Day 164: What is going on in Gaza, Lebanon, Syria?
Canada to stop arms sales to Israel • Houthis penetrated Eilat missile defense • Reports IDF killed Gaza high court judge
Qatar: An Israeli operation in Rafah will result in 'atrocities' that have not been seen
An Israeli operation in the Gaza Strip's southern city of Rafah would result in major destruction and "atrocities" that have not been seen in the conflict, Qatar's foreign ministry spokesperson Majed Al-Ansari said on Tuesday.
Qatar is cautiously optimistic about the Gaza ceasefire talks, he added during a press conference in Doha.
Go to the full article >>Israel's restrictions to Gaza aid may be war crime, says UN rights office
"Israel, as the occupying power, has an obligation to ensure the provision of food and medical care to the population commensurate with their needs," Turk said.
Israel's restrictions on humanitarian aid for Gaza may amount to a starvation tactic that could be a war crime, the United Nations human rights chief said on Tuesday.
The stark appraisal followed a UN-backed report on Monday saying famine is likely by May without an end to fighting in the more than five-month war between Israel and Hamas militants in the Palestinian enclave of 2.3 million people.
"The extent of Israel's continued restrictions on entry of aid into Gaza, together with the manner in which it continues to conduct hostilities, may amount to the use of starvation as a method of war, which is a war crime," said the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Turk.
Go to the full article >>IDF announces name of fallen soldier
Sebastian Haion, 51, Chief Warrant Officer, (CWO), (res.) from Rosh Ha’ayin died in combat in the northern Gaza Strip, the IDF announced on Tuesday.
27 heads of EU to call for 'permanent ceasefire' in Gaza Strip - report
The 27 heads of state of the European Union are expected to call on Thursday for an immediate humanitarian pause in the fighting in Gaza, leading to a permanent ceasefire, Kan News reported on Tuesday, citing a German source.
Go to the full article >>Mossad chief returns to Israel amid hostage deal talks
Mossad chief David Barnea has returned to Israel amid the hostage deal talks held in Qatar, Kan news reported on Tuesday.
Kan further stated that, following the Doha meeting, Israeli officials were expected to discuss the deal.
Go to the full article >>Israeli airstrikes target Damascus countryside, Syria says
Syria's defense ministry claims an Israeli airstrike hit Damascus's countryside on Tuesday morning.
Israel early on Tuesday launched missiles at several military targets outside the Syrian capital Damascus resulting in some "material damage," Syria's defense ministry said.
Syrian air defenses intercepted Israeli "missiles and shot down some of them," the ministry added in a statement.
According to Maariv, citing reports, the strikes targeted military structures in the al-Kalmon area. In addition, citing Al-Hadath, the Israeli news outlet stated Hezbollah arsenals were the object of the attack.
Iran has been a major backer of President Bashar al-Assad during Syria's nearly 12-year-old conflict. Its support for Damascus and the Lebanese group Hezbollah has drawn regular Israeli air strikes meant to curb Tehran's extraterritorial military power.
Go to the full article >>IDF establishes special team to locate tunnels in West Bank - report
The IDF's central command established a special team to locate tunnels in the West Bank, Ynet reported on Tuesday.
The team includes military engineering and intelligence experts, along with civilian professionals who are assessing the situation in conjunction with intelligence information, the report added.
This comes amid reports by residents of Bat Hefer hearing digging in the area.
Ynet further added that the examinations have uncovered five shafts so far, but they have not led to tunnels.
Go to the full article >>'Gaza population in need of humanitarian assistance': Blinken to push for Gaza ceasefire
During a visit to the Philippines, Blinken said his trip to meet senior leaders in Saudia Arabia and Egypt would aim to "discuss the right architecture for lasting regional peace."
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken will visit the Middle East this week, aiming to reach a ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas, and secure the release of hostages held by the Palestinian militant group.
During a visit to the Philippines, Blinken said his trip to meet senior leaders in Saudia Arabia and Egypt would aim to "discuss the right architecture for lasting regional peace."
Providing more humanitarian aid into Gaza as well as discussing post-war planning for the enclave are among the topics he will discuss with Saudi and Egyptian officials.
Go to the full article >>Killed Hamas leader was in touch with UN representatives prior to elimination - report
Faack Mabhough, Hamas's Interior Ministry Operations Chief, killed in an IDF operation on Monday, had been in contact with UN representatives and local Gaza clans in recent weeks to establish a security mechanism for the aid arriving into the Gaza Strip, the Lebanese paper, Al-Akhbar reported on Tuesday.
Go to the full article >>Egypt convinced Hamas to continue hostage negotiations despite Shifa hospital operation - report
Senior Egyptian intelligence officials convinced Hamas on Monday morning not to stop the round of talks because of the IDF's operation at al-Shifa Hospital in Gaza, Maariv reported the following morning, citing The New Arab newspaper.
This is a developing story.
Go to the full article >>Israel-Hamas War: What you need to know
- Hamas launched a massive attack on October 7, with thousands of terrorists infiltrating from the Gaza border and taking some 240 hostages into Gaza
- Over 1,200 Israelis and foreign nationals were murdered, including over 350 in the Re'im music festival and hundreds of Israeli civilians across Gaza border communities
- 134 hostages remain in Gaza, 34 of which killed in captivity, IDF says