Wounded Palestinian children set for evacuation to UAE
President Sheikh Mohamed has said that 1,000 Palestinian children would be brought to UAE hospitals for medical treatment, and the first young people to receive treatment have started their journey.
The father of one of the children told The National that his daughter needed urgent care after losing her right arm in an Israeli air strike.
“We want treatment for her, as there is lack of sufficient care in Gaza, or access to the right medicine and services,” he said.
Another child said she was going to the UAE after a bomb exploded in a street where she was standing.
They will need to cross the Rafah border crossing to exit Gaza into Egypt before heading to Al Arish airport, where flights will take them to the UAE.
Erdogan redoubles criticism of Israel during meeting with Germany’s Scholz
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Friday again condemned Israel’s invasion of Gaza as he met with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz in Berlin.
“As of now, 13,000 Palestinian children, women and elderly have been killed,” he said in a media appearance alongside Mr Scholz.
“There is almost no place named Gaza anymore, everything has been destroyed.”
The Turkish President defended himself against charges of anti-Semitism as he argued that “shooting hospitals or killing children does not exist in the Torah”.
“For us, there should be no discrimination between Jews, Christians and Muslims in the region. I have fought against anti-Semitism,” Mr Erdogan said.
“I am a leader who is leading this fight.”
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Hamas government says Gaza war death toll has reached 12,000
Gaza’s government said on Friday that the death toll from fighting between Israeli troops and Hamas militants in the Palestinian territory had reached 12,000.
The Hamas government said 5,000 children were among the dead alongside 3,300 women, with 30,000 people wounded.
The Gaza Health Ministry has previously said it could not give exact fatality figures as intense fighting prevented bodies from being recovered.
Biden and Qatar’s Emir discuss immediate release of hostages and humanitarian aid to Gaza
US President Joe Biden spoke with Qatar’s Emir Sheikh Tamim over the phone on Friday to discuss the immediate need for the release of all hostages held by Hamas, the White House said in a readout of the call.
They also discussed ongoing efforts to enable the flow of urgently needed humanitarian assistance into Gaza, in light of Israel’s decision to resume fuel deliveries.
The two leaders committed to staying in close contact to further address these issues.
Hezbollah escalates conflict with attacks and drone strikes, prompting Israeli retaliation
Nada Atallah reports from Lebanon:
Iran-backed Hezbollah announced at least 11 attacks on Friday, one of the highest amounts since the beginning of the conflict. Hezbollah claimed precise hits on its targets throughout the day.
The group said it had attacked two Israeli military gatherings early in the afternoon and carried out attacks using two explosive-laden drones in the Israeli village of Metula and near the village of Houla in south Lebanon.
Four Israelis were injured by a Hezbollah anti-tank missile fired from Lebanon at a community near the border, with one person in a serious condition, Israeli Army Radio reported
The Israeli army said that it had retaliated with strikes on Hezbollah’s launch sites within Lebanese territory.
Israeli army spokesman Read Admiral Daniel Hagari stated on X, formerly Twitter, that a “fighter jet attacked a Hezbollah facility” in Lebanon.
“In the past few hours, several anti-tank missile launches have been detected towards Shumra, Shatula and Menara. The Israeli army responded to the sources of these launches,” he added.
The outskirts of several border towns have been bombed by Israel including Dhaira Aita El Chaab, Rmeich and Kfarkila.
Bahrain’s Crown Prince calls on Hamas to release Israeli hostages
Mina Aldroubi reports from Manama:
Bahrain’s Crown Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa said on Friday night that the war in Gaza is an “intolerable situation” and called on Hamas to release the hostages it is holding.
“We need to break this cycle of violence between both sides, the Palestinians and Israelis,” he said ahead of the Manama Dialogue security summit.
Prince Salman said hostages held by Hamas must be released immediately in exchange for prisoners held in Israel.
“To release women and children on both sides, this is one competent that will achieve a break in hostilities,” he said.
Bahrain, which signed the Abraham Accords with Israel three years ago, said “we must do everything in our power to solve” the crisis.
He called on Hamas to release hostages, specifically women and children.
“I don’t think any Arab leader has called on Hamas to release hostages,” he said.
It must be “extremely clear what matters is there must be no forced displacement of Palestinians now or ever”.
“There must be no reoccupation there must be no reduction in Gaza and on the other side, there must be no terrorism directed from Gaza against the Israelis,” Prince Salman said.
“We all know that this conflict didn’t start on October 7 – this conflict has been on going for 80 years.
“No conflict can be stopped until a two-state solution is achieved.
“The Russian invasion of Afghanistan created Al Qaeda, the invasion of Iraq created ISIS … think about what this will create in the age of social media.
“I think we will be looking at a far more difficult next 20 years”.
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Jenin residents say they were handcuffed and blindfolded by Israelis
Three Palestinians died and 15 were wounded after the Israeli army raided Jenin refugee camp in the occupied West Bank early on Friday and surrounded Ibn Sina Hospital, officials in the Palestinian Health Ministry said.
The Israeli army also arrested at least 10 Palestinians in the raid on Jenin, whose names have not been published, sources in the camp said.
Issam Damaj, a resident, told The National Israeli soldiers raided his home.
“I was handcuffed and blindfolded and detained for more than an hour. I don’t know why,” he said.
Mr Damaj was interrogated about armed Palestinians in the camp, of which he denied any knowledge.
“The Israeli soldiers then drew the flag of their state [Israel] on one of the house’s wall and then took souvenir photos while I was handcuffed,” he added.
Read the full report from Jenin here
Greece optimistic about potential humanitarian corridors in north Gaza
Talks on opening a humanitarian aid corridor into north Gaza could yield results soon, Greece’s Foreign Minister George Gerapetritis said on Friday, a day after meeting his Israeli and Palestinian counterparts.
“I am in constant communication with both parties and I am relatively optimistic that we could have some positive results soon,” said the minister, who met Palestinian Foreign Minister Riyad Al Maliki in Ramallah and Israel’s Eli Cohen in Jerusalem on Thursday.
EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell calls for humanitarian pauses in Gaza
“The EU is a friend of the Palestinian people. We are dismayed by the enormous suffering of civilians in Gaza, in Israel and the situation in the West Bank,” said EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell during his first visit to Israel since October 7.
Israel says it will allow two fuel tankers into Gaza daily after shortages halt UN aid
Israel’s war cabinet has approved letting two fuel tankers a day enter Gaza, according to an Israeli official, after the UN reported that a lack of fuel had stopped vital aid from reaching the enclave.
Speaking at a news conference on Friday, Tzachi Hanegbi said the fuel – which he described as “very minimal” – would be allowed for Gaza’s communications system as well as water and sewage services.
He said the aim is to prevent the spread of disease without disrupting Israel’s ability to continue its war against the Hamas militant group.
Mr Hanegbi said the fuel amounted to roughly 2 per cent to 4 per cent of the normal quantities of fuel that entered Gaza before the war erupted on October 7.
His comments came hours after the UN said it had been unable to deliver vital aid into Gaza.
In a statement, the the UN agency for Palestinian refugees said it would be unable to “manage or co-ordinate humanitarian convoys” from Friday because of the telecoms cut and a lack of fuel.
Israel has been criticised for its fuel blockade of the Palestinian enclave since the war began.
Hospitals have run out of power, drinking water supplies have been affected and aid distribution has been hampered.
More than 20 reported killed in Israeli strikes on homes
More than 20 people have been killed in several Israeli strikes on homes in central and southern Gaza, Palestinian news agency Wafa reported.
The report said 18 civilians – including children and women – were killed in an air strike that targeted a house in the Nuseirat refugee camp in central Gaza.
And four civilians were killed in an Israeli air strike on a house in the southern Gaza city of Khan Younis, reported Wafa.
Several people were also reported killed and injured by Israeli shelling of a house in the nearby town of Bani Suhaila, east of Khan Younis.
These death tolls could not be independently verified.
Australia calls for protection of Gaza hospitals, patients and staff
Australia has called for the protection of hospitals, patients and medical and humanitarian staff in Gaza.
“Australia is deeply concerned by attacks in and around hospitals in Gaza, including an Indonesian-funded hospital in northern Gaza and the Jordanian Field Hospital,” Foreign Minister Penny Wong said on X.
On Thursday, the Gaza government said more than 7,000 displaced people, patients and medical staff at Al Shifa Hospital in Gaza city are “fighting death due to a lack of water and food”.
The office said that there is “no food, water, or milk for infants” at the hospital.
Al Shifa Hospital has been besieged by Israeli forces and was raided on Wednesday.
Hospital officials say hundreds of people have been killed around the complex.
Jordan this week condemned Israeli shelling near the Jordanian Field Hospital, which reportedly injured seven members of staff.
Israel says five militants killed in West Bank air strike
The Israeli military said it killed at least five militants in an overnight air strike on the city of Jenin, in the occupied West Bank.
“An armed terrorist cell that fired at Israeli security forces was struck by a [military] aircraft,” the Israeli military said.
Hamas said a number of its fighters had been killed in a confrontation in the West Bank.
Since the start of the Israel-Gaza war on October 7, there has been an increase in violence in the West Bank, as Israeli forces step up raids targeting militants.
The Palestinian Health Ministry says 197 Palestinians have been killed in Israeli West Bank attacks since the war began, with 2,750 injured.
Israel claims most of those killed were militants. Civilians have also been killed in Israeli raids this year.
More than 7,000 people ‘fighting death’ amid Al Shifa siege
More than 7,000 people are “fighting death” at the besieged Al Shifa Hospital, Gaza government officials have said.
Patients, medical staff and displaced people seeking refuge at the Gaza city hospital are having to contend with a lack of food, water, milk for infants and power for incubators, said the Gaza media office on Telegram.
“We may lose a number of malnourished children at the hospital due to the power outage, leaving them without incubators,” it said on Thursday.
Israeli forces raided the hospital, Gaza’s largest, on Wednesday, after surrounding Al Shifa for days.
Israel says Hamas militants have a base at Al Shifa. Hamas and hospital officials deny this.
Hundreds of people have been killed trying to flee the siege, said hospital officials.
Israeli army ‘close to dismantling’ Hamas military system in north Gaza
Israeli forces say they have made significant progress in their ground offensive and are close to destroying Hamas operations in northern Gaza.
“We are close to dismantling the military system in the northern Gaza Strip,” Israeli army Chief of Staff Herzi Halevi said, as reported by The Jerusalem Post.
He said the army will continue its operations within the Gaza Strip.
“And as far as we are concerned, more and more regions [will be targeted], systematically eliminating commanding officers and eliminating operatives, and eradicating the infrastructure,” said Mr Halevi.
The National loses contact with Gaza correspondent as telecoms cut off
Report by Fatima Al Mahmoud:
The National has lost contact with its reporter in Gaza, Nagham Mohanna, as telecom services across the Palestinian enclave are cut.
Attempts to reach her by phone are met with a recorded message by the telecoms company.
“Greetings to Gaza, contact with the beloved Gaza Strip has been lost as a result of the ongoing aggression,” it says.
“May God protect Gaza and its people.”
Power supplies for the enclave’s network have been depleted, say Gaza’s main telecom companies.
Amnesty International warned of another “total communications blackout” in the strip, worsening an already catastrophic humanitarian situation.
Phone and internet connections in Gaza had gone down three times since the Israel-Gaza war began on October 7, cutting off the enclave from the outside world.
Loss of telecoms network will halt Gaza aid, says UN
No aid convoys will cross into Gaza from Egypt today due to the loss of telecom networks in the Palestinian enclave, a UN official has said.
A lack of power has shut down internet and phone networks for the past two days, effectively cutting off the besieged territory from the outside world and making aid missions more perilous.
This outage, the latest in a series since the Israel-Gaza war began on October 7, adds to the problems of beleaguered residents, already struggling with shortages of food, clean water and medical supplies and facing Israeli bombardments.
“We have seen fuel, food, water and humanitarian assistance being used as a weapon of war,” said Juliette Touma, a spokeswoman for UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East.
The Rafah border crossing with Egypt is Gaza’s only route for aid.
Israeli forces have surrounded Jenin hospital, says report
Israeli forces have surrounded Ibn Sina Hospital in the city of Jenin, in the occupied West Bank, and are interrogating staff, Palestinian news agency Wafa has reported.
Israeli troops had “surrounded the hospital from all sides, searched ambulances in its vicinity and demanded via loudspeakers that it be evacuated”, said WAFA.
Videos showing a number of staff leaving the hospital with their hands above their heads have been circulating on X.
Staff were reportedly searched and interrogated in the hospital courtyard.
Dr Wissam Sbeihat, director general of the Palestinian Health Ministry in Jenin said Israeli forces had surrounded Ibn Sina Hospital and were preventing ambulances and ill people from reaching it, reported Wafa.
Three killed in Israeli drone strike in Jenin
Three Palestinians have been killed in an Israeli drone strike in the city of Jenin in the occupied West Bank, the head of the Palestinian ambulance service told Reuters on Friday.
US aid flight arrives in Egypt
Kamal Tabikha in Cairo reports:
An aircraft carrying 200 tonnes of American aid for Gaza arrived at Al Arish in northern Egypt on Thursday, the US embassy in Cairo has said.
This is the first US aid shipment to the besieged Palestinian enclave since the start of the Israel-Gaza war on October 7.
“The United States is working closely with the Egyptian Red Crescent, the United Nations, and international partner organisations to accelerate and expand aid efforts, reinforcing protection for Palestinian civilians,” said Uzra Zeya, US Under Secretary of State for Civilian Security, Democracy and Human Rights.
Ms Zeya received the US aid at Al Arish.
On Thursday, the Egyptian Red Crescent said that between October 21 and November 14, around 12,000 tonnes of aid was received – including nearly 9,000 tonnes from Egypt.