A surprise military attack on Israel by the militant group Hamas has prompted a declaration of war by Israel. On Saturday, Oct. 7, 2023, at 6:30 a.m. local time, Hamas fired rockets into central and southern Israel, although, as ABC News reported, the exact number is disputed — Israel claims 2,200 while Hamas has said 5,000. At the same time, bulldozers driven by Hamas militants tore down a section of the fence surrounding Gaza, allowing Hamas militants into southern Israel.
A recent conflict in Khartoum, the capital of Sudan, has raised concerns over the prospect of a civil war. On April 15, 2023, fighting erupted in Khartoum between the Sudanese Armed Forces and a paramilitary group called the Rapid Support Forces, Al Jazeera reported. Not only could the conflict cause damage to Sudan’s transition to democracy, but experts warn it also has implications for the already unstable region.
On March 27, 2023, Prime Minister of Israel Benjamin Netanyahu announced that he will be delaying the proposed judicial reforms that were announced earlier this year. According to an Al Jazeera news article, this announcement followed a mass strike of workers across the country, as well as protests from tens of thousands of Israelis opposed to the reforms. Malls and kindergartens were closed, seaport workers refused to work and flights were suspended at Ben Gurion International Airport. Al Jazeera also explained that the delay announced last Monday means that the proposed changes will not be voted on by parliament until late April at the earliest.
