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Israel-Hamas war news Highlights: Israeli military plans to increase strikes on Gaza, says spokesman
Israel-Hamas war Highlights: The conflict has caused more than 1,400 deaths in Israel and over 4,100 deaths in Gaza so far after it began on October 7.
Israel-Hamas war Highlights: As the conflict enters its 15th day, Hamas on late Friday released an American woman and her teenage daughter who had been held captive in Gaza, Israel said. This is the first release among more than 200 people abducted by the militant group during its October 7 attacks. The release comes amid expectations of an Israeli ground offensive aimed at rooting out Hamas militants in Gaza, with Israel clarifying that it does not intend to maintain long-term control over the territory, which is home to about 2.3 million people....Read More
What happened on Day 14 of the war?
Simultaneously, as the Israeli military carried out airstrikes in Gaza, efforts were made to provide aid from Egypt to families and hospitals in need. Conflict between Israel and militants in Lebanon also continued, leading to evacuations in border towns on both sides, raising concerns of a broader regional conflict.
US President Joe Biden suggested that Israel delay a ground invasion until more hostages are released from Gaza. He spoke with the two released women following their freedom.
Regarding aid, Egypt said that two aid-laden trucks entered the Egyptian side of the border crossing on Saturday, but they have not yet passed into Gaza. Israel had announced the allowance of aid from Egypt through the Rafah crossing, but the border into the besieged territory has remained closed, with Egypt attributing the closure to damage from Israeli airstrikes.
Latest developments here:
• Two Americans, previously held in Gaza, are now with the Israeli military, following their release by Hamas for humanitarian reasons as part of an agreement with Qatar.
• Qatar has expressed its commitment to continuing dialogue with Israel and Hamas, with the goal of securing the release of all hostages, ultimately aiming to de-escalate the current crisis and restore peace.
• US President Joe Biden has requested a budget of over USD 105 billion from Congress. This budget is intended to provide security assistance for ongoing conflicts in Ukraine and Israel, as reported by CNN.
• President Biden believes that Hamas's aggressive attack on Israel aimed to ‘disrupt’ the improving relations between Israel and Saudi Arabia. He mentioned this during a campaign fundraiser, suggesting that the timing of the attack was influenced by his planned discussions with the Saudis.
• The conflict has resulted in a significant loss of life. Over 1,400 people have been killed in Israel, primarily during the initial attack by Hamas on October 7. In Gaza, the Hamas-run health ministry has reported more than 4,137 Palestinian casualties due to Israeli retaliatory strikes, with over 13,000 others wounded.
Casualties on Israel-Lebanon border as army trades fire with Hezbollah
Casualties were reported along the Israel-Lebanon border Saturday as the army traded fire with the Iran-backed militant group Hezbollah amid fears of a new front opening as Israel battles Hamas.
In south Lebanon, Hezbollah said four of its fighters were killed. Palestinian militant group Islamic Jihad said one of its fighters was also killed.
Recap | Hezbollah official says his group already 'is in the heart' of Israel-Hamas war
A top official with Hezbollah vowed that Israel will pay a high price whenever it starts a ground offensive in the Gaza Strip and said Saturday that his militant group based in Lebanon already is “in the heart of the battle.”
Israel calls Hamas' claim it rejected hostage release 'propaganda'
Israel on Saturday described as "propaganda" a claim by Hamas that the militant group had wanted to release two more hostages on humanitarian grounds but that Israel declined to receive them.
Abu Ubaida, spokesman for Hamas' armed wing, said it informed Qatar of the group's intention to release the two additional people on Friday, the same day it freed Americans Judith Tai Ranaan and her daughter Natalie.
Canada to continue work with Qatar to release hostages held by Hamas, PM Trudeau says
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said on Saturday that Canada would continue to work with Qatar to secure the release of hostages held by Hamas, after two American civilians were released a day before.
The Islamist group Hamas released two U.S. hostages on Friday, mother and daughter Judith and Natalie Raanan, who were kidnapped in its attack on southern Israel on Oct. 7.
UN chief urges ceasefire to end Gaza's 'godawful nightmare'
UN chief Antonio Guterres pleaded Saturday for a "humanitarian ceasefire" in the war between Israel and Hamas militants that has devastated much of Gaza, demanding "action to end this godawful nightmare".
Addressing a Cairo summit that ultimately proved fruitless, according to Arab diplomats, Guterres said the Palestinian enclave of 2.4 million people was living through "a humanitarian catastrophe" with thousands dead and more than a million displaced.
Lebanon's Hezbollah says four fighters killed in Israel hostilities
Four fighters from the Lebanese group Hezbollah were killed along the border with Israel on Saturday, the Iran-backed group said, taking to 17 the number of its members it says have died during two weeks of escalating violence in the frontier region.
Hamas says Israel declined to receive two hostages it intended to release
A spokesman for the armed wing of Hamas said on Saturday the group intended to release two more hostages for "humanitarian reasons", but that Israel had declined to receive them.
Abu Ubaida, the spokesman for the Izz el-Deen al-Qassam Brigades, said in a brief statement said that it informed Qatar on Friday of Hamas' intention to release the two people.
Israeli nationals in Tel Aviv organise the ‘Lighting up the Light’ campaign for the early return of hostages and kidnapped people. Watch visuals
Situation in Gaza 'catastrophic': five UN agencies
The humanitarian situation in the Gaza Strip is "catastrophic" said five United Nations agencies in a joint statement Saturday amid worsening conditions in the densely-populated coastal enclave.
Turkish pianist's concerts in Switzerland cancelled over Israel criticism
World-renowned Turkish composer and pianist Fazil Say has said his concerts planned next week in Switzerland were cancelled by organisers over his social media posts criticising Israeli policies in Gaza.
Say was due to perform with the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra in Zurich, Bern, Geneva and Lucerne from Monday to Thursday.
UN aid chief says second aid convoy for Gaza could lead to sustained relief
The United Nations is hoping a second convoy of trucks will be sent into Gaza on Sunday under a light inspection system that will allow relief deliveries to scale up into next week, its humanitarian chief said.
A first convoy of 20 trucks arrived in Gaza through the Rafah crossing with Egypt on Saturday, but efforts to deliver supplies to the besieged enclave have been held up by Israeli demands to verify aid.
Russia seeks new Security Council meeting on Gaza war
Russia intends to hold another UN Security Council meeting on the humanitarian situation in Gaza and the war between Israel and militant group Hamas, Russia's deputy UN envoy said Saturday.
Russia convened a meeting on the war on Monday but its ceasefire resolution failed due to opposition from four council members including the US, which criticised its draft for not mentioning Hamas.
"We will definitely convene a new meeting of the Security Council. As practice has shown, no one but us dares to do so," Russia's deputy permanent representative to the UN Dmitry Polyansky said.
Nearly 100,000 pro-Palestinians march in London: police
Police in London said nearly 100,000 people marched in the capital Saturday in an event organised by pro-Palestinian groups calling for "an end to the war on Gaza".
Marchers held signs reading "Freedom for Palestine" and "Stop Bombing Gaza" and "End Israeli Apartheid". Many waved Palestinian flags and some chanted "5, 6, 7, 8, Israel is a terrorist state" and "Free Palestine".
Israel plans to increase strikes on Gaza, says mlitary spokesman
Israel’s military spokesman said Israel plans to step up its attacks on the Gaza Strip starting Saturday as preparation for the next stage of its war on Hamas.
Asked about a possible ground invasion into Gaza, Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari told reporters Saturday night that the military was trying to create optimal conditions beforehand.
74 pc of Israeli civilians killed in Hamas assault have been identified
The Israeli Police announced on Saturday that 765 civilians killed in Hamas' October 7 assault on Gaza-area communities have been identified.
"The 765 victims represent 74 per cent of civilians killed in the fighting whose bodies have been brought for identification," the police statement said.
20 aid trucks enter Gaza from Egypt as Rafah crossing opens; WHO says "needs are far higher"
On the fifteenth day of the Israel-Hamas war, 20 trucks carrying humanitarian aid were finally allowed to enter the Gaza Strip through Egypt's Rafah border; however, WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus warned that "needs are far higher" in the enclave that has more than 2 million people.
Biden speaks to freed American-Israeli hostages
US President Joe Biden spoke by phone on Saturday with Judith and Natalie Raanan, who were freed the previous night from captivity in the Hamas-ruled Gaza Strip.
The mother and daughter were taken hostage from Kibbutz Nahal Oz during Hamas's October 7 invasion of southern Israel that killed 1,400 people and resulted in over 200 others being kidnapped. The two live in Chicago and were visiting Israel to celebrate a relative's birthday.
Qatar optimistic hostages to be freed ‘very soon,’ Welt reports
Qatar, which was key to the release of two US citizens abducted by Hamas, is optimistic that talks with the group will “very soon” result in the release of all civilian hostages, Welt am Sonntag reported.
The German newspaper cited an interview with Majed Al-Ansari, an adviser to the Persian Gulf nation’s foreign minister and spokesman for the ministry.
‘Enemy preparing in Gaza, so are we’: IDF Chief of staff
Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Herzi Halevi told Golani infantry brigade commanders that they should anticipate surprises from terror groups as they enter the Gaza Strip in the upcoming ground offensive, Times of Israel reported.
"We will enter the Gaza Strip. We will begin an operational and professional mission to destroy the Hamas operatives, the Hamas infrastructure, and we will also keep in our minds the images, scenes, and the fallen from Shabbat two weeks ago," in reference to the October 7 Hamas attack.
“Gaza is complex, Gaza is dense, the enemy is preparing a lot of things there, but we are preparing things for them as well,” he added.
First UN-Egyptian Red Crescent Shipment of Humanitarian Aid Arrives in Gaza: WHO
The initial shipment of life-saving humanitarian supplies from the United Nations and the Egyptian Red Crescent has entered Gaza today, transported via 20 trucks and passing through the Rafah Crossing, the World Health Organization (WHO) said.
WHO urges humanitarian ceasefire and unrestricted access for Gaza
The World Health Organization (WHO) called for an immediate humanitarian ceasefire and unrestricted access for humanitarian assistance throughout Gaza, Reuters reported.
Police identify 74% of civilian victims from Hamas's October 7 offensive
Police have revealed that they have identified 74% of the civilians killed during Hamas's onslaught on October 7. Approximately 1,033 bodies of civilians who lost their lives have been collected, with 765 of them identified. Out of those identified, 668 have been handed over to their respective families for burial, Times of Israel reported.
Police emphasized the challenging nature of this task due to some of the bodies being severely burned or damaged, making the identification process a tough endeavor. A dedicated team of police officers has been working tirelessly, 24 hours a day, seven days a week, to carry out this crucial work.
Casualties on Israel-Lebanon border as army trades fire with Hezbollah
Casualties were reported along the Israel-Lebanon border Saturday as the army traded fire with Iran-backed militant group Hezbollah amid fears of a new front opening as Israel battles Hamas.
Israel already ordered the evacuation of Kiryat Shmona, a border town which is home to some 25,000 people, as the border area has come fire from Hezbollah and allied Palestinian factions.
In Lebanon, Hezbollah said one of its fighters had been killed while in Israel, two Thai farm workers were wounded, emergency services said.
A senior Hezbollah official warned that the movement stood ready to step up its involvement as Israel masses troops on the Gaza border, vowing to destroy Palestinian militant group Hamas in response to its shock cross-border attacks on October 7.
AFP
Israel-Hamas war LIVE: New Leaflet Drop Urges Gaza City Evacuations
Food and medical supplies began crossing into Gaza from Egypt for the first time since the Israel-Hamas war erupted two weeks ago, addressing a key demand of US, European and Arab leaders as the humanitarian situation in the besieged territory worsens.
Dozens of leaders and senior officials from the Middle East, Europe and Africa converged on Cairo, searching for ways to prevent the Israel-Hamas war becoming a wider conflict- and airing mostly entrenched viewpoints. Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi said he’d agreed with US President Joe Biden that the Rafah crossing should be open “sustainably.”
The gathering follows Hamas’s release of two American hostages from Gaza late on Friday. It also comes as Israel and the US begin planning for how the Palestinian territory will be run, and by who, after a widely expected Israeli ground invasion.
Bloomberg
IDF says one-fifth of rockets fired by Hamas, Islamic Jihad misfired in last 24 hours
The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) on Saturday said that one-fifth of the rockets fired by Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ) have misfired in the last 24 hours, landing inside Gaza and killing civilians, The Jerusalem Post reported.
IDF Spokesman Daniel Hagari said this amounts to more than 550 rockets. "They are killing their own people," he said.
The announcement by Hamari comes only a few days after Hamas accused Israel of firing a rocket that struck Gaza's Al-Ahli Arab Hospital, killing dozens of people. The IDF denied the accusations. Independent, international investigators found the rocket emanated from a PIJ misfire.
ANI
