Two Israeli women, Yocheved Lifshitz and Nurit Cooper, released from Hamas captivity - Haaretz

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Families of Israeli hostages to protest at UN on Tuesday

A delegation of the families of hostages held captive by Hamas will be at the United Nations at the same time as U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken, who will travel to New York City tomorrow to participate in a United Nations Security Council Ministerial on the situation in the Middle East.

The families will hold demonstrations at the UN, as well as meeting with UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres, New York City Mayor Eric Adams and U.S. Jewish leaders.

Blinken meets Jewish, Arab-American and Palestinian-American leaders

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken held separate meetings with Jewish community leaders, as well as representatives of the Arab-American and Palestinian-American communities.

"In both discussions, the Secretary condemned Hamas’ horrific terrorist attacks against Israel, reaffirmed the United States’ ironclad commitment to Israel’s security, outlined his recent engagements and travel to the Middle East, and described the United States’ efforts to see to it that all civilians are protected and to prevent the widening of the conflict. He stressed that no civilian life is worth more than another — whether Christian, Jewish, or Muslim – and emphasized ongoing U.S. efforts to facilitate a steady flow of humanitarian assistance to civilians in Gaza, as we work with partners across the region to secure the release of additional hostages," the State Department said.

The meetings come as the Biden administration's Israel policy comes under increasing scrutiny from the Arab community, as well as critics within the State Department.

Biden reaffirms support for Israel, underscores need to sustain a flow of humanitarian aid into Gaza

U.S. President Joe Biden spoke to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu early Tuesday morning, reaffirming “his commitment to ongoing efforts to secure the release of all the remaining hostages taken by Hamas – including Americans – and to provide for safe passage for U.S. citizens and other civilians in Gaza,” according to a readout of the conversation provided by the White House.

Biden also “underscored the need to sustain a continuous flow of urgently needed humanitarian assistance into Gaza.”

The two leaders agreed to speak again in the coming days, according to the White House.

China will do utmost to contribute to Palestinian-Israeli reconciliation, state media says

China will do its utmost when it comes to contributing to Palestinian-Israeli reconciliation, its foreign minister told his Israel counterpart in a phone call on Monday, according to Chinese state media.

China will also firmly support any resolution as long as it is conducive to peace, minister Wang Yi said, calling the conflict a "major choice between war and peace", state media said on Tuesday.

Wang also called for Israel to take effective measures to protect the safety of Chinese citizens and institutions there, adding that "all countries have the right to self-defense, but they should abide by international humanitarian law and protect the safety of civilians."

France’s Macron to visit Israel, Ramallah on Tuesday

French President Emmanuel Macron will land in Israel on Tuesday morning for meetings with Israeli and Palestinian officials. He will be met at Ben-Gurion Airport by representatives of the French nationals killed in the fighting or being held captive by Hamas in the Gaza Strip.

Macron will meet with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and President Isaac Herzog, as well as members of the Israeli war cabinet and opposition leaders, before travelling to Ramallah where he will meet with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas.

U.S. welcomes release of hostages, calls for all to be set free

United States National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan said that the U.S. "welcomes today’s release of two Israeli citizens held hostage by Hamas. We continue to do everything possible to secure the release of all remaining hostages in Gaza," he added.

State Department spokesman Matthew Miller said that the United States is "very gratified" that the two Israeli women had been released.

"Well, obviously we're very gratified to see the release of these two hostages - Israeli citizens - which comes on top of the release on Friday have to American citizens really since the immediate aftermath of the attack on Israel on October 7," Miller said during an appearance on MSNBC on Monday.

Israel will not hold off on ground offensive over hostages, minister tells Bild

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. 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.

IDF attacks terrorist infrastructure in Lebanon

The IDF says that it has attacked terrorist infrastructure belonging to Hezbollah in southern Lebanon. Among the targets hit were a Hezbollah military camp and an observation point, the army said, adding that the attacks were in response to rocket fire from Lebanese territory into Israel on Monday.

Rashida Tlaib questions Israeli denial of Al-Ahli hospital blast, citing 'documented history of misleading public about war crimes'

Rep. Rashida Tlaib, the only Palestinian-American lawmaker in Congress, refused to accept the now widely-accepted narrative that Israel was not responsible for a blast at Gaza's Al-Ahli hospital, noting both American and Israeli histories of misleading the public about war crimes.

“Media outlets and third-party analysts have raised doubts about claims and evidence offered by both Israel and the Gaza Ministry of Health, and I agree with the United Nations that an independent investigation is necessary. I cannot uncritically accept Israel’s denials of responsibility as fact, especially in light of confirmation from the World Health Organization that Israel has bombed numerous medical facilities in Gaza and reports from the Palestinian Red Crescent Society of ongoing threats from the Israeli military to evacuate hospitals," Tlaib said.

“Both the Israeli and United States governments have long, documented histories of misleading the public about wars and war crimes - like last year’s Israeli military assassination of Shireen Abu Akleh and the false claims of weapons of mass destruction that led our country into the Iraq War - and cannot clear themselves of responsibility without an independent international investigation. This debate should not distract us from the urgent need for a ceasefire to save innocent civilian lives,” she added.

All three Italians missing after Hamas attack are dead, Rome says

All of the three people with dual Italian-Israeli citizenship who went missing after the Oct. 7 attack on Israel by the Hamas militant group have died, Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani said on Monday.

"Unfortunately, Nir Forti has also died. He was the last of the 3 missing Italian-Israelis," Tajani said on X, the social media platform. "Dying at the age of 29, brutally killed by terrorists, is profoundly unjust," he added.

Hours earlier, Tajani had announced the death of Lilian Le Havron, wife of Eviatar Moshe Kipnis who had been confirmed dead on Oct. 17. The couple lived in Kibbutz Be'eri, 3 miles from Gaza, one of the first areas to be hit by Hamas.

"I renew my condolences to the children and family. For Italy another day of mourning," the minister wrote, in another message on X.

On Sunday, Tajani had said that seven or eight Italians, plus their spouses and children, were in the south of the Gaza Strip and were trying to get out.

Israel thanks Egypt, Red Cross after two elderly hostages released

The Israeli government has thanked Egypt and the Red Cross for their part in securing the release of Yocheved Lifshitz and Nurit Cooper, the two elderly hostages freed by Hamas on Monday.

A statement issued by the Prime Minister's Office on behalf of the coordinator of hostages and missing persons, Gal Hirsch, said that the two women were on their way to an Israeli medical center where relatives would be waiting for them.

“The Israeli government, the IDF and the entire defense establishment will continue to do everything in their power to locate the missing Israelis and return the hostages safely.”

Netanyahu, defense chiefs end security assessment in Tel Aviv

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Yoav Gallant met with IDF chief Herzl Halevi and senior members of the defense establishment in Tel Aviv on Monday.

Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, center, at a security assessment in Tel Aviv on Monday.Credit: Kobi Gideon / GPO

White House: Biden concerned about rising antisemitism after Hamas attack

White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre stressed that the Biden administration is concerned about rising antisemitism following the Hamas attack, shortly after answering a question on the matter with an answer primarily focusing on rising Islamophobia.

"To be clear: the President and our team are very concerned about a rise in antisemitism, especially after the horrific Hamas terrorist attack in Israel," she said.

"That’s why the President mobilized his homeland security team to address any potential threats that could harm Jewish communities, as well as Muslim, Arab American, and Palestinian American communities," Jean-Pierre added.

Families forum calls on Israeli, world leaders to secure release of all hostages

The Hostage and Missing Families Forum, which represents the Israeli nationals being held hostage by Hamas in the Gaza Strip, welcomed the release of Yocheved Lifshitz and Nurit Cooper, who were freed on Monday. The Forum called on Israeli and world leaders to “get everyone home immediately. This is a national and global mission of utmost importance.”

IDF attacks terror cell on Lebanon border

The IDF says that its aircraft attacked a Hezbollah terror cell on the Lebanon border. According to the Israeli military, the cell was preparing to fire a rocket into Israeli territory close to the Mount Dov region.

Netanyahu: Reports that Gabi Ashkenazi may serve as war advisor 'false'

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Monday night that he met once with former Chief of Staff Gabi Ashkenazi, "just as he met with many former senior officials in the defense establishment," adding that "Ashkenazi will not serve in any role, and any other publication is false."

Grandson of Yocheved Lifshitz, who was released from Hamas captivity: Hope this is just the beginning of what's to come

The grandson of Yocheved Lifshitz, who was released from Gaza on Monday after being abducted by Hamas on October 7, said that the family is "happy and satisfied with the official announcement" about the return of the two Israeli hostages and added that he hopes that this is "just the beginning of what's to come."

"We are looking forward to their release and that of the other hostages from our kibbutz and in general," the grandson, Daniel Lifshitz, said. "We hope she is okay. We're going to see her now."

UN General Assembly to convene an emergency session over Israel-Hamas war on Thursday

The UN General Assembly will convene an emergency session on Thursday, at the request of Jordan and Mauritania.

Russia, Syria, Banglades, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Maldives, Timor-Leste, Vietnam and Brunei issued a separate joint request.

Biden on possible ceasefire: 'Have those hostages released and then we can talk'

U.S. President Joe Biden rejected calls for a ceasefire, growing prominent among the left flank of his party.

"Not a ceasefire. We should have those hostages released and then we can talk," he said, answering a reporter while departing the podium at an official event.

The U.S. is drafting a resolution that reaffirms Israel's right to self-defense, one week after vetoing a resolution calling for a humanitarian pause in order to let diplomacy play out.

White House says Iran 'actively facilitating' some attacks on US military bases

The White House on Monday said Iran was in some cases "actively facilitating" rocket and drone attacks by Iranian-backed proxy groups on U.S. military bases in Iraq and Syria, and President Biden has directed the Department of Defense to brace for more and respond appropriately.

White House spokesman John Kirby said there had been an uptick in such attacks over the last week, and especially over the last few days, but the U.S. would not allow its interests in the region to "go unchallenged."

He said the United States believed these groups were supported by Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard (IRGC) and the Iranian government, which was also continuing to support the Hamas and Hezbollah militant groups.

"We know that Iran is closely monitoring these events, and in some cases, actively facilitating these attacks and spurring on others who may want to exploit the conflict for their own good, or for that of Iran," he said.

There has been an increase in attacks on U.S. forces since the conflict in Israel intensified on Oct. 7 when militants from the Palestinian group Hamas attacked southern Israel.

"We are deeply concerned about the potential for any significant escalation of these attacks in the days ahead," Kirby said.

Biden has sent naval power to the Middle East in the past two weeks, including two aircraft carriers, other warships and about 2,000 Marines.

"We know Iran's goal is to maintain some level of deniability here, but we're not going to allow them to do that," Kirby said. "We also are not going to allow any threat to our interests in the region to go unchallenged."

Barack Obama: Possible to champion Palestinian rights without being antisemitic

Former U.S. President Barack Obama wrote "it is possible for people of good will to champion Palestinian rights and oppose certain Israeli government policies in the West Bank and Gaza without being anti-semitic."

In a post on Medium, Obama called to "actively opposing anti-semitism in all its forms, everywhere. It means rejecting efforts to minimize the terrible tragedy that the Israeli people have just endured, as well as the morally-bankrupt suggestion that any cause can somehow justify the deliberate slaughter of innocent people."

He warned "the Israeli government’s decision to cut off food, water and electricity to a captive civilian population threatens not only to worsen a growing humanitarian crisis; it could further harden Palestinian attitudes for generations, erode global support for Israel, play into the hands of Israel’s [sic], and undermine long term efforts to achieve peace and stability in the region."

"Upholding these values is also vital for building alliances and shaping international opinion — all of which are critical for Israel’s long-term security," Obama added.

Two Israeli hostages, 85-year-old Yocheved Lifshitz and 79-year-old Nurit Cooper, released by Hamas

Two Israeli women were released from Hamas captivity on Monday evening, more than two weeks after being kidnapped to Gaza during the October 7 massacres, according to Hamas. They are:

Yocheved Lifshitz, 85, of Kibbutz Nir Oz

85-year-old Yocheved Lifshitz, of Nir Oz.

Lifshitz was kidnapped together with her husband, 83-year-old Oded Lifshitz. Yocheved and Oded are well known in Nir Oz. They both came to the kibbutz at the age of 17, as part of Hashomer Hatzair, the youth organization linked to the kibbutz movement. They have four kids, 11 grandchildren and one great-grandchild.

Nurit Cooper, 79, of Kibbutz Nir Oz

79-year-old Nurit Cooper from Nir Oz.

Red Cross says facilitated release of two hostages, transported them out of Gaza

The International Committee of the Red Cross said in a statement that it "facilitated the release of two more hostages by transporting them out of Gaza this evening."

They added that "Our role as a neutral intermediary between the warring parties makes this work possible. We are ready to visit the remaining hostages and to facilitate any future release. We are glad that these persons will be soon reunited with their families and loved ones."

Army chief: Well-prepared for ground operation, continuing to strike hard to dismantle Hamas

Israeli army chief Herzl Halevi said the military intends to dismantle Hamas and therefore is striking targets "very, very hard," adding "We are killing senior commanders, killing operatives and destroying infrastructure."

Halevi said that the ground operation in the south is "very well-prepared.".

Hamas-run health ministry: Some 5,000 Gazans killed since start of war, humanitarian aid still does not alleviate situation

Palestinians look for survivors of the Israeli bombardment of Rafah, southern Gaza Strip, on Tuesday.Credit: Hatem Ali /AP

The spokesperson for the Hamas-run health ministry in Gaza said 23 families had been wounded by Israeli airstrikes in the last day, which led to the death of 436 people, including 182 children.

Since the beginning of the war, 5,087 people have been killed in the Gaza Strip, including 2,055 children and 1,119 women, Hamas' health ministry said. The spokesman added that more than 15 thousand were injured.

According to Hamas' interior ministry, there are approximately 1,500 people who are missing under the rubble, more than half of them children.

French President Macron to meet with families of murdered and kidnapped French citizens in Israel on Tuesday

French President Emmanuel Macron speaks at the Elysee Palace in Paris, on October 23, 2023.Credit: Christophe Petit Tesson - AFP

French President Emmanuel Macron will meet with the families of murdered and kidnapped French citizens during his visit to Israel on Tuesday.

Macron is set to meet with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and President Isaac Herzog in the morning, and later in the day with opposition leader Yair Lapid and National Unity party chair Benny Gantz.

It is unclear whether Macron will meet with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas.

Hamas spokesman claims group has released two hostages taken from Israel

Hamas' spokesman in Egypt claimed on Monday night that the organization had released two hostages with Egyptian and Qatari mediation.

The spokesman added that Hamas decided to release two women "for humanitarian reasons."

There is no confirmation that the two have been transferred to the protection of the Red Cross, a source familiar with the negotiations said. The source added that the current deal only includes the release of the two women.

Sirens sound in Gaza border communities

Rocket sirens sounded in Sderot and Nir Am, near the border with Gaza.

White House: U.S. has every intention of keeping Saudi-Israeli normalization efforts going, U.S. not dictating terms of Gaza offensive

The United States has every intention of keeping Saudi-Israeli normalization efforts going, the White House said on Monday.

National Security Spokesman John Kirby added that the U.S. is not dictating terms to Israel on timing of Gaza offensive.

Netanyahu meets with former IDF Chief of Staff Ashkenazi amid rift with defense minister

Former IDF Chief of Staff Gabi Ashkenazi in 2021.Credit: Moti Milrod

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has met with former IDF Chief of Staff Gabi Ashkenazi, amid reports of a rift between the PM and Defense Minister Yoav Gallant.

Netanyahu has been contemplating whether to add Ashkenazi as an advisor during the war with Hamas. However, no position has been offered to Ashkenazi at this point.

Several officials tell Haaretz that Netanyahu had reached out due to the rift between him and Gallant. The latter was fired by Netanyahu earlier this year after calling to end the judicial overhaul that Netanyahu had been advancing since returning to government. Following public outcry, Netanyahu announced he wouldn't fire Gallant.

U.S. will secure interests in Middle East amid uptick in Iran-backed attacks, White House says

The United States will act appropriately to secure its national security interests in the Middle East but does not want to see the Israel-Hamas conflict widen, White House spokesman John Kirby said on Monday amid what he called an uptick in rocket and drone attacks by Iranian-backed proxy groups.

Biden administration wants to see safe passage out of Gaza, particularly for U.S. citizens

The Biden administration wants to see safe passage for people out of Gaza ahead of a potential ground invasion by Israel, particularly for U.S. citizens, White House national security spokesman John Kirby said on Monday.

"We still want to see safe passage out and particularly for the several hundred American citizens that we know are in Gaza and want to leave," Kirby said.

The White House also clarified that it has every intention of keeping Saudi Arabia-Israel normalization efforts going. Kirby added that the U.S. has sent a few military advisers to Israel.

Source in hostage negotiations: Less than 50 hostages expected to be released tonight

A source familiar with the ongoing negotiations for the release of the hostages being held in Gaza said that the number of those who may be released tonight is expected to be relatively low compared to The New York Times' report, which suggested 50 people.

The source added that the claim that there were 50 hostages did not come up in discussions currently underway between the parties.

Israeli army: We assassinated five Hamas air force commanders since start of war

The Israeli army has assassinated five commanders in Hamas' air force since the start of the war, military spokesman Daniel Hagari said.

According to him, the air force played a crucial role in the deadly Hamas attack on October 7. Hagari added that the Israeli army is continuing to attack in Gaza, focusing on the neighborhoods that surround Gaza City.

The army is continuing to do "everything we can to bring the hostages home,"Hagari said, adding that it is conducting "civilian, operational and intelligence efforts around the clock."

Hamas considering releasing civilian hostages in exchange for fuel, source party to negotiations says

A source familiar with hostage release negotiations said that it is possible that Hamas may release the hostages on Monday, but clarified that this has not been determined.

International Committee of Red Cross: Our teams are supporting the water shortage

The International Committee of the Red Cross called the damage to Gaza's essential infrastructure "devastating" – impacting drinking water, water treatment plants, wastewater systems and hospitals.

"Our teams are supporting the water shortage and critical needs," it said, noting its efforts to set up water storage tanks, deliver fuel to the water sector and install batteries to keep water pumping stations working.

Almost 20,000 displaced in Lebanon as clashes on Israel border escalate

Almost 20,000 people have been internally displaced in south Lebanon and elsewhere since early October, a UN agency said on Monday, as violence escalates on the Lebanese-Israeli border following the eruption of the Gaza war.

The International Organization for Migration said 19,646 people had been displaced inside Lebanon since it began tracking movements on Oct. 8, the day after an assault on Israel by Hamas militants and an Israeli counteroffensive on Gaza.

It said the movements were mostly by those fleeing the south of Lebanon, while some people have also moved from other areas.

Israeli authorities have also been evacuating dozens of towns and communities from the north of Israel.

Lebanon's heavily armed Hezbollah group and Israel have been exchanging fire on an increasingly frequent basis along the border in the worst escalation since the two sides fought a war in 2006.

Hezbollah says 27 of its fighters have been killed in the clashes since Oct. 7, while Lebanese security sources say 11 fighters from Palestinian groups in Lebanon, which are allied to Hezbollah, have also died.

Israel's military says seven troops have been killed along the frontier area.

U.S. Ambassador to Lebanon Dorothy Shea criticizes Iran, Hezbollah, Hamas for threatening to 'drag Lebanon into a new war'

Dorothy Shea, U.S. ambassador to Lebanon, and Amos Hochstein, U.S. senior advisor for energy security, are pictured during their meeting with Lebanon's caretaker Prime Minister Najib Mikati, in Beirut, August 30, 2023.Credit: Mohamed Azakir/Reuters

U.S. Ambassador to Lebanon Dorothy Shea criticized Iran, Hezbollah and Hamas for threatening to "drag Lebanon into a new war."

"We continue to renounce any attempts to shape the region’s future through intimidation, violence and terrorism," she said while commemorating the 40th anniversary of the Beirut barracks bombing.

She further decried those who "who falsely paint themselves as a noble 'resistance,' and who most certainly do not represent the aspirations – or the values – of the Palestinian people, while they try to rob Lebanon and its people of their bright future."

U.S. National Security Council spokesperson Kirby: Israel responsible for military campaign in Gaza

U.S. National Security Council spokesperson John Kirby reiterated the administration's public position that Israel, not the U.S., will be responsible for determining how it will conduct its military campaign in Gaza.

His comments, made both during a press briefing and a CNN interview, come after it was widely reported, including in Haaretz, that U.S. officials are pushing Israel to hold on its ground invasion before international partners (Qatar, in particular) exhaust all diplomatic efforts to secure the release of hostages.

Kirby's remarks come as the administration continues to utilize its strategy of leveraging its public support into more nuanced conversations with Israel on its strategy behind the scenes.

Representatives of hostage families to join Foreign Minister Eli Cohen at UN

Israeli Foreign Minister Eli Cohen will be joined by representatives of families of individuals abducted by Hamas at the UN Security Council in New York, where he is set to speak with other foreign ministers regarding the Israel-Hamas war.

Cohen will "hold meetings and public events to raise international awareness of their unbearable situation, and to strengthen the call for the immediate release of all the hostages held by the terrorist organizations in the Gaza Strip," according to a statement from his ministry.

Israeli defense minister: We are preparing for next stage of war, it will be a deadly and multipronged attack

Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant.Credit: Ariel Hermoni/Defense Ministry

Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant said that the army "is thoroughly preparing for the next stage [of war], which will be a deadly, multipronged attack – by air, sea and land," in reference to the planned ground operation in Gaza.

IDF to Israeli gov't: Gaza ground invasion necessary, even at cost of casualties

IDF officials believe there should be a ground operation within the Gaza Strip, in order to achieve the goals of the war set by the government - even at the expense of losing many soldiers. The government has ordered the IDF to destroy Hamas’s military and governmental capabilities and to create a new security reality in Gaza.

Israeli Foreign Minister Cohen to address UN security council on Tuesday

Israeli Foreign Minister Eli Cohen will leave for New York on Monday evening. On Tuesday, he is scheduled to address the United Nations Security Council.

Report: 50 dual nationals kidnapped by Hamas could be released

Quoting a senior source in the Israeli army, the New York Times reported Monday that U.S.-Qatar mediation could lead to Hamas releasing roughly 50 people kidnapped from Israel on October 7.

According to the report, those who may be released from Hamas are dual nationals.

ZOOM WITH HAARETZ: Biden, U.S. Jews and the Israel-Gaza War

Haaretz subscribers are invited to join senior correspondent Judy Maltz, U.S. correspondent Ben Samuels and Haaretz English editor-in-chief Esther Solomon at 8pm Israel / 6pm London / 1pm Eastern as they discuss Biden's efforts to provide Israel with diplomatic, military and tactical support following the Hamas attack.

Judy, Ben and Esther will also discuss the implications in America, where the U.S. Jewish community faces growing concerns about new threats stemming from the Gaza war compounding the already unprecedented rise in antisemitism.

Bring your questions, as we'll save time for a live Q&A with subscribers.

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Israeli army attacked two squads that tried to launch anti-tank missiles into Israel from Lebanon

The Israeli army struck two squads that tried to launch anti-tank missiles from Lebanon to Israel, according to the military.

The army said that drones struck the units, which were identified in the area of Mount Dov and Matat on the Lebanese border.

According to the army's announcement, the military is now attacking with cannons in retaliation.

Home Front Command: Educational institutions in Golan Heights may hold activities if near protected space

Educational institutions in the Golan Heights will be allowed to resume educational activities provided that there is a protected space that can be reached in the time allotted, according to Israel's Home Front Command.

Netanyahu in statement with defense minister, army chief: Working 'in close and full cooperation'

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu visiting Israeli troops in the north.Credit: Amos Ben Gershom / GPO

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Defense Minister Yoav Gallant and IDF Chief of Staff Herzl Halevi said in a joint statement that they are working "in close and full cooperation," calling on media outlets that report otherwise to "avoid false publications."

According to the statement, there is "full and mutual trust and a clear unity of purpose" between the three.

U.S. troops in Syria attacked by drones, no injuries reported

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.

U.K. PM Sunak: Al-Ahli Hospital blast likely caused by missile from Gaza; says will provide additional 20 million pounds in aid to Gazans

The explosion at Al-Ahli Hospital in Gaza City on Tuesday was most likely caused by a missile fired from within Gaza, British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said on Monday.

"On the basis of the deep knowledge and analysis of our intelligence and weapons experts, the British government judges that the explosion was likely caused by a missile, or part of one, that was launched from within Gaza towards Israel," Sunak said.

Sunak also pledged that the government would provide an additional 20 million pounds ($24.4 million) of support to Palestinians in Gaza.

RECAP: Two wounded by rocket fire in northern Israel as IDF intercept drones from Lebanon; UN warns of spread of disease in Gaza

Israeli troops on the northern border, last week.Credit: Hadas Parush

Here’s what you need to know well into day 17 of the Israel-Hamas war:

■Tensions on the northern border continued to rise with rocket fire from Lebanon toward the northern Israeli city of Kiryat Shmona, which lightly wounded two. Earlier, the Israeli army intercepted two drones that entered Israeli airspace from the sea in the country's north.

■Rocket fire from Gaza towards Israeli cities and towns persisted, with sirens sounding in communities near the border on Monday afternoon. Two drones from Gaza entered Israeli airspace and were intercepted by a military helicopter and an air defense system.

■According to the Hamas-controlled health ministry in Gaza, 5,182 Palestinians in both Gaza and the West Bank have been killed since the start of the war.

■A United Nations human rights expert urged any lawyer advising the Israeli military to refuse to grant legal authorization to actions that violate international law. Also on Monday, the UN's humanitarian office warned that Gazans have been suffering an increase in incidence of diseases like chicken pox, scabies and diarrhea due to poor sanitation conditions and consumption of water from agricultural wells.

IDF returns fire at forces who attacked Israeli military post on Lebanon border that set off siren

IDF tank on border with Lebanon on Monday.Credit: Fadi Amun

Defense Ministry: Law regarding compensation for families of fallen soldiers also applies to same-sex couples

Defense Minister Yoav Gallant clarified that his office applies the law for families of soldiers who were killed during the recent war with Hamas also to same-sex couples. The law defines who is considered a fallen soldier killed in combat and which family members are entitled to compensation and rehabilitation.

According to Gallant's statement, every request for recognition as a whole family is examined on its merits in accordance with the conditions in the law on publicly known couples, "and regardless of sexual identity or of the family member applying for recognition according to this law," the statement read.

Pro-Palestinian activists occupy international court entry, demanding action against Netanyahu

Activists hold up a banner denouncing Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for Israel’s actions during the war with Hamas as they demonstrate at the entrance of the International Criminal Court in The Hague, Netherlands on Monday.Credit: Aleks Furtula/AP

Dutch authorities detained 19 activists who occupied the entrance to the International Criminal Court on Monday, denouncing Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for Israel’s actions during the war with Hamas.

Activists from the Extinction Rebellion group took over a bridge in front of The Hague-based court just after noon, carrying a banner that read “Netanyahu is a war criminal.” The Dutch branch of the activist group, which was originally set up to campaign against climate change, has staged several other pro-Palestinian actions since Hamas attacked Israel on Oct. 7.

“The demonstration did not cause any disturbance to the ICC normal activities. The situation was addressed by the ICC security with the police,” said ICC spokesperson Sonia Robla.
After police released the 19 following their brief detention, they joined a small pro-Palestinian protest outside the ICC’s grounds.

The demonstration took place as Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte arrived in the Middle East to meet with both Netanyahu and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas.

Rocket sirens sound in northern Israel

Rocket sirens sounded in the city of Kiryat Shmona, near the border with Lebanon.

Sderot Municipality: Three rocket hits were detected, including to house and building

Rocket strike on building in Sderot on Monday.Credit: Sderot Municipality

Three rocket hits were detected in Sderot in southern Israel, including two in a house and a building, the municipality said.

It added that a rocket also hit the parking lot of a building in the city, and that there were no casualties in any of the incidents.

UN advises IDF lawyers to refuse greenlighting actions that violate international law

UN human rights experts urged any lawyer advising the Israeli military to refuse to give legal authorization for actions that violate international law.

“As Israel responds to Hamas and conducts operations in Gaza, all lawyers advising the military must identify and seek to prevent actions that may amount to war crimes. They have a professional duty to deny legal authorization for criminal acts,” said Special Rapporteur on the independence of judges and lawyers Margaret Satterthwaite, and Special Rapporteur on the promotion and protection of human rights and fundamental freedoms while countering terrorism Fionnuala Ní Aoláin.

The Experts are part of what is known as the Special Procedures of the Human Rights Council, an independent body within the UN Human Rights system that is not technically UN salaried staff.

IDF attacks unit planning to launch rockets from Lebanon

An Israeli drone attacked a unit that planned on launching rockets from Lebanon into Israel, the IDF stated. The army added that the unit was detected in the Mount Dov area.

IDF intercepts two drones from Lebanon that penetrated Israeli airspace

IDF forces near Lebanon on Monday.Credit: Jalaa Marey / AFP

The IDF has confirmed that two drones from Lebanon entered northern Israel from the sea and were intercepted by air defense systems.

Increase of diseases in Gaza due to poor sanitation conditions, UN agency says

Palestinians in Gaza are suffering from increased incidences of diseases such as chicken pox, scabies and diarrhea due to poor sanitation conditions and consumption of water from agricultural wells, according to the UN's humanitarian office.

"People are consuming saline water with over 3,000 milligrams per liter of salt content from agricultural wells," the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs said, warning it further increases the risk of cholera.

"The incidence of such diseases is expected to rise unless water and sanitation facilities are provided with electricity or fuel to resume operations," OHCA added.

Two drones from Gaza that entered Israeli airspace were intercepted

Two drones from Gaza entered Israeli airspace near the towns of Nir Oz and Ein Habsor and were intercepted by a military helicopter and an air defense system.

Palestinian Health Ministry: 5,087 Palestinians have been killed in Gaza since the beginning of the war

Palestinian Health Ministry claims that since the beginning of the war between Hamas and Israel, 5,087 Palestinians have been killed in the Gaza Strip, and 95 in the West Bank totaling of 5,182 Palestinians.

Sirens sound near the northern Israeli city of Acre

Alarms were activated in kibbutz Ein HaMifratz and Kfar Masaryk, which are located south of Acre in northern Israel. Residents reported hearing explosions. An IDF spokesman said that the details are being investigated.

U.S. marks 40 years since 1983 barracks bombing attack in Beirut

The U.S. Embassy in Beirut marked the 40-year anniversary of the 1983 barracks bombing attack, which killed 307 people (including 241 U.S. citizens, 220 of whom were marines.)

The anniversary is all the more front-of-mind as the U.S. braces for "significant" escalation across the Middle East and U.S. military continues to bolster its presence as the threat of a second front with Hezbollah looms.

New York cultural center cancels event for Pulitzer Prize winner who claimed Israel committed 'grave crimes against humanity'

92Y, a renowned cultural center in New York, cancelled an event with Pulitzer Prize-winning novelist Viet Thanh Nguyen after he signed an open letter criticizing Israel of committing “grave crimes against humanity. And Its allies, our own governments, are complicit in these crimes.”

“The Israeli government and its supporters have sought to shut down any protest of Israel, including nonviolent ones like BDS., which helps lead to the current situation where some can only see violence as a solution,” he posted on Instagram following the cancellation. “Even literature and the arts from Palestinians or sympathetic to them are being silenced.”

“We are a Jewish institution that has always welcomed people with diverse viewpoints to our stage,” 92Y said in a statement reported by the New York Times. “The brutal Oct. 7 attack by Hamas on Israel and the continued holding of hostages, including senior citizens and young children, has absolutely devastated the community. Given the public comments by the invited author on Israel and this moment, we felt the responsible course of action was to postpone the event while we take some time to determine how best to use our platform and support the entire 92NY community.”

Coalition Chairman Ofir Katz: We will no longer approve the transfer of coalition funds that do not pertain to the war

The chairman of the ruling coalition, Ofir Katz, announced in the Knesset's Finance Committee that from now on, the transfer of coalition funds that do not relate to aiding the war or the ongoing activities of the ministries will no longer be approved.

It was also reported that coalition funds that are not immediately needed will be transferred to municipalities that have evacuated their residents amounting to around 23 million shekels (5.6 million dollars).

Finance Minister Smotrich: 'All the budgetary priorities are changing in favor of the war'

Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich said at a meeting of his Religious Zionist Knesset faction that "The wallet is open to any need and any move necessary for the victory of the front and the rear. In relation to reports on the war's budgetary sources and the coalition funds, I say unequivocally that all the budgetary priorities are changing in favor of the war."

"We have one mandate, and it is victory. The unequivocal destruction of Hamas and the other terrorist organizations," Smotrich said. "We are fortifying the country's second line of defense, the home front," and defined the discussions in the expanded cabinet as "businesslike."

Smotrich also said that "every resident of Gaza-border communities and Ashkelon will receive full reimbursement for direct damage and indirect damage. But we do not want the processes to be delayed, therefore we are transferring an advance payment to the families whose homes were damaged in the settlements of the [southern border], Ashkelon and the northern communities."

RECAP: What you need to know - day 17

Israel’s war against Hamas has entered its seventeenth day, two weeks after Hamas killed at least 1,300 Israelis and wounded more than 3,300 in a merciless assault. In the Gaza Strip, the Hamas-controlled health ministry reports that at least 4,380 Palestinians have been killed. Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad are holding hostage more than 210 soldiers and civilians, including foreign nationals. Late Friday, two hostages, American citizens, were released.

Hamas rocket fire at Israel, and Israeli airstrikes on Gaza, continue. As Israeli forces prepare for an imminent ground offensive in Gaza and America mobilizes more forces to the area to deter Hezbollah and Iran, tensions are ratcheting up in the Middle East, with senior U.S. officials warning of a possible regional escalation. Meanwhile, a third convoy of humanitarian aid crossed into Gaza via the Rafah crossing with Egypt.

Here’s what you need to know 17 days into the war.

What happened today:

■ The IDF said that it has attacked more than 320 Hamas targets throughout the Gaza Strip overnight.

■ Tension continues in Israel's north as the IDF shot down a drone approaching from Lebanon.

■ The IDF confirms 222 hostages held by Hamas in the Strip, including foreign nationals.

■ The New York Times reported that the United States has advised Israel to suspend its incursion into the Gaza Strip to allow hostage negotiations to continue and to enable more aid to reach the Palestinians inside the Strip.

■ The security situation in the West Bank continues to escalate as Palestinian Health Ministry reported of two Palestinians killed and four wounded by IDF fire in the Jalazone refugee camp.

■ The EU foreign policy chief Borrell joined calls on Monday for a pause in the conflict and to let more aid supplies into Gaza.

■ A third convoy of aid trucks entered the Rafah crossing from Egypt bound for the besieged Gaza Strip.

■ The Qatari Al-Araby Al-Jadeed news website reports that Egypt has proposed to set up refugee camps for Gazans who fled from the Strip's northern regions.

■ Israeli hospital asks public for financial donations without Health Ministry's knowledge.

■ Knesset bill to postpone municipal elections by three months approved for second and third reading.

Sirens sound in Gaza-border community

Sirens sound in the Gaza-border community of Ein Habsor for an "infiltration of hostile aerial vehicle."

Sirens sound in Gaza-border community

Sirens sound in kibbutz Nir Oz alerting residents of an "infiltration of hostile aerial vehicle."

EU continues talks on humanitarian ceasefire in Israel-Hamas war

EU countries are still discussing the idea of a humanitarian ceasefire in the war between Israel and Hamas but there are different ways to get much-needed aid to Palestinians in Gaza, Swedish foreign minister Tobias Billstrom said on Monday.

"The discussions are ongoing, but the question really isn't about a ceasefire, but about how to bring aid forward and that can be done in very many different ways," he told reporters after a meeting of EU foreign ministers in Luxembourg.

He said Sweden preferred a UN proposal for a humanitarian corridor.

Earlier on Monday, EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell voiced support for a "humanitarian pause" but some of the bloc's foreign ministers expressed reservations about the idea.

Two Jerusalem luxury hotels refuse to house Israelis struck by Hamas

Citizens being evacuated from the southern city of Sderot, last week.Credit: Tomer Appelbaum

The millionaire owner of a pair of luxurious five-star hotels in Jerusalem is coming under fire for refusing to welcome evacuees from Israel’s embattled southern and northern regions in the many rooms at his disposal.

Alfred Akirov has refused to open the doors of the two hotels he owns in Jerusalem, the Mamilla and David Citadel, to the thousands of Israeli families displaced by the war; his explanation: lack of manpower.

"Due to the security situation, we unfortunately do not have the number of employees needed to enable operation of the hotels in Jerusalem," read a statement by Akirov’s company, the Alrov Real Estate and Hotels Company. He has, however, refused help from the Tourism Ministry which has offered him help in recruiting employees.

Read the full story

Despite repeated warnings, Israeli army neglected malfunctioning observation balloons on Gaza border

An IDF observation balloon in the Gaza Strip, in 2009.Credit: REUTERS

IDF spotters and commanders in the border units monitoring observation balloons along the Gaza perimeter have repeatedly warned over the past year that the system was dangerously neglected.

Hamas understood that a successful incursion into Israel depended on being able to quickly destroy the army's monitoring capabilities, leaving the IDF unable to see exactly what was happening at the border at the time of the attack.

However, the IDF's Gaza Division and Southern Command ignored their warnings, saying that the high-tech border fence and advanced drones had made the balloons superfluous.

Read the full story

Gaza Health Ministry: 436 Palestinians killed in Gaza over past 24 hours, including 182 children

Part of the damage on al Rashid main Street caused by Israeli bombardment on Gaza City on Monday.Credit: Abed Khaled/AP

Netanyahu meets with Greek PM in Jerusalem

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis in Jerusalem on Monday.Credit: Kobi Gideon / GPO

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu met with Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis at his office in Jerusalem. Netanyahu said that this is a struggle of "civilization against barbarism," and added that "we must all unite against Hamas, which is actually ISIS."

Mitsotakis replied that "what happened was truly terrible. From the first moment, Greece defended and supported Israel's right to self-defense in accordance with international law, and we make a very clear distinction between Hamas and the Palestinian people."

'Relied too heavily on Hamas claims:' New York Times publishes correction over coverage of Gaza hospital blast

The New York Times published an editor's note saying it relied too heavily on claims by Hamas when it reported on the explosion at the Al-Ahli Hospital leaving readers with an incorrect impression and credibility of events.

The newspaper's note said that despite "The early versions of the coverage — and the prominence it received in a headline, news alert and social media channels," they had "relied too heavily on claims by Hamas, and did not make clear that those claims could not immediately be verified."

"The report left readers with an incorrect impression about what was known and how credible the account was," the note read, adding that "Times editors should have taken more care with the initial presentation, and been more explicit about what information could be verified."

U.S. pressure or Israeli preparations? Ambiguity shrouds over delay of Gaza ground invasion

U.S. President Joe Biden, left, with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in Tel Aviv on Wednesday.Credit: Miriam Alster /AP

The reason for the delay in Israel's ground invasion of Gaza is unclear, with uncertainty surrounding whether it's due to Israeli preparations or U.S. pressure. Reports emerged on Monday indicating that the U.S. advised the postponement to aid in the release of hostages.

On the political level, Israel is maintaining ambiguity, as no one in Jerusalem wants to be seen as the one holding back military operations due to U.S. pressure. On the other hand, reports from anonymous sources about such pressure deflects attention away from the fact that in Israel, too, not everyone is convinced that an immediate land invasion is the right step to be taking.

In the last few days, diplomatic sources have made it clear that the hostage issue, as well as the question of the army’s readiness, has influenced decision-making. Israel’s leadership wants to be seen as acting independently. Apart from Biden and his staff taking responsibility for the humanitarian aid entering Gaza, Israel has not publicly attributed any of its decisions to American pressure.

During internal deliberations over recent days in several forums, many have expressed concern that the cost of a ground incursion will exceed any benefits. Instead, they are urging more airstrikes with the aim of exhausting Hamas.

The CNN network reported Sunday night that Washington is exerting pressure on Israel to delay the invasion due to the progress being made in negotiations to free hostages. An Israeli diplomatic source denied the report, saying, “There’s no American pressure, just American backing.” Asked over the weekend if he was encouraging Israel to delay its invasion. U.S. President Joe Biden answered, “Talk to Israel.”

Israeli hospital asks public for financial donations without Health Ministry's knowledge

The Barzilai government hospital in the southern city of Ashkelon began publishing huge ads in newspapers last week, asking the public for financial donations. The Health Ministry was unaware of the hospital's fundraising operation, which was not coordinated with them in advance.

Opinion | In Gaza, Israel is racing to the moral abyss

Members of the al-Zanati family killed following an Israeli strike, are taken to a waiting vehicle to be driven to a cemetery in Khan Yunis on October 23, 2023.Credit: MAHMUD HAMS - AFP

Moral corruption is a mechanism that fuels and justifies itself in a cycle that can become endless without powerful and insistent intervention.

For us Israelis, the 75 years of refugee status that we've imposed on millions of Palestinians, the 56 years of occupation that we've imposed on millions more, and the 16 years of siege that we've imposed on the millions of Palestinians in Gaza have eroded our moral principles. They have normalized a situation where there are people worth less. Much less.

Read the full article.

Report: Turkish official denies asking Hamas leader to leave its territory after deadly attack on Israel

The American news website Al-Monitor reported that Turkey asked the head of Hamas' political bureau, Ismail Haniyeh, and other senior members of Hamas to leave its territory after the massacre on Israel's Gaza-border communities. Later in the day, however, it reported that a Turkish official denied the report.

Cleric from East Jerusalem who called on Muslims to join Hamas in fighting charged with treason

The Jerusalem District Attorney's Office filed an indictment against Mustafa Jamal, a cleric serving as a preacher at a mosque in the Issawiya neighborhood of East Jerusalem, for a speech he gave to hundreds of people calling to join Hamas' fight against Israel.

Jamal is charged with revealing that he had decided to commit treason under circumstances involving aiding the enemy during wartime.

According to the indictment, Jamal spoke at the mosque on the war's seventh day, saying that "fighting is a duty for the nation of Islam at this time and for every Muslim who can fight the holy war himself." He then added that "anyone who gives up fighting and jihad at this time is not from the Islamic nation."

Analysis | Israel’s 16-year blockade of Gaza failed. Was it really the only option?

Palestinians and foreigners protest against the Israeli blockade on Gaza, at Erez crossing between Israel and the Gaza Strip in November 2013.Credit: Suhaib Salem / REUTERS

In the wake of the disaster that began with Hamas’ massacres, what does it mean that a policy with such extensive collateral damage to Gaza’s civilians nevertheless failed to stop massive buildup of rockets and weapons for the vast plot involving thousands of people? Does the attack ultimately prove the need for these policies and worse? Or was the blockade fundamentally a misguided approach?

Read the full article.

Hollywood celebrities urge President Biden to work for immediate ceasefire

A group of A-list Hollywood celebrities: actors, writers, directors and musical performers have asked President Joe Biden to “call for an immediate de-escalation and ceasefire in Gaza and Israel before another life is lost,” warning that “history is watching.”

Top names joining the call include actors Cate Blanchett, Joaquin Phoenix, Kristin Stewart, Channing Tatum, Jessica Chastain and Mandy Patinkin. Also on the list of signatories host and comic Jon Stewart, playwright and screenwriter Tony Kushner, directors Adam McKay and Alfonso Cuaron, and singer Dua Lipa

The open letter to Biden from the group “Artists Call for Ceasefire Now” declares that “the devastating loss of lives and unfolding horrors in Israel and Palestine” is “catastrophic” and demands that Biden “facilitate a ceasefire without delay – an end to the bombing of Gaza, and the safe release of hostages.”

The letter also asks Biden to ascertain that humanitarian aid reaches the two million residents of Gaza of which “more than two thirds are refugees and their descendants are being forced to flee their homes.”

The letter noted that “more than 6,000 bombs have been dropped on Gaza in the last 12 days - resulting in one child being killed every 15 minutes.”

The call, the letter said, stems from their belief in “freedom, justice, dignity and peace for all people – and a deep desire to stop more bloodshed. We refuse to tell future generations the story of our silence, that we stood by and did nothing.”

The New York Times: Hamas fails to prove that Israel attacked Gaza hospital

Aftermath of the blast at the Al-Ahli Hospital, last week.Credit: Stringer/Reuters

Nearly a week after accusing Israel of striking the Al Ahli Anglican Hospital in Gaza City and killing hundreds of people, Hamas has yet to provide any evidence linking Israel to the attack.

In response to a New York Times query, Hamas stated that they were unable to locate any ammunition parts at the scene. A senior Hamas member said that the missile that hit the hospital has "dissolved like salt in the water" and vaporized.

In addition, the Palestinian Health Ministry has provided no evidence yet for the claim that 471 people were killed in the hospital.

At a news conference last week, IDF Spokesman Daniel Hagari categorically denied allegations by Hamas that the explosion at the hospital was the result of an Israeli airstrike.

The IDF announced that it had reviewed available data and concluded that it was the result of an Islamic Jihad rocket aimed at Israel that misfired and fell to the ground in Gaza City.

Former Prime Minister Naftali Bennett: 'I too bear responsibility'

Former Prime Minister Naftali Bennet, last year.Credit: Alex Kolomoisky

Former Prime Minister Naftali Bennett said that he also bears responsibility for Hamas' surprise attack on Israel's south.

In an interview to Radio 103FM on Monday, Bennett was asked if he regrets allowing the entry of 18,500 Palestinian workers from the Strip into Israel every day during his tenure as Prime Minister. "Of course, I too bear responsibility," he replied.

"I served as prime minister for about 12 months and acted to delay yet another clash with Hamas, under the premise that we can keep them afraid and deterred," he added.

Third Gaza-bound aid convoy enters Rafah crossing from Egypt

A truck carrying humanitarian aid for the Gaza Strip crosses the Rafah border gate in Rafah, Sunday.Credit: Mohammed Asad /AP

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.

Deliveries of aid through Rafah began on Saturday after wrangling over procedures for inspecting the aid and bombardments on the Gaza side of the border had left relief materials stranded in Egypt.

Gov't to allocates 1 billion shekels to establish Israeli Gaza border communities' reconstruction authority

Kibbutz Be'eri, a Gaza border community, last week.Credit: Nir Keidar

The Israeli government has approved the allocation of one billion shekels to establish a reconstruction authority. This body will focus on rehabilitating the communities surrounding Gaza that were affected by the attacks carried out by Hamas. The allocated funds will be distributed in two phases: the first, totaling 100 million shekels, will come from the 2023 budget, while the second phase will amount to 900 million shekels, sourced from the 2024 budget.

Additionally, the ministers have agreed to allocate 59 million shekels to Ashkelon and Ofakim, where many residents were impacted by the war, and to communities that have provided shelter to residents who were displaced from their homes.

A Qatari report: Egypt offers to set up refugee camps for Palestinians who fled from the northern Gaza Strip

A truck carrying humanitarian aid for the Gaza Strip crosses the Rafah border gate in Rafah, Sunday.Credit: Mohammed Asad /AP

The Qatari Al-Araby Al-Jadeed news website reports that Egypt has proposed to set up refugee camps for Gazans who fled from the Strip's northern regions.

According to the report, the refugee camps will be set up near the Rafah border crossing and will provide humanitarian aid, including the possibility of wounded Gazans to receive treatment in hospitals in Cairo.

Israeli Health Ministry: 295 wounded Israelis, 46 in serious condition

The Israeli Health Ministry says that 295 Israelis, civilians and soldiers, remain admitted in hospitals across the country, with 46 of them in serious condition, 166 in moderate condition and 83 are lightly wounded.

Israeli human rights NGOs ask Supreme Court to axe bill that toughens conditions of Palestinian inmates

The Association for Civil Rights in Israel, the Israeli office of Physicians for Human Rights and The Public Committee Against Torture in Israel have filled a petition to the Supreme Court Monday, asking to axe the bill that allows the state to assign mattresses to security prisoners and detainees on the floor instead of providing beds.

The petition states that preserving the human dignity of the detainees is of high national interest even in times of emergency, and that a time of war cannot be used as a justification for "cruel, inhuman and humiliating punishment".

Passage of the government-sponsored bill would let prisons admit new inmates beyond their legal capacity. The bill gives the national security minister the authority to declare a state of emergency permitting changes to the conditions in which security prisoners are held. It states that inmates will only be assigned to a mattress on the floor if a bed is unavailable, and only for a period that is “as brief as possible.”

The preamble to the bill states that the sharp rise in the number of Palestinians who have been detained since the war with the Gaza Strip began, in prisons that were already nearly full, “has resulted in a significant increase in overcrowding of prisons facilities, in a way that does not allow compliance with the provisions of the law.”

Israeli army: There are 222 hostages held by Hamas, including foreign nationals

IDF Spokesperson Daniel Hagari, last week.Credit: Moti Milrod

In a statement on Monday, IDF Spokesperson Daniel Hagari said that the army can confirm of 222 hostages held by Hamas in the Gaza Strip, including foreign nationals.

The army is in the possession of at least 1,000 bodies of killed Hamas members, Hagari added.

The statement further noted that the IDF has enabled 14 humanitarian aid trucks to enter the Strip in the last days after going through the necessary security checks. The aid did not include fuel and was provided to UNRWA, so it could continue and support the population within the Strip.

Referring to Israel's northern front, Hagari said that in the last 24 hours, the IDF attacked and destroyed 8 anti-tank and rocket Hezbollah squads that attempted to strike Israel.

EU says 'most important thing is for humanitarian support to go into Gaza'

High Representative of the EU for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Josep Borrell in China lat week.Credit: XIAOYU YIN/ REUTERS

European Union foreign policy chief Josep Borrell joined calls on Monday for a pause in the conflict between Israel and Palestinian militants Hamas to let more aid supplies into Gaza.

"Now the most important thing is for humanitarian support to go into Gaza," Borrell told reporters as he arrived for a meeting of EU foreign ministers in Luxembourg.

Borrell said the ministers would discuss the call from U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres for a pause to allow much more humanitarian aid for Palestinian civilians to enter Gaza.

"I cannot anticipate the result of the meeting, but it is certainly something which the ministers will have to discuss … The Secretary-General of the United Nations asked for it very much," Borrell said.

"Personally, I think a humanitarian pause is needed in order to allow humanitarian support to come in and be distributed," he said.

Analysis | Netanyahu wrought carnage on Israel. He should have resigned already

A protest against Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu near his Caesarea residence on Saturday evening, with demonstrators calling for the release of hostages held by Hamas and other terror groups in Gaza.Credit: Rami Shllush

I was one of the very first to publicly call for Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s resignation or ouster in the immediate aftermath of the October 7 tragedy and debacle.

It was the worst day in Israel’s history. It was on his watch. The complacency and incompetence were his. Therefore, he should have resigned.

But I’ve been around these places and these people, and had no illusions that he would actually do so. He just doesn’t have the qualities and character necessary to do the right thing. He lacks the moral compass, honor, core values, working conscience, sound perception of reality, basic understanding of the meaning of “responsibility” and some familiarity with the concept of “accountability.”

Now, it will not be enough for him to utter from the corner of his mouth, his eyes shifting, “I’m responsible.” That would be nothing more than a lame, disingenuous “There, I said it, now leave me alone.”

Read the full analysis here

German interior minister urges quick action on new antisemitism law

Germany's Interior Minister Nancy Faeser attends a press conference at party's headquarters in Berlin, earlier this month.Credit: FABRIZIO BENSCH/ REUTERS

German Interior Minister Nancy Faeser has urged a quick adoption of the Democracy Promotion Act presented by the government, against the backdrop of antisemitic rallies in Germany.

"We therefore need to strengthen the initiatives that protect and support Jews right now. That is why we now need the Democracy Promotion Act, which Family Minister Lisa Paus and I introduced to the Bundestag months ago," Faeser told the newspaper Rheinische Post in remarks published early on Monday.

"The parliamentary deliberations are far advanced, it should now be passed quickly," the Social Democrat (SPD) politician warned. She said that the new law would reliably promote and sustainably strengthen initiatives to combat antisemitism.

The Democracy Promotion Act is intended to provide associations and organizations that work to strengthen democracy and prevent extremism with a better financial basis in the future.

"We cannot lead the fight against antisemitism only with strong security authorities, but we must also strengthen our social forces. We must take away the space for hatred - everywhere, whether in social media, in schools or on the streets," Faeser told the newspaper.

Antisemitism expert Benjamin Steinitz fears a radicalization of pro-Palestinian protests in Germany in view of the ongoing Gaza war.

"In Berlin, in North Rhine-Westphalia, but also in other parts of Germany, the terror of Hamas has been glorified quite openly as legitimate resistance at demonstrations in recent days," the managing director of the Federal Association of Research and Information Centers on antisemitism (Rias) told the newspapers of the Funke Media Group.

National Security Minister Ben-Gvir urges Netanyahu to include in war cabinet ministers who have no 'false premise' concerning Hamas

National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir in the city of Sderot, southern Israel, last week.Credit: Eliyahu Hershkovitz

In a letter to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Monday, National security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir urged the prime minister to include in the limited war cabinet a coalition member who does not take part in the so-called false premise regarding Hamas that led to the war.

"I have accepted your unilateral decision on the formation of the limited [war] cabinet which does not include me," Ben-Gvir wrote. "However, it is not conceivable that all the ministers that attend this cabinet will take part in a [false] premise which claimed for years that Hamas is indeed deterred."

Many killed in Gaza were buried under the rubble. They died slowly and quietly

The Yassin Mosque destroyed after it was hit by an Israeli airstrike at Shati refugee camp in Gaza City, early Monday, Oct. 9, 2023.Credit: Adel Hana /AP

According to Gaza’s Health Ministry, the number of those killed in Israeli bombardments has already passed 4,380, including 1,756 children and 967 women, as of Saturday evening.

Over a thousand people are missing: Most are those the rescue teams failed to extract from under the rubble, and remain beneath them. Some were killed instantly, while others died slowly.

Some are dying as I write these words.

Read the full article.

Analysis | Israeli army awaits order to invade Gaza as Middle East tensions spiral

Israeli soldiers in the border with Lebanon, Sunday.

While Israel continues to prepare for, and delay, a ground operation in the Gaza Strip, the region is buzzing with activity. The United States has increased its military presence in the Middle East; it is now larger than it has been since it formed the coalition to fight ISIS in 2014. At the same time, Iran is activating its militias with redoubled vigor to attack Israeli and American forces, while Hezbollah continues to heat up the Lebanese border.

Read the full article.

IDF: More than 320 Hamas targets were attacked throughout the Gaza Strip overnight

An Israeli Air Force F-15 fighter, on Sunday.Credit: Ilan Assayag

In a joint statement, the IDF Spokesperson unit and the Shin Bet security service have reported that the Israeli forces have attacked more than 320 Hamas targets throughout the Gaza Strip overnight on Monday.

Among the targets were Hamas tunnels, dozens of the organization's headquarters, military compounds and observation posts.

Defense officials fear Netanyahu's appointee on Israeli hostages in Gaza could harm families' trust

Gal Hirsch in 2019.Credit: Meged Gozani

Israeli defense officials are increasingly criticizing Gal Hirsch, selected by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to coordinate the rescue of the Israeli hostages Hamas abducted to the Gaza Strip two weeks ago.

The officials say Hirsch is failing to fulfill his role effectively or contribute anything substantial. They also take issue with his recent conduct on two occasions: his decision to be in the center of the first photo of the first Israelis released from Hamas captivity of two Israelis on Saturday and the tirade he directed at foreign ambassadors last week.

The sources said that while Hirsch should, as Netanyahu’s envoy, set the country’s policy on the hostages and missing, the military’s appointed coordinators – Maj. Gen. (res.) Nitzan Alon and Maj. Gen. (res.) Lior Carmeli – should maintain control of operational decisions. They added that Hirsch makes no real contribution and that his appointment reflects Netanyahu’s skepticism about the appointment of Alon and Carmeli by Chief of Staff Herzl Halevi.

>>> Read the full story here <<<

China says outlook worrisome as conflict spreads in Middle East

Zhai Jun, left, envoy of the Chinese government on the Middle East issue, meets with Russia's Deputy Foreign Minister and Special Presidential Representative for the Middle East and Africa Mikhail Bogdanov in Doha, Qatar, last week.Credit: Embassy of the People's Republic of China in the State of Qatar /AP

China views the situation in Gaza as "very serious" with the risk of a large-scale ground conflict rising and the spread of armed conflicts along neighboring borders, Chinese state media said on Monday, citing the country's Middle East special envoy.

The envoy Zhai Jun, who is visiting the Middle East, said spillover effects in the region and internationally are widening, as conflict along the Israeli-Lebanese and Israeli-Syrian borders spread, "making the outlook worrisome".

Zhai called on the international community to be "highly vigilant in this regard" and to take immediate action urging parties concerned to strictly abide by international humanitarian law and avoid a serious humanitarian disaster while putting in "joint efforts to control the situation".

Zhai also said China is willing to do "whatever is conducive" to promote dialogue, achieve ceasefire and restore peace, as well as to promote the two-state solution and a just and lasting resolution to the conflict, China Central Television said.

Last week, Zhai pinned the cause of the Israel-Gaza crisis on the lack of guarantees for Palestinian rights as he met with his Russian counterpart in Qatar, a go-between in the conflict.

Zhai said China will continue maintaining close communication with the international community, including the Arab countries and will next visit the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Jordan and other countries in the region to further strengthen coordination aimed at ending the crisis.

Prior to his trip, Zhai had phone calls with the foreign ministry heads of the Palestinians, Israel, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Norway, as well as with the special representatives at United Nations and European Union.

China has provided and will continue to provide emergency humanitarian assistance to Palestinians through the UN and via bilateral channels to help alleviate the humanitarian crisis, Zhai added.

Palestinian Health Ministry: two Palestinians killed, four wounded by IDF fire in the West Bank

Israeli soldiers in the West Bank, last year.Credit: Fadi Amun

The Palestinian Health Ministry said Monday that two Palestinians were killed and four were wounded by IDF fire in the Jalazone refugee camp in the central West Bank.

The deceased were identified as 22-year-old Muhammad Aliyan and 20-year-old Muhammad Nahle.

Muhammad Aliyan

Muhammad Nahle

96 Palestinians were killed in the West Bank since the war between Israel and Hamas began on October 7.

The New York Times: United States suggests Israel to suspend Gaza incursion

U.S. President Joe Biden listens as he meets with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in New York, last month.Credit: Susan Walsh/AP Photo

The New York Times reported Sunday that the United States has suggested Israel to suspend its incursion into the Gaza Strip to allow hostage negotiations to continue and to enable more aid to reach the Palestinians inside the Strip.

According to the report, the Biden administration also wishes to prepare for possible Iran-backed groups' military retaliations on U.S. assets in the region which are likely to escalate once Israel's military campaign into Gaza begins.

>>> Read the full report here <<<

Netanyahu is an existential threat to Israel's survival | Opinion

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in Tel Aviv, Israel last Tuesday.Credit: Maya Alleruzzo/Pool via REUTERS

In 2012 Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu presented a cartoon-like drawing of a bomb in an address to the United Nations and marked it on it with a red pen to illustrate when Iran would have enough uranium to create a nuclear bomb that would become existential threat to Israel.

Since corruption charges were filed against him, in January 2020, Netanyahu himself became an existential threat to Israel, pushing towards an equally dangerous red line.

If at first Netanyahu's efforts were to weaken the state institutions in order to sabotage criminal proceedings against him, by January 2023 he moved to dismantle them altogether, reducing them to such a low level of functionality that Israel, in many aspects, began to resemble a failed state.

>>> Read the full article here <<<