Israel-Hamas War Live Updates: As per reports, at least 100 people have been taken hostage by Hamas
Israel said it recaptured Gaza border areas from Hamas terrorists as the war’s death count passed 3,000 today, the fourth day of fierce fighting since the surprise attack. Israel said the bodies of 1,500 terrorists were found in southern towns recaptured by the army near the Palestinian enclave.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has warned Israel’s military campaign following Saturday’s onslaught was only the start of a sustained war to destroy Hamas and “change the Middle East”.
The United Nations today said that nearly 2,00,000 people or nearly a tenth of the population, have fled their homes in Gaza since the start of the war between Israel and the Hamas group, and are poised for shortages of water and electricity due to a blockade.
“Displacement has escalated dramatically across the Gaza strip, reaching more than 1,87,500 people since Saturday. Most are taking shelter in schools,” Jens Laerke, United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs spokesperson, told a Geneva briefing, saying further displacement was expected as clashes continue.
Here are the live updates on the Israel-Hamas war:
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Israel said it recaptured Gaza border areas from Hamas terrorists as the war’s death count passed 3,000 today, the fourth day of fierce fighting since the surprise attack.
Four Palestinian journalists were killed in Israeli air strikes on Gaza City today, media unions and officials said.
The latest deaths bring the number of Palestinian journalists killed in the fighting since Saturday to eight, the Palestinian Press Union said in a statement.
Two members from Hamas’ political office, Jawad Abu Shammala and Zakaria Abu Maamar, were killed in an air strike in southern Gaza Strip, an official from the group told the news agency Reuters today.
In a statement, the Israeli military confirmed killing Abu Shammala, saying he had been struck “overnight”.
White House national security spokesman John Kirby today said that the United States is making sure that Israel has what it needs to defend itself against the Hamas group. He also said that the US does not want to see innocent civilians killed anywhere, including in Gaza and Israel.
“What we’re focused on is making sure that Israel has what it needs to defend itself and to take action against Hamas as the first tranche of military assistance is on its way to Israel as we speak,” he said in an interview with CNN.
Asked if the United States had issued any warnings to Israel about civilian casualties, he replied, “We don’t want to see any innocent civilians killed anywhere in the world, and that certainly includes in Gaza and in Israel.”
Russian President Vladimir Putin today said the violence between Israel and the Palestinians showed the failure of US policy, which he said had sought to monopolise negotiations while ignoring Palestinian interests.
“I think that many people will agree with me that this is a vivid example of the failure of United States policy in the Middle East,” he told Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia Al-Sudani in Moscow.
He also said the United States had sought to “monopolise” international efforts at forging peace in the region, and accused Washington of neglecting to seek compromises that would be acceptable to each side.
An Arab Islamist politician in Israel today appealed to Hamas to free, on religious grounds, some of the Israeli hostages taken during the Gaza-based Palestinian faction’s cross-border rampage over the weekend.
“The values of Islam oblige us not to take women, children and the elderly as captives,” Mansour Abbas, head of the United Arab List party, said in a social media post, adding that their release would be a “humanitarian measure required forthwith”.
Israel says Hamas gunmen have killed more than 900 people and wounded over 2,000 in Israeli cities, towns and kibbutz communities.
An estimated 270 people were killed at the Supernova music festival near Kibbutz Reim, a volunteer who helped recover the bodies told the news agency AFP.
On the Gaza side, health officials said at least 687 people had been killed and more than 2,900 wounded.
Eighteen Thais and 10 Nepalis, 11 US citizens and at least eight French nationals are among the foreigners killed from 10 other countries.
European Union foreign policy chief Josep Borrell said he has invited the top diplomats from Israel and the Palestinian Authority to address an emergency meeting today of the bloc’s foreign ministers.
He said Israel’s Foreign Minister, Eli Cohen, and his Palestinian counterpart, Riyad al-Maliki, were asked to participate in the hybrid video and in-person talks after the surprise Hamas assault.
Israeli bombardments today hit the area of the Rafah border crossing between the Gaza Strip and Egypt, Palestinian officials and Egyptian security sources said, imperiling operations at the only formal exit point on Gaza’s southern border.
Gaza’s Hamas-run Interior Ministry said the bombardments had caused work to stop at the crossing, and that Egyptian staff had warned Palestinian counterparts to evacuate.
Germany has launched an investigation into members of Hamas group for suspected murder, manslaughter and hostage-taking, a spokesperson for the federal public prosecutor said today.
French President Emmanuel Macron today said that Iran’s condoning of Hamas’ attack on Israel was “unacceptable” and that France was looking into establishing whether it was directly involved.
“I have no comment to make about the direct involvement of Iran for which we have no formal proof, but it’s clear that the public comments by Iranian authorities were unacceptable… and that it is likely that Hamas was offered help,” he said.
“But I will remain careful on that point until we have stabilised intelligence,” he added.
“I hope the next days will allow Israel to put an end to any attack against Israel’s territory and free the hostages”, he said.
The United Nations humanitarian office today said that nearly 2,00,000 people or nearly a tenth of the population, have fled their homes in Gaza since the start of hostilities and is poised for shortages of water and electricity due to a blockade.
“Displacement has escalated dramatically across the Gaza strip, reaching more than 187,500 people since Saturday. Most are taking shelter in schools,” Jens Laerke, OCHA spokesperson, told a Geneva briefing, saying further displacement was expected as clashes continue.
Supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei today denied any Iranian involvement in Hamas’s attack on Israel despite its strong support for the Palestinian terrorist group.
“The supporters of the Zionist regime (Israel) and some people in the usurping regime have been spreading rumours over the past two or three days, including that Islamic Iran was behind this action. They are wrong,” he said in a speech at a military academy.
“Of course, we defend Palestine, we defend the struggles,” he added, urging “the whole Islamic world” to “support the Palestinians.”
He also said Israel has suffered an “irreparable failure” on both “military and intelligence” fronts.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi was today briefed by his Israeli counterpart Benjamin Netanyahu on the ongoing situation as his country carries out retaliatory strikes against Hamas in Gaza.
“I thank Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for his phone call and providing an update on the ongoing situation. People of India stand firmly with Israel in this difficult hour. India strongly and unequivocally condemns terrorism in all its forms and manifestations,” PM Modi said on X – formerly known as Twitter.
I thank Prime Minister @netanyahu for his phone call and providing an update on the ongoing situation. People of India stand firmly with Israel in this difficult hour. India strongly and unequivocally condemns terrorism in all its forms and manifestations.
– Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) October 10, 2023
The World Health Organization called on Tuesday for a humanitarian corridor to be established into and out of the Gaza Strip, which has been placed under total siege by Israel. “WHO is calling for an end to the violence… A humanitarian corridor is needed to reach people with critical medical supplies,” WHO spokesman Tarik Jasarevic told a press briefing in Geneva.
The total siege of the Gaza Strip is banned under international law, the United Nations human rights chief said on Tuesday. “The imposition of sieges that endanger the lives of civilians by depriving them of goods essential for their survival is prohibited under international humanitarian law,” Volker Turk said in a statement.
Israel-Hamas War: Israel “More Or Less” Regains Controls Over Gaza Border, Says Army
Israel army says “more or less restored control” over Gaza border, reports news agency AFP
Around 1,500 bodies of Hamas militants have been found in Israel around the Gaza Strip, the army said Tuesday, as it pummelled the Palestinian enclave with air strikes.
All Americans should be horrified and outraged by the brazen terrorist attacks on Israel and the slaughter of innocent civilians. We grieve for those who died, pray for the safe return of those who’ve been held hostage, and stand squarely alongside our ally, Israel, as it…
– Barack Obama (@BarackObama) October 9, 2023
NDTV Ground Report: At An Israeli Hospital, A Call For HelpAmbulances enter the hospital parking, with their sirens blaring at high decibels, carrying Israelis wounded in the ongoing clash with Hamas. Paramedics, working overtime, run to the wounded, put them on stretchers & rush to the emergency department.
“Saudi Stands By Palestinians”: Crown Prince As Israel-Gaza War Escalates
Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman assured Palestinian president Mahmud Abbas that the country will “stand by the Palestinian people to achieve their legitimate rights to a decent life, achieve their hopes and aspirations, and achieve just and lasting peace,” a report said. The leader said he was working to prevent “an expansion” of war that broke out after the Hamas attack.
