Results for: Gaza

Hamas has released a video showing Hersh Goldberg-Polin, an Israeli-American man abducted during the group’s October 7 attack on southern Israel. In the video, Goldberg-Polin accuses Israel’s government of abandoning hostages and claims that 70 captives have been killed in Israel’s bombing campaign. Goldberg-Polin’s parents are relieved to see him alive but are concerned about his health and well-being. The release of the video has sparked protests in Jerusalem, with Israelis calling on the government to secure the captives’ release.

Hamas has released a video of American-Israeli hostage Hersh Goldberg-Polin, who has been missing for over 200 days. In the video, Goldberg-Polin is seen missing his left arm below the elbow, consistent with reports that his arm was blown off while he was trying to throw grenades out of a bunker. Goldberg-Polin accuses the Israeli government of neglecting him and other hostages and says that the ongoing military campaign in Gaza has killed about 70 hostages like him. The footage is likely propaganda, intended to pressure Israel to make a deal with Hamas instead of continuing its military operations. The Israeli government believes that 33 of the remaining 129 hostages in Gaza are dead.

Israeli forces are preparing to launch a ground offensive in Rafah, a city in the southern Gaza Strip considered Hamas’ final stronghold. The move has been met with warnings from the US and Egypt, who fear it would lead to a humanitarian crisis. However, Israeli officials say they are fully prepared to take Rafah and have purchased tents to house civilians who will be evacuated.

Hamas has released a video purporting to show 23-year-old Hersh Goldberg-Polin, an Israeli-American hostage held captive in Gaza since October 7, 2022. In the video, Goldberg-Polin is seen gravely wounded, missing a hand, and describes the hostages’ living conditions as “hell”. He implores Israeli officials to prioritize the hostages’ release and expresses concern for their deteriorating health conditions. Hamas’s Telegram account posted the footage, highlighting Goldberg-Polin’s criticism of Prime Minister Netanyahu’s crisis management and the military’s failed attempts to secure the captives’ release. The video has garnered attention as Goldberg-Polin’s family and the Hostages and Missing Families Forum campaign group advocate for his safe return.

Texas state troopers and UT Austin police prevented a student protest against Israel’s actions in Gaza on Wednesday. The Palestine Solidarity Committee had planned to occupy the lawn outside Gregory Plaza, but law enforcement blocked their path. The protest came after Texas Governor Greg Abbott criticized Ivy League universities for their support of the pro-Palestinian movement.

Yahya Sinwar, the enigmatic leader of Hamas, continues to orchestrate operations against Israel despite facing challenges. Allegedly living in constant hiding, Sinwar’s leadership is described as disconnected from his fighters. Hostage families and organizations claim to have witnessed him emerging from Gaza tunnels, further fueling speculation about his elusive nature.

Despite corrections and debates, evidence suggests that famine in Gaza has likely begun. This ongoing process, characterized by widespread hunger, malnutrition, and impending mass mortality, demands urgent attention. However, the arbitrary threshold for declaring famine and the semantic disputes surrounding the term can obscure the severity of the situation.

President Biden has signed a $95 billion emergency foreign aid package, providing critical support to Ukraine, Israel, Gaza, and the Indo-Pacific. The package includes $61 billion for Ukraine, $15 billion in military aid for Israel, $9 billion in humanitarian aid for Gaza and other war-torn areas, and $8 billion in security assistance to deter Chinese aggression. Biden called out ‘MAGA Republicans’ for delaying the passage of the bill, highlighting the urgent need for aid in Ukraine. The legislation also includes language to force the Chinese owner of TikTok to divest from the popular app or face a ban within the United States.

The UN’s human rights chief has expressed horror over the discovery of mass graves at two hospitals in Gaza after Israeli troops withdrew. The graves contain the remains of hundreds of people, who were reportedly killed by Israeli forces during the recent conflict. The UN has called for a credible investigation into the killings, while Palestinian officials say 283 bodies were exhumed from a temporary burial ground at Nasser Medical Complex.

Former US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi has condemned Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s handling of the Hamas attack in Gaza and called for his resignation. Pelosi criticized Netanyahu’s response, saying, “What could be worse than what he has done in response?” She also pointed to the resignation of Israel Defense Forces intelligence chief Major General Aharon Haliva over the failure to prevent the attack and argued that Netanyahu has been an “obstacle to the two-state solution.” Pelosi’s comments come as health authorities in Gaza estimate that more than 34,000 Palestinians have been killed during Israel’s siege of the enclave.