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U.S. officials said Israel’s apparent willingness to agree to a cessation of hostilities in return for the release of more hostages being held in Gaza has created a new opening for negotiations. Any new deal would likely include phased releases of hostages, though the White House is hoping that a more ambitious one, possibly leading to the release of all of the remaining hostages, might be possible. The talks were mediated by Qatar, which was negotiating with Hamas, as well as by Egypt. At least some of the officials last met in Warsaw in December, but those discussions stalled over Hamas’s insistence that the remaining hostages be released in exchange for a permanent cease-fire and larger prisoner releases. Israel rejected any permanent cease-fire and was pushing for a shorter pause in fighting.

Persons: William J, Burns, David Barnea, Barnea, Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim, Abbas Kamel, Israel Organizations: Qatari, Hamas Locations: Europe, United States, Gaza, Israel, Qatar, Egypt, Thani, Warsaw

Hamas officials say they will only release the remaining hostages in Gaza, believed to number more than 100, as part of a comprehensive cease-fire. Benjamin Netanyahu, Israel’s prime minister, said on Sunday that he would not accept any deal for a permanent cease-fire that left Hamas in control of Gaza. Israeli officials have suggested they might consider a permanent cease-fire if Hamas’s Gaza leadership leave the strip and go into exile, the two diplomats said. Hamas officials have rejected that idea. “Hamas and its leaders are on their land in Gaza,” Husam Badran, a senior Hamas official, said in a text message.

Persons: William J, Burns, Brett McGurk, Benjamin Netanyahu, Israel’s, Husam, Netanyahu, “, Mahmoud Abbas, Abbas Organizations: Qatari, White, Gaza, Hamas, Biden, Palestinian Authority, West Bank, Fatah Locations: Gaza, Europe, Israel, Qatar, Egypt, Western, U.S, Palestinian

After nearly 15 weeks of war, sharp divisions within Israel over the path forward in the Gaza Strip are increasingly coming into the open. A member of Israel’s war cabinet, a general who lost a son in the conflict, urged in a television interview broadcast late Thursday that the country pursue an extended cease-fire with Hamas to free the remaining hostages, a rebuke of the “total victory” being pursued by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. And in a sign of the growing exasperation among parts of the Israeli public over the government’s failure to free the hostages, relatives and supporters of the captives partially blocked traffic on a major highway in Tel Aviv before dawn on Friday, prompting the police to briefly detain seven for having “participated in disorderly conduct and unlawful behavior.”Israel’s emergency governing coalition is under intense and competing pressures as the war drags on. Right-wing politicians are urging the military to act more aggressively in Gaza, even while Israel is contending with outrage across the globe over the carnage and decimation of so much of the territory. At the same time, the families of hostages are urging concessions to secure their return.

Persons: ”, Benjamin Netanyahu, “ Locations: Israel, Gaza, Tel Aviv

The Israeli war cabinet member and former military chief Gadi Eisenkot, as he attended the funeral of his son Gal Meir Eisenkot in December. General Eisenkot has also paid a devastating personal price in the war: His 25-year-old son, Master Sgt. In the televised interview, which was prerecorded, General Eisenkot said Mr. Netanyahu carries “sharp and clear” responsibility for the country’s failure to protect its citizens on Oct. 7. Early in the war, Israeli officials weighed whether to launch a pre-emptive strike against Hezbollah — risking a two-front war that deeply concerned U.S. and Israeli military planners. The Israeli public must head to the polls “within months,” General Eisenkot said.

Persons: Gadi Eisenkot, Gal Meir Eisenkot, Israel, Uvda, ”, Eisenkot, Benjamin Netanyahu, Netanyahu, Mr, Netanyahu —, —, “, Israel’s, General Eisenkot, Yahya Sinwar, Netanyahu’s Organizations: Mr, Hamas, ” Locations: Gaza, Israel, Entebbe, —, Uganda, Iran, Lebanon

☆ Netanyahu rebuffs U.S. calls to start working toward Palestinian statehood.
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-18 | by ( Aaron Boxerman | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +3 min

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of Israel on Thursday appeared to rule out a postwar peace process that would lead to the establishment of a sovereign Palestinian state, rebuffing calls from the United States to start working toward that ultimate goal. President Biden and his top diplomat, Antony J. Blinken, have urged Israeli officials to move toward the eventual establishment of a Palestinian state. But Israeli officials have repeatedly dismissed such calls, saying they are focused on the war in Gaza. On Thursday, Mr. Netanyahu told reporters he had rebuffed the latest exhortations. “I told this truth to our friends, the Americans, and I also blocked the attempt to impose a reality that would harm Israel’s security,” Mr. Netanyahu said.

Persons: Benjamin Netanyahu, Israel, Jordan, ” Mr, Netanyahu, ”, Biden, Antony J, “, Mr, Isaac Herzog, —, ’, Herzog, ” Matthew Miller Organizations: “, Biden, ” Palestinian Authority, West Bank, Economic, State Department, United Locations: Palestinian, United States, Israel, Gaza, ”, Davos, Switzerland, “, Iran

☆ Israel-Hamas War Fighting Eases in Northern Gaza, Giving Residents Some Relief
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-18 | by ( Adam Rasgon | Aaron Boxerman | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +8 min

The Pakistani Foreign Affairs Ministry said that the country’s forces had conducted “precision military strikes” against what it called terrorist hide-outs in southeastern Iran. Iranian officials said that nine people had been killed, including four children, and Pakistani officials said the death toll of the Iranian strikes included at least two children. The official said that air force fighter jets and drones had been used in the Pakistani retaliatory strikes. In a statement, the Pakistani military called the two neighbors “brotherly countries” and said that “dialogue and cooperation is deemed prudent in resolving bilateral issues” between them. Pakistani military analysts were hopeful that this could pave the way for diplomatic dialogue between the two nations.

Persons: Islamic Republic “, ”, Ahmad Vahidi, Sohail Shahzad, Benjamin Netanyahu, “, Syed Muhammad Ali, Waqar Hasan, Arash Khamooshi, Baluch, al, Vivian Nereim Organizations: Pakistani Foreign Affairs Ministry, Iran Exchange, Foreign Ministry, Islamic, Islamabad ”, Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, Iranian, Credit, Pakistan, The New York Times Pakistan, Guards Locations: Pakistan, Iran, Baluch, Iraq, Islamic Republic, Saravan, Tehran, Islamabad, Rask, Israel, Gaza, Balochistan Province, Yemen, Suez, United States, Pakistani, “ Pakistan, Baluchistan Province, Sistan, Persian, Oman, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

Hamas fighters in the northern Gaza Strip fired at least 25 rockets toward a nearby Israeli city on Tuesday, renewing right-wing criticism in Israel of the government’s decision to scale back some military operations in the war. Hamas said in a statement that it had targeted the Israeli city of Netivot, about six miles from the Gaza border. Most of the rockets were either intercepted by Israel’s missile defense system or fell into open areas, and there were no immediate reports of casualties. But the Israeli police said that at least one building had been damaged. The attack highlighted Hamas’s continuing ability to threaten Israeli civilians with rocket fire despite more than 100 days of a devastating Israeli air and ground offensive aimed at destroying the group’s military capabilities.

Organizations: Gaza, Israel’s Locations: Israel, Netivot, Gaza

Israel’s military leadership faced heightened public scrutiny this week after a string of damaging revelations in the Israeli media and The New York Times suggested that senior officers had ignored or dismissed intelligence reports about the likelihood of a major Hamas attack. A commander also dismissed a subordinate’s warning in July that the group was running drills and building the capacity to set the plan in motion. The news raised expectations among political commentators that, after the war ends, senior military and security chiefs will either resign or be fired over the intelligence failures. While the war is still going, many Israelis are also focused on maintaining a united front against Hamas. A survey conducted in mid-October found that 87 percent of Jewish Israelis interviewed said they trusted the Israeli military, slightly higher than in June.

Persons: Benjamin Netanyahu, Netanyahu, “, ”, Ayelet Samerano, Yonatan, Eran Etzion, Etzion, Don’t Organizations: New York Times, Hamas, The Times Locations: Israel, Gaza

A weeklong cease-fire in Gaza collapsed on Friday morning after Israel said Hamas had fired rockets toward Israel in the hours before the truce was set to expire, and Israel responded with strikes on the territory. But early Friday, shortly before the truce was set to end, Israel’s military said on the social media site X that it had intercepted a projectile fired from Gaza. Nonetheless, minutes after the 7 a.m. deadline passed, Israel announced that it was restarting operations in Gaza. Shortly afterward, both the Israeli military and Gaza’s Hamas-run Interior Ministry said that Israel was carrying out strikes across Gaza. “We have sworn, I have sworn, to eliminate Hamas,” Mr. Netanyahu said.

Persons: Israel, Hamas’s, Benjamin Netanyahu’s, ”, Mr, Netanyahu, Antony J, Blinken, “, ” Mr, ” Aaron Boxerman, Iyad, Johnatan Reiss Organizations: Hamas, Mr Locations: Khan Yunis, Gaza, Israel, Doha, Qatar, United States, Egypt, Tel Aviv, “ Israel

☆ Shooting in Jerusalem Kills at Least 3 People, Israeli Officials Say
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-30 | by ( Aaron Boxerman | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

Two Palestinian gunmen opened fire near a bus stop on the outskirts of Jerusalem on Thursday morning, killing at least three people, according to the Israeli authorities. The Israeli police said in a statement that the gunmen, who were armed with an M16 rifle and a handgun, were killed at the scene by two off-duty soldiers and an armed civilian. At least six people were wounded in the attack, according to Magen David Adom, Israel’s emergency service. The Shaare Zedek Medical Center said it was treating four victims, three of whom were still in serious condition. Hamas did not immediately comment on the shooting, which came as a fragile truce between it and Israel was extended in Gaza.

Persons: Magen David Adom, Shin, Murad Nimr, Ibrahim Nimr Organizations: Medical, Hamas Locations: Jerusalem, East Jerusalem, Gaza, Israel

A third group of Gaza Strip hostages, including a 4-year-old American girl whose parents were killed in the Hamas raids on Israel, was freed on Sunday, raising the prospect more captives could be set free and a fragile truce extended. The 17 hostages released by Hamas, who were seized when the militants raided Israel on Oct. 7, included three Thai citizens, one Russian and the little girl Avigail Idan, a dual American-Israeli citizen who was kidnapped from a kibbutz. She marked her fourth birthday in captivity in Gaza on Friday. “Thank God she’s home,” President Biden said to reporters in Nantucket, Mass., where he spent the Thanksgiving holiday. “I wish I was there to hold her.”Much hinged on the latest release of hostages, who were exchanged for 39 Palestinian prisoners held by Israel on the third day of a four-day truce.

Persons: Avigail Idan, God she’s, Biden, “ Organizations: ” Locations: Gaza, Israel, Nantucket

☆ Israel-Hamas War Israel Faces Decision on What to Do After End of Truce
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-26 | by ( Patrick Kingsley | Aaron Boxerman | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +8 min

Hamas released a second group of 13 Israeli hostages on Saturday as part of a cease-fire deal, a day after it released another 13. (Read about the Israeli hostages who have already been released here.) “I want to start walking to where the decisions are made.”Sharon Avigdori, 52; Noam Avigdori, 12Image Sharon and Noam Avigdori Credit... Maya Regev, 21Image Maya Regev Credit... Regev Family, via Associated PressMaya Regev was at the Tribe of Nova music festival on Oct. 7 when Hamas attackers infiltrated Israel and massacred hundreds of young festivalgoers. Their mother, Yonat, was one of dozens killed in Kibbutz Be’eri.

Persons: —, Shoshan Haran, Rachel Gur, Associated Press Shoshan Haran, Avshalom Haran, Lilach, Evyatar Kipnis, Paul Castelvi, Haran’s, Adi Shoham, Shoshan, Naveh, Yahel, Tal Shoham, Shoham, Yuval Haran, Adi Shoham’s, “ I’m, ”, “, ” Sharon Avigdori, Noam Avigdori, Sharon, Sharon Avigdori, Avshalom, Hen Avigdori, Omer, Avigdori, Emily Hand, Yael Shahrur Noah, Associated Press Emily Hand, Natalie Hand, Emily, Thomas Hand, ” Ireland’s, Maya Regev, Regev, festivalgoers, Ilan Regev Derby, Omer Shem Tov, Mirit, Alma, Noam, Dror, Hila Rotem Shoshani, Hila Rotem, Rotem Shoshani, Raaya, texted, Noga, Shiri Weiss, Reuters Shiri Weiss, Noga Weiss, Kibbutz Be’eri, Oren Rubinstein, Rubinstein, Ilan Weiss, Shiri’s, Gil —, Jeffrey Gettleman Organizations: Associated Press, Associated, Noam, Israel’s, Embassy, The, Shiri, Reuters, YouTube, IDF, U.S . Special Forces, Be’eri Locations: Tel Aviv, Gaza, Be’eri, Israel, Jerusalem, Hod Hasharon, Irish, Kibbutz Be’eri, London, ”, Hila Rotem Shoshani, San Francisco, WhatsApp

Twelve of those newly released were among the roughly 75 people who had been kidnapped from Kibbutz Nir Oz on Oct. 7. Keren Munder, 54; Ohad Munder Zichri, 9; Ruth Munder, 78Image From left, Keren Munder, Ohad Munder Zichri and Ruth Munder. Ruth is a retired hairdresser and seamstress, according to Kibbutz Nir Oz. She was kidnapped from her safe room in Kibbutz Nir Oz after her husband, Sa’id Moshe, was killed during the Hamas assault. Doron Katz Asher, 34; Raz Asher, 4; Aviv Asher, 2Image From left, Doron Katz Asher, Raz Asher, Aviv Asher.

Persons: —, Kibbutz Nir Oz, Keren Munder, Munder, Ruth Munder, Munder Zichri, Avi Zichri, Ohad Munder, Ruth, Abraham Munder, Nir Oz, Abraham’s, Roee, Ohad, Abraham, Keren, Danielle Aloni, Amelia Aloni, Amelia, Aloni’s, Sharon Cunio, Sharon, David Cunio, Emma, Yuli, ”, Aloni, Adina Moshe, Adina Moshe Credit, Moshe, Sa’id Moshe, Naama Ben, Moshe’s, ” Yaffa, Adar, Tamir Adar, Hanna Katzir, Hanna, Katzir, Katzenellenbogen, Elad Katzir, Rami, Hanna Peri, Hanna Peri Credit, Peri, Ms, Margalit Moses, Margalit Moses Credit, Moses, Doron Katz Asher, Raz Asher, Aviv Asher, Katz Asher, Raz, Katz, Yoni Asher, Asher, Khan Younis, ” Mr Organizations: Nirim, Reuters, Associated Press, Associated, Credit Locations: Tel Aviv, Gaza, Israel, Ruth Munder ., Kfar Saba, Palestinian, Nirim, South Africa, Norway, Mozambique, “

Twelve of those newly released were among the roughly 75 people who had been kidnapped from Kibbutz Nir Oz on Oct. 7. Ruth is a retired hairdresser and seamstress, according to Kibbutz Nir Oz. Danielle Aloni; Amelia Aloni, 5Danielle Aloni and her daughter Amelia were taken hostage while visiting Ms. Aloni’s sister, Sharon Cunio, a resident of Kibbutz Nir Oz. She was kidnapped from her safe room in Kibbutz Nir Oz after her husband, Sa’id Moshe, was killed during the Hamas assault. Hanna Katzir, 76Ms. Katzir helped oversee child care in Kibbutz Nir Oz for many years, according to a niece, Dalit Katzenellenbogen, who lives in Tel Aviv.

Persons: —, Kibbutz Nir Oz, Keren Munder, Munder, Ruth Munder, Ohad Munder, Ruth, Abraham Munder, Nir Oz, Abraham’s, Roee, Ohad, Abraham, Keren, Danielle Aloni, Amelia Aloni, Amelia, Aloni’s, Sharon Cunio, Sharon, David Cunio, Emma, Yuli, ”, Aloni, Adina Moshe, Moshe, Sa’id Moshe, Naama Ben, Moshe’s, ” Yaffa, Adar, Tamir Adar, Hanna Katzir, Katzir, Katzenellenbogen, Elad Katzir, Rami, Hanna Peri, Peri, Ms, Margalit Moses, Moses, Doron Katz Asher, Raz Asher, Aviv Asher, Katz Asher, Raz, Efrat Katz, Katz, Yoni Asher, Asher, Khan Younis Organizations: Nirim Locations: Tel Aviv, Gaza, Israel, Kfar Saba, Palestinian, Nirim, South Africa, Norway, Mozambique

☆ Israel-Hamas War Promise of Freed Hostages and Prisoners Hinges on a Fragile Temporary Truce
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-24 | by ( Patrick Kingsley | Aaron Boxerman | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +5 min

A temporary cease-fire between Israel and Hamas was expected to take effect on Friday. A deal between Israel and Hamas for a temporary cease-fire was expected to go into effect on Friday. In general, both Israel and Hamas have signaled that roughly 30 Palestinians will be exchanged for every 10 Israeli hostages. The official said the first Palestinians to be released from Israeli prisons will be allowed home only after the first tranche of Israeli hostages are freed. Some, but perhaps not all, of them are expected to be among the hostages released in the coming days.

Persons: Khan Younis, —, Israel, Majed al, Ansari, Patrick Kingsley Organizations: Hamas, International Committee, White Locations: Gaza, Israel, Qatar, a.m

The family of Avigail Idan, a small child whose parents were murdered in front of their children by Hamas militants at a kibbutz during the Oct. 7 assault, hoped that they would be able to celebrate her fourth birthday with her on Friday. “I find myself barely breathing through the last 24 hours,” her aunt, Tal Idan, said after the announcement of the agreement. Image An undated photo (from left) of Avigail Idan, Roy Idan, Michael Idan, Amelia Idan, and Smadar Idan. And in the Gaza Strip, Palestinians who have endured nearly seven weeks of intense airstrikes waited anxiously for the truce. Several international humanitarian organizations said the four-day cease-fire window was too tight to address the dire situation.

Persons: Mohammad Abu Salmiya, “, Tal Idan, ”, Avigail, Abigail ”, Idan, Roy Idan, Michael Idan, Amelia Idan, Smadar, Walaa Tanji, Tanji, Nagham, ” Shadi Hijazi, Catherine Russell Organizations: Al, Shifa, U.S ., West Bank, Qatar, UNICEF, . Security Locations: U.S, Nablus, Gaza

A deal between Israel and Hamas for a temporary cease-fire is expected to go into effect on Friday. The deal also includes an increase in humanitarian aid for Gaza, but Qatar’s foreign ministry did not release details. It was unclear whether they, too, would be set free in stages, but the official said the first would be released before any Israeli hostages. Who are the Palestinian prisoners? Some, but perhaps not all, of them are expected to be among the hostages released in the coming days.

Persons: —, Israel, Majed al, Ansari Organizations: Hamas, International Committee, West Bank, White Locations: Israel, Qatar, Gaza, a.m

While the hostage negotiations between Israel and Hamas have continued, the Israeli military hasn’t let up on airstrikes in Gaza. The Israeli military also said that it “continued to fight in the Gaza Strip,” highlighting that the agreement to pause the fighting was not yet in place. The Israeli government said in a statement that the hostages would be released in four phases during the pause in fighting, with at least 10 hostages released at each stage. The pause would allow for an increase in humanitarian aid to Gaza, through both the Egyptian and Israeli borders. If the multiday pause holds, it would be the longest halt in hostilities since the start of the 47-day war.

Persons: Israel, “, Benjamin Netanyahu, ”, Isabel Kershner, Gabby Sobelman, Sheikh Ahmad Organizations: Hamas, National Security Council Locations: Israel, Gaza, Qatar

The Israeli decision on Wednesday to pause the invasion of Gaza to allow Hamas to release some hostages, a move now strongly supported by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, was the culmination of a weekslong dispute among Israel’s civilian and military leaders about whether such a deal would strengthen Hamas and endanger the remaining hostages. The first group initially took the upper hand, persuading Mr. Netanyahu to delay a cabinet vote originally planned for Nov. 14, according to three of the officials. They hoped that more military pressure might give Israel more influence at the negotiating table, allowing more hostages to be freed. But the second group eventually won out, leading Mr. Netanyahu to hold the vote early Wednesday, setting the stage for a four-day truce and prisoner exchange that could begin this week. Mr. Netanyahu’s office, the Israeli military and the Mossad all declined to comment.

Persons: Benjamin Netanyahu, Yoav Gallant, David Barnea, Mr, Netanyahu Locations: Gaza, Israel

☆ Israel-Hamas War Israel and Hamas Agree to Cease-Fire for Release of Hostages
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-22 | by ( Patrick Kingsley | Michael D. Shear | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +5 min

The Israeli government and Hamas agreed to uphold a brief cease-fire in Gaza to allow for the release of 50 hostages captured during Hamas’s assault last month on Israel and the release of 150 Palestinian prisoners held in Israel, Qatar said early Wednesday. Israel and Hamas have been negotiating indirectly for weeks over the roughly 240 hostages taken to Gaza in the Hamas attacks on southern Israel. A brief cease-fire could allow Israel to achieve part of the latter objective before returning to the former. Mr. Netanyahu said earlier on Tuesday night that Israel’s campaign to prevent Hamas from controlling any part of Gaza would continue after the cease-fire. As part of its offensive against Hamas, Israel has cut off electricity to Gaza and blocked the delivery of most fuel, saying it could be diverted for the armed group’s use.

Persons: Benjamin Netanyahu’s, “, God, ”, Khan Younis, Yousef Masoud, Mohammed Al Khulaifi, Israel, Benjamin Netanyahu, Abir Sultan, Netanyahu, ” Mr, Edward Wong, Aaron Boxerman, Liam Stack, Johnatan Reiss, Maria Abi, Habib Organizations: Hamas, Nasser Medical Hospital, ., The New York Times, Video, Israel, Credit Locations: Old City, Jerusalem, Gaza, Israel, Qatar, Khan, Qatari

There’s a lot of anxiety.”The Israeli government and Hamas announced Wednesday morning that they would uphold a brief cease-fire in Gaza to allow for the release of the hostages. “I’m trying to take care not to be happy too quickly,” Ms. Zailer said on Tuesday. His family in Israel still does not know where he and his brother are being held, whether they are with their parents — or even if they are still alive, Ms. Zailer said. “We are being torn apart,” Ms. Zailer said, calling it an impossible situation. At Kibbutz Nir Oz, 76 people were taken hostage on Oct. 7, according to Irit Lahav, a kibbutz spokeswoman.

Persons: we’ve, ”, Roman, Benjamin Netanyahu’s, Yifat Zailer —, Shiri Bibas, Nir Oz, Bibas’s, Yarden Bibas, Ariel, Kfir —, “ I’m, ” Ms, Zailer, —, Bibas, — Yarden, Irit, Sheffa Phillips, Yagil Yaakov, Yair Yaakov, Yagil, Israel, Phillips, Bahat, David Blumenfeld, Carmit Hoomash, Patrick Kingsley Organizations: Hamas, Palestinian Locations: Israel, Gaza, Be’eri

☆ Israeli Army Takes Journalists on Controlled Visit to Gaza Hospital
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-17 | by ( Aaron Boxerman | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +6 min

Israeli soldiers from the 7th Brigade escorted journalists to see a stone-and concrete-shaft on the grounds of Al-Shifa Hospital in Gaza City on Thursday. But Col. Elad Tsury, commander of Israel’s Seventh Brigade, said Israeli forces, fearing booby traps, had not ventured down the shaft at the hospital, Al-Shifa. The controlled visit will not settle the question of whether Hamas, the armed Palestinian group that rules Gaza, has been using Al-Shifa Hospital to hide weapons and command centers, as Israel has said. Image A stone and concrete shaft on the grounds of the Al-Shifa Hospital, on Thursday. The Times did not allow the Israeli military to screen its coverage before publication.

Persons: Elad Tsury, Israel’s, Daniel Berehulak, Israel, Benjamin Netanyahu, ”, “, Tsury Organizations: 7th Brigade, Shifa, The New York Times, Israel’s Seventh Brigade, ., New York, Hamas, Al, National Public, Outpatient, The Times, Times, World Health Organization Locations: Al, Gaza City, Gaza, Israel

The militants, Israeli security officials say, have spent the better part of 16 years building a vast command complex under the hospital, and setting up similar bases underneath other medical facilities in the enclave. Hamas denies doing anything of the sort, and hospital officials say the facility houses nothing but the sick and injured and the medical professionals dedicated to helping them. In the estimation of most Palestinians, the obsession with Al Shifa is evidence of Israel’s willingness to target even the most helpless civilians without justification. The hospital, Israeli officials said, was spared in past Israeli operations out of concern for civilian life, but at the cost of leaving whatever may be underneath it intact. They say that the complex under Al Shifa is one of the principal Israeli targets of the war and will not be left untouched, despite the growing international outcry to spare Al Shifa and other hospitals.

Persons: Al Shifa, Mohammed Abu Salmiya, ”, Chuck Freilich, “, —, Freilich, “ it’s Organizations: Israel Locations: Gaza, Israel

☆ Israel-Hamas War Israel Lowers Its Death Toll Estimate for Oct. 7
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-11 | by ( Aaron Boxerman | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +5 min

Smoke and flares rise over Gaza City during an Israeli strike in the Gaza Strip, as seen from southern Israel on Friday. In a city increasingly cut off from the rest of the world, Mr. Matar described days full of desperation and fear. “We are trying to conserve what we have until the situation changes — until this sad story is over,” Mr. Matar said. And because there are also no bottles of water to be found in the stores, Mr. Matar has been relying on his neighbors’ reserves. “When she hears the missiles in her sleep, my 3-year-old jumps,” Mr. Matar said.

Persons: Mohammad Matar, Matar, ”, “, Mr, Juliette Touma, Ms, Touma, Philippe Lazzarini, —, ” Abeer Pamuk Organizations: Israel Defense Forces, West Bank Locations: Gaza City, Gaza, Israel, Beit Lahia, Rafah, Palestinian, San Francisco

Israeli tanks and troops have surrounded several hospitals in Gaza, hospital administrators and the Gazan Health Ministry said on Friday. A spokesman for the Israeli military said of the hospitals, “we’re slowly closing in on them” and urged people to leave them. Israel has long maintained that Hamas uses the hospitals as shields, operating from within them, while thousands of Palestinian civilians have taken refuge on their grounds. The chief of Al Shifa Hospital said it was struck four times on Friday, killing seven people, with several others wounded. And we want to do everything possible to prevent harm to them and to maximize the assistance that gets to them.”

Persons: we’re, Al Shifa, Antony J, Blinken, ”, Israel’s, ” Mr Organizations: Gazan Health, Al Locations: Gaza, Israel, New Delhi, Eastern

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