Live
Published December 31, 2023last updated December 31, 2023
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Israel seeks to control the Gaza Strip’s border with Egypt in order to enforce “demilitirazation.” DW has the latest.
https://p.dw.com/p/4ajgA
Israeli officials have argued that ending the war now would mean victory for HamasImage: Israel Defense Forces/REUTERSSkip next section What you need to knowWhat you need to know .Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu vowed that Israel will continue fighting until achieving its war aims, adding that it wants to control a buffer zone around the Egypt-Gaza border US shoots down two missiles fired at a container ship from a Houthi-controlled part of Yemen Skip next section IDF says it stormed Hamas HQ in southern GazaDecember 31, 2023
IDF says it stormed Hamas HQ in southern GazaThe Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said it stormed the Hamas headquarters in Khan Younis, the main city of the southern Gaza Strip.
“During the ground operation in Khan Younis, IDF forces today raided the Hamas headquarters in the heart of the city, including the organization’s intelligence command center,” IDF spokesperson Daniel Hagari said. It was not possible to independently verify the statement.
Israeli officials believe Hamas leader Yehya Sinwar is currently hiding in tunnels beneath the city.
Meanwhile, the IDF said its troops were in the process of taking control of the northern Gaza Strip, where its ground offensive began.
Hagari said Israeli forces were focusing on the area of Darj Tufah, the last significant stronghold of Hamas in the northern part of the territory.
Hamas is listed as a terrorist organization in several countries.
https://p.dw.com/p/4ajjQSkip next section Netanyahu says war will last ‘months,’ seeks control of Rafah borderDecember 31, 2023
Netanyahu says war will last ‘months,’ seeks control of Rafah borderIsraeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said that the war against Hamas will continue for “months.”
“The war is at its height,” Netanyahu told reporters. He said Israel’s offensive in the territory will last “for many more months.”
Netanyahu said Israeli forces had “eliminated over 8,000 terrorists” in the war.
“We are continuing to fight until the goals of the war have been achieved, especially the elimination of Hamas and release of all our hostages,” the Israeli leader said.
“We will ensure that Gaza no longer constitutes a threat to Israel,” he added.
Israel’s military forges on with Gaza offensiveTo view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video
Netanyahu said Israel seeks to control the Philadelphi Corridor buffer zone along the Gaza Strip’s border with Egypt.
“It must be shut,” Netanyahu said. “It is clear that any other arrangement would not ensure the demilitarization that we seek.”
The war between Israel and Hamas began on October 7, when the militant-Islamist group attacked southern Israel, killing 1,200 and taking 240 people hostage, according to Israeli authorities.
Hamas is classified as a terrorist organization by Israel, the United States, Germany, and other countries.
Israel responded with widespread airstrikes and a ground offensive in the Palestinian territory.
According to the Health Ministry in Hamas-run Gaza, 21,672 have been killed in the Israeli offensive. The ministry’s figures are seen as broadly reliable by the UN and other international organizations, although they do not differentiate between civilians and combatants.
https://p.dw.com/p/4ajgNSkip next section Risk of disease increases in ‘deadliest year’ for Gaza — UNDecember 31, 2023
Risk of disease increases in ‘deadliest year’ for Gaza — UNDisplacement in the Gaza Strip has increased the risk of disease, according to the UN’s humanitarian agency (OCHA).
The agency also said that “2023 is the deadliest year since our records began in 2005.” The Health Ministry in the Hamas-controlled territory has reported a death toll of 21,672 from Israeli strikes and fighting. The Hamas-led ministry does not distinguish between civilian and militant deaths, but its casualty counts have been seen as reliable by the UN and NGOs working in the region.
“The spread of diseases in Gaza has reportedly intensified, particularly due to the recent mass displacements across the south of Gaza,” the agency said, adding that “some families have been forced to move multiple times.”
OCHA said around 180,000 people were suffering from upper respiratory infections in the territory, and there were 136,400 cases of diarrhea. It also noted cases of lice, scabies, chickenpox, skin rash, acute jaundice system and meningitis.
According to OCHA, the UN children’s fund (UNICEF) delivered 600,000 doses of vaccines to the Gaza Strip on Friday.
https://p.dw.com/p/4ajgXSkip next section Red Sea: US downs two missiles launched from Houthi-controlled area of YemenDecember 31, 2023
Red Sea: US downs two missiles launched from Houthi-controlled area of YemenThe United States says it has shot down two missiles launched from areas of Yemen controlled by Houthi rebels.
The US Central Command (CENTCOM) said the projectiles were headed toward a container ship in the southern Red Sea.
A Singapore-flagged, Denmark-owned ship reported that it was struck by a missile, after which two US warships responded. One of the two US Navy vessels then shot down two anti-ship ballistic missiles, according to CENTCOM.
CENTCOM said there were no reported injuries and the vessel remained seaworthy.
The Iran-backed Houthis have launched attacks on ships passing through the crucial Bab al-Mandeb strait in response to Israel’s offensive in the Gaza Strip.
CENTCOM said that Saturday’s missile launch made up the 23rd Houthi attack on international shipping since November 19.
sdi/lo (AP, AFP, dpa, Reuters)
https://p.dw.com/p/4ajgP
Comments