Airstrikes persisted in Gaza on the fourteenth day of the ongoing Israel-Hamas conflict, including in regions that Israel had designated as safe zones. The US government has reaffirmed its backing for Israel and stressed how important it is to secure the release of the hostages held by Hamas.
Following an Israeli assault on Thursday, displaced individuals who sought refuge in a church property in the Gaza Strip reported injuries, according to the Security Ministry under Hamas. With the imminent reopening of the Rafah crossing into Gaza, cargo flights brought food, medication, water purification devices, and sanitation items to Egyptians El Arish airport.
On Thursday, October 19, 2023, demonstrators demonstrated in the Times Square neighborhood of New York, US, calling for the release of captives held in Gaza by Hamas operatives.
US Government to aid Israel
At a news conference, US State Department spokeswoman Matthew Miller stated that the US is ready to help Israel fight Hamas and to make it easier to get humanitarian supplies to Gaza.
US officials, including President Joe Biden, reiterated on Thursday that American intelligence does not link the blast at al-Ahli Hospital with an Israeli airstrike.
Palestinians in Gaza were patiently awaiting for the emergency relief that US President Joe Biden had negotiated. Israel continued to blast targets inside the enclave that is controlled by Hamas.
On October 7, a violent attack by Hamas sparked the conflict and resulted in constant Israeli retaliation. Israel said that in the first attack, at least 1,400 people were killed, most of them civilians, and in the follow-up fighting, about 1,500 Islamist fighters were killed. Palestinians have suffered injuries as a result of Israeli bombs; the Gaza health department has confirmed a total of 3,785 deaths.
UAE & Saudi Arabia leaders Meeting
According to official media, the Presidents of Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates met on Friday. This conference takes place while the two Gulf governments are trying to resolve their disagreements, particularly in light of the Israel-Hamas war, which could get worse and affect the whole Middle East, according to Reuters.
The de facto monarch of Saudi Arabia, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, welcomed UAE Governor Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan at the meeting at the airport in Riyadh. Notably, due to competition between the two nations over investments and regional clout, there haven’t been many official gatherings between these leaders in recent years.
Due to the social media posts expressing sympathy with Gaza, Arab citizens of Israel and Palestinians living in Jerusalem’s eastern part are facing consequences, such as charges, job dismissals, and dismissals, according to Reuters.
These displays of solidarity are a reaction to Israel’s intense shelling of Gaza, which has claimed many lives, most of them innocent ones.
Egypt seeks support for fleeing Palestinians
President Charles Michel of the European Council, who is now in Washington for a meeting with President Joe Biden of the United States and President Ursula von der Leyen of the European Commission, announced his trip to Egypt on Saturday.
He stated that Egypt would require support at this moment underscoring the need of aiding the nation that borders the Gaza Strip, which is ravaged by conflict. He is also scheduled to meet with President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi of Egypt during his weekend visit.
As instructed by President Sisi, Michel will also participate in a symposium on the Peace Process, Palestine, and current Middle East developments, according to his spokesperson Ecaterina Casinge.
According to Reuters, Egypt will host an international summit on Saturday to discuss the growing hostilities in Gaza among Israel and the Palestinian organization Hamas. At the Cairo Peace Summit, a number of well-known leaders.
