https://www.scmp.com/rss/524491/feed The latest news and updates on Mahmud Bassal, the prominent spokesman for Gaza’s Civil Defence agency, a key figure in communicating the humanitarian situation and detailing casualties during the ongoing conflict. His responsibilities include reporting on Israeli strikes, coordinating emergency response, and providing updates to international media. He is known for detailing civilian deaths and the impact on infrastructure. However, the Israeli military alleges Bassal is an active Hamas... en https://assets.i-scmp.com/static/img/icons/scmp-meta-1200x630.png https://www.scmp.com Agence France-Presse Agence France-Presse Israel hammered Gaza City and its outskirts overnight, residents said on Thursday, as the military announced it had taken initial steps in its push to capture Hamas’ last major stronghold. The newly approved plan authorises the call-up of roughly 60,000 reservists, deepening fears the campaign will worsen the already catastrophic humanitarian crisis in the Gaza Strip. “We are not waiting. We have begun the preliminary actions, and already now, IDF (army) troops are holding the outskirts of Gaza... https://www.scmp.com/news/world/middle-east/article/3322657/major-escalation-israel-begins-new-gaza-city-offensive-amid-global-calls-ceasefire?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/world/middle-east/article/3322657/major-escalation-israel-begins-new-gaza-city-offensive-amid-global-calls-ceasefire?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 21 Aug 2025 09:01:11 +0000 Agence France-Presse Agence France-Presse Israel’s defence minister has approved a plan for the conquest of Gaza City and authorised the call-up of around 60,000 reservists to carry it out, his ministry confirmed on Wednesday. Defence Minister Israel Katz’s move piled pressure on Hamas as mediators pushing for a ceasefire in the nearly two-year war in Gaza awaited an official Israeli response to their latest proposal. While mediator Qatar had expressed guarded optimism over the latest proposal, a senior Israeli official said the... https://www.scmp.com/news/world/middle-east/article/3322501/israel-mobilises-60000-reservists-seize-gaza-city-heaping-pressure-hamas?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/world/middle-east/article/3322501/israel-mobilises-60000-reservists-seize-gaza-city-heaping-pressure-hamas?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 20 Aug 2025 08:16:08 +0000 Agence France-Presse Agence France-Presse A senior Israeli official on Tuesday said the government stood firm on its call for the release of all hostages in any future Gaza deal after Hamas accepted a new truce proposal. Mediators are awaiting an official Israeli response to the plan, a day after Hamas signalled its readiness for a fresh round of talks aimed at ending nearly two years of war. Mediator Qatar expressed guarded optimism for the new proposal, noting that it was “almost identical” to an earlier version agreed to by... https://www.scmp.com/news/world/middle-east/article/3322420/gaza-war-israel-demands-full-hostage-release-after-hamas-backs-new-truce?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/world/middle-east/article/3322420/gaza-war-israel-demands-full-hostage-release-after-hamas-backs-new-truce?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 19 Aug 2025 14:49:10 +0000 Agence France-Presse Agence France-Presse A young Palestinian woman with severe wasting who was flown from Gaza to Italy this week for treatment has died, according to the hospital. The 20-year-old, named by Italian media as Marah Abu Zuhri, arrived in Pisa on Thursday on an overnight Italian government humanitarian flight. She had a “very complex clinical picture” and was “in a profound state of organic wasting”, the University Hospital of Pisa said in a statement on Saturday. On Friday, after undergoing tests and starting treatment,... https://www.scmp.com/news/world/middle-east/article/3322105/palestinian-evacuees-death-italy-highlights-gazas-starvation-crisis?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/world/middle-east/article/3322105/palestinian-evacuees-death-italy-highlights-gazas-starvation-crisis?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 16 Aug 2025 14:30:07 +0000 Agence France-Presse Agence France-Presse The Israeli military said on Wednesday it had approved the framework for a new offensive in the Gaza Strip, as Hamas condemned what it called “aggressive” Israeli ground incursions in Gaza City. The approval for the expanded offensive comes days after Israel’s security cabinet called for the seizure of Gaza’s largest city, following 22 months of war that have created dire humanitarian conditions in the Palestinian territory. Israeli armed forces chief Lieutenant General Eyal Zamir “approved the... https://www.scmp.com/news/world/middle-east/article/3321751/israeli-army-approves-framework-gaza-offensive-hamas-claims-aggressive-incursions?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/world/middle-east/article/3321751/israeli-army-approves-framework-gaza-offensive-hamas-claims-aggressive-incursions?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 13 Aug 2025 11:07:34 +0000 Agence France-Presse Agence France-Presse Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Tuesday revived calls to “allow” Palestinians to leave the Gaza Strip, as the military prepares a broader offensive in the territory. Past calls to resettle Gazans outside the war-battered territory, including from US President Donald Trump, have sparked concern among Palestinians and condemnation from the international community. Netanyahu defended his war policies in a rare interview with Israeli media, broadcast shortly after Egypt said Gaza... https://www.scmp.com/news/world/middle-east/article/3321640/israel-pm-floats-allowing-palestinians-out-gaza-mediators-renew-truce-push?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/world/middle-east/article/3321640/israel-pm-floats-allowing-palestinians-out-gaza-mediators-renew-truce-push?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 12 Aug 2025 19:51:05 +0000 Agence France-Presse Agence France-Presse The head of Gaza’s largest hospital on Tuesday said 21 children have died due to malnutrition and starvation in the Palestinian territory in the past three days, while Israel pressed a devastating assault. Gaza’s population of more than 2 million people is facing severe shortages of food and other essentials, with residents frequently killed as they try to collect humanitarian aid at a handful of distribution points. “Twenty-one children have died due to malnutrition and starvation in various... https://www.scmp.com/news/world/middle-east/article/3319194/gaza-horror-show-sees-21-children-die-starvation-and-malnutrition-amid-israel-offensive?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/world/middle-east/article/3319194/gaza-horror-show-sees-21-children-die-starvation-and-malnutrition-amid-israel-offensive?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 22 Jul 2025 16:00:40 +0000 Agence France-Presse Agence France-Presse Gaza’s civil defence agency said Israeli forces killed 34 people on Monday, including 11 waiting for aid, as momentum built behind a ceasefire push for the war-ravaged Palestinian territory. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said a day earlier that his country’s “victory” over Iran had created “opportunities”, including for freeing hostages held by militants in Gaza. His comments raised hopes for a new ceasefire in the conflict that has created dire humanitarian conditions in Gaza. Key... https://www.scmp.com/news/world/middle-east/article/3316432/gaza-rescuers-say-israeli-forces-kill-34-people-11-near-aid-points-ceasefire-hopes-rise?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/world/middle-east/article/3316432/gaza-rescuers-say-israeli-forces-kill-34-people-11-near-aid-points-ceasefire-hopes-rise?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 30 Jun 2025 15:08:18 +0000