November 3, 2024

Daily News Brief

*) Hamas calls Gaza truce proposals with Israel a 'smokescreen' Palestinian resistance group Hamas has called Gaza ceasefire proposals a “smokescreen" as they do not include an end to the Israeli war or withdrawal from the enclave. Senior Hamas member Izzat al-Rishq said ceasefire proposals floated in recent days don’t include an end to the Israeli assault, withdrawal from Gaza, or the return of displaced Palestinians to their areas. He added that Hamas is positively engaged with any proposals and ideas that ensure the cessation of aggression and the withdrawal of the occupation forces from Gaza. *) Israel kills 71 in Lebanon as death toll nears 3,000 Meanwhile, in Lebanon, the Health Ministry has said Israeli air strikes killed at least 71 people and wounded 169 others. The new fatalities brought the number of people killed in Israeli attacks in the country since October 2023 to 2,968, while 13,319 others were wounded. This week Israel intensified its strikes in the eastern Lebanese region of Baalbek and displaced thousands more. *) Israel hinders polio vaccination campaign in northern Gaza The emergency polio vaccination campaign in Gaza entered its second phase though areas in northern Gaza, experiencing ongoing Israeli military offensives and a humanitarian crisis, were excluded from the campaign. The initial phase of the campaign began two months ago, however, offensives in the north delayed the rollout, leading to a partial implementation. In a statement, the Palestinian Health Ministry confirmed that northern Gaza could not proceed with the second phase due to the ongoing hostilities, and plans for the next round of vaccinations in the north remain postponed. *) Supporters of Bolivia's ex-leader Morales detain 200 soldiers Supporters of former Bolivian president Evo Morales have taken at least 200 soldiers, hostage. Three military units in Chapare province were assaulted by irregular groups, The hostage situation marks a dramatic escalation in their standoff with the state after Morales blamed the current President for attempting to assassinate him earlier this week. The hostage situation comes nearly three weeks after backers of Morales the country's first Indigenous leader began blocking roads to prevent his arrest on what he calls trumped-up charges aimed at thwarting his political comeback. *) Hundreds of media members accuse BBC of biased Gaza coverage The BBC has been accused by more than 100 of its staffers of providing Israel favourable coverage in its reporting on the war against Gaza, calling on the broadcaster to "recommit to fairness, accuracy, and impartiality." The letter sent to BBC Director General Tim Davie was signed by more than 230 media industry members, including 101 anonymous BBC staff, journalists from other media organisations, historians, actors, academics and politicians. It criticised the news outlet for failing its editorial standards by lacking "consistently fair and accurate evidence-based journalism in its coverage of Gaza."