Israel - Palestinian militants launch massive attack, 7 Oct 2023 #3

[DeDee]

Gripped by Terror

Teen survivor of Kfar Aza massacre says family hid for 16 hours w/video

A 13-year-old Israeli girl and her family survived a devastating Hamas attack on their village, which saw some of the worst atrocities against civilians in the militant group's surprise assault on Israel.

Kfar Aza, a settlement of 800 people just a few miles from the Gaza border, was one of the first targets of the weekend assault. Renana Botzer Swissa said it was 6:22 a.m. when she heard alarms blare through her village — "and I just froze."

"I had a panic attack," she said.

The girl, her parents and her grandmother rushed to their safe room, where they hid and prayed for 16 hours while Hamas rampaged through their community.

 

[Brightchaser47]

I wonder if it would be feasible to do an air drop of critical necessities for the Palestinians crowded at the lower end of Gaza, since humanitarian aid is being held up, by pending "negotiations".

 

[DeDee]

Israel-Hamas war live: US sends second aircraft carrier ‘to deter hostile actions against Israel’; ground assault on Gaza looms (theguardian.com)
3m ago06.56 BST

US secretary of state Antony Blinken began a meeting with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman in Riyadh soon after 7.30am (0430 GMT) on Sunday, a US official said, as Blinken works with regional allies to prevent the Israel-Hamas war from spiralling into a bigger conflict and help win release of Israeli hostages.

A senior Israeli official, meanwhile, accused Iran on Sunday of trying to open such a second front by deploying weapons in or through Syria, in a response to a post on X/Twitter posited such a scenario, Reuters reports.

“They [Iranians] are,” wrote Joshua Zarka, head of strategic affairs for Israel’s foreign ministry.

Iran’s mission to the UN warned late on Saturday that if Israel’s “war crimes and genocide” were not halted immediately, “the situation could spiral out of control” and have far-reaching consequences.

Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government has told the militant group Hezbolla – which neighbours Israel to the north and like Hamas is backed by Iran – not to start a war on a second front, threatening the “destruction of Lebanon” if it did.

War is heating up in the ME. Iran's being a brat.

Iran’s mission to the UN warned late on Saturday that if Israel’s “war crimes and genocide” were not halted immediately, “the situation could spiral out of control” and have far-reaching consequences.

Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government has told the militant group Hezbolla – which neighbours Israel to the north and like Hamas is backed by Iran – not to start a war on a second front, threatening the “destruction of Lebanon” if it did.

 

[LaborDayRN]

Dear God,,,I watched that video too. To bear witness.
I don't have words.

I have had to be careful, taking in what I can emotionally.
I was in a car accident last Thursday...I ran a red light, my fault. I simply wasn't "present", all this horror foremost in my thoughts.

I follow here, as much as I can.
We all need to know, the world needs to know.

Oh my goodness @whitelilac
I'm so sorry to hear about your accident. I hope you're feeling okay. This whole situation has me tied in knots as well.

 

[LaborDayRN]

I know it is petty but I always worry about the pets left behind. Can't help myself.

It's not petty at all! I adore my pets. They're living things that are most likely so confused and scared by all of this. I've been thinking of the people that are getting to safety by flying out but it broke my heart when I heard U.S. citizens couldn't bring pets on the flight. What will happen to them?

 

[margarita25]

Hate crimes are going to skyrocket, imo. On both sides. I saw something the other day that said domestic hate crime-related threats are up 400% in one week, jmo.

After 9/11 there was a lot of hate crimes/anti-sentiment towards non-radical, peaceful Muslims. I feel like it has taken years and years to sooooomewhat heal from that. And now this is going to open some of those wounds again. Sadly, peaceful, non-radical Muslims, specifically in USA imo, people who have nothing to do with any of this, are going to be targets again.

And we know how much anti-Semitism, anti-Jewish sentiment and hate crimes already exist. Now add the escalating Pro-Palestine movements around the world…(of course, not all Palestinians support this slaughter, but imo this is a really bad time for these marches considering the slaughter that just happened, jmo.)

Look at what’s happening around the college campuses, all the clashings….I’m sure you guys saw all that Harvard stuff.

What an awful mess (understatement).

 

[LaborDayRN]

The journalists should not have been there. They put themselves in a dangerous situation to get footage, expecting that Israel would not perceive a camera pointed at their activities as a threat while bombs are flying.

Journalists should know better than to stand between two warring parties that are lobbing bombs at each other.

Without journalists, how would the world know the truth about what happened here? IMO they're very brave.
I remember WAY back when, Peter Jennings in Vietnam. We watched his updates every evening when I was young.
They're very brave IMO. Said as the sister of a reporter.

 

[Dhighsmith]

It's not petty at all! I adore my pets. They're living things that are most likely so confused and scared by all of this. I've been thinking of the people that are getting to safety by flying out but it broke my heart when I heard U.S. citizens couldn't bring pets on the flight. What will happen to them?

I’m sure there’s organizations that are assisting. This issue had a lot of coverage during the start of Russian invasion of Ukraine, there are active rescue operations for animals with chartered planes relocating pets, many coming to the US. Still, can’t imagine having to leave one behind, I’d be devastated to be without one of my fur-babies

 

[margarita25]

Without journalists, how would the world know the truth about what happened here? IMO they're very brave.
I remember WAY back when, Peter Jennings in Vietnam. We watched his updates every evening when I was young.
They're very brave IMO. Said as the sister of a reporter.

It was very interesting reading the comments under a video yesterday about what sounded like a close-by rocket to Anderson Cooper and staff while he was reporting (in Tel Aviv, iirc). People were posting to Anderson, “get out of there…you have two boys…”. And there was this whole discussion talking about exactly what you and Cousin @otto are talking about.

The world needs to see what’s going on, and these brave reporters take this risk, fully knowing the risks they are taking. It’s a wild dynamic. It’s like a cop, they know what they’re getting into, but they choose to do it anyway.

I haven’t seen so many reporters cry. There was one reporter, O’Donnell I think (not Kelly) the other day, she reported on the orphaned baby twins found…

 

[Charlot123]

.

I remember back in the day we did the light a candle online for Dylan Redwine.

I wonder if we can light a candle for these hostages, these victims, these families…

I’m out of actual candles, but maybe some of you out there can light a candle tonight. . Not only for those lost, and for everyyyone who is suffering, but especially as a prayer of comfort for the hostages, for what they may be going through right now. It’s so awful to imagine…

—-

Eta:
Here’s the website. I think this is the same one? People are lighting candles.

Light a Candle - Grateful Living Practice - Grateful.org

Throughout the world, lighting candles is a sacred ritual. We light a candle for many purposes: to illuminate darkness, dedicate prayers, solidify intentions, offer blessings, evoke Spirit, and/or to nourish Grateful Living.

grateful.org

“Right now there are 846 candles lit, from 216 different countries.”

—-

Eta2: I lit a candle.

In 2017, we visited Germany to say good-bye to my Jewish classmate who was very ill. He died in a year. I bought a candle for him (ordered on Amazon), but was afraid to leave it burning for 24 hours. My Jewish friend said that it did not matter and leaving a light in the room on for 24 hours would be essentially the same. It is the memory that matters.

 

[margarita25]

“Liri Elbag, 18, had just started military training as an Army lookout near the Gaza border when Hamas attacked, her father Eli told the Associated Press. Eli said he saw her in a video circulated later by Hamas, crowded with others on the back of a military truck which had been seized by the gunmen.

Roni Eshel, 19, was based in an army base on the Gaza border. Her family say that the last time they heard from her was on Saturday morning. Her base was under attack. She sent a text message to her mother at around 09:30, saying: "Mom, I am okay, I am busy, I love you.”

[…]

“Ohad and Ethan Vahalomy were abducted from their kibbutz, according to Ohad's mother, Esther. She said her daughter-in-law and two of her granddaughters managed to escape when five gunmen burst into their home, but Ohad and 12-year-old Ethan were taken.”

[…]

“Dror Or, his wife Yonat, son Noam and daughter Alma were seen by a neighbour being dragged out of their home in the Be'eri kibbutz, according to their nephew Emmanuel Besorai. There has been no contact since, he said. Noam is aged 15 and Alma 13.

Dr Shoshan Haran, her husband Avshal Haran, daughter Adi Shoham, her partner Tal Shoham and their children, Naveh and Yahel, were kidnapped from their home in the Bari kibbutz, according to the non-profit she founded, Fair Planet. Fair Planet said they lost contact with Dr Haran after the attack by Hamas, but Avshal's phone was tracked to Gaza and they believe the whole family was taken. Avshal is aged 65, Naveh is aged eight and Yahel is three.”

[…]

“Hersh Goldberg-Polin, 23, from California, was seen by witnesses being loaded onto a truck by Hamas militants, his family told the Los Angeles Times. He was badly injured and unconscious, the witnesses said, and his last known phone location showed him on the border with Gaza.”

Hamas hostages: Stories of the people taken from Israel

Around 59 hostages taken during 7 October attacks are still believed to be in Gaza.

www.bbc.com

——

Eta: Earlier I had posted this, but I missed a part at the end, that Shiri’s parents are also thought to have been captured:


“Shiri, Yarden, Ariel and Kfir Bibas are believed to have been abducted from the kibbutz in southern Israel where they lived and where Shiri was a kindergarten teacher. Shiri was pictured holding Ariel, aged 3, and 9-month-old Kfir, surrounded by Hamas militants.”

IMAGE SOURCE, TELEGRAM
Image caption,
Shiri Bibas and her two young children being taken away by Hamas militants

* Yossi and Margit Silberman, Shiri's parents, are also missing and thought to have been captured.

 

[NoSpoonFeeding]

something going on in live feed

 

[margarita25]

“Judith Tai Raanan and Natalie Raanan, a mother and daughter from Illinois, USA, were visiting relatives in the Nahal Oz kibbutz when it was attacked. A neighbour told the family they saw Hamas militants take Judith and Natalie, 17, from the house, ABC7 in Chicago reported.

The parents of Sharone Lifschitz - a London-based artist, who asked for them not to be identified for fear of reprisals - are believed to have been taken hostage from Nir Oz, a kibbutz about 400m from the border with Gaza. Ms Lifschitz said her father speaks Arabic and spent his time in retirement driving Palestinians who needed medical treatment to hospital.”

[…]

“Noa Argamani, a Chinese-born Israeli citizen, was also kidnapped from the festival. Video footage - verified by her father Yaakov Argamani to Israel's Channel 12 - shows the 25-year-old being taken away on the back of a militant's motorbike screaming, "Don't kill me!"

Sagui Dekel-Chen, an American-Israeli citizen, has been missing since Hamas's attack on the Nir Oz kibbutz, his father Jonathan told the BBC. Jonathan said his son was not found among the dead and the "only reasonable explanation" is that he was taken to Gaza.”

IMAGE SOURCE, JONATHAN DEKEL-CHEN
Image caption,
Sagui Dekel-Chen's father has not heard from him since Hamas attacked the kibbutz where he lived

 

[SouthAussie]

Given that Hamas is known to shelter themselves and their weapons in and around hospitals, my guess is the hospital will be fair game once IDF enter Gaza on ground.

I have been trying to work out where the MSF staff (doctors without borders) are. Seems that they were at Al-Awda hospital. I wonder if they have now been moved to the southern hospitals they support.

So much expert medical knowledge (including MSF) may be lost if the hospital is attacked.


Since the war erupted on Saturday, October 7, MSF teams have responded to meet the urgent medical needs of people in Gaza. We are supporting hospitals and health facilities with donations of medical supplies as stocks are running dangerously low. On Monday, October 9, we treated 50 people at MSF-supported Al-Awda hospital after Israeli air strikes hit a nearby refugee camp in northern Gaza. Local staff provide surgical and inpatient care in Al-Awda hospital, mostly treating gunshot wounds and injuries from shrapnel. MSF has supported Indonesian hospital and Nasser hospital in southern Gaza since 2021 and 2011, respectively.

How we're responding to the war in Gaza

As the war in Gaza grinds on, MSF teams are providing Palestinians with medical care and humanitarian support under a decimated health system and overwhelming needs.

www.doctorswithoutborders.org

Just to add, MSF have offered help to Israel, but Israel typically doesn't need their help as they have a strong health and emergency system.

 

[sds71]

The American Embassy in Israel will begin evacuating Americans and their relatives tomorrow by sea to Cyprus from the port of Haifa:

Security Alert #10: Planned Ship for Departing U.S. Citizens, October 16, 2023

Location: Haifa, Israel

Event: The U.S. government is assisting U.S. nationals and their immediate family members with a valid travel document to depart Haifa via sea for Cyprus on October 16, 2023. Boarding begins at 0800 AM local time. U.S. citizens must arrive at Haifa port passenger terminal no later than 0900 AM local time. Boarding will proceed in order of arrival and is on a space limited basis.

Technical Difficulties

 

[Mo Thuairim]

Three security sources have confirmed to Reuters that Israeli artillery is striking several areas in the south of Lebanon.

The move comes after a missile attack this morning which has killed one person and wounded three others in the Israeli village of Shtula, which is opposite the Lebanese community of Ayta a-Shab, over the UN blue line that has separated the two countries since 2000.

The Israeli military said it was striking in Lebanon in retaliation and it declared a zone within 4 km (2.5 miles) of the blue line off-limits to public access.

The Israeli military has said that as part of its operations, it is deliberately disrupting GPS operations in northern Israel near Lebanon, and also in the south near Gaza. Spokesperson Rr Adm Daniel Hagari has warned citizens it could cause glitches in their location apps.

Israel-Hamas war live: Biden says Israel occupation of Gaza would be ‘big mistake’; 24 hours’ more fuel at Gaza hospitals, says UN

US president says he is ‘confident’ Israel will act under the rules of war; Thousands of patients at risk in Gaza, says UN humanitarian office

www.theguardian.com

 

[Mo Thuairim]

Europe

Von der Leyen does not speak for EU on Israel-Hamas conflict, foreign policy chief says​

European Commission president offers Netanyahu full EU support during Jerusalem visit​

The rift at the top of the European Union over Israel and Gaza deepened on Saturday when foreign policy chief Josep Borrell said Ursula von der Leyen did not speak for the EU on the matter. He said the EU’s foreign policy was determined by its member states rather than by the European Commission or its president.

“The common foreign policy of the European Union is an intergovernmental policy, it’s not a community policy. So the official position of the European Union with any foreign policy is being fixed by the guidelines of the high-level political decision in the European Union council, chaired by president [Charles] Michel, and by the Foreign Affairs Council ministers, chaired by me. And the position is clear that we certainly defend the right of Israel to defend itself against the attack that has been suffering, but as any right, it has a limit. And this limit is international law and international humanitarian law,” he said.

Mr Borrell was speaking in Beijing a day after Ms von der Leyen visited Jerusalem, where she offered prime minister Binyamin Netanyahu the EU’s unconditional support in his response to last week’s killings by Hamas militants. The commission president made no public criticism of Israel’s warning to more than one million people in northern Gaza to leave their homes within 24 hours or risk death.

Mr Borrell said he agreed with United Nations (UN) secretary general António Guterres that the evacuation order was impossible to implement and would lead to a humanitarian crisis.

(...)

“Israel has the right to statehood, and so does Palestine. The Israelis have secured their survival, but who cares about the survival of the Palestinians? The Jewish people are no longer wandering around the world, but when can the Palestinian people return to their homeland? There are all kinds of injustices in this world, but the injustice against the Palestinians has been dragged on for over half a century, causing the pain of several generations. This cannot continue,” he said.

(...)

Von der Leyen does not speak for EU on Israel-Hamas conflict, foreign policy chief says

European Commission president offers Netanyahu full EU support during Jerusalem visit

www.irishtimes.com

 

[Momoffourboys]

Israel Defense Forces

@IDF

Residents of Gaza City and northern Gaza, in the past days, we've urged you to relocate to the southern area for your safety.
We want to inform you that the IDF will not carry out any operations along this route from 10 AM to 1 PM. During this window, please take the opportunity to move southward from northern Gaza.
Your safety and that of your families matters. Please follow our instructions and head southward.
Be assured, Hamas leaders have already ensured their safety and that of their families.

https://x.com/IDF/status/1713453410534543518?s=20

 

[Inthedetails]

Without journalists, how would the world know the truth about what happened here? IMO they're very brave.
I remember WAY back when, Peter Jennings in Vietnam. We watched his updates every evening when I was young.
They're very brave IMO. Said as the sister of a reporter.

1000% agree. What are the journalists doing there? Getting the news out to the world about what is happening.

jmo

 

[Momoffourboys]

TAKE A LISTEN: IDF publishes a phone call between one of its Arabic-speaking intelligence officers and a resident of Jabaliya in the northern Gaza Strip The resident claims that Hamas confiscated personal belongings and car keys from the people in order to prevent them from moving south, as the IDF extended the window for Gaza residents to evacuate

https://x.com/i24NEWS_EN/status/1713475283691381048?s=20