LIVE | Day 42: Internet, phone networks collapse; Israel set to target south Gaza
4,000 litres of water, 1,500 readymade meals sent to Shifa Hospital: IDF
The Israel Defence Forces (IDF) on Friday claimed that it prioritises on the wellbeing of civilians stranded inside the Shifa Hospital in Gaza and has sent over 4,000 litres of water and 1,500 units of readymade meals for them.
The IDF shared photos of the purported consignment along with a message on X.
Thousands in 'danger of death' amid hospital raid
Israeli strikes continue across Gaza, with the enclave under a communications blackout due to a lack of fuel for generators.
- Ashraf al-Qudra, Gaza health ministry spokesman, says “thousands of women, children, sick and wounded are in danger of death” as Israeli raids on al-Shifa continue for a third night.
Turkey's Erdogan to visit Germany as differences over the Israel-Hamas war widen
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan is expected in Berlin on Friday on a short visit to Germany as the two countries' stances on the war between Israel and Hamas are poles apart.
Erdogan is due to meet Chancellor Olaf Scholz and Germany's largely ceremonial president, Frank-Walter Steinmeier. Scholz invited Erdogan to visit in May following his re-election.
Turkey is viewed as an awkward but essential partner in Germany, which is home to more than 3 million people with Turkish roots. It's a NATO ally that also is important in efforts to control the flow of refugees and migrants to Europe, but there have been tensions in recent years over a variety of issues.
This visit is overshadowed by a growing chasm between the two countries' stance on events following Hamas' October 7 attack on Israel.
Germany is a staunch ally of Israel and has opposed calls for a cease-fire, while pushing for aid to civilians in Gaza, advocating “humanitarian pauses” and seeking to keep open channels of communication with other countries in the region to prevent the conflict from spreading.
Erdogan has taken an increasingly strident stance against Israel. On Wednesday, he called it a “terrorist state” intent on destroying Gaza along with all of its residents. He described Hamas militants as “resistance fighters” trying to protect their lands and people. Hamas is considered a terrorist organisation by Israel, the United States and European Union.
Modi condemns death of civilians in Israel-Hamas war
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday condemned the killing of civilians in the Israel-Hamas war and said there needs to be an increased cooperation among the Global South amid rising challenges in West Asia due in the wake of the conflict.
“We all are seeing that new challenges are emerging from the events in the West Asia region. India has condemned the terrorist attack in Israel on October 7,” Modi said while addressing the inaugural session of the second Voice of Global South Summit.
He said while India has stressed on dialogue and diplomacy, it vehemently condemns the death of civilians in the conflict.
“After talking to Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, we have also sent humanitarian aid to the people of Palestine. This is the time when the countries of the Global South should unite for the greater global good,” he said.
IDF claims it has found tunnel shaft in al-Shifa hospital
The Israeli military in a communication late on Thursday (November 16) said that it had discovered a Hamas tunnel shaft as well as a vehicle with weapons at the al-Shifa Hospital complex in Gaza.
“In the Shifa hospital, IDF (Israel Defence Forces) troops found an operational tunnel shaft and a vehicle containing a large number of weapons,” said a statement from the military.
It has made public some videos and photographs of the tunnel shaft and weapons. However, no independent verification of this claim was possible as yet.