As the Israel-Hamas conflict persists, the challenges faced by women, children, and elderly individuals have grown significantly. However, amidst this ongoing war, a remarkable event unfolded as a baby was delivered through an emergency caesarean section, not far from the remains of her home in the Gaza Strip.

Navine Abu Owdah, a 30-year-old woman, was rescued from the debris of her former apartment earlier this week. She had sustained multiple fractures and was experiencing abdominal bleeding due to an airstrike on her residence in the small enclave, which is now in its 19th day of being under siege.

According to The Metro News, she was rushed to a hospital in Khan Younis, southern Gaza, where thousands of Palestinians have been fleeing after orders from Israeli forces to evacuate from the north. Doctors quickly performed a C-section and managed to deliver a ‘healthy’ baby girl.

“A caesarean section was performed in the emergency department, and her baby girl, who is in good condition, was delivered,” Dr Salim Saqer, the head of surgery at Nasser Hospital, said. Ms Owdah currently remains under observation and is receiving treatment for her injuries.

Meanwhile, a few days ago, UN agencies issued a statement highlighting that the ongoing Israel-Hamas conflict is leading to severe shortages of essential resources such as food, water, and fuel in Gaza. This crisis is particularly affecting pregnant individuals and those who have recently given birth.

About 50,000 people are estimated to be pregnant in Gaza, with about 160 estimated to give birth every day, according to the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA). Additionally, an estimated 73,000 people are pregnant in the West Bank, with more than 8,000 expected to give birth within the next month, the UNFPA said.

Experts said pregnant women and new mothers are facing life-threatening challenges to accessing safe care, putting their health and the health of their babies at risk.

In retaliation to the Hamas attack on Israel, the Israel Defence Forces (IDF) is striking down the Hamas operatives to secure Israeli civilians in the Kibbutz Be’eri near the Southern Israel Border.

In a video footage shared by IDF, soldiers were seen chasing a Hamas operatives and neutralising them within minutes.

Watch this never-before-seen footage of combat soldiers from the IDF’s Shaldag Unit operating to neutralize terrorists and rescue the civilians of Kibbutz Be’eri:

In the footage, you can see the IDF soliders firing at the terrorists’ vehicle, killing the driver who then lost… pic.twitter.com/qnXcqDSzCV

— Israel Defense Forces (@IDF) October 25, 2023

IDF shared a video on X, saying, “Watch this never-before-seen footage of combat soldiers from the IDF’s Shaldag Unit operating to neutralize terrorists and rescue the civilians of Kibbutz Be’eri.”

It added, “In the footage, you can see the IDF soldiers firing at the terrorists’ vehicle, killing the driver who then lost control of the vehicle. The unit’s soldiers then killed the other terrorists in the cell who tried to escape. At the same time of the counterterrorism activities, you can see IDF special forces rescuing the residents of Kibbutz Be’eri.”

Meanwhile, the IDF is preparing for the ground offensive in Gaza under which the Israeli tanks and infantry targeted numerous operative cells and destroyed Hamas launch posts in Gaza.

In preparation for the next stages of combat, the IDF operated in northern Gaza.

IDF tanks & infantry struck numerous terrorist cells, infrastructure and anti-tank missile launch posts.

The soldiers have since exited the area and returned to Israeli territory. pic.twitter.com/oMdSDR84rU

— Israel Defense Forces (@IDF) October 26, 2023

Taking to X, IDF said, “In preparation for the next stages of combat, the IDF operated in northern Gaza. IDF tanks & infantry struck numerous terrorist cells, infrastructure and anti-tank missile launch posts. The soldiers have since exited the area and returned to Israeli territory.”

Reiterating his words, “Israel is in a battle for its existence”, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said that his goal against the Hamas war is “saving the nation” and promises that a ground incursion to destroy Hamas in Gaza will start soon, The Times of Israel reported on Wednesday.

He says Israel is getting ready for a ground operation, but will not share when or how. He says he will not share the range of considerations involved.

“We are preparing for a ground incursion. I won’t specify when, how, how many. I also won’t detail the range of considerations, most of which the public is not aware of. And that’s the way it is supposed to be. This is the way, so that we protect our soldiers’ lives.”

In an address to the nation, PM Netanyahu said, “Israel is in the midst of a fight for our existence. The war’s two aims are “to eliminate Hamas by destroying its military and governance capabilities, and to do everything possible to get our hostages back.”

According to The Times of Israel, PM added, “All Hamas members are dead men walking — above and below ground, inside and outside Gaza. Together with Defence Minister Yoav Gallant, Minister Benny Gantz, the security cabinet, the chief of staff and heads of the security organizations, we are working around the clock in order to achieve the war aims until victory, and doing so without political considerations.”

The goal is “saving the nation, achieving victory.” Thousands of terrorists have been killed, he says, “and that is only the beginning.”

Netanyahu says there was a unanimous decision about the timing of the ground incursion. “The timing of the operation was determined unanimously by the war cabinet and the chief of staff,” he says.

“We will extract the full price from those murderers, those perpetrators of atrocities… from Hamas-Daesh,” in the ground invasion, he says, The Times of Israel reported.

He again called on Gazan noncombatants to head to southern Gaza.

He said the huge pain of the loss of 1,400 people in Hamas onslaught is not forgotten, referring to “our brothers and sisters who were slaughtered in cold blood and who fell in heroic battles” against the predators.

He added the days of mourning will be called in memory of those killed in the assault.

And he vows that the devastated southern kibbutzim and communities will be rebuilt.

The prime minister stresses that that government ministries are coming up with plans to take care of the displaced in Israel, and to take care of the rest of the population “just like we did during COVID.”

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Thursday asked the top commanders of the Indian Air Force to examine the rapidly changing global geo-political situation and assess them in the Indian context besides emphasising on the need to bolster its operational readiness.

In an address at the inaugural session of the two-day IAF commanders’ conference, Singh also exhorted the top brass of the force to focus on strengthening India’s air defence systems and use of drones, noting that new trends have emerged in the field of air warfare.

It is learnt that the commanders are extensively analysing use of various aerial platforms in the Hamas-Israel conflict and the Russia-Ukraine war.

“There are new challenges emanating from the global security scenario. We must always be ready to deal with them,” Singh told the commanders at the conference here.

Chief of Air staff Air Chief Marshal VR Chaudhari and other commanders are also carrying out a comprehensive review of the security situation along the border with China and Pakistan.

In his address, Singh emphasised on the need to enhance operational preparedness and highlighted the importance of joint planning and execution of operations by the three services.

Singh urged the IAF commanders to examine the rapidly changing global geo-political situation and assess them in the Indian context, the defence ministry said.

He pointed out that new trends have emerged in the field of air warfare and there is a need to analyse and learn from them to strengthen the defence preparedness.

The defence minister also exhorted the IAF to focus on strengthening the air defence systems, use of drones and making headway in the field of aerospace to protect India’s air domain, the ministry said.

It said Singh praised the “stellar role” played by the IAF during the recent humanitarian assistance and disaster relief (HADR) missions in Himachal Pradesh, Sikkim and other flood affected areas.

He also congratulated the IAF for successfully organising the Air Force Day parade and air display in Uttar Pradesh’s Prayagraj.

Chief of Defence Staff General Anil Chauhan were among those present on the occasion.

The commanders will hold wide-ranging deliberations on the IAF’s plans for the future with an aim to bolster its combat capabilities, sources said.

They are especially expected to hold extensive deliberations on use of new technologies.