Israel-Hamas war: Second Israeli killed in missile strike from Lebanon

On Sunday (Jan 14), an Israeli woman lost her life when a missile, launched earlier in the day from Lebanon, hit a residence in a border community, according to the local municipality. The Mevoot Hermon regional council reported that Mira Ayalon passed away from injuries sustained in the incident at the Kfar Yuval border community, where her son, an Israeli soldier, had previously been declared dead by medical professionals and the army.

Ceremonies were conducted throughout Israel on Sunday (January 14) to observe the 100-day milestone since the commencement of the Israel-Gaza war.

Israelis joined together, urging the liberation of all hostages detained in Gaza. Out of the 240 individuals abducted on October 7, over 130 remain captive in Gaza, eliciting profound empathy and concern within Israeli society for both the hostages and their anguished families.

Axios, a news website, has reported that the US administration is displeased with Israel's refusal of the majority of their recent requests regarding actions in the Gaza conflict.

“The situation sucks and we are stuck. The president’s patience is running out,” a US official reportedly told Axios.

Palestinians gather to help treat the wounded and move bodies into Al-Aqsa Hospital in Deir al-Balah after renewed Israeli air strikes.
The United Nations said the Gaza war was "staining humanity" on the eve of its 100th day as Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu doubled down on vows to defeat Hamas.

"The people need peace, the world needs peace," says Pope Francis at the end of the Angelus prayer launching a new appeal to bring an end to conflicts especially in Ukraine, Israel and Palestine. He also prayed for the victims of the landslide in Colombia.

China's Foreign Minister Wang Yi called Sunday for the establishment of a Palestinian state and a ceasefire in Gaza, where 100 days of war between Israel and Hamas militants have killed thousands.

In a joint press conference with his Egyptian counterpart Sameh Shoukry in Cairo, the top Chinese diplomat said "it is necessary to insist on the establishment of an independent, fully sovereign state of Palestine on the 1967 borders, with east Jerusalem as its capital."

The ministry said it had recorded another 60,582 wounded since fighting erupted on October 7.

Displaced Palestinians living in tents in southern Gaza's Rafah reflect on their situation as the 100th day of the war sparked by the Hamas attack has claimed a surging civilian death toll and ravaged the besieged Palestinian territory.

"My mom is wearing them (dog tag) right now, she came in just yesterday form California, and all of our family has been able to wear it around California, wearing it in solidarity to support our troops and to support Israel and bring awareness," Retuers quoted Israeli resident Shayna Roth as saying.

A new opinion poll published earlier this week showed that 67 per cent of the Arab world said that Hama's attack against Israel on Oct 7 was legitimate. According to a report by The Jerusalem Post on Saturday (Jan 13), the poll was carried out by the Arab Center for Research and Policy Studies on Wednesday. Read more

British Foreign Secretary David Cameron said on Sunday that the military would strike Houthis again if the Iranian-backed rebels continued their attacks in the Red Sea. 

“We will work with allies. We will always defend the freedom of navigation. And, crucially, we will be prepared to back words with actions,” Cameron said in an article in the Sunday Telegraph. 

The Israeli military killed four gunmen who crossed in from Lebanon at a disputed border area.

In a statement, the Israeli army said, "The soldiers engaged and responded with live fire, four terrorists were killed."

According to UN refugee agency chief Philippe Lazzarini, the clock is "ticking towards famine" in Gaza. He said the crisis had been “compounded by dehumanising language and the use of food, water and fuel as instruments of war.”

At least nine Palestinian terrorists were killed during operations in the Gaza Strip on Sunday, the Israeli military said. The encounter took place in the southern Gaza city of Khan Younis, as well as areas farther north.

According to a new opinion poll by Arab Center for Research and Policy Studies, at least 67 per cent of respondents perceive Hamas' October 7 attack as a  “a legitimate resistance operation". The poll had 8,000 Arab respondents from 16 countries, aimed to determine how Arab populations perceived the Israel-Hamas war.

The Israeli Army on Sunday (Jan 14) said its troops had killed four gunmen who were reportedly entering from Lebanon. 

At least 135 Palestinians have been killed in Gaza in the last 24 hours, media reports said citing the health ministry. Gaza has about 2.2 million people which is under a dire humanitarian crisis amid the ongoing war in West Asia. 

After Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu called for the closure of Egypt's border with Gaza, Cairo confirmed that it remains in full control of its borders, media reports said citing foreign ministry spokesperson Ahmed Abu Zeid on Saturday (Jan 14). 

United Nations Relief and Works Agency Commissioner-General Philippe Lazzarini in a statement Saturday (Jan 13) said that more commercial supplies must be allowed as "humanitarian aid alone will not be sufficient to reverse a looming famine." 

Thousands of protestors gathered outside the White House on January 14 and called for a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas in Gaza. As per a statement by US Secret Service spokesperson Anthony Guglielmi, the demonstrations were mostly peaceful.

Israel has reportedly told Egypt of its plans to launch a military operation in a bid to take control of the border between the Gaza Strip and Egypt, media reports said citing The Wall Street Journal. 

With no deal on the release of hostages in sight, thousands of Israelis held protests in Tel Aviv on Saturday (Jan 13) demanding they be freed from Hamas captivity.

The war between Israel and Hamas entered its 100th day on Sunday (Jan 14) after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu vowed "no one will stop us" from destroying the militant group, AFP reported. 

US' Central Investigative Agency has established a task force and has uncovered information on Hamas’s top leaders, as per media reports citing US officials. This information is being provided to Israel as it rages on its war in Gaza in the aftermath of October 7 attack by Hamas.