Israel-Hamas War:What happened on day 305?

The Christian Democratic Union's foreign policy expert Roderich Kiesewetter called on the German government to join the US-led coalition to protest Israel from an attack by Iran and its proxies, Spiegel reported on Sunday. 

Iran has said it plans to attack Israel in response to the assassination of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh - which Israel has neither taken responsibility for nor denied. 

"In view of the looming Iranian attack, the German government must finally wake up and offer Israel military support to defend itself," Kiesewetter told Spiegel. 

"It is conceivable that fighter jets from friendly nations could be refueled, but also that the German army could use its own Eurofighters, for example, to defend against Iranian drones," added the former German army officer.

The killing of terror group Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh was intended to prolong the conflict in Gaza. It will complicate talks on resolving the crisis, Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas told Russia's RIA state news agency in remarks published on Tuesday.

"There is no doubt that the purpose of Mr. Haniyeh's assassination is to prolong the war and expand its scope," RIA cited Abbas as saying.

"It will have a negative impact on the ongoing negotiations to end the aggression and withdraw Israeli troops from Gaza."

Tehran has begun requesting Russia to use its advanced air defense systems, the New York Times reported on Monday.

Sources also noted that Moscow started supplying Iran with advanced radar and air defense equipment.

The conflict on Israel’s northern border has significantly escalated in the past weeks. Mohammed Deif, head of Hamas’ military wing, Ismail Haniyeh, head of Hamas’ political bureau, and Fuad Shukr, a senior Hezbollah commander, were all taken out in targeted killings. These actions, especially the assassination of Haniyeh on Iranian soil, have intensified regional tensions and resulted in severe threats from Iran. Supreme Leader of Iran Ali Khamenei ordered direct retaliation against Israel, significantly increasing the potential for broader conflict in the region.

As tensions rise in the north, Israeli military operations in Gaza continue. A total of 116 hostages are still held in Gaza, not all of them alive. Families of the hostages are vigorously campaigning for the government to secure their release.

Both the Israeli military and Defense Ministry have declined to comment on the current situation in the north. The Israeli military has stated that it is prepared to operate under various scenarios.

Nearly 150,000 tons of Israeli produce, valued at 670 million shekels ($185 million), was lost or wasted during the first six months of the war with Gaza, a new report from Israel’s leading food rescue organization found.

According to the report, which was published by the food rescue organization Leket and BDO Consulting in cooperation with the Environmental Protection and Health ministries, agricultural food waste in Israel has more than doubled since the onset of the war.

More than nine months since October 7, agricultural productivity is still at only 70% of what it was this time last year. This decrease in productivity is due to reduced access to agricultural areas and a reduced workforce.

Following the October 7 attacks, Israel restricted access to many agricultural areas. About 30% of Israel’s agricultural land is located near the Gaza border or the border with Lebanon.

The Center for Jewish Impact in partnership with the Geocartography Knowledge Group unveiled The Israeli Society Barometer project on Saturday, highlighting the changes in Israeli and Jewish public opinion on topic issues over time. 

Through amplifying Israeli society’s perspectives, the Center hopes to provide insights to better inform embassies, international organizations, and partners of the Center.

The project began collecting data in June, surveying 500 adult Israeli respondents from across Israeli society.

Iran's President Masoud Pezeshkian told top Kremlin official on Monday that Tehran was determined to expand relations with its "strategic partner Russia," Iranian state media reported.

Sergei Shoigu, the secretary of Russia's security council, met Iran's president and top security officials as the Islamic Republic weighs its response to the killing of a Hamas leader.

"Russia is among the countries that have stood by the Iranian nation during difficult times," Pezeshkian told Shoigu in a meeting, Iranian state media reported.

Israel Air Force jets attacked Deir al-Balah in the central Gaza Strip, according to reports from Palestinian media early on Tuesday morning.

US President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris are currently in the Situation Room receiving updates on the situation in the Middle East, Israeli media reported on Tuesday overnight.

The United States called on all Middle Eastern parties to refrain from taking steps that would escalate the situation, as it pushed to prevent an Iranian attack against Israel.

“We are engaged in intense diplomacy, pretty much around the clock, with a very simple message, all parties must refrain from escalation,” US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said on Monday afternoon. 

“All parties must take steps to ease tensions. Escalation is not in anyone's interest. 

“It will only lead to more conflict, more violence, more insecurity,” he stated.