Israel Palestine War News: Israel says 203 people were abducted by Hamas
Hours after the first aid trucks arrived from Egypt in war-torn Gaza, the Israeli military announced it was stepping up its bombardment of Hamas-controlled Gaza. In a statement, the military said it aimed to reduce the risks its troops would face as they entered Gaza in the next phase of the war.
Days after being stalled, humanitarian aid from Egypt into war-torn Gaza started passing through the Rafah border crossing today, the news agency AFP reported citing a security source and an Egyptian Red Crescent official. Egyptian state television also showed several trucks entering the gate on the 15th day of the war between Israel and Hamas.
A statement from the Hamas group said that a convoy including 20 aid trucks carrying medicine, medical supplies, and a limited amount of food supplies will enter the Gaza Strip from Egypt.
Earlier on Friday, Hamas fighters released two US citizens among some 200 hostages they took in the October 7 attacks in Israel. Judith Tai Raanan and her daughter Natalie Shoshana Raanan were back in Israel late Friday, the Israeli government said.
The Hamas group also said it was working with Qatar and Egypt to free its "civilian" hostages, in a sign that they would release more people soon.
Israel says 203 people including Israelis, dual nationals, and foreigners were kidnapped by Hamas when they launched the deadliest attacks. At least 1,400 people were killed, mostly civilians, according to the government.
Israel has responded by bombing the Gaza Strip which has left more than 4,100 people dead, mostly civilians, according to the Hamas administration.
Here are the highlights on the Israel-Hamas war:
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Canada Says Last Assisted Departure Flight From Tsrael To Take Place MondayThe Canadian foreign ministry said on Saturday that the last scheduled assisted departure flight from Tel Aviv will take place on Monday, reported Reuters.
Canadian Armed Forces aircraft will remain in the region on stand-by to rapidly respond should conditions change and the demand for assisted departures increase, Canadian Foreign Minister Melanie Joly said in a statement.
Canada has evacuated 1,600 people so far, the statement said, adding that by the end of today, there will have been 17 assisted departure flights out of Tel Aviv over 9 days.
Israel PM Netanyahu Meets Italian Counterpart, Cypriot PresidentAmid the conflict in Gaza and the looming ground assault on the terror group Hamas, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu met his Italian counterpart Giorgia Meloni and Cypriot President Nikos Christodoulides on Saturday, reported ANI.
Calling on the Italian PM, Mr Netanyahu said, "We have to defeat this barbarism," adding that this battle is between the forces of civilization and "really monstrous barbarians who murdered, mutilated, raped, beheaded, and burned innocent people, babies, and grandmothers."
"This is a test, a test of civilization, and we will win. And we expect all the countries that lined up to fight ISIS, to line up and fight Hamas because Hamas is the new ISIS," the Israeli PM's office posted from its handle on social media platform X.
"Islamist Threat Terror Endangers The Whole World": IsraelIsrael's Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) spokesperson, Lior Haiat, said at the Cairo Peace Summit in Egypt that the Islamist terror threat does not only endanger his country but also other states of the region and the whole world.
He stressed that October 7 was a wake-up call to the world to fight terrorism together.
Taking to his official handle on social media platform X, Haiat posted, "It is unfortunate that even when faced with those horrific atrocities, there were some who had difficulty condemning terrorism or acknowledging the danger."
Israel Hospitals Ordered To Disconnect Internet For Fear Of CyberattacksIsrael's Ministry of Health instructed a number of hospitals to temporarily disconnect their systems from the internet amid fears of a cyberattack, the ministry announced on Saturday night.
"In the effort to elevate the economy's resilience, the National Cyber Directorate and the Health Ministry are acting to strengthen hospitals against attacks and are examining every suspicion," the ministry's statement said.
"As part of this effort, we are conducting self-initiated actions such as temporarily severing the internet connection. At this stage, this does not influence the hospitals' ability to function, and patients were treated as usual." (ANI)
"Lighting Up The Light" Campaign In Israel For Early Return Of HostagesAhead of a likely ground offensive against terrorist group Hamas in the Gaza Strip, the Hostages and Missing Families Forum headquarters in Israel on Saturday launched a "Lighting up the Light" campaign for the early return of hostages, reported news agency ANI.
As part of the campaign, the families of the hostages and the missing persons are calling on Israeli citizens to "light up" for five minutes in a show of solidarity and strength for the hostages, at the Museum Tower, 4 Barakovich St. in Tel Aviv.
US Welcomes Aid To Gaza, Urges Parties To Keep Rafah Crossing OpenThe United States on Saturday welcomed the arrival of aid trucks from Egypt in the war-torn Gaza Strip and urged all parties to keep the Rafah crossing open, reported news agency AFP.
"The opening of this essential supply route was the result of days of diplomatic engagement at the highest levels," President Joe Biden said in a statement.
"I made it clear from the outset of this crisis -- in both my public statements and private conversations -- that humanitarian assistance was a critical and urgent need that had to get moving," he said.
Canada To Continue Work With Qatar To Release Hostages Held By HamasCanadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said on Saturday that Canada would continue to work with Qatar to secure the release of hostages held by Hamas, after two American civilians were released a day before, reported news agency Reuters
The Islamist group Hamas released two US hostages on Friday, mother and daughter Judith and Natalie Raanan, who were kidnapped in its attack on southern Israel on October 7.
Mr Trudeau thanked Qatar for its assistance on the hostage release in a post on social media platform X.
Nearly 100,000 In Pro-Palestinian March In London: PolicePolice in London say nearly 100,000 people marched in the British capital in an event organised by pro-Palestinian groups, one of several such protests across Europe, reported news agency AFP
Demonstrators held signs reading "Freedom for Palestine", "Stop Bombing Gaza" and "End Israeli Apartheid". Many waved Palestinian flags and some chanted "5, 6, 7, 8, Israel is a terrorist state" and "Free Palestine".
Since shock Hamas attacks on Israel on October 7, which left 1,400 dead, Israel has launched devastating air and ground bombardments of Gaza. The Hamas authorities say 4,385 people have died.
Hamas Says Israel Declined To Receive Two Hostages It Intended To Release
A spokesman for the armed wing of Hamas said on Saturday the group intended to release two more hostages for "humanitarian reasons", but that Israel had declined to receive them.
UN Aid Chief Says Second Aid Convoy For Gaza Could Lead To Sustained ReliefThe United Nations is hoping a second convoy of trucks will be sent into Gaza on Sunday under a light inspection system that will allow relief deliveries to scale up into next week, its humanitarian chief said.
A first convoy of 20 trucks arrived in Gaza through the Rafah crossing with Egypt on Saturday, but efforts to deliver supplies to the besieged enclave have been held up by Israeli demands to verify aid.
The 20-truck convoy was announced by U.S. President Joe Biden following a trip to Israel on Wednesday and was not subject to an inspection of the kind that officials say will be needed for continuous deliveries.
74 % Of Israeli Civilians Killed In Hamas Attack Have Been IdentifiedAccording to Israeli police, 765 civilians killed by Hamas group on October 7 assault have been identified.
"The 765 victims represent 74 per cent of civilians killed in the fighting whose bodies have been brought for identification," the police statement said, according to news agency ANI.
Around 300 soldiers were also killed defending Israel's southern communities.
Lebanon's Hezbollah Says Fighter Killed In Exchange Of Fire With IsraelA fighter from the Lebanese group Hezbollah was killed along the border with Israel on Saturday, the Iran-backed group said, taking to 14 the number of its members it says have died during two weeks of escalating violence in the frontier region, according to news agency Reuters.
A security source in Lebanon said the fighter was killed in the Lebanese area of Hula, which lies opposite Margaliot on the Israeli side which Israel said was the target of an anti-tank missile attack. The Israeli army said it fired back.
Two Thais Injured In Clashes Along Israel-Lebanon BorderTwo Thai nationals were injured in northern Israel Saturday, medics said, as the country's military and Hezbollah continued to exchange fire following a call to evacuate a nearby city, according to news agency AFP.
Tensions have been mounting across Israel's northern frontier for weeks, as security forces clash with Lebanon's Iran-backed Hezbollah along with allied Palestinian factions, after Hamas gunmen mounted a multi-pronged attack on communities in southern Israel on October 7.
There were at least three separate incidents across the north on Saturday, including a strike near the area of Margaliot along the border with Lebanon, where two Thai nationals were injured, Israel's Magen David Adom emergency medical service said.
About 100,000 Protesters Join Pro-Palestinian March Through LondonAround 100,000 people joines a pro-Palestine march in London on Saturday. They marched through London demanding immedia ceasefire in Gaza.
The protestors chanted "Free Palestine", held banners and waved Palestinian flags while marching through UK's capital before massing through Downing Street.
Switzerland Probing Hamas Financing: Attorney GeneralThe Swiss judiciary is investigating possible financing of Hamas from Switzerland despite the country not classifying the group as a terrorist organisation, its attorney general said Saturday, according to news agency AFP.
The investigation was opened "several weeks" before the October 7 attacks by Hamas on Israel, Stefan Blaettler said, on Swiss public radio station SRF, without revealing further details.
The Attorney General's office later told AFP that the investigation was launched "on suspicion of financing Hamas from Switzerland".
The investigation is expected to be laborious because, unlike the European Union and United States, Switzerland has not placed bans on Hamas.
But since the attack, mounting calls for the Swiss government to take action has prompted it to respond.
Israel Raids Home Of Hamas Deputy Leader In West Bank, Detains FamilyIsraeli troops on Saturday raided the West Bank home of a senior Hamas leader and detained members of his family, witnesses said.
Saleh al-Aruri is the deputy to Hamas' overall leader Ismail Haniyeh and one of the founders of the Islamist group's military wing.
Based in Lebanon, he is a key target for Israel following the October 7 attacks when Hamas group from Gaza entered southern Israel and killed at least 1,400 people, mostly civilians, and seized more than 200 hostages, according to Israeli officials.
Read more. Israel-Hamas War Live Updates:
US welcomes aid to Gaza, urges parties to keep Rafah crossing open: Antony Blinken
Gaza War Death Count Rises To 4,385, Says Hamas Health Ministry: News Agency AFPAt least 4,385 people have been killed in the Gaza Strip since Israel began bombarding the Palestinian enclave, including 1,756 children, the Hamas-controlled health ministry said Saturday.
The ministry said another 13,561 people had been wounded in the Israeli strikes, which began on October 7.
Arab Leaders Demand "Future Of Peace, Security" Amid Israel-Gaza WarArab leaders condemned Israel's two-week-old bombardment of Gaza on Saturday and demanded renewed efforts to reach a Middle East peace settlement to end a decades-long cycle of violence between Israelis and Palestinians.
Speaking at a hastily convened gathering dubbed the Cairo Peace Summit, Jordan's King Abdullah denounced what he termed global silence about Israel's attacks on the enclave and urged an even-handed approach to the Israeli-Palestinian dispute.
"The message the Arab world is hearing is that Palestinian lives matter less than Israeli ones," he said, adding he was outraged and grieved by acts of violence waged against innocent civilians in Gaza, the West Bank and Israel.
Read more. Displacement of Palestinians Would Be A War Crime: Jordan's King Abdullah
In his opening speech at Cairo Peace Summit, Jordan's King Abdullah said that forced or internal displace of Palestinians would be a war crime.
Small Blast Outside Israeli Embassy In Cyprus Overnight, No Damage: News Agency ReutersA small blast occurred overnight outside the Israeli embassy in the Cypriot capital Nicosia, police said. No damage or injuries were reported.
Police said a metal object containing "a small amount of pyrotechnic material" exploded about 30 metres away from a perimeter compound of the embassy, which lies in a heavily populated area of Nicosia.
UN Chief Urges Ceasefire To End Gaza's "Godawful Nightmare"UN Chief Antonio Guterres on Saturday urged for ceasefire in Israel-Hamas war, also demanding global action to end this "godawful nightmare".
UN Chief was addressing a peace summit in Cairo as the war entered third week. He said that Gaza, homne to 2.4 million people was living through ""a humanitarian catastrophe".
This comes hours after a first contingent of aid trucks entered Gaza.
Israel-Hamas War Live Updates: First Aid Trucks Enter Besieged Gaza From EgyptThe first aid trucks arrived in the war-torn Gaza Strip from Egypt on Saturday, AFP journalists said, bringing desperately needed humanitarian relief to the Hamas-controlled Palestinian enclave under Israeli siege.
Israel has vowed to destroy Hamas after the group carried out the deadliest attack in the country's history on October 7.
It launched a military campaign and cut food, water, electricity and fuel supplies to the densely populated and long-blockaded territory of 2.4 million people, sparking fears of a humanitarian catastrophe.
Read more. Arrival Of Gaza Aid Is "Important": German Chancellor Olaf ScholzGerman Chancellor Olaf Scholz today said the arrival of trucks carrying humanitarian aid in Gaza Strip is "good and important" news.
"It is good and important news that the first humanitarian aid is now being delivered to the people in Gaza," he said, adding that Germany would work "through all channels to alleviate the suffering in this conflict."
Gaza Aid Convoy "Must Not Be The Last': UN Humanitarian ChiefThe first convoy carrying aid into the Gaza Strip "must not be the last", the UN humanitarian chief said today.
"I am confident that this delivery will be the start of a sustainable effort to provide essential supplies to the people of Gaza," AFP quoted Martin Griffiths as saying after a convoy of 20 trucks crossed from Egypt into war-torn Gaza.
20 Aid Trucks To Enter Gaza Today: Hamas A convoy including 20 aid trucks will enter the Gaza Strip today from Egypt, a statement from the Hamas group said.
"The relief aid convoy that is supposed to enter today includes 20 trucks that carry medicine, medical supplies, and a limited amount of food supplies (canned goods)," Hamas' media office said.
17 Staff Killed Since Start Of "Vicious" Israel-Hamas War: UN AgencyThe United Nations agency for Palestinian refugees today said that at least 17 of its staff had been killed in the Gaza war.
"To date, 17 of our colleagues have been confirmed killed in this vicious war. Very sadly, the actual numbers are likely to be higher," the UNRWA said in a statement.
Humanitarian Aid Starts Entering Gaza From Egypt
Days after being stalled at the Rafah Border, the humanitarian aid has started entering Gaza from Egypt, the news agency AFP reported citing local media.
Israel-Gaza War, Iran-Palestine War, Hezbollah, Iran: "No World War 3, But...": Eurasia Founder To NDTV On Israel-Gaza CrisisRenowned political scientist and founder of Eurasia Group, Ian Bremmer, today said that the ongoing war between Israel and Gaza is likely to get worse, with the opening of more fronts.
Ian Bremmer told NDTV in an exclusive interview that the war could trigger a wider and more devastating Middle East conflict if Iran gets directly involved in the war
"It is quite possible that Hezbollah which is much more militarily capable and supported by Iran could get directly involved in the fighting," he said.
Biden's Israel Visit Amounted To Approval Of Destruction In Gaza: TurkeyTurkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan said on Friday that a visit by US President Joe Biden to Israel amounted to US approval of the destruction in Gaza.
"Of course, Biden coming there under these circumstances and being in a position, in a way, of approving the destruction in Gaza, is being noted by history," Mr Fidan was quoted as saying by Reuters.
"For many, this is not a surprise, but it creates a perception that may cause many different outcomes for America," he added.
Thousands In Australia Take Part In Pro-Palestinian March Over GazaThousands in Australia today took part in a pro-Palestinian march, demanding an end to Israel's bombardment of Gaza.
In Sydney, around 15,000 people attended the march with demonstrators chanting "Palestine will never die" and waving Palestine flags, the news agency Reuters reported.
Hollywood Stars Urge Biden To Press For Israel, Gaza CeasefireDozens of Hollywood actors and artists, including Oscar-winning actor Joaquin Phoenix, have written to US President Joe Biden, urging him to press for a ceasefire in Israel and Gaza.
"We urge your administration, and all world leaders, to honor all of the lives in the Holy Land and call for and facilitate a ceasefire without delay - an end to the bombing of Gaza, and the safe release of hostages," the celebrities wrote to Mr Biden.
"We refuse to tell future generations the story of our silence, that we stood by and did nothing. As (UN) Emergency Relief Chief Martin Griffiths told UN News, "History is watching"", they said in the letter.
The nearly 60 signatories included Susan Sarandon, Kristen Stewart, Quinta Brunson, Ramy Youssef, Riz Ahmed and Mahershala Ali, among others.
"Humanitarian aid must be allowed to reach them (Gazans)," the letter said.
"Not Giving Up": Israel PM Benjamin Netanyahu After Hamas Releases Two US HostagesIsrael Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has vowed to "fight until victory" in Gaza after Hamas released two US hostages.
"Two of our abductees are at home. We are not giving up on the effort to return all abducted and missing people," he said in a statement released late Friday night.
"At the same time, we'll continue to fight until victory," he added.
Israel Not Behind Gaza Hospital Strike: French Military IntelligenceThe French military intelligence directorate (DRM) on Friday said that the blast at a Gaza hospital was not the result of an Israeli missile strike, but likely caused by a misfiring Palestinian rocket, .
"There is nothing that allows us to say that it is an Israeli strike, but the most likely (scenario) is a Palestinian rocket that had a firing incident," the DRM said.
According to the DRM, the impact crater was too small to have been caused by an Israeli missile.
"The most likely hypothesis is a Palestinian rocket, which exploded with a charge of about 5 kilos," the DRM told reporters, adding that Palestinian groups had small-calibre rockets with that sort of explosive charge.
Palestinian officials said 471 people were killed in the blast at Al-Ahli al-Arabi Hospital on Tuesday.
Gaza's health ministry has blamed an Israeli air strike, while Israel said the blast was caused by a failed rocket launch by terrorists.
Hamas Attacked Israel To Derail Its Warming Ties With Saudis: Joe BidenUS President Joe Biden on Friday said that he believes Hamas' attack on Israel was aimed at disrupting warming ties between the country and Saudi Arabia.
"One of the reasons why they acted like they did ... why Hamas moved on Israel ... (was) because they knew I was about to sit down with the Saudis," he told guests at a campaign fundraiser.
"The Saudis wanted to recognize Israel... unite the Middle East," he said.
Former US Representative Says Relatives Killed In Gaza Church Air StrikeFormer US Representative Justin Amash on Friday said that several of his relatives had been killed when a Greek Orthodox church in the Gaza Strip was hit by an Israeli air strike.
"Our family is hurting badly," he wrote on X, formerly Twitter.
"May God watch over all Christians in Gaza - and all Israelis and Palestinians who are suffering, whatever their religion or creed," he added.
Palestinian officials said at least 500 Muslims and Christians had taken shelter from Israeli bombardments in the Greek Orthodox Church of St Porphyrius.
The Hamas-run government's health ministry claimed 16 were killed.
Biden Speaks To Netanyahu, Discusses War, Humanitarian Aid Into Gaza, Release Of HostagesPresident Joe Biden on Friday spoke to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and reaffirmed US support for Israel's defense.
During his phone call, Mr Biden said he also underscored the importance of operating consistent with the law of war, discussed moving humanitarian aid into Gaza, and ongoing efforts to secure the release of hostages taken by Hamas.
Joe Biden "Overjoyed" After Hamas Releases Two US HostagesUS President Joe Biden has said he was "overjoyed" after Hamas released two American hostages. He also spoke by phone to the two women after they were freed.
"Today, we have secured the release of two Americans taken hostage by Hamas during the horrific terrorist assault against Israel on October 7," Mr Biden said in a statement.
Israel-Hamas War Live Updates: Hamas Likely To Release More Hostages SoonHamas group has said it was working with Qatar and Egypt to free its "civilian" hostages, in a sign that they would release more people soon.
According to Israel, 203 people including Israelis, dual nationals and foreigners were kidnapped by Hamas when they launched the deadliest attacks on October 7.
Israel-Hamas War Live News Updates: Hamas Frees Two US HostagesHamas has released two US citizens among some 200 hostages they took in October 7 attacks in Israel. Judith Tai Raanan and her daughter Natalie Shoshana Raanan were back in Israel late Friday, the Israeli government said.
They were met at the Gaza border by an Israeli envoy and taken to a military base in central Israel.