Israel-Hamas War Highlights: Israeli Defense Minister, Prime Minister Rally Troops, Hinting At Possible Gaza Operations
Israel-Hamas War Live: Follow this space for all the live and latest updates on the Israel-Hamas war.
Israeli Defense Minister, Yoav Gallant, addressed troops stationed near the Gaza Strip on Thursday, delivering a cryptic message that they will soon find themselves within the enclave, as reported by his office's press release.
His statement was accompanied by similar sentiments from Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who, during a separate visit to the Gaza border area, assured the troops that the entire nation of Israel stands firmly behind them and pledged to deliver a decisive blow to their adversaries in pursuit of victory. These statements have raised speculations about potential military actions along the Gaza border. (CNN Input)
Residents of Ramallah, located in the West Bank, came together earlier today to stage a passionate protest in solidarity with the ongoing struggles of Palestine.
Israel's Defence Minister, Yoav Gallant, has conveyed a strong message to Israeli ground troops stationed at the Gaza border, instructing them to remain prepared for a potential ground invasion into the Gaza Strip. While the Defence Minister did not specify a precise timeline for the operation, he emphasized the need for the troops to "get organized" and be ready to move in.
During a meeting with Israeli infantry soldiers, Gallant declared, "Whoever sees Gaza from afar now, will see it from the inside, I promise you." This directive follows the massing of tens of thousands of Israeli troops along the Gaza border in response to a deadly cross-border incident involving Hamas militants on October 7. (AP Input)
Amid the escalating humanitarian crisis in the Gaza Strip, the Gaza Health Ministry has issued an urgent and heartfelt plea for any individuals in the blockaded territory who possess even a spare liter of fuel to come forward and share it.
Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah el-Sissi met with Jordan's King Abdullah II behind closed doors to discuss the escalating conflict between Israel and Hamas, as well as the deteriorating humanitarian situation in besieged Gaza.
According to Egypt's presidential office, the two leaders condemned Israel's policy of "collective punishment" against Palestinians in Gaza, as well as its efforts to displace "Palestinians from their lands to Egypt or Jordan."
In the Saidabad area of Hyderabad, Telangana, women gathered at a Dargah ground to express their support for Palestine amidst the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas.
In a recent statement, the Indian National Congress reiterated its demand for an immediate cease-fire and the provision of humanitarian aid to the distressed population in Gaza.
MEA on the Israel-Hamas conflict said: "We have strongly condemned the horrific attack on Israel. International community must stand together in combating terrorism in all its forms. On the Palestine issue, we have reiterated our position in favour of direct negotiations for a two-state solution."
Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) spokesperson, Arindam Bagchi, announced the successful repatriation of 1,200 Indian nationals and 18 Nepali citizens under Operation Ajay.
Israeli President Isaac Herzog took to Twitter to express his appreciation for the unwavering solidarity of the United Kingdom's Prime Minister, Rishi Sunak. President Herzog's tweet acknowledged the importance of true friends during challenging times and praised Prime Minister Sunak for his visit to Israel and steadfast support for the Israeli people.
Jordan's King Abdullah II leaves for a short visit to Cairo. The King would meet Egyptian President el-Sisi “to discuss means of ending the Israeli aggression on Gaza”, according to a post on X by the royal court.
Rishi Sunak meets Israeli President Herzog in Jerusalem, according to Israeli media reports. Sunak is also scheduled to meet PM Netanyahu and family members of those taken captive by Hamas.
Russia will send 27 tonnes of humanitarian aid to Gaza, says its foreign ministry. An aircraft carrying the goods is on its way to El Arish, an Egyptian city in northern Sinai about 50km (31 miles) from the Egypt-Gaza Rafah crossing.
Russia will send 27 tonnes of humanitarian aid to Gaza, says its foreign ministry. An aircraft carrying the goods is on its way to El Arish, an Egyptian city in northern Sinai about 50km (31 miles) from the Egypt-Gaza Rafah crossing.
British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak arrives in Israel, reports Reuters.
Israeli air raids on Gaza that killed dozens continued overnight according to Palestinian and Arab media reports ahead of British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak's visit to Tel Aviv.
British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak will be on a two-day visit to Israel following Biden's visit.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has declared a three-day mourning in Turkey over Gaza hospital srtike.
Egypt has agreed to reopen its border crossing with the Gaza Strip to allow humanitarian aid to reach Palestine, says US.
Recent visual reports from Tel Aviv depict a tense situation as sirens sound amid the ongoing Israel-Hamas conflict.
Joe Biden has declared a $100 million aid package for Gaza and the West Bank.
The United States vetoed a UN resolution that would have condemned Hamas’ attacks against Israel and all violence against civilians and urged humanitarian aid to Palestinians in Gaza.
US Ambassador Linda Thomas-Greenfield said after the vote that President Joe Biden is in the region engaging in diplomacy “and we need that diplomacy to play out.” She also criticized the resolution for not saying anything about Israel’s right to self-defense.
In a social media post, Biden said, "I have come to Israel with a simple message: You are not alone. As long as the United States stands – and we will stand forever – you will not be alone."
The US announced sanctions against a group of 10 Hamas members and the Palestinian militant organization’s financial network across Gaza, Sudan, Turkey, Algeria and Qatar as it responds to the surprise attack on Israel that left more than 1,000 people dead or kidnapped, AP reported.
On Iran Envoy to India Iraj Elahi's statement that "Iran played no role in Hamas attack on Israel", Israel's Deputy head of mission to India Ohad Nakash Kaynar says, "He is representative of a regime that murders his own people and mass. He is not the one to criticize us and he's not a valid source of anything. And if there's something that we've learned recently, and especially this last night, we need to look extensively at what we're seeing and hearing before we rush to conclusions."
"He is an ambassador of a state that since 1979 has vowed to destroy us, that has armed three terror organizations on our borders... But when we say that their hand is in everything, their hand is in everything, from planning, from the targeting, from the arming, every single portion...They are doing everything around us to make sure that Israelis and Jews die. And it's a clear, clear hand of Iran. It's not a mistaken hand," he added.
Hamas slammed the United States on Wednesday accusing Israel's long-time ally of being complicit in the ongoing strikes in Gaza, following a deadly strike on a hospital that health officials say killed hundreds.
"The continued endorsement of the Zionist narrative by the US administration makes it complicit in the occupation's massacres and the Baptist hospital massacre in Gaza," the group said in a statement.
At least 3,478 killed in Gaza since Israel began bombarding coastal enclave: Hamas-controlled health ministry
Israeli PM Netanyahu told US President Biden Israel will do 'everything it can' to spare civilians, while President Biden said that the US will work with Israel to prevent 'more tragedy' for 'innocent civilians' as Israel pounds Gaza, reported AFP.
In Tel Aviv, Israel PM Benjamin Netanyahu says, "...We have asked them (civilians) to move to safer areas. We will continue to work with you Mr President to ensure that the minimal requirements are met and we will continue to work together to get our hostages out. The road to victory will be long and hard. Burt united in purpose and with a deep sense of justice and the unbreakable spirit of our soldiers and our people, Israel will prevail."
US President Biden with Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu in Tel Aviv "We will continue to have Israel’s back as you work to defend your people. We will continue to work with you and partners across the region to prevent more tragedy to innocent civilians...," says US President Biden.
Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu said, "On Oct 7 Hamas murdered 1400 Israelis in a single day....October 7th, is another day that will live in infamy. Mr President, you rightly said that Hamas is worse than ISIS. The civilised world must unite to defeat Hamas." He was addressing the media along with US President Joe Biden.
"For the people of Israel, there is only one thing better than having a true friend like you standing with Israel and that is having you standing in Israel. Your visit here is the visit of an American President in Israel at the time of war. It is deeply moving...I know I speak for all the people of Israel when I say - thank you Mr President, thank you for standing with Israel today, tomorrow and always," he added.
US President Joe Biden arrives in Tel Aviv, Israel amid Israel-Hamas conflict.
"I am horrified by the images of the explosion in a hospital in Gaza. Innocent civilians were injured and killed. Our thoughts are with the families of the victims. A thorough investigation of the incident is imperative," German Chancellor Olaf Scholz posted on X.
Ahead of US President Joe Biden's visit to Israel amid the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas, security tightened in Tel Aviv.
Lebanon's Iran-backed Hezbollah movement has called for a "day of rage" to condemn a strike on a Gaza hospital as hundreds of demonstrators gathered at the French and US embassies in protest, AFP reported.
On Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu's statement that "Islamic Jihad" was responsible for the Gaza hospital strike, Palestinian Ambassador to the UN, Riyad Mansour, as per ANI said, "He is a liar. His digital spokesperson tweeted that Israel did the hit thinking that there was a base for Hamas around this hospital, and then he deleted that tweet. We have a copy of that tweet... Now they changed the story to try to blame the Palestinians. The Israeli spokesperson of the Army made a statement in which he said evacuate the hospitals...Their intention is to evacuate or hospitals will be hit and they are responsible for that crime and they cannot fabricate stories to deal with it."
"I am horrified by the killing of hundreds of Palestinian civilians in a strike on a hospital in Gaza today, which I strongly condemn. My heart is with the families of the victims. Hospitals and medical personnel are protected under international humanitarian law," UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres posted on X.
A SpiceJet flight with 286 passengers, including 18 Nepalese nationals, from Tel Aviv landed at the Delhi airport. This is the fifth flight to be operated under the government's 'Operation Ajay' to facilitate the return of Indians who wish to come back from Israel.
US President Joe Biden left the White House for a quick trip to Israel to show solidarity with the people of the country in the aftermath of the attack by Hamas. He had to abruptly scrap his trip to Jordan for a meeting with leaders of Jordan, Egypt and Palestine after the Palestinian Authority cancelled the summit following a huge explosion at a hospital in Gaza.
Background
Israel-Hamas War LIVE: Hello and welcome to the live blog on the Israel-Hamas War. Follow this space for all the live and latest updates.
Amid the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas, followed by the surprise attack by the militant group on the country, a devastating Israeli airstrike killed at least 500 people and injured several others at a Gaza hospital on Tuesday.
According to reports, the toll in Gaza Strip mounted to 3,000 and as many as 12,500 people have been injured till the war broke out.
Meanwhile, Russian President Vladimir Putin spoke to his Israeli counterpart Benjamin Netanyahu on Monday for the first time since the deadly Hamas assault. During the call, Putin briefed Netanyahu on the discussions with regional leaders and the Palestinian authority, a report by The Moscow Times stated.
US President Joe Biden on Tuesday left the White House for a quick trip to Israel to show solidarity with the people of the country amid the conflict.
“I am outraged and deeply saddened by the explosion at the Al Ahli Arab hospital in Gaza, and the terrible loss of life that resulted. Immediately upon hearing this news, I spoke with King Abdullah II of Jordan, and Prime Minister Netanyahu of Israel and have directed my national security team to continue gathering information about what exactly happened,” President Biden said in a statement before he boarded Air Force One for Israel.
“The United States stands unequivocally for the protection of civilian life during conflict and we mourn the patients, medical staff and other innocents killed or wounded in this tragedy,” he added.
“The President (Biden) sent his deepest condolences for the innocent lives lost in the hospital explosion in Gaza, and wished a speedy recovery to the wounded. He looks forward to consulting in person with these leaders soon, and agreed to remain regularly and directly engaged with each of them over the coming days,” a White House official said.
Meanwhile, a flight carrying 286 passengers, including 18 Nepalese nationals from Tel Aviv arrived in Delhi on Tuesday. This is the fifth flight to be operated under the government's rescue mission ‘Operation Ajay’ to facilitate the return of people stranded in the conflict-ridden country.
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