Tensions in the Middle East are escalating day by day with continuous crossfires and airstrikes. An Israeli airstrike on Sunday resulted in the deaths of at least 20 people, including children, at a school-turned-shelter in central Gaza.
Meanwhile, the Israeli military said that a drone attack by Hezbollah, a militant group based in Gaza, killed four of its soldiers the same day. The constant exchange of attacks has also affected the safety of the UN peacekeepers based in the region leading to growing international concern and condemnation.
The United Nations has said that no food has entered northern Gaza since October 1, with many civilians facing dire shortages amid ongoing military actions.
Recent Developments
Gaza begins second round of polio vaccination
The second round of polio vaccination drive has been launched in the Gaza Strip. The Gaza Health Ministry said on Monday that the second dose will be given to children below 10 years of age in central Gaza over the next three days and later the drive will be extended to the northern and southern parts of the territory.
The first round of vaccination was administered last month after the region registered its first polio case in 25 years. Around 5,60,000 children were given the first dose before it was halted due to escalating conflicts.
Israel airstrike on Gaza hospital kills 4
Early Monday, more explosions were reported outside Al-Aqsa Martyrs Hospital where victims of Sunday's airstrike were admitted. The airstrike before dawn killed at least four Palestinians and injured 40 as the flames from the attack hit a packed tent camp, The Times of Israel reported.
Israeli airstrike kills 20 in Gaza
An Israeli airstrike on Sunday night resulted in the deaths of at least 20 people, including children, at a school-turned-shelter in central Gaza. The strike, which occurred in Nuseirat, also killed two women. The school was sheltering some of the many Palestinians who were displaced due to the war.
The victims' bodies were transported to Al-Awda Hospital in Nuseirat and Al-Aqsa Martyrs Hospital in Deir al-Balah.
According to Gaza's Health Ministry, over 42,000 Palestinians have died during the yearlong conflict, a figure that does not differentiate between militants and civilians.
Hezbollah drone attack kills Israeli soldiers
The Israeli military on Sunday reported that four soldiers were killed in a drone attack by Hezbollah near Binyamina city. The strike has been labeled the deadliest by the militant group since Israel's ground invasion of Lebanon began nearly two weeks ago.
Hezbollah claimed the attack was retaliation for Thursday's Israeli airstrikes on Beirut that resulted in 22 fatalities. The group said it targeted Israel's elite Golani brigade, launching dozens of missiles to occupy Israeli air defense systems during the assault by “squadrons” of drones.
Continued strikes and retaliations
Following the drone attack, Israeli airstrikes targeted Hezbollah positions, including an Ottoman-era market in southern Lebanon's Nabatiyeh, killing at least one and injuring four.
The Lebanese Red Cross reported an incident where paramedics were injured during an Israeli strike while searching for casualties from a prior attack.
US to send new air defense system to Israel
The United States has announced plans to send a new air defense system, Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) battery to Israel, along with American troops to operate it. This military support comes amid fears of broader regional conflict, with both Iran and Hezbollah threatening retaliation against Israeli actions.
This move highlights the seriousness of the ongoing military confrontations involving both Hamas in Gaza and Hezbollah in Lebanon.
UAE launches 'UAE Stands with Lebanon' campaign
UAE organized a donation drive on Sunday as part of its 'UAE Stands with Lebanon' campaign. The two-week campaign which began on October 8 aims to help people in Lebanon affected by the ongoing conflict.
The donation drive organized at Abu Dhabi Cruise Terminal 1, Abu Dhabi Ports, collected 250 tonnes of relief materials.
UN Peacekeepers also caught in crossfire
The United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) peacekeeping force reported that Israeli tanks forcibly entered a peacekeeping position, leading to a condemnation of what they described as a violation of international law. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has accused UNIFIL of acting as a "human shield" for Hezbollah, urging the evacuation of peacekeepers from danger zones.
Two Israelis charged with planning assassination for Iran
Israel's Shin Bet security agency announced on Monday that police have charged two Israelis in a plot to carry out an assassination for Iran. Vladislav Victorson, 30, was approached online by someone named Mari Hossi, who offered him over $5,000 to do various tasks, including vandalism and burning cars.
The Shin Bet said Victorson was asked to destroy communication systems and ATMs, but it is unclear if he actually carried out these acts. They did not reveal the name of the person he allegedly planned to assassinate. Victorson also tried to get weapons, like a sniper's rifle, guns, and grenades. He reportedly involved two others in his plans, including his 18-year-old girlfriend, Anna Bernstein. The Shin Bet said that Iranian agents often use social media and money to recruit Israelis for such plots.
This arrest is alarming as it comes amid rising tensions between Israel and Iran.
