As the Israel-Palestine conflict progresses into its eighth day, here are the significant developments taking place. Stay informed with the latest updates on Saturday, October 14, 2023:
Fighting:
– Israel has issued warnings for almost half of the population residing in the Gaza Strip to evacuate as it plans a major assault.
– Tens of thousands of people in Gaza have reportedly fled to the southern regions.
– Over one million Palestinians in northern Gaza were given a deadline by Israel to relocate southward. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stated that Israel has only just begun retaliating against last week’s Hamas aggression in southern Israel.
– Israeli ground raids have been reported in northern Gaza and the West Bank early on Saturday.
– A missile attack by Israel on journalists working in southern Lebanon resulted in the death of a Reuters cameraman and injuries to several other journalists, including two from Al Jazeera.
– Israel’s military claimed to have targeted a Hezbollah site in southern Lebanon in response to the presence of unidentified aerial objects in Israeli airspace.
– Human Rights Watch has accused Israel of using white phosphorus munitions in its military operations in Gaza and Lebanon, but the Israeli military has denied this allegation.
Human Impact:
– The Israeli air attacks on Gaza have led to the death of at least 1,900 Palestinians, with 7,696 wounded. Meanwhile, in Israel, the death toll has reached 1,300, with 3,400 injured.
– Thousands of people in northern Gaza are being forcibly evacuated, which human rights observers describe as a “war crime.”
– Calls for a safe passage for Palestinians from Gaza have been rejected by Arab neighbors. Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi stated that it is essential for the Palestinian people to remain steadfast and present on their land.
– US Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Netanyahu discussed the possibility of establishing safe areas in Gaza where civilians can seek shelter.
Diplomacy and International Reaction:
– The White House has not seen any indications of other actors considering joining and escalating the conflict.
– Saudi Arabia has put US-backed plans to normalize relations with Israel on hold, indicating a significant reassessment of its foreign policy priorities.
– The International Criminal Court’s top prosecutor has stated that they have jurisdiction over potential war crimes committed by Hamas in Israel and Israelis in the Gaza Strip, despite Israel not being a member state.
– Hezbollah’s deputy chief, Naim Qassem, declared that the group would not be swayed by calls to remain neutral in the conflict, emphasizing their readiness to contribute to the fighting.
– Jordanian riot police forcefully dispersed hundreds of pro-Palestinian protesters attempting to reach a border zone with the Israeli-occupied West Bank.
– In the US House of Representatives, infighting within the Republican Party has left the chamber unable to support Israel’s war efforts and pass government spending bills before funding expires.
Market and Business:
– Israel is targeting Hamas’s cash-to-crypto global financial network to disrupt support from charities and friendly nations.
– Some major US corporations, during the launch of their corporate earnings, addressed the Israel-Hamas conflict, and certain companies initiated fundraising efforts.
– Airlines are grappling with the safety risks associated with evacuation operations.
Stay updated with the latest developments as the Israel-Hamas conflict unfolds.