Live Updates: Israeli Troops Target Hamas Installations in Northern Gaza as Aerial Bombardment Continues Throughout the Territory

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As Israeli forces focus their attacks on Hamas militants and strategic sites in the northern part of the Gaza Strip, aerial assaults are also being carried out across the blockaded region. Following the initial success of a rescue mission involving a hostage held by Hamas, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has dismissed international pleas for a cease-fire, reiterating his commitment to neutralizing the militant organization’s capacity to administer Gaza or pose a threat to Israel.

Over half of Gaza’s 2.3 million residents have abandoned their homes, with a considerable number seeking refuge in crowded United Nations-operated schools that have been converted into shelters, or in hospitals already filled with injured individuals.

According to the Health Ministry overseen by Hamas in Gaza, the Palestinian death toll in the ongoing conflict with Israel has risen to 8,306. In the West Bank, which is under Israeli occupation, 122 Palestinians have died due to clashes and Israeli military operations.

In Israel, the conflict has claimed the lives of more than 1,400 individuals, the majority of whom were civilians killed in the initial hostilities instigated by Hamas on October 7. Furthermore, 240 Israelis have been abducted and taken into Gaza by the militant group. A special forces operation successfully rescued one such captive, a female Israeli soldier.

Current Developments:

1. A UN representative warns that the conflict between Israel and Hamas is exacerbating the already unstable situation in Syria.

2. A UN agency based in Gaza advocates for an immediate cease-fire, describing it as a matter of existential importance for the Palestinian people.

3. An Israeli governmental department has suggested the relocation of Gaza’s civilian population to Egypt’s Sinai region.

4. Economists suggest that the ongoing conflict may have a more severe impact on Israel’s economy compared to previous wars with Hamas.

5. Members of President Biden’s Cabinet are lobbying the U.S. Congress to allocate aid to both Israel and Ukraine.

6. For more comprehensive coverage, visit https://bigbignews.net/israel-hamas-war.

Additional Developments:

Canada Calls for Urgent Humanitarian Agreement

Melanie Joly, the Canadian Minister of Foreign Affairs, announced on Monday the pressing need for a humanitarian accord to aid the people in the Gaza Strip. Speaking at the Economic Club of Canada, Joly urged a temporary cessation of hostilities in the ongoing Israel-Hamas conflict to facilitate the delivery of essential aid to Gaza.

Joly underscored the precarious humanitarian condition faced by the Palestinian population, particularly women and children. She also unequivocally condemned the actions of Hamas against Israeli civilians while asserting Israel’s right to defend itself in alignment with international law. Additionally, she criticized the extremist attacks perpetrated by Israelis against Palestinians in the West Bank.

Breakdown of Civil Order Impedes UN Agency Functioning

Philippe Lazzarini, the head of the UN agency for Palestinian refugees (UNRWA), cautioned during a U.N. Security Council emergency meeting that the continuation of the agency’s operations is threatened by the deteriorating civil order. He cited recent instances of looting at the agency’s warehouses by desperate Palestinians in search of food and other necessities.

Lazzarini appealed to all 193 U.N. member states to alter the crisis’s current trajectory. The commissioner-general further noted that 64 UNRWA staff have lost their lives in just over three weeks.

Israel Reverses Stance on Denying Visas to UN Officials

Israel has walked back its earlier decision to deny entry visas to United Nations representatives. Meirav Eilon Shahar, Israel’s ambassador in Geneva, confirmed that Martin Griffiths, the head of the U.N. Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, and other officials have been allowed entry into Israel.

While Eilon Shahar acknowledged the need for U.N. presence, she expressed frustration over the lack of strong condemnations of Hamas by U.N. organizations, stating that multilateral bodies have failed the people of Israel.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about Israel-Hamas Conflict

More about Israel-Hamas Conflict

• United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees
• Israeli Government Official Website
• Hamas Official Media
• U.S. Department of State: Israel Relations
• Canadian Foreign Affairs Ministry
• Economic Impact of Israel-Hamas Conflicts
• Syria Conflict Overview
• U.S. Congress Legislation Tracker
• Geneva Conventions on International Humanitarian Law
• The Economic Club of Canada