Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu has declared that there will be no ceasefire in the Gaza Strip until Hamas, the Palestinian militant group, is eliminated. This announcement came as Hamas chief Ismail Haniyeh was in Cairo to discuss a new truce.
The UN Security Council vote on a ceasefire resolution was postponed for a third time and is now set for Thursday.
The situation in Gaza remains tense, with no end to the conflict in sight. With the UN Security Council vote postponed again, all eyes are on the region to see what will happen next. Stay updated with the latest developments by reading our live blog, which details all the day’s events as they unfolded.
The UN Security Council postponed a vote on a ceasefire resolution for the third time on Wednesday, with the new vote scheduled for Thursday. Meanwhile, Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh is in Cairo for talks to broker a new truce. Israeli President Isaac Herzog has told foreign ambassadors that Israel is ready for another humanitarian pause and additional humanitarian aid to enable the release of hostages.
The World Food Programme (WFP) announced that it had delivered food to Gaza through the Israeli Kerem Shalom border crossing, marking the first direct aid convoy from Jordan. However, residents of Khan Younis in Gaza reported intensifying gun battles between Hamas fighters and Israeli forces in the centre and eastern districts of the southern city.
Israeli officials claim that 1,139 people were killed in the Hamas-led October 7 attacks in southern Israel, including 695 Israeli civilians, including 36 children. At least 20,000 people have been killed in Israel’s ensuing assault on Gaza, according to the health ministry in the Hamas-run enclave.
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Overall, the situation remains tense as the conflict between Israel and Hamas continues, with both sides showing no signs of backing down. The international community continues to call for an immediate ceasefire to prevent further loss of life and destruction in the region.
On Tuesday, the US and other nations announced the creation of a new force to protect ships transiting the Red Sea from attacks by drones and ballistic missiles fired from Houthi-controlled areas of Yemen. This decision was made following the recent attacks on vessels crossing the Red Sea. The new force will aim to protect the ships and ensure safe passage.
Israeli President Isaac Herzog expressed the country’s readiness to enter another foreign-mediated “humanitarian pause” in fighting to recover more hostages held by Hamas and enable more aid to reach Gaza. This pause would help ensure the safety of civilians in the region and provide much-needed assistance to those affected by the conflict.
Regarding casualty figures from Gaza’s Hamas-run health ministry, the ministry collects data from the enclave’s hospitals and the Palestinian Red Crescent. However, the church does not report how Palestinians were killed, whether from Israeli airstrikes and artillery barrages or errant Palestinian rocket fire. It describes all casualties as victims of “Israeli aggression” and does not distinguish between civilians and combatants.
Throughout four wars and numerous skirmishes between Israel and Hamas, UN agencies have cited the Hamas-run health ministry’s death tolls in regular reports. The International Committee of the Red Cross and Palestinian Red Crescent also use the numbers. In the aftermath of war, the UN humanitarian office has published final death tolls based on its research into medical records. The UN’s counts have been consistent with the Gaza health ministry’s, with minor discrepancies.
It is important to note that the casualty figures provided by the Gaza health ministry may not be entirely accurate, as they do not provide detailed information on how Palestinians were killed and do not distinguish between civilians and combatants. However, these figures are widely used by UN agencies and other organizations to assess the impact of the conflict on civilians in the region.
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