Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, (left) gestures while speaking to Russian President Vladimir Putin during their talks in the Kremlin in Moscow, Russia, Jan 30, 2020. (PHOTO / AP)
JERUSALEM/GAZA/DAMASCUS - Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Sunday had a phone call with Russian President Vladimir Putin, the first time since the conflict between Israel and Hamas broke out on Oct 7, according to his office.
During the phone call, Netanyahu appreciated the Russian effort to release an Israeli-Russian citizen held by Hamas, reaffirming that Israel would use all means to free all hostages from the Gaza Strip.
He also requested that Russia apply pressure on the Red Cross regarding visits and essential medicines for hostages held in Gaza, according to the statement.
The executive board of the World Health Organization adopted a resolution addressing the deteriorating health crisis in Gaza, urging for prompt and unrestricted humanitarian access.
The resolution, proposed by Afghanistan, Morocco, Qatar and Yemen, expressed "grave concern at the catastrophic humanitarian situation" in Gaza. It urged protection for all civilians and aid workers. It also warned of "long-lasting impacts" of attacks on medical personnel and "the large-scale destruction of health facilities including hospitals and ambulances."
Meanwhile, the Israeli prime minister criticized the "positions against Israel that Russia expressed on the international community, including at the United Nations," his office said in a statement.
Russia on Friday voted for a UN Security Council resolution demanding an immediate humanitarian ceasefire in Gaza, which was vetoed by the United States.
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Smoke rises from town of Khan Younis after Israeli strikes on Dec 10, 2023. (PHOTO / AP)
Khan Younis
Also on Sunday, Israeli forces continued to push into Khan Younis, the largest city in the southern Gaza Strip, where thousands of people were taking refuge after fleeing the deadly bombardments in other parts of the enclave.
Ground, aerial and naval forces struck more than 250 locations in Gaza over the past day, according to a statement released by the army.
Israel continued to intensify its firepower in Gaza, including the deployment of artillery into the densely populated 365 square km enclave, in which vast areas have been leveled by the Israeli bombardments. "For the first time since the beginning of ground operations, the Artillery Corps is operating inside the Gaza Strip," the army said.
In a video statement, Netanyahu said that "dozens" of Hamas fighters have surrendered in recent days. "They are laying down their weapons and handing themselves over to our heroic fighters," Netanyahu said.
He urged other militants to follow suit. "It is over. Don't die for Sinwar (Hamas leader in Gaza). Surrender -- now," he said.
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At least 133 Palestinians were killed and dozens of others were injured on Sunday, as Israel's air and artillery attacks continued on the Gaza Strip, a Palestinian medical source said
Meanwhile, Abu Ubaida, the spokesperson for Al-Qassam, the armed wing of Hamas, said "Israel's repeated declarations of aiming to eliminate resistance are mere rhetoric ... it will not succeed on the ground."
He said that since the resumption of hostilities ten days ago after a temporary humanitarian ceasefire, Al-Qassam fighters have completely or partially destroyed 180 Israeli military vehicles, including armored carriers, tanks, and bulldozers.
He also announced carrying out multiple operations that "resulted in a significant number of casualties and injuries within the ranks of the Israeli occupation."
A Palestinian cooks on a sidewalk during the ongoing Israeli bombardment of the Gaza Strip in Rafah on Dec 10, 2023. (PHOTO / AP)
133 Palestinians killed
A Palestinian medical source said that at least 133 Palestinians were killed and dozens of others were injured on Sunday.
The source told Xinhua that over the past day, the bodies of at least 133 Palestinians who died in Israeli strikes were brought to hospitals across the Gaza Strip, 45 of whom were confirmed in Al-Aqsa Hospital in central Gaza.
Security sources and eyewitnesses told Xinhua that Israeli warplanes launched simultaneous raids on the Nuseirat, Al-Maghazi and Al-Zawaida refugee camps in the central Gaza Strip.
The sources added that intense raids also took place in the neighborhoods of Al-Tuffah, Al-Shuja'iya, and Sheikh Radwan in Gaza City and several areas in the northern Gaza Strip.
Syrian miltary sites targeted
An Israeli missile attack hit military sites in the vicinity of the capital Damascus on Sunday night, the latest in a string of attacks targeting military sites in Syria, state news agency SANA reported.
Multiple powerful explosions reverberated across Damascus overnight. A military statement by the Syrian army said that the Israeli attack was carried out from the direction of the occupied Syrian Golan Heights.
It added that the Syrian air defense systems shot down some of the missiles and the losses were limited to material damages.
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According to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights war monitor, the Israeli missiles targeted sites in the Sayyeda Zeinab and Damascus International Airport areas in the countryside of Damascus, where Lebanese Hezbollah and Iranian militias are located.
Positions belonging to the Syrian air defense forces were also targeted, with no information about human losses so far, the observatory added.
Since the beginning of 2023, the observatory said it had recorded 62 instances of Israel targeting Syrian territory.
Israel has carried out numerous airstrikes in Syria in recent years, reportedly targeting Iranian-backed militias and weapons shipments that are believed to be destined for Hezbollah, a Lebanese militant group.
These strikes are perceived as attempts to prevent the strengthening of Hezbollah's armed capabilities, which Israel sees as a major threat to its national security.
