1. The death toll of the Israel-Hamas armed conflict rose to nearly 1,600 on both sides as of Monday. Israel previously reported 900 deaths while Palestinian authorities reported 700 deaths in Gaza and the West Bank. A senior Hamas official said the group is holding more than 100 people captive.
2. South Korea’s Presidential Office said Monday that the U.S. has decided to allow exports of its semiconductor manufacturing equipment to Samsung Electronics and SK Hynix factories in China without a separate approval process.
3. South Korea’s new Defense Minister Shin Won-sik said Tuesday that he will push for the suspension of the 2018 inter-Korean military tension reduction agreement, citing its impact on limiting Seoul’s surveillance capabilities against North Korean military activities.
