Qatar rejects attempts to forcibly displace Palestinians in Gaza
In a strong statement posted on social media platform X (formerly known as Twitter), the Qatari foreign ministry expressed its rejection of any attempts to forcibly displace Palestinian civilians in Gaza. The ministry called for an end to the siege on Gaza and demanded full protection for Palestinian civilians according to international and humanitarian laws. The statement comes as Palestinians in Gaza flee to the south following an unprecedented evacuation warning issued the Israeli army.
Israeli army kills two Hamas commanders
The Israeli military announced on Saturday that it had killed two Hamas commanders who were responsible for a deadly cross-border attack into Israel. The military identified the commanders as Merad Abu Merad, head of the Hamas aerial system, and Ali Qadi, a company commander of a commando force.
US working to evacuate its citizens from Gaza
Reports indicate that the US is working to open the Rafah border crossing between Gaza and Egypt to allow American citizens to leave. The State Department, along with Israel, Qatar, and Egypt, has been coordinating efforts to facilitate the opening of the border crossing. US Secretary of State Antony Blinken has been involved in diplomatic meetings in the Middle East to de-escalate the Israeli-Hamas conflict.
Israeli military investigates death of Reuters journalist in Lebanon
The Israeli army has launched an investigation into the death of a Reuters journalist in southern Lebanon. The journalist, Issam Abdallah, was killed and six others were injured when missiles fired from Israel struck them. The military spokesperson expressed condolences and stated that they were examining the incident.
High death toll in Gaza as airstrikes continue
According to Gaza’s health ministry, Israeli airstrikes over the past 24 hours have resulted in the death of at least 324 Palestinians and the injury of 1,000 others. The casualties include a large number of women and children. In total, the ministry reports that 2,215 citizens in Gaza and the West Bank have been killed since the conflict began.
UN plane carrying medical supplies ready to aid Gaza
The World Health Organization (WHO) has announced that a plane carrying medical supplies has landed in Egypt, ready to be deployed to Gaza once humanitarian access is established. WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus urged Israel to reconsider its decision to evacuate 1.1 million people, warning of a humanitarian tragedy. The situation in Gaza remains dire, with limited access to essential supplies due to the ongoing conflict.
EU diplomat criticizes Gaza City evacuation order
EU High Representative Josep Borrell voiced his concerns over Israel’s evacuation order for Gaza City residents. He echoed the United Nations Secretary-General’s warning that the evacuation would be “virtually impossible” and extremely dangerous for the 1.1 million civilians. Borrell also emphasized the need for immediate humanitarian access to Gaza to provide essential resources such as food, water, and fuel.
Israeli military responds to hostilities from Lebanon
The Israeli military has been actively responding to hostilities from Lebanon, particularly from the Lebanese militant group Hezbollah. In a series of updates on the Telegram social media platform, the IDF reported strikes against targets belonging to Hezbollah in southern Lebanon. The military stated that these actions were in response to infiltration unidentified aerial objects and subsequent fire exchanges with its forces.