(Update1720ET): Hamas has launched a hostage ‘proof of life’ video which is now being extensively shared on-line and reported on, per Israeli media:
The quick video exhibits a younger girl, 21-year-old Mia Schem, being handled after she was wounded in her arm, and later talking to the digital camera.
Schem was kidnapped by Hamas terrorists on October 7 whereas collaborating within the desert rave in Kibbutz Re’im, the place the gunmen additionally massacred over 260 festival-goers.
She tells the digital camera she was operated on for 3 hours and that “I’m being cared for, I’m getting drugs. I’m solely asking for me to be returned house as quickly as doable, to my household, to my mother and father, to my siblings. Please get me out of right here as quickly as doable.” Schem’s household reacts to the clip, saying: “We’re completely happy.”
Hamas releases its first footage of a hostage. The group says it’s offering medical remedy to her. Although I feel this can be a poor try to indicate they’re treating the hostages effectively. The hostage seems to be Israeli. pic.twitter.com/JDATGYenCr
— Joe Truzman (@JoeTruzman) October 16, 2023
The IDF has reacted to the video, saying Hams “tries to current itself as a humanitarian group whereas in truth it’s a murderous terror group, liable for the murders and kidnappings of infants, ladies, kids and the aged.”
There’s rising hypothesis that the IDF hasn’t launched a floor invasion but attributable to threats being made by Iran and its ally Lebanese Hezbollah. And it is not simply enemies of Israel which are saying this, however The Jerusalem Put up stories Monday {that a} prime cause for the offensive being stalled is the concern Hezbollah will get entangled.
Nevertheless, the IDF Northern Command has been tasked with making certain full readiness of defenses on the Lebanese border in case Hezbollah does get entangled. The JPost writes:
A lot of elements appear to have precipitated a delay, however sources have informed The Jerusalem Put up that one issue has been a rising concern that Hezbollah is ready for the second that almost all IDF floor forces are dedicated to Gaza to open a full entrance with the IDF within the north.
Iran is in the meantime ratcheting threats, maybe as a part of a method to bolster these voices inside Israel who’re urging warning and restraint. Iran’s international minister has issued an ‘all choices on the desk’ sort of assertion:
Iranian 🇮🇷 FM, Amir Abdullahian, in an interview with Oghov TV:
🔹 The resistance is able to long-term wars in opposition to the enemy.
🔹 Any preemptive motion by the resistance nexus or the Islamic Republic of Iran in opposition to the Zionist regime is envisaged within the coming hours. pic.twitter.com/dnWW6l3t2p
— Arya 🇮🇷 (@AryJeay) October 16, 2023
Israeli officers have continues to escalate their rhetoric regarding what Israel plans to do with Gaza:
Israeli ambassador to the UK cites the firebombing of Dresden in 1945 (deliberate aerial incineration of civilian inhabitants facilities by US and UK) as precedent for what Israel is about to do in Gaza pic.twitter.com/GFXuv5T2Lq
— Michael Tracey (@mtracey) October 16, 2023
PM Netanyahu has informed Russia’s Putin in a Monday cellphone name that he plans to proceed with the Gaza offensive, after the latter warned of a catastrophic demise toll…
BREAKING: Netanyahu tells Putin in a cellphone name: Israel will not cease its Gaza operation till it destroys Hamas’ army and governmental capabilities (1st cellphone name between them for the reason that conflict began)
— Barak Ravid (@BarakRavid) October 16, 2023
* * *
Replace(1255ET): An lively session of Israel’s Knesset in Jerusalem has been interrupted by a barrage of rockets fired from the Gaza Strip, which despatched members of parliament into bomb shelters. Sirens blared throughout Jerusalem, because the Hamas rocket assaults proceed. Israel’s all-out offensive was anticipated Friday or Saturday, however has nonetheless been delayed, with rain and dangerous climate additionally being among the many checklist of reasons cited as of Monday.
However this gave time for a flurry of worldwide diplomacy because the demise toll soars on each side. The Palestinian Central Bureau of Statistic has stated the demise toll amongst Palestinians and the West financial institution is now at its highest in 20 years for 2023, as deaths from this spherical of preventing has surpassed 3,000. Deaths in Israel have surpassed 1,400 – with over 4,100 Israelis wounded.
US officers have reportedly been racing to comprise the battle and to seek out some sort of off-ramp, which might result in releasing of hostages held in Gaza. All of this has reportedly included back-channel talks with Iran. On Monday, Iran’s International Ministry introduced that Hamas is ready to launch the hostages if Israel halts its ongoing bombardment of the Gaza Strip:
Iranian International Ministry spokesperson Nasser Kanaani stated Hamas officers “said that they’re able to take vital measures to launch the residents and civilians held by resistant teams, however their level was that such measures require preparations which are unattainable below each day bombardment by the Zionists in opposition to numerous components of Gaza,” The Associated Press reported.
However nonetheless the Iranian assertion warned that Hamas nonetheless has “no downside to proceed resisting.” Israel has in the meantime denied that it has plans for any ceasefire.
Whereas Biden continues to be stated to be mulling a go to to Israel, Russia’s President Vladimir Putin is now ratcheting up his personal diplomatic efforts. “Russian President Vladimir Putin entered the fevered diplomatic fray of the Center East on Monday, talking to 5 of the foremost gamers together with Iran and main Arab powers in an try to safe a ceasefire within the conflict between Israel and Hamas,” Reuters stories.
“Russia, which has relationships with Iran, Hamas, main Arab powers in addition to with the Palestinians and with Israel, has repeatedly stated america and the West have ignored the necessity for an impartial Palestinian state inside 1967 borders.”
Putin has condemned the hovering demise toll in Gaza, warning in opposition to the “catastrophic demise toll” in Gaza which he says is wanting doubtless given Israel’s reported invasion plans.
* * *
Abstract:
Israeli army spokesperson continued to substantiate that forces are making ready to implement a variety of operational offensive plans which embody mixed coordinated strikes from the air, sea and land, whereas their purpose is to fully destroy the governing and army capabilities of Hamas and different terrorist organisations. Moreover, the spokesman stated the operation will take a very long time and that residents of Gaza ought to go away and never return till informed to for their very own security however Hamas has been stopping individuals from leaving, in keeping with Reuters.
A minimum of 199 people are being held hostage by Hamas, in keeping with Israeli officers who stated on Monday that they’d intelligence in regards to the whereabouts of hostages taken on Oct. 7. Hamas has stated that 22 hostages have died in Israeli retaliatory bombing of Gaza, a declare that could not be verified.
Israeli army spokesperson stated Hezbollah is escalating the state of affairs on the Lebanon border to hinder the Gaza counter-offensive and Israel is ready to struggle on two fronts and much more if required, whereas an Israeli army spokesman stated greater than 600,000 Gazans have relocated southwards and that greater than 200 Hamas members within the West Financial institution have been detained since October seventh.
Israeli PM Netanyahu’s nationwide safety adviser stated Israel shouldn’t be attempting to be drawn right into a two-front conflict and that Hezbollah’s actions are below the escalation threshold to this point, whereas the adviser added they hope Hezbollah received’t de facto deliver in regards to the destruction of Lebanon, in keeping with Reuters.
Moreover, Iran is changing into much more vocal as President Raisi stated in a cellphone name with French President Macron that “the Zionist regime’s actions are a reminder of Nazi actions”, whereas he additionally said that Palestinian resistance teams make their very own selections and urged France to forestall oppression and injustice, in keeping with Reuters.
US President Biden stated deploying US troops within the Center East conflict shouldn’t be vital and Israel has one of many best preventing forces, whereas he’s assured Israel goes to behave below the foundations of conflict and stated it could be a mistake for Israel to occupy Gaza. Biden said he believes Hamas have to be eradicated totally however stated there have to be a path to a Palestinian state and his message to Iran is do not come throughout the border and do not escalate the conflict, whereas it was additionally reported that President Biden is contemplating visiting Israel within the coming days.
US Nationwide Safety Adviser Sullivan stated the US doesn’t have new intelligence that the risk on the bottom is completely different at this time and there’s a danger of battle escalation. Sullivan added that they can’t rule out that Iran would select to get instantly engaged in a roundabout way and that the US is anxious about proxy forces, Lebanon’s Hezbollah and Iran, in keeping with a CBS interview.
US Secretary of State Blinken will head again to Israel on Monday for additional consultations with Israeli leaders.
Iran Says Hamas Is Able to Launch Hostages however Cannot Do So Underneath Israeli Bombing
And in maybe essentially the most constructive information of the day, The Wall Street Journal reports that Hamas is able to launch hostages held in Gaza however is not ready to take action below Israeli bombing, an official from Iran, a serious Hamas backer, stated Monday.
Iranian International Ministry spokesman Nasser Kanaani stated that any transfer to free the civilians would “require preparations which are unattainable below each day bombardment by the Zionists in opposition to numerous components of Gaza.”
Not precisely a promise, however maybe some diplomatic progress.
* * *
Hamas Officers Killed, Israel Army Says
A number of Hamas officers, together with these within the army and monetary sectors, have been killed, Israeli Protection Forces spokesman Jonathan Conricus stated in a session with journalists on the X social media platform.
Conricus stated Hamas is attempting to cover behind civilians as Israel hunts its commanders. “We aren’t attempting to kill civilians. We’re at conflict with Hamas,” he stated.
One Israeli civilian was killed by anti-tank missiles fired throughout the border from Lebanon, he stated.
* * *
Iranian Threats Escalate
Iranian International Minister stated “If the Zionist aggressions don’t cease, the arms of all events within the area are on the set off” and warned heavy losses might be inflicted on the US if the scope of the Gaza conflict widens. Iran’s International Minister additionally stated that Iran is not going to stay an observer on this state of affairs and knowledgeable Israel by way of its allies that ‘tomorrow might be too late’ if its crimes in Gaza proceed.
Iran has reportedly made no resolution about whether or not to open a brand new entrance in opposition to Israel, in keeping with an Iranian supply near the federal government, however added {that a} assembly was to be held on Sunday night time in a Hezbollah command heart in Lebanon, NYT reported.
Iran’s mission to the UN stated if Israel’s “conflict crimes, genocide” shouldn’t be halted instantly, the state of affairs might ricochet far-reaching penalties.
* * *
Biden Is Contemplating Go to to Israel
Biden is contemplating a visit to Israel after being invited in a cellphone name with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, in keeping with two individuals acquainted with the inner discussions.
No resolution about whether or not to journey to Israel has but been made, the individuals stated. Adrienne Watson, a spokesperson for the Nationwide Safety Council, stated in an announcement the White Home didn’t have journey to announce.
Biden careworn his perception that Israel would act by the foundations of conflict and that harmless civilians would have entry to medication, meals and water in an interview with CBS Information’s “60 Minutes.” He stated he didn’t imagine Israel ought to management the territory long-term, saying as a substitute the territory needs to be ruled by “a Palestinian authority.”
“I feel it’d be a giant mistake,” Biden stated. “Look, what occurred in Gaza, in my opinion, is Hamas and the intense components of Hamas don’t characterize all of the Palestinian individuals.”
* * *
Thirty US Residents Confirmed Useless
The State Division confirmed the deaths of 30 US residents for the reason that violence began and one other 13 American nationals stay unaccounted for, in keeping with a spokesperson.
The federal government is working to find out the whereabouts of the lacking People and is advising the Israeli authorities on hostage restoration efforts.
* * *
Egyptian Border Tensions Develop
Egypt is going through intense stress to permit refugees in neighboring Gaza to cross the border and escape an anticipated Israeli floor invasion within the strip. Central to such a transfer is Rafah, the one civilian land crossing in Gaza that Israel doesn’t management.
As The Wall Street Journal reports, Egypt has appeared prepared to let international residents by means of the crossing however has been reluctant to permit a flood of Palestinian refugees enter, citing safety threats.
A deal to open the border crossing has been held up, nevertheless, by Egyptian considerations that Israel hadn’t given assurances it could pause airstrikes and by Israeli insistence that vehicles getting into by way of Egypt be completely searched, Egyptian officers stated.
“Sadly, Israel has not but allowed humanitarian help to enter Gaza,” Egyptian International Minister Sameh Shoukry informed reporters in Cairo. The Israeli prime minister’s workplace declined to remark.
“We anticipate that the state of affairs on the Rafah crossing will stay fluid and unpredictable and it’s unclear whether or not, or for the way lengthy, vacationers might be permitted to transit the crossing,” the U.S. Embassy in Egypt stated. “There could also be little or no discover if the crossing opens and it might solely open for a restricted time.
* * *
Creating…
Loading…