Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu to undergo hernia surgery

Netanyahu will be under full anesthesia during the operation, reported The Times of Israel.

“Last night, during a routine examination, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was discovered to have a hernia. In consultation with his doctors, it was decided that following the end of business today (Sunday, 31 March 2024), Prime Minister Netanyahu would be admitted to hospital for a hernia operation,” CNN reported quoting an official statement.

Justice Minister Yariv Levin will be temporarily serving as the PM in his absence.

Levin is also the Deputy PM of the country.

Netanyahu will be undergoing his surgery amid the ongoing conflict between Israel and Gaza which began on October 7 following the attack by Hamas members.

Meanwhile, at least four Palestinians were killed and 17 others were wounded on Sunday in an Israeli bombing of tents inside the Al-Aqsa Hospital in the central Gaza Strip, Palestinian eyewitnesses and sources said.

The eyewitnesses reported to Xinhua that a drone fired at least one missile at tents housing displaced persons and journalists in the courtyard of the Al-Aqsa Hospital in the city of Deir al-Balah.

The Israel Defense Forces said on its official X account that "an IAF (Israeli Air Force) aircraft struck an operational Islamic Jihad command center and terrorists positioned in the courtyard of the Al-Aqsa Hospital," adding that the hospital building was not damaged and its function was not affected.

Palestinian medical sources said the attack killed four people and injured 17 others with varying injuries, including two journalists, Xinhua reported.

The International Court of Justice (ICJ) on Thursday issued new provisional measures for Israel as the humanitarian situation in bombarded and besieged Gaza continues to deteriorate.

The world court issued the new order in response to a recent request made by South Africa, which submitted a case in December accusing Israel of genocide in Gaza, based on its continuing offensive following Hamas-led attacks in southern Israel which left almost 1,200 dead and more than 240 taken hostage.

Since then, more than 32,000 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli strikes and attacks, according to figures from Gaza’s health ministry.

The ICJ provisional measures state that Israel, “in view of the worsening conditions of life faced by Palestinians in Gaza, in particular the spread of famine and starvation”, shall take “all necessary and effective measures to ensure, without delay, in full cooperation with the United Nations, the unhindered provision at scale by all concerned of urgently needed basic services and humanitarian assistance to Palestinians throughout Gaza”.

The measures outline that the required aid includes food, water, electricity, fuel, shelter, clothing, hygiene and sanitation requirements, as well as medical supplies and medical care.

Orders to open more land crossings

The fresh ICJ order also calls on Israel, as a signatory to the Genocide Convention, to undertake those measures, “including by increasing the capacity and number of land crossing points and maintaining them open for as long as necessary”.

Additional measures call for Israel to ensure “with immediate effect that its military does not commit acts which constitute a violation of any of the rights of the Palestinians in Gaza as a protected group” under the Genocide Convention.

This includes “by preventing, through any action, the delivery of urgently needed humanitarian assistance”, according to the ICJ.

The court also decided that Israel shall submit a report to the ICJ on all measures within one month.