Rains arrive, offering relief to survivors yet failing to quench the thirst of many. The besieged strip receives this gift from the sky, even as homes remain ruined. In a neighborhood scarred by destruction, 45 percent of residences show damage and thousands of structures lie in ruins. Some places are completely wiped out. The United Nations reports 41,000 homes destroyed or severely damaged. Amid the crisis, hopeful signs emerged from Al-Shifa hospital, the largest in Gaza, which has endured weeks of bombardment. As winter looms, aid workers and UN teams evacuated the area this Sunday, taking with them premature babies and their families from the hospital.
In Israel, the initial discordant notes of the conflict continue. This diverges from the army’s official account and has stirred doubt among some Israeli readers and media outlets. The Jerusalem Post questioned the version alleging Al-Shifa housed Hamas command, saying there was no solid evidence after the building was taken. On Sunday, the Israeli Army released video footage they described as proof of a tunnel network under the hospital complex. A Hebrew-language security report also noted that several Israeli military helicopters opened fire on Hamas militants and, in some cases, killed civilians who were present at a festival where more than 350 people died. Haaretz cites statements from Hamas militiamen who were arrested that day, claiming they had not planned an attack on the festival.
hostage agreement
Bombings over Gaza did not stop, and international organizations warned of the growing risk of famine. The fighting has already claimed lives in refugee camps such as Bureij and Nuseirat, with at least 31 dead on Sunday. Among the deceased are two journalists. The conflict has already taken the lives of many reporters around the world, and the toll continues to rise. In the West Bank, Israeli forces have also conducted operations that resulted in more fatalities, including a disabled person. Since October 7, the toll across the region has reached dozens, with more casualties reported daily.
Diplomatic talks between Israel and Hamas, mediated by the United States, have paused hostilities briefly as discussions surface about freeing captives. Reports from The Washington Post suggest a potential ceasefire could be reached within five days, though the White House has denied that any formal agreement has been reached. Families of prisoners have walked long distances to press leaders for action, hoping for swift reunions with their loved ones. One father told El Periódico de Cataluña that his government has not done enough to bring his wife and daughter home.
Hijacking of cargo ship in the Red Sea
In the Red Sea region, a tense development unfolded this Sunday as Yemen’s Houthi movement announced it had seized control of a movement near a southbound Israeli-flagged vessel. Israel described the incident as a terrorist act tied to Iran, signaling potential shifts in maritime security across international waters. About 22 people were aboard the Galaxy Leader, a vessel en route from Turkey to India. The Houthis, backed by Iran, declared that operations had begun against ships flagged by Israel. It remains unclear how far this escalation could spread, or what it might mean for ships moving along the coast.
The Gaza crisis remains dire. The death toll has surpassed 16,000, with around 6,900 children among the dead. Many more remain missing, their bodies believed to lie beneath rubble or in streets that are inaccessible to search crews. The region faces a stark shortage of functional hospitals, leaving many patients to rely on improvised shelters. UN facilities and schools have come under renewed attacks as the conflict endures. After 44 days of bombardment, the legal and humanitarian concerns surrounding the siege weigh heavily on observers and residents alike.