Israel to proceed with ground invasion despite presence of hostages: minister

Israel will not hold off on a possible ground invasion of Gaza over the issue of captives being held there, Israel's energy minister told German tabloid newspaper Bild.

Israel says that there are 222 hostages being held by Hamas following its surprise attack on October 7.

In an interview published on Tuesday, energy minister Israel Katz said everything would be done to bring the hostages home. "But that cannot hinder our actions including the ground offensive, if we decide on it," he was quoted as saying.

"Hamas wants us to deal with the captives and wants the military to not go in to eliminate their infrastructure. That will not happen," Katz added.

The armed wing of Hamas said on Monday it had released two more female civilian captives on health grounds.

Over 5,000 Palestinians, 2,000 of them children have been killed in indiscriminate Israeli bombing raids on Gaza since October 7

Scores killed in nightly Israeli airstrikes on Gaza Strip

At least 65 Palestinians were killed, including children, and dozens of others seriously injured, in renewed Israeli bombing raids on the Gaza Strip late on Monday evening and early on Tuesday morning, the Palestinian WAFA news agency and the Quds News Network reported.

WAFA said that 23 people were killed and 80 injured after Israeli air raids targeted Khan Yunis, which is in the south of the Gaza Strip. Israel previously ordered Gazans in the north of the besieged enclave to evacuate to this area.

It said that another 30 people were killed in Israeli raids on Rafah near the Egyptian border.

The Quds News Network also reported that at least 12 people were also killed when an airstrike hit the Al-Shati refugee camp near Gaza city in the north of the besieged enclave. Earlier, the Palestinian health ministry in Gaza said that Israeli airstrikes had resulted in a "massacre" at the camp with scores killed.
 

#BREAKING| #Israel commits a massacre in Al Shate' refugee camp, killing at least 12 civilians and wounding over 50. #Gaza pic.twitter.com/K0CN9PNzLI

— Quds News Network (@QudsNen) October 23, 2023

Hamas accuses Israel of assassinating detained leader in West Bank

Hamas has accused Israel of killing one of its senior leaders in the West Bank, days after he was detained.

58 year old Hamza Daraghmeh was arrested on October 9 along with over 1,200 others as Israel lauched a wave of arrests in the West Bank.

Israeli authorities said his health suddenly deteriorated in detention, leading to his death.

However Palestinian detainee advocacy groups denied the Israeli account, saying he had been in good health when he spoke to his lawyer shortly before his death.

#BREAKING| Media coverage: "The Palestinian Prisoners Association announced that the detainee Omar Daraghmeh was killed under torture in an Israeli jail. Hamas said it considers his death an assassination." pic.twitter.com/fA3kGwJRni

— Quds News Network (@QudsNen) October 23, 2023

Biden says can 'talk' about Israel-Hamas ceasefire only after hostages released

US President Joe Biden said on Monday that any discussions about a Gaza ceasefire could only take place if Hamas frees all hostages seized from Israel in its October 7 attack.

"We should have those hostages released and then we can talk," Biden said at a White House event when asked if he would support a "hostages-for-ceasefire" deal.

The UN General Assembly will meet on Thursday to discuss the conflict between Israel and Hamas, its president announced Monday in a letter to member states.

The Security Council has so far failed to agree on a resolution concerning the war, but a number of states, including Jordan on behalf of the Arab grouping, Russia, Syria, Bangladesh, Vietnam and Cambodia, formally requested General Assembly President Dennis Francis to schedule the meeting.

Last week, the UN Security Council, regularly divided on the Israeli-Palestinian issue, initially rejected a Russian draft resolution calling for a "humanitarian pause."
 

The President of the UN General Assembly has called for an Emergency Special Session on 26 October at 10am.

👇👇https://t.co/xEq3TZZAFT

— Naiara Costa Chaves 🇺🇳 (@naiaracc) October 23, 2023

Hamas releases two women hostages

Hamas has released two women hostages it captured in its attack on Israel on October 7.

Hamas's armed wing said it had released the two hostages for "compelling humanitarian reasons" after Qatari and Egyptian mediation, adding that it had previously tried to free them last Friday, but Israel had rejected.

“Netanyahu rejected [the release on Friday]. Now he has accepted, maybe under the pressure of the [Israeli] street,” Hamas spokesman Osama Hamdan said, according to Al Jazeera.

“We got nothing [in return for their release]. We released them for humanitarian reasons,” he added.

US rejects Mideast ceasefire calls, says would benefit Hamas

The United States warned Monday that any Gaza ceasefire by Israel would "benefit Hamas", as the European Union considers a call for a humanitarian pause.

A ceasefire would "give Hamas the ability to rest, to refit and to get ready to continue launching terrorist attacks against Israel," State Department spokesman Matthew Miller told reporters.

Over 5,000 people have been killed by ongoing Israeli airstrikes, 2,000 of them children, the Gaza Health Ministry said on Monday.

Russia says US military reinforcements in Mideast risk 'escalation'

The United States' reinforcement of its military presence in the Middle East risks an "escalation" of the war between Israel and Hamas, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said Monday.

Speaking about the US deployment of warships to the region during a meeting in Tehran, Lavrov said "the more a state takes this kind of proactive measures, the greater the risk and the danger of an escalation of the conflict".

He also said the United States was "already among the countries intervening the most" since the October 7 attack by Hamas on Israel, and subsequent reprisals by Israeli forces on the Gaza Strip.

Biden administration sent three-star general to advise Israeli army on Gaza ground invasion: Axios

The US news website Axios has reported that the Biden administration has sent a three star Marine Corps general, James Glynn, to advise the Israeli army in its expected ground invasion of the Gaza Strip, alongside other high ranking American officers. Glynn was previously involved in the US's anti-IS operations in Iraq. Axios said that this reflected the US's "deep involvement" in Israel's attack on Gaza.

UK PM announces extra £20 mn aid for civilians in Gaza

UK leader Rishi Sunak announced Monday that Britain was sending an additional £20 million ($24 million) of aid to help civilians in Gaza affected by the war between Israel and Hamas.

The announcement brings the amount pledged to Palestinian territories by Britain since 7 October to £30 million, after £10 million was made available last week.

"We are providing an additional £20 million of humanitarian aid to civilians in Gaza, more than doubling our previous support to the Palestinian people," Sunak told parliament.

Before the recent pledges, the UK had committed £27 million to Palestinians this year.

20 trucks carrying aid crossed into Gaza on Monday: UN

The UN said 20 trucks carrying humanitarian aid crossed into the Gaza Strip on Monday through the Rafah border crosssing.

EU mulls call for 'humanitarian pause' in Gaza

EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell said Monday that he believed the bloc's leaders would back a call for a "humanitarian pause" to allow aid to enter Gaza.

European Union leaders are set to discuss the issue at a summit on Thursday after rifts emerged within the bloc over how to respond to Israel's conflict with Hamas.

"I believe that the idea of a humanitarian pause to facilitate the arrival of humanitarian aid, which would allow displaced persons to find shelter, is something that the leaders will support," Borrell said after talks with EU foreign ministers in Luxembourg.

Borrell said a pause would be a less ambitious objective than the "humanitarian ceasefire" called for by United Nations secretary-general Antonio Guterres in the conflict between Israel and Hamas.

Despite Borrell's assessment, a European official warned there was not yet a clear agreement among the 27 EU nations on issuing a call for a pause in the fighting.

"We cannot say that there is clearly a consensus that has emerged," the official said on condition of anonymity.

Hezbollah has 150 thousand rockets aimed at Israel: Haaretz

Hezbollah has 150 thousand rockets and missiles aimed at Israel, as well as an extensive air-defense system and a commando force, Haaretz reported on Monday quoting what it said were the latest known assessments.

"According to the latest public estimates, Hezbollah has around 150,000 rockets and missiles, most with a range of a few dozen kilometers. Various reports, however, say a substantial number can reach targets located hundreds of kilometers from Lebanon," wrote Haaretz.

"We are now at the point where Hezbollah has far more rockets and missiles than most governments in the world," the U.S. defense secretary said in a joint press conference with his Israeli counterpart.

12 hospitals, 32 health centres in Gaza now non-operational: health ministry

Some 12 hospitals and 32 health centres have stopped operating in the Gaza Strip after they ran out of fuel, the enclave’s health ministry said.

Hamas may release 50 hostages believes Israel: NY Times

"Israel believes Hamas may release about 50 hostages who are citizens of another country as well as Israel, but a ground invasion could make hostage releases less likely," wrote the New York Times on Monday.

Israel says attack by two Gaza drones 'thwarted'

The Israeli army said Monday it had "thwarted" an attack from Gaza by two drones that was claimed by Hamas.

The two unidentified aerial vehicles (UAVs) were "identified crossing from the Gaza Strip into Israeli territory" at Nir Oz and Ein HaBesor near the border, the army said.

"Both UAVs were thwarted," a statement added, without giving details.

#WATCH : Hamas share footage showing Al-Zawari kamikaze UAV launches on Israeli targets.#IsraelAttack #Israel_under_attack #فلسطين_الان #غزة_تستغيث #Israel #Hezbollah #GazaAttack #Palestine #latest #BREAKING #JUSTIN #Gazabombing #Gaza #Israel #Hamas pic.twitter.com/7ZZ3i0mO5t

— upuknews (@upuknews1) October 23, 2023

Israeli media said a helicopter shot down one drone and the other was hit by a ground-fired missile.

Hamas said on its social media that "Israeli military posts" had been the target of the attack.

US troops in Syria targeted by drones: officials

U.S. troops in Syria were targeted by drones but there were no injuries, two U.S. officials said on Monday, the latest in a series of attacks against U.S. forces in the Middle East.

The officials, speaking on condition of anonymity, said the attack took place at Al-Tanf base, near Syria's borders with Iraq and Jordan.

Qatar, Egypt mediating talks between Hamas, Israel for deescalation

Qatari-led mediation - backed by Egypt and the UN - is currently underway to accelerate an agreement for the release of dual nationality hostages in Gaza and to deescalate fighting between Israel and Hamas, according to Palestinian sources.

Mohammed El-Emadi is leading the negotiations between Hamas and Israel with reports that he may make a breakthrough of finding a way to pin a ceasefire in Gaza.

Turkey sends two more planes of aid to Egypt for Gaza, plans more

Turkey sent two cargo planes to Egypt on Monday carrying medical equipment and supplies for Gaza, Health Minister Fahrettin Koca said, adding two more aircraft would be sent with more supplies.

In a post on X, formerly Twitter, Koca said the cargo planes carried medicine, generators, medical supplies, incubators for babies, phototherapy machinery, diapers and baby food.

Among the medical supplies, he said, were emergency response equipment, operating tables, ventilators, ultrasound machines and orthopaedic supplies for those wounded in the fighting.

"The four planes of health support that are being planned for Gaza as aid will be sent from Egypt to Gaza via highways."

BU SABAH GAZZE’YE YARDIM AMACIYLA PLANLANAN 4 UÇAK DOLUSU MALZEME Mısır’a gönderilmeye başlandı. Uçaklarda tıbbi cihaz, tıbbi malzeme, ilaç ve jeneratörler bulunuyor.

Tıbbi cihazlar arasında acil müdahale ekipmanları, ameliyat masası, ameliyat lambası, anestezi cihazı gibi… pic.twitter.com/21015aBoR6

— Dr. Fahrettin Koca (@drfahrettinkoca) October 23, 2023

Hezbollah, Israel continue trading cross-border fire

Hezbollah and Israel continued trading fire on Monday, as locals on both sides of the border evacuate in the thousands in fear of an escalation.

Rockets were fired from southern Lebanon towards the Israeli settlement of Qiryat Shmona, as Israeli forces shelled Lebanese border villages including Rmeich.

One of the Israeli shells hit close to a Lebanese army post.

قصف اسرائيلي على خراج بلدة رميش pic.twitter.com/qsZePlfW04

— kataeb.org (@kataeb_Ar) October 23, 2023

Gaza wounded at risk of dying as fuel runs out in hospitals: health ministry

Gaza’s health ministry warned that thousands of wounded people are at risk of dying as hospitals run out of fuel to operate.

The ministry called on the UN to quickly intervene before “a catastrophe” takes place, and also asked Egypt to ensure the flow of medical and fuel supplies.

UNICEF also said the lives of 120 newborn babies were in danger because of the fuel crisis.

19 thousand people have fled south Lebanon due to border clashes: UN

The UN said more than 19 thousand people have left their homes in southern Lebanon because of the ongoing border clashes between Hezbollah and Israel.

Israel intercepts drone from Lebanon

Israel said the loud explosion heard over the northern coastal city of Acre was a drone being intercepted.

The drone reportedly came from Lebanon.

Palestinian prisoners are being kept under total blackout by Israel

"Since the beginning of the new war on Gaza earlier this month, Israeli authorities cut all communication between Palestinian prisoners and the outside world, and suspended all family visits.

According to human rights groups and Palestinian prisoners' families, Israeli authorities have dramatically reduced electricity and water in Israeli jail sections where Palestinians are being held since the beginning of the current events.

"We have lost all contact with my father since 8 of October, and the last time he told us that they were being cut off was electricity and water", the 22-year-old daughter of Palestinian detainee Thaer Taha, told The New Arab."

You can read the full report by Qassam Muaddi, The New Arab's  correspondent in the West Bank, here. 
 

Israeli army warns residents of al-Nasr and al-Shati refugee camp to leave by 4pm

Residents of Gaza City have told Al Jazeera that they have received recorded warnings by the Israeli military to leave the al-Nasr neighbourhood and al-Shati refugee camp by 4pm, as attacks will intensify. 

With more than 5000 dead, including over 2000 children, Israel is committing a 'bloody massacre' in Gaza

"Israeli airstrikes have killed at least 5,087  Palestinians, including 2,055 children and 1,119 women, according to the health ministry based in the besieged Gaza Strip. 

In a press statement sent to The New Arab, the ministry also noted that Israel's new war on Gaza has wounded at least 15,273 Palestinians, most of whom were women and children. 

The ministry warned that fuel is running out for all functioning hospitals in Gaza, and when fuel is gone, it will lead to a more catastrophic situation for the besieged coastal enclave. 

Palestinian security sources told TNA that Israel has intensified airstrikes on various sites across Gaza, committing "massacres against civilians" in the territory. 

"The occupation army is committing bloody massacres against civilians and increasing the intensification of its raids," said Iyad al-Bazm, a spokesperson for the Ministry of Interior in Gaza."

You can read the full report by The New Arab's Gaza correspondent Sally Ibrahim here. 

Hezbollah says 2 more fighters killed

Hezbollah in Lebanon said Monday that another two of its fighters were killed.

In a statement, the group named them as Ali Kamal Abdelal Jihad and Hussein Hasan Abdelal from Halta in south Lebanon's Arqoub region.

It did not specify how they were killed, but Hezbollah and Israel have clashed on the border since 7 October.

More than 20 Hezbollah fighters have died so far.

Hamas fires rocket onto Be'er Sheeva

Hamas' military wing said it fired rockets onto the Israeli city of Be'er Sheeva close to the Gaza Strip.

Israeli strikes meanwhile continued to pound the enclave.

More than 1,200 Palestinians arrested in West Bank: committee

The Commission of Detainees' Affairs in Palestine said Monday that at least 1,215 Palestinians have been arrested by Israeli forces since 7 October.

Gaza death toll reaches 5,087, including 2,055 children: health ministry

The health ministry in the Gaza Strip said Monday the death toll from Israel’s bombardment since 7 October has reached 5,087.

Among them are 2,055 children, 1,119 women, and 217 seniors.

It said 436 Palestinians have been killed in the past 24 hours alone, including 182 children.

The ministry added that they’ve received reports of 1,500 missing people – which include 830 children – most probably still stuck underneath the rubble in the war-torn enclave.

Israel strikes hit areas near three Gaza hospitals: Palestinian media

Israeli warplanes bombarded areas near three hospitals in the Gaza Strip early on Monday, Palestinian media reported, but it was not immediately clear whether the hospitals themselves suffered damage.

There was no immediate comment from the Israeli military on the reports, which said Israel had struck near Gaza City's Shifa and Al-Quds hospitals and near the Indonesian Hospital, in the enclave's north.

The director of the Indonesian Hospital told Al Jazeera the Israeli bombardment caused "serious damage and injuries," without providing details.

Reuters was not immediately able to confirm the reports. There were no immediate reports of damage or injuries at or near the other two hospitals.

The Palestinian Red Crescent Society said on October 14 that Israel had ordered them to evacuate Al-Quds hospital. The group said it was not possible to move the sick and wounded.

Israel puts hostage number at 222

In a televised briefing on Monday, chief Israeli military spokesperson Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari said 222 people had now been confirmed as taken hostage by Hamas on 7 October.

He added that Israeli ground forces mounted limited raids into the Gaza Strip overnight.

Hamas says its fighters engaged Israeli force infiltrating Gaza

Hamas fighters engaged with an Israeli force that infiltrated the Gaza Strip and returned to their base after destroying some Israeli military equipment, the Palestinian group's armed wing Ezzeddine al-Qassam Brigades said on Sunday.

The group said in a statement the infiltration by what it described as an armoured force took place east of Khan Younis in the southern region of Gaza, amid expectations of a full-scale ground offensive by Israeli forces massed around the enclave.

"Fighters engaged with the infiltrating force, destroying two bulldozers and a tank and forced the force to withdraw, before they returned safely to base," the statement said.

There was no immediate Israeli comment about the destruction of Israeli equipment or vehicles.

Third Gaza-bound aid convoy enters Rafah crossing from Egypt: sources

A third convoy of aid trucks entered the Rafah crossing from Egypt on Monday bound for the besieged Gaza Strip, an aid worker and two security sources said.

U.N. officials say about 100 trucks would be needed daily to meet essential needs in Gaza, which is home to 2.3 million people and where stocks of food, water and fuel have been running low.

Amnesty accuses UK PM Sunak of 'diminishing' Israel's violation of Palestinian human rights

Amnesty International accused UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and senior opposition member Lisa Nandy of "contributing" to "an environment where Israeli human rights violations can be diminished".

"By refusing to condemn clear breaches of international law, by not saying clearly that Israel’s restriction of water and food is collective punishment and a war crime, and that Israel’s evacuation order amounts to forcible displacement, UK politicians are diminishing the gravity of Israel’s actions, limiting pressure on Israel to change course, and contributing to an environment where human rights violations against Palestinians are diminished."

Sunak and Nandy, Labour's shadow cabinet secretary for international development, have both refused to condemn Israel's total blockade of the Gaza strip during recent interviews. 

Two Palestinians killed in Israeli raid on Jalazone refugee camp

Two Palestinians were killed this morning and four others seriously injured after a raid by Israeli forces on the Jalazone refugee camp near Ramallah in the occupied West Bank, Wafa reported from the Palestinian Ministry of Health.

Israeli soldiers apparently raided the  refugee camp to arrest activists. 

During the raid, residents fought back against the raid with stones, which prompted the Israeli forces to responded with live gunfire, killing Mahmoud Saif Nakhleh, aged 20,  and Mohammad Nidal Ilian, aged 22 and critically injuring four others, in addition to detaining 20 people.

Israel has so far killed 95 Palestinians in the West Bank since October 7.

Footage shows alleged Israeli strikes around Al-Quds Hospital in Gaza

The Palestinian Red Crescent Society  released footage early on Monday of what it says are Israeli air strikes in the vicinity of Gaza’s Al-Quds Hospital during a visit by an International Committee of the Red Cross delegation.

Palestinian media had reported that Israeli jets were bombing areas close to Al-Shifa and Al-Quds hospitals on Sunday.

In the footage, released on X, two explosions can be heard as people run for cover and shout for others to do so.

October 22nd- a video showing Israeli airstrikes in the vicinity of Al_Quds hospital while a delegation from the ICRC was visiting. These bombardments caused fear and panic among internally displaced civilians and the medical staff at the hospital.
#Gaza #NotATarget pic.twitter.com/AN6xu6YzMX

— PRCS (@PalestineRCS) October 22, 2023

60 Palestinians killed overnight, 400 deaths over the last 24 hours as Israel bombards Gaza: health ministry

Israeli overnight strikes on the blockaded Gaza Strip have left at least 60 people dead, Palestinian health ministry officials said Monday.

A statement from the Gaza government media office said "more than 60 were martyred in the (Israeli) raids" during the night, including 17 who were killed in a single strike that hit a house in Jabaliya, in northern Gaza.

Some 400 Palestinians have been killed in the last 24 hours, acco5ding to the health ministry.