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

[margarita25]

Omg, hadn’t seen this yet, sure it’s already posted:

17 hours ago / Hamas releases video of alleged child hostages kidnapped from Israel

 

[PommyMommy]

1min ago

France tells Iran, Hezbollah to stay out of Gaza conflict​

France is urging Iran and Hezbollah to stay out of the war between Israel and Hamas, warning against an escalation of the conflict.

French officials are in contact with Iranian authorities and Hezbollah representatives as well as other regional players, President Emmanuel Macron’s office says. Macron also spoke with the Israeli and Egyptian leaders.

French Foreign Minister Catherine Colonna arrived in Tel Aviv earlier today.

 

[margarita25]

3 days ago / Israeli soldier shares harrowing story of mother’s death

 

[margarita25]

9 hours ago: This poor mother, BOTH her kids kidnapped

5 days ago: Armed terrorists seen parading woman kidnapped from Israeli music festival

(Trying to collect as much specific information as possible about the hostages and statements from their families)

 

[margarita25]

1 day ago:

 

[PommyMommy]

10:23 pm

American mom and teen daughter thought to be among hostages​

Judith Raanan, left, and her daughter Natalie, 18, after Natalie's recent high school graduation. (Raanan Family via AP)

Judith Raanan and her teenage daughter, Natalie Raanan, were excited to travel to Israel to celebrate a relative’s 85th birthday and the Jewish holiday season, according to their rabbi.

The pair had been sending updates as the trip progressed and were enjoying “this really special mom and daughter time together” in Kibbutz Nahal Oz, Meir Hecht says.

The family hasn’t heard from either mother or daughter since a week ago. The community in their suburb north of Chicago fears they are among roughly 150 people abducted by Hamas militants.

“We received this terrible news that Judith and her daughter Natalie are missing and apparently were most likely taken as hostages to Gaza,” Hecht says. “It feels like our community has been violated.”

 

[margarita25]

2 days ago:

5 days ago:

5 days ago:

 

[PommyMommy]

7min ago

IDF confirms rockets fired from Syria; strikes posts in response​

The Israel Defense Forces confirms rocket were launched at northern Israel from Syria, and says that it is responding with artillery fire at the source of the fire.

The IDF does not immediately elaborate on how many rockets were fired from Syria.

Sirens had sounded in Alma, near the Lebanon border, and in Avnei Eitan, in the Golan Heights, close to the border with Syria.

There are no reports of injuries or damage.

IDF confirms rocket fire from Syria, says it is responding with artillery fire at the source of the fire

https://twitter.com/x/status/1713274193314259106

 

[mickey2942]

Rockets from Syria? Well, this is getting bigger by the day.

 

[margarita25]

 

[PommyMommy]

10:36 pm

Israeli pointman on hostages says PM will meet with families; 126 notified so far​

Some 126 families have received official information of some sort about missing loved ones, says Gal Hirsch, Israel’s newly appointed special envoy for missing and kidnapped Israelis.

“The decision to go to a house to tell them about a hostage or death, we have to be very precise,” he explains.

Hirsch adds that he speaks with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu multiple times every day, and that Netanyahu will meet with families of the kidnapped and missing.

Hirsch’s team is still working to identify all the killed in action and kidnapped, and to notify the families.

“It’s hard to create a picture quickly, who is where,” he says during a phone briefing. “We are trying to be very professional, sensitive, and accurate.”

He add that his office is also pursuing an “operational intelligence effort,” as well as a diplomatic effort to let the world know about the scope of the issue and to bring the international community to Israel’s side.

Hirsch’s office is also seeking to be “the address for the families.”

They have set up a center for the families to receive help in Bnei Brak called “From the Heart” manned by dozens of officers from the rank of major and above who underwent special training this week. The center is being run by former Defense Ministry executive Avi Dadon.

Hirsch has created a team headed by Major General (res.) Meir Kalifi to solve problems that arise for the families.

The families will receive an aid package from the government as well.

“We are trying to get everyone home,” says Hirsch. “We’ve been to dozens of homes. I know we must touch people. I want to hug people personally.”

“The war is just at its beginning,” says Hirsch, echoing messages from top government officials.

 

[SkyBoomer]

Rockets from Syria? Well, this is getting bigger by the day.

Scarier, too,

 

[PommyMommy]

10:43 pm

EU leaders to hold video summit this week on Israel-Gaza war​

European Council chief Charles Michel calls a video summit of EU leaders for next week to discuss the Israel-Hamas war, as the conflict enters its second week.

“It is of utmost importance that the European Council, in line with the Treaties and our values, sets our common position and establishes a clear unified course of action that reflects the complexity of the unfolding situation,” he says in a statement.

He sets the meeting for Tuesday 5:30 p.m. (1530 GMT).

 

[PommyMommy]

Israel-Hamas war live updates: Gaza hit with more shelling as Israel defends evacuation order (nbcnews.com)
1m ago / 12:45 PM PDT

Israel says foreign nationals from 43 countries are murdered or missing​

The Israeli government said Saturday evening there were murdered and missing people from 43 different countries following the attacks from Hamas. Israel said there were a total of 152 foreign nationals killed and 141 still missing as of Saturday evening.

That included 19 Americans killed and 18 missing.

 

[PommyMommy]

IDF says two rockets launched from Syria at northern Israel, both landed in open areas. Iron Dome launched at a "suspicious target" that entered Israeli airspace from Lebanon, but further details are under investigation, the IDF adds.

https://twitter.com/x/status/1713278374708216260

 

[margarita25]

Quick video background on the Syria situation:

1 day ago:

Two days ago:

——-

Syria says Israeli missiles hit Damascus, Aleppo airports

Syria said Israeli forces launched simultaneous missile attacks on the airports in its capital Damascus and the northern city of Aleppo on Thursday, damaging the runways and putting both hubs out of service.

www.reuters.com

“DAMASCUS, Oct 12 (Reuters) - Syria said Israeli forces launched simultaneous missile attacks on the airports in its capital Damascus and the northern city of Aleppo on Thursday, damaging the runways and putting both hubs out of service.

A Syrian military source cited by state news agency SANA said "bursts of missiles" hit the two airports at the same time, in what he said was a bid to distract the world's attention from Israel's war with Hamas militants in Gaza.

The Israeli military said it does not comment on such reports.

Israel has for years carried out strikes against what it has described as Iran-linked targets in Syria, including against the Aleppo and Damascus airports.

Sources have said strikes on the airports are intended to disrupt Iranian supply lines to Syria, where Tehran's influence has grown since it began supporting President Bashar al-Assad in the civil war that started in 2011.”

 

[PommyMommy]

Israel-Hamas war live updates: Gaza hit with more shelling as Israel defends evacuation order (nbcnews.com)
2m ago / 12:52 PM PDT

12 American relatives, including four children, stuck in Gaza​

Twelve American citizens, including four children, who are members of the same family are stuck in Gaza.

Brothers Hesham Kaoud, Jamal Kaoud, Esam Kaoud, Nezam Kaoud, Mohammad Kaoud, along with Esam's son 20-year-old son, Ameer Kaoud, were in north Gaza visiting from California and Texas since September. They were meant to return home on Oct. 21.

From left: Hesham Kaoud, Jamal Kaoud, Ameer Kaoud, Esam Kaoud and Nezam Kaoud.Courtesy Helal Kaoud

A cousin of the Kaoud family, Sarah Al Najjar, is also in northern Gaza with her husband and their four children, the youngest of which is four years old.

Then the war started.

"The minute the war began on Saturday morning we began trying to contact the U.S. embassy here as well as in Jerusalem," Shamiss Kaoud, Jamal's daughter, told NBC News, adding that her family members have filled out contact forms, gotten in touch with U.S. representatives and the U.S. Consulate, as well as the State Department.

Shamiss says her father, his brothers and Ameer were told by the State Department yesterday to head to the Rafah Crossing ahead of its potential opening for a few hours only to be turned away when they got there.

"They quickly rushed to the border to be there on time and were turned away because the agents at the border never received the OK to open it," Shamiss said.

Al Najjar and her family were advised by the U.S. Embassy to go south, but don't feel safe leaving their home.

Now, Shamiss' family members are waiting for additional updates from the U.S. Consulate as the Israel Defense Forces have announced a plan to implement “a wide range of offensive operative plans,” which will include “an integrated and coordinated attack from the air, sea and land.”

Esam Kaoud with his wife, some of his children, and grandson.Courtesy Helal Kaoud

 

[margarita25]

“‘The victims are sending their final messages’: Pro-Palestinian protestors March through London”

 

[Rolypolyoly]

now

Putin: Israel is replying 'with quite cruel methods' to Hamas attack​

Russian president Vladimir Putin has criticised Israel for using “quite cruel methods” in its response to the Hamas attacks at the weekend.

Speaking during a visit to Bishkek, capital of Kyrgyzstan, Reuters reports Putin said Russia understood the “logic of events” in the Middle East, but “Israel is replying on a large scale and also with quite cruel methods.”

“In my view it is unacceptable,” Putin said. “More than two million people live there. Far from all of them support Hamas by the way, far from all. But all of them have to suffer, including women and children. Of course it’s hard for anyone to agree with this.”

Earlier, Putin said that an Israeli ground offensive in Gaza would lead to an “absolutely unacceptable” number of civilian casualties, and he reiterated his call for the crisis to be resolved by negotiation, saying Russia could help because it has relations with both sides.

The UN has recorded 27,149 civilian casualties, including 9,614 deaths, inside Ukraine since Putin’s Russia launched its full-scale invasion of in February 2022.

UN says tens of thousands have fled south in Gaza after Israel’s evacuation order – as it happened

More than 400,000 in Gaza were already internally displaced before Israel’s evacuation order, UN humanitarian office says

www.theguardian.com

Well he's a fine one to judge. Practice what you preach Vlad.

 

[Sundog]

I think we've made a lot of progress in recent years in avoiding killing of innocent civilians. We spend a lot of money on defense, we can do it! I have faith that Americans can update our approach and mentality and teach other nations to do the same. Many already do understand it.

Israeli train U.S. military and others in hostage rescue, they are the top military in the world with regard to these kinds of operations without killing of civilians. But there are always limits.