Fierce Fighting Between Israeli Forces And Armed Palestinians Reported In Gaza

by Pabitra Mohan Senapaty

NEWS HIGHLIGHTS

Israeli troops are engaged in fierce fighting with armed Palestinians in the north of the Gaza Strip, Israeli media reported on Sunday.

Gaza/Tel Aviv, May 12: Israeli troops are engaged in fierce fighting with armed Palestinians in the north of the Gaza Strip, Israeli media reported on Sunday.

The military wing of the Palestinian Islamist organisation Hamas cited heavy clashes between its fighters and Israeli forces in the area of Jabalia, some four kilometres north of Gaza City.

Israeli army spokesman Daniel Hagari said the previous evening that warplanes had attacked targets in Jabalia after the civilian population there had been evacuated.

The Times of Israel wrote on Sunday that the army had called for an estimated 1,00,000-1,50.000 Palestinians in the Jabalia area to be evacuated.

The United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) has expressed "extreme concern" about evacuation calls for both Jabalia and Rafah in the south.

The clashes have highlighted apparent differences between Israel's political and military leaders over strategy in the Gaza war.

Israeli Chief of General Staff Herzi Halevi reportedly complained to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu that the lack of a political strategy for the post-war period meant the army was now fighting in places such as Jabalia, which it had previously taken and withdrawn from.

According to media reports, Israeli soldiers are also still deployed in other locations in the north of the Gaza Strip.

(IANS/DPA)

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We Were Fortunate To Get Virat Kohli's Wicket On That Delivery, Says William O'Rourke

by Pabitra Mohan Senapaty

Bengaluru, Oct 18: New Zealand pacer William O'Rourke feels that he was fortunate to take Virat Kohli's dismissal on the ball which was going down the leg in the first Test against India on Thursday.

Kohli departed on a nine-ball duck as he edged the ball which was taken by Glenn Phillips at the leg gully on the second day in Bengaluru. India had an abysmal outing in the first innings under overcast conditions as they were bowled out for just 46 runs, their lowest-ever Test score at home and their third-lowest in history.

"I think just with my angle back in, having that leg gully in place was meant to bring him into play. It was obviously an attacking option for us. We were fortunate to get the wicket. I don’t think that was exactly the delivery I intended, but it worked and I got his wicket, so I’m happy about it," O'Rourke told JioCinema.

The weather conditions and moisture on the pitch supported Kiwi seamers and O'Rourke said he felt like playing at home. "Very similar to the conditions back home. I think we weren't expecting too much assistance in the morning. We were probably going to bat as well if we won the toss. So, it was nice to see the ball nipping around, and I could just run in and do my thing," the pacer said.

"I think we were excellent in the field today. A few diving chances and I think that's what we pride ourselves on. We probably haven't been as good as we wanted to be in the last few Tests. So, coming out here and putting on a show like that was really special," he added.

Playing for the first time in India, O'Rourke returned with the figures of 4-22 in his 12 overs and credited the Sri Lanka series for getting a sense of the subcontinental conditions.

"It’s my first time playing in the subcontinent so it’s obviously a little bit different from back home, but playing those first two Tests in Sri Lanka really helped prepare me to come out here and just focus on doing my own thing," he said.

After dismissing India for a dismal total, the visitors ended day two on 180 for 3, leading by 134 runs. Devon Conway was the standout for the visitors, scoring 91 runs, while Will Young contributed 33. Ravichandran Ashwin, Kuldeep Yadav, and Ravindra Jadeja bagged one scalp each but India face an uphill task to recover from their nightmare start in the series opener.

Fierce Fighting Between Israeli Forces And Armed Palestinians Reported In Gaza

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