Israel-Hamas war top developments: Gaza war death toll tops 13,300

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi along with his Arab and Islamic counterparts, urged for an immediate ceasefire in the ongoing Israel-Hamas war. Read more

Hamas said on Monday that the death toll in the Gaza Strip passed 13,300 since the start of the conflict on October 7.

Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, who is not yet a part of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's war cabinet, called on lawmakers taking a harder line towards Hamas to be included in decisions about the war.

"I think this grave mistake necessitates the expansion of the war cabinet," Finance Minister Smotrich said.

The African Union (AU) has said that Israel’s response to Hamas’s massive attack last month was “inexcusable”, warning that civilian casualties would fuel further “extremism”.

AU chairman Azali Assoumani, at a press conference in Berlin, said:

The acts (of Hamas) are reprehensible... but the response is inexcusable.

Imagine a child who has seen his mother, who has seen his father killed... it creates extremism.

The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) has provided an update on the journalists and media workers killed by the war.

CPJ says the conflict has led to the deadliest month for journalists since it first began gathering data in 1992.

Protesters demonstrated for Gaza ceasefire outside Global Food security Summit in London saying that it will help ensure that food and other humanitarian aid reaches Gazans.

The Israel military has said that around 25 rockets and three suicide drones were launched by Hezbollah from Lebanon at multiple locations along the border in the last hour.

Several of the rockets were intercepted by the Iron Dome, while others landed in open areas.

The three explosive-laden drones hit an IDF post on the border, Times of Israel newspaper reported.

Chinese media has reported that French President Emmanuel Macron and Chinese President Xi Jinping discussed Israel-Hamas war in a phone call.
 
"The two heads of state exchanged views on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and both believe that the top priority is to avoid further deterioration of the situation between Palestine and Israel, especially to avoid a more serious humanitarian crisis," said state broadcaster CCTV.

A field hospital provided by Jordan has entered Gaza Gaza Strip. This is the first field hospital that has reached Gaza after Hamas' attack on October 7 that sparked the current war.

"The hospital will be established in Khan Yunis, to receive the wounded and the sick, under catastrophic conditions which southern hospitals are experiencing, with the influx of hundreds of wounded each day and continued aggressive aerial and artillery strikes," said Mohammed Zaqout, director-general of Gaza hospitals.

Called Israeli attacks in the vicinity of the Indonesian hospital 'atrocities', Indonesia's Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi said that this was clear violation of international humanitarian laws”

“All countries, especially those that have close relations with Israel, must use all their influence and capabilities to urge Israel to stop its atrocities,” said Retno, as quoted by Al-Jazeera.

Media reports are saying that 29 of the pre-mature babies evacuated from Gaza City's Al-Shifa hospital have arrived in Egypt. BBC has reported that Egypt's health minister has arrived at El-Arish aiport to receive the babies.

El-Arish airport is 30 kilometres away from Gaza border.

Israeli military has asked people in Jabalia refugee camp in Gaza Strip to leave the camp as it said it was expanding its operation, reported AFP. Jabalia refugee camp is Gaza's largest. Hamas official has been quoted as saying that Israel struck the camp twice killing more than 80 people.

BBC has reported that Israeli tanks have been spotted near the Indonesian hospital in northern Gaza. There are reportedly 700 people inside the hospital.

The hospital is located in Beit Lahia, a town in northeast Gaza. It was started in 2016 with funding provided by Indonesian organisations.

Aljazeera reported that Israeli forces were shooting whoever tried leaving the Indonesian hospital, Ismail al-Ghoul.

Israeli tanks have already surrounded the medical centre, where more than 6,000 people have taken shelter.

(WION was unable to verify this information independently)

Above 100 evacuees from Gaza are set to arrive in Turkey, with some in need of urgent medical care. Sixty-one patients, accompanied by some 49 relatives, arrived in Egypt from Gaza on Sunday evening and were scheduled to fly to Ankara on Monday morning, Turkey’s Health Minister Fahrettin Koca said.

Japan says it is “directly approaching” Yemen’s Iran-backed Houthi rebels after they seized a ship partially owned by an Israeli businessman and operated by a Japanese firm with around 25 crew on board.

Foreign Minister Yoko Kamikawa says Tokyo is “communicating with Israel, and in addition to directly approaching the Houthis, we are also urging Saudi Arabia, Oman, Iran and other countries concerned to strongly urge the Houthis for the early release of the vessel and crew members.”

(With inputs from agencies)

According to Haaretz, Abraham (Rami) Ungar is one of Israel’s richest individuals, with a total net worth of over $2 billion.

He is an international shipping mogul and one of the country’s biggest motor vehicle importers. He has also had a history of close ties to right-wing Israeli politicians.

Earlier, Yemen’s Iran-backed Houthi group said Sunday they had seized a vessel in the Red Sea, which belongs to an Israeli businessman. 

The Israeli military also confirmed the news later, terming the act "a very grave incident on a global level".

According to unconfirmed reports in Iranian media, the Houthi fighters landed on the ship by helicopter and steered it towards the Yemeni coast.

Read in detail here.

The Israeli military reports the death of two soldiers in northern Gaza conflict, identified as 20-year-olds Yinon Tamir and Dvir Barazani. The total Israeli soldier casualties reach at least 387.

China's Foreign Minister Wang Yi conveyed to a visiting group of Muslim officials that Beijing is prepared to assist in "reestablishing peace in the Middle East."

“Let us work together to quickly cool down the situation in Gaza and restore peace in the Middle East as soon as possible,” Wang told visiting diplomats from Arab and Muslim-majority nations on Monday (Nov 20).

As reported by the Wafa news agency, Israeli forces conducted a raid in Deir al-Ghusun and the nearby town of Attil, located in the northwest region of the occupied West Bank. During the operation, a minimum of 30 Palestinian workers, originally from Gaza, were apprehended. Additionally, Israeli forces arrested Dania Hanatsheh, a student at Birzeit University, during a raid on her family's residence in Ramallah.

31 more Australians left Gaza through the Rafah crossing into Egypt on Monday morning, reported the country's national broadcaster.

So far, Australian officials have assisted a total of 62 people to leave Gaza, including Australian citizens, permanent residents and family members, reported ABC. 

Canberra will also continue efforts to get around 130 people who remain in Gaza and wish to leave, reported the Australian media. 

The Japanese government said Monday (Nov 20) said that it "strongly condemns" the seizure of a Japanese-operated ship in the Red Sea by Yemen's Iran-backed Houthi rebels. 

"Yesterday we received information that car carrier Galaxy Leader, operated by Nippon Yusen, was seized by Huthis when it was navigating down southward in the Red Sea off Yemen... The government strongly condemns such an act," said government spokesman Hirokazu Matsuno. 

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The head of a prominent media institution in Gaza and two other journalists were killed during the weekend in Israel's offensive in the territory, their relatives said on Sunday.

On Sunday, Belal Jadallah, a journalist and head of the board of the Press House-Palestine, a non-governmental organisation, was killed and his pharmacist brother-in-law was seriously wounded, his sister and other relatives told Reuters.

In addition to Jadallah, two freelance journalists - Hassouna Sleem and Sary Mansour - were killed on Saturday in an Israeli assault on Bureij refugee camp, in the centre of the Gaza Strip, their relatives and Palestinian health officials said. 

The New York-based watchdog Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) said the deaths over the weekend raised to 48 the number of journalists and media workers it had confirmed killed in the region since the beginning of the war on October 7.

Israel's military released security camera footage which it said showed hostages being brought into Al-Shifa hospital after being taken on October 7 following Hamas' attacks on southern Israel.

This comes as Israel has claimed that the hospital in Gaza city was being used as a command centre by the Palestinian militant group, the allegations have since been denied by Hamas and officials. 

The first clip, which appears to be time-stamped 10:53 am (local time) on October 7, shows a man in shorts and a pale blue shirt being dragged through what looks like an entrance hall by five men, at least three of whom are armed. 

In the second, seemingly time-stamped 10:55 am (local time), an injured man in underwear is wheeled in on a gurney by seven men, at least four of them armed, as several men in blue hospital scrubs look on. 

WION was unable to independently verify the footage.

Hamas said on Saturday that the death toll from fighting between Israeli troops and Hamas militants in the Palestinian territory had reached 13,000. The toll included over 5,500 children and 3,500 women.

Palestinian medics evacuated 31 premature babies from Gaza City's war-torn Al-Shifa hospital Sunday in a high-risk operation, said the United Nations. 

In an update, World Health Organization (WHO), babies are now being cared for at Al-Helal Al-Emarati Maternity Hospital in southern Gaza, where they are being assessed and stabilised, reported Al Jazeera.

"Sadly, none of the infants were accompanied by family members, as the Ministry of Health has only limited information, and is not currently able to find close family members," said the UN agency.

WHO also said that all babies are fighting serious infections, while 11 are now in critical condition. Two babies died the night and day before the evacuation could take place, the UN agency added.