WORLD BRIEFING: October 24, 2023
Israel-Gaza War
At least 1,400 people have died and 4,629 others have been injured in Israel, according to Israeli authorities. In Gaza, 5,087 people have died and 15,273 have been wounded, according to the Palestinian Health Authority. In the West Bank, almost 100 people have been killed
The White House National Security Coordinator John Kirby, when asked if Israel been adhering to intl rules of law, says: “We believe it’s important that Israel comply with all laws of war…Hamas continues to embed itself inside the civilian population. Hamas continues to put legitimate military targets inside civilian infrastructure and uses civilians of Gaza as human shields. Israel notifies civilians when it plans to conduct air strikes against residential buildings.”
Israel confirms that two elderly women, Nurit Cooper and Yocheved Lifshitz, have been released by Hamas but their husbands are still being held. Ms Lifshitz's daughter says she remains focused on securing the release of her father and the other hostages who remain in Gaza. It brings the total number of hostages released by Hamas to four. Two American-Israelis, mother and daughter Judith and Natalie Raanan, were released from captivity on Friday. The International Committee of the Red Cross says it facilitated the transfer of the hostages. In its latest estimate, Israel says that more than 200 hostages are being held by Hamas after its surprise attack on Israel on 7 October - BBC
Patients requiring surgery in Gaza are being forced to undergo procedures without morphine and painkillers as essential supplies dwindle, according to CNN. Leo Cans, the head of mission in Jerusalem for Doctors Without Borders, told the outlet, “We currently have people being operated on without having morphine. It just happened to two kids.” He continued: “We have a lot of kids that are unfortunately among the wounded, and I was discussing with one of our surgeons, who received a 10-year-old yesterday, burnt on 60 percent of the body surface, and he didn’t end up having painkillers.” Cans said there was “no justification at all” to continue blocking “essential medicine” from reaching medical teams in Gaza. Even as it carries on intense bombardment of the besieged enclave, Israel has allowed more than 50 trucks carrying aid to cross into Gaza in recent days. But the supplies being allowed in are a “drop in the ocean” of what is needed, according to the Palestine Red Crescent Society.
The Biden administration is asking Israel to delay the looming ground incursion into Gaza to allow time for the release of more hostages and for humanitarian aid to get to civilians in Gaza, an administration official told ABC News. The administration continues to impress upon the Israelis their concerns and the full array of consequences for a speedy ground incursion.
Twenty more trucks carrying vital humanitarian aid passed the Rafah crossing from Egypt into Gaza Monday, the UN said, while warning that the situation in the enclave's hospitals remains "dire" and much more help is needed, CNN reported. However UN officials say the trickle is equivalent to “a drop in the ocean.”
Elsewhere
On the evening of Oct. 23, Russia shelled one of DTEK’s thermal power plants in Ukraine. For security reasons, DTEK company did not reveal the location of the power plant and the extent of the damage. The attack severely damaged the company’s equipment, the company said. After the shelling stopped, the power engineers began to eliminate the consequences.
Russia struck several civilian areas of Ukraine in a fresh wave of drone and missile strikes, causing victims among civilians and infrastructure damage, the Ukrainian military and regional officials said.
Turkey will take part in talks next week on ways to end Russia's invasion of Ukraine, President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said after speaking by phone with his Turkish counterpart, Recep Tayyip Erdogan - RFE/RL
A recently published report by a U.S. government watchdog for assistance to Afghanistan says the unrecognized Taliban regime is reaping economic benefits through poorly monitored international aid, which it views as a "revenue stream." - RFE/RL
Canada says it has detected a disinformation campaign likely tied to China that has targeted dozens of its politicians, including Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. The "spamouflage" campaign used waves of online posts to discredit Canadian MPs, the foreign ministry said. It says the campaign was carried out to silence criticism of Beijing. China has previously denied any allegations of interference in Canadian affairs - BBC
Russia appears to be suffering severe losses as it wages its new offensive in eastern Ukraine, amid some of the bloodiest fighting in months, according to Ukrainian officials and independent analysts. Russia has thrown thousands of troops and hundreds of tanks and armored vehicles into the offensive, which is focused mainly on the strategic city of Avdiivka and further north near the city of Kupiansk. Russian forces for roughly two weeks have been trying to encircle Avdiivka, which is one of the most heavily fortified areas of Ukraine's frontline - ABC News
With thanks to Preeti Bali for her research support