NPR- Some 85% of the 2.3 million people in Gaza have been internally displaced since the start of the war, according to the U.N. Despite telling Palestinians to move south, Israel has repeatedly carried out airstrikes in the Rafah area. An Israeli intelligence "concept paper" proposes moving Palestinians in the Gaza Strip to tent encampments in Egypt's northern Sinai and then building permanent cities. But Egypt, which already hosts 9 million refugees, has several reasons to resist letting them in.
There are security concerns. If Hamas or other militants were to attack Israel from Sinai, there are fears Israel could retaliate with strikes in Egypt.
There's no guarantee that Palestinians who fled to Egypt would ever be able to return to Gaza, according to Imad Harb, director of research and analysis at the Arab Center Washington DC.
At least 18,608 people have been killed and 50,594 injured in Israeli strikes on Gaza since 7 October, according to the latest figures issued by Gaza’s health ministry, which is run by Hamas. Israel’s military has also issued updated casualty figures. It said that the number of personnel injured in the war has increased to 1,704. That includes 619 soldiers who have been wounded – 139 of them seriously – inside Gaza during the ground operation. The military said 115 soldiers have been killed in the ground offensive.
“Israel will continue the war against Hamas with or without international support,” Reuters reports the foreign minister, Eli Cohen, said. “A ceasefire at the current stage is a gift to the terrorist organisation Hamas, and will allow it to return and threaten the residents of Israel.”
Pope Francis has renewed his call for an immediate
ceasefire, saying “may this great suffering for the Israelis and the
Palestinians be over”.
President Biden — in rare and blunt criticism today — called on Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's government to embrace a two-state solution. The open criticism is a shift for the president and signals growing disagreement about what happens after the war in Gaza ends. Biden warned that Israel is losing international support over the war and needs to change its policies."I think he has to change. ... This government in Israel is making it very difficult for him to move," Biden said. More
Secret talks between Israel and Hamas for a hostage swap have reportedly resumed. The deal would involve the release of civilian hostages held in Gaza as well as three Israeli soldiers in return for roughly 300 Palestinian prisoners serving sentences in Israel. The report in the independent outlet Elaph has not been confirmed, and no new deal appears imminent.
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