Israeli strikes kill 50 in Gaza as Netanyahu OKs delegation to talks in Qatar
Deir Al-Balah (Gaza Strip) (AP): Israeli airstrikes killed at least 50 people, including several children, across the Gaza Strip, hitting Hamas security officers and an Israeli-declared humanitarian zone.
As the bombardment continued on Thursday and into Friday, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office said he had authorised a delegation from the Mossad intelligence agency, the Shin Bet internal security agency and the military to continue negotiations in Qatar toward a ceasefire deal.
Israeli media said the delegation would depart on Friday. There was no immediate Hamas comment. The US-led talks have repeatedly stalled during 15 months of war.
The Israeli strike in the seaside humanitarian zone known as Muwasi occurred as hundreds of thousands of displaced Palestinians have been huddling there in damp winter weather.
“Everyone was taking shelter in their tents from the cold, and suddenly we found the world turning upside down. Why, and for what?” said Ziyad Abu Jabal, displaced from Gaza City.
The early morning strike killed at least 10 people, including three children and two senior Hamas police officers.
Israel's military said it targeted a senior police officer, saying he was involved in gathering intelligence used by Hamas' armed wing in attacks on Israeli forces.
Another Israeli strike killed at least eight people in Deir al-Balah in central Gaza. The men were members of local committees that help secure aid convoys, according to Al-Aqsa Martyrs Hospital, which received the bodies. An Associated Press journalist there confirmed the toll.
There was no immediate comment from Israel's military.
In southern Gaza, the military killed five policemen in eastern Khan Younis. Israeli government spokesman David Mencer said the strike targeted the head of the Hamas internal security force in southern Gaza.
“Where did we find him? Where else, but of course hiding in the humanitarian zone in Khan Younis, where Gazans are sheltering from this war,” Mencer said.
Israel has repeatedly targeted Gaza's police during the war, contributing to a breakdown of law and order that has made it difficult for humanitarian groups to deliver aid. Israel accuses Hamas of hijacking aid for its own purposes.
The Hamas-run government had a police force numbering in the tens of thousands that maintained a high degree of public security before the war, while also violently suppressing dissent. Now officers have largely vanished from the streets in many areas.
Meanwhile, three Palestinians were killed in an Israeli strike that hit a group of people walking in the street in Maghazi in central Gaza. Their bodies were taken to Al-Aqsa Martyrs Hospital.
Late Thursday and early Friday, Israeli strikes in central Gaza, including Maghazi and the Nuseirat refugee camp, killed at least 24 people, including children, according to the Al-Aqsa Martyrs Hospital.
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Ramesh Bidhuri's "Priyanka Gandhi's cheeks" remark sparks controversy
Congress slams BJP leader for misogynistic comment, demands apology
New Delhi: As the Delhi Assembly elections approach, political controversies have begun to surface. BJP candidate from Kalkaji Assembly constituency, Ramesh Bidhuri, has sparked outrage with his controversial statement, which has gone viral on social media. In the statement, Bidhuri claims, "We will make Kalkaji's roads like Priyanka Gandhi's cheeks."
Known for his contentious remarks, Bidhuri allegedly made this comment during a BJP event in the Kalkaji area.
When Aaj Tak questioned Bidhuri about the viral comment, he referenced Lalu Prasad Yadav's earlier statement comparing Bihar's roads to Hema Malini's cheeks. Bidhuri added, "If this statement hurts Congress, they should recall that Hema Malini is a respected actress who has brought pride to India through her work, which reflects society." He criticised Congress leaders, saying, "They have reached their political positions through flattery, not public service. If Congress finds my statement objectionable, they should first denounce Lalu Yadav's remarks."
The statement has triggered a political uproar. Congress and the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) have strongly criticised both Bidhuri and the BJP. Congress accused BJP of being anti-women and called Bidhuri's comment shameful, highlighting it as reflective of a misogynistic mindset. They stated, "A person who used abusive language against a fellow MP in Parliament without facing consequences epitomises BJP's true face." Congress also demanded an apology from Bidhuri and questioned the silence of BJP leaders, including PM Modi, on such derogatory remarks.
Meanwhile, AAP MP Sanjay Singh commented, "This is how BJP respects women. Can the safety and dignity of Delhi's women be entrusted to leaders like Bidhuri?"
