Live updates | Israeli troops surround Gaza City. Communications being restored to territory

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Israeli forces have positioned themselves around Gaza City, creating a division between its northern and southern sections, as the region experienced its third disruption in communication services since the onset of the conflict. The incursion into Gaza City by Israeli forces is anticipated either today or tomorrow, according to reports from Israeli news outlets.

Following a series of Israeli airstrikes that targeted refugee camps in the central Gaza Strip the previous day, resulting in numerous fatalities, the country has so far dismissed proposals from the United States for a temporary cessation of hostilities for humanitarian considerations, despite the mounting toll on civilians.

In diplomatic efforts, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken traveled to Ramallah for an impromptu meeting with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas before proceeding to Baghdad for discussions with Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani.

As reported by health authorities controlled by Hamas in Gaza, the death toll of Palestinians has surpassed 9,700, with children and minors making up over 4,000 of the casualties. Additionally, in the occupied West Bank, violence and Israeli operations have resulted in over 140 Palestinian deaths.

For more information on these updates, you may visit: https://bigbignews.net/israel-hamas-war

The confrontation has also had significant ramifications for Israel, where more than 1,400 individuals have lost their lives, predominantly due to the Hamas attack on October 7 that initiated the hostilities. Furthermore, 242 Israeli hostages have been reportedly taken into Gaza by the militant faction.

Under what appears to be an accord between the United States, Egypt, Israel, and Qatar — which liaises with Hamas — around 1,100 individuals have departed the Gaza Strip through the Rafah crossing since Wednesday.

In the current climate:

• There is another telecommunications outage in Gaza, and Israeli military confirms the encirclement of Gaza City.
• Israeli hostages’ families fear international negligence of their situation.
• The appalling human cost of the Israel-Hamas conflict is highlighted by these figures.
• A U.N. representative points out that the average Palestinian in Gaza survives on just two bread slices a day.

Additional updates on the ongoing Israel-Hamas conflict include:

• A border police officer was critically injured in a stabbing in East Jerusalem, where the assailant was then killed by police.
• The U.N. Security Council has scheduled a private meeting concerning the conflict at the request of China, currently holding the council presidency, and the United Arab Emirates, representing Arab interests on the council.
• Emotional reunions took place at Sydney Airport as Australians evacuated from Gaza arrived.
• The U.S. military has disclosed the positioning of a nuclear-capable submarine in the Middle East, a rare admission involving one of the components of America’s nuclear deterrent, the so-called “nuclear triad.”

Furthermore:

• U.N. agencies and humanitarian organizations have collectively called for an immediate cease-fire to facilitate the protection of civilians and the prompt delivery of essential supplies to Gaza.
• Jordan has conducted an airdrop of medical supplies into Gaza.
• The Israeli ambassador to the U.S. describes Gaza as a significant hub of terror, insisting on the necessity to dismantle its militant infrastructure.
• Former President Obama reflects on the role of various parties in the ongoing conflict and contemplates the efforts of his administration towards peace.
• Communications within Gaza experience disruptions amidst the conflict.
• The Iranian state media reports a meeting between Iran’s Supreme Leader and the leader of Hamas.
• The new U.S. ambassador to Israel emphasizes the importance of releasing hostages taken into Gaza.
• Israeli troops uncover a significant cache of weapons in Gaza.
• Protests in Turkey manifest outside the U.S. Embassy in Ankara, coinciding with the Secretary of State’s visit.

These developments shed light on the complexities and human toll of the conflict, underscoring the international diplomatic and humanitarian response to the situation.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about Israel-Gaza Conflict

More about Israel-Gaza Conflict

• United Nations News on Gaza Crisis
• US Department of State Press Release
• Humanitarian Impact of Gaza Blockade – ReliefWeb
• BBC Middle East Conflict Coverage
• Analysis of US Military Role in the Middle East – Council on Foreign Relations