Israel calls up reservists as Gaza ceasefire collapse fears grow
- Israel has called up military reservists and threatened a return of “intense fighting” in Gaza if Hamas fails to meet a Saturday deadline to release more Israeli captives, triggering condemnation and fear in the Strip.
- Meanwhile, mediators Egypt and Qatar are intensifying efforts to save the Gaza ceasefire, Egyptian state media says.
Israeli forces burn houses in southern Lebanon amid ceasefire violations: Report
The Israeli army has burned down several homes and a farm in al-Aadaissah in southern Lebanon in the latest violation of the Israel-Hezbollah ceasefire, according to the Lebanese news agency NNA.
Israeli forces also opened fire in the outskirts of Bint Jbeil town, it said. No injuries were reported.
A fragile ceasefire has been in place since November 27, ending months of mutual air attacks between Israel and Hezbollah that escalated into a full-scale conflict in September.
Hamas ‘won’t accept language of American and Israeli threats’
Hamas says it will not accept threats from the United States and Israel over a continuing ceasefire in Gaza, amid an impasse between the parties over the implementation of the ceasefire deal.
“Our position is clear, and we will not accept the language of American and Israeli threats,” Hamas spokesperson Hazem Qassem said in a statement.
“Israel must commit to implementing the terms of the ceasefire agreement for the release” of the captives.
Influx of people in need of medical help in north Gaza: MSF
Doctors Without Borders, known by its French initials MSF, reports that the clinic it supports in northern Gaza is receiving many more patients after the Israeli military withdrawal from the Netzarim Corridor.
Many people who return to the north are in need of medical attention while resources remain scarce.
“We receive many children who are barefoot and they have problems with their toes. They have infected wounds that need attention. When we ask the parents if they get treatment, they tell us no, it is very difficult,” said Sanabel Sulaiman, an MSF nurse in Gaza City.
Record number of journalists killed in 2024, with Israel mostly responsible, CPJ says
A record number of journalists was killed around the world last year, the Committee to Protect Journalists has reported, adding that Israel was responsible for nearly 70 percent of the deaths.
At least 124 journalists in 18 countries died in 2024, the deadliest year for reporters and media workers since the committee started recording the numbers more than three decades ago, the CPJ said in a statement.
The CPJ said Israeli forces killed 85 journalists and it accused Israel of attempting to stifle investigations of incidents, shift blame onto journalists and ignore its duty to hold people to account for the killings.
“The war in Gaza is unprecedented in its impact on journalists and demonstrates a major deterioration in global norms on protecting journalists in conflict zones, but it is far from the only place journalists are in danger,” the CPJ’s Chief Executive Jodie Ginsberg said in a statement.
The committee said it is also investigating 20 other killings in which it believes Israel may have specifically targeted journalists.
