Palestinians were killed and others were injured in a series of Israeli raids targeting sites in the Gaza Strip, while the Israeli army admitted that 4 of its soldiers were killed in battles in the northern Gaza Strip.
11 Palestinians were killed in an Israeli bombing targeting a rest stop for displaced people near the coastal road west of the city of Khan Yunis, south of the Gaza Strip.
A number of people were injured as a result of an Israeli bombing of a residential apartment on Al-Nazaz Street in the Al-Shujaiya neighborhood, east of Gaza City.
Two people were also killed and others injured, and a search is underway for missing persons under the rubble as a result of an air strike that targeted a house in the new camp in Nuseirat in the central Gaza Strip.
Artillery also bombed the north and west of the Nuseirat camp at dawn today. Also, violent artillery shelling at dawn on Tuesday targeted the town of Beit Hanoun and its environs in the northern Gaza Strip.
For its part, the Israeli army announced the killing of 4 soldiers from the “Samson” Battalion, affiliated with the “Kafir” Brigade, by targeting them with an anti-tank missile in the northern Gaza Strip. Israeli media described the incident as a “heavy disaster.”
Maariv newspaper reported that the four soldiers were killed inside a building targeted by an anti-tank missile in Beit Lahia.
The Hebrew newspaper “Maariv” wrote: “A heavy disaster in the northern Gaza Strip: “Four fighters from the Kfir battalion were killed by an anti-tank missile fired at the house in which they were staying. The Israeli army medical forces immediately inspected the building and tried to treat the victims.”
Earlier yesterday, the Israeli army announced the killing of a major officer who was a division commander in the Lotar unit in a battle in the northern Gaza Strip.
In turn, Israeli Channel 13 quoted the Israeli army spokesman as saying that since the beginning of the war, 787 Israeli army soldiers were killed in battle.
The Palestinian Ministry of Health reported yesterday, Monday, that the Israeli army committed 3 massacres against families in the Gaza Strip, with 51 dead and 164 injured arriving at hospitals during the past 24 hours.
She pointed out that “the toll of the Israeli aggression has risen to 43,603 martyrs and 102,929 injured since October 7, 2023.”
The United Nations confirms that Israel rejected and obstructed most of the aid convoys to northern Gaza last month
For its part, the United Nations announced that 85% of its attempts to coordinate aid convoys and humanitarian visits to the northern Gaza Strip were rejected or obstructed by the Israeli authorities last month.
The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) explained that it had submitted 98 applications to the Israeli authorities for a permit to cross the checkpoint along the Gaza Valley, but only 15 of them were allowed to pass, according to UN spokesman Stephane Dujarric.
Dujarric noted that OCHA is “concerned about the fate of the remaining Palestinians in northern Gaza as the siege continues there, and urgently calls on Israel to open the region to humanitarian operations to the extent necessary in view of the enormous needs.”
Dujarric added that over the past three days, teams from OCHA, United Nations human rights and demining agencies, and other humanitarian groups visited nine sites in Gaza City to assess the needs of hundreds of displaced families, many of whom return to northern Gaza.
In a new report published yesterday, Monday, OCHA said that humanitarian organizations submitted 50 requests to the Israeli authorities to enter northern Gaza in October, of which 33 requests were rejected and eight of which were accepted, but they faced obstacles, including delays, that prevented them from completing their tasks, according to the spokesman.
Netanyahu: The issue of annexing the West Bank must return to the forefront
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Tuesday that he “will propose imposing Israeli sovereignty over the West Bank as soon as US President Donald Trump officially assumes the presidency.”
The Israeli Broadcasting Corporation reported that Netanyahu said, in closed meetings, that “restoring the possibility of Israeli sovereignty over Judea and Samaria must return to the agenda with Trump entering office.”
Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich expressed his hope that “Israel will expand its sovereignty to include the West Bank by 2025.”
Smotrich said, “The time has come to apply Israeli sovereignty over the West Bank,” noting that he instructed the Settlement Department in the Israeli Ministry of Defense and the Civil Administration to begin comprehensive and professional preparatory work to prepare the infrastructure necessary to implement sovereignty.
The Israeli Finance Minister added, in his statements, that “the time has come in the new era for US President Donald Trump to impose Israeli sovereignty over the West Bank.”
Smotrich had previously confirmed that “the Israeli government’s plan to control the West Bank is not secret,” as an American report claimed, saying: “The American newspaper’s investigation did not reveal any secrets.”
An Israeli parliamentarian calls for a new “road map” in the West Bank
On Tuesday, an Israeli parliamentarian called for the development of a new “road map” in the West Bank that would impose Israeli sovereignty over it.
Israeli Radio quoted Tzivi Sokhot, a member of the Knesset from the “Religious Zionism” party, as saying the need to resolve the conflict in the areas of the West Bank in a way that imposes Israeli sovereignty on them.
The Israeli Parliament stressed that “so that it is clear to everyone that the future of these lands will be under Jewish sovereignty, and that it is time to develop a new plan.”
The new plan or road map, which was proposed by Tzivi Sokhot, an extremist Israeli parliamentarian, “was to grant the Palestinians in the West Bank the same status that Puerto Ricans in the United States enjoy, and that they would be here without the right to vote in the Knesset,” he said.
The Palestinian Prisoners’ Club announces the toll of new arrests in the West Bank
The Palestinian Prisoners’ Club announced that Israeli forces arrested at least 15 Palestinians in the West Bank, including two former prisoner brothers, from yesterday evening until Tuesday morning.
According to the statement, “the arrest campaign was distributed across the governorates of Hebron, Ramallah, Qalqilya, Nablus, Salfit, and Jerusalem,” and was “accompanied by enemy operations against citizens and widespread sabotage and destruction of their homes, in addition to field investigation operations, which escalated recently, specifically in the Hebron governorate.”
The statement pointed out that “the number of arrests since the start of the Israeli war on the Gaza Strip on October 7, 2023 has reached more than 11,000, and 700 citizens from the West Bank and Jerusalem.”
The statement stressed, “The Israeli forces continue to carry out arrest campaigns in the West Bank, accompanied by systematic abuse and torture against detainees and their families, in an unprecedented manner, and the sick, wounded, and elderly were not excluded during the arrest campaigns.”
The statement also indicated that Israeli forces “continue to arrest civilians from Gaza, specifically from the north, and carry out the crime of enforced disappearance against them, and refuse to fully disclose their identities and places of detention.”
He stressed that “the competent institutions, since the beginning of the war on Gaza, have not been able to count the number of arrests in the Strip, which are estimated in the thousands.”
How might Netanyahu’s annexation plans affect future peace negotiations in the Middle East?
Interview Transcript: Time.news Editor with an Expert on Middle Eastern Conflicts
Time.news Editor (T.E): Good morning, and welcome to this special interview. Today, we have Dr. Emily Hart, a renowned expert in Middle Eastern conflicts and humanitarian law. Thank you for joining us, Dr. Hart.
Dr. Emily Hart (E.H): Thank you for having me. It’s a privilege to be here.
T.E: There has been a significant escalation in violence in the Gaza Strip recently, with reports indicating at least 43,600 Palestinians killed since October 7, 2023. Can you provide your insights on the implications of these numbers?
E.H: Certainly. The death toll is staggering and represents a humanitarian catastrophe. Each figure signifies not just a loss of life but also countless families and communities devastated. Such violence raises profound questions about human rights and accountability. The scale of these casualties also suggests a deepening crisis that will have long-term repercussions not just in Gaza, but across the region.
T.E: The Israeli army admitted that four of its soldiers were killed by an anti-tank missile in the northern Gaza Strip. How do you assess the military dynamics on both sides during this ongoing conflict?
E.H: The military dynamics are complex and increasingly lethal. Israel’s military actions appear to be in response to threats, but the rising number of fatalities among both soldiers and civilians indicates the high stakes involved. It reflects a brutal reality where such conflicts often escalate quickly, leading to heavy losses on both sides. This cycle perpetuates a narrative of violence that makes resolution increasingly difficult.
T.E: The UN reported that 85% of its aid convoy requests to Northern Gaza have been rejected by Israeli authorities. What are the humanitarian implications of this blockade?
E.H: The blockade has severe humanitarian implications. Denying aid to those in desperate need exacerbates suffering and can lead to further destabilization. The UN’s inability to deliver essential supplies like food, water, and medical assistance has created a dire situation for thousands of displaced Palestinians. It’s crucial for the international community to act and pressure for humanitarian access, as neglecting these needs can fuel tensions and conflict.
T.E: In light of Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu’s statements about annexing the West Bank, what potential impact could this have on peace talks?
E.H: Netanyahu’s push for annexation represents a significant departure from any semblance of a negotiated two-state solution. If pursued, this would likely further alienate Palestinians and diminishes any hope for peaceful coexistence. It indicates a commitment to a model of governance that prioritizes Israeli sovereignty over shared realities. Such approaches have historically led to heightened tensions and unrest.
T.E: Interestingly, Tzivi Sokhot, a member of the Knesset, proposed a new “road map” for the West Bank, granting Palestinians a status similar to that of Puerto Ricans in the U.S. What are your thoughts on this comparison?
E.H: That comparison raises fundamental questions about rights and citizenship. Treating Palestinians in such a manner implies a tiered system of governance without fair representation, which is controversial and problematic. This kind of proposal reflects a disregard for the principles of equality and justice that should underpin any peace process. It can lead to further disenfranchisement and conflict, as it fails to acknowledge Palestinian aspirations for statehood and self-determination.
T.E: with ongoing hostilities and talks of territorial sovereignty, what do you think the role of international actors should be in this complex situation?
E.H: International actors have a critical role to play. They can help mediate, provide humanitarian assistance, and hold parties accountable for violations of international law. It’s essential for countries to support initiatives that prioritize peace, justice, and human rights over military solutions. Fostering dialogue and encouraging a return to negotiations is vital to prevent further loss of life and work towards a sustainable resolution.
T.E: Thank you, Dr. Hart, for your valuable insights and for shedding light on the complexities of this ongoing situation.
E.H: Thank you for having me. It’s crucial we keep discussing these issues and raising awareness.
T.E: And thank you to our audience for tuning in. Stay informed, and we’ll see you next time.