Day 37-43

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Day 37-43
NIAS-Conflict Weekly Special Alert | The War in Gaza: Fifth Week

  IPRI Team

The Israel-Hamas War: Day 43
Rosemary Kurian, Nuha Aamina, Rishita Verma and Gananthula Uma Maheshwari

WAR ON THE GROUND
On 18 November, IDF and Shin Bet have killed five terrorists in the Balata refugee camp in the city of Nablus in the West Bank. They attacked an apartment that was used by Hamas terrorists who were involved in terrorist activity against Israeli nationals and military targets. The forces discovered a laboratory that was used for production of explosive weapons and discarded on time. With the help of advanced technology, they found explosives that were planted under and on the sides of the road to vandalize Israeli forces. 
On 18 November, an airstrike west of Khan Younis resulted in the deaths of 15 Palestinians. According to health officials from Gaza's Nasser Hospital, the strike hit a house, causing at least 15 fatalities on Saturday. On Friday, Gaza's health authorities reported a total death toll of over 12,000, with 5,000 of them being children. The UN considers these figures reliable, although challenges in data collection have made updates scarce.

On 18 November, a Hamas health official stated that more than 80 people died in two Israeli strikes on the Jabalia refugee camp. The UN-run Al-Fakhura school in the camp, which was transformed into a shelter for displaced Palestinians, was the target of an Israeli strike at dawn that resulted in “at least 50 people” being killed, the official told AFP. Unconfirmed social media videos showed bodies on the floor amid mattresses under classroom tables. The Israeli army and UNRWA, the UN agency for Palestinian refugees, are yet to respond. 

On 17 November, limited communication services resumed in Gaza after the delivery of fuel. Israel allowed two fuel tankers into Gaza based on a UN request to support UN and humanitarian aid efforts. But the amount of fuel provided is only half of what the UN had requested to power hospitals, essential services, and aid delivery.

REGIONAL RESPONSE
On 18 November, Ayman Safadi, the Foreign Minister of Jordan, stated: “Israel says it wants to wipe out Hamas. There's a lot of military people here, I just don't know how this objective can be realised.” He stated this at the annual IISS Manama Dialogue security conference in Bahrain. He expresses doubt over how Israel could wipe out Hamas. Safadi said that Jordan would do anything to stop the displacement of Palestinians, as it would be a direct threat to the national security of Jordan. He added that the war in Gaza is leading us to more suffering and a threat of expansion in the region. 

On 18 November, Prince Faisal bin Farhan, foreign minister of Saudi Arabia, mentioned the plight of civilians dying every day in the Gaza Strip. He added, “We need to end that today, not tomorrow.” He also spoke about the developments in Gaza with Josep Borrell, the Foreign Policy Official of the European Union (EU). Faisal rejected the military escalations in Gaza and called on the international community to stop the violations against the civilians. 

On 18 November, Safadi rejected sending peacekeeping troops to Gaza after the war. Safadi said that Arab states would not participate in any post-war peacekeeping efforts. He characterised the idea akin to asking Arab nations to clean up the mess created by Israel.

GLOBAL RESPONSE
On 18 November, Ursula von der Leyen, the President of the European Commission, met with Abdel Fattah El-Sisi, the President of Egypt, to discuss the humanitarian crisis in Gaza. Von der Leyen expressed her disapproval of the “forced displacement of Palestinians” in Gaza and thanked El-Sisi for Egypt’s role in facilitating humanitarian aid in the enclave. They further discussed the two-state solution between Israel and Palestine. 
On 18 November, a top US advisor on the Middle East stated that the release of hostages by Hamas would lead to more humanitarian aid and a “significant” pause in the fighting in Gaza. This statement was delivered at the IISS Manama Dialogue in Bahrain. 

On 18 November, the Halifax International Security Forum, a Canadian security forum, decided to present an award to “the people of Israel” following the Hamas attack. The forum has been presenting this award annually since the death of US Senator John McCain in 2018, to honour those “who have demonstrated uncommon leadership in the pursuit of human justice”. Several military officials, US Senators, diplomats and scholars are a part of this forum.


About the Authors

Rosemary Kurian and Nuha Aamina are undergraduate scholars from St Joseph's University, Bangalore. Rishita Verma and Gananthula Uma Maheshwari are postgraduate scholars from Pondicherry University.

Curated By

Dhriti Mukherjee and Shamini are Research Assistants at NIAS.


The Israel-Hamas War: Day 42
Rosemary Kurian, Nuha Aamina, Rishita Verma and Gananthula Uma Maheshwari

WAR ON THE GROUND
On 17 November, Reuters reported that according to Ahmed El Mokhallalati, a doctor at the Al Shifa hospital, Israeli forces had “found nothing” during searches of the hospital complex and that food and water were running low. He said that although the hospital was in “difficult” conditions, no babies had died there since Israeli troops took over on 15 November. Hamas rejected Israeli claims of having a command centre underneath the hospital. 

On 16 November, the Israeli military announced that it had discovered a Hamas tunnel shaft and a vehicle carrying weapons at Al Shifa hospital.  It also produced images and videos for the public to bolster its claims. Mokhallalati stated:“They haven’t come across a single obstacle. Not a single shot was fired at them in the vicinity of the hospital.” Ever since entering the hospital, the Israeli military has supplied some supplies, but not enough, according to Mokhallalati.

On 17 November, The Guardian reported that the UN had warned that as winter approaches, diseases are spreading more quickly in Gaza due to overcrowding and a lack of clean water, and that civilians there face the “immediate possibility” of starvation. The aid agencies reported that recent days have seen a halt in delivery of already scarce food and other supplies due to truck fuel shortages, and communication blackout has made coordination of deliveries impossible. The network operators in Palestine claimed they were out of fuel for their internet and phone systems. 154 shelters operated by the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA), were housing over 800,000 internally displaced people, according to a Friday report from the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs. “Supplies of food and water are practically nonexistent in Gaza, and only a fraction of what is needed is arriving through the borders,” stated Cindy McCain, executive director of the UN World Food Programme (WFP). 

REGIONAL RESPONSE
On 17 November, Arab News reported that Jordan would not sign a water and energy deal with Israel, which was supposed to be signed last month. This decision was taken due to the ongoing war in the Gaza Strip.  Ayman Safadi, the Foreign Affairs Minister of Jordan, said that Israel is “driving the entire region into hell.” 

On 17 November, Arab News reported that Osama Nugali, the Ambassador of Saudi Arabia to Egypt, praised Saudi Arabians for raising USD 133 million to aid Palestinians in the Gaza Strip. He said that the seventh airlift arrived at Al-Arish airport in Egypt, and will be sent to the border by road. He added that despite difficulties, Saudi Arabia is determined to make the aid accessible to the intended beneficiaries.

GLOBAL RESPONSE
On 17 November, Reuters reported that the UN aid to Gaza was once again suspended due to fuel shortages. According to the UN World Food Programme (WFP), civilians in Gaza face the “immediate possibility of starvation” now with aid suspended. Further, according to the BBC, the lack of fuel has caused a communication blackout in Gaza as phone and internet services shut down. According to Arab News, seeing the shutting down of hospitals and aid agencies, Israel has allowed two tankers of fuel daily into Gaza in response to a UN request.

On 17 November, according to Reuters, the US refused to share intel on the possibility of a Hamas command centre near Gaza’s Al Shifa Hospital. John Kirby, the White House spokesperson, stated that the US was confident about the assessment made by its intelligence agencies but refused to elaborate. The data remains declassified because “the same channels are being used to monitor the status of hostages”, stated a source. 

On 17 November, according to Arab News, Antony Blinken, the US Secretary of State, expressed urgency in managing the settler violence in the West Bank. On a call with Benny Gantz, an opposition leader part of Israel’s war cabinet, Blinken “stressed the urgent need for affirmative steps to de-escalate tensions in the West Bank.” Blinken further discussed the need to “accelerate” humanitarian assistance to Gaza. 

According to the Jerusalem Post, Blinken and Gantz spoke about the prevention of conflict widening as well as the release of hostages.

On 17 November, the prosecutor of the International Criminal Court (ICC), Karim Kahn, stated that he received a referral from South Africa, Bolivia, Comoros, Bangladesh, and Djibouti.  South Africa has requested the ICC to “pay attention” to the events playing out in Palestine. A month ago, Kahn said the court’s jurisdiction was binding over the 7 October attacks and Israel’s response in the Gaza Strip. However, the request may have little impact because an investigation is “underway”.


About the Authors
Rosemary Kurian and Nuha Aamina are undergraduate scholars from St Joseph's University, Bangalore. Rishita Verma and Gananthula Uma Maheshwari are postgraduate scholars from Pondicherry University.

Curated By
Dhriti Mukherjee and Shamini are Research Assistants at NIAS.


The Israel-Hamas War: Day 41

Rosemary Kurian, Nuha Aamina, Rishita Verma and Gananthula Uma Maheshwari

WAR ON THE GROUND
On 16 November, Reuters reported that Israel issued orders for civilians to evacuate four towns in the southern Gaza Strip. The towns of Bani Shuhaila, Khuzaa, Abassan, and Qarara, located on the eastern outskirts of Khan Younis, were issued evacuation orders via leaflets dropped by aircraft. The leaflets said, “The defence forces must act against the terrorist organization Hamas in the areas where you live due to their acts.” It further stated, “For your safety, you need to evacuate your places of residence immediately and head to known shelters.” Individuals forced to flee other areas are in the towns. Locals claimed that there was intense bombardment in the area overnight.

On 16 November, Reuters reported that Israeli forces entered the Al- Shifa hospital. The medics said the patients and staff remain under constant threat of death. Gaza’s health ministry said Israeli soldiers had cleared the grounds of the hospital of dead bodies and destroyed parked cars. However, patients and staff were not permitted to leave. Ashraf Al-Qidra, a health ministry spokesman, said the hospital was home to 650 patients and roughly 7,000 people who had been forced to flee their homes due to weeks of Israeli airstrikes and artillery bombardment, and was devoid of food, water, and baby milk. He further stated that although the occupation forces have since moved into the complex, they did not supply the hospital with fuel to keep operating. 

On 16 November, Al Jazeera reported that according to Reuters and the US-based digital publication Axios, Israel and Hamas are in negotiations to release prisoners held by Hamas in return for a three-day ceasefire. The agreement, which may also result in the release of some Palestinian women and children from Israeli detention facilities, is being negotiated by mediators from Qatar. The negotiations also involve the release of US citizens who are being held hostage by Hamas. An official said that Hamas would have to release all civilian hostages who are still alive and detained in Gaza. In addition, Israel would expand the quantity of humanitarian aid allowed to enter Gaza. The negotiator stated that Israel has not yet agreed to the terms of the agreement, and is still working out the specifics.

REGIONAL RESPONSE
On 16 November, Arab News reported that Saudi Arabia condemned Israeli raids on Al-Shifa Hospital and bombings near the Jordanian field hospital in Gaza. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Saudi Arabia said that Israel has targeted civilians and medical staff, which is in violation of international human rights law and conventions. Saudi Arabia also welcomed a UN resolution calling for extended humanitarian pauses and aid corridors. 

On 16 November, The Guardian reported that seven staff members at the Jordanian field hospital in Gaza were injured. Jordan stated that the Israeli airstrikes are the reason behind  the casualties. Ayman Safadi, the Foreign Minister of Jordan, said that their staff was hit when they got to the emergency room to help the injured Palestinians.

GLOBAL RESPONSE
On 16 November, according to Al Jazeera, 56 members of parliament from the Labour Party voted in favour of a ceasefire in Gaza. Breaking from their official party stance of supporting the Conservative Party leader and British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak’s call for “humanitarian pauses”, the incident expressed an “unease” within Britain’s foreign policy stance. The Scottish National Party had introduced the motion, but it ultimately failed. 

On 16 November, according to Al Jazeera, Joseph Biden, the President of the US, said that he told Benjamin Netanyahu, the Prime Minister of Israel, that Gaza’s occupation would be “a big mistake”. He reiterated that the two-state solution as the only way to end the conflict. Speaking on Israel’s military raid on the Al- Shifa Hospital in Gaza, Biden reportedly told Netanyahu to “be incredibly careful”. 

On 16 November, according to Reuters, the UN Security Council (UNSC) called for pauses in the war in Gaza to allow for humanitarian aid. In a motion passed by 12 and abstained by three members, the UNSC said the pause should allow aid to pass for a “sufficient number of days”. It also called for the unconditional and immediate release of all hostages held by Hamas.

On 16 November, according to Reuters, Lepong Syed, the President of the Thai-Iran alumni association, said that Hamas would release all Thai hostages if there was a 3-day or 5-day ceasefire. Lepong is a member of a team of Thai-Muslim politicians with Wan Muhamad Noor Matha, House Speaker, as the head. The team has been in touch with Hamas since October. 

On 16 November, according to Reuters, the African National Congress, the ruling party of South Africa, agreed to a parliamentary motion proposed by the opposition party, Economic Freedom Fighters. The motion called for the closure of the Israeli Embassy and the suspension of diplomatic ties between South Africa and Israel until the latter agreed to a ceasefire. The Gift of the Givers, a non-governmental organization that operates in Palestine, expressed its support for the motion.

About the Authors

Rosemary Kurian and Nuha Aamina are undergraduate scholars from St Joseph's University, Bangalore. Rishita Verma and Gananthula Uma Maheshwari are postgraduate scholars from Pondicherry University.

Curated By

Dhriti Mukherjee and Shamini are Research Assistants at NIAS.


The Israel-Hamas War: Day 40

Rosemary Kurian, Nuha Aamina, Rishita Verma and Gananthula Uma Maheshwari

WAR ON THE GROUND

On 15 November, the first fuel truck to enter the Gaza Strip since the start of the conflict had pulled into the besieged area. The diesel fuel truck crossed the Egyptian border at Rafah and arrived in Gaza. The United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) stated that the fuel supply has been "restricted" by Israel, and that it is “not at all enough." Since 21 October, a small amount of humanitarian aid has been able to enter Gaza through Egypt, but Israel has refused to allow any fuel to enter. It authorised the entry of 24,000 litres (6,340 gallons) of diesel into Gaza on 14 November; however, this amount is exclusively for use by UN trucks. Gaza hospitals whose generators are running out of fuel are forced to close. Witnesses told the media that two more fuel trucks were waiting on the Egyptian side of the Rafah border crossing after the first one entered, but it was unknown when they might be allowed to enter.

On 15 November, those inside the al-Shifa  hospital in Gaza told Al Jazeera that the Israeli military inflicted violence and humiliation on patients, staff, and displaced people. As Israeli forces have concentrated their attacks on the vicinity of the complex, which they claim is home to a Hamas base, thousands of people have been trapped inside for days. According to reports, there has been a shortage of food and water, and an accumulation of decaying bodies. Israeli soldiers have “detained and brutally assaulted some of the men who were taking refuge at the hospital,” according to Omar Zaqout, an employee of the Al-Shifa emergency room. They arrested men and took them blindfolded and nude. He said, “The army has surrounded every building within the hospital complex." He further stated that "More than 180 dead bodies are still lying in the hospital’s yard, deteriorating.” 

REGIONAL RESPONSE
On 15 November, mediators from Qatar were trying to strike a deal between Israel and Hamas. The deal provides for the release of 50 civilian hostages from Gaza in exchange for a three-day ceasefire and an increase in the amount of humanitarian aid in the Gaza Strip. It also includes the release of some Palestinian women and children from Israeli jails. Hamas agreed to the general outlines of the deal while Israel was still negotiating.

On 15 November, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, the President of Turkey, called Israel a “terror state,” which had committed crimes and violated international law. He described Hamas as a political party elected by the people. Erdogan additionally called on Benjamin Netanyahu, the Prime Minister of Israel, to clear the ambiguity surrounding its possession of nuclear bombs.

GLOBAL RESPONSE
On 14 November, Justin Trudeau, the Prime Minister of Canada, called for Israel to end the “killing of babies” in Gaza. Trudeau expressed that Israel must exercise “maximum restraint” and stop the “killing of women, of children, of babies”. Netanyahuresponded by denying any claim of murder by Israel and stated instead that Hamas is “deliberately targeting civilians”. Since the beginning of the war, Canada has supported Israel’s right to defend itself, but it has also expressed its concern over the rising humanitarian crisis in Gaza. Trudeau’s statement marks his sharpest criticism against Israel since the war began. 

On 14 November, thousands of people in the US gathered in Washington, DC, in a rally extending support to Israel. The “March for Israel” took place on the National Mall and several senior members of the US Congress also joined to address a crowd of people waving the American and Israeli flags. The placards stated that Hamas must free at least 200 people taken hostage. Chuck Schumer, Senate Majority Leader, chanted, “We stand with Israel.”

On 15 November, BBC quotes John Kirby, the US National Security spokesperson, claiming that Hamas has its command centre under the al- Shifa Hospital in Gaza. Kirby said that the US has intelligence that Hamas stored arms under the hospital and prepared for an Israeli attack. As global criticism mounts against Israel in protecting the civilians trapped in Israel, the US has, for the first time independently, backed its ally on their claim of a Hamas command centre under the hospital.

On 15 November, Belize severed its ties with Israel. According to a government statement, “The government of Belize has repeatedly condemned the actions of the [Israeli military] in Gaza.” A day earlier on 14 November,  the Belize government withdrew its request for accreditation of its consul in Tel Aviv and recalled its ambassador on 14 October. 

On 15 November, Nirmala Sitharaman, Finance Minister of India, said the US-backed economic corridor is undergoing geopolitical challenges, and the conflict in Israel and Gaza is a “worrying manifestation”.This economic corridor project has rails and ports that link the Middle East to South Asia. It is the US effort to counter the Belt and Road Initiative.  

On 15 November, Nalendi Pandor, the Foreign Minister of South Africa, said countries which can wield “influence over Israel” can put an end to the “crime against humanity”. She further stated that her government may report Israel to the International Criminal Court if Israel continues its violence. Pandor described the current practices of the occupation as an “apartheid feature.”

About the Authors

Rosemary Kurian and Nuha Aamina are undergraduate scholars from St Joseph's University, Bangalore. Rishita Verma and Gananthula Uma Maheshwari are postgraduate scholars from Pondicherry University.

Curated By

Dhriti Mukherjee and Shamini are Research Assistants at NIAS.


The Israel-Hamas War: Day 39
Rosemary Kurian, Nuha Aamina, Rishita Verma and Gananthula Uma Maheshwari

WAR ON THE GROUND 
On 14 November, the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) reported that hundreds of thousands of Palestinians were stranded in some areas of northern Gaza. The OHCHR stated: “Desperate calls and urgent appeals are being made by civilians who are unable to move from the buildings where they are sheltering because of Israeli troops’ presence, ongoing ground battles, or who have been trapped in collapsed buildings.” According to the office, there have been cases of people getting stuck with family members who have either died or suffered severe injuries. The OHCHR further added that they have received“reports from disabled individuals who are stranded in a rehabilitation facility and are not getting assistance with their evacuation or humanitarian relief.”

On 14 November, the Palestinian Red Crescent said that it received 155 trucks full of humanitarian supplies. It further stated that it has receieved 1,135 trucks since 21 October, filled with food, water, and medical supplies. However, the Red Crescent took to Facebook to state: “Unfortunately, the Israeli occupying authorities have not permitted the entry of fuel so far.”

On 14 November, Ashraf Al-Qudra, the Health Ministry spokesperson of Gaza, said 40 patients at al-Shifa Hospital passed away. He further stated many dead bodies inside the complex need to be buried, but Israeli forces are restricting movement.

On 14 November, Al Jazeera reported that according to the humanitarian group Doctors Without Borders (MSF), gunshots were heard from one of their three locations close to Al-Shifa Hospital, where over 100 individuals, including employees and their families, sought refuge. MSF further added that those providing shelters are also running out of fuel. MSF has called for an immediate ceasefire and safe passage provided for the thousands of individuals stranded in Gaza City's hospitals and other locations.

REGIONAL RESPONSE
On 14 November, Arab News reported that the Saudi cabinet applauded the regional leaders for participating in the Arab-Islamic Summit in Riyadh. The council highlighted the urgency to restore peace and stability in Gaza, emphasisingthe importance of joint action. The primary goals include ensuring that Palestinians get their legitimate rights, and creating an independent state with East Jerusalem as its capital. 

On 14 November, Arab News reported that journalists in Southern Lebanon said that they were targeted in Israeli strikes. The journalists' statements on the cross-border incident were supported by a local mayor and Lebanese state media. 

On 14 November, The Guardian reported that Mohammad Javad Zarif, the former Foreign Minister of Iran, urged his country to not get into a direct war with Israel or the US. He stated that the best way to defend Palestinians is by not giving a chance to the West to claim Palestinians' proxies of Iran. Zarif said that people are tired of paying the cost of the wars.

GLOBAL RESPONSE
On 15 November, according to The Guardian, the UK stated that it is considering alternative options to get more aid into Gaza. Andrew Mitchell, the Foreign Office minister, said in Parliament that while land offers the safest passage for humanitarian aid, the government was “considering air and maritime options, including through our bases in Cyprus”.

On 14 November, the BBC reported on the WHO‘s warning that Gaza’s Al Shifa Hospital is “nearly a cemetery”. The hospital manager stated that the compound is under a “blockade”. The WHO said it has been tackling power cuts and a lack of fuel, further adding that “there are dead bodies that cannot be taken care of or not even be buried.”

He further stated that the government has been urging Israel to increase access to humanitarian aid through Rafah and buy the opening up of the Kerem Shalom crossing.

On 14 November, according to Al Jazeera, Indonesia began boycotting McDonald’s after the company announced that it had distributed free meals to the Israeli military. Indonesian organisations, namely, Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions Movement (BDS), the United People Front (FUB) and the Islamic Defenders Front (FPI), called for a boycott of pro-Israeli companies, Mc McDonald, Starbucks, and Burger King.

On 13 November, Joe Biden, the President of the US, along with Antony Blinken, the US Secretary of State, and Lloyd Austin, the US Secretary of Defence, were  sued for “complicity” in Israel’s “genocide” on Gaza.The suit was filed by a New York civil liberties group called the Center for Constitutional Rights (CCR), “on behalf of Palestinian human rights organisations, Palestinians in Gaza and US citizens with relatives” in Gaza. The group has accused the president and the two cabinet member for failing to prevent as well as aiding and abetting “the Israel government’s unfolding genocide.”

On 13 November, Al Jazeera reported that Joko Widodo, the President of Indonesia and Joe Biden, President of the US, engaged in talks where Widodo urged for a ceasefire “for the sake of humanity”. Widodo said, “Indonesia appeals to the US to do more to stop the atrocities in Gaza.” 

About the Authors

Rosemary Kurian and Nuha Aamina are undergraduate scholars from St Joseph's University, Bangalore. Rishita Verma and Gananthula Uma Maheshwari are postgraduate scholars from Pondicherry University.

Curated By

Dhriti Mukherjee and Shamini are Research Assistants at NIAS.


The War in Gaza: Day 38

Rosemary Kurian, Nuha Aamina, Rishita Verma and Gananthula Uma Maheshwari

WAR ON THE GROUND

On 13 November, medical professionals of the al-Shifa hospital claimed that patients, including newborns, were dying from lack of fuel to operate electricity generaters. According to the spokesperson for the Gaza Health Ministry, the hospital’s power outage and siege had resulted in the deaths of 32 patients, including three newborns, in the last three days. In response, Israel had told civilians to leave and medics to send patients somewhere else. Further, Israel claimed that it had tried to evacuate babies from the hospital and offer 300 litres of fuel, but Hamas turned down the offer.

On 13 November, the World Health Organization (WHO) Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus stated that the al-Shifa hospital “is not functioning as a hospital anymore,” and “constant gunfire and bombings in the area have exacerbated the already critical circumstances.” Reports of intense fighting have surfaced in the area as Israeli forces press their ground campaign against Hamas. Although Hamas denies having a command centre under the hospital, Israel maintains that the hospital is not being hit during fighting. 

On 13 November, the Palestine Red Crescent Society announced that the “continuing shelling and shooting” prevented them from transporting patients from Khan Younis to the al-Quds hospital. 

REGIONAL RESPONSES
On 12 November, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, Emir of Qatar, spoke with Joe Biden, President of the US, about the developments in the Gaza Strip. They talked about the hostages held by the Hamas group and agreed that “all hostages must be released without any further delay.”

GLOBAL RESPONSES
On 13 November, according to the BBC, Suella Braverman, the British Home Secretary, was sacked for her comments before a pro-Palestine march. Rishi Sunak, the Prime Minister of the UK, removed Braverman from office due to her earlier comments in an article accusing the Metropolitan Police in London of bias in favouring pro-Palestine protesters. 

On 13 November, the UN flags flew at half-mast in UN offices across Asia in memory of their staff killed in the Gaza war. The UN staff observed a one-minute silence remembering their colleagues who died in the war. The UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) had earlier announced that more than 100 of its employees had died in the war in Gaza.

On 12 November, the European Union (EU) condemned Hamas for using “hospitals as human shields.” Josep Borrell, the EU foreign policy chief, criticised using hospitals and civilians as shields, while urging Israel to exercise “maximum restraint” to protect civilians. Israel claims that Hamas has command centres under and around hospitals, which the latter denies. Borell further added that hospitals must be supplied with “urgent medical supplies” under the obligations of international humanitarian law. 


The Israel-Hamas War: Day 37
Rosemary Kurian, Nuha Aamina, Rishita Verma and Gananthula Uma Maheshwari

WAR ON THE GROUND
On 12 November, The Guardian reported that according to the Palestine Red Crescent Society, the Al-Quds hospital is “out of service and no longer operational.” The services have stopped due to the unavailability of fuel and a power outage. The Israeli military attacks have severely worsened the situation in Gaza and surrounding areas. This includes a week-long siege, a five-day blackout of communication and internet, and denial of aid to hospitals, which have led to their closure. 

On 12 November, according to Gaza officials, Israeli airstrikes had destroyed the cardiac ward of the main hospital, with power outages stopping the ventilators for patients in urgent care as well as the incubators in the neonatal unit, which was housing about 40 babies. An airstrike on a house in Khan Younis resulted in the deaths of at least 13 people on the same day. Israeli forces are closing in on the hospital, which they claim Hamas fighters are using as a cover for a command centre. However, the latter refutes these claims.

On 12 November, Reuters reported that Israeli onslaught against Hamas on Sunday left major hospitals in north Gaza cut off. A Palestinian official stated that three premature babies had died and dozens more were in danger due to a lack of power. According to medical personnel, Al Shifa and other hospitals in north Gaza can barely provide basic medical care. Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari, the chief military spokesperson for Israel, stated on 11 November that at the request of the hospital, the military would assist in evacuating infants. The spokesperson of the Health Ministry of Gaza,  Ashraf Al-Qidra, claimed that out of the 45 infants, three had already passed away, and that they did not receive instructions on how to move the infants to safety.

REGIONAL RESPONSE
On 12 November, Arab News reported that in the joint Islamic summit in Riyadh, the leaders of states and governments of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation(OIC) and the League of Arab Nations jointly condemned Israel's aggression on Palestinians of the Gaza Strip and the West Bank. They emphasised the need to end the aggression and humanitarian catastrophe together. They also stated that just, lasting, and comprehensive peace is the only option to establish peace and security for the people in the region.

GLOBAL RESPONSE
On 12 November, Reuters reported that Annalena Baerbock, the Foreign Minister of Germany, emphasised the need to contain the humanitarian crisis in Gaza. During her Middle East visit, Baerbock urged all countries to put aside their differences and work together to alleviate human suffering. She stated that she would bring the proposal she made to the Gulf and the West Bank to the foreign ministers of the European Union in Brussels. Barbock assured her Isrraeli counterpart, Eli Cohen, of Germany's unwavering solidarity with Israel during a meeting with him.

On 12 November, according to Arab News, WHO raised alarms over the Israeli siege of the Al Shifa Hospital in Gaza, endangering several lives. WHO fears that the safety of premature babies, sick and injured patients, and health workers is at risk. 

On 12 November, according to Al Jazeera, the US expressed its concern over Israel’s comments on control over Gaza. Benjamin Netanyahu, the Prime Minister of Israel, stated that the country is “not giving up security control of Gaza”, a comment that Washington has asked to clarify. The statement comes at a time after the US suggested that the Palestinian Authority should take control after Hamas has been “destroyed”.

On 12 November, Reuters reported that the Russian Emergencies Ministry stated that 60 passport holders had entered Egypt. The ministry also added that the citizens who have been transferred to Cairo will be provided with necessary assistance for paperwork. According to the Russian media, around 1000 Russians and nationals from former Soviet states wish to leave Gaza.

About the Authors

Rosemary Kurian and Nuha Aamina are undergraduate scholars from St Joseph's University, Bangalore. Rishita Verma and Gananthula Uma Maheshwari are postgraduate scholars from Pondicherry University.

Curated By

Dhriti Mukherjee and Shamini are Research Assistants at NIAS.


About the Authors

Rosemary Kurian and Nuha Aamina are undergraduate scholars from St Joseph's University, Bangalore. Rishita Verma and Gananthula Uma Maheshwari are postgraduate scholars from Pondicherry University.

Curated By

Dhriti Mukherjee and Shamini are Research Assistants at NIAS.

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NIAS Africa Team

In Focus: Libya
December 2021 | CWA # 630

GP Team

Europe in 2021
October 2021 | CWA # 588

Abigail Miriam Fernandez

TLP is back again
August 2021 | CWA # 528

STIR Team

Space Tourism
September 2019 | CWA # 162

Lakshman Chakravarthy N

5G: A Primer
December 2018 | CWA # 71

Mahesh Bhatta | Centre for South Asian Studies, Kathmandu

Nepal
December 2018 | CWA # 70

Nasima Khatoon | Research Associate, ISSSP, NIAS

The Maldives
December 2018 | CWA # 69

Harini Madhusudan | Research Associate, ISSSP, NIAS

India
December 2018 | CWA # 68

Sourina Bej | Research Associate, ISSSP, NIAS

Bangladesh
December 2018 | CWA # 67

Seetha Lakshmi Dinesh Iyer | Research Associate, ISSSP, NIAS

Afghanistan