Gaza war

According to a report, the israeli defence force has uncovered a hamas data centre beneath unrwa’s Gaza headquarters, said to be a facility for intelligence. Reportedly, the centre was discovered after interrogating palestinian prisoners.

According to a report, Israel has carried out airstrikes across Gaza and are pushing ahead with their Khan Younis offensive where dozens of hamas fighters have been killed.

Reportedly, the israeli prime minister said the israeli defence force must operate in Gaza city where they say four hamas battalions are. According to the report, they will also push ahead in Rafah where 31 people have been killed but say they will let civilians evacuate first. Reportedly, the israeli prime minister said the idf have a month to complete the Rafah operation but hamas have warned of tens of thousands of casualties if they enter Rafah which is situated on the border with Egypt. According to a report, two hostages were rescued from hamas captivity in Rafah.

Reportedly, u.s. intelligence have said that the idf have degraded hamas capabilities but are not close to eliminating the group. According to the report, two state talks have been ongoing in Riyadh. Reportedly, Israel has promised economy relief in Samaria.

Trinidad

According to a report, Trinidad was populated by peaceful people, by 1510 slavery began to supply pearl fisheries in nearby Isla Margarita. Reportedly, from 1592 the island was administered by Spain but there were colonisation attempts by the uk, France and the Netherlands. According to the report, following a uk invasion in 1763 Spain ceded the island without a fight which became a british colony.

Reportedly, under uk control, Trinidad’s development as a plantation economy and slave society brought commercial success, and in 1783 a decree offering generous land and tax incentives to colonisers transformed the population.

U.s. target hezbollah commander

According to a report, a senior leader of hezbollah and two of his guards were killed when their vehicle was targeted in a u.s. drone attack in Baghdad. Reportedly, crowds chanted anti- western slogans at the scene of the burnt out vehicle. According to the report, the u.s. said the commander was responsible for orchestrating attacks on their troops in the region. Reportedly, a spokesman for hezbollah said they were suspending further attacks.

Reportedly, hezbollah have been linked to a drone attack in Jordan that killed three u.s. soldiers though according to the u.s., islamic resistance in Iraq were responsible. Islamic resistance in Iraq have been described as a network of ideologically similar groups.

The u.s. secretary of state in the middle east

According to a report, Saudi prime Mohamed Bin Salman met the u.s. secretary of state this week and said normalisation of relations with Israel would be possible if their is calm in Gaza and a path to a palestinian state, he said many nations in the region were on board that would further Israel’s security concerns. Reportedly, the secretary of state said that in order to reach a path to statehood the palestinian authority should take steps to reform and revitalise itself. According to the report, he told the israeli prime minister he had concerns about actions and rhetoric that inflame tensions and undercut international support, and told the president of the Palestinian authority that governance should be improved as should accountability to the Palestinian people. Reportedly, the palestinian authority has committed to making these reforms.

New framework for Gaza peace deal

According to a report, a framework has been proposed for a new ceasefire in Gaza. Reportedly, a detail is a six week truce to enable israeli hostages to be swapped for palestinian prisoners. According to the report, hamas are positive about the deal but have asked for some amendments relating to the rebuilding of Gaza, the return of residents to their homes and provisions for those who have been displaced, they have also asked to be able to transfer the injured to hospitals abroad.

The u.s. plan strikes on Iran linked targets

According to a report, the u.s. secretary of state is making his fifth trip to the middle east since the hamas attacks of October 7. Reportedly, his visit comes after the u.s. said it carried out more missile strikes against houthi missiles in Yemen. According to the report, the military said it had struck a land attack cruise missile and four anti ship missiles that were prepared to launch against ships in the Red Sea.

Reportedly, in response to the drone attack in Jordan that killed three american servicemen the u.s. said they are planning more strikes on Iran linked targets, though Islamic resistance in Iraq have claimed responsibility.

October 7 victims subject to sexual attacks

According to a report, israelis who dealt with the bodies of hostages said there was no doubt some had been sexually assaulted. Reportedly, a senior israeli police officer said her force has clear evidence that rape and other forms of sexual violence had been committed. According to the report, Shari Mendes, who was an architect called up as a reservist and helped identify female bodies brought to the Shura army base said many bodies arrived with bloody shredded underwear and many arrived with no clothing. Reportedly, some bodies had been decapitated or limbs cut off, and several female soldiers were shot in the vagina or the breast.

According to the report, Simcha Greiniman, a volunteer described finding a woman with nails and different objects in her body, saying it was clear that some of the victims seen had been sexually attacked. Reportedly, Ms Mendes and Mr Greiniman’s testimony is in line with evidence that has been collected from forensic investigations, witnesses and first responders.

Drone attack

According to a report, the islamic resistance in Iraq said it was responsible for a drone attack on a base in Jordan that killed three u.s. servicemen. Reportedly, an official said that the drone arrived at the same time as a returning u.s. drone and as a result, elements of the defence system were turned off. According to the report, the soldiers were in their sleeping quarters at the time.

Turkey ratify Sweden’s entry to nato

According to a report, Russia’s war in Ukraine instigated Finland and Sweden to abandon long held security policies and apply to join nato in May 2022. Reportedly, Finland joined in April 2023 but Turkey and Hungary did not ratify Sweden’s bid.

According to the report, Turkey has accused Sweden of supporting kurdish seperatists, leading to a long delay in ratifying, which they did this week. Reportedly, the u.s. have now approved the sale to Turkey of 40 f-16 fighter applied for in 2021. According to the report, Hungary have not given a reason why they have not ratified Sweden’s entry.

Houthis attack Tanker in Gulf of Aden

According to a report, a tanker with links to the uk was on fire for several hours after being struck by a missile fired by houthis on Friday evening. Reportedly, the group said it targeted the Marlin Luanda in response to u.s. and uk aggression. According to the report the vessel was attacked 60 nautical miles south east of Aden, and french, indian and u.s. naval ships provided assistance.

Reportedly, the operator of the Marlin Luanda is Oceanix services Ltd, a uk registered company, though the ship sailed under the flag of the Marshall islands. According to the report, an update on Saturday confirmed that the fire had been put out and all the crew were safe. Reportedly, the uk government said attacks on ships in the Red Sea are completely unacceptable and Britain reserves the right to respond appropriately. According to a report, the u.s. said it destroyed a houthi anti ship missile in Yemen that was ready to launch at at 3.45 local time on Saturday.