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Middle East conflict

Israeli army besieges Khan Yunis hospital in southern Gaza Strip for 11 days

The Palestinian Red Crescent Society also reported an acute shortage of food for staff, patients and refugees

DUBAI, February 2. /TASS/. The Israel Defense Forces continue to shell the buildings of the Al-Amal Hospital and the headquarters of the Palestinian Red Crescent Society (PRCS) in the city of Khan Yunis in the southern Gaza Strip, the organization said.

"The siege of the Al-Amal Hospital by the occupation [Israeli] army continues for the 11th consecutive day. It has been subjected to heavy shelling. Israeli military equipment surrounds the hospital from all sides, preventing anyone from entering or leaving its compound and PRCS buildings, and blocking the movement of ambulances," the organization said in a statement posted on its X (formerly Twitter) page, noting that Israeli servicemen "repeatedly entered the hospital and threatened patients and refugees with firearms."

The PRCS also reported an acute shortage of food for staff, patients and refugees. "There is only enough food to provide one meal a day," the organization said. In addition, the hospital is running out of medicine, infant formula, and fuel for generators.

Tensions flared up again in the Middle East on October 7, 2023, when militants from the Gaza Strip-based radical Palestinian movement Hamas staged a surprise attack on Israeli territory from Gaza, killing residents of Israeli border settlements and taking over 240 hostages, including women, children and the elderly. 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 declared a total blockade of the Gaza Strip, home to 2.3 million Palestinians before the crisis, and has been delivering air strikes on Gaza as well as some parts of Lebanon and Syria. Clashes have also been reported on the West Bank.

Middle East conflict

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Russia’s launch of new missile illustrated assured retaliation capability, lawmaker says

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Any escalation scenario possible in Ukraine conflict — Medvedev

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The Turkish side will also provide information on the progress of the investigation

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The UN Secretary-General urged world leaders to join the Ottawa Convention

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Maria Zakharova stated that the US-NATO construction project, ongoing for nearly a decade with complete disregard to Russian security concerns, has consistently been a focus of Russia's attention

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US Justice Department drops federal cases against Trump — transition team

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US-led coalition aircraft violate Syrian airspace 16 times in past day

Apart from that, one violation of the deconfliction protocols of December 9, 2019 linked with the flights by the US-led coalition unmanned aerial vehicles was reporte

North Korea dismantles power lines in Kaesong on border with South Korea

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Conflict in Ukraine no longer regional war — German defense minister

Russian President Vladimir Putin said on November 21 that strikes on Russian territory with Western long-range missiles had made the conflict in Ukraine a global one

Western air defense systems unlikely to intercept Russian missiles — France’s Le Monde

According to the French military source, Russia's recent use of the Oreshnik intermediate-range ballistic missile should be taken in the context of possible negotiations regarding the ongoing Ukrainian conflict

Romanian presidential candidate vows to end military aid to Ukraine

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The firefighters were able to stop the fire from spreading to the adjacent building, where freon is stored

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France, UK may deploy troops to Ukraine following ceasefire — expert

According to Elie Tenenbaum, European countries may send troops to east Ukraine to ensure the observation of a ceasefire regime and guarantee Kiev’s security

Warehouse catches fire in southern Moscow, over 2,500 square meters on fire

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Lebanon wary of reports of potential ceasefire with Israel

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Putin has high hopes for cancer vaccine being developed in Russia

Head of the Federal Medical-Biological Agency Veronika Skvortskova briefed the Russian President on the vaccine's development

Netanyahu may accept ceasefire in Lebanon to stop Hezbollah bombings — diplomat

According to al-Maliki, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is the only obstacle to a ceasefire in Gaza

Russia to develop bilateral cooperation with Afghanistan — Shoigu

He pointed out that to this end, Russia will continue to support Kabul's integration into regional structures and associations

West beginning to realize only part of Ukraine will remain — Lavrov

According to the Russian foreign minister, this represents the "confrontational logic" of the West

FACTBOX: What is known about Russian flight incident at Antalya Airport

A Russian Sukhoi Superjet 100 operated by the Azimuth airline caught fire as the plane landed at Antalya Airport on Sunday, TASS has compiled the key facts about the situation

British military instructor captured, Ukrainian losses: situation in Kursk Region

In total, the enemy has lost more than 35,510 troops since the fighting began in the region

Europe resumes talks of troop deployment to Ukraine — newspaper

According to the sources, this is driven by the fact that Washington may scale back support for Ukraine after Donald Trump returns to office as US president on January 20, 2025

'Western vector' leaves Ukraine poorest country in Europe — politician

Ukrainians have never seen the promised freedom, Viktor Medvedchuk noted

Ukrainian commander-in-chief reports threats to troops in Zaporozhye Region

Earlier, it was reported that the Russian forces had advanced for over 2 km near Malaya Tokmachka in the Zaporozhye Region

London intensifies anti-Russian campaign in face of impending ‘Ukrainian project’ failure

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Gazprom, Moldova plan to continue discussing gas supplies from January 1, Moldova's debt

The company also noted that Gazprom CEO Alexey Miller and Moldovan Energy Minister Victor Parlicov discussed cooperation in the gas sector at a working meeting

UK mercenary taken prisoner in Russia’s Kursk area — source

"A mercenary from Britain has been taken prisoner in the Kursk area," the person said

Large number of Ukrainians to lose mobilization exemption after February 28 — deputy

In recent months, the number of Ukrainian employees with exemptions from military service has increased from 900,000 to 1.6 million

Kabul counts on Moscow to help neutralize Western pressure

"We can assure you that the Islamic Emirate is a reliable economic partner," Deputy Prime Minister Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar said

Top Indian defense official to visit Moscow, Kaliningrad on December 8-10 — source

Rajnath Singh will participate in the flag-raising ceremony of the Project 11356 frigate and its transfer to the Indian Navy," the source said

Pentagon not yet assessed damage caused by use of Russia’s newest Oreshnik missile

"When we have more to provide, we will," Deputy Press Secretary Sabrina Singh said

No existing missile defense system can counter Oreshnik — US expert

Theodore Postol also vehemently rejected suggestions that the Oreshnik system represents previous outdated developments of Moscow

Diplomat mocks US Senator for talking about invading Netherlands

Maria Zakharova quoted the US Senator, who called the ICC a "Kangaroo court" and ICC Prosecutor Karim Khan a "deranged fanatic"

Three Ukrainians almost freeze to death trying to flee into Hungary across Tizsa

The border security service regularly reports about men of recruitment age risking their lives by trying to cross the border illegally in the woods or by swimming across the River Tisza, which separates Ukraine from Romania and Hungary

France, UK will have to pay for their helping Ukraine strike inside Russia — diplomat

Russia’s Permanent Representative to the Vienna-based international organizations Mikhail Ulyanov said that what has been done by the White House is very dangerous

Ukrainian forces indiscriminately shoot Selidovo passers-by — Russian envoy

According to Rodion Miroshnik, Ukrainian security forces came to places where there were generators, where people came to get water, and could shoot a person