Armenia has announced its decision to recognize a Palestinian state, leading to Israel summoning its ambassador for what the Foreign Ministry termed a “severe reprimand.”
Three-quarters of the 193 United Nations member nations have already recognized a Palestinian state, with countries like Ireland and Spain among them. However, major Western powers have not yet done the same. The Palestinians view these recognitions as conferring international legitimacy on their struggle, especially in the face of growing international criticism of Israel’s actions in Gaza and the high number of civilian casualties.
In other developments on Friday, a major hospital in north Gaza reported that approximately 250 children are suffering from malnutrition, with numbers increasing daily due to acute food shortages. Palestinians are experiencing widespread hunger as the war has disrupted the flow of essential supplies to Gaza, rendering the region heavily dependent on aid.
Meanwhile, Israel’s promise to secure a new aid route into southern Gaza has failed due to a breakdown in law and order, rendering the route unusable, according to the U.N. and international aid organizations.
The Israeli military reported the deaths of two soldiers in combat in central Gaza, with three more soldiers sustaining severe injuries.
The violence in Gaza has resulted in the deaths of over 37,100 people, according to the territory’s Health Ministry.
Israel initiated the conflict following Hamas’ attack on Oct. 7, which resulted in the deaths of approximately 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and the abduction of around 250 individuals.
Current updates on the situation include:
— The fate of the latest cease-fire proposal hinges on Netanyahu and Hamas’ leader in Gaza.
— Israel’s commitment to safeguard an aid route into Gaza has faltered due to lawlessness obstructing distribution.
— A visible public disagreement between Israel’s political and military leadership regarding the conduct of the war in Gaza.
— The leader of Lebanon’s Hezbollah militant group cautioning archenemy Israel against escalating tensions.
For ongoing coverage of the Gaza conflict, follow AP’s reporting at https://apnews.com/hub/israel-hamas-war
Here are the latest updates:
Son of one of the first Israeli Olympic medalists killed in Gaza
In a tragic development, an Israeli soldier killed in Gaza combat is revealed to be the son of one of the country’s earliest Olympic medalists, as per the national Olympic Committee.
Omer Smadga, whose death was officially announced by the army, is the son of Oren Smadga, who secured a bronze medal in judo at the 1992 Summer Olympics. The army has not disclosed additional details concerning the circumstances of his death.
Israel’s Olympic Committee expressed deep sorrow alongside the Olympic medalist and coach, who played a role in training the current Israeli Olympic judo team. Whether Smadga will accompany the judo team to Paris remains undisclosed.
The successful performances of Smadga and Yael Arad, who won a silver medal in judo at the 1992 Olympics in Barcelona, significantly contributed to the promotion of the sport in Israel.
Israeli forces eliminate 2 Palestinian militants in northern West Bank
Amid escalated violence in the Israeli-occupied West Bank, Israeli forces have reportedly shot dead two Palestinian militants in the region, with authorities confirming that the two individuals, who were in their 20s, were members of the Palestinian Islamic Jihad.
Violence in the West Bank has surged following the outbreak of the Israel-Hamas conflict last October, resulting in the deaths of at least 549 Palestinians, as reported by the Ramallah-based health ministry.
Bodies of 5 individuals killed in Gaza airstrike recovered
In Gaza City, the Palestinian Civil Defense organization has revealed the recovery of five bodies from two apartments targeted in an airstrike, with several others sustaining injuries in the incident.
An earlier strike on a municipal garage in the city claimed the lives of five individuals, bringing the total casualties on Friday to 10.
The conflict between Israel and Hamas in Gaza has resulted in more than 37,400 fatalities, according to Gaza’s Health Ministry.
