Gaza war News

Launched to rival China’s Belt and Road Initiative, the India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC) faces uncertainty as the Gaza war disrupts regional stability, stalls diplomatic engagement and threatens investor confidence in this ambitious trade and infrastructure project connecting India to Europe via the Gulf and Israel.

A group of 600 former Israeli security officials, including ex-Mossad and Shin Bet chiefs, have written to Donald Trump urging him to use his influence to help end the Gaza war, return hostages and stop further bloodshed.

“Peace is possible. And France, true to its historic role, will take this step in support of a just and lasting peace in the Middle East,” he said in a post on X.

Mahatma Gandhi – a global symbol of nonviolence – was nominated five times for the Nobel Peace Prize. He never received it.

According to the Euro-Med Monitor, Gaza’s 2.3 million people are now packed into less than 15% of the territory. That gives each man, woman and child less space than a detainee in Guantanamo Bay.

Two other hostages — Yarden Bibas, 35, and French-Israeli Ofer Kalderon, 54 — were released earlier Saturday in the southern Gaza city of Khan Younis. 

 Of the total deaths, 73 were reported in the Gaza City in the north, four in central Gaza, and nine in the south, the Civil Defence said in a press statement.

The Israeli Shin Bet domestic security agency and the military reported that the airstrikes targeted militants, weapons storage facilities, underground infrastructure, anti-tank fire positions, and Hamas military structures.

Ziyadne and his three children -- Hamza, 22, Bilal, 18, and Aisha, 17 -- were abducted while working at Kibbutz Holit. Bilal and Aisha were freed during a prisoner exchange in November 2023. 

"All hell will break out. If those hostages aren't back, I don't want to hurt your negotiation, if they're not back by the time I get into office, all hell will break out in the Middle East," Trump told reporters on Tuesday.

In the undated, three-and-a-half-minute video recording that AFP has not been able to verify, 19-year-old soldier Liri Albag called in Hebrew for the Israeli government to secure her release.

Since the outbreak of hostilities on October 7, 2023, Israel has been engaged in a large-scale military campaign against Hamas in Gaza, which, according to Gaza's health authorities, has resulted in over 45,000 Palestinian deaths.

Hamas seeks to prolong the truce, while Israel insists on the right to resume military action if it perceives a security threat. Another point of contention is Hamas's demand for the withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza.

Hussam Al-Daqran, spokesperson for Al-Aqsa Hospital in Deir al-Balah city in central Gaza, told Xinhua that nine people were killed, including children and women, and dozens of wounded people were sent to the hospital following the airstrike.

Israeli agency COGAT said they facilitated 1,000 units of blood in Gaza in coordination with an international organisation. COGAT said the blood units were designated for the Nasser Hospital in Southern Gaza.

Abu Daqqa got involved in numerous drone attacks and played a central role in Hamas' aerial operations after succeeding former Hamas aerial array chief Asem Abu Rakaba, who was assassinated by Israel last October, according to the statement.

According to officials from the Al Awda and Al Aqsa hospitals, at least 22 people lost their lives in Israeli strikes at Al Mufti school in Gaza's Nuseirat refugee camp. 

 The rocket fire activated sirens in nearby communities, including Ashkelon and the Lachish region. 

Since the Gaza conflict began last year, Israel claims to have eliminated over 600 militants, including dozens of Hezbollah's top military leaders, and struck hundreds of targets in Lebanon.