Global National: Oct. 16

With supplies running scarce hospitals overwhelmed, and relentless bombing from Israel, roughly two million people in Gaza are desperate for humanitarian aid that’s been cut off from the region. Jeff Semple speaks with Canadians in Gaza that are trying to help in this dire situation, as the territory’s health care system walks on its last legs. Despite fears of innocent civilians being hurt or killed, Israel aims to go through with its major offensive into Gaza – an onslaught it says will be from “air, sea, and land.” Crystal Goomansingh reports from Jerusalem, and speaks with a Canadian-Israeli reservist about the difficult and dangerous mission ahead. A Canadian surveillance plane operating in international airspace off the coast of China was intercepted by a Chinese military jet, and used maneuvers that Defence Minister Bill Blair calls “dangerous and reckless.” Neetu Garcha was on-board the aircraft, and reports on the tense situation. In the wake of the Israel-Hamas bloodshed, U.S. President Joe Biden is set to visit Israel, where he’s expected to meet with the country’s leader, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. How the trip is part of efforts to ensure the conflict does not spread further in the Middle East, and how it could affect Israel’s planned ground offensive into Gaza. Plus, about one million Palestinians in northern Gaza were warned by Israel to move south before its potential ground invasion, but without anywhere safe to go, many people are staying in the region and in harm’s way. How a small Catholic church there is welcoming hundreds of civilians from all backgrounds to give them shelter.