🇵🇸🇮🇱 - Situation update in the Gaza Strip:

Two years ago today, Hamas launched its Operation al-Aqsa Flood. Since then, the Israeli military has waged war on the Gaza Strip:

- The IDF controls 251 sqkm of territory (69% of the entire strip).

On August 20, the IDF launched Operation Gideon's Chariots II, with the aim of controlling the entire Gaza City. Over a month later, Israel controls 70% of the city.

The only districts outside of the IDF control in Gaza City are al-Durraj, Sabra and the wealthy neighbourhoods of Remal (North and South).

🇨🇳 - China - A growing maritime power: A map by Rerum Novarum showing all 119 Chinese overseas ports.

China has signed 71 bilateral shipping agreements with 66 different countries around the world.

- Yellow: Ports in which China does not have a majority stake (-50%).
- Red: Ports in which China does have a majority stake (+50%).
- Blue: Ports capable of stationing Chinese military vessels.

For a port to dock a Chinese military vessel without any prior agreement, Beijing requires a controlling stake. The typical standard for a port to anchor a military vessel is it must have a draft capable of accommodating an oil tanker (16 meters), as this exceeds the requirements of aircraft carriers (11 meters), frigates and destroyers (6-7 meters). As shown on the map, ports in red, in which China holds a controlling share, either do not have the required quay, draft or the port lies on NATO territory.

China currently has 18 ports (blue on map) capable of holding its military vessels. However, this number will rise in the coming years, as China has made it clear it seeks to build military facilities at multiple ports currently shown as yellow - such as Gwadar (Pakistan), Chongjin (North Korea), and Posorja (Ecuador).

Notes:
- China, surprisingly, has invested in just a single port in Russia (Port of Zarubino).
- It is unlikely China will receive clearance to dock military vessels at Newcastle Port, Australia. It was shown as blue as the port is capable of holding such vessels and China does have a 51% stake.
- China has never parked a military vessel at Haifa, Israel, however it was also shown as blue as the port has been used by Russian military vessels in the past.
- China has 129 overseas ports in total, but 10 are inactive and are therefore not shown on the map.

🇪🇨⚡- BREAKING: Protestors throw stones and rocks at Ecuadorian President Daniel Noboa and his convoy, while passing through the Canar region.

No injuries reported.