The renewed fighting between Israel and Hamas has entered its seventh day, with the Israeli military intensifying its attack on Khan Younis in the southern Gaza Strip. In the midst of the conflict, thousands of Gazans have swarmed aid convoys as they entered the embattled region, highlighting the dire humanitarian situation. Three residential buildings have been bombed in Rafah, killing at least 20 people, with many more feared trapped under rubble. The bombing adds to the escalating casualties and destruction caused by the ongoing conflict.
US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin visited Israel to discuss the future of the war against Hamas. The Biden administration has been increasingly critical of Israel's tactics, while Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is urging the country forward in its offensive. The IDF has accused Hezbollah of 'dragging' Lebanon into the war, as the group increases its attacks against Israel. In response, the IDF has been striking Hezbollah targets in Lebanon, raising concerns about the safety of Lebanese citizens.
In a separate development, US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin has announced the formation of a coalition to patrol the Red Sea in response to Houthi attacks on commercial shipping. The multinational force aims to ensure the safety and security of the Red Sea region, which has been a hotspot for maritime attacks. This move comes as part of the broader efforts to address the regional security challenges arising from the ongoing conflicts in the Middle East.
Additionally, the Biden administration has faced criticism for treating US troops as 'cannon fodder' in the Middle East, as Iran-backed terrorist organizations have launched nearly 100 attacks against US forces in Iraq and Syria. Israel has also offered new insights into Hamas' largest-ever tunnel near the Gaza border. In a separate development, police in Washington state are searching for suspects involved in vandalizing over 50 buildings with anti-Israel slogans. The IDF has identified four soldiers who were killed in combat in southern Gaza. These recent developments highlight the ongoing conflict and its various dimensions.
In the latest development, it has been revealed that Congressional staff and aid organizations sent the coordinates of a church and a convent in Gaza to the Israeli military in an effort to protect them. However, the Holy Family church and the Convent of the Missionaries of Charity were later struck by rockets and snipers. The emails obtained by POLITICO show the back-and-forth between Catholic Relief Services and Senate staff, with the Israeli military confirming receipt of the coordinates but stating they could not guarantee the safety of civilians inside. The emails highlight the challenges faced by aid organizations in protecting their buildings and staff in conflict zones. The IDF has denied deliberately targeting the facilities and is reviewing the incident. The emails also reveal the involvement of lawmakers in helping protect humanitarian organizations and the difficulties of navigating the situation in densely populated Gaza. The Biden administration has also been providing Israel with the locations of aid organizations in Gaza. Religious and aid organizations have been sending coordinates to the UN and Israel directly, but have faced increasing bombardment. Catholic Relief Services used its connections at the National Security Council and on Capitol Hill to send its coordinates. The emails include discussions between the Israelis and Catholic Relief Services to identify the exact locations of the buildings.
In a separate incident, Hezbollah struck a church in Israel with an anti-tank missile, according to the Israel Defense Forces. The attack resulted in one civilian being injured. [a8dcfa86]
Israel's Tourism Minister Haim Katz is attending the National Religious Broadcasters (NRB) Christian media convention in Nashville to promote tourism to Israel. Katz will meet with top media networks and hold meetings with tourism and travel groups. The Tourism Ministry aims to woo Christian travelers back to Israel, as the American market is the largest source market for Israel, with more than a third of tourism coming from the United States. Since the start of the Israel-Hamas war, several Christian tours have traveled to Israel on solidarity missions. Israel's tourism industry rebounded in 2023 following the COVID-19 pandemic, but the Gaza war has been a blow to tourism numbers. [d74b81ee]