logo
Israel poised to assault last Gaza town as truce talks stall

Israel poised to assault last Gaza town as truce talks stall

Deccan Heralda day ago
Israel warned it would move the first time into a town in the heart of the Gaza Strip that it had earlier skirted for fear of harming hostages, as it accused Hamas of stalling at US-brokered ceasefire talks and the war's toll on Palestinian civilians spiraled.The Israeli Defense Forces on Sunday told Palestinians in parts of Deir al-Balah to immediately evacuate southward to a tent city for hundreds of thousands of people displaced by 21 months of fighting. The previous truce expired in early May, plunging the conflict into a deeper crisis. .Iran says it has replaced air defences damaged in war with Israel.Israel shuttered traditional aid distribution channels in favor of a US-backed alternative, known as the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF), which it argued would help sideline Hamas. The UN has called it discriminatory and insufficient to stave off famine for many of the enclave's residents. . In parallel, the IDF launched a set of operations with the declared aim of taking Palestinian territory — an effort to pressure Hamas into releasing the remaining hostages from its October 7, 2023, attack that sparked the war. The Hamas government says almost 1,000 Palestinians have been killed while waiting for aid during that period. Israel has disputed the circumstances and figures. On Sunday, witnesses said Israeli tanks fired shells toward Palestinians awaiting the entry of food trucks in northern Gaza, an area that has seen intense clashes with Hamas holdouts. Sixty-seven Palestinians died, the Hamas-run health ministry said without elaborating. Chaotic aid distribution has at times led to lethal stampedes. The IDF said its troops fired warning shots in a bid to disperse thousands of Palestinians who posed a threat, and that it 'views the transfer of humanitarian aid into the Gaza Strip as a matter of utmost importance.'Deir al-Balah PlanWhile Israel now controls some 75% of Gaza, the Iran-backed Islamist group has stuck to its demand that any ceasefire and hostage release be tied to a full withdrawal of Israeli forces. That's been rejected by Israel. Deir al-Balah is one of a few pockets in the Gaza Strip where Israel's forces haven't maneuvered and entire buildings remain standing. That's because Israeli intelligence assessments were that hostages were held there. It's unclear if that remains the case as the new operation starts. The Hamas attack in 2023 killed 1,200 people in Israel, with another 250 abducted and taken to Gaza. Some 50 hostages remain, of whom 20 are thought to be alive. Hamas hasn't commented on the locations of hostages, whom it's threatened to execute if enemy troops approach. The Hostages and Missing Families Forum, the largest advocacy group pushing for a negotiated hostage release, voiced concern at the Deir al-Balah plan. 'For the hostages, this is not a negotiating 'bargaining chip,' but a clear and present danger to their fates. Enough! A sweeping majority of the nation of Israel wants the war ended in a comprehensive deal that returns all of the hostages,' the forum said in a statement. Hamas StonewallingIsraeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on July 6 sent negotiators back to Qatar, a Hamas intermediary, ahead of a White House visit during which he and US President Donald Trump voiced hope for a diplomatic breakthrough that would enable the return of 10 living and 18 deceased hostages.Gila Gamliel, a minister in Netanyahu's security cabinet, accused Hamas of stonewalling and anticipated that Steve Witkoff, Trump's special envoy, would fly in to join the talks. 'The moment he runs things in Doha, we will see what the ramifications are,' Gamliel told Israel's Army Radio, referring to Witkoff. 'Our negotiating team is still there, in hope of coming back with good news.'Witkoff's office on Sunday said it had no travel updates at this point. Another US special envoy, Adam Boehler, said he was optimistic about a deal and credited Israel with offering army redeployments within Gaza. 'What I really want to see is Hamas take action,' Boehler said on CNN's 'State of the Union.' 'And if they don't, I will tell you something, Israel's going to have to take some kinetic action.'Hamas, which is on terrorism blacklists in much of the West, has warned that the latest deadlock endangers the hostages. 'We have sustained their survival as much as possible, until now,' Abu Obeida, Hamas armed wing spokesperson, said on Friday.'If the criminal enemy obstructs or withdraws from this round, we cannot guarantee a return to partial deals or to the proposal for the release of 10 captives,' he said. Israel says it wants to free as many hostages as possible but also wants to destroy Hamas as a military and governing institution. That would entail disarming Hamas and exiling its leaders, Israel says. Hamas has rejected those conditions. The war has killed 58,000 Palestinians, according to the Hamas-affiliated health ministry in Gaza, which doesn't distinguish between civilian and combatant casualties. Israel has lost more than 400 troops in Gaza combat.
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Israeli military attacks Houthi targets in Yemen's Hodeidah port
Israeli military attacks Houthi targets in Yemen's Hodeidah port

The Hindu

time25 minutes ago

  • The Hindu

Israeli military attacks Houthi targets in Yemen's Hodeidah port

The Israeli military attacked Houthi targets in Yemen's Hodeidah port on Monday (July 21, 2025) in its latest assault on the Iran-backed militants, who have been striking ships bound for Israel and launching missiles against it. Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz said the army was "forcefully countering any attempt to restore the terror infrastructure previously attacked." The Houthi-run Al Masirah TV said on Monday that a series of attacks on the port was under way, without providing any details. The Israeli military said in a statement that the port it attacked had been used "among other things, to transfer weapons from the Iranian regime, which are then used by the Houthi to execute terrorist attacks against the State of Israel and its allies." Since Israel's war in Gaza against the Palestinian militant group Hamas began in October 2023, the Iran-aligned Houthis have been attacking vessels in the Red Sea in what they say are acts of solidarity with the Palestinians. Israel has responded by launching attacks on Houthis, who control the most populous parts of Yemen, including the vital Hodeidah port. "As I have made clear – Yemen's fate is the same as Tehran's. The Houthis will pay a heavy price for launching missiles toward the State of Israel," Katz said. The Houthis' military spokesperson, Yahya Saree, said on Monday that the group attacked several targets in Israel with drones, which was in response to Israel's recent attack on Hodeidah port and the continued military campaign against Gaza. Earlier in July, the Houthis claimed responsibility for an attack on the Greek ship Eternity C that maritime officials say killed four of the 25 people aboard. In May, the United States announced a surprise deal with the Houthis where it agreed to stop a bombing campaign against them in return for an end to shipping attacks, though the Houthis said the deal did not include sparing Israel.

'Disgrace To Humanity': Belgian King Denounces 'Humanitarian Abuses' In Gaza
'Disgrace To Humanity': Belgian King Denounces 'Humanitarian Abuses' In Gaza

News18

timean hour ago

  • News18

'Disgrace To Humanity': Belgian King Denounces 'Humanitarian Abuses' In Gaza

Last Updated: Belgium's King Philippe termed the Gaza bombings as a "disgrace to humanity." His rare political statement supports the UN's call to end the crisis. Belgium's King Philippe reacted strongly to the bombings in Gaza. He described it as a 'disgrace to humanity" in a speech on the eve of Monday's national day. Philippe's statement is gaining a lot of attention on social media as it is quite unusual to hear such direct statements from a monarch who avoids public politics. 'I add my voice to all those who denounce the serious humanitarian abuses in Gaza, where innocent people are dying of hunger and being killed by bombs while trapped in their enclaves," his statement at his palace in Brussels was quoted by Reuters. 'The current situation has gone on for far too long. It is a disgrace to all of humanity. We support the call by the United Nations Secretary-General to immediately end this unbearable crisis," he added. Philippe's strong and clear public statement marked his first outspoken stance on a conflict. Belgium's federal government has been more reserved in its criticism regarding the Gaza conflict. The king's role in Belgium is limited to offering advice, support, and warnings to the government, without engaging in political decision-making. Israel began its attack on Gaza after an October 2023 attack by Hamas-led fighters on Israeli towns, which resulted in 1,200 deaths and 251 hostages being taken. Since then, Israeli forces have killed over 59,000 people in Gaza, according to health officials. Much of the area has been devastated, and Israel has restricted food and other supplies. view comments First Published: July 21, 2025, 22:24 IST Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.

In charts: Where do international students study?
In charts: Where do international students study?

Scroll.in

timean hour ago

  • Scroll.in

In charts: Where do international students study?

More than half of all international students last year studied in four countries: the United States, Canada, Britain and Australia, according to Project Atlas 2024, a research portal focused on student mobility. The United States – home to elite universities such as Harvard, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and Stanford – was the top destination in 2024, hosting a record 1,126,690 students, according to the portal, which is run by the Institute of International Education. But immigration policy changes in these destinations, including limits on international student intake, visa revocation plans and deportations, could reshape the education landscape. Strict visa rules Since taking office in January, US President Donald Trump has revoked and then reinstated the visas of thousands of international students as part of his hardline immigration agenda. High-profile arrests, including of Columbia University graduate student Mahmoud Khalil for three months, followed Trump's orders to deport non-citizen students with pro-Palestinian or anti-Israel views. In May, the administration paused the scheduling of student visa appointments overseas before resuming them in June with increased social-media vetting of applicants. The American Council on Education said the pause on visas 'would send a message that our nation no longer welcomes talented students and scholars from other countries'. International students, mostly from China and India, contributed $50 billion in tuition fees and other living expenses in 2023, a revenue stream at risk due to Trump's crackdown on student visas. Last year, Canada introduced a cap on new international student permits, leading to a drop in numbers from India, Nigeria and the Philippines in particular. The government said the international student programme had put pressure on housing and healthcare, and some institutions were exploiting the system, offering sham degrees. The immigration ministry said in January that Canada will issue 437,000 study permits this year, a 10% reduction from 2024 and down from more than 650,000 in 2023. International students numbers have been on the decline in Britain since 2023. A record 484,000 student visas were issued in 2022, but this fell to 457,673 in 2023 and to 393,000 by the end of 2024, according to data from the Home Office, the government department overseeing immigration in the UK. New rules banning international students from bringing family members with them were introduced in 2024 to prevent the abuse of the student visa system, the Home Office said. In August, Australia, favoured by students because of its large immigrant population, said it would cap international student intakes at 270,000 per year to address a housing crisis. Student numbers In 2022, there were over 1 million Chinese students abroad, with India in second place, according to the World Migration 2024 report. In 2024, Indian students surpassed the number of Chinese students in the United States for the first time since 2009. Indian students outnumbered Chinese students in the UK for the first time in more than a decade in 2024. Countries with growing numbers of students enrolling at British schools include Nigeria, Pakistan and Bangladesh. Where are students looking to enrol? Universities in the Asia-Pacific region are offering grants and admissions for international students. Japan's Osaka University has offered tuition waivers and grants to American students and researchers who wish to transfer. The Hong Kong University of Science & Technology has pledged unconditional admission to international students displaced from Harvard. In July, Dubai, which hosts more than a dozen satellite campuses of Western universities, said it wanted to increase the percentage of international students from 35% of the student body to 50% by 2033, as part of its drive to double its economy by that year.

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store