The latest developments from the Israel-Hamas war.
Fierce fighting in Gaza
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Heavy fighting was reported between Israeli forces and Hamas militants on Saturday.
Israel is focusing its military offensive on the southern Gaza Strip, particularly around the city of Khan Younis. But they are also used elsewhere.
In Gaza City, the Israeli Defense Forces wrote down
On Friday, Israel's Defense Ministry claimed its troops had successfully located and demolished a hidden apartment belonging to Yahya Sinwar, the leader of the Hamas terrorist organization in the Gaza Strip.
A UN official claimed that Israeli troops opened fire on an aid convoy returning from the northern Gaza Strip, damaging a vehicle.
Violence is also spreading throughout the wider region.
According to Syrian sources, Israeli strikes late Thursday and early Friday targeted Damascus airport and Syrian military sites, causing material losses.
Israel has launched numerous attacks in government-controlled Syria, often targeting Iranian-backed groups supporting President Bashar Assad, although Israel rarely recognizes those actions.
South Africa accuses Israel of genocide
South Africa has filed proceedings at the International Court of Justice accusing Israel of genocide against Palestinians in Gaza and calling for an immediate halt to Israeli military operations.
Israel vehemently denied these accusations, calling them “blood libel” and claiming that the case lacked any legal or factual basis.
Israel also accused South Africa of collaborating with Hamas and linked it to the cross-border attack that sparked the ongoing conflict.
Further legal proceedings were initiated against parties involved in Israel's Hamas war.
In December, human rights groups sued the British government over its arms exports to Israel amid the catastrophic war in Gaza.
With the support of the International Center for Justice for Palestinians (ICJP), the Palestinian human rights organization Al-Haq and the UK-based Global Legal Action Network (GLAN) are calling for London to immediately stop lucrative arms sales to Israel, saying there is a “clear “Risk” exists. They are used for war crimes.
Civilians in Gaza devastated by humanitarian crisis
Mercy Corps has warned of famine and disease in Gaza, blaming the crisis on relentless fighting and inadequate humanitarian assistance.
The organization claims that aid deliveries to the besieged Palestinian enclave are insufficient and half a million people are facing “catastrophic hunger and starvation.”
Meanwhile, UNICEF has delivered at least 600,000 vaccine doses to Gaza to address the escalating health crisis.
The lack of clean water and basic health care in the area has contributed to the spread of disease.
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More than 16,800 infants have missed routine vaccinations and UNICEF is working with WHO and UNRWA to administer the new vaccines.
Tens of thousands of vaccinations against diseases such as polio, tuberculosis, measles and hepatitis have been confirmed by Israeli officials in coordination with UNICEF.