ISRAEL’S REPORTS

IDF: On Tuesday, a number of launches were identified crossing from Lebanese territory that fell in open areas in the area of Shomera.

In response, an IAF aircraft struck the launcher in the Tayr Harfa area, from which the launches were fired. Additionally, a Hezbollah military compound from which terrorists were operating in the area was also struck.

Overnight, IAF fighter jets struck terror infrastructure in the area of Markaba, a military compound in the Ayta ash Shab area and a Hezbollah observation post in the area of Marwahin.

Furthermore, IDF artillery opened fire to remove a threat in the areas of Chihine and Kfarchouba.

Attached is a video of the strikes: https://bit.ly/4bapi6q

** IDF: The IDF precisely struck Hamas launchers located in a humanitarian zone in southern Gaza and continues to operate in the central Gaza corridor

Overnight, following intelligence reports and operational identification, IAF fighter jets targted two Hamas launch posts in southern Gaza. The launch posts were loaded with rockets and were struck before any launches were fired toward Israel. The strike was conducted after taking precautions to mitigate harm to civilians.

The IDF continues to operate in the central Gaza corridor and over the past day, eliminated terrorists and destroyed terror infrastructure.

In one of the strikes, terrorists were identified in proximity to the troops and were eliminated by IDF tank fire.

As part of the activity, fighter jets struck military targets.

Throughout the past day, IAF fighter jets and aircraft struck over 50 targets. Furthermore, an IAF aircraft struck an operational tunnel shaft and additional terror infrastructure in the central Gaza Strip.

Attached are aerial photos of the launchers located in the humanitarian area: https://IDFANC.activetrail.biz/ANC24042024156633399784151

Attached is a video of IDF strikes in the Gaza Strip: https://bit.ly/44kNQrq

Attached are photos of IDF operational activity in the Gaza Strip: https://IDFANC.activetrail.biz/ANC24042024546323939

** IDF: The IDF struck dozens of terror targets in southern Lebanon

A short while ago, IDF fighter jets and artillery struck approximately 40 Hezbollah terror targets in the area of Ayta ash Shab in southern Lebanon, including storage facilities, weaponry, terror infrastructures, and additional targets used by the Hezbollah terrorist organization in the area.

The Hezbollah terrorist organization extensively uses the area of Ayta ash Shab for terrorist purposes and has established dozens of terror means and infrastructures in the area in order to attack Israeli civilians and soldiers within the state of Israel.

Attached is a video of the strikes: https://bit.ly/4bbDHzd

HAMAS’ REPORTS

In the name of God, the most gracious, the most merciful

Press Statement

While we appreciate all the Arab countries, which we consider incubators of our people and supportive of our cause, we deny what was published by the Lebanese newspaper Al-Liwaa yesterday, Tuesday, April 23, 2024, about the movement’s request to move to Syria, as the movement did not request that from sister Syria or from anyone else.

Jihad Taha

Spokesman for the Islamic Resistance Movement Hamas

Al-Arya'a: Shawwal 15, 1445 AH

Corresponding to: April 24, 2024 AD

** Violent clashes between the resistance and the occupation army north of Nuseirat, and an occupation helicopter opened fire in the vicinity of the place.

** Hezbollah:

In support of our steadfast Palestinian people in the Gaza Strip and in support of their brave and honorable resistance, and as part of the response to the Israeli enemy’s attacks on the steadfast southern villages and civilian homes, specifically the horrific massacre in Hanin, we targeted the “Shomera” settlement, the occupied Lebanese town of Tarbikha, with dozens of Katyusha rockets.

** Hezbollah: In support of our steadfast Palestinian people in the Gaza Strip and in support of their brave and honorable resistance, and as part of the response to the Israeli attacks on the steadfast southern villages and civilian homes, specifically the massacre in Hanin, our fighters targeted a building in which enemy soldiers were present in the “Avivim” settlement with weapons. The occasion left them dead and wounded. ‏

** Hezbollah: At 4:40 pm on Wednesday, April 24, 2024, the Mujahideen of the Islamic Resistance targeted the Ruwaisat Al-Alam site in the occupied Lebanese hills of Kafr Shuba with missile weapons and hit it directly.

** Al-Aqsa Brigades: Our fighters were able to control two Zionist drones while they were carrying out intelligence missions in the skies of Khan Yunis.

#Al-Aqsa Flood

Israel Defense Forces/Hamas Brigade al-Qassam

WESTERN PERSPECTIVE

The US quietly shipped long-range ATACMS missiles to Ukraine

The United States in recent weeks secretly shipped long-range missiles to Ukraine for use in its battle to fight off Russian invaders, and Ukraine has now used them twice, a U.S. official said on Wednesday.

The missiles were contained in a $300 million military aid package for Ukraine that U.S. President Joe Biden approved on March 12, said the U.S. official, speaking on condition of anonymity. The official would not say how many of the missiles were sent.

White House national security adviser Jake Sullivan, at a briefing for reporters, confirmed that a "significant number" of the missiles had been sent to Ukraine and said "we will send more."

He said Ukraine has committed to only use the weapons inside Ukraine, not in Russia.

Some of the missiles were contained in a $1 billion weapons package for Ukraine that President Joe Biden approved on Wednesday, Sullivan said.

The missiles were used for the first time in the early hours of April 17, launched against a Russian airfield in Crimea that was about 165 km (103 miles) from the Ukrainian front lines, the official said.

The official said Ukraine used the weapon a second time overnight against Russian forces in southeastern Ukraine.

Whether to send the Army Tactical Missile Systems (ATACMS) with a range up to 300 km was a subject of debate within the Biden administration for months. Mid-range ATACMS were supplied last September.

The Pentagon initially opposed the long-range missile deployment, fearing the loss of the missiles from the American stockpile would hurt U.S. military readiness. There were also concerns that Ukraine would use them to attack targets deep inside Russia.

Russia's use of North Korean-supplied long-range ballistic missiles against Ukraine in December and January, despite U.S. public and private warnings not to do so, led to a change in heart, the U.S. official said.

Also a factor in U.S. decision-making was Russia's targeting of Ukraine's critical infrastructure, the official said.

"We warned Russia about those things," the official said. "They renewed their targeting."

In late January the U.S. military found a way to satisfy their concerns about military readiness, which enabled the administration to move forward. They began acquiring new missiles coming off the Lockheed-Martin production line.

Biden met with his national security team in mid-February and agreed to accept the unanimous recommendation of his advisers to send the missiles to Ukraine. Involved in the discussion were national security adviser Jake Sullivan, Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin, Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman C.Q. Brown.

The challenge at that point was to figure out how to pay for the missiles. The United States had exhausted all of its funding options and congressional gridlock stymied further aid.

An opportunity arose in March, when several Pentagon contracts came in under bid. Biden was able to use the difference to send $300 million in assistance to Ukraine.

Biden told his team to include the long-range ATACMS in this funding package, but to do so secretly in order to maintain operational security and the element of surprise for Ukraine, the official said.

RUSSIAN PERSPECTIVE

Russian troops wipe out Ukrainian UAV production workshop over past day

Russian troops destroyed an UAV (unmanned aerial vehicle) production workshop of the Ukrainian army over the past day in the special military operation in Ukraine, Russia’s Defense Ministry reported on Wednesday.

"Operational/tactical aircraft, missile troops and artillery of the Russian groups of forces destroyed a P-18 panoramic view radar station, an UAV production workshop and a fuel storage facility of the Ukrainian army and struck enemy manpower and military hardware in 117 areas," the ministry said in a statement.

Ukraine’s army suffers 470 casualties in Donetsk area over past day

The Ukrainian army lost roughly 470 troops in battles with Russian forces in the Donetsk area over the past day, the ministry reported.

"The enemy’s losses amounted to 470 personnel, an armored combat vehicle and nine motor vehicles. In counterbattery fire, Russian troops destroyed two 155mm M777 howitzers and a 105mm M119 artillery gun of US manufacture, two 152mm Msta-B howitzers, a 152mm D-20 howitzer, a 122mm Gvozdika motorized artillery system and a BM-21 Grad multiple rocket launcher," the ministry said.

In addition, Russian troops wiped out three field ammunition depots and two Nota electronic warfare stations of the Ukrainian army, it specified.

Reuters/RT

As Kyiv's forces struggle, fewer than half of Ukrainians believe the country could return to its pre-2014 borders.

Kyiv, Ukraine – Natalya Brovko doesn’t believe that Ukraine will be whole again.

In recent months, Ukrainian forces have been slowly retreating in the eastern Donbas region amid excruciating losses, and top brass warn that the front line may burst open because of dire shortages of ammunition and manpower.

“With all these retreats, I don’t see how we can even get back what we lost,” the 37-year-old mother of two told Al Jazeera.

“I was scared two years ago and now I am scared again,” she said, remembering when Russian forces tried to seize Kyiv and occupied sizeable chunks of four regions in Ukraine’s east and south.

For the first time since the war began in February 2022, fewer than half – 45 percent – of Ukrainians believe that their nation could return to its borders before the 2014 annexation of Crimea, according to a survey by Rating, an independent pollster, released in early April.

A year ago, the figure was 74 percent, Rating said.

At the time, Ukraine was riding high on the success of its counteroffensive in the fall of 2022, when daring manoeuvring forced Russian forces to hastily retreat from most of the northeastern Kharkiv region.

Months earlier, Moscow withdrew its forces from around Kyiv and all of northern Ukraine, and many Ukrainians and observers were confident that Ukrainian forces would swiftly reach the Sea of Azov to bisect Russia’s land bridge between Donbas, where Moscow-backed separatists carved out one of two “People’s republics” in 2014, and Crimea.

But the counteroffensive’s failure filled Ukrainians with pessimism – especially in Russian-occupied areas.

“No one is coming to the rescue, there’s no way we can become part of Ukraine again,” Halyna, who lives in the town of Henichesk in the southern region of Kherson that has been occupied since March 2022, told Al Jazeera.

The perspective of returning Crimea and the Donbas after a decade of separation seems especially impossible – only seven percent of those polled believe in the reconquest.

The pessimism is a combination of several factors.

After more than two years of the conflict, tens of thousands of Ukrainian servicemen have been killed or wounded, millions of civilians fled abroad or to safer areas, and the economy nosedived.

And while Russia ups the ante on the front lines and with almost daily shelling of civilian areas, the public is divided about Ukraine’s new mobilisation law adopted earlier this month, after months of revisions and hundreds of amendments.

There are also concerns about the stability of Western financial and military aid. While new United States weapons could be on the way to Ukraine soon, it took US officials months to finally pass an aid package.

“With all of this in the background, the poll results are quite logical,” Kyiv-based analyst Igar Tyshkevich told Al Jazeera. “But it doesn’t mean they would remain at this level.”

Moscow strives to create an “instability zone” by striking Ukrainian energy infrastructure as blackouts and power shortages affect the economy and raise prices, he said.

Meanwhile, wider, indiscriminate drone and missile attacks on large cities such as Kharkiv in the east and Odesa in the south trigger the flight of civilians to more protected areas in central and western Ukraine.

Russia’s aim is to “create a situation when domestic political pressure grows,” Tyshkevich said.

But some people in border areas are holding up.

“It looks like everyone has gotten used to daily shelling,” said Mykola Akhbash, a police officer in the eastern town of Pokrovsk, that stands just 60km (37 miles) from occupied Avdiivka.

Although some civilians are leaving, “there’s no massive exodus”, he told Al Jazeera.

“Usually, more massive departures begin after a missile hits residential areas. But that doesn’t happen often,” he said. “Although we expect more frequent shelling.”

US ‘double standard?’

Russia has switched to pinpointed strikes on energy infrastructure deep within Ukraine, while its elite forces are being massed to move towards the strategic town of Chasiv Yar in the east.

It is also recalling former mercenaries with the Wagner private army who relocated to central Africa after the August 2023 death of their leader Yevgeny Prigozhin, said Lieutenant General Ihor Romanenko, the former deputy chief of Ukraine’s General Staff of Armed Forces.

In comparison, “the way we amass resources and reserves is difficult and complicated”, Romanenko told Al Jazeera.

Meanwhile, Ukraine is intensifying strikes on Russian oil refineries, military plants and airfields in annexed Crimea and in western Russia, including sites that are more than 1,000 kilometres (621 miles) from the border.

The strikes on oil refineries contradict recommendations from Washington amid fears of oil prices going up – a decision Romanenko dismissed as a “double standard” given the bill to provide $60bn aid to Ukraine was stalled in Congress for months.

“Shall we just watch the way they behave with such hypocrisy, with double standards, and welcome their suggestions?” he said.

Meanwhile, Washington is reluctant to provide Ukraine with fighter jets and missiles.

That, in turn, makes the task of reconquering Russian-occupied areas “complicated and divided in stages” that would include diplomatic efforts, Romanenko added.

He compared the situation with the way Croatia regained the areas it lost during its war for independence between 1991 and 1995.

Return of Crimea ‘absolutely unrealistic’

But foreign observers are far less optimistic.

The return of Crimea “is absolutely unrealistic”, said Nikolay Mitrokhin of Germany’s Bremen University.

Before the failure of Ukraine’s counteroffensive last summer there was a chance to return the annexed peninsula had Ukrainian forces reached the Azov Sea and started shelling the Crimean bridge and the Kerch Strait that divides the Azov and Black seas, he said.

“But now it’s hardly real to penetrate Russian defence farther than the takeover of the Kinburn peninsula,” a fish-shaped area in the southern Mykolaiv and Kherson regions, he told Al Jazeera.

The Kremlin invested billions of dollars in Crimea’s infrastructure and military bases – and cracked down on pro-Ukrainian residents who largely fled to mainland Ukraine.

The situation in the Donbas looks even more desperate, even though Moscow spent significantly less money there and the annexed part of the region is depopulated and destitute after severing economic ties with Kyiv-controlled areas.

“In Donbas, such breakthroughs were not real even last year,” Mitrokhin said.

The best one can expect from Ukrainian forces this year is to prevent the Russian siege of the towns of Kramatorsk and Sloviansk in the northern part of Kyiv-controlled part of Donbas, he said.

In theory, Ukrainian forces have a chance to break through the northern Luhansk region for about 100 kilometres (62 miles) towards the Russian border, he said.

“But it’s meaningless from the military and strategic viewpoints, because it will cost many victims and resources, but will not make northern Luhansk fit for peaceful life even with a truce and the freezing of the conflict,” he said.

Al Jazeera

Key Takeaways

• Investing in yourself will always pay off.
• Though you may not see immediate results, its steadiness propels growth and ensures you are equipped to carry on for the long run.

Contrary to popular belief, reaching professional goals doesn't always have to equate to revenue. Although money makes a difference when growing your brand and solidifying your place as a successful entrepreneur, make sure you're investing in yourself in other ways as part of a long-term strategy.

Sometimes, that means creating (and sticking to) healthy daily habits. In other instances, it may mean a small monetary investment for a bigger payoff down the road. Wherever you are in your entrepreneurial journey, there are ways to step out of a scarcity mindset and seek affordable ways to push yourself to the next level.

Investing in yourself doesn't have to be expensive. You may soon find that all the ways you invest in yourself help you reach your revenue goals faster than you think. Here are a few ways to get started.

1. Establish a routine

Every entrepreneur has habits and tricks they swear by that have helped them get to where they are. Some promise being an early riser is what has made all the difference. Others make sure to schedule time for mediation. Regardless of what appeals to you, remember that everyone is on their path. What may work for some people may be a deterrent for you.

A good way to find a routine you can stick with is by dividing your day's schedule into categories, such as projects, administrative work/meetings, health and wellness, and fun. Each of these areas is important. Prioritizing wellness and fun is just as important as focusing on work; otherwise, expect burnout as a consequence.

Once you've created your own categories, place them into time blocks. For example, if you like to exercise first thing in the morning, set aside time on your calendar that reflects that commitment to your health and wellness routine. Then, fill in the time slots with your other priorities for the day and repeat through the week.

It matters less when you wake up and more when you pay attention to your day.

2. Level up your knowledge

The internet has made it easy to get free information. Whether you want to master social media marketing or learn new software, online tutorials and classes help you get where you want to be.

Many cities also have free classes or networking groups that allow you to add to your skill set. Stay curious and expand your mind in areas that will help you grow your business. Everything from project management to accounting to scaling your business can help you streamline processes and give you more time to focus on strategy.

Once you find an online channel or in-person mentor you like, you can decide if investing in a paid course or book is beneficial. However, start with the free knowledge available online and at your local library to understand what's possible.

Add learning to your schedule as a set appointment for yourself. Otherwise, it can be easy to de-prioritize this important investment, which allows you to stay current within your industry and pushes you to connect to a higher level of growth.

3. Cut expenses

Another valuable way to invest in yourself is to eliminate what you don't need. This includes monetary costs and people or projects that are draining your energy.

Since time is money, it's important to examine where yours is being used and make adjustments as needed. When it comes to actual monthly expenses, look at your bank account.

What subscriptions do you have that you no longer use? Which platforms are not working for you? Alternatively, which platforms are working well that you'd benefit from investing in a higher tier?

Furthermore, if you have a newsletter or paid ads to promote your business, how closely are you reviewing monthly reports? Are you making changes based on analytics? Even if you have a small ad spend, ensure it's giving you the return you want. Otherwise, that cost can be distributed elsewhere.

Cutting costly connections and projects without a return on investment is equally valuable. Limit or eliminate the areas which aren't fulfilling your needs. This can take longer to establish as there are likely more personal attachments, but being an entrepreneur means preserving your energy, not giving it away for free.

Essentially, evaluate all places you're spending time and money and decide if it still makes sense for where you are in your business.

Being an entrepreneur is a marathon, not a sprint

As with any other job, entrepreneurs have good days and bad. Since you are in charge of your own success (and failures), constantly reflecting on what is and isn't working is necessary. It helps you change direction before going down the wrong path for too long. It also enables you to move out of your comfort zone when you get too comfortable.

Investing in yourself will always pay off. Though you may not see immediate results, its steadiness propels growth and ensures you are equipped to carry on for the long run.

Entrepreneur

In a significant move against illicit foreign exchange (FX) trading, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has taken action by freezing over 300 accounts.

Ola Olukoyede, EFCC’s chairman, disclosed this development during a statement in Abuja on Tuesday, underscoring the agency's efforts to combat financial crimes. Olukoyede emphasized the critical role of a court order in securing the freeze, highlighting the potential consequences if the accounts were not seized.

Moreover, he shed light on the alarming scale of illicit transactions, noting that over $15 billion had passed through unregulated platforms in the past year alone. This revelation underscores the magnitude of the challenge posed by unmonitored financial activities within the country.

The timing of this crackdown coincides with another notable event: the reported arrest of Nadeem Anjarwalla, the Binance regional manager for Africa, by Kenya’s police service. Anjarwalla's escape from an Abuja guest house, where he and his colleague Tigran Gambaryan were held by the federal government, further adds intrigue to the unfolding situation. Their alleged involvement in tax evasion and money laundering has brought them into the spotlight, with their arrest and detention on February 28 marking a significant development in the investigation.

These events unfold against the backdrop of concerns raised by Olayemi Cardoso, governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), regarding the substantial financial flows passing through Binance Nigeria from unidentified sources.

Cardoso's assertion, made on February 27, 2024, underscores the urgency of collaborative efforts between various agencies, including the EFCC, police, and the office of the national security adviser (NSA), to address illicit financial activities within the country.

During an interactive session with media executives in Abuja, Ola Olukoyede, the chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), made startling revelations about Yahaya Bello, the former governor of Kogi State. Olukoyede disclosed that Bello withdrew a staggering $720,000 from the state's funds to prepay his child's school fees.

According to Olukoyede, Bello orchestrated the transfer of state funds directly to a bureau de change operator, utilizing the money for advance payment of his child's education expenses. This brazen act, executed under the guise of preparing for his impending exit from office, raised serious concerns about financial mismanagement, especially in a state like Kogi known for its economic challenges.

Expressing his dismay at the situation, Olukoyede emphasized the absurdity of turning a blind eye to such flagrant misuse of public resources, particularly given the socioeconomic context of Kogi State. He reiterated his commitment to upholding accountability, regardless of any external pressures or allegations of being manipulated.

Highlighting the institutional continuity of the investigation, Olukoyede clarified that he inherited the case file concerning the former governor and did not instigate the probe against Bello.

However, recent developments have escalated the situation, with EFCC operatives laying siege to Bello's residence in Abuja on April 17, in connection to alleged fraudulent activities totaling N80 billion.

The EFCC's allegations extend beyond Bello, implicating Alli Bello, the chief of staff to Governor Ododo, and Daudu Suleiman in diverting substantial funds belonging to the Kogi State government. These accusations underscore the depth of the investigation and the widespread ramifications of corruption within the state's administration.

Dangote Petroleum Refinery has once again reduced the prices of diesel and aviation fuel to N940 and N980 per litre, respectively.

This adjustment follows a previous reduction just two weeks ago when the diesel price was lowered to N1,000.

The new pricing structure offers N940 per litre for customers purchasing five million litres and above, while those buying one million litres and above can avail themselves of diesel at N970 per litre.

Anthony Chiejina, Head of Communication, emphasized that these adjustments align with the company's commitment to alleviating the economic challenges facing Nigeria.

In an effort to make fuel more accessible, Dangote Petroleum Refinery has partnered with MRS Oil and Gas stations, ensuring affordable prices across all their outlets nationwide. Chiejina highlighted the availability of diesel at N1,050 per litre and aviation fuel at N980 per litre at major airports where MRS operates.

He further noted plans to extend this partnership to other major oil marketers, aiming to prevent retail buyers from purchasing fuel at exorbitant prices. This initiative reflects Dangote Group's dedication to improving the welfare of Nigerians amidst economic hardships.

This recent price adjustment marks the third significant reduction in diesel price within three weeks, starting from N1,700 to N940 per litre, signaling a positive trend for consumers and industries alike. Ajayi Kadiri, Director General of the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN), praised Dangote Refinery's efforts, highlighting the potential impact on the national economy.

Kadiri emphasized the trickle-down effect of these price reductions, foreseeing benefits across various sectors including industrial operations, transportation, logistics, and agriculture. He expressed optimism that these adjustments would contribute to easing the high inflation rate and stimulate economic activities, ultimately leading to the revival of dormant industries.

A Dana Air flight bearing registration number 5N BKI, carrying 83 passengers, experienced a runway incursion upon landing at the domestic wing of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos, runway 18L. No passengers were injured during the incident.

In a statement released by the airline, Dana Air expressed regret over the runway incursion involving flight 5N BKI, which was en route from Abuja to Lagos on April 23, 2024.

The statement said that the crew handled the situation with utmost professionalism, ensuring the safety of all passengers and crew members.

Furthermore, Dana Air informed that the Nigerian Safety and Investigation Bureau (NSIB) and the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) have been notified of the incident, and the involved aircraft has been grounded by the maintenance team for thorough investigation.

Acknowledging the swift response of airport authorities and the crew in facilitating the safe disembarkation of passengers, Dana Air expressed gratitude to all parties involved. The airline also extended sincere apologies to the affected passengers, emphasizing that safety remains their paramount concern.

Israel steps up strikes across Gaza, orders new evacuations in north

Israeli strikes intensified across Gaza on Tuesday in some of the heaviest shelling in weeks, residents said, and the army ordered fresh evacuations in the north of the enclave, warning civilians they were in a "dangerous combat zone".

Strikes by air and shelling from tanks on the ground were also reported in central and southern areas of the Gaza Strip in what residents said late on Tuesday were almost 24 hours of non-stop bombardments.

In a post on social media platform X, Israeli army spokesperson Avichay Adraee urged residents of four zones in Beit Lahiya on Gaza's northern edge to move to two designated areas.

He said the military "will work with extreme force against terrorist infrastructure and subversive elements" in the region.

In a statement issued later on Tuesday, the military said it "follows international law and takes feasible precautions to mitigate civilian harm."

The renewed shelling and bombing of northern Gaza comes almost four months after the Israeli army announced it was drawing down troops there, saying Hamas no longer controlled those areas.

This month, Israel also drew down most of its forces in southern Gaza. But efforts to reach a ceasefire have failed, and Israeli bombardment and raids on territory where its troops have withdrawn are making it difficult for displaced Gazans to return to abandoned homes.

Tuesday's bombardment came after incoming rocket alerts sounded in two southern Israeli border towns, although no casualties were reported.

The armed wing of Islamic Jihad, a group allied to Hamas, claimed responsibility for the attacks on Sderot and Nir Am, indicating fighters were still able to launch rockets almost 200 days into the war, which has flattened large swathes of the enclave and displaced almost all of its 2.3 million people.

Hamas said Israel had achieved only "humiliation and defeat" with its offensive.

Speaking in a video aired by Al Jazeera television, Abu Ubaida, the spokesperson for Hamas' armed wing, called for an escalation in conflict across all fronts and praised Iran for its first direct attack against Israel earlier this month.

He also said Hamas was sticking to its demands in ceasefire talks for Israel to permanently end its war, pull all its troops from Gaza and allow the displaced to return to the north.

Israel has resisted a permanent ceasefire, saying that would only allow Hamas to regroup.

Reuters

WESTERN PERSPECTIVE

'Now go win the fight': US Congress passes Ukraine aid after months of delay

A sweeping foreign aid package easily passed the U.S. Congress late on Tuesday after months of delay, clearing the way for billions of dollars in fresh Ukraine funding amid advances from Russia's invasion force and Kyiv's shortages of military supplies.

The Senate approved by 79 to 18 four bills passed by the House of Representatives on Saturday, after House Republican leaders abruptly switched course last week and allowed a vote on the $95 billion in mostly military aid for Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan and U.S. partners in the Indo-Pacific.

The four bills were combined into one package in the Senate, which President Joe Biden said he would sign into law on Wednesday.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said he was grateful to U.S. lawmakers for approving "vital" aid for Ukraine.

"This vote reinforces America's role as a beacon of democracy and leader of the free world," Zelenskiy said in a statement on the Telegram messaging app.

The largest provides $61 billion in critically needed funding for Ukraine; a second provides $26 billion for Israel and humanitarian aid for civilians in conflict zones around the world, and a third mandates $8.12 billion to "counter communist China" in the Indo-Pacific.

A fourth, which the House added to the package last week, includes a potential ban on the Chinese-controlled social media app TikTok, measures for the transfer of seized Russian assets to Ukraine and new sanctions on Iran.

Biden's administration is already preparing a $1 billion military aid package for Ukraine, the first sourced from the bill, two U.S. officials told Reuters. It includes vehicles, Stinger air defense munitions, additional ammunition for high-mobility artillery rocket systems, 155 millimeter artillery ammunition, TOW and Javelin anti-tank munitions and other weapons that can immediately be put to use on the battlefield.

The Senate's Democratic and Republican leaders predicted that Congress had turned the corner in putting Russian President Vladimir Putin and other foreign adversaries on notice that Washington will continue supporting Ukraine and other foreign partners.

"This national security bill is one of the most important measures Congress has passed in a very long time to protect American security and the security of Western democracy,"

Democratic Majority Leader Chuck Schumer told a news conference after the vote.

The aid package could be the last approved for Ukraine until after elections in November when the White House, House of Representatives and one-third of the Senate are up for grabs.

Much of the opposition to the security assistance in both the House and Senate has come from Republicans with close ties to former U.S. President Donald Trump, a Ukraine aid skeptic who has stressed "America First" policies as he seeks a second term.

Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell, a strong advocate for assisting Ukraine, expressed regret about the delay, largely due to hardline Republicans' objections to adding more to the $113 billion Washington had authorized for Kyiv since Russia began its full-scale invasion in February 2022.

"I think we’ve turned the corner on the isolationist movement," McConnell told a news conference.

Some of the Ukraine money - $10 billion in economic support - comes in the form of a loan, which Trump had suggested. But the bill lets the president forgive the loan starting in 2026.

'NOW GO WIN THE FIGHT'

The influx of weapons should improve Kyiv's chances of averting a major breakthrough in the east by Russian invaders, although it would have been more helpful if the aid had come closer to when Biden requested it last year, analysts said.

Schumer said he left a message for Zelenskiy on Tuesday night, telling him, "OK, we got it done. Now go win the fight."

It was not immediately clear how the money for Israel would affect the conflict in Gaza. Israel already receives billions of dollars in annual U.S. security assistance, but it more recently has faced its first direct aerial attack by Iran.

Aid supporters hope the humanitarian assistance will help Palestinians in Gaza, which has been devastated by Israel's campaign against Hamas to retaliate for Oct. 7 attacks that killed 1,200 people.

Gaza health authorities say the campaign has led to the deaths of more than 34,000 civilians in the Palestinian enclave.

It was the second time this year that the Democratic-led Senate passed security aid for Ukraine, Israel and the Indo-Pacific. The last bill, more than two months ago, garnered 70% support in the 100-member chamber from Republicans and Democrats. But leaders of the Republican-controlled House would not allow a vote on the foreign aid until last week.

The legislation's progress has been closely watched by industry, with U.S. defense firms up for major contracts to supply equipment for Ukraine and other U.S. partners.

RUSSIAN PERSPECTIVE

Ukraine has lost almost half a million troops – Moscow

Ukrainian military losses since February 2022 have reached almost 500,000, Russian Defense Minister Sergey Shoigu claimed on Tuesday. 

Russian forces have the initiative on the front line and are pushing back their opponents, Shoigu told a ministerial meeting. The pressure prevents Kiev’s troops from holding on to their defensive positions, he added.

The defense minister also addressed America’s expected allocation of over $60 billion in military assistance for Kiev. He noted that the move is intended to “prevent the collapse” of Ukrainian forces, but predicted that the money will not significantly impact the situation on the battlefield, since “most of the funding will go to US military production.”

“The American authorities cynically state that Ukrainians will be dying in the fight with Russia for their interests,” Shoigu stated. Officials in both Washington and Kiev have argued that paying Ukraine to fight Russia is preferable to the US having to fight Russia directly.

Shoigu hailed Russia’s defense production capacity and flexibility in adapting its military tactics to the combat situation. He said the Defense Ministry will continue long-range attacks on logistics hubs and depots used for supplying Western weapons to Ukraine.

Earlier this month, Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky signed into law a radical reform of the mobilization system, meant to boost conscription numbers, which introduces harsh punishments for draft avoidance.

Zelensky said he considers a proposed mobilization target of 500,000, tabled by Ukraine’s former top general, Valery Zaluzhny, who he dismissed in February, as excessive.

The multi-billion-dollar US aid package was requested by the White House months ago but was only passed by the House of Representatives on Saturday, after Speaker Mike Johnson agreed to it.

Reuters/RT