Continued casualties in the Middle East

Tensions in the Middle East continue to escalate with Israel intensifying airstrikes on Gaza amid stalled peace talks and Syria's efforts to stabilize its interim government .

Medical personnel 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 the Al-Quds Today television channel were killed when their vehicle 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 television channel of having ties to Islamic Jihad. In response, Al-Quds Today condemned the incident and asserted that the victims were carrying out a media and humanitarian mission at the time of the attack.

Scene of the attack on Al-Quds Today television channel's vehicle in Gaza.

Regarding peace talks, Hamas and Israel blamed each other on December 25 for the failure to reach a ceasefire agreement in Gaza. According to Reuters, citing a statement from Hamas, Israel imposed new conditions and hindered the agreement's completion, while Hamas asserted its flexibility and seriousness in negotiations.

Meanwhile, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu refuted Hamas's claims, accusing the group of unilaterally reneging on the agreed-upon ceasefire conditions. Netanyahu affirmed that Israel would continue its efforts to rescue hostages. Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz declared on December 25th that the IDF would remain in Gaza and maintain "security control."

In Syria, AFP reported that at least 14 Interior Ministry staff members of the interim government were killed in clashes with forces loyal to the ousted government in the Tartus region (northwest Syria) on December 25. Interim Interior Minister Mohammed Abdel Rahman said the tragedy occurred 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 following unrest linked to protests believed to be led by members of the Alawite and Shi'ite Muslim minority communities.

Israel establishes military outpost in Syrian buffer zone.

On December 25, the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) announced it would establish temporary military outposts inside the UN-supervised buffer zone in the Golan Heights, southern Syria. According to The Times of Israel, this move aims to ensure the continued operation of troops during the winter months. The IDF stated that these outposts will be dismantled once troops are ordered to withdraw from the buffer zone.

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