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.
Palestinians check a house destroyed in the Israeli bombardment on Rafah, Gaza Strip - Sputnik Africa

Live Updates: War in Gaza Pursued by Extremist Coalition in Israel, Palestine Envoy to UN Says

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UNITED NATIONS (Sputnik) - The conflict between Israel and the Palestinian Hamas movement, which has left more than a thousand Israelis dead and tens of thousands of Palestinians dead and injured, has entered its third month.
The United Nations Security Council will vote on Friday on the United Arab Emirates' draft resolution demanding an immediate ceasefire in the Gaza Strip, the Ecuadorian Permanent Mission presiding over the UNSC said.
On Thursday, UAE Foreign Minister Abdullah bin Zayed said that the country had submitted the draft resolution to the UNSC.
The draft resolution seen by Sputnik reads that the UNSC demands an "immediate humanitarian ceasefire." It also includes the Security Council's demand for the immediate and unconditional release of all hostages, as well as for humanitarian access to the enclave.
The Security Council reiterates its call for all parties to comply with their obligations in accordance with international law, in particular, regarding the protection of civilians, according to the draft resolution.
The document also expresses deep concern over the dire humanitarian situation in the Gaza Strip and the suffering of the Palestinian civilian population.
On October 7, Hamas launched a large-scale rocket attack against Israel from the Gaza Strip and breached the border, killing around 1,200 people and abducting some 240 others. Israel launched retaliatory strikes, ordered a complete blockade of Gaza and launched a large-scale ground incursion into the Palestinian enclave with the declared aim of defeating Hamas and freeing the hostages. The conflict has so far resulted in the deaths of over 17,000 people in the Gaza Strip.
On November 24, Qatar mediated a deal between Israel and Hamas on a temporary truce and the exchange of some of the prisoners and hostages, as well as the delivery of humanitarian aid into the Gaza Strip. The truce was extended several times and expired this past Friday, when the Israeli military resumed fighting against Hamas in the Gaza Strip, saying the group had violated the humanitarian pause.
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16:56 08.12.2023
Guterres Says All Means to Mitigate Risk to UN Staff in Gaza ‘Closed Off’
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said on Friday there are no other means left to mitigate the risk to the lives of UN staff members in Gaza except for evacuation amid Israel’s renewed military operation in the Palestinian enclave.
"The Under-Secretary-General of the Department of Safety and Security has advised me that all possible means of mitigating the risk to staff within Gaza, short of evacuation, are closed off, because of the way this conflict has evolved," Guterres said in his remarks to the UN Security Council during a meeting on the situation in Gaza.
Guterres pointed out that while the United Nations remains "totally committed" to staying and helping the people of Gaza, the situation on the ground is becoming "untenable."
16:56 08.12.2023
Guterres Says Gaza Humanitarian System, Public Order at Risk of Collapse
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Friday warned of a high risk of a humanitarian support system collapse in Gaza that can potentially result in a breakdown of public order.
"There is a high risk of the total collapse of the humanitarian support system in Gaza, which would have devastating consequences. We anticipate that it would result in a complete breakdown of public order and increased pressure for mass displacement into Egypt," Guterres said in his remarks to the UN Security Council during a meeting on the situation in Gaza.
16:55 08.12.2023
Egypt Faces Economic Difficulties Hosting 9Mln Refugees, Foreign Minister Says
Egypt hosts 9 million refugees from numerous African countries and faces economic issues as a result of this reality, Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry said on Friday.
"According to the International Organization of Migration (IOM), Egypt is hosting 9 million refugees now, whether Sudanese, Libyans, Syrians, Iraqis, Yemenis and a multitude of other African nations," Shoukry said in a discussion at the Atlantic Council.
Shoukry emphasized that Egypt has moral responsibility toward the refugees it hosts.
Egypt provides refugees access to its healthcare, education and subsidy systems, he said.
"Of course, it causes economic difficulties for us," Shoukry said.
16:54 08.12.2023
War in Gaza Pursued by Extremist Coalition in Israel, Palestine Envoy to UN Says
The war in the Gaza Strip is a war of the extremist coalition that in power in Israel and no one should get involved in it, Palestinian Ambassador to the United Nations Riyad Mansour said on Friday.
"This is the war of the extremist coalition in power in Israel. No one should get sucked into it any further," Mansour said during a meeting of the UN Security Council.
The ambassador also said that the war in Gaza is a war of Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu.
15:03 08.12.2023
Some 1,175 Palestinians Linked to Hamas Arrested in West Bank Since October 7
Israeli law enforcement officials have arrested some 2,200 wanted Palestinians in the West Bank since October 7, including about 1,175 with links to Palestinian movement Hamas, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said on Friday.
"To date, since the start of the war, units in the West Bank have arrested about 2,200 wanted individuals, some 1,175 of whom have links with Hamas," the IDF said in a statement.
Last night alone, five wanted Palestinians were arrested in the West Bank, two of whom are Hamas members, the IDF added.
The Israeli forces operated in various regions of the West Bank, facing armed resistance from Palestinians, the IDF also said. During a raid in the Al Far'a refugee camp, a shooting took place between Israeli law enforcement officers and armed Palestinians, as a result of which "several terrorists were killed" and two M16 rifles were seized, the IDF added.
An Israeli soldier was injured during an operation in the town of Silat Ad Dhahr near the city of Jenin, the statement also said.
In mid-November, the IDF said that about 1,100 wanted Palestinians with ties to Hamas had been arrested in the West Bank since October 7.
12:30 08.12.2023
PRCS Reports Israeli Air Force Strike Near Its Khan Yunis Headquarters, Hospital in Gaza
The Palestinian Red Crescent Society (PRCS) said on Friday that Israeli Air Force hit the house located close to the organization's headquarters and Al-Amal hospital in the city of Khan Yunis in the southern Gaza Strip.
On Friday, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said its troops carried out "a two-hour series of precise strikes" in Khan Yunis, killing "numerous terrorists."
"A short while ago, Israeli occupation aircraft targeted a house near Al-Amal Hospital and the PRCS HQ in #KhanYonis," the PRCS wrote on X, formerly known as Twitter.
The attack caused glass shattering, doors and windows breaking as well as an extreme panic among 14,000 displaced people, accommodated in PRCS facilities, the PRCS added.
"Al-Amal Hospital received dozens of injuries and martyrs as a result of this targeting," the organization said.
09:25 08.12.2023
US Fears New Hostage Deal With Hamas Unlikely to Be Reached This Year - Reports
The United States has lost hope of reaching an agreement on the release of hostages held by Hamas in the Gaza Strip by the end of this year, as negotiations have stalled, Politico reported, citing senior US officials.
The officials told the newspaper that there were a number of factors complicating the talks. First, the US and Israel are still unable to locate all the hostages and identify whether they are still alive. They also believe that it is becoming increasingly difficult for Hamas leaders, many of whom live in Qatar, to control the actions of their fighters in the Gaza Strip.
These obstacles combined have led to a deadlock, which means that the release of the hostages will take much longer than the US originally expected, the officials said.
Despite the resumed fighting, the US administration had hoped to reach another hostage deal and humanitarian pause before Israel launched its offensive in the southern Gaza Strip, the newspaper reported. Washington hoped it could reach an agreement before January 1, the report said.
However, the officials added that negotiations were still ongoing and that the situation could improve in the coming days if Hamas agreed to release female hostages.
08:09 08.12.2023
US Talks to Israelis About Length of Gaza Operation, But Decision Up to Them, Blinken Says
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said US officials discuss with their Israeli colleagues how long their military operation in Gaza may last but stressed that these are decisions for Tel Aviv to make.
"In our conversations with Israel we talk about how long this campaign will take and also how it is being prosecuted, but these are decisions for Israel to make," Blinken said at a presser.
08:07 08.12.2023
Blinken Urges Israel to Focus on Protecting Civilians in Gaza Strip
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken is urging Israel to focus on protecting civilians in the Gaza Strip.
"It is imperative, it remains imperative, that Israel put a premium on civilian protection," Blinken told reporters.
Blinken emphasized the necessity to focus not only on keeping safe corridors in Gaza, but also on maintaining communications so residents know when and where they could go.
Blinken pointed out the importance of areas that are not in the conflict zone remaining peaceful.
"This is something we are talking about with the Israelis on a regular basis, including as recent as today," Blinken said.
08:07 08.12.2023
UK Reportedly Preparing Palestinian Authority to Take Over Control of Gaza Strip
A UK military group is preparing the Palestinian Authority to take full control of the Gaza Strip after the main goal of Israel's operation in the enclave is achieved, the UK media reported, citing UK Defense Secretary Grant Shapps.
Shapps said the UK mission, which cooperates closely with the United States and Canada, as well as Palestinian security experts, had been deployed in the Palestinian city of Ramallah for over a decade, the newspaper reported, adding that London was mulling the possibility of expanding its capacity.
The UK defense chief reportedly believes the Palestinian Authority will need significant international support to govern the enclave at the appropriate level if Hamas is defeated.
08:05 08.12.2023
Only 14 Out of 36 Hospitals in Gaza Strip Still Functional: UN Office
Only 14 out of 36 hospitals in the Gaza Strip keep operating, but even they are providing only limited services, the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) said in a fresh report.
"Currently, only 14 out of 36 hospitals in the Gaza Strip are functional, and even they only provide limited services. Among them, two small hospitals in the north and 12 in the south are reported to be able to admit new patients," the OCHA said in the report.
08:04 08.12.2023
Egypt's Top Diplomat Says No Consensus in World to Put End to Israel-Gaza War
The international community has failed to reach a consensus on the need to cease hostilities between Israel and Gaza, Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry said on Thursday.
"I think that the voice of the consensus has not materialized within the International community to call for a humanitarian suspension of this crisis," Shoukry said at the Aspen Security Forum.
08:03 08.12.2023
UN Chief Talks to 7 Foreign Ministers to Help Avert Disaster in Gaza, Spokesperson Says
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres talked by telephone with seven foreign affairs ministers after sending a letter to the UN Security Council urging action to avert a humanitarian disaster in Gaza, United Nations spokesperson Stephane Dujarric said.
"Since the letter, he had about seven phone calls with Foreign Ministers yesterday," Dujarric said during a press briefing on Thursday.
Guterres spoke with the foreign ministers of UAE, Jordan and the US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken, the spokesperson added.
08:02 08.12.2023
White House Says ‘Not Close’ to Securing Another Deal on Humanitarian Pause in Gaza
The United States is not close to securing another agreement on a humanitarian pause in the Gaza Strip, National Security Council spokesperson John Kirby said.
"We are not close to inking another deal on a humanitarian pause [in Gaza]," Kirby said during a press briefing.
08:01 08.12.2023
Two-State Solution in Middle East 'Difficult' but Alternatives 'Much Worse': UK Foreign Secretary
UK Foreign Secretary David Cameron said on Thursday that in spite of the fact that the two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict was difficult to implement, the alternatives to it could be "much worse."
"We have to start thinking what happens on the day one after this Israeli operation has finished, what you do to reform and revitalize the Palestinian Authority, how do you get Arab States to commit to working on that and thinking how to provide stability and governance and security in Gaza, how do we improve the situation in West Bank. It is incredibly difficult but to me the alternatives to the two-state solution are much worse," Cameron told the Aspen Security Forum.
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