In a significant shift, Israeli military officials have privately told journalists that approximately 70,000 Palestinians have been killed in the Gaza war, a figure that largely corroborates the enclave's health ministry data, according to local media reports.
In a significant departure from its longstanding position, an Israeli military official has acknowledged a death toll in Gaza close to 70,000, aligning with figures long maintained by Palestinian health authorities. This admission follows over two years of war and persistent international scrutiny over casualty counts.
Israeli media reports indicate the military now estimates around 70,000 Palestinian fatalities in Gaza, a figure aligning with earlier Hamas-run health ministry counts it had previously questioned.
Israel announces the Rafah border crossing will reopen this Sunday for limited travel between Gaza and Egypt, marking a significant shift in access for the enclave's 2 million residents after an eight-month Israeli control of the vital gateway.
The Kremlin stated President Vladimir Putin has agreed to a personal appeal from former U.S. President Donald Trump to pause strikes on Kyiv until February 1, aiming to foster conditions for potential talks, though the scope and durability of the pause remain unclear.
Reuters reveals that senior U.S. diplomats suppressed graphic cables from aid officials detailing catastrophic famine and devastation in northern Gaza in early 2024, preventing the warnings from reaching top Biden administration leadership.
Kyiv expresses gratitude for a reported week-long halt to strikes on major cities brokered by the U.S. president, as freezing temperatures exacerbate the humanitarian situation. Moscow remains silent on the alleged agreement.
The U.S. military and civilian leaders of Washington's flagship Gaza mission are departing, with successors unannounced, as European allies reassess their participation and questions mount over the initiative's future direction.
Foreign women detained in Syria's Roj camp, linked to the Islamic State group, see a potential path to freedom following a government offensive that weakened their Kurdish guards. As political dynamics shift, their hopes for amnesty or repatriation collide with international reluctance and an uncertain future for the camps.
