Jakarta, CNBC Indonesia – The war between Israel and the Palestinian group Hamas has entered its 19th day. The conflict and mutual attacks spread from the Gaza Strip to the West Bank region.
Not only that, this war is starting to drag groups from other countries such as Hezbollah into fighting on the country’s borders.
The following is another update regarding the war, as quoted by CNBC Indonesia from various sources on Wednesday (25/10/2023).
Number of Victims
The Palestinian Ministry of Health reported that 6,546, including 2,704 children, were killed in Gaza. Meanwhile, the death toll in the West Bank region was 103, including 30 children and 1 woman.
The Israeli military also released death data. A total of 1,405, including 308 military members and 58 police members, died during the war that raged from 7-25 October.
As many as 25 journalists were also reported to have died while covering Israel’s war. The number of Palestinian journalists killed since October 7 has now reached 21. Three Israeli journalists and one Lebanese journalist were also killed in the conflict.
For injured victims, Israel said there were 5,431 people, while there were 16,297 injured victims in Gaza (including 2,000 children and 1,400 women) and 1,828 people in the West Bank.
There are 218 victims missing or being held hostage in Israel. In Gaza, more than 1,500 people disappeared, including 830 children, while in the West Bank 1,215 people were detained.
Israel Demands the Resignation of UN Secretary General
Israel demands that UN Secretary General António Guterres resign from his position after giving speeches and statements regarding Israel’s war in Gaza some time ago.
Israel’s UN Ambassador, Gilad Erdan, said Guterres should resign. He also called the speech “shocking”, and said that “he views the massacre carried out by the Nazi terrorist Hamas in a distorted and immoral manner”, as quoted by Al Jazeera.
Apart from that, Israel also refused to issue a visa for UN humanitarian affairs chief Martin Griffiths as a result of Guterres’ comments at the UN Security Council (DK) some time ago.
“Because of his words we will refuse to issue visas to UN representatives. We have refused visas to deputy secretary general for humanitarian affairs Martin Griffiths. The time has come to teach them a lesson,” said Israel’s UN ambassador Gilad Erdan.
Erdogan cancels visit to Israel
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has canceled travel plans to Israel. He said Israel had taken advantage of Turkey’s goodwill and he would not go to Israel as previously planned.
According to The Guardian’s report, Erdogan said he did not have a problem with the state of Israel, but with Israeli policies.
Erdogan also called for an immediate ceasefire between Israeli and Palestinian forces. He said Turkey would continue to use all political, diplomatic and military means to stop the war.
Apart from that, Erdogan also said that Hamas is not a terrorist group. He described Hamas as a liberation group fighting to protect its land.
The Reuters report said that in a speech to lawmakers from his party in parliament, Erdogan said the Rafah border gate must remain open for humanitarian aid and the prisoner exchange must be completed immediately.
Gaza’s economy is destroyed
In a report outlining conditions in the Palestinian territories last year, the UN Conference on Trade and Development (Unctad) said two-thirds of Gaza’s population lived in poverty, while the unemployment rate of 45% was one of the highest in the world.
Unctad said the “decades-long” blockade had had a major impact on Gaza’s economy. As a result, aid flows that help support living standards for a population of more than 2 million people have been reduced.
The report was prepared by the Geneva-based agency before Hamas militants attacked southern Israeli communities on October 7, killing 1,400 people and taking 222 hostage in Gaza.
Israel’s subsequent bombardment of the territory has damaged infrastructure and caused new economic disruption, while Hamas-run local health authorities claim more than 5,000 Palestinians have been killed.
More than 30% of Hospitals in Gaza are Closed
The UN said more than a third of Gaza’s hospitals, 12 out of a total of 35, and nearly two-thirds of health clinics, 46 out of a total of 72, had been closed due to damage from attacks or fuel shortages.
“Hospital generators will stop working in the next 48 hours due to fuel shortages,” Gaza’s health ministry said on Tuesday.
This situation occurred when Israel’s “total blockade” destroyed health facilities housing thousands of injured people. As a result of continuous Israeli bombing, the situation of health facilities in Palestine has reached a critical point.
Hezbollah, Hamas, and Islamic Jihad Leaders Meet
Lebanon’s Hezbollah leader met with top leaders of Palestinian militant factions Hamas and Islamic Jihad. The three discussed what their alliance should do to “achieve real victory for the resistance”, Hezbollah said on Wednesday.
In a statement, Hezbollah said the meeting involved Hezbollah’s Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah, Hamas deputy chief Saleh al-Arouri and Islamic Jihad chief Ziad al-Nakhala. However, it was not stated when the meeting took place.
“An assessment was made of the international position taken and what the Axis of Resistance must do… to realize a real victory for the resistance in Gaza and Palestine and to stop the brutal aggression,” Hezbollah said, as quoted by Reuters. “There is agreement to continue coordination.”
As part of an Iran-backed regional alliance, heavily armed Hezbollah has exchanged daily fire with Israeli forces along the Israel-Lebanon border since war broke out between Israel and Hamas on October 7.
Israel Attacks Syria
Israel reportedly attacked Syria. A Syrian state media, as quoted by AFP on Wednesday morning, said an Israeli attack killed eight soldiers in southern Syria.
The Israeli army said it attacked Syrian military infrastructure and mortars in response to rocket fire on Tuesday.
The Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said the attack “destroyed a weapons depot and Syrian air defense radar” and also targeted an infantry unit.
[Gambas:Video CNBC]
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