Israel has demanded immediate action against photojournalists who were allegedly present and photographed the October 7 Hamas attack on the Gaza border. Israel accused the journalists of being "accomplices in crimes against humanity" by joining in covering Hamas' acts. The Government Press Office sent an urgent letter seeking clarification from media bureaus employing the photographers. Israel cited a report identifying six photojournalists present during the attack working for Reuters, AP and NYT. Reuters denied having prior knowledge, stating its photographers arrived after the attack began. Israel insists the journalists violated ethics by being present during the terror attack.

The World Health Organization warned that Gaza faces increased risk of infectious diseases spreading due to Israeli airstrikes disrupting health services. Fuel shortages have caused desalination plants to shut down, risking bacterial infections from contaminated water. 18 of 35 hospitals in Gaza have closed due to lack of electricity and supplies, overburdening remaining facilities. Solid waste collection has been disrupted, increasing insects and rodents that transmit disease. Shortages of food, water, and medicine compound the crisis. Though Israel has allowed some aid, it refuses fuel deliveries. With weakened health systems amid overcrowding, the WHO said worrying disease trends are already emerging in Gaza.

France is hosting a Gaza aid conference where officials are discussing a potential 1-3 day ceasefire in Gaza in exchange for the release of over 240 hostages held by Hamas, but no agreement has been reached yet. Israel's PM Netanyahu insists there will be no ceasefire 'until hostages are freed', while Hamas says no release until ceasefire. Emmanuel Macron said a "humanitarian pause" and ceasefire are urgently needed in Gaza to protect civilians. While Israel's allies avoided ceasefire calls but instead called for “humanitarian pauses”, Macron went further stating that "civilians must be protected" which is "indispensable and non-negotiable." UN aid chief Martin Griffiths said, “The United Nations cannot be part of a unilateral proposal to push Palestinians into so-called safe zones.” Doctors Without Borders chief, Isabelle Defourny, called southern Gaza safe a "fake zones" with 30% of Gazans dead there. UN rights chief Volker Turk criticized Israel's "unlawful evacuations." Belgium's deputy PM Petra De Sutter called for EU sanctions on Israel over "inhumane" bombings.

The IDF opened another evacuation corridor in northern Gaza for civilians to flee south for 6 hours today after 50,000 used the safe passage yesterday. IDF spokesman Lt. Col. Avichay Adraee warned residents not to listen to Hamas leaders residing abroad and to move south for safety via the corridor on Salah a-Din Street. Previous days saw the corridor open for only 4 hours compared to the 6 hours announced for today. In the fightings that occurred in the last 24 hours, The IDF said it killed a senior Hamas commander responsible for anti-tank missile operations in Gaza. Ibrahim Abu-Maghsib who directed "numerous" missile launches at Israelis. Separately, the navy struck Hamas missile sites in Gaza. Troops uncovered a Hamas drone manufacturing facility and weapons depot in a residential building next to a Gaza City school. The IDF said it recovered drones, bomb-making equipment, and explosives at the site near children's bedrooms.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, accompanied by the War Cabinet, met with council heads from Judea and Samaria, the administrative division of Israel that encompasses the entire West Bank, on Wednesday. He praised the IDF's progress in the Gaza Strip, emphasizing there will be 'no ceasefire without the release of hostages.' Netanyahu outlined three goals: intensifying counter-terrorism efforts, preventing escalation and Judea and Samaria from becoming a second front, and addressing a small group of extremists damaging Israel's image internationally. More than 10,000 people, including thousands of children, have been killed in Israel’s retaliatory operation, now in its second month, according to Gaza’s Hamas-run health ministry. Hamas attacked Israel on October 7, killing more than 1,400 people and taking hundreds of hostages, according to Israeli officials. [Image: GPO, Israel]

On Wednesday, the IDF reported substantial advancements in its ground operation against Hamas in the Gaza Strip. Since the mission's initiation last month, approximately 130 tunnel shafts have been destroyed, focusing on key areas, notably under Shifa Hospital and northern Gaza, where Hamas maintains its primary bases of operations. The 460th Brigade, aided by engineering forces, located tunnel entrances near a structure with suspected components of the tunnel's air filtration system. Another tunnel near a UNRWA school in Beit Hanoun was successfully demolished. The 252nd Reserve Division's engagements led to the demise of hundreds of Hamas operatives. Unfortunately, Israeli casualties rose to 33, highlighting the intensity of the conflict.

Brazilian security forces, in collaboration with Israeli spy agency Mossad and global counterparts, have successfully dismantled a Hezbollah terrorist plot orchestrated and funded by the Iranian regime. Mossad in their statement said the thwarted attack aimed at Israeli and Jewish targets in Brazil involved an intricate terror network spanning multiple countries. Mossad expressed gratitude to Brazilian authorities for apprehending the Hezbollah-operated cell. Israel claims that Hezbollah and Iran persist in their global operations, targeting Israeli, Jewish, and Western interests against the backdrop of the Gaza conflict with Hamas. Mossad remains vigilant, employing diverse methods to counteract these threats wherever they emerge. [Photo: Representative Image]

In the heart of the Gaza Strip, Israel faces daunting challenges as it conducts a ground operation against Hamas militants. Encircling Gaza City, Israeli forces grapple with the intricacies of urban warfare. Narrow lanes and densely packed buildings provide cover for Hamas operatives, who employ anti-tank guided missiles (ATGMs) with deadly accuracy. The 'Gaza Metro,' a network of secret tunnels, adds to the complexity, enabling surprise attacks and ambushes. The street fighting in Gaza which is expected to stretch for weeks also poses the challenge for Israel to maintain supply lines when fighting deep in hostile territory. The conflict's evolving dynamics underscore the delicate balance between military strategy, humanitarian considerations, and global perceptions in this high-stakes confrontation.

Israel's defense minister said Tuesday the military is operating "in the heart" of Gaza City, tightening the noose on Hamas as forces locate the group's vast tunnel network. PM Netanyahu affirmed the month-long war is applying great force unseen by Hamas before. He said ground troops have been deepening pressure hourly. An Israeli operation also killed a Hamas weapons/industry leader. Israel's minister said armored forces in Gaza have one target - Hamas infrastructure and commanders. Though Hamas claimed to inflict heavy losses on Israeli troops, Israel claimed to isolate Hamas's Gaza chief in his bunker with a weakening command chain and located kilometers of tunnels under hospitals and schools housing Hamas assets. Israel affirms it is methodically grinding down Hamas in protracted urban warfare. But risks remain high with military goals still unachieved like eliminating Hamas, its leadership and tunnels, and rescuing Israeli hostages. Meanwhile, US Secretary Blinken in Tokyo sought G7 consensus on dealing with the crisis, including pushing a humanitarian pause for Gaza civilians.

Republican presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy plans to make a non-interventionist foreign policy central to his campaign by introducing a pledge to avoid "World War Three." Ramaswamy told Reuters he will formally announce the pledge in Miami this week, requiring appointees in his potential administration to commit to three principles: avoiding major war is vital, war should only be a last resort, and leaders' sole duty is to U.S. citizens. The move comes amid debates within the GOP over America's global role. Ramaswamy opposes aid to Ukraine and Israel, differing from rivals Nikki Haley and Chris Christie. He aims to position himself as the candidate least likely to enter a foreign war if elected.