67 killed, dozens wounded in Israeli attacks
- Israeli attacks continue unabated overnight killing and wounding dozens of civilians in northern, central and southern Gaza.
- US aircraft shoot down a ballistic missile fired by Yemen’s Houthis at an American destroyer in the Red Sea.
UK’s alleged use of Cyprus bases to arm Israel and hit Yemen draw protests
Since the latest escalation of the Israel-Palestine conflict began on October 7, locals have seen a “daily” increase in the number of flights from Akrotiri, which is 40 minutes flying time from Tel Aviv, said Charis Pashias, head of the Cyprus Peace Council.
Israeli police arrest Palestinian suspect after attack in Raanana near Tel Aviv
Earlier, we reported on a suspected car-ramming attack in the city of Raanana near Tel Aviv.
Israeli police now say that a man from Bani Naim, near the occupied West Bank city of Hebron, was arrested for that incident.
A second man from Hebron, a relative of the suspect, was also arrested.
In a statement, police said the man stole three cars during the suspected car-ramming attack.
The Magen David Adom emergency service said at least 14 people were wounded, including one in critical condition and two in serious condition. At least one was reported to have been stabbed.
PM Netanyahu needs to push amended budget through
First of all, you have those who are evacuated from their homes, both in the northern towns as well as the southern towns. You’re looking at more than 120,000 Israelis. Even in Tel Aviv here, the hotels are filled up and that costs a lot of money.
Then you also have the reservists who are waiting around. Some have been sent into Gaza, some haven’t, but they’re not doing their jobs fully, and they need some sort of money to help them get through with daily life. This is one of the most expensive countries in the world, Tel Aviv being one of the most expensive cities.
Then you also have the tourism sector. Israel relies heavily on that and it has completely dried up.
So once this budget goes through, we know the prime minister has said this war will continue.
US can’t call for restraint while backing Israel’s war on Gaza: Iran FM
In a televised joint press conference with his Indian counterpart in Tehran, Hossein Amir-Abdollahian called on US officials “not to tie the security and national interests of the US to the fate of Israel’s prime minister, who is falling”.
He also told the United States it cannot call for restraint while supporting Israel’s war on Gaza. Amir-Abdollahian demanded a diplomatic solution to the conflict in the besieged enclave.
WHO paints grim picture of situation at Al-Aqsa Martyrs Hospital
After a visit, the World Health Organization (WHO) has provided a more detailed picture of the situation inside two major Gaza health facilities, including Al-Aqsa Martyrs Hospital.
It said after a withdrawal this month by Doctors Without Borders (Medecins Sans Frontieres, or MSF) and two other aid organisations, the hospital is even more short-staffed with only 12 health workers remaining, which is 10 percent of its total workforce.
“Only two doctors are available to treat the wounded in the emergency department, and maternity services have shut down,” it said, adding food, water and fuel are scarce.
The WHO also reported the 360-bed Nasser Medical Complex in Khan Younis remains overstretched with 700 patients, double its normal capacity.
About 7,000 displaced Palestinians are taking shelter at the hospital from Israeli bombing.
