Israel’s troops advance as diplomatic efforts aim to at least pause Gaza fighting

Palestinians arrive at Rafah, the border crossing between the Gaza Strip and Egypt, on Wednesday, Nov. 1, 2023. (AP Photo/Fatima Shbair)Israeli army tanks move towards the Gaza Strip border in southern Israel Wednesday, Nov.1, 2023. Israeli ground forces have been operating in Gaza in recent days as Israel presses ahead with its war against Hamas militants. (AP Photo/Ariel Schalit)Palestinians and foreign aid workers wait to cross into Egypt at Rafah, Gaza Strip, on Wednesday, Nov. 1, 2023.

More than 1,400 people in Israel have been killed, most of them in the Oct. 7 Hamas rampage that started the fighting, and around 240 hostages were taken from Israel into Gaza by the militant group.RAFAH, Gaza Strip — The power generator of the northern Gaza Strip’s key hospital went out of service early Thursday, Gaza’s Health Ministry said.

The Indonesian Hospital in Beit Lahia is near the densely populated Jabaliya refugee camp, which has been the target of heavy Israeli airstrikes this week. Health ministry spokesperson Ashraf Al-Qudra said in a televised statement that the hospital is running on a smaller backup generator but had to turn off lights in most rooms, shut down oxygen generators and resort to oxygen cylinders, and turn off mortuary refrigerators. headtopics.com

“These exceptional measures will allow the Indonesian Hospital to work for a matter of days,” Al-Qudra says. “However, if we cannot secure electricity or fuel then we will face a disaster.” While some aid trucks have entered the blockaded Gaza Strip since the war began last month, Israel has not allowed trucks to bring fuel.UNITED NATIONS – A retiring United Nations human rights agency official strongly criticized the U.N. for failing to stop what he called “a genocide unfolding before our eyes” in Gaza.

Craig Mokhiber, a U.S. human rights lawyer who joined the U.N. in 1992, claimed the “slaughter of the Palestinian people” is rooted in decades of persecution and purging by Israel “based entirely upon their status as Arabs.” headtopics.com

Israel-Gaza war live updates: Foreign nationals gather near Gaza border crossing to enter EgyptThe Hamas border authority told hundreds of foreign nationals and Palestinian dual citizens to show up at the Rafah border crossing. Ambulances also moved through the crossing Wednesday. Read more ⮕

Israel-Gaza war live updates: Foreign nationals, injured Palestinians wait to leave Gaza for EgyptThe Hamas border authority told hundreds of foreign nationals and Palestinian dual citizens to show up at the Rafah border crossing Wednesday. Read more ⮕

Israel-Gaza war live updates: Gaza evacuations send Injured, foreign nationals through Rafah crossing in EgyptThe Rafah border crossing opened after negotiations between the U.S., Israeli and Egyptian governments and Hamas, with Qatar mediating, according to a person briefed on the agreement. Read more ⮕

Israel-Gaza war live updates: Israel strikes ‘all parts of Gaza’ as forces push toward Gaza CityIsraeli forces have entered the outskirts of Gaza City. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has rejected growing calls for a cease-fire. Read more ⮕

Live updates: Israel-Hamas war, crisis in Gaza as Israel warns of long warIsrael says the next stage of war with Hamas has begun after expanding its ground operations in Gaza. Meanwhile, the humanitarian crisis in the enclave is deepening. Follow for live updates. Read more ⮕

Live updates: Israel-Hamas war, crisis in Gaza, Bolivia cuts Israel tiesThe Israeli military claimed Tuesday that it killed a top Hamas commander in a deadly strike on the Jabalya refugee camp in northern Gaza. Hamas however has denied the presence of one of its leaders in the camp. Follow for live updates. Read more ⮕