Israel-Gaza War Highlights: For over 8 months, Gaza has been facing continuous attacks by the Israeli government that have killed more than 36,000 Palestinians. While there has been a global outcry over the mass killings in recent attacks, Israel and close allies have refused to administer the impact.
On Sunday, Israel released a trail of airstrike attacks targeted at the southern Rafah area but in a “tragic mistake” it took the lives of civilians. The mistake cost 45 lives and injured 200 people, according to a Gaza health authorities report. Earlier, despite the order from the World Court, Israeli tanks moved into the heart of Rafah after a night of intense bombardment on Tuesday. The attack caused around 21 lives including, 13 women and girls.
In another development, Spain, Ireland and Norway officially recognised a Palestinian state, a move that further deepened Israel’s international isolation.
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The protest in Whitehall began at 18:00 BST, with 8,000 to 10,000 participants, and was scheduled to end two hours later. While most protesters dispersed peacefully, about 500 remained. During the Westminster demonstration organized by the Palestine Solidarity Campaign, three police officers were injured. Police made 40 arrests for assaults on emergency workers, highway obstruction, and public order breaches.
A total of 146 countries, including India, recognize a Palestinian state. With Spain and Ireland, nine of the 27 European Union nations now officially recognize Palestine. Although not an EU member, Norway's foreign policy typically aligns with the bloc. Slovenia, an EU member, will decide on recognizing a Palestinian state on Thursday and submit its decision to parliament for final approval. This move has strained EU-Israel relations.
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Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez met with Palestinian Prime Minister Mohammad Mustafa and top officials from several Middle Eastern countries in Madrid on Wednesday, following the recognition of a Palestinian state by Spain, Ireland, and Norway.
Israel's military offensive in the Gaza Strip has killed at least 36,171 Palestinians and wounded 81,420 since October 7, the Palestinian enclave's health ministry reported on Wednesday. In the past 24 hours alone, 75 Palestinians have been killed and 284 injured, according to the ministry's statement.
The Gaza health ministry called for safe pathways for the immediate entry of fuel and medical aid to Rafah and northern Gaza. Spokesperson Ashraf Al-Qudra has also asked for field hospitals in these areas and the urgent entry of medical teams.
Israeli tanks carried out a second day of probing attacks across Rafah on Wednesday, following Washington's statement that the assault did not constitute a major ground incursion into the southern Gazan city, which U.S. officials had advised Israel to avoid.
As #alleyesonrafah trends on social media, millions of users are posting stories on their profiles including Bollywood stars like Priyanka Chopra Jonas, Alia Bhatt and Kareena Kapoor Khan. A huge number of users have started questioning the actors claiming their inability to voice the trajectories of India, therefore, #boycottbollywood has taken a place on the top five trends on X. Some prominent personalities have even deleted their stories after receiving backlash and trolling online.
The Israeli military reported that three soldiers were killed in combat in southern Gaza on Wednesday as the offensive in Rafah continued. Additionally, three more soldiers were seriously wounded in the same incident, though no further details were provided.
The Metropolitan Police Service, which serves the greater London area, reported arresting 40 people after protesters refused to disperse following a demonstration in London against Israel's war on Gaza.
After the International Criminal Court’s top prosecutor sought arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, his defence minister, and top Hamas officials, Netanyahu accused the prosecutor of being "one of the great antisemites in modern times."
El Al Israel Airlines swung to a net profit in the first quarter, boosted by strong demand at a time when foreign carriers have halted or curtailed flights to Israel because of the conflict with the Palestinian militant group Hamas. (REUTERS)
Clashes erupted in Mexico City as protesters rallied against the war in Gaza. Around 200 people joined the "Urgent Action for Rafah" demonstration outside the Israeli embassy on Tuesday. Confrontations with police occurred when some protesters tried to break down barriers blocking access to the embassy.
Algeria proposed a draft U.N. Security Council resolution demanding a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip on Tuesday, the release of all hostages held by Hamas, and an immediate halt to Israel's military offensive in Rafah.
Around 80% of Gaza’s 2.3 million population is displaced, with parts experiencing famine, according to U.N. officials. Fighting in Rafah hampers humanitarian aid distribution. Despite Israeli claims of allowing hundreds of trucks through Kerem Shalom, aid groups face access challenges due to ongoing conflict. The U.N. has retrieved aid from only 170 trucks in three weeks, far below the needed 600 trucks daily.
The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) called on Wednesday for a ceasefire and unimpeded humanitarian access to the Gaza Strip, where millions face worsening hunger. IFRC President Kate Forbes emphasized the need for a political solution to enable aid delivery during an interview with Reuters in Manila.
In a White House briefing on Tuesday, Biden's administration refused to amend US policy towards Israel, as the Sunday attacks did not breach Biden's "red lines," according to National Security Council spokesman John Kirby.
As per an Al Jazeera report, the Israeli military continues to escalate its operations in Rafah, intensifying aerial bombardments over the past three days, including targeting the al-Mawasi evacuation zone. Heavy artillery shelling has reached near the Kuwaiti Hospital, now out of service. With control over the Philadelphi Corridor, Israeli forces are advancing deeper into Rafah's western areas, creating further tragedies.
Last week, Karim Khan, the successor to Bensouda, applied for an arrest warrant for Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in connection with the probe initiated in 2021.
Following the attacks on Sunday and Tuesday, people across the globe have started taking a stand against Israel's dehumanisation on social media as the hashtag “All eyes on Rafah” became the most trending hashtag overnight.