Israel has ordered the evacuation of former humanitarian safe zones in Gaza that were used by Hamas to fire mortars and rockets toward Israel. The Israeli army sent warning flyers and text messages to areas in southern and central Gaza, urging civilians to move away from combat zones to mitigate harm.
The international community has raised concerns about a wider conflict in the Middle East, prompting airlines to suspend flights to affected regions. Airlines like Air France-KLM, airBaltic, and Air India have adjusted their services, canceling flights to and from Tel Aviv, Beirut, and Amman.
In Australia, a row has erupted between Liberal party leader Peter Dutton and independent MP Zali Steggall over accusations of racism. Dutton denied being racist after Steggall called him out in parliament for fueling division with political attacks on visa-holders from Gaza.
Norway announced the closure of its representative office in the Palestinian territories after Israel revoked the accreditation of Norwegian diplomats. The decision is seen as extreme and unreasonable by the Norwegian Foreign Minister, who reiterated support for a two-state solution and Palestinian self-determination.
Meanwhile, violent Israeli settlers attacked a Palestinian village in the West Bank, killing at least one person. The Palestinian Foreign Ministry condemned the attack as organized state terrorism and called for sanctions against the Israeli colonial system. The violence has escalated amid fears of a wider Middle East conflict following the killing of a Hamas political leader in Tehran.
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