Weekly World News
West Asia/Middle East:
The confirmed death toll of Israel’s bombardment and siege of the Gaza Strip has reached 27,365 people, a majority of whom are women and children. However, thousands more are buried under the rubble of Gaza’s 300,000 destroyed buildings, while a collapse of the healthcare system means that many deaths from starvation, illness, and injury go unreported. Despite ongoing negotiations to achieve a ceasefire, fighting between Hamas militants and Israeli forces continued in Gaza’s cities. Israel intensified strikes on the border city of Rafah, where around 1.4 million displaced Gazans now seek refuge. The strikes in Rafah included the destruction of a house in which two girls were killed. The Israeli military announced plans to expand their military operations into the city, where the humanitarian situation is described as “a pressure cooker of despair” by the United Nations.
The United States launched a barrage of strikes against 85 targets of Iranian-backed militias in Syria and Iraq in retaliation for an attack on a US post in Jordan that killed three US soldiers. The United States blamed Iran for the attack due to its support for groups such as Kataeb Hezbollah, who announced the cessation of its attacks on American targets following the deaths of the US troops. The retaliatory strikes, carried out by the destructive B1 bombers, reportedly killed nearly 40 people in Iraq and Syria. Officials from Iraq and Iran condemned the attack, Iraq describing the strikes as a violation of its sovereignty, and Iran warning against escalation in the region
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Military forces of the United States and the United Kingdom launched strikes on 36 targets of the Ansar Allah movement in Yemen, better known as the Houthis. The strikes are a continued campaign against the Houthis in response to their attacks on cargo ships affiliated with the State of Israel or planning to utilize ports in territory claimed by Israel. Houthi officials have represented their maritime attacks in the Red Sea as a show of support for the Palestinian population amid Israel’s ongoing siege of Gaza and its military occupation of the West Bank
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Europe:
According to media outlets in Ukraine, Commander-in-Chief of the Ukrainian Armed Forces Valerii Zaluzhny refused a request from Ukrainian President Vlodomyr Zelenskyy to step down from his position, instead being offered a less significant role in Ukraine’s forces. While Zelenskyy denied such claims, the reports were validated by Ukrainian Parliamentary Member Oleksiy Goncharenko. Zelesnkyy’s administration has accused Zaluzhny of making political statements rather than military ones, and the rift between the two men has brought about speculations of a potential presidential run by Zaluzhny to challenge Zelenskyy’s position as the leader of Ukraine.
The European Union passed a $54 billion aid package for Ukraine, overcoming veto threats from the nation of Hungary. All 27 EU leaders agreed on the package that would provide aid to Ukraine in the next four years, despite Hungarian President Viktor Orban’s criticism of continuous European military assistance for Ukraine amidst its war with Russia. In return for supporting the package, Orban said he was guaranteed access to previously suspended funds for Hungary and was assured that Hungarian money would not be sent to Ukraine. EU leaders praised the achievement of unanimity at a time when military aid to Ukraine is under scrutiny in various nations, particularly the United States
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Africa:
The African nations of Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger announced their departure from the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) over disagreements on how the states are handling their internal conflicts, often prioritizing security over democratic processes. Each of the three nations is enduring brutal fights against terrorist insurgents that are wreaking havoc on their political and economic stability and security. All three countries have also had a military coup within the last five years in an attempt to shift policy to better combat terrorist insurgents, especially those linked to al Qaeda and the Islamic State. ECOWAS responded to the coups with economic sanctions and embargoes as well as threats of military intervention, causing the new leaders of the countries to view the economic bloc as hostile, an issue that could not be resolved despite months of negotiations.
North America:
In an unprecedented move for United States leaders, President Joe Biden issued an executive order approving sanctions on Israeli settlers who commit violence against Palestinians in the West Bank. It marks the first time a US president has directly issued sanctions against Israelis for their actions against Palestinians. The first round of sanctions targeted four individuals accused of violence, barring them from obtaining a US visa or participating in the American financial system. The move is a reflection of the Biden administration’s discontent with Israel’s lack of action to prevent violence against Palestinian civilians in Gaza and the West Bank
Sources:
Channel - https://t.me/SputnikInt_unc2
Channel - https://t.me/ukraine_watch
Channel - https://t.me/eyeonpal
Channel - https://t.me/QudsNen
Article - Strikes in Gaza as war death toll climbs | AP News
Article - Palestinian death toll in Gaza rises to 27,365: ministry-Xinhua
Article - Hamas hounds Israeli forces in main Gaza cities | Reuters
Article - Israel launches strikes on Rafah ahead of Gaza truce push
Article - Israel says it will expand operations in Rafah, Gaza’s last refuge - The Washington Post
Article - What is Kataeb Hezbollah, the militia accused of killing American soldiers in Jordan?
Article - U.S. launches strikes in Iraq, Syria, nearly 40 reported killed | Reuters
Article - What to know about the US strikes in Iraq and Syria and its attacks with the UK in Yemen
Article - Top Ukrainian general ‘refused to step down’ as Zelensky rift deepens | The Independent
Article - European Union agrees on new $54bn aid package for Ukraine
Article - With ECOWAS exit, Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger leave democratic transition in limbo
Article - ECOWAS bank shaken up Mali, Burkina Faso, Niger withdrawal - The Africa Report.com
Article - Biden sanctions Israeli settlers accused of attacking Palestinians and peace activists in West Bank
