Parties to Gaza conflict ignoring international law, U.N. chief says
The head of the United Nations has warned that the parties of the Israeli-Hamas war were ignoring the norms of international law, and “trampling” on the Geneva Conventions that regulate how armed conflict is conducted.
“We see some countries doing whatever it takes to further their own interests at all costs,” said United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, speaking at the World Economic Forum in Davos today.
“From Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, to Sudan, and, more recently, Gaza, parties to conflict are ignoring international law; trampling on the Geneva Conventions; and even violating the United Nations Charter,” Guterres said.
The world is standing by, he said, as civilians are killed, maimed, bombarded, forced from their homes and denied access to humanitarian aid.
Hamas spy-catcher killed in airstrike, Israel says
The Israeli military says it has killed an alleged Hamas spy-catcher with an airstrike in Gaza. Bilal Nofal was “responsible for interrogating individuals suspected of espionage against the terrorist organization,” according to a statement by the Israel Defense Forces. He was killed by an Israeli Air Force aircraft, the statement said without giving further details.
“Nofal played a role in the advancement of Hamas’ research and development processes,” the IDF said. “His elimination significantly impacts the terrorist organization’s capacity to develop and enhance its capabilities.”
NBC News has not verified the claims.
The IDF also said that: one of its helicopters killed three people it identified as “terrorists” in the Gazan city of Khan Yunis; an IAF aircraft killed two more “terrorists” in central Gaza; and its troops destroyed a compound from which rockets were fired at the Israeli city of Netivot yesterday.
Israeli army trains for a possible assault on Lebanon
The Israeli army has held a training exercise simulating an offensive in southern Lebanon as it continues to exchange fire with Hezbollah fighters along the border.
Maj. Gen. Ori Gordin, head of the army’s Northern Command, said in a statement issued Tuesday: “We’re more prepared for this than ever before, even for tonight if needed.”
Gordin says reserve soldiers are spread out along the border to bolster Israel’s defenses.
More than 2,000 rockets have been fired toward Israel from Lebanon, the home of Hezbollah, since the start of the war in Gaza, killing 12 Israeli soldiers and six civilians, including a mother and son on Monday. Israel’s airstrikes in Lebanon have killed around 150 militants and 20 civilians, according to Hezbollah. Earlier this week, Israel said it stopped an infiltration of militants into the contested Golan Heights.
Hezbollah says its attacks are aimed at tying down Israeli forces and will continue until there is a cease-fire in Gaza. Israel has warned of an all-out war if Hezbollah does not pull back from the border in accordance with a U.N. resolution that ended the 2006 Israel-Hezbollah war.
Civilians flee amid apparent IDF attacks near key hospital in Khan Younis
There was confusion and chaos around the Al Nasser Hospital complex in southern Gaza overnight as Israeli forces appeared to advance on the area.
NBC News’ team in Gaza reported intense bombardment inside the city of Khan Younis, and Gazans fleeing the city’s Austrian neighborhood toward the hospital.
“We were sitting and we heard the sounds of gunfire very close by. I looked and saw a bulldozer and a tank close to the window. I took my children and ran away,” a man named Yazan told NBC News at the hospital.
“The bombing was intense, something I had never witnessed before,” said another man. “All the people in the Austrian neighborhood left their homes, and everyone fled.”
Videos posted to social media that NBC News geolocated to the hospital also appeared to show sounds of gunfire in the vicinity of the hospital and people running around with their belongings, coming in and out of the hospital.
The Israeli military did not immediately respond to a request for comment from NBC News on whether the area close to the hospital was targeted overnight.
Blinken feels ‘fierce urgency’ to resolve Middle East crisis, says it will need Israeli help not opposition
Secretary of State Antony Blinken says he feels a “fierce urgency” to find a long-term solution for the Middle East, one that satisfies the security concerns of Israel while moving toward a self-governed Palestinian state.
“It’s not like any of this happens over night, it’s not like it’s flipping a light switch,” Blinken said at the World Economic Forum, a summit of government and business leaders in Davos, Swizerland. “As we’re in the midst of human tragedy…
Read More: Civilians flee as IDF advances near Al Nasser hospital in southern Gaza