Casualties continue in the Middle East

Middle East tensions continue to heat up with Israel stepping up air strikes on Gaza amid lackluster peace talks and Syria seeking to stabilise its interim government.

Medical staff in Gaza said at least 10 people were killed, including five journalists, and more than 10 others were injured in Israeli airstrikes on Gaza early on December 26 (local time). Israel has not commented on the incident. In a separate incident on December 25, five journalists from Al-Quds Today TV channel were killed when their car was attacked near Al-Awda hospital in Nuseirat (Gaza).

The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said the attack on the vehicle was “targeted,” and accused the channel of having ties to Islamic Jihad. In response, Al-Quds Today condemned the incident and asserted that the victims were on a media and humanitarian mission at the time of the attack.

Scene of the attack on Al-Quds Today TV channel vehicle in Gaza

Regarding peace talks, Hamas and Israel blamed each other on the failure to reach a ceasefire agreement in Gaza on December 25. According to Reuters, citing a statement from Hamas, Israel had set new conditions and hindered the agreement on the content of the previous ceasefire agreement, while affirming that this force always showed flexibility and seriousness in the negotiations.

Meanwhile, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu rejected Hamas' claims, accusing the group of reneging on the ceasefire conditions it had reached. Netanyahu affirmed that Israel would continue its efforts to rescue the hostages. Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz announced on December 25 that the IDF would remain in Gaza and maintain "security control."

In Syria, AFP reported that at least 14 Interior Ministry staff of the interim government were killed in clashes with forces loyal to the ousted government in the Tartus region (northwest Syria) on December 25. Syrian Interim Interior Minister Mohammed Abdel Rahman said the tragedy took place while officials were carrying out tasks to maintain security and protect civilians in the area. On the same day, SANA reported that Syrian police imposed a nighttime curfew in the city of Homs after unrest over protests allegedly led by members of the Alawite and Shi'ite religious minorities.

Israel sets up military post in Syrian buffer zone

The IDF announced on December 25 that it would set up temporary military posts inside the UN-monitored buffer zone in the Golan Heights, southern Syria. According to The Times of Israel, the move is aimed at ensuring the army’s operations during the winter months. The IDF said the posts would be dismantled when the army is ordered to withdraw from the buffer zone.

Source: https://thanhnien.vn/thuong-vong-lien-tiep-o-trung-dong-18524122622380158.htm