Three-quarters of the 193 United Nations member nations have recognised a Palestinian state, including Ireland and Spain, although none of the major Western powers has done so. On Friday the Israeli military said two soldiers were killed in combat in central Gaza, while three were severely injured. One soldier killed was the son of the one the first Israeli Olympic medalists, according to the country’s Olympic Committee. Israel’s Olympic Committee said they “bowed their heads in deep pain” with the Olympic medalist and coach, who helped train the current Israeli Olympic judo team. Israel launched the war after Hamas’s October 7 attack, in which militants stormed into southern Israel, killed some 1,200 people — mostly civilians — and abducted about 250.

Source: The Herald June 21, 2024 16:34 UTC