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The Israeli military has claimed that its ground forces have completely surrounded the Hamas-controlled Gaza City in the densely populated besieged Palestinian enclave, furthering their assault against the group.
Here are 10 points on this big story:
- “Israeli soldiers have completed the encirclement of the city of Gaza, the centre of the Hamas terror organization,” Israeli military spokesman Daniel Hagari said. “The concept of a ceasefire is not currently on the table at all.”
- The latest development comes against the backdrop of US President Joe Biden calling for humanitarian pauses in the war for “temporary, localized” cessation of hostilities.
- US Secretary of State Antony Blinken is on another diplomatic tour of the Middle East. “We will be talking about concrete steps that can and should be taken to minimize harm to men, women and children in Gaza,” Mr Blinken said.
- As fighting continued in northern Gaza, hundreds of injured foreigners and dual nationals escaped the war-torn region for Egypt through the Rafah Border Crossing. The Egyptian health ministry said 21 wounded Palestinians and “344 foreign nationals, including 72 children” crossed the border on the second day of opening yesterday.
- Israeli ground operations resulted in the deaths of two Palestinians in the West Bank. Additionally, Israeli fire on Thursday claimed the lives of three others.
- Hamas captured around 240 hostages, both civilian and military, during the October 7 attacks. The Israeli army is now working to free them. Additionally, the US has deployed drones over Gaza in an effort to locate and rescue the hostages.
- Lebanon’s Iran-backed Hezbollah group claimed on Thursday that it attacked 19 Israeli positions along the border before a speech by its leader Hassan Nasrallah. “Warplanes and helicopters attacked in recent hours targets of the Hezbollah terror organisation in response to fire from Lebanese territory earlier today, together with attacks with artillery and tank fire,” the Israeli military said.
- The Hamas-run Gaza health ministry said 9,061 people had been killed since the October 7 attacks, including 3,760 children.
- Israel has targeted the Jabalia refugee camp – biggest in Gaza – twice in two days, killing hundreds. Israel said the airstrikes on Tuesday and Wednesday killed two Hamas military leaders.
- The United Nations said the deadly strikes “could amount to war crimes”. “Given the high number of civilian casualties & the scale of destruction following Israeli air strikes on Jabalia refugee camp, we have serious concerns that these are disproportionate attacks that could amount to war crimes,” the UN Human Rights Office said.
