The Ongoing Israeli War on Gaza: Day 117
On the 117th day of the Israeli war on Gaza, the Hamas movement called on human rights institutions to document the execution of 30 handcuffed Palestinians by Israel in the northern Gaza Strip. Meanwhile, Israeli forces continued to bomb residential areas and the Ministry of Health reported 16 massacres in the past 24 hours, resulting in 150 deaths and 313 injuries. The total number of victims since October 7 is now 26,900 martyrs and 65,949 injured.
According to reports, the Israeli occupation forces destroyed a residential area in Khan Yunis Governorate and bombed other areas with artillery. They also stormed the courtyard of Al Amal Hospital. The Al-Qassam Brigades, the military wing of Hamas, released a video showing their fighters clashing with the occupation forces in Gaza City.
Hamas has called on human rights organizations to document the execution of 30 handcuffed Palestinians in a school in Beit Lahia. The Palestinian Prisoners' Club stated that finding the bodies of these martyrs is evidence of the crime of execution against them. There is increasing evidence that detainees from Gaza have been subjected to executions as the aggression in the Strip continues.
UNRWA Agency
The Israeli campaign against the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) continued on Wednesday. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu claimed that the agency had been infiltrated by Hamas and called for its immediate termination. European Union foreign policy official Josep Borrell expressed support for UNRWA's life-saving work and called for a rapid response to address the involvement of some of its employees in the Hamas attack on October 7.
Due to Israel's allegations, 18 countries and the European Union have suspended their funding to UNRWA. Israel claims that 12 of the agency's employees participated in an operation carried out by Hamas against military bases and settlements in the Gaza Strip.
Developments in the West Bank
The Israeli occupation forces launched a new arrest campaign in the West Bank, targeting about 28 Palestinians, including two women. This brings the total number of detainees in the West Bank since October 7 to 6,240 Palestinians. The arrests were concentrated in the governorates of Nablus, Ramallah, and Qalqilya, with additional arrests in Bethlehem, Jenin, and Jerusalem.
Reports indicate that the Israeli occupation forces stormed the town of Qabalan, south of Nablus, and conducted raids and arrests among citizens.
Lebanon
Israeli media outlets reported that the Israeli army decided to reduce the number of soldiers stationed near the Lebanese border and decrease the military forces deployed in the region. In response, Lebanese Hezbollah targeted a gathering of Israeli occupation soldiers in southern Lebanon and hit one of the buildings in the Israeli Al-Manara colony.
Israeli Army Radio reported the fall of two shells fired from southern Lebanon in Shlomi, while Israeli forces conducted airstrikes in southern Lebanon.
The Red Sea
The Ansar Allah group (Houthis) announced that they fired missiles at the American destroyer USS Greeley in the Red Sea. The US army claimed to have shot down a Houthi missile in the region. The Houthis stated their intention to continue targeting American and British warships in self-defense.
American forces reported destroying a Houthi missile that posed an imminent threat to American aircraft. The Houthis also claimed that American and British forces launched airstrikes on Saada Governorate.
Political Developments
The United States is pressing for a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip to halt Israel's military momentum. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu informed the families of Israeli detainees in Gaza that he would approve a prisoner exchange deal with Hamas, even if it led to the collapse of his government.
Qatari Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdul Rahman Al Thani expressed the goal of ending the talks and mediation efforts between Hamas and Israel as soon as possible. He emphasized the need to put an end to the war on Gaza and return the detainees.
Qatari mediation has achieved results that the fighting has not, including the release of over 100 detainees. The Qatari Foreign Ministry stated that the negotiations between Hamas and Israel are currently in a good moment, with progress made on many matters that had previously eluded mediators.
