Israel - Palestinian militants launch massive attack, 7 Oct 2023 #5

[JennieM]

1m ago
The IDF has issued an advisory repeating its warnings that people in northern Gaza to move to the south. It recommends moving to “open areas” in western Khan Younis, and says that aid will be sent to an area called Al-Muwaasi “if necessary”.

Egypt’s president agrees to open the Rafah crossing – as it happened

This blog is now closed.

www.theguardian.com

 

[PommyMommy]

7:30 am

UN’s Guterres says October 7 onslaught ‘cannot justify collective punishment’​

United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres says attacks by Hamas do not justify the “collective punishment” of the Palestinian people, appearing to sharpen his criticism of Israel.

The Hamas attacks on October 7 “cannot justify the collective punishment of the Palestinian people,” Guterres tells delegates at a forum of China’s Belt and Road infrastructure initiative in Beijing.

Some 1,300 people, most of them civilians, were killed when over a thousand Hamas gunmen rampaged through southern Israel last week. At least 199 more were kidnapped and taken to Gaza. Israel has vowed to destroy Hamas and says it is trying to keep Palestinian civilians out of harm’s way, but has also kept most humanitarian aid from reaching the Strip.

Guteress earlier condemned the bombing of a hospital in which hundreds were killed, without assigning blame. Palestinians have blamed an Israeli strike, while Israel says evidence shows the blast was caused by a failed Palestinian Islamic Jihad rocket launch.

 

[JennieM]

Medics speak surrounded by dead children from bombed Baptist Hospital as war of words erupts over who killed them: Israel furiously denies its airstrike left at least 500 dead and blames Islamic Jihad rocket as carnage throws Biden's visit into chaos​

• Hellish footage emerged showing bodies strewn on the ground at the hospital

Doctors stand outside al-Shifa hospital surrounded by a sea of dead children brought in from nearby al-Ahli hospital after the explosion


Horrified doctors stood among a sea of children killed after a massive blast tore through a hospital in Gaza with fears more than 500 people are dead and scores more are trapped under the rubble.

[…]


Hellish video taken from the hospital, which was sheltering around 6,000 Palestinians and is funded by the Anglican Church, shows fire engulfing the building and the dozens of bodies strewn over the ground, many of them young children.

[…]

Medics speak surrounded by dead children from bombed Baptist Hospital

The huge explosion tore through the al-Ahli Hospital in Gaza City on Tuesday night while it was being used to treat and shelter thousands of civilians amid the ongoing conflict.

www.dailymail.co.uk

 

[mickey2942]

There is a problem here. In 10 days, this war has grown exponentially. Involving multiple countries, it appears to have expanded beyond Hamas and Israel. Even Putin wants to engage in assisting with peace talks. What irony, and hypocrisy.

Putin pushes need for talks in calls with Israeli, Arab and Iranian leaders

Russian President Vladimir Putin told Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Monday that Moscow wanted to help prevent a humanitarian disaster in Gaza as he waded into the Middle East crisis with a flurry of calls to key regional players.

www.reuters.com

The US will likely 'go to war' in Israel with air and naval power if Syria or Iran become actively involved, retired 4-star general says

The US is watching foreign forces such as those of Syria, Iran, and Hezbollah and will likely strike if they intervene, Ret. Gen. Barry McCaffrey said.

www.businessinsider.com

 

[JennieM]

3m ago

US officials have told the Associated Press that it has become clear that already limited Arab tolerance of Israel’s military operations will evaporate entirely if conditions in Gaza worsen.

Their analysis projected that outright condemnation of Israel by Arab leaders would not only be a boon to Hamas but would likely encourage Iran to step up its anti-Israel activity, adding to fears that a regional conflagration might erupt, according to four officials who spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity to discuss internal administration thinking.

Egypt’s president agrees to open the Rafah crossing – as it happened

This blog is now closed.

www.theguardian.com

 

[margarita25]

I've never heard of a world leader flying into a foreign war zone.

Cousin @otto, my friend.

Hmm.

I’m thiiiinking this has to have been done before, can’t think of an example atm, but maybe we should ask Google or Chatgpt.

I would like to know the answer to this question, because if not, then technically this would be “unprecedented.”

I’m thinking it’s been done before. It has to have been. If it hasn’t, I’ll go run around the block with a clown costume or whatever you guys want me to do lol.

 

[PommyMommy]

The IDF renews its calls on Palestinians in northern Gaza to to evacuate south. The IDF says Palestinians should go to a humanitarian zone in the Al-Mawasi area where "international humanitarian aid will be provided as needed."

https://twitter.com/x/status/1714497789416153587

 

[PommyMommy]

6min ago

IDF announces humanitarian zone in southwest Gaza​

The Israel Defense Forces announced the creation of a humanitarian zone in southern Gaza where international aid will be provided, after days of negotiations with Egypt, the US and others to create a safe zone for fleeing Gazans.

The IDF says Palestinians should go to a humanitarian zone in the Al-Mawasi area, close to Khan Younis, where “international humanitarian aid will be provided as needed.”

It also renews its calls on Palestinians in the northern part of the Gaza Strip to evacuate south, as the military has warned it will soon heavily target the area.

The military publishes a map of the zone.

On Tuesday, Israel bombarded areas of Khan Younis and Rafah, cities where Palestinians who had fled the north in the wake of the IDF’s warning had congregated, garnering anger.

 

[Friday Fan]

What???
AF1 is landing on a little airport on a Greek Island

https://planefinder.net/flight/GRIM99

 

[JennieM]

1m ago
Reuters: the US military thwarted an attack targeting its forces in Iraq early on Wednesday, intercepting two drones before they could strike, two US officials told Reuters.

The officials, who spoke on condition of anonymity, declined to say who was suspected of the attack but it came as Washington is on heightened alert for activity by Iran-backed groups amid soaring tension in the region over the Israel-Hamas war.

The one-way attack drones were intercepted as they attempted to strike Iraq’s al Asad air base, which hosts American troops, the officials said.

Egypt’s president agrees to open the Rafah crossing – as it happened

This blog is now closed.

www.theguardian.com

 

[JennieM]

6min ago

IDF announces humanitarian zone in southwest Gaza​

The Israel Defense Forces announced the creation of a humanitarian zone in southern Gaza where international aid will be provided, after days of negotiations with Egypt, the US and others to create a safe zone for fleeing Gazans.

The IDF says Palestinians should go to a humanitarian zone in the Al-Mawasi area, close to Khan Younis, where “international humanitarian aid will be provided as needed.”

It also renews its calls on Palestinians in the northern part of the Gaza Strip to evacuate south, as the military has warned it will soon heavily target the area.

The military publishes a map of the zone.

View attachment 454077


On Tuesday, Israel bombarded areas of Khan Younis and Rafah, cities where Palestinians who had fled the north in the wake of the IDF’s warning had congregated, garnering anger.

Why wasn’t this arranged prior to the evacuation call

 

[Gypsy Road]

I’m very glad that a safe zone has been created and that humanitarian aid will be provided to them. But that’s an awful small area to accommodate so many fleeing people.

 

[JennieM]

I’m very glad that a safe zone has been created and that humanitarian aid will be provided to them. But that’s an awful small area to accommodate so many fleeing people.

Very true

 

[JennieM]

What???
AF1 is landing on a little airport on a Greek Island

https://planefinder.net/flight/GRIM99

View attachment 454078

What does this mean?

 

[JennieM]

If you're just joining us now​

It's nearing 08:00 in Israel and Gaza now, and we've been covering the aftermath of a blast at a Gaza hospital where hundreds of people were sheltering and getting treated for their injuries.

If you are just joining us, here's the latest:

• Hundreds of people are feared dead after a blast rocked Al Ahli hospital in Gaza City. Hamas said the Israeli military was responsible for the strike. Israel in turn has blamed the Palestinian Islamic Jihad, an armed group based in Gaza
• Protests have broken out across the occupied West Bank and major cities around the world, and many world leaders have condemned the blast, with several calling for a ceasefire
• US President Joe Biden is expected to land in Israel in just a few hours, but a planned summit in Jordan with Arab leaders has been cancelled following the hospital bombing. Biden will have to balance his support for Israel and concerns about the humanitarian cost of the fighting during his extraordinary warzone visit
• As a humanitarian crisis continues to deepen in Gaza, the US has said it is "getting close to a framework for aid to get into Gaza from Egypt". The Rafah crossing on Gaza's border with Egypt - the only entrance into Gaza not controlled by Israel - remains closed
• Reuters is reporting that the UN Security Council will vote on Wednesday on a Brazilian-drafted resolution calling for "humanitarian pauses" in the conflict to allow aid access into the Gaza Strip

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/live/world-middle-east-67141589

 

[JennieM]

1m ago

US allows non-essential embassy staff to leave Lebanon​

The United States authorised non-essential personnel and their families to leave their embassy near Beirut on Tuesday, citing the unpredictable security situation in Lebanon due to the Israel-Hamas war.

The State Department also raised its travel advisory for Lebanon from level three, issued in July, to the highest available level four, as it told Americans to avoid the country.

“Do not travel to Lebanon due to the unpredictable security situation related to rocket, missile, and artillery exchanges between Israel and Hezbollah or other armed militant factions,” the State Department said in a statement Tuesday.

Egypt’s president agrees to open the Rafah crossing – as it happened

This blog is now closed.

www.theguardian.com

 

[Gypsy Road]

What???
AF1 is landing on a little airport on a Greek Island

https://planefinder.net/flight/GRIM99

View attachment 454078

A fuel stop maybe?

 

[margarita25]

Oded and Yocheved Lifshitz, from Kibbut Nahal Oz spent years driving Palestinians from Gaza into Israel to recieve life saving medical treatment.

They are now pleading for their own lives in Gaza after being abducted by Hamas Terrorists on Oct 7th.

Hamas = ISIS

#BringThemHome

View attachment 454068

https://twitter.com/x/status/1714475758914072712

Names released/identified.

From hostage file:

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 Kibbutz Nir Oz. Ms Lifschitz said her father speaks Arabic and spent his time in retirement driving Palestinians who needed medical treatment to hospital.

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

 

[Friday Fan]

What does this mean?

I don't know? All I know is that the president's plane landed on the island of Crete.

 

[JennieM]

36 min ago

Several Arab countries harshly condemn Israel following Gaza hospital blast​

From CNN's Mohammed Tawfeeq

After a blast at a hospital in Gaza killed hundreds of people on Tuesday, the leaders of several Arab countries have harshly condemned the bombing and joined Palestinian officials in blaming Israel.
The Israel Defense Forces has “categorically” denied any involvement, blaming instead a “failed rocket launch” by the Palestinian Islamic Jihad group, a rival Islamist militant group in Gaza.
Here's where these Arab countries stand:

• Saudi Arabia "categorically rejects this brutal attack, which is a flagrant violation of all international laws and norms, including international humanitarian law," the kingdom's foreign ministry said in a statement Tuesday.
• Jordan's King Abdullah II called the bombing "a heinous war crime that cannot be tolerated," adding that "Israel must immediately stop its brutal aggression against Gaza," according to a statement released by his office on Tuesday.
• Egypt's President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi condemned "in the strongest terms" the bombing as "a clear violation of international law and the provisions of international legitimacy and humanity," according to a statement released by his office.
• The United Arab Emirates condemned what it called "the Israeli attack" and called on the international community "to intensify efforts to reach an immediate ceasefire to prevent further loss of life, to avoid further fueling the situation in the occupied Palestinian territory, and to advance all efforts to achieve a comprehensive and just peace, while preventing the region from being pulled into new levels of violence, tension and instability," according to a statement from its foreign ministry on Tuesday.
• Iraq's government spokesman Bassem al-Awadi called the hospital blast "a war crime," alleging that Israeli forces "have crossed all the lines," in a statement released on Tuesday.

Live updates: Israel-Hamas war rages as crisis in Gaza deepens

US President Joe Biden will visit Israel on Wednesday as he seeks to demonstrate staunch support for the country while also pressing for ways to ease humanitarian suffering in Gaza. Follow here for the latest.

edition.cnn.com