Israel-Hamas war highlights: Israel denies responsibility for Gaza hospital blast that killed at least 500
Israel-Hamas war highlights: The Israeli military has said that it killed four people who tried to infiltrate the fence bordering Lebanon and plant explosive devices. United States President Joe Biden will visit Israel and Jordan on Wednesday, Secretary of State Antony Blinken announced in the early hours Tuesday. He also announced that the United States and Israel have agreed to develop a plan that will enable humanitarian aid from donor nations and multilateral organizations to reach civilians in Gaza....Read More
The war between Israel and the Hamas militants entered its 11th day on Tuesday. Tel Aviv has stationed its forces along the Gaza border, carrying out drills for a possible ground invasion to pursue Hamas militants. The war has claimed over 4,000 lives since it began last Saturday. These include around 1,400 Israelis and 2,750 Palestinians.
Israel has put the Gaza Strip under a total blockade and has pounded it with unprecedented air strikes. Concerns have been mounting globally about the humanitarian crisis unfolding in the Gaza Strip and fears that the war could metastasize into a broader regional conflict. Truckloads of aid by the United Nations and other organisations remain at Egypt’s border with Gaza as residents and humanitarian groups plead for water, food, and fuel for dying generators.
Gulf states extend $100 million in ‘urgent’ assistance to Gaza
Following a meeting in Muscat, the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) declared an emergency aid package of $100 million for the Gaza Strip. The GCC's foreign ministers committed to launching an "urgent humanitarian relief operation" to provide relief aid of $100 million. This announcement comes as Israel conducts airstrikes in the region during its conflict with Hamas militants. The meeting convened while Hamas reported at least 200 casualties resulting from strikes on a Gaza hospital compound that was serving as a shelter for displaced individuals. The GCC consists of Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates.
(With AFP inputs)
Israel charter flights from US to continue through Sunday
The U.S. State Department will continue to offer government-sponsored charter flights from Tel Aviv for Europe to help Americans depart through at least Sunday, a department spokesperson told Reuters on Tuesday.
The department said Monday that nearly 1,000 U.S. citizens and family members have departed Israel on State Department-sponsored charter flights to Athens and other transport options since Friday after offering more than 4,000 seats.
The State Department has said flights have generally departed at half capacity or less. The department had previously only committed to offering charter flights through Thursday.
(Reuters)
Operation Ajay: SpiceJet flight with 286 passengers from Israel arrives in Delhi
A SpiceJet flight with 286 passengers, including 18 Nepalese nationals, from Tel Aviv landed at the Delhi airport on Tuesday.
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 where an intense conflict is going on with the militant group Hamas. Read more
Attack on Gaza hospital 'unprecedented' in scale: WHO
The World Health Organisation (WHO) on Tuesday condemned the attack on the Al-Ahli al-Arabi Hospital in the north of the Gaza Strip that killed at least 500 people saying it was “unprecedented in scale”.
The strike was the bloodiest single incident in Gaza since Israel launched a bombing campaign against the densely populated Gaza Strip in retaliation for a deadly cross-border Hamas assault on Israeli communities on Oct. 7.
"This attack is unprecedented in scale," said Richard Peeperkorn, WHO Representative for the West Bank and Gaza.
(Reuters)
Israel denies involvement in Gaza hospital blast
The Israeli military has disavowed any involvement in the explosion that resulted in the deaths of hundreds of individuals at a hospital in Gaza City, Associated Press reported. They assert that the blast occurred due to a misfired Palestinian rocket.
Conversely, the Hamas-administered Health Ministry in Gaza maintains that an Israeli airstrike was responsible for the explosion, leading to the deaths of at least 500 people, including many who had sought refuge from an ongoing Israeli offensive.
According to the Israeli military, Palestinian militants fired a series of rockets in close proximity to the hospital at the time of the incident.
Palestine President cancels planned meeting with Biden after hospital strike
A high-ranking Palestinian official has disclosed that President Mahmoud Abbas will not be attending a scheduled meeting with President Joe Biden and other Middle Eastern leaders, set for Wednesday following the Israeli strike at Gaza hospital that killed at least 500. Originally, Abbas was slated to join Jordan's King Abdullah II and Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sissi at the summit in Amman, Jordan, where they were planning to discuss the ongoing Israel-Hamas conflict with Biden.
However, the anonymous official explained that Abbas's withdrawal from the meeting is a form of protest against an alleged Israeli airstrike on a Gaza hospital.
(AP)
Canadian PM Trudeau calls Israeli strike on Gaza hospital ‘devastating’
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau condemned the Israeli airstrike on a Gaza hospital, deeming it "horrific and entirely unacceptable." He called out the inappropriateness of targeting a medical facility, stating that "it's not acceptable to hit a hospital."
In a separate incident, an Israeli air strike resulted in casualties at a Gaza City hospital, with health authorities in the Hamas-administered area reporting hundreds of deaths and injuries. The United Nations also reported an Israeli strike on one of its schools being used as a shelter. A Gaza Health Ministry official disclosed that at least 500 people were killed or injured.
UK imposes Wednesday deadline for booking Israel evacuation flights
The United Kingdom on Tuesday announced that its citizens desiring to depart from Israel on flights organised by the government must secure their bookings by 9:00 AM GMT on Wednesday, according to a recent update on the Foreign Office's travel advice website reported by news agency Reuters.
Gaza aid reaches border crossing, delivery strategy under review
Egyptian aid trucks moved closer to Gaza's only non-Israeli-controlled border crossing on Tuesday, yet they encountered uncertainty about the timing of relief deliveries due to a lack of agreed-upon arrangements and the Palestinian side being inaccessible.
Following nine hours of negotiations, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken announced early on Tuesday that he and Israel had reached an agreement to formulate a plan for delivering aid to Gaza. However, the precise schedule for these deliveries remained uncertain.
Egypt maintains that the Rafah crossing, which was a crucial lifeline prior to the recent conflict and now serves as a vital conduit for much-needed supplies into the besieged Palestinian territory, has not been officially closed. However, it has become inoperative due to Israeli airstrikes on the Gaza side.
In recent days, some individuals holding dual citizenship had gathered in anticipation of the Rafah crossing's reopening, but many opted to stay away due to ongoing airstrikes.
(Reuters)
UK PM Rishi Sunak set to visit Israel this week: Report
British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak is set to visit Israel this week, Sky News reported on Tuesday without citing sources. Rishi Sunak's office were not immediately available to comment on the report.
Israel bombs Gaza region where civilians were told to seek refuge
Israel bombed areas of southern Gaza where Palestinians sought safety, killing dozens of civilians and at least one senior Hamas figure in attacks it says are targeted at militants.
UN nuclear chief warns Iran must not become 'failure' like North Korea
The head of the United Nations nuclear watchdog has called on the international community to make every effort to prevent Iran from developing nuclear weapons and becoming a "failure" like North Korea.
At least 6 people killed in Israeli air strike on UNRWA school in Gaza
At least six people have been killed in an Israeli air strike that hit a school run by the United Nations' Palestinian refugee agency (UNRWA) in Gaza's Al-Maghazi refugee camp, UNRWA posted on X social media platform.
Gaza hospitals at 'breaking point' as desperate residents seek shelter
Tens of thousands of families have flocked to Gaza's overwhelmed hospitals seeking refuge from seemingly endless Israeli army shelling, leading to new warnings that the health system cannot cope.
Israeli official: 5,000 Hamas targets attacked in Gaza so far
Israel has attacked around 5,000 Hamas targets in the Gaza Strip since Oct 7 and has cancelled a "large number" of other strikes in an effort to avoid Palestinian civilian casualties, a senior Israeli official said.
Hamas says one of top commanders killed in Israel strike: Report
Palestinian militant group Hamas said Tuesday one of the top leaders of its armed wing was killed during an Israeli strike in the Gaza Strip.
What Hezbollah said on Israel
Iran-backed Hezbollah said it launched attacks against several Israeli targets near the border with Lebanon. The Israeli military said it shelled Hezbollah positions and reported gunfire at army posts.
Canada tells citizens to leave Lebanon now while flights still available
Canadian Foreign Minister Melanie Joly urged citizens in Lebanon that they should leave the country while commercial flights were still available, amid mounting instability in the Middle East.
"If you are in Lebanon, it is now time to leave while commercial flights are available," Joly told reporters.
Canadians in Tel Aviv and the West Bank who wanted to leave should take advantage of military flights that Ottawa is operating to Athens, she said.
Around 3,000 killed, 12,500 wounded in Gaza since Oct.7: Palestinian health ministry
Around 3,000 Palestinians have been killed and 12,500 wounded in the Gaza Strip since Oct. 7, the Palestinian health ministry said on Tuesday.
The ministry added that 61 Palestinians were also killed while 1,250 were wounded in the West Bank during the same period.
Israel-Hamas War: Israel's Gaza invasion delayed until ‘after Joe Biden visit’: Report
The report claimed that the delay had caused frustration among some military commanders.
Hezbollah says four fighters killed in south Lebanon
Lebanon's Hezbollah movement said that four of its fighters had been killed in south Lebanon, bringing to nine the number of the Iran-backed group's members killed in intensifying border skirmishes with Israel.
Israel says it’s discussing Starlink wartime backup with Elon Musk's SpaceX
Israel says it’s in talks with SpaceX on setting up Starlink internet services to bolster its wartime communications, ahead of its expected ground invasion in the Gaza Strip.
Hamas says one of top commanders killed in Israel strike
Palestinian militant group Hamas said Tuesday one of the top leaders of its armed wing was killed in an Israeli strike in the Gaza Strip.
"Ayman Nofal, 'Abu Ahmad', a member of the general military council and commander of the central command in Al-Qassam Brigades, was killed" in an Israeli strike on the central Gaza Strip, Hamas said in a statement.
IDF confirms another Anti-Tank Missile fired from Lebanon; responds with Artillery fire
The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) have reported yet another incident involving the launch of an anti-tank guided missile from Lebanon, specifically targeting the northern town of Zar’it, Times of Israel reported.
This marks the sixth missile attack today directed at towns and military posts along the northern border, with indications pointing to the Lebanese Hezbollah terror group as the responsible party.
Details regarding casualties resulting from this latest attack have not been immediately disclosed by the military.
In response, the IDF has initiated artillery shelling directed at the source of the missile launch in southern Lebanon.
Macron warns of increasing "Islamist Terrorism" threat in Europe
French President Emmanuel Macron, while visiting Albania, addressed the growing concern of "Islamist terrorism" on the rise in Europe, emphasizing that all European states face a significant threat. This statement comes in the wake of recent incidents, including the killings of a teacher in France and two Swedish football fans in Belgium, Reuters reported.
Macron's remarks followed an attack in Brussels, where a 45-year-old assailant, who identified himself as a member of the Islamic State and claimed responsibility in an online video, killed the two Swedish fans.
In parallel developments, a French anti-terrorism prosecutor in Paris disclosed that a 20-year-old man who fatally stabbed a schoolteacher and wounded three others in the northern city of Arras on October 13 had pledged allegiance to the Islamic State.
Macron stressed, "We saw it again yesterday in Brussels. All European states are vulnerable, and there is indeed a resurgence of Islamist terrorism." He reiterated solidarity with Belgium during his discussions with Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama in Tirana.
No indication of increased Iranian involvement in Israel-Hamas conflict: White House
In recent statements, the White House has conveyed that they currently do not observe any signs of Iran deepening its engagement in the Israel-Hamas war.
When asked if US authorities had noted any new Iranian involvement in the conflict, White House National Security Council spokesman John Kirby responded on CNN, "Outside of the rhetoric..., no we haven't."
"If required we will operate more flights from Israel": MoS Muraleedharan on Operation Ajay
Minister of State (MoS) for External Affairs V Muraleedharan on Tuesday said that if required, more flights will be operated on the basis of the upcoming situation, noting that five flights have already arrived in the last few days.
"As of new, 5 flights have come and if required we will operate more flights on the basis of the situation that emerges," Muraleedharan said.
"During the last, almost 4-5 days, we have flown aircrafts from Israel to India," he added.
Following the Hamas attack on Israel, the Indian embassy issued an advisory and requested the Indian citizens living in Israel to be cautious and to register their names in the Indian embassy.
ANI
UN warns Israel against 'forcible transfer' of Gazans
The United Nations warned Israel on Tuesday against the "forcible transfer of civilians" in the Gaza Strip, which could be in breach of international law.
The UN human rights office said that a legal temporary evacuation of civilians came with obligations on Israel, which, the Geneva-based agency said, it appears to have made no attempt to fulfil. Israel has demanded that residents of north Gaza leave for the south, hoping to clear the area of civilians in preparation for a perilous urban ground assault.
"We have grave fears about the toll on civilians in the coming days. Military operations show no signs of abating," UN rights office spokeswoman Ravina Shamdasani told a media briefing.
"International law requires that any lawful temporary evacuation by Israel, as the occupying power, of an area on the basis of the security of the population or imperative military reasons must be accompanied by the provision of proper accommodation for all evacuees, undertaken under satisfactory conditions of hygiene, health, safety and nutrition.
AFP
Jordan to facilitate Summit with Biden, Egyptian, and Palestinian Leaders: Report
Jordna's state media has announced that the country is set to host a four-party summit in Amman on Wednesday. This summit will bring together US President Joe Biden, along with leaders from Egypt and Palestine, with the aim of addressing the "challenging" regional consequences of the conflict in Gaza and exploring avenues for a political resolution, reported Reuters.
Dutch government pledges 10 million euros in extra aid to Gaza
The Dutch government on Tuesday pledged 10 million euros ($10.5 million) in extra humanitarian aid to Gaza, saying it was very worried about the rapidly deteriorating situation for the people living there.
The government said the funds were made available in response to a request by the United Nations and would be used for basic needs such as water and healthcare.
It repeated its stance that Israel had the right to defend itself following the devastating attacks by Hamas, but that its response should be "proportionate" and within the international rules of war.
"Civilians or humanitarian aid workers should never be the target of violence, and humanitarian aid should have unlimited access," Dutch minister for foreign trade and development Liesje Schreinemacher said in a letter to parliament.
Reuters
Sirens alerting rocket threat sounded in Ashkelon
The rocket alert sirens have been activated in the southern coastal city of Ashkelon, Times of Israel reported.
As of the latest information, there have been no immediate reports of injuries or damage.
It's worth noting that yesterday, Ashkelon Mayor Tomer Glam criticized government ministers for what he described as inadequate support for his city, where many residents lack sufficient shelter facilities.
Missiles launched towards central Israel
Reports indicate that rockets have been fired towards central Israel, triggering rocket sirens in several locations, including Rishon Lezion.
Residents have reported hearing the sounds of explosions, possibly resulting from missile impacts or interceptions by missile defense systems.
As of now, there are no immediate reports of injuries or damage, Times of Israel reported.
IDF reports second Anti-Tank Missile launched from Lebanon towards Israel
The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) has confirmed the launch of a second anti-tank guided missile from Lebanon. This incident took place near the northern community of Margaliot, Times of Israel reported. These missile attacks today appear to be attributed to the Hezbollah organization.
As of now, the IDF has not released information regarding potential casualties resulting from these attacks. Furthermore, several other military posts along the border with Lebanon have come under fire.
In response, the IDF has initiated artillery shelling towards the origins of the missile strikes and the gunfire.
Rocket alert sounded in Nahal Oz near Gaza Strip
A rocket alert was sounded in Nahal Oz near Gaza Strip. However, no casualties or damage has been reported yet.
Iran's Khamenei says Israel must halt 'genocide' of Palestinians in Gaza
Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said Israel's "genocide" of Palestinians in the Gaza Strip should stop "immediately", state TV reported on Tuesday, a day before U.S. President Joe Biden is due to visit Israel.
Israel has vowed to annihilate the Tehran-backed Hamas movement that rules Gaza after fighters burst into Israel on Oct. 7, killing 1,300 people, mainly civilians, in the deadliest day in the country's 75-year-old history.
"No one can confront Muslims and the resistance forces if the Zionist regime's crimes against Palestinians continue ... the bombardment of Gaza must stop immediately," Khamenei told a group of students in Tehran.
"The world is witnessing the Zionist regime's genocide of Palestinians in Gaza," he said to chants of "Death to Israel".
Reuters
Turkey discussing release of foreigners, civilians, children with Hamas, sayd minister
Turkey is in talks with the Palestinian militant group Hamas on the release of foreigners, civilians, and children held hostage by the group, Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan said on Tuesday.
Speaking alongside his Lebanese counterpart in Beirut, Fidan said "many countries" had sent requests to Turkey to secure the release of their citizens held by Hamas.
On Monday, Fidan spoke with Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh to discuss the issue, a foreign ministry source said.
Reuters
IDF carries out series of attacks across Gaza targetting Hamas
Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) says that it carried out several airstrikes across the Gaza Strip on Tuesday morning, targeting Hamas headquarters, military sites where Hamas members were gathered, and Hamas hideout apartments, Times of Israel reports.
UN Human Rights Office: Israel's Gaza evacuation order raises concerns of 'forcible transfer'
In an announcement on Tuesday, the United Nations human rights office expressed apprehensions regarding Israel's directive for the evacuation of Gaza, suggesting that it could potentially constitute the international crime of forcibly transferring civilians, Reuters reported.
"We are alarmed that this directive, when coupled with the imposition of a comprehensive blockade on Gaza, may not be construed as a lawful, temporary evacuation, potentially constituting a forcible transfer of civilians in violation of international law," remarked Ravina Shamdasani, spokesperson for the UN Human Rights Office.
The term "forcible transfer" pertains to the coerced displacement of civilian populations and is regarded as a crime against humanity, subject to prosecution by the International Criminal Court (ICC).
‘We are overwhelmed,’ say UN staff in Gaza
The UN agency for Palestinian refugees is overwhelmed, its communications director Juliette Touma has told the BBC's Radio 4.
"Hundreds of people are sharing one toilet, our own staff have had to ration drinking water to one litre a day," Touma says.
Status of post-war Gaza will be 'global issue': Israeli military
An Israeli military spokesman has said that the status of the Gaza Strip after Israel's planned assault on the Palestinian enclave would be a "global issue" for international discussion.
"We've had all kinds of end games," Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari says at a news briefing, according to AFP. "The cabinet is also discussing what that could look like ... this is also a global issue, what the situation will look like in this region."
Trucks carrying aid arrive at Rafah crossing
Trucks carrying aid for the Gaza Strip have arrived at the only border crossing into the territory not controlled by Israel, Reuters reported, citing a witness and Egyptian security officials.
Palestinians report heavy shelling in south Gaza towns
Palestinians in Gaza reported intense bombardments near the southern towns of Khan Younis and Rafah, where Israel ordered civilians to seek refuge, according to AFP. Details of causalities are not yet known.
Killed 4 people who tried to infiltrate from Lebanon: Israeli Army
The Israeli military says that it killed four people who tried to infiltrate the fence bordering Lebanon and plant explosive devices, AFP reports.
Israel-Hamas war: Relief convoys in Egypt head towards Gaza border
Relief convoys in Egypt are heading towards the Gaza border crossing, AFP is reporting, citing aid groups.
"We have arrived at the terminal and are now waiting for the next step," says Heba Rashed, who runs the aid group Mersal.
Top US general in Israel on unannounced trip
US General Michael Kurillam is in Israel on an unannounced trip, according to the BBC. Kurillam heads the military's central command and oversees American forces in the Middle East.
About 5 lakh Israelis displaced, says IDF
The Israeli military has said that about half a million Israelis have been evacuated since Hamas attacked the country on October 7, reported AFP.
"We don't want civilians near the combat zone," Jonathan Conricus, spokesman for the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said in an online briefing. "We want to protect civilians, first and foremost ours, against the horrible effects of war".
Why Hamas cannot be allowed to get away by Israel
By targeting Jerusalem and Tel Aviv through rockets on Monday, Hamas has shown that its war-making capability has not diminished despite Israeli bombing. Read why Hamas cannot be allowed to get away by Israel.
Israel-Hamas war: A recap of what all happened today
Here's a recap of what has happened so far:
- US President Joe Biden announced that he will be visiting Israel tomorrow. He will also travel to Jordan to meet Arab leaders.
- Secretary of State Antony Blinken said that the US and Israel have agreed to develop a plan to get humanitarian aid to civilians in Gaza without benefiting Hamas.
- Last night, the Israeli PMO outlined that Israel's battle is against Hamas and not against the people of Palestine.
- The Israeli Air Force has said that it struck terror targets and military infrastructure of the Hezbollah terrorist organization in Lebanon.
Israel-Hamas war: What Arab leaders told Antony Blinken
A senior US State Department official told the BBC that every Arab leader Antony Blinken met in the last few days to that something has to be done to fix the humanitarian situation.
After briefing US President Joe Biden on Sunday night, Blinken was told to return to Tel Aviv and work out a plan, according to BBC.
Israel-Hamas war: IDF chief pens letter to fellow soldiers, reservists
In a letter to fellow soldiers, IDF Chief of the General Staff, LTG Herzi Halevi, has said that Israeli forces have been striking the enemy (Hamas) from the air, ground, and sea.
"We destroyed enemy infrastructure, leadership and capabilities and caused significant damage," he says. "We will pursue and catch them everywhere and will them with force."