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Scores Killed Overnight in Gaza, Israeli Negotiators in Paris

People take part in a pro-Palestine rally outside the RAI national public broadcaster headquarters in Milan, Italy, 14 February 2024. EPA/Mourad Balti Touati
People take part in a pro-Palestine rally outside the RAI national public broadcaster headquarters in Milan, Italy, 14 February 2024. EPA/Mourad Balti Touati
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Scores Killed Overnight in Gaza, Israeli Negotiators in Paris

People take part in a pro-Palestine rally outside the RAI national public broadcaster headquarters in Milan, Italy, 14 February 2024. EPA/Mourad Balti Touati
People take part in a pro-Palestine rally outside the RAI national public broadcaster headquarters in Milan, Italy, 14 February 2024. EPA/Mourad Balti Touati

More than 100 people were reported killed early Saturday in overnight strikes across Gaza, as Israel's spy chief was in Paris for talks seeking to "unblock" progress towards a truce and the return of hostages held by Palestinian Hamas group.
The Paris negotiations come after a plan for a post-war Gaza unveiled by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu drew criticism from key ally the United States and was rejected by the Palestinian Authority and Hamas on Friday.
They also come as fears for civilians in the territory are deepening, with the UN warning of the growing risk of famine and its main aid body for Palestinians, UNWRA, saying early Saturday that Gazans were "in extreme peril while the world watches on".
AFP footage showed distraught Gazans queuing for food in the territory's devastated north on Friday and staging a protest decrying their living conditions.
"Look, we are fighting each other over rice," said Jabalia resident Ahmad Atef Safi. "Where are we supposed to go?"
"We have no water, no flour and we are very tired because of hunger. Our backs and eyes hurt because of fire and smoke," fellow Jabalia resident Oum Wajdi Salha told AFP.
"We can't stand on our feet because of hunger and lack of food."
In a Friday night statement on social media platform X, the UN humanitarian agency OCHA said: "Without adequate food and water supplies, as well as health and nutrition services, the elevated risk of famine in #Gaza is projected to increase."
Post-war plan
The war started after Hamas's unprecedented October 7 attack, which resulted in the deaths of about 1,160 people in Israel, mostly civilians, according to an AFP tally of official figures.
Hamas also took hostages, 130 of whom remain in Gaza, including 30 presumed dead, according to Israel.
Israel's retaliatory offensive has killed at least 29,514 people, mostly women and children, according to the latest count by Gaza's health ministry on Friday.
An Israeli air strike Friday destroyed the Gaza home of well-known Palestinian comedian Mahmoud Zuaiter, killing at least 23 people and injuring dozens more, the health ministry said.

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Arab World

Syria’s Quneitra Under ‘Curfew’ Amid Israeli Occupation, Escalating Incursions

Taxi stand in the town of Khan Arnabah, Quneitra, Syria (Asharq Al-Awsat)
Taxi stand in the town of Khan Arnabah, Quneitra, Syria (Asharq Al-Awsat)
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Syria’s Quneitra Under ‘Curfew’ Amid Israeli Occupation, Escalating Incursions

Taxi stand in the town of Khan Arnabah, Quneitra, Syria (Asharq Al-Awsat)
Taxi stand in the town of Khan Arnabah, Quneitra, Syria (Asharq Al-Awsat)

Visitors to towns in Syria's Quneitra governorate today notice a near-complete silence in the streets, with locals comparing it to a “curfew.” This is due to Israel occupying some villages and advancing into others.

Arriving at the outskirts of Khan Arnabah from the “Al-Salam Highway,” it's striking to see the entrance nearly empty of both people and cars.

The same scene is visible at the town's main roundabout, where four major roads branch out, leading to other towns and villages. Business activity along the roadside shops remains low.

At a corner, several taxi drivers wait for passengers, but with no success, prompting some to leave.

While some speculate that the quiet is due to Friday being a public holiday, a taxi driver insists that this situation persists throughout the week, with only slight improvements on regular days.

“The situation is very bad. There’s no work. It feels like a curfew here,” said a man, identifying himself as “Abu Mohammed,” to Asharq Al-Awsat.

With a deep sense of despair, he explained that the cause of this situation is Israel’s occupation of towns and villages in the province and its growing incursions into others, following the fall of Bashar al-Assad’s regime on December 8th.

“Last Wednesday at midnight, fear gripped the residents of Khan Arnabah due to loud explosions. It turned out they were caused by Israeli soldiers blowing up munitions and weapons at munition depot... at the entrance to the village of al-Jobeh.” Abu Mohammed added.

Two weeks ago, they stormed other military bases at the entrance to the village of Al-Samdaniah Al-Sharqiya, which lies to the west of Khan Arnabah. Their vehicles and soldiers also reached the roundabout.

Another taxi driver points out that Israeli soldiers have occupied the “government complex” in Al-Salam city, about 3 km west of Khan Arnabah, which houses several government departments.

“The complex is disabled because they've set up a large earthen barrier to prevent locals and employees from reaching it. It’s now a center for their tanks and vehicles. They also raided the city’s bakery, forcing residents away under the pretext of searching for weapons, as well as the cultural center and the telephone administration,” they added.

“The occupying soldiers terrorize the locals during their raids on towns and villages, imposing curfews and threatening to target anyone who steps outside,” the driver confirmed.

Among the villages Israel has occupied since the fall of Assad’s regime is Al-Hurriyaا, which falls under the administrative jurisdiction of Khan Arnabah, located 5 km to the west.