A recent air raid in Rafah resulted in the deaths of 16 people, adding to the devastation in the Gaza Strip. With negotiations for a ceasefire reaching a stalemate, Israel has requested the evacuation of eastern neighborhoods in preparation for a ground offensive. The US, Egypt, and Qatar are attempting emergency meetings to resolve the conflict, which has been ongoing for eight months.
Israel accuses Hamas of rejecting truce proposals, making it impossible to reach an agreement. The closure of the two parties has intensified the humanitarian crisis in the region. Meanwhile, Italy’s Defense Minister Guido Crosetto has called for a new approach to fighting Hamas due to the high number of civilian casualties.
Amidst the conflict, Israel paused to observe Holocaust Remembrance Day with a ceremony at Yad Vashem memorial in Jerusalem. Reports indicate that there is a full-blown famine in Gaza, prompting calls for urgent humanitarian aid.
Meetings between Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and CIA Director William Burns are scheduled in Jerusalem to discuss the ongoing conflict. The Israeli army continues to target Gaza while Lebanon’s Hezbollah retaliated with rockets at an Israeli base. In response to these actions, Israel has paused arms supplies for the first time, expressing disapproval from the United States.
