According to US President Joe Biden, there are also Americans among the people kidnapped by the Islamist Hamas. “We now know that there are American citizens among those detained by Hamas,” Biden said in a speech at the White House on Tuesday. He didn’t give a number.
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He ordered additional experts to be sent from the US. “I have instructed the government to consult with Israeli colleagues and advise them on hostage rescue and rescue efforts,” he said.
The President made it clear that he wanted to provide Israel with additional military aid – he would also request corresponding support from the US Congress. “We must be absolutely clear at this moment: we stand with Israel,” Biden emphasized.
EU payments to Palestinians must continue
According to EU chief diplomat Josep Borrell, the overwhelming majority of EU states reject a temporary freeze on payments to the Palestinian Authority. There are only two or three countries that see things differently, Borrell said on Tuesday night after informal discussions with EU foreign ministers. Therefore, there should only be a review and not a temporary suspension of payments. Borrell did not say which countries were in favor of suspending payments.
Israel’s death toll rises
Meanwhile, the number of deaths in Israel continues to rise. At least 1,008 Israelis have been killed since Saturday, according to the Israeli embassy in the United States. More than 3,418 people were injured.
Ismail Haniya, head of Hamas’s political office, has ruled out the possibility of releasing around 100 to 150 hostages in the Gaza Strip during the ongoing Israeli military offensive. Meanwhile, a spokesman for the al-Qassam Brigades, a Hamas militia, called on the population of the city of Ashkelon to leave their homes.
Hamas attacked Israel with rockets and armed fighters on Saturday, and Israel responded with airstrikes in the Gaza Strip. The Israeli death toll has now risen to more than 1,000, according to the Israeli embassy in the US.
Israeli airstrikes in the Gaza Strip have killed at least 830 Palestinians and injured 4,250 on the Palestinian side since Saturday, the Gaza Strip’s Health Ministry said.
Hamas: No negotiations for now
Furthermore, according to Israeli information, between 100 and 150 people were kidnapped by Hamas fighters in the Gaza Strip. “These hostages must be released,” demanded the spokesman for EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell, Peter Stano, in Brussels.
The head of Hamas’s political office announced that all parties that requested information about the hostages were informed that “this process will not be opened until the end of the fighting”. Furthermore, negotiations would only take place under the condition of “a price that the resistance accepts”.
Warning about Hamas videos of hostages
According to the Foreign Ministry, the hostages could also include three people with dual Austrian and Israeli citizenship. They may be three people who have recently been independently in southern Israel. However, there is currently no official confirmation, the ministry emphasized in the morning.
According to a media report, parents in Israel are being warned about Hamas’ feared videos of kidnapped hostages in the Gaza Strip. CNN referred to the parents’ association of a school in Tel Aviv. For example, they asked parents to remove the TikTok app from their children’s cell phones so they wouldn’t see the hostages “begging for their lives.”
Nehammer: Israel Return Campaign Planned
According to Chancellor Karl Nehammer (ÖVP), a campaign for the Austrians to return is currently being prepared. “Deportation abroad” is currently being prepared; Tomorrow a Federal Army transport plane will be transferred to Cyprus and, after overflight authorizations have been issued, will take off for Israel. Austrians wishing to leave the country would be transported to Cyprus, from where regular flights would continue, Nehammer said.
Around 200 Austrians are currently waiting to leave the crisis zone. You must contact the Austrian embassy in Tel Aviv.
UN: Closure of Gaza violates international law
The United Nations, however, has warned Israel against a complete closure of the Gaza Strip. Israel ordered this in light of Hamas’ devastating attack from the coastal strip, which left around 900 Israelis dead and more than 2,600 injured.
It is prohibited under international humanitarian law to deprive people of what they need to survive, said UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk in Geneva. Israel rejected the criticism. It has the right to defend itself against brutality and only targets terrorist targets in Gaza.
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