Here’s the latest on the Middle East

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Northern Gaza aid concerns, Lebanon, Hezbollah and explosions in Israel – here's the latest in the Middle East.
Northern Gaza aid concerns, Lebanon, and explosions in Israel – here's the latest in the Middle East

The U.S. has called on Israel to allow more aid into Gaza or risk having some of its weapons supply cut over concerns of a “deteriorating humanitarian situation” in Gaza and the Middle East.

It comes as Israel has intensified its attacks on northern Gaza over recent weeks.

At the same time, travel warnings have been updated for Australians in Israel amid concerns about an “ongoing threat of missile and rocket attacks [into] Israel“.

Background

On 7 October, Hamas launched an attack on Israel. According to data cited by the UN, roughly 1,200 people were killed. Hamas, which Australia lists as a terrorist organisation, captured about 240 hostages. 101 people remain captive today.

Israel responded by declaring war and bombarding Gaza. According to data cited by the UN, more than 42,300 Palestinians have now been killed since 7 October. Israel’s war in Gaza has caused a humanitarian crisis, with most of Gaza’s population now displaced.

Northern Gaza

Over the past fortnight, the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) have focused on attacking parts of northern Gaza, where approximately 400,000 Palestinians remain. Gaza’s biggest refugee camp, Jabalia, is in this area.

According to the UN’s Humanitarian Coordinator for the Palestinian Territories, sustained Israeli attacks have resulted in 50,000 people being displaced in the Jabalia area.

The IDF claim they have “eliminated dozens of terrorists and confiscated numerous weapons” in the area.

This week, an Israeli strike hit the Al-Aqsa Hospital compound in central Gaza, killing at least five people.

The airstrike set ablaze the tents of Palestinians who were sheltering in the hospital’s car park.

The IDF said it targeted a Hamas control centre in the car park adjacent to the hospital.

A U.S. National Security Council spokesman called the images “deeply disturbing” and urged Israel to do more to protect civilians.

Aid in Gaza

On 12 October, the World Food Programme (WFP), which is part of the United Nations, warned a key entry point for aid into northern Gaza had been cut off, and that no food aid had entered the north since the beginning of the month.

In a statement, the WFP said: “Escalating violence in northern Gaza is having a disastrous impact on food security for thousands of Palestinian families.”

US letter

The next day, the U.S. Government wrote to the Israeli Government, threatening to pause its weapons supply if Israel did not allow more aid to enter Gaza.

The letter urged Israeli leaders to open four border crossings into Gaza within 30 days.

Failure to comply could impact U.S. arms shipments to Israel, it warned. Brown University estimates U.S. military aid to Israel cost $US17.9 billion ($AU26.7 billion) in the year to September 2024.

An Israeli official said authorities were reviewing the letter and taking the matter “seriously”.

On Wednesday, Israel said 50 trucks carrying humanitarian aid had entered northern Gaza via two crossings.

Lebanon

While the Israel-Hamas war continues in Gaza, a parallel war between Israel and Hezbollah has intensified.

On October 8 last year, Hezbollah, which Australia classifies as a terrorist organisation, began firing rockets at northern Israel. Since that time, cross-border attacks have continued.

Hundreds of people have been killed by Israeli strikes across Lebanon in recent weeks, with the IDF intensifying its attacks on the south and the capital Beirut. The Lebanese Health Ministry says 2,300 people have now been killed since October last year.

Aitou strike

An Israeli airstrike on the majority-Catholic village of Aitou in Lebanon’s north has killed around 23 people and injured more than 100 others.

UN Human Rights spokesman, Jeremy Laurence, has since called for a “prompt and thorough investigation” into the airstrike, which had killed at least two children and hit residential buildings.

The IDF has not commented on the Aitou strike.

UN peacekeepers

UN peacekeepers, who have been situated at the Israel-Lebanon border for decades, have this week claimed IDF strikes damaged their headquarters in southern Lebanon and injured five peacekeepers.

A joint statement from 40 countries “strongly condemned” the strikes.

Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu denied targeting the headquarters and said the Israeli military had told UN forces to leave the area before it advanced into Lebanon.

Hezbollah

Earlier this week, Hezbollah launched a missile strike on an Israeli army base, killing four soldiers and penetrating the country’s air defence systems.

Israel’s air defence system has intercepted most of the thousands of missiles Hezbollah has launched since last year.

Around 60,000 Israelis have been displaced due to these Hezbollah attacks.

Iran

This week, the U.S. announced it will send an anti-missile system to Israel to “help bolster” its defences. It follows an Iranian missile attack on Israel earlier this month.

According to the Pentagon, U.S. military personnel will be deployed to operate the system on the ground in Israel.

It is widely expected that Israel will retaliate against Iran imminently. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said this week that any response will be “based on [Israel’s] national interest”.

Australia

Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong this week announced financial sanctions and travel bans on five Iranians who had contributed to Iran’s missile program.

In a statement, she said: “Australia will continue to hold Iran to account for its reckless and destabilising actions.”

Australia also updated its travel advice for Israel to “do not travel”. According to Smartraveller, there is an “ongoing threat of missile and rocket attacks in Israel”. Australians in Israel have been encouraged to leave “while it’s safe to do so”.

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