International

Israeli troop advance forces Palestinians to flee Gaza City as death toll hits 65,000

Published

7 months ago

September 18, 2025

Israeli troop advance forces Palestinians to flee Gaza City as death toll hits 65,000

JERUSALEM: Israeli troops and tanks pushed deeper into Gaza City on Wednesday as more people fled the devastated area, and strikes cut off phone and internet services, making it harder for Palestinians to summon ambulances during the military’s new offensive.

Meanwhile, the Palestinian death toll in the Israel-Hamas war surpassed 65,000, local health officials said.

The Israeli military said air force and artillery units had struck the city more than 150 times in the last few days, ahead of ground troops moving in. The strikes toppled high-rise towers in areas with densely populated tent camps. Israel claims the towers were being used by Hamas to watch troops.

Regulators said the severed phone and Internet services hindered the ability of Palestinians to call for help, coordinate evacuations or share details of the offensive that began Monday and aims to take full control of the city.

Overnight strikes killed at least 16 people, including women and children, hospital officials reported. The death count in Gaza climbed to 65,062, according to Gaza’s Health Ministry, which is part of the Hamas-run government. Another 165,697 Palestinians have been wounded since the Oct. 7, 2023, attack by Hamas that triggered the war.

The ministry does not say how many of the dead were civilians or militants. Its figures are seen as a reliable estimate by the UN and many independent experts.

Israeli bombardment has destroyed vast areas of Gaza, displaced around 90 percent of the population and caused a catastrophic humanitarian crisis, with experts announcing famine in Gaza City.

Palestinians streamed out of the city — some by car, others on foot. Israel opened another corridor south of Gaza City for two days beginning Wednesday to allow more people to evacuate.

Children and parents among the latest fatalities

More than half of the Palestinians killed in overnight Israeli strikes were in famine-stricken Gaza City, including a child and his mother who died in the Shati refugee camp, according to officials from Shifa Hospital, which received the casualties.

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In central Gaza, Al-Awda Hospital said an Israeli strike hit a house in the urban Nuseirat refugee camp, killing three, including a pregnant woman. Two parents and their child were also killed when a strike hit their tent in the Muwasi area west of the city of Khan Younis, said officials from Nasser Hospital, where the bodies were brought.

In a statement, the Israeli military said it took steps to mitigate harm to civilians and that it would continue to operate against “terrorist organizations” in Gaza.

The war in Gaza began when Hamas-led militants stormed into southern Israel in the 2023 attack, killing around 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and abducting 251 others. Forty-eight hostages remain in Gaza, with fewer than half believed to be alive.

The Gaza Health Ministry said multiple Israeli strikes hit the Rantisi Hospital for children in Gaza City on Tuesday night. It posted pictures on Facebook showing the damaged roof, water tanks and rubble in a hospital hallway.

The ministry said the strikes forced half of some 80 patients to flee the facility. About 40 patients, including four children in intensive care and eight premature babies, remained in the hospital with 30 medical workers, the ministry said.

“This attack has once again shattered the illusion that hospitals or any place in Gaza are safe from Israel’s genocide,” said Fikr Shalltoot, Gaza director for the aid group Medical Aid for Palestinians.

The Israeli military said it was looking into the strikes. In the past, it has accused Hamas of building military infrastructure inside civilian areas.

The military’s Arabic-language spokesman, Col. Avichay Adraee, wrote on social media that a new route opened for those heading south for two days starting at noon Wednesday.

But many Palestinians in the north were cut off from the outside world. The Palestinian Telecommunications Regulatory Authority, based in the occupied West Bank, said Israeli strikes on the main network lines in northern Gaza had cut off Internet and telephone services Wednesday morning. The Associated Press tried unsuccessfully to reach many people in Gaza City.

The Israeli military said it was reviewing the incident and that it does not deliberately target public communication networks.

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An estimated 1 million Palestinians were living in the Gaza City region before warnings to evacuate began ahead of the offensive. The Israeli military estimates 350,000 people have left the city. The UN estimates that more than 238,000 Palestinians have fled northern Gaza over the past month. Hundreds of thousands more have stayed behind.

Hamas official speaks

Hamas senior official Ghazi Hamad made his first public appearance Wednesday following the Israeli strike on the militant group in Qatar earlier this month.

Ghazi Hamad, a member of Hamas’ political bureau, appeared in a live interview broadcast by the Qatari channel Al-Jazeera and accused the United States of being a bad mediator and siding with Israel.

The Hamas negotiating team and consultants were reviewing a US ceasefire proposal when “less than an hour into the meeting, we heard the explosions,” Hamad said.

The strike killed five Hamas members and a local security official and infuriated Arab leaders.

Also Wednesday, Qatar’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs released a statement saying it condemned “in the strongest terms” Israel’s ground offensive in Gaza. The ministry wrote on X that the operation marked a “extension of the war of genocide” against the Palestinians.

Aid groups condemn offensive

A coalition of leading aid groups Wednesday urged the international community to take stronger measures to stop Israel’s offensive on Gaza City. The action came a day after a commission of UN experts found Israel was committing genocide in the Palestinian enclave. Israel denies the allegation.

“What we are witnessing in Gaza is not only an unprecedented humanitarian catastrophe, but what the UN Commission of Inquiry has now concluded is a genocide,” read the statement from the aid groups. “States must use every available political, economic and legal tool at their disposal to intervene. Rhetoric and half measures are not enough. This moment demands decisive action.”

The message was signed by leaders of over 20 aid organizations operating in Gaza, including the Norwegian Refugee Council, Anera and Save the Children.

Israel’s return to Gaza City

An Israeli military graphic suggested its troops hope to control all of the Gaza Strip except for a large swath along the coast by the end of the current operation.

Israeli forces have carried out multiple large-scale raids into Gaza City over the course of the war, causing mass displacement and heavy destruction, only to see militants regroup later. This time, Israel has pledged to take control of the entire city, which experts say is experiencing famine.

An Israeli military official, speaking on condition of anonymity in line with military guidelines, said Tuesday that they believe there are 2,000 to 3,000 Hamas militants left in Gaza City, as well as tunnels used by the group.

Hamas’ military capabilities have been vastly diminished. It now mainly carries out guerrilla-style attacks, with small groups of fighters planting explosives or attacking military outposts before melting away.

Israeli troop advance forces Palestinians to flee Gaza City as death toll hits 65,000

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International

Israeli Fire Kills Three UN Peacekeepers in Southern Lebanon

Published

14 hours ago

March 31, 2026

Trends Admin

Ghanaian UN Peacekeepers Hit by Missile Attack in Lebanon as Iran‑Linked War Escalates

Israeli Fire Kills Three UN Peacekeepers in Southern Lebanon

Three United Nations peacekeepers have been killed in southern Lebanon, with others seriously injured, as clashes between Israeli forces and Hezbollah militants intensify. The fatalities, all members of Indonesia’s UNIFIL contingent, mark one of the deadliest attacks on peacekeepers in recent years.

The first incident occurred on Sunday, March 29, when a projectile exploded near a UNIFIL position in Adchit al-Qusayr, killing one peacekeeper and seriously injuring another. Evidence suggests the projectile may have been fired from an Israeli tank, though investigations are ongoing. The following day, two more Indonesian peacekeepers were killed when a logistics convoy vehicle was destroyed by an explosion of unknown origin near Bani Hayyan, leaving additional personnel injured.

UN Secretary-General António Guterres condemned the killings, calling them “grave violations of international humanitarian law” and emphasizing that “no one should ever have to die while serving the cause of peace.” He extended condolences to the families of the deceased and wished a speedy recovery to the injured.

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The incidents have prompted the UN Security Council to convene an emergency session to address the attacks. Several European countries, including France, the United Kingdom, and Belgium, issued a joint statement urging all parties to ensure the safety of UNIFIL personnel in accordance with international law. South Korea and other nations also condemned the attacks, highlighting the critical need to protect peacekeepers in conflict zones.

The deaths come amid escalating hostilities between Israel and Hezbollah, which have involved airstrikes, rocket fire, and ground operations along the Israel-Lebanon border. Civilians in southern Lebanon have been severely affected, with thousands displaced and casualties mounting on both sides.

The Indonesian government has called for a transparent investigation into the deaths of its personnel and stressed the importance of accountability. Meanwhile, UNIFIL continues to operate along the Blue Line, though the recent attacks underscore the growing risks faced by peacekeepers in volatile regions.

Israeli Fire Kills Three UN Peacekeepers in Southern Lebanon

International

Nigerian Man Gets 15-Year US Prison Term for $1.5M Romance Scam

Published

14 hours ago

March 31, 2026

Trends Admin

Nigerian national Saheed Sunday Owolabi

Nigerian Man Gets 15-Year US Prison Term for $1.5M Romance Scam

A U.S. federal court has sentenced Nigerian national Saheed Sunday Owolabi to 15 years in prison for orchestrating an international wire fraud and money laundering scheme that defrauded victims of over $1.5 million. The sentence follows his conviction for conspiracy to commit wire fraud and conspiracy to commit money laundering, highlighting the U.S. government’s crackdown on cross-border cybercrime.

According to the U.S. Department of Justice, Owolabi was a key figure in a sophisticated online scam in which he posed as a woman to build fake romantic relationships with U.S. victims—a tactic commonly known as a romance scam. Once trust was gained, the victims were persuaded to wire money into accounts controlled by Owolabi, who then laundered the funds to Nigeria.

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Investigations by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) revealed that Owolabi and his co-conspirators also used victim-provided accounts to launder money from other fraudulent operations. In one case, a single victim in the Eastern District of North Carolina lost more than $120,000, with many other victims nationwide affected by the scheme.

U.S. Attorney Ellis Boyle described Owolabi as a “cheat” and said the sentence underscores the FBI’s commitment to identifying, disrupting, and dismantling international fraud and money-laundering networks targeting American citizens.

The court proceedings, led by Assistant U.S. Attorney Brad DeVoe, highlighted Owolabi’s role as an organiser in the fraud, using complex money-laundering methods to conceal illicit proceeds. The case is part of broader U.S. enforcement efforts against online fraud, cybercrime, and cross-border financial crimes, particularly schemes leveraging digital platforms to exploit victims.

Authorities say the sentence serves as a strong deterrent to others involved in international scams and demonstrates that sophisticated internet fraud operations will be pursued rigorously, regardless of the perpetrators’ location.

Nigerian Man Gets 15-Year US Prison Term for $1.5M Romance Scam

International

US Warns Iran Against Closing Strait of Hormuz, Cites “Severe Consequences”

Published

20 hours ago

March 31, 2026

Trends Admin

Strait of Hormuz Crisis - Iran Threatens to Stop Gulf Oil Shipments

US Warns Iran Against Closing Strait of Hormuz, Cites “Severe Consequences”

Washington, D.C. — The United States has issued a strong warning to Iran over any potential move to shut down the strategic Strait of Hormuz following ongoing military operations in the region, with Secretary of State Marco Rubio cautioning that such an action would attract “severe consequences.”

Rubio, speaking amid heightened tensions in the Middle East, stressed that the vital waterway must remain open to global shipping, describing any attempt by Iran to block access as unacceptable and destabilising.

“The Strait of Hormuz is an international waterway that must remain open,” Rubio said. “If Iran chooses to close it after military operations conclude, it will face serious consequences. The United States will ensure that freedom of navigation is maintained.”

The Strait of Hormuz is one of the world’s most critical oil transit routes, serving as a gateway for nearly a fifth of global petroleum supplies. Any disruption to its operations could send shockwaves through international energy markets and significantly impact global trade.

Tensions have escalated in recent days following military developments involving the United States and its regional allies, alongside growing concerns over Iran’s response. Analysts say Tehran has previously hinted at the possibility of leveraging the strait as a strategic pressure point during periods of conflict.

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Security experts warn that a closure of the narrow waterway could trigger a broader regional crisis, potentially drawing in global powers and leading to military confrontations at sea. The U.S. Navy, which maintains a strong presence in the region, has historically conducted operations to safeguard commercial shipping routes.

While Iranian officials have not formally announced any decision to block the strait, past rhetoric from Tehran has included threats to disrupt maritime traffic if its national interests are threatened.

In response, U.S. officials reiterated their commitment to maintaining stability and ensuring the uninterrupted flow of commerce. Rubio emphasised that any move to interfere with international shipping lanes would not only affect the United States but also have far-reaching consequences for the global economy.

Observers note that the warning underscores the strategic importance of the Strait of Hormuz and highlights the fragile security situation in the Gulf region. With tensions still simmering, diplomatic efforts are expected to continue alongside military preparedness.

As the situation unfolds, the international community remains watchful, with many nations urging restraint to avoid further escalation in an already volatile region.