Israel - Palestinian militants launch massive attack, 7 Oct 2023 #4

[Sundog]

The Senate is working and in fine shape.

It is the US House of Representatives that is a shambles. Unfortunately, they have to start the resolutions to fund proposals and bills. The Senate is poised to act, once the House has an elected Speaker and can get it together to actually pass a resolution.

Hopefully that will take place after a vote in the House this week.

 

[Inthedetails]

I've not been able to watch the graphic video clips, but still haven't been able to sleep at night...

Same.

 

[PommyMommy]

9:51 pm

Large barrage of rockets fired at central, southern Israel​

Rockets are fired toward Israel from the Gaza Strip, as seen from southern Israel, Sunday, Oct. 15, 2023. (AP Photo/Ariel Schalit)

A large barrage of rockets is fired from the Gaza Strip toward central and southern Israel.
Sirens sound in the Gaza border communities as well as Ashkelon, Ashdod, Rehovot and Ramle.

Loud explosions are heard as Iron Dome intercepts many of the rockets.

The Magen David Adom rescue service says there are no immediate reports of direct hits or casualties.

 

[Sundog]

5min ago

Herzog tells CNN that terrorists had manuals how to torture and kidnap people​

President Isaac Herzog shows a terror manual on how to kidnap and torture people taken from the body of a Hamas terrorist in an interview with CNN on October 15, 2023 (Screencapture)

President Isaac Herzog tells CNN that marauding Hamas terrorists who infiltrated Israel last week in an unprecedented onslaught were carrying manuals with instructions on how to torture and kidnap those they found.

“This was found on the body of one of the terrorists, this is a booklet, okay, this booklet is an instruction guide, how to go into civilian areas, into a kibbutz, a city, a moshav, how to break in,” Herzog tells Wolf Blitzer.

“And first thing what do you do when you find the citizens, you torture them. This is the booklet, it says exactly how to torture them, how to abduct them, how to kidnap them,” Herzog says holding up a copy of the pamphlet.

During the onslaught on Israeli border communities, the terrorists killed some 1,300 people, most of them civilians, and took at least 155 hostages.

Herzog notes that many of the hostages are elderly or children.

“Who are these hostages? Babies, pregnant women, elderly people with dementia, even with caretakers, families, innocent civilians, from 36 nations — people were killed or abducted from 36 nations,” he says.

He also recounts some of the horrors he saw while touring Kibbutz Be’eri, one of the hardest-hit places, this morning.

“I saw the most horrific scenes. I saw, I saw the scalp of the woman in a house I visited, a house totally destroyed, totally destroyed. And they just cut her head off,” he said.

Never forget.

 

[PommyMommy]

Israel-Hamas war live updates: Fears for civilians as 'next stages' of Gaza attack loom (cnn.com)
7 min ago

Israel working with UN to establish a humanitarian zone in Gaza, ambassador says​

Israel is in the process of working with the United Nations to create a humanitarian zone in Gaza, Michael Herzog, Israeli ambassador to the United States, told CNN on Sunday.

"We are in the process of establishing a humanitarian zone, a big humanitarian zone in the southern part of Gaza, with the UN. We are working very closely with UN agencies so that they will go there — it will be a humanitarian zone and they will get all the essential provisions like water, medicine, food, and things like that," Herzog said.

The zone would be able to host hundreds of thousands of people, Herzog said.

"We are operating under international law and any essentials that the Palestinian population needs, we're facilitating. That's why we're establishing this safe zone," Herzog said.

CNN has reached out to the UN for comment.

Herzog added Israel does not intend to occupy Gaza after the conflict.

"We have no desire to occupy or reoccupy Gaza. We have no desire to rule over the lives of more than two million Palestinians," Herzog said.

 

[Herat]

And, once again, the onus is put on the US to solve a problem with Arabic people who are getting a pittance of support from other Arab nations. The US taxpayer would be farther in the hole for the loan funds that are not being paid.

The cost of a jet filled with medical supplies is probably less than what a Saudi Princess buys from London and Paris boutiques in a week.

Where is the Arab League funding a refugee camp?

A great comment from the Daily Telegraph article: "The Arab nations who are awash with oil money never put a dollar forward to support the Palestinians. They're entirely too happy to let them suffer. The Palestinians are in this mess because their leadership committed atrocious acts of terrorism, just once their lives, perhaps Saudi Arabia etc could step up to the plate and help the hapless population, remove Hamas who are responsible and work with Israel and the US to find a just and lasting peace."

 

[SkyBoomer]

Like this latest group of senators to go to Israel, Senator Graham will be leading a group of senators to Israel as well. All of them are entitled to their opinions whether we agree with them or not. And none of them are staying out of Israel's war with Hamas, as we are seeing.

If Senator Graham's resolution can help get discussion going about enforcing the U.S. sanctions against Iran, than that would be worthwhile. That would llimit Iran's ability to fund terrorism as they feel the impact of the sanctions on their economy.

As with most things of this nature, it's complicated. Senator Graham obviously feels strongly about this, and his colleagues in the Senate can hear him out and discuss this.

They can say a lot of things that the White House and Cabinet members can't say.

Agreed. I am not a fan of a few of the senators in this latest group, nor LG. But I think it is important to see our leadership represented and committed to the defeat of Hamas/Hezbollah.

 

[SkyBoomer]

Hopefully that will take place after a vote in the House this week.

Seriously. It’s been painful to watch.

 

[PommyMommy]

Israel-Hamas war live: US sends second aircraft carrier ‘to deter hostile actions against Israel’; ground assault on Gaza looms (theguardian.com)
17m ago19.46 BST
Iranian foreign minister Hossein Amirabdollahian said the United States will suffer “significant damages” if the ongoing war in Gaza spills over into a larger conflict, Al Jazeera reported on Sunday.

“We have conveyed our message to the Zionist regime through its allies that if they do not cease their atrocities in Gaza, Iran cannot simply remain an observer,” Iranian state media cited Amirabdollahian as telling the network, Reuters reports.

“If the scope of the war expands, significant damages will also be inflicted upon America,” Amirabdollahian added.

 

[Herat]

<modsnip> ... link to the Daily Telegraph article about a possible option for Egypt to allow 100,000 Palestinian refugees in exchange for the US forgiving their debt.

Access Restricted

<modsnip: Discussing removed posts and moderation is a violation of Websleuths TOS>

 

[fred&edna]

“I’ve never seen people that are conjoined together while they are burned trying to hug each other.”

#Hamas_is_ISIS

This is what Hamas is teaching children... and has been teaching for years. Beyond comprehension.

 

[MyBelle]

Absolutely.. I realize these countries don't want HAMAS there or anything to do with them, but if they don't act in support of Palestinians and Israel, they might one day have HAMAS on their doorstep and find that many countries don't want to help them.

I believe Hamas' leadership will be destroyed by Israel and those U.S. war ships in international waters are sending a clear message.

JMO

 

[Arkay]

I’m grateful I was able to participate in the national (American) shiva for the Israelis.

The prayers, the songs, the stories from family members, and the pictures of the lost continually in the background. I hope it brought comfort to those who mourn.

I’m not on Facebook but was able to watch on Facebook Live.

May their memories be for a blessing.

Am Yisrael Chai!
(Hebrew..it means the people of Israel live).

 

[PommyMommy]

Israel-Hamas war live updates: Gaza still in dire crisis as Israel readies attack by ‘air, sea and land’ (nbcnews.com)
8m ago / 12:02 PM PDT

Loud booms ring out over Ashdod after red alert​

ASHDOD — Loud booms could be heard ringing out over Ashdod just now after a red alert warning of a possible air attack was sent out.

The red alert was for a location roughly five minutes away. At least two booms could be heard shortly after.

8m ago / 12:03 PM PDT

Dutch military says it is sending a team to Lebanon amid tension​

A Dutch defense team is being sent to Lebanon as a precaution due to the escalating conflict between southern Lebanon and northern Israel, according to the Dutch Ministry of Defense.

The team left Sunday morning from Eindhoven aboard a C-130 Hercules transport aircraft the Ministry of Defense said in its news release. It will provide support to the Dutch embassy in Beirut.

 

[PommyMommy]

7min ago

Netanyahu invites Biden for solidarity visit to Israel this week​

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu invites US President Joe Biden to Israel on a solidarity visit, a Netanyahu aide tells The Times of Israel.

He would be the first head of state to visit since the October 7 Hamas assault that killed some 1,300 Israelis, most of them civilians.

Hebrew media reports say that Netanayhu’s office and the White House are examining the details and positively considering the invitation.

There is no immediate confirmation from Washington.

 

[Herat]

Israel-Hamas war live updates: Gaza still in dire crisis as Israel readies attack by ‘air, sea and land’ (nbcnews.com)
8m ago / 12:02 PM PDT

Loud booms ring out over Ashdod after red alert​

ASHDOD — Loud booms could be heard ringing out over Ashdod just now after a red alert warning of a possible air attack was sent out.

The red alert was for a location roughly five minutes away. At least two booms could be heard shortly after.

8m ago / 12:03 PM PDT

Dutch military says it is sending a team to Lebanon amid tension​

A Dutch defense team is being sent to Lebanon as a precaution due to the escalating conflict between southern Lebanon and northern Israel, according to the Dutch Ministry of Defense.

The team left Sunday morning from Eindhoven aboard a C-130 Hercules transport aircraft the Ministry of Defense said in its news release. It will provide support to the Dutch embassy in Beirut.

Is there a strong Dutch presence in Lebanon or is Holland just signaling concern about more potential conflict?

 

[PommyMommy]

Israel-Hamas war live: US sends second aircraft carrier ‘to deter hostile actions against Israel’; ground assault on Gaza looms (theguardian.com)
2m ago20.14 BST

Leaders from the EU’s 27 member states have issued a statement outlining their position on the situation in the Middle East. The statement, published Sunday, comes following diverging and at times contradictory public statements from the bloc’s leadership.

“The European Union condemns in the strongest possible terms Hamas and its brutal and indiscriminate terrorist attacks across Israel and deeply deplores the loss of lives,” the European Council said.

“We strongly emphasize Israel’s right to defend itself in line with humanitarian and international law in the face of such violent and indiscriminate attacks,” the leaders said.

They added: “We reiterate the importance to ensure the protection of all civilians at all times in line with international humanitarian law.”

“We call on Hamas to immediately release all hostages without any precondition. We reiterate the importance of the provision of urgent humanitarian aid and stand ready to continue supporting those civilians most in need in Gaza in coordination with partners, ensuring that such assistance is not abused by terrorist organisations. It is crucial to prevent regional escalation.”

 

[MyBelle]

7min ago

Netanyahu invites Biden for solidarity visit to Israel this week​

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu invites US President Joe Biden to Israel on a solidarity visit, a Netanyahu aide tells The Times of Israel.

He would be the first head of state to visit since the October 7 Hamas assault that killed some 1,300 Israelis, most of them civilians.

Hebrew media reports say that Netanayhu’s office and the White House are examining the details and positively considering the invitation.

There is no immediate confirmation from Washington.

I hope President Biden turns down the invitation. Far too dangerous for him to travel to a country at war.

JMO

 

[LaborDayRN]

I hope President Biden turns down the invitation. Far too dangerous for him to travel to a country at war.

JMO

I agree. I think it's an awful idea.

 

[PommyMommy]

Is there a strong Dutch presence in Lebanon or is Holland just signaling concern about more potential conflict?

Potential conflict and to support their embassy, per link below.

Team Defensie op weg naar Libanon

Een C-130 Hercules transportvliegtuig is zojuist opgestegen uit Eindhoven richting Libanon. Aan boord van het vliegtuig zit een team van Defensie dat uit voorzorg afreist in verband met oplopende spanning in het noorden van Israël en zuiden van Libanon.

www.defensie.nl

A C-130 Hercules transport aircraft has just taken off from Eindhoven towards Lebanon. On board the plane is a defense team that travels as a precaution due to rising tension in northern Israel and southern Lebanon.

The military will provide support to the Dutch embassy in Beirut in the event that the security situation in Lebanon deteriorates significantly. There is currently no question of evacuating Dutch people from Lebanon.