Weekly World News
West Asia/Middle East:
Israel has continued and plans to intensify its siege of Gaza following a Hamas infiltration of Israel on October 7th. According to the Palestinian Ministry of Health, Israel’s strikes on homes, schools, mosques, hospitals, UN shelters, and residential complexes have killed 4,651 Gazans, including 1,873 children. Particular attention centered around the bombing of a Baptist Hospital in Gaza that killed 470 people. Each side has blamed the other for the strike. The Palestinian Ministry of Health claims that the explosion resulted from an Israeli strike, with the hospital receiving an evacuation warning shortly before the strike occurred. However, Israel’s Ministry of Defense claims the explosion resulted from a misfire by the Palestinian Islamic Jihad, citing live video of the rocket taken by Al Jazeera. While the intelligence services of the United States, France, and Canada confirmed the alleged misfire, Al Jazeera’s digital investigations team claims that the video shows the rocket destroyed by Israel’s air defense system. Many analysts say it is impossible to be certain which account is correct. Israel also began conducting strikes on the West Bank, hitting a compound beneath a mosque that Israel claims was used by militants to organize attacks. Israel also struck two airports in Syria and continued exchanges of artillery fire with the Hezbollah militant group in Lebanon.
Talks mediated by Qatar successfully negotiated the release of 2 American citizens held captive by Hamas. According to officials, Hamas is holding 200 captives in Gaza, while other armed groups are holding an additional 50.
The first humanitarian aid convoys were allowed to enter Gaza via the Rafah border crossing with Egypt this weekend. The border crossing was previously inaccessible due to Israeli airstrikes. The United Nations Relief and Works Agency said that 100 trucks per day would be needed to meet Gaza’s humanitarian needs, far more than the 39 that have been able to enter so far.
A United Nations Security Council vote calling for a humanitarian ceasefire in Gaza failed due to a veto from the United States. As one of the five permanent members of the council, a no-vote serves as a veto of the proposal. Twelve members voted in favor of the resolution, two abstained, and the United States was the sole vote against the ceasefire.
Africa:
Sudan’s war between its army and paramilitary forces passed the six-month mark with no prospects for a peace settlement. At least 9,000 have been killed and 5.6 million displaced in the power struggle between the Sudanese army and the Rapid Support Forces. Numerous ceasefires have failed, and multiple human rights abuses have been reported on both sides, some of which the United Nations says may amount to war crimes.
North America:
Republican Representative Jim Jordan has dropped out of the race for the Speaker of the House after failing to gain complete Republican support in a third floor-wide vote to obtain the vital position that sits second in line to the presidency. The failure to elect a speaker leaves the House of Representatives in a paralyzed state, unable to pass legislation. If a spending bill is not passed by November 17th, the United States will face a government shutdown due to lack of funding.