Israel-Hamas War: Head of Hamas Intelligence Khan Younis 'Killed' in Israel Airstrikes; Blinken Meets Netanyahu

Russian President Vladimir Putin spoke to Israel Prime Minister Netanyahu, Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi, Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas and Egyptian President Abdelfattah Sisi over phone.

Putin informed them about the steps Russia is taking to help normalize the situation and to prevent further escalation of violence and a humanitarian catastrophe in the Gaza Strip.

Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at the Opening of the Winter Assembly of the 25th Knesset’s Second Session said, “This is a moment of genuine struggle against those who have risen up against us to destroy us”.

UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak in a post on X said that he met Palestinian President Abbas and both of them condemned the horrific actions of Hamas.

The two leaders agreed that the Hamas group does not represent the Palestinian people.

Sunak also said that he offered his support to the Palestinian Authority in working to pursue peace and stability in the region.

Israel is reportedly testing out its new laser-based ‘Iron Man’ missile defence system amid war with the Hamas militants and now Lebonen-base Hezbollah, suggested videos that are doing rounds on social media. READ MORE

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken returned to Israel on Monday to meet Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu.

Blinken said that they discussed the support of US for Israel’s right to defend itself and its citizens from Hamas’ terrorism.

Israeli experts, who conducted autopsies of the bodies of Hamas massacre victims, said that they never imagined in their worst dreams that they would need to handle so many samples together. READ MORE

As per a latest press release by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Government of Pakistan, a decision has been taken to immediately release humanitarian relief assistance for Gaza.

The release also stated that the government is coordinating with Palestinian Red Crescent Society and several other organisations in order to finalize modalities of delivery.

The Spokesperson for Israeli PMO Tal Heinrich said, “Today it is important to highlight what the families told the PM of Israel and what they told the entire nation of Israel, to hold our heads high and to do what must be done against Hamas. Their resilience is our strength.”

He further said that the ones who are aching the most are the ones giving them the most strength.

“We are also still recovering… The IDF found evidence of Hamas-produced kidnapper’s guide. Now the guide explains in gruesome detail how Hamas terrorists should capture and torture kidnapped civilians. We will show you the most recent, the most updated numbers, the official ones that we have. As you can see, over 1,500 Israelis have been killed, and 3,900 injured…”, he added.

The Spokesperson for Israeli PMO Tal Heinrich said, “Today it is important to highlight what the families told the PM of Israel and what they told the entire nation of Israel, to hold our heads high and to do what must be done against Hamas. Their resilience is our strength.”

He further said that the ones who are aching the most are the ones giving them the most strength.

“We are also still recovering… The IDF found evidence of Hamas-produced kidnapper’s guide. Now the guide explains in gruesome detail how Hamas terrorists should capture and torture kidnapped civilians. We will show you the most recent, the most updated numbers, the official ones that we have. As you can see, over 1,500 Israelis have been killed, and 3,900 injured…”, he added.

As the crisis deepens with Israel gearing up for a ground offensive in Gaza, the UN Security Council said that it will discuss the Israel-Hamas war on Monday.

As per an AFP report, diplomats said that two competing draft resolutions would be discussed: one from Russia urging a ceasefire and delivery of humanitarian aid to Gaza, but making no mention of Hamas, and one sponsored by Brazil, calling the Hamas attacks on October 7 that triggered the war an act of terrorism.

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau shared a post on X(formerly Twitter) saying that in the wake of Hamas’ terrorist attacks against Israel, the world has been reminded again that antisemitism has not gone away.

He also said that Canada as a country will not accept any form of hatred against the Jewish communities that is seen across the world.

As per the Israel Defence Forces(IDF), sirens sounded in the city of Tel-Aviv, Central Israel and the city of Jerusalem.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said that he has had a conversation with the families of the ones who have been abducted by the Hamas terrorist organisation.

As per a Sky News report, Netanyahu said that he is “relentless’ in his attempts to bring back the hostages.

The Israel Defence Forces has released the names of the key operatives of the Hamas terrorist organisation killed by them, amidst the ongoing war between Israel and Hamas.

Amid the ongoing Israel-Hamas war, Yuval Noah Harari, Israeli author and historian, in an exclusive interview with CNN-News18 Managing Editor Zakka Jacob, said that he hopes that India will use “its good relations to bring tensions down”. READ MORE

After some incidents at pro-Palestinian marches in Britain occured this weekend, British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak condemned it calling them “simply not acceptable.”

As quoted by The Times of Israel, Sunak during a visit to a Jewish school in London said, “There is no place in our society for antisemitism and we will do everything we can to stamp it out. And where it happens, it will be met with the full force of the law.”

The Foreign Ministry of Iran said that Hamas is potentially ready to release the 200 hostages if Israel stops the airstrikes targeted on the Gaza Strip, as quoted by The Times of Israel.

However, the terror group has not acknowledged of making any such offer.

The Israel Defense Forces said that in the last few hours it conducted dozens of strikes in the Gaza Strip.

According to IDF,as quoted by The Times of Israel, Hamas headquarters, mortar launching positions, and a number of terrorists at a military compound, were included among the targets.

UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, in a conversation with Sky News said that Israel has been very clear that Hamas is the entity that’s responsible for this.

He further said, “The government is taking steps to ensure the situation in the Middle East remains contained to dealing with Hamas and does not spread more broadly”.