Death – Obituary – Accident and Crime News : Israeli Offensive Shifts to Crowded Southern Gaza, Driving Up Death Toll Despite Evacuation Orders
KHAN YOUNIS, Gaza Strip (AP) — Israel continued its offensive on crowded southern Gaza on Saturday, leading to a rise in the death toll, despite evacuation orders being issued. The United States and other nations called on Israel to do more to protect civilians, as a truce that was in place collapsed.
The chances of further cease-fires in Gaza seem unlikely, as Israel recalled its negotiators. Hamas’ deputy leader also stated that any potential swap of Gaza-held hostages for Palestinians imprisoned by Israel would only occur as part of ending the war.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu declared on Saturday night that the war would continue until all of its goals were achieved, emphasizing the need for a ground operation.
According to the Health Ministry in Gaza, at least 200 Palestinians have been killed since the fighting resumed on Friday morning. Several multi-story residential buildings were hit on Saturday, causing widespread destruction. The military dropped leaflets ordering the evacuation of approximately one-quarter of the Gaza Strip, which is home to hundreds of thousands of residents, according to U.N. monitors.
Prior to the resumption of fighting, the United States had warned Israel to avoid significant displacement of civilians.
In a separate diplomatic effort, Vice President Kamala Harris traveled to Dubai for talks with Arab leaders. She focused on shaping the future of Gaza post-conflict while urging Israel to take more steps to protect Palestinian civilians from the devastating attacks. Harris met with leaders from the United Arab Emirates, Egypt, and Jordan, and spoke with Qatar’s emir over the phone.
The shake-up within a super PAC supporting Florida Governor Ron DeSantis has caused instability within his political operation just weeks before the Iowa Republican caucuses. Three senior members of the super PAC, including its CEO, communications director, and director of operations, have left the group. DeSantis is under pressure to cut into former President Donald Trump’s lead in Iowa and nationally, as more voters and donors consider supporting former United Nations Ambassador Nikki Haley.
In Cedar Rapids, Iowa, Trump called Biden the “destroyer” of American democracy, despite his own efforts to overturn the 2020 election. Trump claimed that Biden had been using the federal justice system against his political opponents, comparing him to a Third World political tyrant. Biden’s campaign spokesman responded by stating that Trump’s America in 2025 would be one where the government is a personal weapon to lock up political enemies.
Fifty oil companies, representing nearly half of global production, have pledged to reach near-zero methane emissions and end routine flaring in their operations by 2030. While this move could help slow temperature rise and reduce global warming, environmental groups have called it a “smokescreen.” The announcement was made by the president of this year’s United Nations climate talks, Sultan al-Jaber, who has been working to bring oil companies to the negotiating table.
Two separate incidents involving AI-generated nude images of teenage girls have sparked calls for better protections for victims. In one case in New Jersey, nude images of a 14-year-old girl and her classmates were circulated at a high school, while in suburban Seattle, Washington, a teenage boy allegedly created and distributed similar images of other students. These cases highlight the growing issue of explicit AI-generated material that disproportionately harms women and children.