Hamas takes over 100 hostages in Israel-Palestine conflict, death toll hits 600 (Is This World War III dress rehearsal?)
Hamas takes over 100 hostages in the Israel-Palestine conflict, the death toll hits 600 and beyond yet, it seems we are getting ready for World War Three dress rehearsal.
Israeli tanks being transported along a road in an undisclosed location on the border with the Gaza Strip on October 8, 2023
More than 100 people have been taken hostage and 600 are dead following Hamas’s attack on Israel, Israeli authorities have said.
A graphic from the Israeli government posted on Facebook says there are “100+” captives — more than Tel Aviv’s officials had previously feared.
The official death toll in Israel has also risen to 600, while 370 have been killed in the IDF’s retaliatory air strikes in Gaza.
This morning the IDF said dozens of fighter jets had descended on the Gaza Strip in an apparent escalation of its operation against Hamas.
Israeli troops were also seen transporting 155mm artillery pieces toward the Gaza border.
“IDF fighter jets conducted an intensive aerial strike against targets used by Hamas,” the IDF said in a statement.
The Hamas takes over 100 hostages in the Israel-Palestine conflict does not look like it is going to end soon as more nations support the various factions.
Western leaders back Tel Aviv in the Israel-Palestine conflict
There have been statements from various Western leaders about the attacks in Israel yesterday, here is a flavour of what the international community has been saying:
US: Anthony Blinken, the Secretary of State, said the US would continue to support Israel and that the government was working on “specific” requests from Tel Aviv.
Ukraine: Volodymyr Zelensky spoke to Benjamin Netanyahu this morning to “affirm Ukraine’s solidarity with Israel” and discuss the attack’s “ramifications for the security situation in the region and beyond”.
Germany: Olaf Scholz, the Chancellor, said Israel has the right to defend itself against “barbaric attacks” and that Germany does “not accept the heinous attacks against Israel being celebrated here on our streets”. (Read more about celebrations in Europe here.)
UK: Keir Starmer, the Labour leader, said he and Rishi Sunak would put politics aside and “work together” to support Israel after the attack.
Iran encourages others to join attacks
The president of Iran has urged other Muslim countries to join in attacks on Israel, after a call with Hamas on Sunday.
Ebrahim Raisi that Iran supports the Palestinians’ right to self-defence and called for Israel to be held accountable for endangering the region
“The Zionist regime and its supporters are responsible for endangering the security of nations in the region, and they must be held accountable in this matter,” he said.
He urged Muslim governments to “support the Palestinian nation” while praising to “resistance” efforts by Hamas and Islamic Jihad as well as in countries including Syria, Lebanon, and Iraq.
Raisi had spoken earlier with leaders of Hamas and Islamic Jihad, official media said.
US working to verify reports of American deaths
US secretary of state Antony Blinken said the administration is working to verify reports that Americans are among those missing and dead in Israel after Hamas launched its attack.
“We have reports that several Americans were killed,” Blinken told CNN. “We’re working overtime to verify that. At the same time, there are reports of missing Americans, and there again, we’re working to verify those reports.”
Israeli jets pound the densely packed Gaza Strip
Gaza death toll rises to 370
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At least 370 Palestinians are now confirmed as dead in the Gaza Strip, with a further 2,200 injured, according to the health ministry.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has just been pictured in the air force command centre alongside the air force chief as jets pound Gaza.
US to give Israel new military assistance, Blinken suggests
US secretary of state Antony Blinken has said that Washington will later today make an announcement as to what support it will provide Israel.
Washington is examining the requests made by the Israelis, he said in an interview with CNN.
Mr Blinken said Hamas’ incursion represents an “indiscriminate terrorist attack by a terrorist organisation.”
Israel itself was now “relatively calm,” Mr Blinken said, but added the US understands there is “intense” fighting continuing in Gaza.
20,000 Gazans sheltering in UN schools
The UN agency for Palestinian Refugees, UNRWA, said over 20,000 people were sheltering in 44 of its schools around Gaza by Saturday evening.
“The number (of displaced) is rapidly increasing, “ said Inas Hamdan, acting public information officer in Gaza.
The agency said three of its schools suffered “collateral” damage from Israeli airstrikes.
