What's happened
Following the death of Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar, both Israel and Hezbollah have intensified military actions. Israel continues its offensive in Gaza, while Hezbollah claims to have entered a new phase of conflict, utilizing advanced weaponry. The situation remains dire for civilians in both regions.
Why it matters
What the papers say
The Independent reports that Israel's military has intensified its operations in Gaza, with Prime Minister Netanyahu vowing to continue the fight against Hamas despite Sinwar's death. The New York Times highlights the humanitarian crisis in Gaza, noting that approximately 20,000 Palestinians have fled Jabaliya amid ongoing bombardments. Meanwhile, Hezbollah's recent statements indicate a significant escalation in their military capabilities, as they claim to have introduced new weaponry in their operations against Israel. This multifaceted conflict underscores the complexities of achieving a ceasefire, as both sides remain committed to their objectives.
How we got here
The conflict escalated after Hamas's surprise attack on Israel on October 7, 2023, which resulted in significant casualties. Israel's subsequent military response has led to widespread destruction in Gaza, while Hezbollah has increased its involvement, launching attacks from Lebanon.
More on these topics
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Hezbollah is a Shia Islamist political party and militant group based in Lebanon. Hezbollah's paramilitary wing is the Jihad Council, and its political wing is the Loyalty to the Resistance Bloc party in the Lebanese parliament.
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Hamas is a Palestinian Sunni-Islamic fundamentalist militant organization. It has a social service wing, Dawah, and a military wing, the Izz ad-Din al-Qassam Brigades.
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Yahya Sinwar is the current Palestinian leader of Hamas in the Gaza Strip, having taken over from Ismail Haniyeh in February 2017. He was one of the co-founders of the security apparatus of Hamas. He is the second most powerful figure within Hamas.
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Gaza may refer to:
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Benjamin Netanyahu is an Israeli politician serving as Prime Minister of Israel since 2009, and previously from 1996 to 1999. Netanyahu is also the Chairman of the Likud – National Liberal Movement.
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Israel, formally known as the State of Israel, is a country in Western Asia, located on the southeastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea and the northern shore of the Red Sea.
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Iran, also called Persia, and officially the Islamic Republic of Iran, is a country in Western Asia. It is bordered to the northwest by Armenia and Azerbaijan, to the north by the Caspian Sea, to the northeast by Turkmenistan, to the east by Afghanistan a
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Lebanon, officially known as the Lebanese Republic, is a country in Western Asia. It is bordered by Syria to the north and east and Israel to the south, while Cyprus lies west across the Mediterranean Sea.
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The Israel Defense Forces, commonly known in Israel by the Hebrew acronym Tzahal, are the military forces of the State of Israel. They consist of the ground forces, air force, and navy. It is the sole military wing of the Israeli security forces, and has