Each day, Liberation selects the most important news concerning the war between Hamas and Israel and the conflict in the Middle East.
Several dead in Israeli bombings in Gaza
The Israeli army intensified its strikes on the Gaza Strip on Tuesday, particularly in the Khan Younis and Rafah areas in the south of the territory, following new evacuation orders. These attacks forced hundreds of Palestinians to flee again. Eight people were killed and more than thirty wounded, according to medical sources. The strikes come after Islamic Jihad claimed responsibility for rocket fire towards Israel on Monday. The Israeli army said it targeted the source of the fire, targeting a weapons depot, operational centers and other “terrorist infrastructure” near Khan Younis. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stressed that the army was carrying out a «combat difficile» against Hamas. “We are moving towards the end of the phase of eliminating the Hamas terrorist army”did he declare.
New toll in Gaza
The Hamas government’s Health Ministry announced Tuesday a new death toll of 37,925 since the start of the war with Israel nearly nine months ago. At least 25 people were killed in the past 24 hours, according to a statement. Since October 7, 87,141 people have been injured in the Palestinian enclave.
80% of Gaza’s population displaced
About 80 percent of the Gaza Strip’s residents, or 1.9 million people, are now displaced, according to the UN humanitarian coordinator for the territory, Sigrid Kaag, who said on Tuesday “deeply concerned” by the new evacuation orders issued by the Israeli army. These affect “about 250,000 people” additional according to the UN. “Palestinian civilians in Gaza are plunged in an abyss of suffering. Their lives are shattered. The war has not only created the deepest humanitarian crisis. It has unleashed a maelstrom of human misery.”added Sigrid Kaag. Hospitals are also affected by the evacuation orders. In Khan Younis, “There are only three patients left” at the European Hospital in Gaza, said Rik Peeperkorn, World Health Organization (WHO) representative for the Palestinian territories. “Hospital staff and patients chose to leave”he added.
Israel connects desalination plant to power grid
Israel, which is imposing a siege on the Gaza Strip, announced Tuesday that it had connected a UNICEF-run desalination plant in the southern part of the territory to its electricity grid in order to provide additional drinking water to Palestinian residents of the enclave, said the Israeli army and Cogat, the Israeli Defense Ministry’s arm that oversees civilian activities in the Palestinian territories. “We still have not received electricity but we are preparing for the possibility that they will activate the line”said a source from the electricity distribution company in Gaza. Last Thursday, UNICEF had reached an agreement with Israel to increase the capacity of the desalination plant. “Currently, the plant produces only 5,000 m3 of water per day. Thanks to the new power line from Israel, production will increase to 20,000 m3 of drinking water per day.”Israeli authorities said.
Israeli General Staff in Favor of a Truce in Gaza?
Is the rift between Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and the military leadership widening? According to the New York TimesIsrael’s top generals want a ceasefire in Gaza, even if it allows Hamas to remain in power for the time being. According to the American daily, the military leaders of the Hebrew state believe that a truce, in addition to being the best way to obtain the release of Israeli hostages still held in Gaza, would allow soldiers to recover and the army to replenish its stocks. “The army is fully in favour of a hostage agreement and a ceasefireEyal Hulata, a former Israeli national security adviser who is in regular contact with senior military officials, told the American daily. They understand that a pause in Gaza makes de-escalation in Lebanon more likely. And they have less ammunition, less spare parts, less energy than before – so they also think that a pause in Gaza gives us more time to prepare in case a bigger war breaks out with Hezbollah.” Benjamin Netanyahu quickly responded to the publication of the article: “That’s not going to happen. We will only end the war when we have achieved all of its objectives, including the defeat of Hamas and the release of all our hostages.”
Hezbollah targets northern Israel
The Lebanese Islamist movement Hezbollah announced Tuesday that it had launched dozens of rockets at northern Israel “in response” to the death of a civilian in an Israeli airstrike on a border village in the south of the country. Hezbollah, which supports the Palestinian Islamist movement Hamas, said it had targeted the Kiryat Shmona barracks in particular. The Israeli army said it had intercepted «dix projectiles» among “About 15 projectiles launched from Lebanon”adding that the attack did not cause any injuries.
Beirut under GPS jamming: Israel accused by Lebanon
Transportation apps like Uber are being disrupted in Beirut by GPS interference. The Lebanese government is pointing the finger at Israel. “Israel uses GPS jamming primarily to disrupt Hezbollah communications”explains Freddy Khoueiry, security analyst for the Middle East region at RANE Network. He specifies that “GPS spoofing technology” sends false signals to interfere with Hezbollah’s drones and missiles. Since June 28, the GPS Jam website, which specializes in collecting data on the interruption of geographic location signals, has observed strong interference over Lebanon, Syria, Jordan and Israel. Asked by AFP, a spokesperson for the Israeli Defense Ministry did not comment. On March 22, the Lebanese government filed a complaint with the UN Security Council, denouncing GPS interference attributed to Israel. Fadi el-Hassan, president of the Lebanese Civil Aviation Authority, deplores the fact that pilots must use ground navigation kits rather than GPS, calling this situation a“inconceivable” for aviation safety.
