News Wrap: Israeli ground forces near ‘full’ control of northern Gaza

John Yang:

Good evening, I'm John Yang. Almost two months into the ground invasion, Israeli military officials say they're close to having what they call full operational control of Northern Gaza and will soon shift their focus to southern Gaza.

Israeli authorities have ordered more territory evacuated in central and southern Gaza as residents seek refuge in ever shrinking slivers of territory. Today, the IDF released footage of fighting in Gaza cities Isin (ph) neighborhood.

In another part of Gaza City, Palestinian officials say more than 90 people were killed when Israeli airstrikes flattened two buildings. Gazan said they don't understand why the buildings were hit.

Man (through translator):

Was there resistance in this house? What resistance you? Won't find anything but children's dolls and a floor for them to eat on. The children you will find nothing more. Peaceful people you dropped by 100 tons of explosives on.

John Yang:

Israel offered rare details of its controversial practice of rounding up large numbers of Palestinian men, saying its forces had arrested hundreds of alleged militants sending 200 of them to Israel for interrogation.

In Colorado, two Denver area paramedics were convicted of criminally negligent homicide for the 2019 death of 23-year-old Elijah McClain. McClain died after the EMTs administered a fatal overdose with a powerful sedative ketamine.

Police forcibly arrested McClain following a suspicious person complaint. After officers pinned him down the paramedics gave him the ketamine. He died days later in the hospital.

Outside the courthouse following the verdict, McClain's mother raised a fist in the air and wept. Some experts say the verdict could have a chilling effect on emergency medical personnel.

And the Czech Republic came to a virtual standstill at noon today and mourning for the 14 victims of the nation's worst mass killing ever. Bells toll and people across the country observed a minute of silence on a national day of mourning.

The shooting occurred Thursday at Charles University in Prague. 25 other people were wounded before the shooter was student took his own life.

Still to come on PBS News weekend, the promise of the first transatlantic flight powered with 100 percent sustainable fuel. And a new documentary series looks at why people in some parts of the world are living longer.