Portal:Current events/2023 October 26

October 26, 2023 (Thursday)

Armed conflicts and attacks

Israel–Hamas war
- Israeli blockade of the Gaza Strip
  - UNICEF decries the nearly 3,000 child casualties in Gaza, saying that it is a "growing stain on our collective conscience, the rate of death and injuries of children is simply staggering". (Al Jazeera)
  - Three more UNRWA staff members are killed, thereby bringing the total to 38. Around 219 educational facilities have been damaged, including at least 29 UNRWA schools. (Al Jazeera) (OCHA)
  - A total of 101 medical personnel have been killed by Israeli attacks, with 100 others injured. Fifty ambulances have also been damaged, with half of them currently unusable. Hospitals are currently operating at more than 150 percent of their capacity, with around 166 unsafe births occurring each day. (Al Jazeera)
  - Around 200,000 housing units have been partially or completely destroyed in Gaza, representing 45 percent of all housing in the enclave. (Al Jazeera)
  - Oxfam says that Israel is using starvation as a "weapon of war" as the blockade of Gaza continues. (The Guardian) (Mirage News)
- Israeli invasion of the Gaza Strip
  - IDF tanks enter northern Gaza in a "targeted raid", with the IDF saying that this is in preparation for the "next stages of combat". (The Washington Post via MSN)
- Palestinian rocket attacks on Israel
  - Hamas' Izz ad-Din al-Qassam Brigades launch rockets intended to strike Tel Aviv. (Al Jazeera)
- The death toll in Gaza increases to more than 7,000 people with an estimated 1.4 million people internally displaced. (Al Jazeera)
- Israel continues raids and arrests in the West Bank, where Palestinian authorities say that more than 1,200 people have been detained. (Al Jazeera)
Russian invasion of Ukraine
- Eastern Ukraine campaign
  - U.S. National Security Council spokesperson John Kirby reports that the Russian Armed Forces execute insubordinate personnel during its offensive in eastern Ukraine. (AFP via Politiko)
Afghan conflict
- Islamic State–Taliban conflict
  - Four people are killed and seven others are injured in an explosion at a sports club in Dashte Barchi, Kabul, Afghanistan. The Islamic State claims responsibility for the attack. (AFP via France 24)
Kashmir conflict
- Insurgency in Jammu and Kashmir
  - Five suspected Lashkar-e-Taiba members are killed in a shootout with the Indian Army near the Line of Control in Kashmir. (AFP via The Manila Times)
Kivu conflict
- M23 rebels launch an offensive in Bambo, north of Goma, North Kivu, Democratic Republic of the Congo, leading to significant displacement of residents. (AFP via Le Monde)
War in Sudan
- Battle of Nyala
  - The Rapid Support Forces capture Nyala and the rest of South Darfur, marking a strategic victory for the RSF. (BBC)

Disasters and accidents

2023–24 South Pacific cyclone season
- Cyclone Lola is downgraded after causing widespread damage in Vanuatu. (RNZ)

International relations

International reactions to the Israel–Hamas war
- Israel–United States relations
  - In the first vote under new U.S. House Speaker Mike Johnson, the U.S. House of Representatives passes a resolution that declares U.S. solidarity with Israel. (The New York Times)
  - The office of Florida Governor Ron DeSantis announces that it is sending drones and weapons to Israel to support its fight against Hamas. (The Hill)
- In a joint statement, the foreign ministers of Bahrain, Egypt, Jordan, Kuwait, Morocco, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates condemn the forced displacement and collective punishment in Gaza. (Reuters)
- The Israel and Palestine director at Human Rights Watch states that the Palestinian death toll provided by the Health Ministry is generally reliable, after U.S. President Joe Biden questioned the death tolls. (Al Jazeera)
- Amnesty International issues a statement calling for an immediate ceasefire to stop the increasing death toll and to ensure crucial aid reaches Gaza amid an "unprecedented humanitarian catastrophe". (Al Jazeera) (Amnesty International)
Reactions to the Russian invasion of Ukraine
- Slovakia–Ukraine relations
  - Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico announces the cessation of military aid to Ukraine, emphasizing humanitarian support instead. (AFP via The Manila Times)
Iran–United States relations
- An Iranian court orders the U.S. to pay $420 million as damages for the victims of the failed Operation Eagle Claw during the Iran hostage crisis. (AFP via VOA)

Law and crime

Ulan Japarov, the nephew of Kyrgyzstan President Sadyr Japarov, is placed under house arrest for the remainder of his prison sentence after being sentenced for corruption charges. (AKIPress)
Myanmar police arrest 95 individuals in Yangon during a crackdown on online scams which have targeted Chinese citizens and those of other Southeast Asian nations. (AFP via Prothom Alo)
The Supreme Court of Korea acquits Sejong University professor Park Yu-ha, previously convicted for defamation regarding her portrayal of comfort women in her 2013 book Comfort Women of the Empire. (AFP via The Manila Times)

Politics and elections

2024 Salvadoran general election
- Incumbent Salvadoran President Nayib Bukele officially registers his 2024 re-election campaign with the Supreme Electoral Court. (Reuters)
2024 United States presidential election
- Dean Phillips 2024 presidential campaign
  - U.S. Representative (MN-03) and businessman Dean Phillips launches his campaign for the Democratic nomination. (The Hill)

Science and technology

Chinese space program
- The China National Space Administration successfully launches Shenzhou 17, a crewed spacecraft carrying three crew members, from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center. The spacecraft will dock with the Tiangong space station and replace the current crew of Shenzhou 16. (DW)

Sports

Israel–Hamas war protests
- Fans of Scotland's Celtic Football Club defy their club's directives and wave thousands of Palestinian flags during their team's Champions League match against Atlético Madrid. (Al Jazeera)
2023–24 NHL season
- In ice hockey, the National Hockey League announces that they have suspended Ottawa Senators center Shane Pinto for 41 games after violating the league's rules on sports gambling, making him the first player to be suspended for gambling. (CBS Sports)