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As Desperation In Gaza Grows, Israel Says It Won’t Allow Aid To Flow Until Hamas Releases Hostages

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APOSTALEM — On Thursday, while Israel’s military struck the Hamas-controlled Gaza Strip with airstrikes and made preparations for a potential ground invasion, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken affirmed American support for Israel. With Palestinians attempting to replenish dwindling supplies of bread and groceries, Israel declared that no goods could be imported into Gaza until Hamas militants released the 150 hostages they had captured during their murderous incursion over the weekend.

After Israel obstructed the entry of supplies from Egypt and halted shipments of food, water, fuel, and electricity to Gaza’s 2.3 million inhabitants, international aid organizations warned of a worsening humanitarian crisis. Each party has lost a minimum of 2,700 lives in the conflict.

According to a statement made by Israeli Energy Minister Israel Katz on social media, until the Israeli hostages are returned home, not a single electricity switch, tap or fuel truck will be allowed to access the area.

Thursday, an Israeli military spokesman, Lt. Col. Richard Hecht, informed reporters that forces are “preparing for a ground maneuver” if political authorities so require. Due to the dense population concentration on a sliver of land measuring merely 40 kilometers (25 miles), a ground offensive in Gaza would probably inflict even greater casualties on both parties through vicious house-to-house combat.

Hamas militants have launched thousands of missiles into Israel as Israel bombards Gaza from the air. Amid concerns that the fighting could extend throughout the region, Syrian state media reported that international airports in Aleppo, the northern city of Damascus, and Damascus itself were rendered inoperable by Israeli airstrikes on Thursday.

One could have observed Palestinians fleeing airstrikes in Gaza, frantically traversing the streets while carrying their belongings and searching for a secure haven. As of Wednesday night, approximately 15% of Gaza’s population, or 340,000 individuals, had departed their residences. Most are housed in schools operated by the United Nations, whereas others stay with family members or acquaintances.

People formed lengthy lines at grocery stores and bakeries that ventured to open to stock up before the shelves ran out. Wednesday marked the decommissioning of Gaza’s sole power station due to petroleum scarcity, leaving the region with lights sourced from dispersed private generators.

gaza

As Desperation In Gaza Grows, Israel Says It Won’t Allow Aid To Flow Until Hamas Releases Hostages.

Aid officials report that hospitals running low on supplies and are overrun with wounded patients have only a few days’ worth of petroleum before their power is cut off. The U.N. reports that the water cut-off has also resulted in severe water shortages for more than 650,000 individuals.

“Healthcare facilities run the risk of transforming into mortuaries in the absence of electricity,” said Fabrizio Carboni, regional director of the International Committee of the Red Cross. He stated that electricity powers newborn incubators, kidney dialysis machines, X-ray machines, and other devices.

There was no more space for ambulance crews transporting bodies from the rubble of destroyed structures to the mortuary at Shifa, the largest hospital in Gaza. There was a queue of dozens of corpses in body bags in the hospital’s parking lot. Strikes have damaged fourteen health facilities, health officials reported Thursday.

“The situation is extremely critical,” stated Mohammad Abu Selmia, the superintendent of the Shifa hospital. “Days in Gaza have never been such as they are at the moment.”

Due to Israel’s region closure, the sole means of accessing or departing is via the Rafah border crossing with Egypt. Per the Egyptian Foreign Ministry, Rafah has not been officially shut down; however, its operations have been impeded due to airstrikes. Egypt has been trying to persuade Israel and the United States to permit fuel and humanitarian deliveries to pass through Rafah.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of Israel pledged to “crush” Hamas on Saturday when the militant organization stormed into the country’s southern region and slaughtered hundreds of people, including young people at a music festival and children in their homes. Netanyahu accused Hamas of atrocities such as raping women and beheading soldiers. An independent source did not corroborate his claims.

gaza

As Desperation In Gaza Grows, Israel Says It Won’t Allow Aid To Flow Until Hamas Releases Hostages.

Amid national sorrow and retribution demands, the Israeli government is under intense pressure to depose Hamas rather than continue to attempt to contain the organization in Gaza.

Following the conclusion of four prior conflicts, the faction has maintained a firm grip on its governed region since 2007. Near Gaza, Israel has deployed 360,000 reservists, evacuated tens of thousands of inhabitants from neighboring communities, and amassed additional forces. The battle is currently being directed by a new war cabinet, which includes a longstanding opposition politician.

Saleh Al-Arouri, a senior Hamas official, issued the following threat on Thursday: “Any Israeli invasion of Gaza would be catastrophic for its army,” and the organization would be ready to retaliate.

Blinken’s visit emphasized the United States’ support for Israel’s response.

“You may be capable of defending yourselves, but as long as the United States of America exists, you will never have to,” Blinken said following a meeting with Netanyahu in Tel Aviv. “We shall perpetually stand by your side.”

On Friday, Blinken is scheduled to meet with Jordan’s King Abdullah II and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, whose authority is limited to portions of the occupied West Bank.

Palestine annexed the West Bank, Gaza, and eastern Jerusalem during a 1967 conflict. Palestine desires all three territories for its future state, but peace negotiations have been suspended for more than ten years.

gaza

As Desperation In Gaza Grows, Israel Says It Won’t Allow Aid To Flow Until Hamas Releases Hostages.

Overnight strikes in Gaza, according to the Israeli military, targeted Hamas’ elite Nukhba forces, including command centers utilized by the fighters in Saturday’s assault and the residence of a senior Hamas naval operative, which the military claimed was used to store unidentified weaponry. Two commanders of two smaller militant organizations were slain in additional airstrikes, according to media outlets affiliated with those groups.

“At this time, our primary objective is to eliminate their senior leadership,” stated Hecht, the military spokesman regarding Hamas. “In addition to the military leadership, the governmental leadership as well, including Yehia Sinwar, the highest-ranking Hamas leader.”

Israel has adopted a novel strategy of demolishing entire neighborhoods instead of merely specific structures. According to Hecht, targeting decisions were determined by intelligence, and civilians were warned.

Palestinians claim that despite the warnings, some have been unable to escape or are stranded and that entire families have been engulfed in debris.

The Associated Press obtained drone footage that unveiled the destructive extent of the Shati refugee camp in the northern region of Gaza due to airstrikes that occurred overnight. Residents searched for survivors while clearing debris with their bare hands. A man collapsed into the embrace of a fellow resident upon learning that his family members who had gone missing had been identified as deceased.

gaza

As Desperation In Gaza Grows, Israel Says It Won’t Allow Aid To Flow Until Hamas Releases Hostages.

Early Wednesday morning in the Bureij refugee camp, Jaber Weshah, a 73-year-old rights activist, stated that a strike that destroyed a multi-story building adjacent to his occurred without warning. Residents reported that at least twelve people were murdered, including a bookseller, his wife, two toddler daughters, and six members of another family.

“It resembled an inferno,” stated Weshah.

According to the Palestinian Ministry of Health, two Palestinians were killed in the West Bank on Thursday when Israeli settlers opened fire at a funeral for three individuals slain in a settler rampage the day before. Jewish settlers in automobiles were captured on film swerving into the funeral procession, cutting off the road, and then halting and opening fire.

Since Saturday, the Health Ministry reports that over twenty Palestinians have been killed in the West Bank and two in Israeli-annexed east Jerusalem; most of these fatalities were caused by police fire upon stone-throwing demonstrators.

According to the Palestinian Ministry of Health, the number of fatalities in Gaza surpassed 1,400.

More than 1,300 people, including 247 soldiers, have been slain in Israel, according to the Israeli military, a staggering number not seen since the weeks-long war with Egypt and Syria in 1973.

Both parties have suffered thousands of casualties.

According to Israel, approximately 1,500 Hamas militants were slain within its borders, with hundreds of those killed in Gaza being Hamas members.

SOURCE – (AP)

Kiara Grace is a staff writer at VORNews, a reputable online publication. Her writing focuses on technology trends, particularly in the realm of consumer electronics and software. With a keen eye for detail and a knack for breaking down complex topics.

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The IRS Will Give a Million People Up To $1,400. Their Identity—And Why Now?

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(VOR News) – The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) will be able to give almost one million people who have already filed their tax returns additional incentives of up to $1,400 during the next several weeks.

Those qualified to get the cash will either be placed straight into their bank accounts or get a physical cheque delivered by mail.

The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) would refund individual taxpayers who omitted a Recovery Rebate Credit on their tax returns for 2021 around $2.4 billion.

Those qualified for the credit were those who had either not gotten a COVID stimulus payment or one that was less than the whole amount. Conversely, the Internal Revenue Service declared on Friday that it had discovered a considerable percentage of eligible candidates had not.

“After reviewing our internal data, we came to the conclusion that one million taxpayers failed to claim this complicated credit when they were actually eligible,” said Danny Werfel, Commissioner of the Internal Revenue Service in his statement.

This taxpayer group may shortly be getting unexpected payments; the accompanying data provides specifics:

Could you kindly inform me about my chances of receiving a check from the IRS?

I’m sorry, but it most likely isn’t precisely that high. The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) reports that most qualified taxpayers—originally referred to as Economic Impact Payments—have already gotten their government stimulus money.

Those taxpayers who filed a tax return for the year 2021 but either left the Recovery Rebate Credit data box blank or entered $0 when they were actually eligible for the credit are qualified to get the special reimbursements announced by the Internal Revenue Service (IRS).

The way this is going to be carried out?

Those eligible taxpayers are not required to perform any chores to be qualified. The funds are expected to be received either by cheque or direct deposit account by the end of January 2025. Automatic distribution of them is set for this month. The Internal Revenue Service will deliver them to either the bank account shown on the taxpayer’s 2023 return or the address the taxpayer keeps on file.

Though there will be several possible payments, the highest amount any one person can pay will be $1,400. The Internal Revenue Service has made available on the internet information on eligibility and the process used to ascertain the payment amount.

The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) will send separate letters to taxpayers qualified for the special payment notifying of the payment.

Conversely, what would happen should I not yet have my 2021 tax return turned in?

You still might be able to turn around the money. The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) claims, however, that individuals must file a tax return and claim the Recovery Rebate Credit before April 15, 2025.

This is still the case whether or not a job, business, or any other source of income earned had any bearing on it.

How many financing rounds did the COVID stimulus program have?

Households impacted by the epidemic alone received compensation totaling $814 billion overall; this was divided across three rounds of payments. These figures were calculated by the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) considering the taxpayer’s income, tax filing status, and the count of dependents or children entitled for the tax deduction.

The CARES Act, which became operative in March of 2020, makes qualified persons eligible for a maximum of $1,200 per income tax filer and $500 each child.

Those qualified could get up to $600 for each child and $600 for each individual who submitted their income tax return according to the Consolidated Appropriations Act in December of 2020.

Those qualified under the American Rescue Plan Act received a maximum of $1,400 per child and $1,400 per person who paid their income taxes during the month of March in 2021. very

SOURCE: YF

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Cases Of The US Flu Season Are Rising, While Vaccinations Are Behind Schedule.

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Cases Of The US Flu Season Are Rising, While Vaccinations Are Behind Schedule.

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(AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh, File)

(VOR News) – The U.S. flu season has begun, according to health experts, who also noted a sharp rise in cases countrywide on Friday.

Significant increases were noted by the Centres for Disease Control and Prevention in a number of indicators, such as laboratory tests and ED visits. “For the past few weeks, it has been increasing steadily.” “Yes, we are in flu season right now,” CDC’s Alicia Budd said.

Last week, flu-like sickness was reported at elevated or very elevated levels in 13 states, roughly twice as many as the week before. Dr. William Schaffner, an infectious disease specialist at Vanderbilt University, says Tennessee is seeing a spike in sickness in the Nashville area.

Schaffner said, “Influenza cases have been increasing, but they have increased significantly in the last week.” He noted that up to 25% of patients in a nearby clinic, which is a gauge of illness trends, have flu-like symptoms.

An early focal point was Louisiana.

Our Lady of the Lake Regional Medical Centre, the largest private hospital in the state, in Baton Rouge, has infectious diseases specialist Dr. Catherine O’Neal, who said, “This week is a significant turning point as individuals are affected by the flu.” “Parents frequently say, ‘I have the flu and can’t go to work,’ and ‘Where can I get a flu test?'”

Fever, cough, sore throat, and other influenza-like symptoms are caused by a variety of viruses. COVID-19 is one of them. Another flu season common disease that causes cold-like symptoms but poses serious hazards to infants and the elderly is respiratory syncytial virus (RSV).

Recent CDC numbers indicate a decline in COVID-19 hospitalisations since the summer. According to CDC wastewater data, COVID-19 activity is modest nationwide but elevated in the Midwest.

Although RSV hospitalisations are still marginally more common than flu admissions, they started to rise before flu season cases and currently show signs of perhaps stabilising. RSV activity is low nationwide, but wastewater data shows that it is high in the South.

Based on a number of indicators, such as laboratory results from hospitalised patients and outpatient clinics, as well as the percentage of ED visits that resulted in an influenza diagnosis at discharge, the CDC declared the start of the flu season.

According to Budd, it is too early in the season to determine the effectiveness of the influenza vaccine, and no type of virus seems to be more common.

The flu season last winter was classified as “moderate” overall, but it continued for 21 weeks, and the CDC estimates that 28,000 people died from the virus. With 205 paediatric deaths reported, the situation was particularly dangerous for kids. It was the largest number ever recorded for a conventional influenza season.

The prolonged flu season was probably one of the reasons, Budd added.

The lack of influenza vaccinations was one of the contributing factors. The CDC reports that 80% of children who passed away and had verified vaccination status and were of the right age for flu shots were not completely immunised.

Children’s immunisation rates are drastically lower this year. About 41% of people had a flu shot as of December 7, which is similar to the percentage at the same time last year. For youngsters, the figure is steady, although it is lower than in the previous year, when 44% received an influenza vaccination, according to CDC data.

About 21% of adults and 11% of children are fully vaccinated against COVID-19, which is still a poor vaccination rate.

Influenza experts advise everyone to get vaccinated, especially as people get ready for holiday gatherings where respiratory diseases could spread widely.

“This virus also has the potential to spread from person to person at all those happy, pleasant, and heartwarming events,” Schaffner said. “flu season Vaccination remains a viable option.”

However, Louisiana’s health department announced on Friday that it was rescinding its COVID-19 and flu vaccination recommendations. According to an official, the department’s current position is that people should speak with their doctors about whether the immunisations are suitable for their situation.

The department’s spokesperson, Emma Herrock, did not respond to follow-up questions regarding the policy. Dr. Ralph Abraham, the state’s surgeon general, has expressed concerns in the past regarding the COVID-19 vaccine’s effectiveness and safety.

SOURCE: AP

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Social Security Change Approved By Senate Despite Fiscal Concerns

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(VOR News) – On Saturday, the U.S. Congress passed a plan to increase Social Security retirement payouts for some retirees who receive public pensions, a move that critics say will further erode the program’s financial stability. Among these pensioners are former firefighters and police officers.

The Social Security Fairness Act was passed by the Senate on a bipartisan vote of 76-20 just after midnight. The act may lower payments for those receiving pensions and aims to repeal provisions that have existed for 20 years.

The House of Representatives passed the bill last month by a vote of 327-75, meaning that if the Senate also approves it, it would be delivered to Democratic President Joe Biden to become law.

The White House dodged enquiries regarding Social Security’s objectives.

In order to limit government benefits for certain higher-paid employees who are also getting pensions, the measure will reverse a long-standing change to the program. It has become increasingly common in recent years for municipal employees, such as postal workers and firefighters, to face pay limitations.

The vast majority of Americans do not take part in pension plans that provide a fixed return on investment, instead relying on their own savings and Social Security. According to data from the Department of Labour, only 10% of private sector employees in the US are covered by pension plans.

The new rules apply to about 3 percent of Social Security users, or more than 2.5 million people in the United States. Legislators are heavily influenced by the workers and retirees impacted by these rules, and the powerful advocacy organisations that speak for them have been using the legislative process to push for a legislative cure.

According to retirement experts, some retirees may be able to earn hundreds of dollars more in government benefits each month as a result of the move.

According to a Congressional Budget Office analysis, the bill is expected to cost approximately $196 billion over the next 10 years. As a result, federal budget experts are worried that the change could negatively affect the program’s already fragile financial status.

In an interview with the Bipartisan Policy Centre, Emerson Sprick, associate director of economic policy, said he was frustrated by “the overwhelming support in Congress for the contrary of what policy researchers concur on is quite frustrating.”

Instead of eliminating current formulas, we could improve them.

Among these changes is the Social Security Administration’s increased disclosure of the anticipated monetary benefits for these public sector workers.

The Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget, a nonpartisan fiscal think tank, has voiced concerns that the additional cost will impact the program’s ability to continue.

Maya MacGuineas, the organization’s leader, made the declaration, saying, “We are hastening towards our own fiscal ruin.”

“It is noteworthy that lawmakers are in a position to shorten the timeframe by six months, as there are just nine years left before the trust fund for the biggest program in the country runs out.”

Senator Ted Cruz, a Republican, said on the Senate floor on Wednesday that the bill in its current form would “throw granny over the cliff.”

According to what he stated, “every senator who votes to impose a burden of $200 billion on the Social Security Trust Fund is opting to put the interests of senior citizens who have contributed to Social Security and earned those benefits in jeopardy.”

Those who favoured the legislation said that the question of what would happen to Social Security could be settled later.

“Those are significantly longer-term concerns that we must collaboratively address,” a supporter of the idea Senator Michael Bennett told Reuters when asked if the move would affect the government’s capacity to be viable.

SOURCE: BR

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