As its war with Hamas rages on, Israel has intensified strikes across Gaza, in what was believed to be one of the heaviest shellings in weeks. The country’s army has also ordered fresh evacuations in the north of the enclave, warning civilians they were in a “dangerous combat zone”.
According to the Associated Press, Israel was also planning an offensive on the city of Rafah as satellite images showed a new compound of tents being built near Khan Younis in the southern Gaza Strip. Israel’s air and ground offensive in Gaza, aimed at eliminating Hamas, has killed more than 34,000 Palestinians. It has devastated Gaza’s two largest cities and has created a humanitarian crisis.
ISRAEL-HAMAS WAR: THE LATEST
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Israel bombarded northern Gaza overnight in some of the heaviest shelling in weeks. Army tanks made a new incursion east of Beit Hanoun on the northern edge of the Gaza Strip, though they did not penetrate far into the city. According to news agency Reuters, gunfire was also reported from some schools where displaced residents were sheltering. Israel also ordered new evacuations in the Beit Lahia area of northern Gaza, describing it as a “dangerous combat zone”.
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The Associated Press said it analysed some satellite images showing a new compound of tents being built near Khan Younis, as the Israeli military signalled an offensive on the city of Rafah. Quoting a Palestinian health official, the agency reported the tent camp was being set up to house displaced people, and was not related to any impending military operation. Israel has said it plans to evacuate civilians from Rafah during an anticipated offensive on the southern city.
Satellite image from Planet Labs PBC shows tents and other makeshift housing built up around the area of the Tel al-Sultan refugee camp April 20, 2024 (AP photo) -
Israeli airstrikes killed two Hezbollah fighters in southern Lebanon, the military said on Tuesday, as air raid sirens sounded in northern Israel. Later, Hezbollah confirmed the death of one of its fighters, Hussein Azkoul, but provided no further details. The Israeli military said Azkoul’s death could significantly impact Hezbollah’s aerial unit, though Hezbollah has previously played down such statements.
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The United Nations has called for “a clear, transparent and credible investigation” of mass graves uncovered at two major hospitals in war-torn Gaza that were raided by Israeli troops. Credible investigators must have access to the sites, UN spokesman Stephane Dujarric told reporters and added that more journalists need to be able to work safely in Gaza to report on the facts.
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The US Senate on Tuesday voted to advance a 95 billion dollar aid package for Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan toward possible passage later on Tuesday or on Wednesday, which would send it to the White House for President Joe Biden to sign into law. As voting continued, the vote was 65 to 12 in favour of advancing the package of foreign aid legislation to a vote on final passage, with more than 60 needed.
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Thousands of students on university campuses in the United States are up in arms against Joe Biden for his handling of the war in Gaza. Students, including those from Columbia and Stanford universities have rallied behind the people of Palestine and are holding Biden responsible for the deaths of innocent civilians, including children and women, in Gaza by Israeli forces.
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Columbia University president Nemat Shafik has called to “move forward with a plan to dismantle” the anti-Israel encampment that pro-Palestinian protesters set up on the Manhattan campus, saying she set a midnight deadline for student organisers and representatives of the Ivy League to reach an agreement on ongoing talks.
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The spokesperson for Hamas’s armed wing the Izz ad-Din al-Qassam Brigades, Abu Obeida, has called for an escalation across all fronts in a televised speech. In a video aired by Al Jazeera TV, Abu Obeida praised Iran’s attack on Israel on April 13, saying the direct strikes with explosive drones and missiles “set new rules, drew important equations, and confused the enemy and those behind it.”
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Mosab Hassan Yousef, the disowned son of a Hamas co-founder Sheikh Hassan Yousef, told The Times of Israel last week that the Israeli government must “finish the job” in Gaza to remove Hamas from power. “We need to go into Rafah now. Not tomorrow. What are we waiting for? We finish Rafah, we finish Hamas. This will remove them from power, which will be the first step [toward peace],” he said. Yousef also warned that Iran’s latest attack against Israel with more than 300 ballistic missiles, cruise missiles, and drones was “just a rehearsal”.
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Qatar has said there were no plans to end the presence of an office for Hamas in Doha while the country’s mediation efforts continue in the Gaza war. Addressing a press conference, foreign ministry spokesperson Majed al-Ansari said, “As long as their presence here in Doha is useful and positive in this mediation effort, they will remain here.” Al-Ansari added that Qatar remained committed to mediation but was reassessing its role in “frustration with attacks” on its efforts.
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