Gaza, 22 October: The war has continued to intensify between Israel and Hamas, killing thousands of civilians. The Israeli military on Sunday claimed that it killed “terror operatives from Hamas and Islamic Jihad in an air strike on a mosque in the West Bank’s Jenin.Dozens of people have been killed in the West Bank by Israeli troops or settlers since October 7, when Hamas militants stormed into Israel.
Here are the latest updates on the Israel-Hamas war:1. Dozens of leaders and senior officials from the Middle East, Europe, and Africa converged on Cairo, searching for ways to prevent the Israel-Hamas war from becoming a wider conflict. UN chief Antonio Guterres pleaded Saturday for a “humanitarian ceasefire” in the war between Israel and the Hamas terror group.2. Israel said it will step up air strikes over Gaza in preparation for the “next stage” of its military operation.3. Qatar, which was key to the release of two US citizens abducted by Hamas, is optimistic that talks with the group will “very soon” result in the release of all civilian hostages4. As many as 100,000 people marched through central London to demand a cease-fire in Israel’s war with Hamas and in support of the Palestinian cause. It was likely the largest of a series of pro-Palestinian demonstrations held around the world that coincided with a summit meeting in Cairo to try to bring an end to the violence.5. Iran-backed Hezbollah said it fired guided missiles at an Israeli site and launched missiles at other targets near the border with Lebanon following t6. Analysis of video footage and satellite imagery suggests that a rocket that struck the al-Ahli Hospital in Gaza on Tuesday, killing hundreds, was fired from within Palestinian territory, the Associated Press reported.7. Israeli aircraft dropped leaflets on Gaza City on Saturday, reiterating previous requests that all civilian residents there evacuate to the southern area of the Gaza Strip. Residents said the wording of the leaflets carried a stricter tone than before, saying that “whoever chooses not to evacuate would likely be designated as a member of a terrorist organization”.8. Switzerland’s top prosecutor announced the start of a criminal investigation into alleged payments made to Hamas weeks before the attacks on Israel.9. Israel has imprisoned about 1,000 people from the West Bank since Oct. 7, amid an increase in protests in support of Gazans.10. About 20 trucks carrying aid for Gaza began crossing the Rafah border point. The UN said that supplies would include “trauma and chronic disease medicines, and basic essential medicines.” The UN’s World Food Program said the convoy also included 60 tons of emergency food supplies, including canned tuna, wheat flour, pasta, canned beans, and canned tomato paste.As the violence in Israel and Palestine continues, there is no denying the immense suffering that has resulted. The conflict has already resulted in the death of thousands, and has caused untold destruction to both sides.Recently, analysis of video footage and satellite imagery suggests that a rocket fired from within Palestinian territory struck the al-Ahli Hospital in Gaza, killing hundreds. This tragic event only further underscores the need for international intervention to help end this conflict.Israel has responded with a series of measures that only seem to further exacerbate tensions between both sides. On Saturday, Israeli aircraft dropped leaflets on Gaza City reiterating requests that all civilian residents evacuate to the southern area of the Gaza Strip. The wording of the leaflets carried a stricter tone than before, suggesting that anyone who chose not to evacuate would likely be designated as a member of a terrorist organization. This action has effectively put more pressure on an already desperate situation.Meanwhile, Switzerland’s top prosecutor has announced the start of a criminal investigation into alleged payments made to Hamas weeks before the attacks on Israel. This is yet another example of how this conflict is being used to undermine international law and human rights. Israel has also imprisoned about 1,000 people from the West Bank since Oct. 7, amid an increase in protests in support of Gazans. This only serves to further isolate Palestinians from the outside world and makes it increasingly difficult for them to receive aid or support. Fortunately, there have been some positive developments in recent days. About 20 trucks carrying aid for Gaza began crossing the Rafah border point last week. The UN said that supplies would include “trauma and chronic disease medicines, and basic essential medicines.” The UN’s World Food Program also said that 60 tons of emergency food supplies, including canned tuna, wheat flour, pasta, canned beans, and canned tomato paste were also included in the convoy.The situation in Israel and Palestine is dire, and it is clear that rather than exacerbating tensions and causing more suffering, both sides must come together and work towards a peaceful resolution. The world must recognize its moral obligation to speak out against injustice and take action in order to bring about lasting peace and stability in this region.
