December 5, 2023

*) Israeli army carries out overnight airstrikes across Gaza, causing dozens of casualties The Israeli army has carried out a series of overnight bombings across Gaza, causing dozens of casualties among the Palestinian people. The Palestinian official news agency Wafa reported an Israeli airstrike on a residential building of the Al-Yazigi family in the Sheikh Radwan neighbourhood of Gaza City, which left an unspecified number of casualties, including women and children. Another Israeli airstrike on a home in the Khan Younis refugee camp in southern Gaza caused several deaths and injuries. Israel resumed its attacks on Gaza on Friday after the end of a week-long humanitarian pause with the Palestinian resistance group Hamas. At least 15,899 Palestinians have been killed and more than 42,000 others injured in relentless air and ground attacks on the enclave since Hamas’ October 7 surprise attack that killed 1,200 Israelis. *) Zelenskyy to address US senators by video as White House pushes Congress to support aid for Ukraine The Biden administration will urge Congress to approve a request of $106 billion of funding for the wars in Ukraine, Israel and other security needs during a classified briefing. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer said the administration invited Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to address the senators so they "could hear directly from him precisely what's at stake." In a letter to House and Senate leaders, Office of Management and Budget Director Shalanda Young warned the US will run out of funding to send weapons and assistance to Ukraine by the end of the year. *) Niger ends EU defence, security partnerships Niger's military administration announced that it has ended two security and defence partnerships with the European Union as the country looks more towards Russia for defence cooperation. A statement issued by the Foreign Ministry said the state is withdrawing from the European Union Military Partnership Mission that was launched in February of this year, as well as