Israel-Palestine Escalation
Israel was hit by an unprecedented rocket attack from the Gaza Strip on October 7, with Hamas movement's troops infiltrating border areas. On October 8, the Israeli government announced that it had invoked Article 40 of the Basic Law, which means the country was officially in a state of war.
Israeli Iron Dome air defense system fires to intercept a rocket fired from the Gaza Strip - Sputnik Africa

Live Updates: Netanyahu Orders Recall of Mossad Negotiators From Qatar Amid 'Deadlock' in Talks

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MOSCOW (Sputnik) - The Middle East has recently been in the focus of the world community due to the escalation of the Palestinian-Israeli conflict. The conflict resulted in the deaths of nearly 1,200 people in Israel and over 16,000 in the Gaza Strip.
The death toll of journalists and media workers since the escalation of the Palestinian-Israeli conflict on October 7 has reached 61, the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) said in a statement.
"As of December 1, CPJ’s preliminary investigations showed at least 61 journalists and media workers were among the more than 16,000 killed since the war began on October 7—with some 14,800 Palestinian deaths in Gaza and the West Bank and 1,200 deaths in Israel," the CPJ said.
It said the deadliest day of the conflict for journalist deaths was October 7, with six journalists killed; and the second-deadliest day occurred on November 18, with five killed.
On October 7, Hamas launched a surprise large-scale rocket attack against Israel from the Gaza Strip and breached the border, killing around 1,200 people and abducting over 200 others in neighboring Israeli communities.
Israel launched retaliatory strikes and ordered a complete blockade of the Gaza Strip, cutting off supplies of water, food, and fuel. On October 27, Israel launched a large-scale ground incursion inside the Gaza Strip with the declared goal of eliminating Hamas fighters and rescuing the hostages.
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18:24 02.12.2023
Kamala Harris Says US Will Never Permit Redrawing of Gaza Borders
US Vice President Kamala Harris has assured Egyptian President Abdel Fattah Sisi during a meeting in Dubai that the United States will never permit the redrawing of the borders of the Gaza Strip or the forced relocation of Palestinians from the enclave, the White House said on Saturday.
"The Vice President reiterated that under no circumstances will the United States permit the forced relocation of Palestinians from Gaza or the West Bank, the besiegement of Gaza, or the redrawing of the borders of Gaza," the White House said in a readout of the meeting, which took place on the sidelines of the 28th Conference of the Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change.
Harris and the Egyptian president also discussed US proposals for post-conflict planning in the Gaza Strip, including "efforts on reconstruction, security, and governance," the statement read.
The US vice president stated that Hamas "cannot control Gaza, which is untenable for Israel's security, the well-being of the Palestinian people, and regional security," the White House added.
17:52 02.12.2023
'Death Was Everywhere': Sputnik Correspondent Shares Story of Evacuation From Gaza
Palestinians mourn their relatives killed in the Israeli bombardment of the Gaza Strip, in the hospital in Khan Younis, Saturday, Dec. 2, 2023. - Sputnik Africa, 1920, 02.12.2023
Israel-Palestine Escalation
'Death Was Everywhere': Sputnik Correspondent Shares Story of Evacuation From Gaza
17:32 02.12.2023
Netanyahu Orders Recall of Mossad Negotiators From Qatar Amid 'Deadlock' in Talks
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has ordered the withdrawal of the Mossad intelligence agency's negotiators from Qatar, as talks on a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip in exchange for the release of hostages reached a "deadlock," the prime minister's office said on Saturday.
"Mossad director David Barnea ordered his team in Doha to return to Israel as directed by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu following the impasse in negotiations," the office said in a statement.
Hamas failed to fulfill its part of the deal, which provided for the release of all children and women on a list that had been approved by the movement, the office added.
14:47 02.12.2023
Videos of the consequences of the latest Israeli strikes on the Gaza Strip have emerged on social media
13:22 02.12.2023
ICC Prosecutor Arrives in West Bank to Meet With Top Palestinian Officials
The International Criminal Court (ICC) said on Saturday that its chief prosecutor Karim Khan had arrived in Ramallah in the West Bank for meetings with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas and other top officials.
"ICC Prosecutor [Karim Khan] has arrived in Ramallah. Prosecutor Khan will meet w/ their Excellencies the President, Prime Minister [Mohammad Shtayyeh] and Minister of Justice [Mohammad Fahhad Al-Shalaldeh] of the State of Palestine," the ICC wrote on X.
During the visit, Khan is also expected to meet with survivors of the Palestinian-Israeli conflict and family members of victims, the court added.
On Thursday, Khan paid a visit to Israel at the request and invitation of survivors and families of victims of the October 7 attacks.
10:09 02.12.2023
MSF Says Israeli Army Might Be Responsible for November 18 Attack on Organization's Convoy
The testimony of eyewitnesses showed that the Israeli army was responsible for the attack on the Medecins Sans Frontieres’ evacuation convoy that took place in Gaza City on November 18 and resulted in the death of two people, Medecins Sans Frontieres (MSF), which translates as Doctors Without Borders, said.
After the attack, the organization condemned it, calling the attack "deliberate" one. The MSF cars were clearly identifiable due to MSF logos on them, the organization said.
"On 18 November 2023, a Medecins Sans Frontieres (MSF) evacuation convoy came under fire in Gaza City, Palestine… Two weeks later, after collecting the testimonies of MSF staff present that day in the convoy, MSF considers that all elements point to the responsibility of the Israeli army for this attack," the MSF said in a statement on Friday.
The organization also requested a formal explanation from the Israeli authorities and called for an independent investigation.
08:56 02.12.2023
Israel Defense Forces Says Struck Over 400 Targets in Gaza Strip in Last 24 Hours
The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said on Saturday that it had struck over 400 targets linked to Palestinian movement Hamas throughout the Gaza Strip, including arms storage facilities and infrastructure.
"Over the past day, the IDF struck over 400 terror targets throughout the Gaza Strip," the IDF said on Telegram.
The military added that it had struck a weapons storage compound, Hamas infrastructure, and "a mosque used by the Islamic Jihad as an operational command center."
The air forces also struck 50 targets in the area of Khan Yunis in the south of the enclave overnight, the IDF said.
08:16 02.12.2023
Israel Bans Entry of Humanitarian Aid to Gaza Through Rafah Crossing: PRCS
The Palestine Red Crescent Society (PRCS) said that Israel had banned the entry of humanitarian aid into the Gaza Strip through the Rafah crossing on the enclave's border with Egypt.

"Today, Israeli occupation forces informed all organizations and entities operating at the Rafah border crossing that the entry of aid trucks from the Egyptian side to the Gaza Strip is prohibited, starting from today until further notice," the organization said on X.

The PRCS added that the move aggravated the suffering of civilians in the Gaza Strip and complicated the work of humanitarian organizations.
08:15 02.12.2023
Macron to Visit Qatar on Saturday for Talks on Israel-Hamas Conflict
French President Emmanuel Macron on Saturday is scheduled to pay a diplomatic visit to Qatar, a key mediator in the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas and the broker of their truce and hostage deal.
Macron is expected to meet with Qatari Emir Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani in Doha and discuss a variety of issues related to the conflict in the Gaza Strip, including ways to achieve a humanitarian pause in fighting, free more hostages and facilitate peace talks. At least four French nationals are believed to continue to be held hostage by Hamas.
The French president will be traveling to Doha from Dubai, where he arrived earlier in the week for the COP28 conference and reportedly discussed the Middle East crisis with several regional leaders on the sidelines, including Egyptian President Abdel Fattah Sisi.
08:14 02.12.2023
Israel Defense Forces Says Struck Hamas Command Centers in Gaza Strip
The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said it struck the infrastructure of Palestinian group Hamas in the Gaza Strip, targeting operational command centers and underground facilities.
"In the past hours, terror infrastructure in the Gaza Strip was targeted and struck. The targets included operational command centers in which Hamas terrorists were operating, underground sites, and a military compound from which anti-tank missiles were launched at soldiers earlier today," the IDF said on Telegram on Friday.
08:13 02.12.2023
Death Toll From Israeli Strikes on Gaza on Friday Reaches 178, Health Ministry Says
The death toll in Israeli strikes on the Gaza Strip after the expiration of the ceasefire has reached 178 people, the Palestinian enclave's Health Ministry said in a statement.
"The death count as a result of Israeli aggression from the morning until now has risen to 178, and 589 were wounded, most of whom are children and women," the ministry said on Telegram.
08:12 02.12.2023
Erdogan Says Resumption of Hostilities in Gaza Negative
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, at talks with UAE President Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan in Dubai, called the resumption of hostilities in Gaza negative.
"During the meeting, Israel's resumption of attacks on the Gaza Strip, humanitarian assistance to Turkey and steps made in the name of peace and relations between Turkey and the UAE were discussed. President Erdogan said that Turkey is doing everything possible to stop the Israeli massacre in Gaza, and that the Islamic world must act together to stop Israel. Noting that the resumption of clashes was extremely negative, President Erdogan said Turkey is committed to ensuring a permanent ceasefire and delivery of humanitarian aid to Gaza," the Turkish leader's office said.
08:12 02.12.2023
Syria Downed Most Missiles Fired by Israel on Damascus Outskirts: Syrian Defense Ministry
Syrian air defenses shot down most missiles fired by Israel on Damascus outskirts, the Syrian Defense Ministry said.
Earlier, Syrian state TV channel Al Ikhbariya reported that Israel carried out an attack on the outskirts of the Syrian capital.

"Today (Saturday) at about 01:35 am, the Israeli enemy carried out air aggression from the side of occupied Golan Heights, striking some positions in the vicinity of Damascus. Our air defense systems responded to enemy missiles and shot down most of them, the aggression was limited to material damage," the ministry said.

08:11 02.12.2023
Israel to Allow Humanitarian Trucks Into Gaza at US Request, Kirby Says
Israel is going to allow trucks with humanitarian aid to cross into Gaza again at the request of the United States, but their number will be significantly reduced, US National Security Council spokesperson John Kirby said.
"It looks like a spokesman for the Israelis has now said that the trucks were going to be allowed into Gaza at our request and certainly with the approval of their government, and they stressed that all the trucks going in, of course, had to be done with this inspection regime in Israel before entering Gaza," Kirby said during a press briefing. "Looks like we are gonna be able to resume it probably in terms of dozens of trucks versus hundreds of trucks [per day]."
08:10 02.12.2023
Israel Reportedly Plans to Launch Operation in Southern Gaza Parallel to Activity in North
Israel plans to conduct two simultaneous operations in the Gaza Strip, where one is the ongoing offensive in the north and the second could be launched in the south of the enclave, the UK media reported on Friday.
The multi-phase strategy assumes that the Israeli ground forces currently in northern Gaza will make an imminent advance deep into the southern part of the besieged Palestinian enclave, focusing on the cities of Khan Younis and Rafah in close proximity to the Egypt border, the report read.
The newspaper said Israeli officials believed that most Hamas leaders, part of the fighters and rocket arsenal as well as the majority of Israeli hostages are located in the south.
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