International News
No Water Or Fuel For Gaza Until Hostages Are Freed, Israel Declares
The Israeli government has declared that it will not lift its blockade on the Gaza Strip for humanitarian purposes until all hostages are released.
This announcement comes in the midst of increasing worries about the diminishing supplies of water, food, and fuel following the fifth night of bombardment, initiated in response to Hamas’ deadly attack over the weekend.
The Israeli energy minister, Israel Katz, wrote on social media that no “electrical switch will be turned on, no water hydrant will be opened and no fuel truck will enter” until the “abductees” are free, the UK Guardian reported
Israel is gearing up for a ground invasion in retaliation to the brutal massacres perpetrated by Hamas in 20 Israeli communities last weekend, accompanied by the abduction of dozens of hostages.
In a swift response, Israel Defence Forces (IDF) conducted strikes, resulting in 33 casualties within a two-hour span overnight on Thursday. This intensified violence has raised the Gaza death toll to 1,200, prompting recovery efforts by civil defense groups to retrieve the bodies in affected areas.
The report highlights that six neighborhoods in the strip have been obliterated since the commencement of the conflict.
The World Health Organization reveals that 18 healthcare facilities and 20 ambulances have been impacted, with 11 healthcare workers losing their lives. This marks the most severe bombing campaign endured by the strip in the 16 years since Hamas took control of the densely populated area, housing 2.3 million people.
As of late Wednesday, the United Nations reported a 30% surge in the number of people displaced by airstrikes within 24 hours, reaching 339,000 individuals, with two-thirds seeking refuge in UN schools.
Meanwhile, Palestinian media conveyed that the bombings claimed the life of Mohammed Deif’s brother, the military commander of Hamas, and a senior commander from Palestinian Islamic Jihad.
Hazem Balousha, The Guardian’s Gaza correspondent, conveyed through a morning phone interview that residents in the strip have been informed of hospitals restricting admissions to emergency cases only.
Furthermore, the Rafah crossing connecting Gaza to Egypt remains sealed, and the lone power station depleted its fuel reserves on Tuesday, leaving the strip dependent on scattered private generators. The situation could worsen if fuel is not allowed in, leading to the potential shutdown of these generators as well.
Israel’s death toll has risen to 1,200, as disclosed by Lt Col Richard Hecht, a spokesperson for the Israeli military, who stated on Thursday that forces are in preparation for a ground assault, pending orders from the political leadership.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, at the helm of a newly formed unity government and war cabinet inclusive of opposition members, has expressed determination to “crush and destroy” Hamas.
“We are all in this together. We are all enlisting. This is not a political partnership, but rather a unity of fate. This is the time to close ranks and to win,” said Benny Gantz, the leader of the centrist National Unity party and a strident critic of Netanyahu’s current far-right government.
As per BIZTELLERS earlier report, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken arrived in Tel Aviv on Thursday as part of a Middle East tour demonstrating Washington’s solidarity with Israel. This visit follows the arrival of the first plane carrying US munitions in Israel on Wednesday night.
Antony Blinken’s arrival is anticipated to align with the presence of a US aircraft carrier in the region, heightening concerns that recent events might escalate and involve Hezbollah, the Lebanese militant group, as well as Palestinian factions in the occupied West Bank and the restive city of Jerusalem.
The United Kingdom is considering sweeping new restrictions that could limit or completely block children under the age of 16 from accessing social media platforms, as part of a broader push to improve online safety and reduce excessive screen time among young users.
The proposal, currently under government consultation, is being led by Prime Minister Keir Starmer and focuses on addressing concerns over how teenagers interact with platforms such as Instagram and TikTok.
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Officials say the move is driven by growing evidence and public concern that algorithm-driven feeds and “endless scrolling” features may be negatively affecting children’s sleep patterns, concentration levels, and overall well-being.
The government is also reviewing whether additional measures such as app curfews and time limits should be introduced.
Technology Secretary Liz Kendall said the consultation has already attracted widespread public input, with tens of thousands of responses from parents, teenagers, and advocacy groups.
She noted that the government is particularly interested in feedback on addictive platform design features and the use of AI tools targeting younger users.
The UK is also studying policies already implemented in other countries. Australia has introduced stricter age-based restrictions, while Greece and Indonesia have also moved toward tighter regulation of children’s access to social media.
Authorities emphasize that no final decision has been made, but the consultation process is expected to shape future legislation on how tech companies operate and how young users are protected online in the digital age.
U.S. President Donald Trump has sparked global reactions following his remarks about Pope Leo XIV after the Pope’s recent anti-war message calling for peace in conflict-hit regions.
The controversy began after Pope Leo XIV delivered a strong appeal at the Vatican, urging world leaders to end ongoing wars and prioritise dialogue over violenceviolence.
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The pontiff warned against the “idolatry of power” and called for global cooperation to restore peace.
Reacting to the message, Trump told reporters he is “not a big fan” of Pope Leo XIV, describing him as “very liberal” and questioning his views on crime and international security.
The U.S. President further criticised the Pope’s stance on global conflicts, suggesting his message overlooks serious security challenges linked to rising geopolitical tensions, including nuclear concerns.
In a follow-up post on Truth Social, Trump intensified his criticism, accusing the Pope of taking a weak position on foreign policy matters and suggesting political factors influenced his leadership position.
The comments have since triggered widespread debate across political and religious circles, adding to ongoing tensions between Washington and the Vatican over issues such as immigration policy, military action, and global diplomacy.
While both sides have previously denied any formal rift, the latest exchange has renewed global attention on their differing positions regarding war and peace efforts.
The Israeli military said on Thursday that Mohammed Wishah, an Al Jazeera journalist killed in a strike in Gaza on Wednesday, was a Hamas operative “operating under the guise of a journalist.”
According to Israeli forces, Wishah was “a key terrorist in Hamas’ rocket and weapons production headquarters” and had been planning attacks against soldiers in the area.
The military said he used his journalist identity to advance Hamas’ operations against Israel.
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Al Jazeera, the Qatar-based broadcaster, strongly condemned the killing. In a statement, the network described the attack as a “heinous crime of targeting and killing” its correspondent and insisted the strike was deliberate, not accidental.
The channel vowed to pursue “all necessary legal action to prosecute those responsible for the killing of its correspondents and staff in Gaza.”
Media rights organization Reporters Without Borders also condemned the incident, stating that Wishah’s name now joins “more than 220 journalists killed in two and a half years by Israeli forces in Gaza, at least 70 of whom were killed while performing their duties.”
The killing occurred despite a US-backed ceasefire in Gaza that has been in effect since October 2025, highlighting ongoing tensions and frequent accusations of truce violations by both Israel and Hamas.
Al Jazeera listed Wishah among 11 of its journalists killed in Gaza since the October 7, 2023, Hamas attack on southern Israel that triggered the Gaza war.
Past incidents include the killing of Mohammad Salama in August 2025 and the deaths of four Al Jazeera staff and two freelancers outside Al-Shifa hospital in Gaza City earlier that year, prompting widespread condemnation.
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