Notices by Kriszta Satori (fulelo@journa.host), page 13

US Vice President Kamala Harris says too many Palestinians have already been killed, with a "devastating" amount of human suffering

An adviser to Israel's prime minister tells the BBC that Israel is making "maximum effort" to avoid killing civilians

Residents of Khan Younis yesterday said the southern city has experienced its heaviest bombardment since the start of the war

V #BBC Yolande Knell:
'While Israel’s military says its forces are already confronting #Hamas fighters across the #Gaza Strip, defence analysts here see the latest events in the south of the territory as part of a build-up to a full ground operation there.

Public Kan Radio points out that many #Israeli air strikes are aimed at Khan Younis,
(Cont.)

'where it is believed that top #Hamas leaders are hiding out, incl the head in #Gaza , Yahya Sinwar and Mohammed Deif, leader of the military wing.

The Yedioth Ahronoth newspaper reports the fighting in Khan Younis is expected to be “fairly tough”, adding that the situation there is complicated not only by the hundreds of thousands of displaced #Palestinians who found shelter there after fleeing from fighting in the north, but also that some #Israeli #hostages are believed to be held there.'

in the #BBCWorldService bulletin right now:

The US State Dept says it's too early to say for sure whether #Israel is heeding US advice to protect civilians in its renewed offensive in #Gaza . But it did say the US had seen Israel making much more targeted requests for civilian evacuations in southern Gaza. The health ministry in Gaza says almost 16 000 #Palestinians have been killed during Israel's offensive. Pal. media say two schools where displaced people are sheltering have been hit

by an #Israeli air strike in northern #Gaza . The official #Palestinian news agency said at least 50 people were killed, but there's been no independent confirmation.
An Israeli army spokesperson has said that it's looking into the reports.
(cont.)

Dozens of protesters are staging a demonstration outside the UN headquarters in New York, criticising the body for its inaction over the rape, abduction and mistreatment of #Israeli women. Some carried banners saying "rape is rape". An Israeli women's rights campaigner has said Hamas had a premeditated plan to use sexual violence against Israeli women on the 7th of October.

And a NYTimes write up on the same, comes with strong graphic warning:

Accounts of Sexual Violence by Hamas Are Aired Amid Criticism of U.N. https://www.nytimes.com/2023/12/04/world/middleeast/israel-hamas-sexual-violence-un.html?unlocked_article_code=1.Dk0.XQaE.Fean5LS5ZjxV&smid=nytcore-android-share
#GiftArticle #NoPaywall

and #BBCNews - #Hamas planned sexual violence as weapon of war - Israeli campaigner
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-67613153

A morning recap of the latest:
The US State Dept said that the truce between Israel and Hamas fell apart because Hamas refused to free all women hostages, as it did not want them to speak publicly about sexual violence
The UN warned that thousands of people in Gaza could once again be relocating, despite the fact the US urged Israel to avoid further mass displacements. Earlier, the Israeli military published a map on social media telling civilians to leave areas to the north-east of Khan Younis

The head of UNRWA said the evacuation orders for Gaza's south created "panic, fear and anxiety" and reasserted the UN claim that any notion of safe zones are false

T(cont.)he CPJ says this war had led to the deadliest month since records began in 1992, with 63 journalists and media workers killed

Israel updated its travel warnings, raising the threat level to advise "increased precaution" in many nations in Europe and South America, incl the UK, and called for travel to be reconsidered to several nations in Africa and Central Asia

V #BBC Yolande Knell:
'In videos shared on social media overnight, loud thuds of explosions can be heard near Khan Younis, apparently from Israeli strikes and shelling.

Yesterday, witnesses in southern Gaza said Israeli tanks and armoured vehicles could be seen approaching the city from the east

Israel’s army said the main road leading there from the north now constituted “a battlefield”.

With the war spreading, Palestinians and aid agencies warn people are running out of places to flee to.

'A local UN official said it was possible an even more hellish scenario was about to unfold – one in which humanitarian operations may not be able to respond.

While about 100 lorryloads of aid have entered Gaza via the Rafah crossing on each of the past two days, deliveries across the territory are being hindered by the ongoing fighting.

Last night, the main Palestinian telecommunications firm said all phone and internet services were cut once again.'

#BBCNews - #Israel #Gaza: #Hamas raped and mutilated women on 7 October, BBC hears
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-67629181

One man the BBC spoke to in Khan Younis says he is living in a house – comprising two rooms, a kitchen and a bathroom – that has 200 people in it, "all of them on top of each other".

He says that he cannot find food for his children, and that he has a baby on the way that he cannot buy nappies for. He adds that pharmacies and hospitals are "completely devoid of any medicines".
He adds:
Quote Message: There is no safe place at all. Wherever you go, you will hear similar tragic stories."
(Cont.)

Another man in Khan Younis says he has three young children that he struggles to feed.

"Everything is very expensive here whether milk, nappies or biscuits. I try to buy biscuits three times a day for my kids, but sometimes I fail even to secure such a simple thing," he says, adding that sometimes fights break out when trying to get water.

a round-up of the latest developments:

#Israel says its forces are in the centre of the second biggest town in #Gaza , Khan Younis. #Israeli officials believe members of #Hamas leadership are hiding there

#IDF spokesman Daniel Hagari said Israel is "determined to eliminate the [Hamas] terrorists and damage the infrastructure"

Hagari also said the Israeli government believes that there are 138 #hostages being held in Gaza

(Cont.)

#Hamas 's media office said at least 16,248 people have been killed in #Gaza since the start of the war, including more than 7,000 children and nearly 5,000 women

The UN Food Programme says the resumption of fighting has intensified the hunger crisis in Gaza

PM Netanyahu has said "there is no possibility right now of bringing everyone home", in a meeting with newly released hostages

A recap on Wednesday morning:
The UN says 600,000 people are under evacuation orders in southern #Gaza during fierce fighting - nearly half of whom had already been forced to leave their homes

The head of UNRWA says "there is nowhere to go" because shelters are "beyond and over their capacity"

On Tuesday, #Israel said its troops had reached "the heart of Khan Younis" - the largest southern city - on the "most intense" day of fighting in its ground operation

(Cont.)

#Israel believes #Hamas leaders could be hiding in the city - and PM Netanyahu has insisted the only way to win the war is with "crushing force"

The BBC too has seen now evidence of rape, sexual violence and mutilation of women during the 7 October Hamas attacks

The Hamas attack on southern Israel killed 1,200 people, with around 240 others taken hostage

Hamas officials in Gaza say at least 16,248 people have been killed in Israel's retaliatory campaign, including about 7,000 children

#BBCNews - US sanctions individuals implicated in West Bank attacks
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-67631739