The Latest on Israel-Hamas Conflict and Peace Efforts: Updates and News

2023-12-17 21:37:58

JERUSALEM – Israel has stepped up its attacks on Gaza while Qatar is making new peace efforts for the release of Hamas hostages. The Palestinian Ministry of Health said 40 people were killed. Many people were injured. The Red Crescent officials said that because the communication link was completely broken and the missile attack continued, they could not even take the injured to the hospital. The Israeli forces announced that the town of Khan Yunus was under control.

At the same time, Israeli forces claimed to have discovered a 4-kilometer-long vehicle-passable tunnel 100 meters from the Gaza border checkpoint. This concrete tunnel, 50 meters below ground level and 3 meters wide, also has electricity connection. Admiral Daniel Hagary, chief spokesman for the Israeli military, said it was the largest tunnel ever discovered in Gaza.

Those injured in the Israeli attack on Rafale are being shifted to the hospital. Image: AP

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said that the only way to free the hostages is a severe attack. He said that he will not withdraw without destroying Hamas. Qatari Prime Minister Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani and Mossad chief David Barnea held talks in Oslo, Norway on Saturday.

2 more Israeli soldiers were killed in Gaza yesterday. With this, the Israeli army announced that the number of soldiers killed in the current military operation has reached 121. The Israeli army, which has embarked on a ground war, is facing a tough challenge everywhere in Gaza. Hamas is effectively carrying out guerrilla warfare with the help of sophisticated weapons in a network of tunnels. Ten weeks into the war, the resistance shows that Hamas’ arsenal is not depleted. For 4 days, the communication system has been completely shut down in all of Gaza. Israeli forces conducted an inspection at the Kamal Adwan hospital in northern Gaza. Weapons and explosives were claimed to have been seized.

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