Weekly World News
West Asia/Middle East:
Israel’s bombardment of the Gaza Strip recontinued 1 hour before a 7-day extended truce between the two sides was due to end. Israel has since pulled out of negotiations mediated by Qatar to sustain a long-term ceasefire and secure the exchange of hostages. The Gaza Health Ministry reported scores of deaths as Israel claimed responsibility for over 400 strikes across the strip. According to the Swiss-based Euro-Mediterranean Human Rights Monitor, Saturday was the bloodiest day yet in Israel’s siege of Gaza, with 1,000 casualties reported. Israeli planes also dropped leaflets over towns and cities in Southern Gaza, warning residents to evacuate as Israeli forces expanded their operations to the south of the strip. After intense fighting and evacuation orders in the north, 2 million of Gaza’s residents (who have no way of leaving Gaza) now reside in the southern half of the small enclave. Human rights and aid groups report an exacerbated humanitarian crisis, including a complete collapse of the hospital and healthcare system.
Israeli forces conducted another raid on the Jenin Refugee Camp in the West Bank, shooting and killing 4 Palestinians, including a 15-year-old and an 8-year-old. Israel also arrested 17 others and conducted a drone attack on a home in what it said was the targeting of militant operations.
Europe:
Russian President Vladimir Putin signed a decree increasing the size of the Russian military by 170,00 men, totaling over 2.2 million personnel. The Kremlin cited the expansion of NATO and subsequent security threats for the personnel increase. A large portion of the Russian armed forces consists of conscripts, as all able Russian men must do a year of military service between 18 and 27.
Russian forces pressed forward in the Ukrainian cities of Marinka and Avdiivka, seeking to undermine Ukraine’s critical line of defense. Rumors circled in Russian military circles that Russia came under complete control of Marinka, pushing Ukrainian forces westward. However, other reports suggested that the Ukrainians still hold positions in the northwestern portion of the city.
Sources:
Channel - https://t.me/SputnikInt_unc2
Channel - https://t.me/ukraine_watch
Channel - https://t.me/eyeonpal
Channel - https://t.me/mod_russia_en
Article - https://apnews.com/article/israel-hamas-war-news-12-1-2023-c944c736efdf8993c7a17cf683d6e364
Article - https://euromedmonitor.org/en/article/5994/Gaza-witnesses-bloodiest-day-yet-of-Israeli-massacres
Article - https://www.bbc.com/news/live/world-middle-east-67584895
Article - https://www.cnn.com/videos/world/2023/11/29/west-bank-jenin-refugee-camp-raid-wedeman-cnni-vpx.cnn
Article - https://christianbaghai.medium.com/avdiivka-armed-forces-of-ukraine-meet-russian-tanks-a3df5480d1
Article - https://www.rt.com/russia/588359-putin-expands-army-size/
Article - https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/russia-expand-number-men-liable-compulsory-military-service-2023-07-21/