Fighting in Gaza, the situation of civilians and more

Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Galant on Thursday announced plans for the next phase of the war in Gaza, including a new combat focus in the north and a continued focus on attacking Hamas leaders in the enclave’s southern region.

The defense minister’s summary of the next phase of the war comes as the humanitarian crisis in Gaza continues to worsen.

The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) have expanded their operations in central and southern Gaza, issuing a new set of evacuation instructions to Palestinians, many of whom were already displaced. Some civilians in central Gaza told CNN they were too tired to flee again and instead wanted to return home to “die with dignity.”

Millions of civilians live in tent camps throughout southern cities, with little access to basic health services, food, fuel or clean water. Many people sleep on the streets with insufficient clothing to keep warm during the winter season.

This is the most recent:

Number of civilian casualties: US State Department spokesman Matt Miller said the “results” in Gaza still did not match Israel’s intentions regarding the safety of civilians, adding that it would be a topic of discussion during the upcoming visit of US Secretary of State, Anthony Blinken. . for the region. The United States has strongly supported Israel’s war against Hamas, but weeks of continued Israeli attacks on Gaza have exposed divisions among the closest allies. More than 22,000 people have died in the enclave since October 7, according to the Hamas-run Health Ministry.

New calls for a ceasefire: The PA Deputy Foreign Minister urged Blinken to call for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza during his visit. Speaking to CNN, Amal Jadou said Israel is “plunging the entire region into conflict,” which “does not produce peace.”

Border clashes: The head of the UN Interim Force in Lebanon met with Lebanese officials to discuss the situation on the border with Israel, while Israeli officials promised to address security concerns in a meeting with the US envoy on the same topic. Clashes between Israel and the Iran-backed Hezbollah paramilitary group operating in southern Lebanon have intensified with the killing of a senior Hamas leader in Beirut.

ISIS Claims Attack on Iran: ISIS has claimed responsibility for two deadly bombings at a military commander’s memorial in southeastern Iran. In the time between the blasts and the ISIS announcement, accusations emerged: Iranian President Ibrahim Raisi blamed Israel for the blasts, which could escalate a wider regional conflict during the war between Israel and Hamas. The Israeli army has not commented on the attack.

UN Concerns: UN human rights chief Volker Turk said he was “deeply disturbed” by comments this week by two far-right Israeli government ministers pushing for the resettlement of Gazans from Gaza to “third countries”. Several countries, including the United States, have criticized the Israeli officials’ comments.

Hostages in Gaza: IDF spokesman Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari said the Israeli military now believes three Israelis missing since the October 7 Hamas attack are being held hostage in Gaza. Israel’s military has said its official count of hostages in Gaza may fluctuate as it receives the latest intelligence. Israel believes that 108 hostages are now alive in Gaza, who were taken hostage during the attack.