Israeli Official Reportedly Accepts Hamas Figure of 70,000 War Dead
Israeli media reported that a senior security source stated the military accepts that more than 70,000 Palestinians have been killed during the war in Gaza, according to BBC World. This marks a potential shift from previous Israeli skepticism regarding figures released by the Hamas-run health ministry.
The acknowledgment comes amidst the ongoing conflict that began after the Hamas-led attack on southern Israel on October 7, 2023, which resulted in approximately 1,200 deaths and 251 hostages taken, according to BBC World. Israel responded with a military campaign in Gaza, during which more than 71,660 people have died.
While Israel had previously cast doubt on the figures provided by Hamas, the United Nations and other human rights groups have deemed them reliable, and they have been widely cited by international media, according to BBC World. Most of Gaza has been reduced to rubble as a result of the war.
Other Global Developments
In other news, Iran is gradually restoring internet access to its citizens after nearly three weeks of severe shutdowns, according to BBC Technology. The country cut off internet access on January 8, a move widely interpreted as an attempt to suppress information about a government crackdown on protesters. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi stated the internet was blocked in response to what he described as "terrorist operations," according to BBC Technology. While some access has returned, independent analysis suggests much of the country remains effectively cut off from the outside world. The shutdown affected Iran's 92 million citizens.
Venezuela's National Assembly approved a reform of the country's hydrocarbons law, which will allow private companies, including foreign firms, greater autonomy in the oil sector, according to BBC Business. The reform is expected to pave the way for increased foreign investment in Venezuela's vast oil reserves. US President Donald Trump has been pushing US oil companies to invest in Venezuela's vast oil reserves, despite decades of mismanagement, under-investment and a still uncertain political climate.
Meanwhile, in the UK, ministers have rejected calls for compensation for women affected by changes to the state pension age, according to BBC Business. The government reconsidered the case after a new document came to light but concluded that no compensation should be paid. Campaigners, including the Women Against State Pension Inequality (Waspi) group, argue that 3.6 million women born in the 1950s were not properly informed of the rise in their state pension age, which brought it into line with men. Angela Madden, who has been leading the Waspi campaign for years, said the latest decision demonstrated "utter contempt" for those affected, according to BBC Business.
In response to delays in pension payments for retired civil servants, the government is offering interest-free loans of up to £10,000 to those facing financial hardship, according to BBC Business. Cabinet Office Minister Nick Thomas-Symonds told MPs the waits faced by retired civil servants were "completely and utterly unacceptable," according to BBC Business. The government said around 8,500 people have had issues with pension payments since Capita took over the administration of the Civil Service Pension Scheme in December. Capita has apologized to those affected, saying it inherited a backlog of 86,000 cases, according to BBC Business.
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