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

[JennieM]

46 min ago

US man hails the release of his daughter, granddaughter who were held by Hamas

A man whose Chicago-area daughter and granddaughter were abducted by Hamas in southern Israel says he has spoken to his daughter since her release and that he believes she will be home soon.

“She’s doing good. She’s doing very good,” Uri Raanan, who is based in the Chicago suburb of Bannockburn, said Friday. “I’m in tears, and I feel very, very good.”

The 71-year-old said he saw on the news Friday that Hamas was releasing an American mother and daughter, and he spent the day hoping they meant his daughter, Judith Raanan, and his granddaughter, 17-year-old Natalie, who live in Evanston.

He said he believes Natalie and Judith are on their way to Tel Aviv to reunite with relatives before returning to the U.S., meaning Natalie will be able to celebrate her 18th birthday next week with family and friends.

Live updates: Hamas frees 2 US hostages, even as Israel airstrikes continue in southern Gaza

Israel says <a href="https://apnews.com/article/israel-palestinians-gaza-hamas-war-ed6875f15ea0d2bc196e4033b54b7194" data-cms-id="56ecc782-1b19-316c-bdd2-2024b773d5f8" data-cms-href="https://apnews.com/article/israel-palestinians-gaza-hamas-war-ed6875f15ea0d2bc196e4033b54b7194"...

apnews.com

 

[cottonweaver]

Interesting article about the current Israeli Minister of National Security, Itamar Ben-Gvir:

“Ben-Gvir, a settler in the Israeli-occupied West Bank, has faced charges of hate speech against Arabs and was known to have a portrait in his living room of Israeli-American terrorist Baruch Goldstein, who massacred 29 Palestinian Muslim worshipers and wounded 125 others in Hebron, in the 1994 Cave of the Patriarchs massacre. He removed the portrait after he entered politics.[3] He was also previously convicted of supporting a terrorist group known as Kach, which espoused Kahanism, an extremist religious Zionist ideology.[6]

Under his leadership, the Otzma Yehudit (Jewish Power), a party which espouses Kahanism and anti-Arabism, won six seats in the 2022 Israeli legislative election, and is represented in what has been called the most right-wing and hardline government in Israel's history.[7][8][9][10] He has called for the expulsion of Arab citizens of Israel who are not loyal to Israel.[10] Ben Gvir is "widely known for his openly racist, anti-Arab views and activities".[11]”

Itamar Ben-Gvir - Wikipedia

en.m.wikipedia.org

According to the article, he also made threats against Itzhak Rabin, one week before he was assassinated.

Just for the record I am against Hamas, and against the murder of any innocent civilians.

Thanks for that bio
I'd heard references to ' ultra-nationalist' ministers within the Government so I guess he must be one of them.
I wonder who the others are

Rather alarming that this character is still Minister for Nat Sec. not just because of his history as per your post but also because of the failures in security - hasn't resigned!

 

[Chimera]

3 min ago

Brother of released US hostage says she may return home to US early next week​

From CNN's Andy Rose

The brother of Natalie Raanan, one of the American hostages released Friday by Hamas, says she is likely to return to the US within the next few days.

“We have heard tentatively that she might be coming back to Chicago sometime early next week,” Ben Raanan told CNN on Friday.

Natalie Raanan and her mother, Judith Tai Raanan, are currently in the care of the Israel Defense Forces, according to the IDF.

Their freedom came so suddenly, Ben Raanan said, he heard about it through the media.



Raanan said his joy at the release is tempered by the continued suffering of so many in the conflict, including the families of 10 Americans who remain unaccounted for.

“There are families all over in Gaza and in Israel that are experiencing a loss that I can't even imagine,” Raanan said.

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

Bolding mine.
How kind of him to extend compassion to the other families !
Thank you, Ben.

 

[Momoffourboys]

dbm

 

[dotr]

Israeli family from Hamas-raided kibbutz tries "not to think" the worst as 3 still held, including baby boy

CBS News meets a family struggling "not to think about the worst" with 3 loved ones believed to be Hamas captives, including a 10-month-old boy.

www.cbsnews.com

An image from video shot by a Palestinian citizen journalist and posted online shows Shiri Katz, a resident of Kibbutz Nir Oz in southern Israel, clutching her two sons as they're all taken captive by Hamas militants during the group's terror attack on the community, Oct. 7, 2023

''Kibbutz Nir Oz was a lush oasis of happy families and blooming gardens, until Oct. 7, when life in the small farming community was interrupted by gunmen on a mission to kill and kidnap. Israeli authorities say about a quarter of the residents of Nir Oz were either massacred or taken hostage by Hamas militants during their rampage across southern Israel.

One of the hostages is believed to be Kfir Bibas, who is only 10 months old. His family say he was seized along with his brother Ariel, 4, and their terrified mother Shiri.

"I can only hope they're together," Shiri's cousin Yifat Zailer told CBS News on Friday in the family's bloodstained home. "I hope they didn't separate her from her children," she said, sobbing. "I hope."

"The silence here is haunting," Israeli Army Lt. Col. Richard Hecht said as he looked around the decimated community. He grew up on a kibbutz just like Nir Oz. "There's no children. There's nothing, and it's just petrifying for me."

After Hamas, Then What? Israel's Undefined Endgame in Gaza

The lack of realistic scenarios is starting to produce unrealistic ones.

time.com

''Israel’s declaration of total war against Hamas is understandable after the worst slaughter of Jewish civilians since the Holocaust. Israel’s leaders reason that if Hamas is not defeated decisively, the message to hostile powers in the Middle East will be that terror tactics work. But war breeds chaos and chaos breeds unforeseen consequences. The hard question now being quietly raised by officials in Israel, the region, and the U.S. is: After Hamas, then what?

The Israelis have yet to articulate a vision or strategy for what a post-Hamas Gaza would look like. “It's too early to talk about this as far as we're concerned,” a senior Israeli official tells TIME. “The focus is on fighting and winning the war right now. What happens the day after, in any case, will take quite a while.”

 

[Momoffourboys]

Anti-Israel demonstrations held across Muslim world amid Gaza war against Hamas​

Thousands call for ‘the fall of Israel’ at protest in Cairo, as Iranian-backed armed groups in several Arab countries also rally against Jewish state​

Anti-Israel demonstrations held across Muslim world amid Gaza war against Hamas

Thousands call for 'the fall of Israel' at protest in Cairo, as Iranian-backed armed groups in several Arab countries also rally against Jewish state

www.timesofisrael.com

 

[Momoffourboys]

The father of freed American hostage Natalie Raanan gives an update on her health after being released by Hamas on Friday. "She sounds very good, she looks very good, she was very happy and she's waiting to come home."

video: https://x.com/ABC/status/1715537100332761373?s=20

 

[Momoffourboys]

New Yorker who survived Hamas festival massacre stunned by antisemitism protests at home: ‘Feel safer in Israel than in US’​

A Long Island native who survived Hamas’ slaughter at an Israeli music festival said she still doesn’t feel safe after returning home due to the increasing acts of antisemitism put on display at the countless protests that have erupted since the war began.

Natalie Sanandaji, 28, thought the worst was over after surviving the horrifying attack on Oct. 7 and returning home a week later, but the Jewish New Yorker said the ensuing onslaught of antisemitism scares her.

more:New Yorker who survived Hamas festival massacre stunned by antisemitism protests at home: ‘Feel safer in Israel than in US’

 

[Vern]

7m ago

WHO chief says reports of Gaza hospital evacuation order are 'disturbing'​

The head of the World Health Organization (WHO) has described reports that a hospital in Gaza has been ordered to evacuate as “disturbing”.

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

Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said it is “impossible” for overcrowded hospitals to safely evacuate patients in a statement posted to X.

Hospitals in Gaza “must be allowed to perform their lifesaving functions,” he posted to social media. “They must be protected.”

The WHO’s regional office for the eastern Mediterranean said the reports of evacuation orders sent to Al-Quds Hospital in Gaza were “worrying”.

Sick and injured patients, as well as health workers, are inside the hospital it said.

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

Someone just linked prior to your post that these "Reports" of Hospital & Schools ordered to be evacuated were proven to be false.

 

[JennieM]

Someone just linked prior to your post that these "Reports" of Hospital & Schools ordered to be evacuated were proven to be false.

The French news agency AFP withdrew its story, but UNRWA has not withdrawn its statement.

ETA
I will try to find the latest from UNRWA, maybe I’ve got it wrong.

 

[Momoffourboys]

Protesters demanding Israel-Hamas ceasefire arrested for blocking traffic in NYC​

Protesters demanding Israel-Hamas ceasefire arrested for blocking traffic in NYC

Protesters calling for a ceasefire in the Israel-Hamas war were taken into custody after they planted themselves down in the middle of 5th Avenue.

nypost.com

 

[JennieM]

Someone just linked prior to your post that these "Reports" of Hospital & Schools ordered to be evacuated were proven to be false.

This is being reported in the CNN now


10 min ago

Gaza's Al-Quds Hospital received 3 evacuation orders on Friday, Palestinian Red Crescent says​

From CNN's Kareem El Damanhoury

The Al-Quds Hospital in Gaza received three evacuation orders on Friday, according to the Palestinian Red Crescent.

Earlier on Friday, the hospital's administration said the Israeli army had contacted them, demanding the immediate evacuation of the hospital in preparation for a nighttime airstrike.

The Israel Defense Forces called the Palestinian Red Crescent three times between 7 p.m. and 11 p.m. local time on Friday, its director general, Marwan Jilani, told CNN on Friday.

"It was the same threat, it was 'evacuate immediately,'" Jilani said.
Jilani said the hospital had received evacuation orders in the past, but emphasized the ones on Friday seemed "really serious."

Al-Quds Hospital currently houses more than 400 patients and approximately 12,000 displaced civilians who have sought refuge there as a safe haven, according to the Palestinian Red Crescent.

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

 

[Chimera]

CNN reporter accosted on air by angry Palestinians in the West Bank

Sidner is among the network's reporters who have been in the region since Hamas waged war on October 7.

www.dailymail.co.uk

CNN reporter Sara Sidner was accosted live on-air on this morning as she reported from the West Bank, with an angry crowd of Palestinians telling her: ' CNN - you are not welcome here' in the latest indicator of the region's bubbling hatred of America.

Sidner is among the network's reporters who have been in the region since Hamas waged war on October 7. On Friday, she was reporting from a street in the West Bank - one of two Palestinian territories - when she was approached by a furious man.

'You are a genocide supporter. You are not welcome here!' he screamed at Sidner, inching closer to her face while others surrounded them.
I don't watch CNN a lot... but I was concerned for that reporter.
(It looks like she has security, though.)

Right now just seems like a bad time to be reporting from the West bank ?
Otoh; how would we know anything that was going on without live footage.

Concerning that last video .... my opinion is that they'll burn photos and flags first... then people ?
They (Hamas) already burned victims including children.

They hate the U.S.,(Hamas and maybe others in Gaza) even while the U.S. is providing aid.
Smh.
It's depressing.


From above link :
President Biden last night laid out a generous, $100billion aid package for Israel and Ukraine.

How are they going to distribute this w/o it going straight to Hamas ?
Omo.

 

[JennieM]

The French news agency AFP withdrew its story, but UNRWA has not withdrawn its statement.

ETA
I will try to find the latest from UNRWA, maybe I’ve got it wrong.

@Vern this is still in X:

https://twitter.com/x/status/1715423053692166568

 

[Momoffourboys]

Elite Israeli soldier rescues tree owl from Kfar Aza wreckage​

Hefer pointed out how, as the Reconnaissance Brigade’s emblem is an owl, it was fitting that he should be the one to find and rescue the bird.​

Elite Israeli soldier rescues tree owl from Kfar Aza wreckage

Hefer pointed out how, as the Reconnaissance Brigade’s emblem is an owl, it was fitting that he should be the one to find and rescue the bird.

www.jpost.com

 

[JennieM]

24m ago

Patrick Wintour

Two weeks of non-stop western shuttle diplomacy appear to have reached the brink of failure since, as it stands, the west can only point to 20 aid trucks crossing into Gaza as the visible fruit of its labour. At the same time, Israel’s neighbours are taking to the streets and acts of terrorism are returning to the capitals of Europe.

With more than 4,000 Palestinians and 1,400 Israelis already dead, the only certainty is that Gaza’s depleted healthcare system will collapse if Israel launches a lengthy land invasion to wipe out Hamas.

The round of western diplomatic visits to Jerusalem had a dual purpose. They were public acts of solidarity in which the visit was the message, but there was also private questioning of the Israeli war cabinet, and what comes after an invasion.

In particular Joe Biden, for all the empathy that he showed to victims and the families of hostages, has been quite sharp in urging caution on Israel, though he was subtle in couching that counsel in terms of the lessons the US has taken from fighting terrorism.

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2...-sunak-and-co-seems-to-be-heading-for-failure

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

 

[PommyMommy]

“Hamas presents itself to the world as having returned the women they took hostage on humanitarian grounds, while Hamas is in fact a murderous terrorist organization that right now is holding infants, children, women and elderly people hostage in the Gaza Strip, and continuing to commit crimes against humanity.״— @IDFSpokesperson, RAdm. Daniel Hagari

https://twitter.com/x/status/1715472680453840984

War With Hamas 2 week recap:

6,900+ rockets fired from Gaza at Israel (450+ failed launches inside Gaza).

1,400+ killed.
4,600+ injured.
200+ hostages taken.

1,000+ Hamas terrorists neutralized, many after infiltrating Israel.
Dozens of senior Hamas terrorist leaders eliminated.

https://twitter.com/x/status/1715501756753367333

 

[Vern]

This is being reported in the CNN now


10 min ago

Gaza's Al-Quds Hospital received 3 evacuation orders on Friday, Palestinian Red Crescent says​

From CNN's Kareem El Damanhoury

The Al-Quds Hospital in Gaza received three evacuation orders on Friday, according to the Palestinian Red Crescent.

Earlier on Friday, the hospital's administration said the Israeli army had contacted them, demanding the immediate evacuation of the hospital in preparation for a nighttime airstrike.

The Israel Defense Forces called the Palestinian Red Crescent three times between 7 p.m. and 11 p.m. local time on Friday, its director general, Marwan Jilani, told CNN on Friday.

"It was the same threat, it was 'evacuate immediately,'" Jilani said.
Jilani said the hospital had received evacuation orders in the past, but emphasized the ones on Friday seemed "really serious."

Al-Quds Hospital currently houses more than 400 patients and approximately 12,000 displaced civilians who have sought refuge there as a safe haven, according to the Palestinian Red Crescent.

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

Oh my. Same hospitals/same reports

RSBM:

The Palestine Red Crescent launched an “urgent appeal” saying it had “received a threat from the occupying authorities to bombard Al-Quds Hospital.”
...
The Palestine Red Crescent claimed Israel had “demanded” the hospital’s evacuation, and said this would affect more than 400 patients and 12,000 displaced people who have sought “safe haven.”

“We call upon the international community to take immediate and urgent action to prevent another massacre similar to what occurred at Al-Ahli Baptist Hospital,” the statement added.

The UN agency for Palestinian refugees, UNRWA, said in parallel that Israel had told it to evacuate five schools “as fast as possible.”

All of the schools are in Gaza City, close to the hospital.
...

IDF denies Gaza aid groups’ claim that it urged evacuation of hospital, 5 schools

* * *

www.timesofisrael.com

UNRWA has walked back their claims and no one can seem to 'collaborate' which actual humanitaran group actually received this threat(s) and passed them off to the Red Cresent.

Given the Red Crescent's obvious mis-information in the bolded part of their apparent quote above (BBM), I'll give this a 'pass'. I think someone lied to them and they ran with it (the story) as factual once again. They need to call for Hamas to stop setting up rocket launcing sites near to their hospitals and to cease firing faulty ones.

The IDF also categoricly denies this incident (orders to evacuate these schools and this hospital) occured.

I'll wait to see how long it takes CNN to 'clarify' their reporting now that UNRWA etc are walking back the claims. They seem to be behind today on their #breaking news.

 

[PommyMommy]

42min ago

White House says Biden didn’t call for Israel to delay Gaza offensive: He didn’t hear question​

The White House is now walking back US President Joe Biden’s earlier comment that Israel should delay its expected offensive in Gaza until more hostages held by Hamas and other Palestinian terror groups are released.

While boarding Air Force One earlier, Biden was asked by a reporter whether Israel should push off a military operation in Gaza, to which he responded, “yes.”

“The president was far away. He didn’t hear the full question. The question sounded like ‘Would you like to see more hostages released?’ He wasn’t commenting on anything else,” White House spokesperson Ben LaBolt is quoted as saying by Reuters/

 

[JennieM]

UN says Palestinians are returning home

A spokesperson for the U.N. human rights office says there are new signs that some Palestinians who initially moved south in response to the Israeli order to evacuate are returning to their homes because Israeli strikes are taking place in the south, too.

“We remain very concerned that Israeli Forces’ heavy strikes are continuing across Gaza, including in the south,” Ravina Shamdasani told reporters. “The strikes, coupled with extremely difficult living conditions in the south, appear to have pushed some to return to the north, despite the continuing heavy bombing there.”

Shamdasani said the rights office had heard accounts about people wanting to migrate back north, including from one unidentified Palestinian who said, “I might as well die in my own house.”

Live updates: Hamas frees 2 US hostages, even as Israel airstrikes continue in southern Gaza

Israel says <a href="https://apnews.com/article/israel-palestinians-gaza-hamas-war-ed6875f15ea0d2bc196e4033b54b7194" data-cms-id="56ecc782-1b19-316c-bdd2-2024b773d5f8" data-cms-href="https://apnews.com/article/israel-palestinians-gaza-hamas-war-ed6875f15ea0d2bc196e4033b54b7194"...

apnews.com