Israel-Hamas Fighting Intensifies as Casualties Mount; Hezbollah Strikes Northern Israel Amid Broader Mideast Tensions
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Fighting has intensified between Israeli forces and Hamas in southern Gaza, especially in Khan Younis. At least 19 Israeli soldiers have been killed and many injured in recent days.
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Northern Israeli towns Rosh Hanikra and Kiryat Shmona were struck by over 30 Hezbollah rockets on Wednesday. No injuries reported so far. Israel called it the most intense attack since October 7.
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Over 100 attacks on U.S. forces in Iraq and Syria have occurred since mid-October amid escalation of Israel-Hamas war. Most recent was drone attack on U.S. base in Erbil, Iraq on Christmas day.
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Turkish President Erdogan compared Israel's actions in Gaza to Nazi Germany and said Netanyahu is no different than Hitler. Netanyahu responded by calling Erdogan a hypocrite.
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New York Times faced intense criticism for coverage of the war, especially for uncritically reporting Hamas claims that Israel bombed a Gaza hospital, killing 500 people. Subsequent reporting found a misfired Hamas rocket caused a much smaller explosion.