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Middle East conflict

Over 360,000 refugees in Gaza contract infectious diseases

It is also noted that only 11 out of 36 Gaza Strip hospitals continue to admit patients on a limited basis, with only one medical facility operating in the northern part of the Palestinian enclave

DUBAI, December 13. /TASS/. At least 360,000 cases of infectious diseases have been recorded in refugee camps in the Gaza Strip, Qatar’s Al Jazeera TV channel reported quoting the Palestinian Health Ministry.

According to the news outlet, as a result of Israel’s military operation, temporary accommodation sites are overcrowded housing about 1.9 mln people.

The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) reported that the World Health Organization (WHO) had registered cases of meningitis, chickenpox, jaundice and upper respiratory tract infections among refugees.

Al Jazeera noted that only 11 out of 36 Gaza Strip hospitals continue to admit patients on a limited basis, with only one medical facility operating in the northern part of the Palestinian enclave.

On Sunday, WHO Director General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said that the healthcare system in the Gaza Strip is collapsing with ideal conditions for diseases to spread having shaped in the enclave and the situation can only exacerbate. He pointed out that currently in the Gaza Strip "on average, there is one shower unit for every 700 people, and one toilet for every 150 people."

Tensions flared up again in the Middle East on October 7 when militants from the Gaza-based Palestinian radical group Hamas staged a surprise incursion into Israeli territory from the Gaza Strip. Hamas described its attack as a response to the aggressive actions of Israeli authorities against the Al-Aqsa Mosque on the Temple Mount in Jerusalem’s Old City. In response, Israel has declared a state of war readiness; announced a total blockade of the Gaza Strip, home to 2.3 million Palestinians; and began delivering air strikes on the enclave and certain parts of Lebanon and Syria. Clashes are underway in the West Bank as well.

Middle East conflict

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The top Russian diplomat noted that he had good relations with many of his Israeli counterparts

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Those relations are the best in the whole history of ties that existed between two countries, Foreign Minister added

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The sources said that the Shiite movement did not have any specific suspicions about these pagers and their "checks had been part of a routine 'sweep' of its equipment to find any indications that they were laced with explosives"

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Maria Zakharova pointed out that one of the Ukrainian prisoners of war reported an attack on a passenger train being prepared in the Kursk Region

Zelensky says Ukrainian troops in extremely difficult situation in two DPR areas

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"The Zionist regime is committing crimes shamelessly and without hiding it," Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said

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Air defenses eliminated UAVs over eight regions, Defense Ministry said

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"The UN General Assembly always encompasses a very broad agenda," Sergey Ryabkov stressed

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According to IDF, 180 targets were hit

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Theft of Russian assets to nullify trust towards EU — MFA

Maria Zakharova pointed out that the European Union had lost independence

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At the same time, Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova explained that Russian representatives "have not participated in any meetings within the framework of the ‘Buergenstock process’ and are not going to participate in any

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Senior Russian lawmaker warns that calls for long-range strikes open way to nuclear war

Vyacheslav Volodin commented on a recent resolution of the European Parliament to allow strikes inside Russia with Western weapons

Israeli army declares strikes on 180 Hezbollah sites in Lebanon

"The Israel Defense Forces have completed a series of strikes on southern Lebanon," the army’s press service said in a statement

Top brass proposes specifying state borderline in Russia’s westernmost region

"This will alter the Russian state maritime border due to a change in the territorial sea’s external bounds," it says

Hezbollah commanders wanted to repeat October 7 in northern Israel — General Staff

The IDF said that it had conducted a targeted strike in Beirut, adding that Ibrahim Aqil, a military commander of Hezbollah’s militia, was killed along with other top brass

Russia to push for multipolar world order jointly with global majority — diplomat

The event will be held in New York on September 22-23 in the runup to the 79th session of the UN General Assembly

Putin highlights importance of efforts to develop relations between Russia, Armenia

The Russian President congratulated Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan on Armenia’s Independence Day

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Russia wants no nuclear war — Lavrov

The foreign minister still assured that Russia possesses weapons "that will have serious implications for the handlers of the Ukrainian regime"

Gas reserves in European UGS facilities exceed 93.2%

Total LNG supplies from terminals to Europe’s gas transport system in August hit the lowest level since October 2021, though they have returned to growth in September

Sixteen drones eliminated over Russia’s Bryansk Region

Governor Alexander Bogomaz said earlier that the Russian Defense Ministry’s air defense forces were repelling a massive drone attack

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Top stories from the Russian press on Friday, September 13th

Ukrainians sustain over 300 casualties in Kursk area in past day, Russia says

Over the past 24 hours, Ukrainian losses have amounted to over 300 troops and nine units of armored hardware, including an infantry fighting vehicle, two APCs, six armored combat vehicles, as well as six artillery guns

Russia-Africa summit to be held in 2-3 years on African continent — Lavrov

There is a plan of action developed by the commission of the African Union and the government of the Russian Federation through 2026, Russian Foreign Minister said

Hezbollah attacks Israeli military headquarters in Ein-Zeitim

The statement said that the Shiite units conducted these operations in response to the Israeli Air Force strikes on Lebanese populated localities

Russia ready for talks with Turkey on Su-35, Su-57 fighters

Russia earlier noted its readiness to participate in the program of developing the Turkish TF-X fifth-generation fighter

CERN's turn away from Russian scientists has positive aspects — Kurchatov Center chief

This is quite obviously a positive development for us in some respects, Kovalchuk said

Russia develops single-use combat drone to intercept enemy UAVs

It is noted that before destroying an enemy UAV, the Vogan must get a corresponding command from an operator who makes a decision based on the image from the drone’s video camera

Medvedev allows use of nuclear weapons by Russia when ‘patience runs out’

The politician underscored that no one really needs a nuclear conflict - it is "a very bad story with a very difficult outcome."

Russia fully ready to defend its interests in Arctic — Lavrov

The minister to say that NATO is becoming increasingly interested in the Arctic region

Ukrainian troops retreat from village near Artyomovsk in DPR — Russian officers

The enemy fled from near Andreyevka where it has long been holding positions, it has retreated, law enforcement officers said

Ukrainian troops captured: situation in Kursk Region

In total, the enemy has lost over 11,800 servicemen since fighting began in the region

Israel wants to drag whole region into war, engages in terrorism, says Erdogan

The Turkish President said he would address the UNGA to ask the participants to remember "the need for taking action against genocide in the Gaza Strip and Israel's aggressive policies"

Russia keeps balance in relations with Muslim countries — Muslim Board

Mufti Sheikh Ravil Gainutdin added that Russia was originally formed in the bosom of three monotheistic religions and for more than 1,000 years has continued and consolidated the tradition of communion, good-neighborliness and brotherhood of religions

More than 25 aerial targets downed over Kherson region, Sea of Azov — governor

No injuries were caused

Russia, Belarus remain faithful allies and partners, Russian deputy defense chief says

I would like to note that we and our Belarusian counterparts have been and remain faithful allies and reliable partners

Russian troops repulse ten Ukraine’s counterattacks near Kremennaya in LPR in one week

The enemy is being actively knocked out as it acts near Chervonaya Dibrova, Ternov

US mistaken if it thinks nuclear conflict would affect Russia, Europe only — diplomat

Anatoly Antonov reiterated that there must never be a nuclear war and that there can be no winners in any nuclear conflict

BRICS countries may present instruments for mutual settlements at summit in Kazan

The key principles in designing the new financial system are decentralization of international interaction and the use of digital technologies, Andrey Mikhailishin said

Military record launch of 10 shells at northern Israel from Lebanon

According to its information, the shells were launched in the direction of the Jezreel Valley in the Lower Galilee

Kremlin slams Poland's idea to revise Crimea's status 'absurd'

"Russian territory and Russian regions cannot be the subject of any discussion or transfer to anyone," Dmitry Peskov emphasized

Ukraine’s forces in Ugledar virtually encircled — sources

"Most positions around the city, including those at the most important sites and heights are Russian, the whole city is exposed to fire," the sources explained