STORY: Israeli military confirms flooding Gaza underground tunnels with seawater
SHOOTING TIME: Jan. 30, 2024
DATELINE: Jan. 31, 2024
LENGTH: 00:01:28
LOCATION: Ramallah/Jerusalem
CATEGORY: MILITARY/POLITICS

SHOTLIST:
1. STANDUP 1 (English): ZHANG TIANLANG, Xinhua correspondent in Jerusalem
2. STANDUP 2 (English): OHOOD AL-JAGHOUB, Xinhua reporter in Ramallah

STORYLINE:

STANDUP 1 (English): ZHANG TIANLANG, Xinhua correspondent in Jerusalem
"Israel's military declared on Tuesday that it has pumped seawater to flood the Hamas tunnel network, in order to destroy the tunnel system. This is the first time that the Israeli army officially acknowledged using the controversial strategy since some environmental experts have warned that such a move could destroy the vast majority of Gaza's drinkable water and harm agriculture. Israel believes that there are about 600-700 km of tunnels beneath Gaza, and around 80 percent of the system has remained intact."

STANDUP 2 (English): OHOOD AL-JAGHOUB, Xinhua reporter in Ramallah
"The Israeli offensive against Gaza continues despite news about an expected ceasefire deal as the chairman of Hamas's political bureau Ismail Haniyeh said in a statement on Tuesday that the group has received a ceasefire and hostage swap deal proposal from Israel and that Hamas is studying it. 
The White House announced on Monday that negotiators had developed a framework for a ceasefire plan that could lead to an eventual deal. Qatar also cited progress in talks for a ceasefire on the same day. Israeli media also reported that Israel is seeking a humanitarian agreement where they would release Palestinian political prisoners in exchange for women and elderly Israeli hostages and planning to pause fighting for two months or more without a commitment to ending the war."

Xinhua News Agency correspondents reporting from Ramallah/Jerusalem.
(XHTV)