NEED TO CATCH up? The Journal brings you a round-up of today’s news.

IRELAND

Sisters Grace and Olivia Fenton at The Unveiling of Crawford Art Gallery’s latest acquisition for the national collection, The Window by the Irish artist Seán Keating (1889-1977).

• Status red wind warnings were issued for five counties with the arrival of Storm Debi set to bring severe and damaging gusts overnight. Schools in 19 counties were advised to stay closed until 10am. 
• A man was arrested following a hit and run incident in Limerick that left student journalist Joe Drennan dead.
• The Government rebuffed calls from opposition parties to refer a case to the International Criminal Court in relation to Israel’s siege and bombardment of Gaza, saying in a statement that an investigation by the court is already underway.
• A care assistant who sued the HSE after suffering injuries in a fall from a ladder at University Maternity Hospital Limerick seven years ago, has been awarded almost €400,000 in damages.
• Leo Varadkar and Northern Ireland Secretary Chris Heaton-Harris laid wreaths at a Remembrance Sunday ceremony in Co Fermanagh.
• A worker in a Direct Provision centre in Dublin who was mocked at work by colleagues over his English accent was awarded €3,500 in compensation.
• More than 1,000 consultants signed the new public-only Sláintecare contract.

INTERNATIONAL

Alamy Stock Photo A pro-Palestine march in Brisbane, Australia. Alamy Stock Photo

#GAZA Israel continued its assault on Gaza today as doctors said hospitals across the territory were shutting down due to a lack of power. 

#LEBANON A Hezbollah attack wounded seven Israeli troops and 10 other people near the border with Lebanon, Israel’s military and rescue services said.

#FRANCE Tens of thousands of people marched in Paris today alongside prominent politicians, demonstrating against antisemitism. 

#VOLCANO An Icelandic town home to some 4,000 people near the capital Reykjavik could be heavily damaged by a volcano expected to erupt within hours or days, experts said.

#UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak faced intensifying calls to sack Suella Braverman for stoking tensions ahead of Armistice Day protests, with Labour leader Keir Starmer accusing the British Home Secretary of spawning “hatred and distrust”.

PARTING SHOT

WE’RE NOW A month into a violent conflict between Israel and Hamas, resulting in the deaths of hundreds of civilians and sparking a dire humanitarian crisis.

Calls for a lasting ceasefire are struggling to get off the ground, and the UN chief António Guterres has now dubbed Gaza a ‘graveyard for children’ as tens of thousands struggle without food, medical care and basic provisions.

This current spate of fighting is just one in a long, long history of tension between Israel and Palestine, dating right back to the partition of the country in the 1940s.

So how did we get here?

This week on The Explainer, we’re joined by our Assistant News Editor Stephen McDermott to give you a clear overview of the basics of what we’re seeing today – from who Hamas are to how Israel came to be a state.

We also look at the 7 October attack, and the subsequent attacks on Gaza by the Israeli military, both of which have sent tensions in the region spiralling.

You can listen to the episode here. 

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