Israel Suspends Construction of Underground Wall

A mourner reacts as Palestinian Islamic Jihad militants hold their weapons while taking part in the funeral of their comrade in the central Gaza Strip October 31, 2017. REUTERS/Suhaib Salem
A mourner reacts as Palestinian Islamic Jihad militants hold their weapons while taking part in the funeral of their comrade in the central Gaza Strip October 31, 2017. REUTERS/Suhaib Salem
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Israel Suspends Construction of Underground Wall

A mourner reacts as Palestinian Islamic Jihad militants hold their weapons while taking part in the funeral of their comrade in the central Gaza Strip October 31, 2017. REUTERS/Suhaib Salem
A mourner reacts as Palestinian Islamic Jihad militants hold their weapons while taking part in the funeral of their comrade in the central Gaza Strip October 31, 2017. REUTERS/Suhaib Salem

Israel has decided to maintain a state of emergency and suspend construction on the underground wall border with Gaza Strip, as the Islamic Jihad Movement in Palestine announced that five of its members were martyred and their bodies were still buried inside the tunnel. Israel is also promoting the "inevitability of a military escalation in the region," fearing retaliation after the tunnel blastt.

Meanwhile, the Arab Organisation for Human Rights in the UK called for launching an international investigation in the weapons used by the Israeli Army to shell the tunnel in Gaza Strip on Oct. 30, killing seven Palestinians, injuring others and leaving others missing.

In its statement, the organization added that medics who examined the bodies of the victims reported that poisonous substances were used in the bombing. This is evidenced by what they saw of the victims – they were bleeding from their ears, mouth and nose. Others who were injured were severely ill as a result of inhaling toxic substances.

AOHR UK noted that the Israeli occupation is known for using internationally prohibited weapons, such as explosive bullets, white phosphorus and cluster bombs. These weapons were extensively used by Israeli forces in its previous wars on the Gaza Strip, causing heavy casualties.

It saw that the Israeli occupation is exaggerating what it calls “security threat from the Gaza Strip and the tunnels to justify its deadly attacks, using all kinds of weapons on targets it deems as penetrating Israeli sovereignty.”

The Adalah Legal Center and the Gaza-based Al Mezan Center for Human Rights filed a petition to the Israeli Supreme Court to oblige the Israeli Army to permit prompt entrance of the Palestinian rescue teams to search for missing victims.



Netanyahu: Cabinet Won't Meet Over Ceasefire Until Hamas Drops New Demands

People check the rubble of buildings hit in Israeli strikes the previous night in Jabalia in the northern Gaza Strip, on January 16, 2025, following a truce announcement amid the war between Israel and the Palestinian Hamas movement. (Photo by Omar AL-QATTAA / AFP)
People check the rubble of buildings hit in Israeli strikes the previous night in Jabalia in the northern Gaza Strip, on January 16, 2025, following a truce announcement amid the war between Israel and the Palestinian Hamas movement. (Photo by Omar AL-QATTAA / AFP)
TT

Netanyahu: Cabinet Won't Meet Over Ceasefire Until Hamas Drops New Demands

People check the rubble of buildings hit in Israeli strikes the previous night in Jabalia in the northern Gaza Strip, on January 16, 2025, following a truce announcement amid the war between Israel and the Palestinian Hamas movement. (Photo by Omar AL-QATTAA / AFP)
People check the rubble of buildings hit in Israeli strikes the previous night in Jabalia in the northern Gaza Strip, on January 16, 2025, following a truce announcement amid the war between Israel and the Palestinian Hamas movement. (Photo by Omar AL-QATTAA / AFP)

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office said Thursday his Cabinet won’t meet to approve the agreement for a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip and the release of dozens of hostages until Hamas backs down from what it called a “last minute crisis.”
Netanyahu’s office accused Hamas of reneging on parts of the agreement in an attempt “to extort last minute concessions.” It did not elaborate.
The Israeli Cabinet was set to ratify the deal Thursday.
Meanwhile, Israeli strikes across the Gaza Strip have killed at least 48 people over the past day. In previous conflicts, both sides have stepped up military operations in the final hours before ceasefires go into effect as a way to project strength.
Gaza’s Health Ministry said the 48 bodies of people killed since midday Wednesday were brought to several hospitals.