Israeli forces besiege Indonesian Hospital in north Gaza. Meanwhile, two Lebanese journalists were killed by Israeli strikes in southern Lebanon, and Palestinian prisoners continue to face humiliation, abuse and torture inside Israeli prisons.
Casualties
- 12,700 killed*, including 5,350 children, and 32,850 wounded in Gaza Strip.
- 216 Palestinians killed in the occupied West Bank and East Jerusalem
- Israel revises its estimated October 7 death toll down from 1,400 to 1,200
*This figure covers the casualties from October 7 to November 20. Due to breakdowns in communication networks within the Gaza Strip (particularly in northern Gaza), the Gaza Ministry of Health has not been able to regularly update its tolls.
Key Developments
- At least 100 wounded and patients were evacuated from the Indonesian Hospital in Gaza City to the Nasser Hospital in Khan Yunis on Monday evening, in coordination with the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC).
- There are at least 700 patients and medical staff are trapped in the Indonesian Hospital, which Israel claims has Hamas tunnels underneath it. The claims mirror previous allegations Israel made about Al-Shifa Hospital that it has yet to provide concrete evidence of.
- The World Health Organization (WHO) said in a statement that it was ‘appalled’ by the Israeli attack on the Indonesian Hospital which killed at least 12 people, and injured tens of others.
- Two Lebanese journalists, Rabih Maamari and Farah Omar, of Al-Mayadeen television network were killed in an Israeli strike in southern Lebanon.
- Hezbollah launched four Burkan short-range ballistic missiles on the Israeli Branit Barracks, which houses the Galilee Division 91, inflicting immense damages.
- The total number of Israeli soldiers killed in the Gaza Strip has risen to at least 70 since Israel launched the ground incursion on October 28th. However, some reports suggest that the military casualties could be higher.
- Hamas’ armed wing, Izz El-Din Al-Qassam, launched rockets into Tel Aviv, the largest barrage since October 7, and targeted the Reim military base near the Gaza Strip.
- Hamas Spokesman Abu Obaida: Hamas fighters have hit 60 Israeli military vehicles, including tanks and 10 armoured personnel carriers since Saturday, November 18th.
- Abu Obaida: Israel bombed its destroyed military vehicles from the air when it could not withdraw it.
- Al Jazeera report: Israeli forces abuse, harass Palestinian prisoners and detainees
- Israel has forced 255 Palestinian shops in the town of Huwwara, near Nablus, to close for the past 46 days.
ISRAEL Genocide on Gaza Hospitals Continues
The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) says it has surrounded the Jabalia region in northern Gaza and killed dozens of fighters in the area following their attacks on 250 Hamas targets using fighter jets and “remotely manned aircraft.” BBC News reports.
The Chief of Hamas said today that they are “close to reaching a truce agreement” with Israel and that the group has provided its response to Qatari mediators. While no further details were provided, another Hamas official said that negotiations are centering on the truce duration, arrangements for aid delivery into Gaza, and the exchange of hostages releases. Nidal Al-Mughrabi and Emily Rose report for Reuters.
At least 26 premature babies arrived in Egypt yesterday after being evacuated from Gaza’s Al-Shifa hospital. A total of 31 babies were transported to Rafah yesterday, where most continued onto Egypt for medical treatment. Eight babies died before the WHO and the Palestine Red Crescent Society were able to evacuate them safely. Jennifer Hassan, Louisa Loveluck and Hajar Harb report for the Washington Post.
Humanitarian aid, including 40 trucks carrying medical equipment for a Jordanian hospital field, as well as 180 medics and nurses, entered Gaza via the Rafah crossing yesterday. ABC News reports.
Hamas-run health ministry says more than 5,500 children have died since the war broke out. The WHO says the figures are reliable as U.N. Chief Antonio Guterres labeled the death toll as “staggering and unacceptable.” BBC News reports.
The foreign policy advisor to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said that Israel’s firing into the Indonesian Hospital in northern Gaza which killed twelve people yesterday was “in complete compliance with international law.” Meanwhile, the WHO condemned the attack in a post on X, saying “health workers and civilians should never have to be exposed to such horror.” Philip Wang reports for CNN.
Families of those being held hostage by Hamas demanded answers from Netanyahu yesterday during TV interviews. Only a handful of relatives have met with Netanyahu thus far, prompting backlash by the hundreds of other families who claim the Israeli government is not doing enough to assist in freeing their family members. An estimated 239 hostages are being held in Gaza. Andrew Carey, Oren Liebermann, Jessie Yeung, Tamar Michaelis, and Sugam Pokharel report for CNN.
Strikes hit the Gaza home of a news photographer just days after an Israeli media group questioned his coverage of Hamas’ Oct.7 attacks. Yasser Qudih survived the strikes on Nov. 13, however eight of his family members were killed. Reuters reports.
Israel released security camera footage from Oct.7 which they say shows Hamas gunmen chasing people from an outdoor music festival and executing a woman. “This is a war between good and evil” the post on social media said. The video had no audio but dust could be seen following the shooting of the woman. Ari Rabinovitch reports for Reuters.
REGIONAL RESPONSE
Iran-backed Lebanese Hezbollah exchanged fire with the IDF across the Lebanese border on Monday. The IDF said yesterday that it used artillery to strike Lebanon, while Hezbollah said it carried out four attacks against Israeli military targets. The IDF confirmed there were no Israeli casualties although a fire broke out at one of the sites. Sarah Dadouch and Annabelle Timsit report for the Washington Post.
The Egyptian Foreign Ministry claimed in a post on X that, “Israel’s policy of obstructing aid entry” is “systemic” and “aimed at pushing Palestinians to leave Gaza.” Mithil Aggarwal reports for NBC News.
INTERNATIONAL RESPONSE
The International Red Cross (ICRC) president traveled to Qatar yesterday to meet with Hamas to “advance humanitarian issues.” In its statement, the ICRC said it also met with Qatari authorities, who are acting as mediators in negotiation discussions. The ICRC said the meeting was part of neutral discussions with all sides to improve respect for international humanitarian law amid the ongoing conflict. Emma Farge reports for Reuters.
Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi told Arab leaders yesterday that “the international community must act urgently, taking effective measures to prevent this tragedy from spreading…China firmly stands with justice and fairness in this conflict.” Beijing welcomed ministers from Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Egypt, the Palestinian National Authority, Indonesia, and the Organization of Islamic Cooperation for a two-day visit. Simone McCarthy and Wayne Chang report for CNN.
South Africa’s recent statements calling for the International Criminal Court to issue an arrest warrant for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has prompted Israel to recall its ambassador from the country. Minister in the Presidency Khumbudzo Ntshaveni said a failure to arrest Netanyahu would be a “total failure” of global governance. The recall of the Israeli Ambassador comes before South Africa is scheduled to host a virtual summit of the Brics group of nations on the Israel-Hamas war, to be chaired by South African President Cyril Ramaphosa. Daniel De Simone and Basillioh Rukanga report for BBC News.
US RESPONSE
Over 1,200 Americans and eligible family members are waiting to leave Gaza, State Department spokesperson Matt Miller said yesterday. He confirmed that around 800 Americans have already left Gaza. Shannon Crawford reports for ABC News.
Senator Jeff Merkley (D-OR) called for a cease-fire in Gaza yesterday, saying that “Hamas must release all the hostages without conditions and lay down their arms,” while Israel “must end its bombing and shelling and also address the immediate humanitarian challenge.” Mikhail Klimentov reports for the Washington Post.
Joe Biden’s Israel Red Lines Are Taking Shape
In calling for a two-state solution, Biden said that Gaza and the West Bank “should be reunited under a single governance structure, ultimately under a revitalized Palestinian Authority (PA).”
The U.S. is in “uncharted territory” in dealing with the Israel-Hamas war as President Joe Biden becomes more critical of Israel amid pressure to rein in its actions in Gaza, a former U.S. National Security Council director has told Newsweek. “As the war goes on, Biden’s more inclined to push for restraint than before now that Israel has had some very clear military success,” said Michael Doran, who was a senior director in the National Security Council (NSC) during the administration of President George W. Bush, where he coordinated U.S. strategy in the Middle East.
During a visit to Tel Aviv days after the October 7 attacks by Hamas on southern Israel in which 1,200 people were killed and 240 taken hostage, according to the Associated Press, Biden pledged, “You are not alone.” On October 27, after Israel’s heaviest-ever airstrikes on Gaza spurred global protests, White House national security spokesperson John Kirby said, “We’re not drawing red lines for Israel.”That may no longer be the case. Biden’s tone had changed by November 2, when during a campaign speech interrupted by a protester who had called for an immediate ceasefire, Biden said for the first time that to secure the release of hostages, “I think we need a pause.”