By Austin Ogwuda with Agency report
Pressure is building on the international community to get Israel to allow desperately needed aid into Gaza, with more countries advocating for a “humanitarian pause” in fighting.
New satellite images revealed the devastation wrought by Israel’s bombs.
Israeli forces said they have killed the deputy head of the Hamas’ intelligence directorate, who they say is partially responsible for planning the attacks earlier this month.
Humanitarian aid, but no fuel, enters Gaza through Egypt border crossing, Palestine Red Crescent Society. The Palestine Red Crescent Society says 12 aid trucks entered Gaza through the Rafah border crossing with Egypt Thursday, carrying water, food, medicine and medical supplies — but no fuel.
The organization said it has received 74 trucks since humanitarian aid transfers into the Gaza Strip resumed several days ago.
United Nations officials emphasized that hundreds of aid trucks entered Gaza daily before the deadly October 7 Hamas attacks, meaning basic supplies are trickling into the enclave at a much slower pace than needed.Israel continues to block deliveries of fuel altogether, saying that Hamas would only divert it for military use.
A Hamas delegation has held talks in Moscow with a senior Russian foreign ministry official, according to Russian State media TASS and a Hamas statement.
TASS said discussions focused on the release of hostages held by Hamas, as well as the evacuation of Russian citizens from Gaza. Mousa Abu Marzouk, deputy chief of Hamas’s political bureau, and Basem Naim, another senior Gaza-based Hamas leader, were among the visiting delegation, which met with Russia’s deputy foreign minister and Special Presidential Representative for the Middle East and Africa Mikhail Bogdanov, according to the Hamas statement.
TASS quoted the foreign ministry saying talks had taken place as part of Russia’s position calling for “the immediate release of foreign hostages located in the Gaza Strip.
“Issues related to ensuring the evacuation of Russian and other foreign citizens from the territory of the Palestinian enclave were also discussed,” the foreign ministry added.
The Hamas delegation praised the position of Russian President Vladimir Putin and stressed the need for the international community to “uphold its responsibilities against the crime of genocide committed by the Zionist government,” according to the Hamas statement.
“Mr. Bogdanov expressed his country’s position in support of the rights of the Palestinian people and showed his country’s efforts with the relevant parties aimed at a ceasefire, opening the crossings and bringing in humanitarian aid (to Gaza),” the Hamas statement added.
Israel’s reaction: Israel condemned Russian officials’ meeting with senior Hamas officials, according to an Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs statement.
“Israel condemns the invitation of senior Hamas officials to Moscow, which is an act of support of terrorism and legitimizes the atrocities of Hamas terrorists,” the foreign ministry said.
“We call on the Russian government to expel the Hamas terrorists immediately.
“Evacuation requests: On Thursday, Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova also that about 1,000 citizens of Russia and member countries of the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) have requested to be evacuated from Gaza.
Credit: CNN
