Developments on the 101st Day
On the 101st day of the Israeli war on Gaza, there were several important developments. The Izz al-Din al-Qassam Brigades, the military wing of Hamas, announced the fate of three prisoners they had promised to reveal. There was also fighting in the West Bank and tensions in the Red Sea.
Gaza
The Al-Qassam Brigades revealed that two Israeli captives were killed in an Israeli army bombing of Gaza, while one prisoner survived. The humanitarian situation in Gaza is also very bad, with extreme cold and displacement causing a catastrophic situation.
The people of Gaza have experienced one of the worst humanitarian crises of this century, according to the Secretary-General of the Norwegian Refugee Council. The lack of medicines, power outages, and fuel scarcity have created a health catastrophe at Al-Aqsa Martyrs Hospital.
Dozens of people were killed in Khan Yunis and Gaza City when their homes and tents were targeted. The Ministry of Health reported that over 24,000 people have been killed in the war, with two-thirds of them being women and children.
Israeli Statements
The Israeli Army Radio reported that one division withdrew from Gaza, while three divisions remained. The majority of Hamas fighters and leaders are still alive, according to Israeli army estimates. In the past 24 hours, 18 officers and soldiers were injured in battles in Gaza.
Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Galant declared that this year will be a year of war. He believes that military pressure is the way to return the detainees. Demonstrations continue in front of the government headquarters and the Knesset to demand a prisoner exchange deal and the resignation of Netanyahu’s government.
Tel Aviv
In Tel Aviv, a woman was killed and many others were injured in a double attack involving stabbing and trampling. The Israeli police are investigating the incident.
West Bank
In the occupied West Bank, three Palestinians were killed and many others were injured in clashes with the occupation forces. Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Galant stated that a strong Palestinian authority is in Israel's security interest. The occupation army has decided to transfer a unit from Gaza to the West Bank in anticipation of potential unrest.
International Positions
US President Joe Biden expressed his desire to maintain contacts with Qatar, Egypt, and Israel to secure the release of Israeli detainees in Gaza. The Washington Post reported that the American administration is now prioritizing tolerating the Israeli military operation for the next month.
Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi called for a broader and more effective international peace conference and the implementation of a concrete timetable for the two-state solution. Colombian President Gustavo Petro condemned the Israeli Prime Minister's actions in Gaza, calling it a massive massacre.
The Iranian Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated that the Israeli aggression on Gaza and the US intervention in the Red Sea and Yemen are increasing tension in the region.
Lebanese Front
The Israeli army bombed sites in southern Lebanon, and in response, Lebanese Hezbollah targeted a gathering of Israeli soldiers. There were casualties among the Israelis.
Red Sea Front
In the Red Sea, the Ansar Allah Houthi group targeted a ship heading to Israel after it ignored warnings. The US Central Command confirmed that a ballistic missile hit an American container ship. Additionally, two American soldiers went missing during an operation to search for an arms shipment heading to Yemen.
Source: agencies
