Tipping Point Quick Hits (02.08.24)

Israel-Hamas update, Category 6 hurricanes, and persecuted Christians

The Latest on the Israel-Hamas War

The situation in Israel continues to change day by day and moment by moment. Just this week, the United States has conducted a strike on the commander in Iraq who was responsible for attacks on American personnel in the region. (These Iran-backed militias are part of an umbrella group in Iraq.) Administration officials said more American strikes are planned for the future, including U.S. retaliation against militants who launched a drone attack in Jordan that killed three American soldiers.

Reports also indicate that Israel may be preparing to expand military operations in Rafah, a city in southern Gaza where more than a million displaced Palestinians have fled to avoid the fighting. The UN Secretary-General is already warning that such an expansion of the conflict would potentially increase the “humanitarian nightmare.” U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken has also raised concerns about civilians potentially in the line of fire.

And on Tuesday, Israel intelligence confirmed that another 31 hostages held by Hamas had died in captivity. That’s more than a fifth of the remaining 136 hostages. Pressure from Israeli citizens continues to grow on Benjamin Netanyahu’s government.