Israel-Hamas War: What happened on day 65?

It seems unthinkable.

When Israel started its counteroffensive against Hamas in early October, the two goals were to “annihilate” Hamas and to return “all” of the hostages.

The IDF on Sunday released the official numbers of military personnel and civilians wounded so far during Israel's war on Hamas in Gaza.

At least 1,593 people have been wounded since the start of the war, 892 of those were lightly wounded and 255 were severely wounded.

Some 559 soldiers have been wounded in the Gaza Strip since the start of the Gaza incursion, 219 were lightly wounded and 127 severely wounded.

Two Iranians have been detained in Cyprus for questioning over suspected planning of attacks on Israeli citizens living in Cyprus, a Cypriot newspaper reported on Sunday.

The two individuals were believed to be in the early stages of gathering intelligence on potential Israeli targets, the Kathimerini Cyprus newspaper said without citing sources.

The paper added that the Iranians were political refugees in contact with a person linked to the Iranian Revolutionary Guard.

A senior Cyprus official declined to comment, citing policy on issues concerning national security.

The IDF's Artillery Corps entered the Gaza Strip for the first time in Operation Swords of Iron, the Israeli military announced on Sunday, aiding forces on the ground.

The 282nd Artillery Division operated in the Shejaia neighborhood of Gaza City, in cooperation with the 188th Brigade, the IDF said.

In its operations, the Division attacked over 20 terror targets, including warehouses stocked with weaponry, boobytrapped homes and other Hamas military infrastructure.

The IDF published footage of the artillery forces' operations in Gaza.

This is a developing story.

The second phase of the Israeli war in Gaza has further exacerbated the humanitarian crisis. Hundreds of thousands of displaced people who fled from the North now seek shelter in the already overcrowded southern part of the Gaza Strip. Many move from Khan Yunis, the current epicenter of IDF-Hamas fighting, to the southern end of the strip, Rafah, near the Egyptian border. All the while, signs point to Hamas's rule weakening and the barrier of fear against the terrorist group breaking. 

A Gaza resident, who bravely expressed his opinions on the radio, voiced his message to Yahya Sinwar and his accomplices. The interviewee, journalist Muhammad Mansour, boldly stated, "May Allah curse you, Hamas leadership. Sinwar, you are the offspring of a despicable creature. Allah will avenge the destruction you have inflicted upon us."

Mansour called on Hamas to release the remaining Israeli abductees held captive after the collapse of a previous deal, which resulted in the resumption of fighting. Frustrated, he exclaimed, "We were deported from Gaza to Khan Yunis, and from Khan Yunis to Rafah. Our children, women, and families were torn apart from us. Release these hostages immediately! Sinwar, [Mohammed] Deif, and their wicked companions hide underground. We don't even have access to water."

لا تعليق سوى… هل أنتم مرتاحون لهذا يا أنصار حماس والجهاد… الله لا يوفقكم ولا يوفق حماسكم وجهادكم… pic.twitter.com/pm9bBRkmbq

— عبد العزيز الخميس (@alkhames) December 6, 2023

The impact of the Israel-Hamas war on Gaza's healthcare sector has been "catastrophic", the World Health Organization chief said on Sunday at an emergency board meeting, saying conditions were ideal for the spread of deadly diseases.

"It's stating the obvious to say that the impact of the conflict on health is catastrophic," WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus told the 34-member board. "In summary health needs have increased dramatically and the capacity of the health system has been reduced to one third of what it was," he said.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu rebuffed on Sunday international calls to end the Gaza war, describing them as inconsistent with supporting the war aim of eliminating Hamas.

Briefing his cabinet, Netanyahu said he had told the leaders of France, Germany and other countries: "You cannot on the one hand support the elimination of Hamas and on other pressure us to end the war, which would prevent the elimination of Hamas."

Palestinian Prime Minister Mohammad Shtayyeh said on Sunday the United States should also be held responsible for Israeli attacks on Gaza and the loss of Palestinian lives.

Shtayyeh was speaking at the Doha Forum conference in Qatar.

United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said on Sunday he will not give up appealing for a humanitarian ceasefire in Gaza, adding that the war undermined the credibility and authority of the Security Council.

Guterres was speaking at the Doha Forum conference as Washington vetoed on Friday a proposed UN Security Council demand for an immediate humanitarian ceasefire in the war between Israel and Palestinian terrorist group Hamas.

"I urged the Security Council to press to avert a humanitarian catastrophe and I reiterated my appeal for a humanitarian ceasefire to be declared," Guterres said.

"Regrettably, the Security Council failed to do it, but that does not make it less necessary," he said.

"I will not give up," Guterres added.

Israeli universities will officially begin the academic school year on December 31, they announced on Sunday morning following a two-month delay amid the IDF's war in Gaza.

In a joint statement, the universities announced the decision was taken following consultations with the Israeli military.

The Technion - Israel Institute of Technology in Haifa will launch its semester a week later, on January 7, 2024.