GAZA. Israeli forces launched new raids in the Gaza Strip on Wednesday, just hours before Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s scheduled address to the U.S. Congress. The latest Israeli strikes targeted homes in towns east of Khan Younis in southern Gaza, displacing thousands of residents who sought shelter further west, according to local sources.
The Palestinian Civil Emergency Service reported receiving distress calls from residents trapped in Bani Suhaila, east of Khan Younis. However, they were unable to reach the area. Medics confirmed that two Palestinians were killed in an airstrike on Bani Suhaila, where the armed wing of the Palestinian militant group Hamas claimed responsibility for detonating a bomb against an Israeli army personnel carrier.
Israel’s military, which is intensifying its efforts to dismantle Hamas following the October 7 attack on Israel, stated that its operations targeted areas from which fighters had launched rockets into Israel and attacked Israeli troops. Over the past 24 hours, Israeli strikes have killed at least 55 people, raising the total number of Palestinian casualties to over 39,000, according to Gaza health officials.
In a message from Hamad City in northwestern Khan Younis, Ghada, who has been displaced six times during the ongoing conflict, expressed frustration and desperation: “Where should we go? Shall we cross into the sea? We are exhausted, starved, and want the war to end now, now not an hour later.”
Residents reported being ordered to evacuate westward to a designated humanitarian area, only to find it unsafe. The Israeli military issued these evacuation orders via social media and phone calls.
In addition to the southern Gaza raids, Israeli airstrikes hit several areas in central and northern Gaza, including the Al-Bureij camp, where health officials reported nine fatalities.
Netanyahu’s U.S. Visit Sparks Protests
WASHINGTON. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s arrival in Washington has sparked a series of protests, including a sit-in at a congressional office building that led to multiple arrests. The protests, organized by Jewish Voice for Peace, featured demonstrators clad in red T-shirts reading “Not In Our Name,” who occupied the Cannon Building’s rotunda, chanting “Let Gaza Live!”
The U.S. Capitol Police issued several warnings before arresting protesters, who were bound with zip ties and removed one-by-one. Jane Hirschmann, a protester and daughter of Holocaust survivors, voiced her concerns: “I am the daughter of Holocaust survivors and I know what a Holocaust looks like. When we say ‘Never Again,’ we mean never for anybody.”
Protesters directed much of their anger at the Biden administration, demanding an immediate halt to arms shipments to Israel. “We’re not focusing on Netanyahu. He’s just a symptom,” Hirschmann said. “But how can (Biden) be calling for a cease-fire when he’s sending them bombs and planes?”
As of Tuesday night, the Capitol Police had not released a final count of arrests, but Jewish Voice for Peace claimed that 400 people, including over a dozen rabbis, had been detained. Rep. Dan Kildee’s office reported that demonstrators had become disruptive, leading to police intervention.
In contrast, families of hostages held by Hamas held a vigil on the National Mall, urging Netanyahu to negotiate a deal to secure the release of approximately 120 Israeli hostages still in Gaza. Aviva Siegel, a former captive, pleaded with Netanyahu: “I want Bibi to look in my eyes and tell me one thing: that Keith is coming home.”
Further protests are expected as Netanyahu is scheduled to address Congress on Wednesday. In preparation, security around the Capitol has been heightened, with multiple road closures. President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris are set to meet with Netanyahu on Thursday, while former President Donald Trump announced plans to meet him on Friday.
Si Venus L Peñaflor ay naging editor-in-chief ng Newsworld, isang lokal na pahayagan ng Laguna. Publisher din siya ng Daystar Gazette at Tutubi News Magazine. Siya ay isa ring pintor at doll face designer ng Ninay Dolls, ang unang Manikang Pilipino. Kasali siya sa DesignCrowd sa rank na #305 sa 640,000 graphic designers sa buong daigdig. Kasama din siya sa unang Local TV Broadcast sa Laguna na Beyond Manila. Aktibong kasapi siya ng San Pablo Jaycees Senate bilang isang JCI Senator.
