Israel - Palestinian militants launch massive attack, 7 Oct 2023 #6

[Vern]

...

Though Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had called areas in southern Gaza “safe zones” earlier this week, Israeli military spokesman Nir Dinar said Friday: “There are no safe zones.”

Israel says two Americans held hostage by Hamas, a mother and daughter, have been released

Hamas on Friday freed an American woman and her teenage daughter who had been held hostage in Gaza, Israel said.

apnews.com

RSBM:

Indeed, there are no safe zones for Hamas or legitimate military targets.

 

[JennieM]

5m ago

Israel has confirmed that Hamas has released two hostages, according to Israeli media reports.

Helen Sullivan | The Guardian

Helen Sullivan is the world news liveblogger and reporter on the Guardian's foreign desk in Sydney. She also writes a fortnightly column about animals. Twitter @helenrsullivan

www.theguardian.com

 

[JennieM]

https://twitter.com/x/status/1715417374801682549

At last some good news!!!

 

[JennieM]

Reports on release of two US hostages​

Israeli media are reporting the release of two American citizens held hostage by Hamas in Gaza.

There's been no confirmation of this. We're waiting to hear from US and Israeli officials.

The US state department is about to hold its daily press briefing in Washington. We'll be following that live.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/live/world-middle-east-67165505

 

[Momoffourboys]

https://twitter.com/x/status/1715417374801682549

So many thanks to Qatar.
Next, they need to stop sheltering and funding Hamas murderers.

 

[JennieM]

2 min ago

2 American hostages being released by Hamas, sources say​

From CNN's Alex Marquardt and Kaitlan Collins

Two American hostages, a mother and her daughter, are being released by Hamas, according to a person familiar with the negotiations and a diplomatic source.
The two have been handed over to the Red Cross and are “on their way out,” the source familiar with negotiations said. They are being released on “humanitarian grounds” because the mother is in poor health, the same source said.

It is unclear whether they will leave Gaza into Egypt or Israel.

It is the result of the negotiations between Qatar and Hamas that started after Hamas abducted around 200 people from Israel on October 7.

"In response to Qatari efforts, Al-Qassam Brigades released two American citizens (a mother and her daughter) for humanitarian reasons, and to prove to the American people and the world that the claims made by Biden and his fascist administration are false and baseless," Hamas spokesperson Abu Obaida said in a statement.

The White House has not commented. The Israeli prime minister’s office has not commented. CNN has reached out to the Red Cross.

Live updates: Israel-Hamas war rages as Gaza awaits aid in worsening conditions

Two US hostages are being released by Hamas, according to sources. Meanwhile, Gaza's hospitals are facing collapse as aid trucks line up at the Rafah crossing. Follow here for live news updates.

edition.cnn.com

 

[Friday Fan]

2 min ago

2 American hostages being released by Hamas, sources say​

From CNN's Alex Marquardt and Kaitlan Collins

Two American hostages, a mother and her daughter, are being released by Hamas, according to a person familiar with the negotiations and a diplomatic source.
The two have been handed over to the Red Cross and are “on their way out,” the source familiar with negotiations said. They are being released on “humanitarian grounds” because the mother is in poor health, the same source said.

It is unclear whether they will leave Gaza into Egypt or Israel.

It is the result of the negotiations between Qatar and Hamas that started after Hamas abducted around 200 people from Israel on October 7.

"In response to Qatari efforts, Al-Qassam Brigades released two American citizens (a mother and her daughter) for humanitarian reasons, and to prove to the American people and the world that the claims made by Biden and his fascist administration are false and baseless," Hamas spokesperson Abu Obaida said in a statement.

The White House has not commented. The Israeli prime minister’s office has not commented. CNN has reached out to the Red Cross.

Live updates: Israel-Hamas war rages as Gaza awaits aid in worsening conditions

Two US hostages are being released by Hamas, according to sources. Meanwhile, Gaza's hospitals are facing collapse as aid trucks line up at the Rafah crossing. Follow here for live news updates.

edition.cnn.com

Interesting that they are both American....

 

[JennieM]

World Food Programme calls for 'unimpeded access' to Gaza​

The UN World Food Programme (WFP) has called for "full and complete unimpeded access” to the Gaza Strip so essential humanitarian aid can reach civilians.

Cindy McCain, executive director, says the WFP has "less than a week of food left" in the densely-populated enclave with supplies continuing to be held up at the Rafah border crossing with Egypt.

"People are going to die unless we can gain access," she warns, adding that the organisation hoped tomorrow would see their trucks make the crossing.

The aid chief said WFP does “everything it can” to ensure “food goes to where it's suppose to go” rather than ending up in the hands of people they don't want it to.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/live/world-middle-east-67165505

 

[JennieM]

Sunak says Rafah crossing will open soon​

Rishi Sunak says the opening of the Rafah crossing into Gaza will now "imminently happen", following his meetings with several leaders in the Middle East.

Speaking to BBC Arabic, Sunak says the "immediate priority right now" is to get humanitarian aid to the people of Gaza.

He adds that his discussions with six leaders - including Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu - were productive, and they made "good progress on tangible areas" such as humanitarian aid.

He added the UK shares "a vision of a future where Palestinian people can live with dignity, with freedom and security and we need to work hard to make that happen".

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/live/world-middle-east-67165505

 

[Friday Fan]

Sunak says Rafah crossing will open soon​

Rishi Sunak says the opening of the Rafah crossing into Gaza will now "imminently happen", following his meetings with several leaders in the Middle East.

Speaking to BBC Arabic, Sunak says the "immediate priority right now" is to get humanitarian aid to the people of Gaza.

He adds that his discussions with six leaders - including Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu - were productive, and they made "good progress on tangible areas" such as humanitarian aid.

He added the UK shares "a vision of a future where Palestinian people can live with dignity, with freedom and security and we need to work hard to make that happen".

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/live/world-middle-east-67165505

Everyone keeps saying this.

I will believe it when I see it!

 

[Momoffourboys]

translated by Google
Officials in Israel: The abductees who were freed were transferred to the Red Cross, will arrive in Israel through Egypt

https://x.com/newsisrael13/status/1715418384450437499?s=20

 

[JennieM]

Israeli official says 'good chance' aid trucks will enter Gaza tomorrow​

Paul Adams
Diplomatic correspondent, in Jerusalem

UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres sounded extremely frustrated when he spoke in front of the still-blocked Rafah crossing earlier.

It's not clear why today's experimental aid convoy – just 20 trucks – has still not crossed into the Gaza Strip.

Guterres spoke of "conditions and restrictions" which needed to be addressed, but didn’t elaborate.

Despite the deal between Israel and Egypt, brokered by US President Joe Biden, it seems there are still issues to be resolved.

Israel insists that the trucks only carry food, water and medicine, and that none of it reaches Hamas.

Its military campaign, which includes relentless air strikes, has also involved depriving the entire Gaza Strip of food, water, electricity and fuel.

Having instructed civilians in the northern part of Gaza to move south, the IDF has started telling people to head to open ground between Khan Yunis and al-Mawasi where aid will be available.

Asked about the hold up this evening, a senior Israeli official told the BBC there were "ongoing issues which are being solved", adding that there was “a good chance" the 20 trucks would enter Gaza tomorrow.

But the UN says that’s a tiny fraction of what's needed.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/live/world-middle-east-67165505

 

[JennieM]

5m ago

Palestine Red Crescent says Israeli army demanding evacuation of Al-Quds Hospital​

The Palestinian Red Crescent said its operations at Al-Quds Hospital in Gaza City face an “imminent threat” after the Israeli military ordered the hospital’s evacuation.

The PRCS posted in an “urgent appeal” to social media saying that the hospital is “a sanctuary for over 400 patients and around 12,000 displaced civilians”.

We call the international community to act urgently, averting another catastrophe like Al-Ahli Hospital.

https://twitter.com/x/status/1715415685096931626

Biden ‘didn’t hear the full question’ on whether Israel should delay Gaza ground assault, White House says – as it happened

White House says US president was only commenting on whether he wanted to see more hostages released

www.theguardian.com

 

[Friday Fan]

So many thanks to Qatar.
Next, they need to stop sheltering and funding Hamas murderers.

The irony....

That's why I made the comment about how the UN doesn't get involved with shadowy hostage negotiations.
It's so dirty, so many back channels.

 

[Elley Mae]

And therein lays the (un-PC) answer. Any infidel is indeed considered by them to be a "legitimate target". That's the actual ideology at work.

They very essence of the difference between "good and evil".

Just about half of the ones protesting on their (hamas) behalf would probably be killed under their rule.

Jmo

 

[Ontario Mom]

And therein lays the (un-PC) answer. Any infidel is indeed considered by them to be a "legitimate target". That's the actual ideology at work.

They very essence of the difference between "good and evil".

It's been said repeatedly by folks that know way more about these lunatics (and their end game: world domination) than I do, that these people DO NOT think the same way as decent human beings.

Their own actions prove it, so they've certainly convinced me.

 

[Friday Fan]

Just about half of the ones protesting on their (hamas) behalf would probably be killed under their rule.

Jmo

Yep!

 

[Friday Fan]

It's been said repeatedly by folks that know way more about these lunatics (and their end game: world domination) than I do, that these people DO NOT think the same way as decent human beings.

Their own actions prove it, so they've certainly convinced me.

No, they don't think the same way.

 

[Leve]

translated by Google
Officials in Israel: The abductees who were freed were transferred to the Red Cross, will arrive in Israel through Egypt

https://x.com/newsisrael13/status/1715418384450437499?s=20

I hate to say it but I wonder if this means the other missing American are among the dead.

 

[Momoffourboys]

I hate to say it but I wonder if this means the other missing American are among the dead.

IMO the first to be released had to be Americans to prove something to Pres Biden.

I, also, think that Hamas needs supplies and now that they were released, the 20 truckloads will go through And they will take most (if not all) of the supplies.