Hostage families storm Knesset hearing; Netanyahu says ‘no real proposal’ from

By Stock News On Jan 22, 2024 7 0

Doctors sound alarm over spread of diseases among children in Gaza

Pediatric doctors told NBC News they were concerned about the spread of hepatitis and other diseases among young children in southern Gaza.

Dr. Ahmed Al-Farra, the head of the pediatric unit at Nasser Hospital, said the lack of medical supplies, poor sanitation conditions and overcrowding are also leading to serious cases of gastroenteritis.

U.S. and U.K. carry out second round of attacks on Houthis

The U.S. and British military are carrying out their second round of strikes against targets in Yemen, according to defense officials.

The two countries hit the Houthis for the first time on Jan. 11, an escalation after a series of Houthi attacks on vessels in the Red Sea. Today’s strikes are being carried out by manned aircraft and firing from ships, according to the officials.

Mohammed Al-Bukhaiti, a member of the Houthi political bureau, acknowledge the attacks in a post on X.

“Now, American-British air strikes on Sanaa, and the sound of planes and explosions is heard,” he wrote. “No matter how much they bomb, our military operations against Israel will continue until the genocide crimes in Gaza are stopped and food, medicine and fuel are allowed to enter its besieged population.”

Displaced again, Gazans flee under fire

NEAR KHAN YOUNIS — Mariam Abu Haleeb and her family were on the move again on Monday, the seventh time they had been displaced in less than four months of war.

She and other Gazans, their cars and donkey carts piled high with belongings, fled what they said was a terrifying night at the al-Aqsa university in the west of Khan Younis, where they had taken shelter after being told again it was risky to stay put.

They had no idea where to go next.

“What hurts me most is that my old mother is under siege. My siblings and their children are besieged. Everyone, everyone. All of Khan Younis needed help yesterday,” she said.

“This is the seventh time I’ve been displaced, or maybe even more. Torture, torture, torture,” she said, weeping.

Mohammad Abu Haleeb said many people had pitched their tents at the university after the Israeli military warned them to move from other areas as it stormed through the southern Gaza city, where it says Hamas leaders are hiding.

“In the evening, gunfire started — shelling and air strikes from every direction. I couldn’t move with my nine children at all. There was a building inside that we all entered and we stayed there until the morning. No one was able to leave.”

“There were injured and martyred people that no one was able to reach,” he said.

Israel proposes 2-month pause in exchange for all hostages, Israeli official says

TEL AVIV — Israel’s government has proposed a pause in fighting in Gaza for two months in exchange for the release of all the remaining hostages, which is estimated to be more than 130 people, an Israeli official told NBC News.

A second Israeli official said more than 25 of the hostages are dead, but the government wants Hamas to return their bodies. The proposed deal was first reported by Axios, which noted the plan would be to release hostages in stages starting with those over 60 years old and in dire medical condition.

An Israeli government official said that while Israel has offered the two-month pause, he is not sure if a deal will be possible.

“We have to wait and see,” the official said.

NBC News reported yesterday that hostage talks were at an impasse over Hamas’ demand for a permanent cease-fire.

A Hamas official told NBC News Sunday it would not accept any deal without the promise of a permanent ceasefire.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said yesterday that agreeing to end the war means Israel “will not be able to guarantee the security of our citizens.” He said he would not agree to it and that only “complete victory” would secure both the release of hostages and Hamas’ elimination.

International groups call for protection of hospital in Khan Younis

Leaders at the World Health Organization and the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies called for the protection of Al-Amal Hospital today after repeated bombardments in Khan Younis.

Jagan Chapagain, CEO of the IFRC, said he was very concerned over reports of shelling at Al-Amal, which is operated by the Palestine Red Crescent Society.

“This increases the risks to the lives of staff & volunteers of PRCS significantly as they work 24/7 to assist those in humanitarian need,” he wrote on X. “I repeat my call to ensure protection of civilians, humanitarian aid workers, ambulances, and health facilities.”