On Tuesday, discussions between US President Joe Biden and Qatari Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani centered on the urgent need to secure the release of hostages held in Gaza, including American citizens. They also explored initiatives to enhance humanitarian aid. Qatar and Egypt played mediation roles between Israel and Hamas during the late November truce, as highlighted in the White House readout.
Here are the top 10 updates on the Israel-Hamas conflict:
- On Tuesday, 83 humanitarian aid trucks and seven ambulances underwent inspection at the Nitzana checkpoint and were subsequently transferred to Gaza via the Rafah Crossing from Egypt, as reported by ANI.
- The United Nations appointed a coordinator to oversee humanitarian relief shipments into Gaza, following a UN Security Council resolution adopted on Friday aimed at enhancing humanitarian aid.
- Sigrid Kaag, the Netherlands\’ outgoing finance minister, is set to assume the role of the senior humanitarian and reconstruction coordinator for Gaza starting on January 8, according to a UN statement quoted by Reuters.
- Palestinian health authorities in Hamas-ruled Gaza reported nearly 21,000 people killed in Israeli strikes, with additional individuals feared buried under rubble. Almost all of Gaza\’s 2.3 million residents have been displaced from their homes, many multiple times.
- In response to Hamas killing 1,200 people and capturing 240 hostages on October 7, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu initiated an assault that has inflicted significant damage on Gaza.
- Israel\’s military chief stated that the war on Hamas is anticipated to last for months, emphasizing the risk of the conflict spreading beyond the Gaza Strip, according to Reuters.
- Israel\’s Chief of Staff Herzi Halevi emphasized, \”There are no magic solutions, there are no shortcuts in dismantling a terrorist organization, only determined and persistent fighting. We will reach Hamas\’ leadership too, whether it takes a week or if it takes months.\”
- Israeli actions intensified around Christmas, particularly in a central area just south of the seasonal waterway that bisects the Gaza Strip. Civilians were advised to leave the area, although many claimed there was no safe place left to go.
- Gaza authorities buried 80 unidentified Palestinians on Tuesday, whose bodies were handed over by Israel through the Kerem Shalom border crossing, as reported by the health ministry.
- The United States has openly urged Israel to scale down its war to a more targeted operation of raids on Hamas leaders in recent weeks. However, Washington is still perceived in the region as a supporter of Israel, and US forces have been targeted by Iran-backed militants in the Middle East.