The United States has expressed concern with Israel over reports that two Christian women were shot dead by an Israeli sniper at a church in the Gaza Strip. White House spokesman John Kirby said on Monday that a sniper had shot and killed a woman, Nahida Khalil Anton, and her daughter, Samar, at the compound of a Catholic church in Gaza. Kirby also said that no negotiations are going on for the release of hostages captured by Hamas. He said that as far as the conflict between Palestine and Israel is concerned, in America’s view the only solution is a two-state solution.
At the same time, Hamas member Osama Hamdan reiterated on Monday that there will be no talks on the exchange of hostages until Israel stops the war in Gaza. Hamdan said in Beirut that the group is ready for ongoing negotiations through Qatar and Egypt, but it must require an end to the war in Gaza.
America put pressure on Israel
For the first time in the Israel-Hamas war that has been going on for more than two months, America openly said that the Israeli army should reduce the intensity of attacks in Gaza. Meanwhile, Hamas member Osama Hamdan reiterated on Monday that there would be no talks on a hostage exchange until Israel ends the war. US Defense Minister Lloyd Austin, who arrived in Tel Aviv on a visit to Israel, expressed concern over the increasing deaths of Palestinians and pressed for reducing the attacks. On the other hand, American world rights group ‘HRW’ on Monday directly accused Israel of committing war crimes by starving people in the Gaza Strip. Meanwhile the attacks continued.
Israeli forces are deliberately blocking water, food and fuel supplies and destroying agricultural areas, HRW said. Due to this, 23 lakh people of Gaza are deprived of essential commodities. More than 19,000 people have died so far. This HRW report comes after Pope Francis accused Israel of terrorism over the killing of two women by Israeli forces in a church. A
Meanwhile, Hamas’ armed wing has posted a video on its Instagram account, in which three elderly Israeli women are pleading for their release. The Israeli military has described the hostage videos released by Hamas as criminal terrorism. IDF spokesman Daniel Hagari said the army was making every possible effort to secure the release of the hostages.
Hezbollah fired several missiles at Israel
The Lebanese group Hezbollah has claimed to have fired several missiles at the Israeli city of Kiryat Shmona. Hezbollah said in a statement that the attack was in response to Israel targeting the funeral of one of its fighters in a Lebanese village on Monday. Hezbollah said in the statement that any harm caused to civilians would be avenged. According to Israeli media, the missiles hit a building in Kiryat Shmona, causing no injuries.
Demonstration in Israel, demand to start talks with Hamas
After the killing of three hostages of its own country by the Israeli army in Gaza, the demand for resuming talks with Hamas and releasing all the hostages has intensified. It is learned that the three hostages waved a white cloth and told the Israeli army in Hebrew that they would not cause harm. Meanwhile, Israeli protesters have demanded the resumption of talks with Hamas to release more hostages. Israel’s allies France, Britain and Germany have also joined the global appeal for a ceasefire.
90 deaths in Jabaliya
The Palestinian Health Ministry said that 5 Palestinians have died in the West Bank in the Israeli attack. The deaths occurred in an airstrike on the Nur Shams refugee camp. On the other hand, 90 Palestinians died in Israeli bombing in Jabaliya camp in northern Gaza. The Israeli army has also attacked Gaza’s main hospital Al Shifa and turned a large part of it into debris.