than 200 trucks carrying 3,000 tonnes of aid have been waiting for days whose entry into Gaza remains uncertain amid raging war in the region.

<h2>Islamabad, Pakistan&nbsp;</h2>

<img alt="Pak" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="9105041d-11d9-4df7-b420-307fb2cd49ff" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/b5929d76-1627-4c22-a19a-7b0b075d0956.jpg" />

Pakistan's three-time former prime minister Nawaz Sharif returned to the capital Islamabad as he ended another stint in exile. At Islamabad airport, "the deposed prime minister and proclaimed offender" — as Pakistan's Dawn newspaper described him — signed legal documents pertaining to the appeals against the convictions he was jailed for when he left the country four years ago.&nbsp;

He then flew to Lahore, where tens of thousands of supporters gathered at Minar-i-Pakistan, the place which holds significance as the one where Pakistan's existence was officially proclaimed before it came into being in 1947 after a bitter partition with India.&nbsp;

In a speech there, he said he was forgiving all those who caused harm to him in the past.

"I have no intention to take revenge on anyone," he said in his televised speech.

But experts told <a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/is-nawaz-sharifs-return-a-deal-with-pakistan-military-establishment-649672">WION</a> that Sharif's arrival, right before country's much-delayed general elections in January 2023, suggests that he has made a 'deal' with the country's powerful military-intelligence nexus — collectively dubbed as establishment — for the revival of his political fortunes.&nbsp;

That's all for The Capitals this week. See you next weekend.

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The first week of the beginning of the war between Israel and Hamas on October 7 had US Secretary of State Antony Blinken dominating the news cycle. Blinken's shuttle diplomacy consisted of 10 stops across multiple West Asian capitals during the course of five days after Israel's retaliatory offence against Hamas in Gaza Strip stoked a rare humanitarian crisis in the region with thousands of lives lost and lifelines — food, water, power and medical supplies — stopped.

The first week of the beginning of the war between Israel and Hamas on October 7 had US Secretary of State Antony Blinken dominating the news cycle. Blinken's shuttle diplomacy consisted of 10 stops across multiple West Asian capitals during the course of five days after Israel's retaliatory offence against Hamas in Gaza Strip stoked a rare humanitarian crisis in the region with thousands of lives lost and lifelines — food, water, power and medical supplies — stopped. From Washington, this was a rare diplomatic overdrive, the kind not seen since Washington under Trump presidency signed the infamous "peace deal" with Taliban in Qatar's capital Doha in February 2020, which culminated with Taliban retaking Kabul in August 2021. But yet again, Joe Biden, the current occupant of the White House had Washington's diplomatic setbacks in the foreground amid attempts to pass off his administration's mere attempts for a middle-ground between Israeli and Palestinian stakeholders as accomplishments. Biden visited Israel on Wednesday but while he was still in the air, half of his West Asia visit was called off unilaterally from Jordanian capital Amman, where he was scheduled to be hosted at a four-way summit with King Abdullah II of Jordan, President Mahmoud Abbas of Palestine Authority and Egypt's President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi. The summit will be held "when the decision to stop the war and put an end to these massacres has been taken", Jordan's Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi said, referring to a mass casualty event at a hospital in Gaza for which Israel and Hamas blamed each other but evidence released by Western intelligence agencies showed it was a botched attack against Israel from inside Gaza which ended up claiming hundreds of civilian lives. So the optics of Biden's West Asia visit showed him beside Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. The balance that his administration had hoped to strike with a simultaneous top-leader summit between Biden and Arab Leaders fell flat. The result of Washington's failure to strike a balance between Israel and its Arab foes was a much-delayed and vastly limited response to the crisis of food, water and medical supplies that followed in the Gaza Strip following Israel's retaliatory offensive against Hamas in the blockaded region. The first aid truck entered Gaza via Egypt's Rafah crossing four days after the United States first said that "a plan that will enable humanitarian aid from donor nations and multilateral organisations to reach civilians in Gaza" could be executed. But just 20 trucks were allowed in, an amount aid workers said was insufficient to address the unprecedented humanitarian crisis. More than 200 trucks carrying 3,000 tonnes of aid have been waiting for days whose entry into Gaza remains uncertain amid raging war in the region. Islamabad, Pakistan Pakistan's three-time former prime minister Nawaz Sharif returned to the capital Islamabad as he ended another stint in exile. At Islamabad airport, "the deposed prime minister and proclaimed offender" — as Pakistan's Dawn newspaper described him — signed legal documents pertaining to the appeals against the convictions he was jailed for when he left the country four years ago. He then flew to Lahore, where tens of thousands of supporters gathered at Minar-i-Pakistan, the place which holds significance as the one where Pakistan's existence was officially proclaimed before it came into being in 1947 after a bitter partition with India. In a speech there, he said he was forgiving all those who caused harm to him in the past. "I have no intention to take revenge on anyone," he said in his televised speech. But experts told WION that Sharif's arrival, right before country's much-delayed general elections in January 2023, suggests that he has made a 'deal' with the country's powerful military-intelligence nexus — collectively dubbed as establishment — for the revival of his political fortunes. That's all for The Capitals this week. See you next weekend. WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

The Capitals: Washington's waning political capital in West Asia delays aid into Gaza Strip

Amid an escalating war between Israel and Hamas, in which 5,185 people have been killed so far, Saudi Arabia's Intelligence Chief Prince Turki al-Faisal claimed that Israel has been funnelling "Qatari money" to the Palestinian terrorist group, which controls the Gaza Strip. 
 
The accusation of Prince Turki al-Faisal against Israel comes days after Reuters published a report in which it claimed that the financial aid of Qatar to the Palestinians living in Gaza passes through Tel Aviv. 
 
As per the report, the funds are getting electronically transferred from Qatar to Israel after which they are hand-carried by Israeli and United Nations (UN) officials over the Gaza Strip. 
 
Slamming both Israel and Hamas for the war, the Saudi Intelligence Chief said that in such a situation there are no heroes, but only victims. 
 
The Western nations were further deplored by Prince Turki al-Faisal for crying over Israelis killed in the war but "refusing to express sorrow" over Palestinians who have also lost their lives.

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/explained-historical-conflict-between-israel-palestine-amid-unprovoked-escalation-by-hamas-644471">Explained: Revisiting Israel-Palestine historical conflict amid new escalation by Hamas</a>

Prince Turki al-Faisal stated that every militarily occupied region has a right to defend themselves "even militarily". He further slammed Israel for its military action in Gaza stating that in the current scenario, the right option would have been "civil insurrection and disobedience".

<h2>'Islamic injunctions against killing people, desecrating places of worship'</h2>

"Israel has an overwhelming military superiority, and we see in front of our eyes, the devastation and oblivion it is bringing to the people of Gaza," said Prince Turki al-Faisal, while speaking at a congregation at the Baker Institute for Public Policy at Rice University in Houston, US. 
 
"I categorically condemn Hamas’ targeting of civilian targets of any age or gender, as it is accused of," he said, further stating that such acts defy the claims of "Islamic identity" and Islamic injunctions made by the group which are against desecrating places of worship and killing civilians. 
 
Prince Turki al-Faisal further condemned both the Israeli government and Hamas.

Watch |&nbsp;Israel-Palestine war | Crisis looms in Gaza: Aid has still not reached Gaza

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"I also condemn Hamas's gifting the higher moral ground to an Israeli government that is universally shunned, even by half of the Israeli public, as fascist, miscreant, and abhorrent. I condemn Hamas for giving this awful government the excuse to ethnically cleanse Gaza of its citizens and bombing them to oblivion,” he said. 
 
He further slammed the terrorist outfit for "sabotaging the attempt of Saudi Arabia to reach a peaceful resolution" to the plight of Palestinians in the Gaza Strip. 
 
The Saudi Intelligence Chief stated that "two wrongs don't make a right" as he rebuked Israel for "indiscriminate bombing" over Gaza which killed women and children, and also taking people living in the West Bank under arrest.

(With inputs from agencies)

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Amid an escalating war between Israel and Hamas, in which 5,185 people have been killed so far, Saudi Arabia's Intelligence Chief Prince Turki al-Faisal claimed that Israel has been funnelling "Qatari money" to the Palestinian terrorist group, which controls the Gaza Strip.

Amid an escalating war between Israel and Hamas, in which 5,185 people have been killed so far, Saudi Arabia's Intelligence Chief Prince Turki al-Faisal claimed that Israel has been funnelling "Qatari money" to the Palestinian terrorist group, which controls the Gaza Strip. The accusation of Prince Turki al-Faisal against Israel comes days after Reuters published a report in which it claimed that the financial aid of Qatar to the Palestinians living in Gaza passes through Tel Aviv. As per the report, the funds are getting electronically transferred from Qatar to Israel after which they are hand-carried by Israeli and United Nations (UN) officials over the Gaza Strip. Slamming both Israel and Hamas for the war, the Saudi Intelligence Chief said that in such a situation there are no heroes, but only victims. The Western nations were further deplored by Prince Turki al-Faisal for crying over Israelis killed in the war but "refusing to express sorrow" over Palestinians who have also lost their lives. ALSO READ | Explained: Revisiting Israel-Palestine historical conflict amid new escalation by Hamas Prince Turki al-Faisal stated that every militarily occupied region has a right to defend themselves "even militarily". He further slammed Israel for its military action in Gaza stating that in the current scenario, the right option would have been "civil insurrection and disobedience". 'Islamic injunctions against killing people, desecrating places of worship' "Israel has an overwhelming military superiority, and we see in front of our eyes, the devastation and oblivion it is bringing to the people of Gaza," said Prince Turki al-Faisal, while speaking at a congregation at the Baker Institute for Public Policy at Rice University in Houston, US. "I categorically condemn Hamas’ targeting of civilian targets of any age or gender, as it is accused of," he said, further stating that such acts defy the claims of "Islamic identity" and Islamic injunctions made by the group which are against desecrating places of worship and killing civilians. Prince Turki al-Faisal further condemned both the Israeli government and Hamas. Watch | Israel-Palestine war | Crisis looms in Gaza: Aid has still not reached Gaza "I also condemn Hamas's gifting the higher moral ground to an Israeli government that is universally shunned, even by half of the Israeli public, as fascist, miscreant, and abhorrent. I condemn Hamas for giving this awful government the excuse to ethnically cleanse Gaza of its citizens and bombing them to oblivion,” he said. He further slammed the terrorist outfit for "sabotaging the attempt of Saudi Arabia to reach a peaceful resolution" to the plight of Palestinians in the Gaza Strip. The Saudi Intelligence Chief stated that "two wrongs don't make a right" as he rebuked Israel for "indiscriminate bombing" over Gaza which killed women and children, and also taking people living in the West Bank under arrest. (With inputs from agencies) You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here. WATCH WION LIVE HERE

Saudi Prince condemns Hamas and Israel, slams both for plight of Palestinians in Gaza

As per the new videos getting circulated on social media, school-aged children are being allegedly trained by Hamas commanders to defend the Gaza Strip as the Israeli army prepares for ground operations in the region.&nbsp;

Children as young as 14 are being trained by terrorists for battle, with some even younger kids apparently getting training in weapons skills and military drills, claimed an Israeli emergency responder unit.&nbsp;

Photos and videos of the alleged training of children were shared by South First Responders (SFR) on Telegram on Sunday (Oct 15). Reportedly, the video footage was recorded on body-worn cameras that were collected from the corpses of terrorists.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/explained-historical-conflict-between-israel-palestine-amid-unprovoked-escalation-by-hamas-644471">Revisiting Israel-Palestine historical conflict amid new escalation by Hamas</a>

<h2>Military-style training camps</h2>

SFR stated that the footage is proof of the 'cynical indoctrination of Palestinian children' in what they called as 'military-style training camps'.

The unit further released footage of Hamas terrorists killing innocent victims. In the video, the gunmen can be seen going from house to house and hunting down the families.

The videos were captured in 'head-cam' cameras before the Kfar Aza attack and exposed how boy soldiers are being trained by Hamas commanders as the next generation of terrorists.

WATCH |&nbsp;Israel-Hamas war: Call for peace unshaken as death toll continues to climb

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In the footage, the fighters are seen making preparations for their mission in their homes before leaving in a convoy of motorbikes and pick-up trucks at dawn.&nbsp;

Israel declared war on Hamas after it launched a sudden and massive attack on Tel Aviv. Since then, Israel has been relentlessly bombing the Gaza Strip and asked more than a million people, living in its northern part, to move south before the operation. &nbsp;

The Hamas fighters stabbed, shot and burnt more than 1,400 people to death, most of them being civilians. The reprisal attacks by Israel in the days since have flattened neighbourhoods and led to the killing of around 2,670 people in Gaza.&nbsp; &nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)

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As per the new videos getting circulated on social media, school-aged children are being allegedly trained by Hamas commanders to defend the Gaza Strip as the Israeli army prepares for ground operations in the region.

As per the new videos getting circulated on social media, school-aged children are being allegedly trained by Hamas commanders to defend the Gaza Strip as the Israeli army prepares for ground operations in the region. Children as young as 14 are being trained by terrorists for battle, with some even younger kids apparently getting training in weapons skills and military drills, claimed an Israeli emergency responder unit. Photos and videos of the alleged training of children were shared by South First Responders (SFR) on Telegram on Sunday (Oct 15). Reportedly, the video footage was recorded on body-worn cameras that were collected from the corpses of terrorists. Also read: Revisiting Israel-Palestine historical conflict amid new escalation by Hamas Military-style training camps SFR stated that the footage is proof of the 'cynical indoctrination of Palestinian children' in what they called as 'military-style training camps'. The unit further released footage of Hamas terrorists killing innocent victims. In the video, the gunmen can be seen going from house to house and hunting down the families. The videos were captured in 'head-cam' cameras before the Kfar Aza attack and exposed how boy soldiers are being trained by Hamas commanders as the next generation of terrorists. WATCH | Israel-Hamas war: Call for peace unshaken as death toll continues to climb In the footage, the fighters are seen making preparations for their mission in their homes before leaving in a convoy of motorbikes and pick-up trucks at dawn. Israel declared war on Hamas after it launched a sudden and massive attack on Tel Aviv. Since then, Israel has been relentlessly bombing the Gaza Strip and asked more than a million people, living in its northern part, to move south before the operation. The Hamas fighters stabbed, shot and burnt more than 1,400 people to death, most of them being civilians. The reprisal attacks by Israel in the days since have flattened neighbourhoods and led to the killing of around 2,670 people in Gaza. (With inputs from agencies) You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here. WATCH WION LIVE HERE

Is Hamas resorting to training kids to defend Gaza? Reports suggest so

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