Chronicle of the Israel-Hamas Conflict: Key Events on Day 19
Chronicle of the Israel-Hamas Conflict: Key Events on Day 19
Israel-Hamas war
Latest Developments:
On Tuesday, Israeli air strikes in Gaza resulted in the tragic death of at least 704 individuals, marking the highest 24-hour death toll since the conflict's inception, as reported by the Palestinian Ministry of Health.
The United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees issued a dire warning, stating that Gaza's hospitals could cease operations by Wednesday night if essential fuel supplies are not promptly delivered. The Palestinian Health Ministry urgently called for the immediate flow of medical supplies and fuel into Gaza's hospitals.
In the early hours of Wednesday, Israel's military confirmed its fighter jets had targeted Syrian army infrastructure and launched mortars in response to aggression from Syria. Syrian state media conveyed that the attack led to the loss of eight soldiers and injuries to seven others.
The leader of Hezbollah met with representatives from Hamas and Islamic Jihad to assess their ongoing resistance efforts in Gaza.
Credit rating agencies S&P and Fitch Ratings have downgraded Israel's rating outlook due to heightened war risks and their potential impact on Israel's credit metrics.
Human Impact and Ongoing Conflict:
The Gaza Strip has witnessed a devastating toll, with a minimum of 5,791 casualties since the conflict began on October 7.
Early morning Israeli air strikes and shelling continued to take place across Gaza, resulting in the loss of at least 19 lives. These attacks targeted residential areas in Jabalia and Tal al-Hawa in the north, the al-Nuseirat refugee camp in central Gaza, and areas near the Red Crescent headquarters and al-Amal Hospital in Khan Younis, where over 4,000 Palestinians have sought shelter.
In Tel Aviv, hundreds of people took to the streets on Tuesday night, demanding the return of captives held by Hamas in Gaza.
Mohammad Abu Salmiya, the director general of al-Shifa Arab Hospital in Gaza City, expressed concerns about the use of potentially new and deadly weapons by Israel, as he witnessed unusual injuries among patients.
Escalation in the Occupied West Bank:
Israeli raids on Tuesday night coincided with power outages in at least three areas across the occupied West Bank.
An Israeli drone attack in Jenin resulted in the loss of three Palestinian lives and left a dozen injured.
The number of arrests in Hebron has surpassed 400 since October 7, with at least 11 more individuals detained. The death toll in the West Bank has reached 103, according to the Palestinian Health Ministry.
Diplomacy and International Response:
French President Emmanuel Macron paid a visit to Israel on Tuesday, expressing France's support for an international coalition to combat Hamas. He also met with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas in Ramallah.
UN chief Antonio Guterres condemned the Hamas attack on Israel during a Security Council debate, recognizing that the situation did not occur "in a vacuum." This comment prompted Israel to call for Guterres's resignation, and Israel's foreign minister canceled a scheduled meeting with him.
Lebanon's UN ambassador, Hadi Hachem, discussed the impact of Israeli aggression on Lebanon, including the recent killing of Lebanese journalist Issam Abdallah. He stressed Lebanon's efforts to disassociate itself from this "bloody conflict."
As representatives prepare for the UN General Assembly's emergency meeting on Thursday, Jordan has presented a draft resolution calling for an immediate ceasefire.
The US Treasury is actively working to form an international coalition aimed at targeting Hamas's financing.
