Israel ordered civilians to leave four towns in the southern part of the Gaza Strip on Thursday, raising fears its war against Hamas could spread to areas it had told people were safe. | In the north of the Hamas-ruled Palestinian enclave, Israel said its forces were still present at Gaza's biggest hospital, Al Shifa, but gave no further details of their operations since the previous day when they entered the facility culminating a days-long siege.

■ Israel drops leaflets warning people to flee southern Gaza towns (The Guardian)
■ SERIOUS DEVELOPMENT: ISRAEL-GAZA (Hal Turner)(11/17/23)

U.S. secretly boosting weapons supplies to Israel - report --Among the items being provided by Washington are missiles for Apache helicopters and 155mm artillery shells, Bloomberg claims | The US Department of Defense has allegedly ramped up weapons deliveries to Israel without making any public announcements of the move, Bloomberg has reported. The media outlet claimed that deliveries of artillery shells, which supposedly feature prominently on Israel's wish list, continue despite protests by dozens of relief organizations. The U.S. has for decades been Israel's closest ally and a major weapons supplier. Following Hamas's surprise attack on the country on October 7, Washington quickly came to Israel's rescue, providing it with Iron Dome air defense missiles and smart bombs.

■ Gaza death toll rises to 11,470 (TASS/Al Jazeera)
■ Displacement and Killings Surge in West Bank, Amid Gaza War (antiwar.com)

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The African National Congress said it could not support the “genocidal actions of the Israeli regime” | South Africa’s ruling party has said it will support a motion to sever diplomatic relations with Israel and shut down its embassy in Pretoria. South African officials have condemned Israel’s assault on Gaza, even calling for a formal war crimes probe. ● In comments on Thursday, African National Congress (ANC) spokeswoman Mahlengi Bhengu-Motsiri said the party would approve legislation to cut ties with Israel until it agreed to a ceasefire, originally introduced by leftist opposition faction the Economic Freedom Fighters.

■ South Africa refers Israel to ICC (11/16/23)

The Security Council passed its first resolution related to Israel’s war in Gaza on Wednesday that calls for “urgent and extended humanitarian pauses.” | The UN Security Council passed a resolution on Wednesday that called for a temporary pause to the fighting in Gaza. Tel Aviv said the call for a short peace was a decision “disconnected from reality and holds no significance.” ● The resolution passed the UN’s most powerful body in a vote of 12-0. The US and UK did not vote for the motion because it did not condemn Hamas. Russia abstained over concerns that the resolution did not make a strong enough call for peace. Moscow’s representative said Washington is responsible for removing the word “ceasefire” from the text. ● The resolution called for “urgent and extended humanitarian pauses” in Gaza to allow aid to reach Palestinian civilians and for “the immediate and unconditional release of all hostages held by Hamas and other groups, especially children, as well as ensuring immediate humanitarian access.” The AP reports the language in the resolution was watered down.

Bashir Hajji's granddaughter says he was shot in the head and back after a photo showing soldiers helping him was taken | The Israeli army released a propaganda photo of one of its soldiers helping an elderly Palestinian man with a walking stick in an attempt to showcase its “safe corridor” for civilians fleeing northern Gaza. Shortly afterwards, Bashir Hajji, a 79-year-old resident of Gaza City's Zaytoun neighbourhood, was executed in cold blood by Israeli soldiers, according to Euro-Mediterranean Human Rights Monitor. ● The photo published on social media by the Israeli army was taken on 10 November, as Hajji walked on the Salah al-Din Road, the main route towards southern Gaza. According to his family, he was alone and had difficulty walking. Hajji’s granddaughter, Hala Hajji, told the Euro-Med Monitor team that he was executed after the photo was taken with one bullet to the head and back. "He died tired, cold, thirsty & hungry," she wrote in a post on Instagram, confirming her grandfather's death.

The European Union’s “Energy Performance of Buildings Directive” — the legislative instrument that dictates the energy performance standards for buildings within the EU — will be used to achieve a massive wealth transfer scheme | By 2030, the EU must meet a minimum 55% reduction of greenhouse gas emissions. By 2050, they want every building — commercial, public and residential — in the EU to meet zero-emission standards. To achieve that, they will impose a slew of new renewal energy requirements on homeowners. ● For example, heating systems that use fossil fuels are to be completely phased out of existence by 2035. Homeowners will be required to install new “green,” presumably electric, heating systems — and pay for it out of pocket. The cost for these new energy requirements are estimated to be around 100,000 euros for a residential house. ● The goal is to force people out of their homes. If you cannot afford the required upgrades, you’ll be forced to sell your home. Asset management companies will then buy them and turn them into rentals