Monday, 18 December 2023

HAMAS OFFICIALS SAY THAT ISRAELI STRIKES KILL 110 AS THE DEATH TOLL RISES IN GAZA, AND THE CALL FOR A CEASEFIRE CONTINUES

 Hamas health officials say at least 110 Palestinians have been killed in Israeli airstrikes in Jabalia in northern Gaza.There's been no specific comment from Israel, which insists it is targeting what it calls terrorist infrastructure

  1. Jabalia, part of which is a long-standing refugee camp, is in the north of Gaza - an area where, since the early days of the war, Israel has warned people to leave
  2. US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin is expected to meet Israeli officials today, as the UK, France and Germany step up global calls for a ceasefire
  3. At the UN Security Council, the US is said to be seeking to tone down the words of a new draft resolution calling for a cessation of hostilities
  4. Hamas broke through Israel's heavily guarded perimeter on 7 October, killing 1,200 people and taking 240 hostages - some of whom were released during a brief truce
  5. The health ministry in Gaza, which is run by Hamas, says more than 18,700 people have been killed and 50,000 injured in the enclave since the start of the Gaza war.
  6. Five Israeli soldiers killed in Gaza

    The Israeli Defences Forces (IDF) has announced that five more soldiers have been killed in Gaza.

    Three were killed in southern Gaza, where some of the fiercest fighting has been taking place.

    Another soldier died of his wounds after being seriously wounded last week. Despite Israel's military superiority, its forces have been vulnerable to ambush by militants operating out of underground tunnels in civilian areas.

    Some of the soldiers who died were members of the elite counter terrorism Duvdevan Unit, which specialises in undercover operations.

  7. Sunak: Too many civilians have died in Israel-Hamas war

    Rishi Sunak speaking to military staff in Scotland
    Image caption: Sunak has been in Scotland visiting an RAF base

    British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak says "too many civilian lives have been lost" in the war between Israel and Hamas, adding: "nobody wants to see this conflict go on a day longer than it has to".

    Speaking to reporters in Scotland, he reiterates that while Israel has the right to defend itself following the attacks of 7 October, it must do so "in accordance with humanitarian law".

    Last week, the UK government stepped up its calls for "sustainable ceasefire" in Gaza.

    Sunak says his government has been "consistent" in calling for such a truce "whereby hostages are released, rockets stop being fired into Israel by Hamas and we continue to get more aid in [to Gaza]".

  8. IDF says it does not 'shoot people holding up a white flag'

    The Israel Defense Forces chief of general Herzi Halevi
    Image caption: The Israel Defense Forces chief of general Herzi Halevi

    The Israel Defences Forces (IDF) chief of staff has reminded troops they are "absolutely not" permitted - under the rules of engagement - to shoot unarmed people holding up a white flag in surrender.

    General Herzi Halevi was speaking to troops in the wake of the accidental killing of three Israeli hostages in Gaza by soldiers on Friday.

    He told soldiers to "take two seconds" if they see people "who do not threaten you, who don’t have weapons, who have their hands up".

    Halevi stressed that even enemy fighters, if they put down their weapons and raise their hands, must be taken prisoner, not shot.

    Three Israeli hostages - Yotam Haim, Samer Talalka, and Alon Shamriz - were shot dead after they emerged from a building shirtless, hands raised and with a white flag. Israel said they were mistaken for terrorists.

  9. Israeli government trying 'to protect civilians'

    The Israeli government has told the BBC that it is trying to protect civilians during its operations in Gaza.

    Spokesperson Eylon Levy says the military and government are listening to the United States, and learning from their experiences in "counter terrorism wars".

    US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin is in Israel to meet officials today.

    "The problem is they (Hamas) are deliberately hiding underneath civilian infrastructure, in total violation of humanitarian law and every norm of humanity," Levy told the Today programme on Radio 4 earlier.

    "And in order to get to the terrorists who are hiding underground, underneath schools and hospitals, we are urging civilians to get out of harm's way”, adding if they could just swoop in and get the Hamas militants, they would.

  10. FULL REPORTS AND MORE UPDATES AT: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/live/world-middle-east-67746033

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