U.S. President Joe Biden stated Israel was combating the armed group Hezbollah in Lebanon and “it’s potential to work in direction of a ceasefire in Lebanon,” however added that regardless of the sooner demise of Hamas chief Yahya Sinwar, “Gadda “Issues shall be much more tough for Sasha” this week.
He made the speech as he left Berlin, the place he met with the leaders of Germany, France and Britain.
Sinwar’s demise has raised hopes for an finish to the conflict in Gaza.
However on Friday, Hamas deputy chief Khalil Haya insisted that this might solely strengthen the group. He stated the Israeli hostages wouldn’t be returned till Israel ends the conflict and withdraws its troops from Gaza.
In the meantime, Israel escalated its assault on the Jabaliya refugee camp, a densely populated space in northern Gaza Metropolis the place Israeli forces have besieged the realm for 2 weeks, and despatched one other power to assist these already working there. power.
Sinwar was liable for the lethal Hamas assault on Israeli communities close to Gaza on October 7 final 12 months, which killed about 1,200 folks and took 251 others hostage to Gaza.
The Hamas-controlled well being ministry stated subsequent Israeli army operations in Gaza have killed a minimum of 42,500 folks.
The Israeli army stated earlier that Sinwar died when the constructing the place he was hiding within the southern Gaza metropolis of Rafah got here below “tank fireplace”. It additionally famous that its troops engaged in a firefight with a bunch of “terrorists” earlier than the constructing was focused.
On Friday, the Israeli pathologist who carried out his post-mortem instructed US media that the reason for demise was “extreme traumatic mind harm” brought on by a gunshot wound to the top.
Dr. Chen Kugel of the Nationwide Middle for Forensic Drugs in Tel Aviv stated he discovered wounds from “different sources” on the previous Hamas chief, together with accidents to his proper forearm from “missile fireplace” and “from fallen masonry.” “He suffered accidents to his left leg” in addition to shrapnel injury to his physique.
“They precipitated critical injury, however the reason for demise was a gunshot wound to the top,” he instructed CNN.
Late on Friday, Reuters quoted Palestinian medical personnel as saying that the Israeli assault on Jabaliya hit a number of homes, killing a minimum of 30 folks and injuring many others.
Palestinian official information company Wafa stated a minimum of 20 ladies and youngsters had been among the many victims. There was no instant remark from Israel.
Earlier than the newest assault, the well being ministry in Hamas-controlled Gaza stated a minimum of 39 Palestinians had been killed in Israeli assaults on Gaza on Friday, lots of them in Jabaliya.
Residents instructed Reuters that Israeli tanks had arrived within the middle of Jabaliya below heavy airstrikes and artillery fireplace, including that Israeli forces had been destroying massive numbers of properties each day.
Late on Friday, residents reported that communications had been lower off in Jabaliya and two different cities in northern Gaza.
Georgios Petropoulos, the top of the United Nations Workplace for Humanitarian Support (OCHA), instructed the BBC’s NewsHour program on Friday that Jabaliya’s household was enduring a “brutal scenario”.
“We can not sound the alarm sufficient about how critical and harmful the scenario is for civilians there,” he stated in a speech in Rafah, southern Gaza.
“Households in northern Gaza, particularly these within the Jabaliya refugee camp surrounded by Israeli forces, are struggling to outlive in harsh circumstances below heavy bombardment.”
On Thursday, the Israeli army stated it had killed a number of militants in shut fight and dismantled army infrastructure.
Petropoulos added that he didn’t count on Sinwar’s demise to make it simpler to ship support to northern Gaza.
Little support arrived in northern Gaza in October. Israel stated it had delivered about 30 truckloads of provides, together with meals, water, medical provides and shelter gear, to northern Gaza on Friday. However native well being officers instructed Reuters that support had but to succeed in the worst-affected areas reminiscent of Jabaliya.
“We do not see a path to peace in Gaza,” he stated. “I nonetheless see kids dying on hospital flooring due to an absence of beds… and dialysis sufferers dying as a result of there is no such thing as a gasoline to get to the hospital.”
Israel has repeatedly denied it’s blocking support from getting into Gaza. Nevertheless, the US has requested Israel to strengthen entry to humanitarian support to Gaza, in any other case a few of its army support will threat being lower off.
On Friday, an Israeli minister instructed the BBC that Israel had “blocked off” elements of northern Gaza, together with Jabaliya.
Amichai Chikli instructed BBC NewsHour: “We sealed off with our troops. We allowed civilians to flee into the secure zone and prevented provides from getting into the cordoned off space. This can be a very particular space the place Hamas is positioned. .
He insisted it was “authorized below worldwide regulation”.
