U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken has arrived in Israel to press for more humanitarian aid to be allowed into besieged Gaza. Hezbollah, an ally of Hamas, has attacked Israeli military positions in northern Israel, raising fears of a regional conflict. Blinken is providing $130 million in additional aid to the Palestinians, including $40 million to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency, and $15 million in aid to the Gaza Strip.
Posts tagged as “the Gaza Strip”
Israeli forces are engaging in close combat battles with Hamas militants in Gaza City as part of a larger operation in the strip, with IDF spokesperson Daniel Hagari reporting progress in their mission. Meanwhile, hundreds of Americans are set to depart Gaza and cross the border into Egypt, as the international community calls for a ceasefire to allow for humanitarian aid. The conflict in Gaza has been ongoing for more than a week and shows no signs of abating, with the IDF continuing to press forward in its mission.
At least dozens of people were killed and injured in the northern Gaza Strip on Wednesday after Israeli airstrikes targeted a refugee camp near Gaza City. Images obtained by Agence France-Presse showed major damage and destruction at the camp, with videos of wounded people, including children, being brought to a nearby hospital. The United Nations has expressed concern over the airstrikes and the potential evacuation of the Rafah crossing, calling for an immediate end to the violence and for the protection of civilians.
Dozens of people have been killed in airstrikes on the Jabaliya refugee camp in the Gaza Strip, where Israel says it targeted Hamas. The Rafah border crossing to Egypt opened on Wednesday, allowing hundreds of foreign passport holders and the wounded to leave the war-torn territory. Four hostages were released by Hamas, but no one else has been allowed to leave the embattled enclave. The international community is calling for an immediate ceasefire and for both sides to come to the negotiating table, but the situation in Gaza remains dire with no end to the violence in sight.
Pro-Palestinian protesters disrupted Secretary of State Antony Blinken's testimony before the Senate Appropriations Committee on Tuesday, calling for a cease-fire in the Gaza Strip. Blinken was outlining the Biden administration's requests for more U.S. aid to support Israel's attacks on Gaza when the protesters began shouting slogans such as "You have blood on your hands!" and "Cease-fire now!" Security eventually removed at least one protester from the room. The protest comes amid a growing international outcry over the ongoing conflict in the Gaza Strip, which has left more than 200 people dead and thousands more injured.
Israeli troops continue to battle Hamas militants in the Gaza Strip, with over 800,000 Palestinians displaced and 1,530 killed since Saturday. A new poll reveals that 70% of Jewish Israelis and Arab Israelis believe Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu should resign after the war ends, and the international community is pushing for an immediate cease-fire.
New York Governor Kathy Hochul has announced that a person of interest has been taken into custody following antisemitic threats made at Cornell University. The Anti-Defamation League reported a nearly 400% increase in reported incidents of antisemitism since the start of the conflict in the Middle East. In response, Gov. Hochul has taken steps to combat antisemitism on college campuses in New York, including increased security measures, increased training for faculty and staff, and the creation of a task force.
Israel has launched a new phase of its offensive in the Gaza Strip, targeting Hamas' extensive tunnel network. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has announced the start of a second phase in an operation to eliminate Hamas and return hostages taken on October 7th. To target the tunnels, Israel has cut off electricity and communication services to the entire enclave, and is shelling the area with artillery and air strikes. The conflict between Israel and Hamas has been ongoing for years, with no end in sight.