Gaza Aid Looting, Sudan RSF Attacks

THE WAR NEWSLETTER — NOV 19 2024

Good morning. Today’s email brings you news from Israel and Sudan.

1 - ISRAEL

1 thing to know

Nearly 100 aid trucks were looted in southern Gaza on Saturday in one of the worst such incidents since the war began. 

The context 

Of 109 trucks carrying food supplies, 97 were looted in what became a violent confrontation where drivers were forced to unload at gunpoint and aid workers were injured.

Looting of aid entering Gaza has been commonplace throughout the war, with Hamas terrorists frequently stealing humanitarian aid at gunpoint. 

In this incident, Hamas later reported they killed more than 20 people involved in looting aid trucks, referring to them as "criminal thieves."

The aid trucks were filled with supplies from UNRWA and World Food Programme. UNWRA is the United Nations agency for Palestinian refugees that Israel claims has been involved in terror and terror-supporting activities.

More from the region

Lebanese officials reported that the terror organization Hezbollah has agreed "with comments" to a US-proposed ceasefire with Israel. 

The proposal includes a 60-day transition period for Israeli forces to withdraw from southern Lebanon while Hezbollah moves its heavy weaponry north of the Litani River. 

In Gaza, Israel continues heavy anti-terrorist fighting in the north of Gaza. The Gazan health ministry released numbers stating 50 civilians were killed in strikes today. 

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TECH SPOTLIGHT: PAC-3 MSE

The PAC-3 is an advanced redesign of the Patriot Missile, which is designed to intercept and destroy incoming ballistic missiles and aircraft. The redesign gives the missile a slightly larger airframe, allowing it to carry an increased payload of solid rocket propellent, giving greater range and altitude, as well as more advanced guidance system and targeting capabilities. 

All of this contributes to improvements to its hit-to-kill technology, by which it directly impacts a target, rather than relying only on explosive power.

What it’s used for

The PAC-3 is used heavily by multiple branches of the US army for both defensive and offensive operations. It is also used by other US allies around the world. With recent demand increases, the US army also expanded the Lockheed Martin contract to produce 650 PAC-3 missiles annually.

2 - SUDAN

1 thing to know

The attacks by the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) in Al Jazirah state in Sudan continue, with the deaths having now risen to over 500.

The context 

RSF attacks in retaliation for the defection of a top general to the Sudanese Armed Forces have now killed over 500 people in the villages in eastern part of Al Jazirah state. 

The RSF seized the villages in the area at the end of October, as they marched across the region, capturing and burning villages. The amount of displaced people has also reached over 1 million as people flee their homes to escape the RSF, and many of the villages are besieged, with the refugees being forced to pay ransoms in order to leave.

More from the region

Russia has increasingly taken an interest in the happenings in North Africa, and over the weekend the Sudanese energy minister met with his Russian counterpart and discussed the possibility of cooperating on energy projects. 

Based on reports, the energy cooperation would involve power generation, as well as oil and fuel production. Oil companies from both countries also met, along with the Sudanese ambassador, to discuss fuel supplies and potentially future collaboration.

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