Palestinians are evacuating large areas near Khan Younis in southern Gaza as the Israeli military begins a new assault following another mass evacuation order.
Gaza’s second-largest city, Khan Younis, was heavily damaged during previous air and ground operations earlier this year, contributing to a severe humanitarian crisis in the region. Israeli restrictions on aid and ongoing fighting have limited access to food, medical supplies, and clean water. The Health Ministry in Gaza reports a death toll approaching 40,000 in the territory since the start of the Israel-Hamas conflict about 10 months ago.
Tensions in the region heightened after the killing of Hamas political leader Ismail Haniyeh on July 31 in Iran, reportedly in an Israeli strike, leading to expectations of retaliation.
Efforts by world leaders for a cease-fire in Gaza are ongoing. Israel has confirmed its intention to send negotiators for indirect talks with Hamas in response to a proposal by the United States, Egypt, and Qatar to revive stalled cease-fire discussions on August 15.
In a new development, Quds Force chief Ismail Qaani of the Iranian Revolutionary Guards promises to avenge the killing of his predecessor, Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh, in a letter to the new Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar.
Additionally, a man injured in a Hezbollah drone attack in Israel earlier this week has succumbed to his wounds, according to reports from hospital officials.
Meanwhile, the U.N. human rights chief has joined others in denouncing comments by Israel’s far-right finance minister regarding starving Palestinians. The minister suggested withholding aid until hostages captured in a Hamas attack are released, a statement condemned as inciting hatred against innocent civilians and deemed a war crime.
In Syria, pro-government forces attacked a village held by U.S.-backed fighters, resulting in at least 11 fatalities, including children. The conflict has intensified tensions between the two sides.
Furthermore, Nagasaki marked the 79th anniversary of the atomic bombing at the end of World War II, with some Western envoys boycotting the ceremony due to the exclusion of Israel’s invitation.
Three suspected attacks by Yemen’s Houthi rebels targeted a ship in the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, an important waterway linking the Gulf of Aden to the Red Sea. The assaults are part of a broader regional conflict and follow the recent assassination of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh in Iran.
