• It is the fourteenth day of the war: at least 3,785 Palestinians have died, 1,400 Israelis, 203 hostages, according to Tele Aviv army leaders the conflict is shifting to Gaza.
• The winds of war are blowing through the region, on Thursday a US warship fired three Yemeni missiles in the Red Sea: “They were potentially against Israel.”
• The history of the conflict between Palestinians and Israelis explained.
• Yesterday, Biden met Netanyahu in Tel Aviv and said: “It appears that it was not Israel that hit the hospital.”
• What happened to Al-Ahli Hospital in Gaza: the rubble, the fire, the rumors. “A jihadist missile.”
• Why has Israel not yet launched the ground offensive in Gaza?
6:14 a.m. – Israel, raid on Hezbollah infrastructure during the night
The Israeli army “carried out a series of attacks on Hezbollah’s infrastructure, including observation posts,” in response to “all day Hezbollah firing anti-tank missiles across the border,” the Country Defense Forces (IDF) wrote on Telegram and added that “IDF warplanes hit three terrorists who attempted to fire anti-tank missiles into Israel.”
5:06 a.m. – At least 21 journalists have been in offices since the Israel-Hamas war began
At least 21 journalists have been killed since the start of the conflict between Israel and Hamas, the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) announced in a statement published on its website. “As of October 19, at least 21 journalists were among the more than 4,000 dead on both sides since the war began on October 7,” the nonprofit organization writes. Among the 21 journalists confirmed dead were 17 Palestinians, three Israelis and one Lebanese. Eight other journalists were injured and three are missing or imprisoned. The list of killed journalists published by CPJ does not include the journalist who died yesterday in southern Lebanon, near the Blue Line with Israel.
5:04 a.m. – At least two dead in Israeli attack on the Orthodox Church of San Porfirio
At least two people died yesterday in the Israeli bombing of the Greek Orthodox church of San Porfirio in Gaza City’s historic district, Greek newspaper Naftemporiki reports. Local sources fear more casualties, he added, as they speak of dozens of people trapped under the rubble.
3:26 a.m. – Biden will ask Congress for 60 billion for Ukraine and 10 for Israel
(from Viviana Mazza, our New York correspondent) “We are at a global turning point,” Joe Biden said that night in a speech to the nation, his second in the Oval Office of his presidency. He compared Putin to Hamas, saying that despite their differences, both “want to wipe out neighboring democracies.” He drew on scenes from trips to Ukraine and Israel, the first U.S. president since Lincoln to visit a war zone not under direct American control. In an interview in recent days, he reiterated that “America” could “manage both wars.” We have the ability and the obligation. We are a necessary nation” and which must remain “a beacon in the world”: “We cannot allow terrorists and tyrants to win: if they are not stopped, they will cause more destruction”…
2:27 a.m. – Biden: Israel must respect the laws of war
“In Israel, I spoke with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu about the need to act according to the laws of war,” US President Joe Biden said in the Oval Office
2:18 a.m. – Biden: The conflict may spread to other parts of the world
President Joe Biden warned that the Middle East conflict between Israel and Hamas “could spread to other parts of the world, to the Indo-Pacific, to the Middle East, especially the Middle East.” “Iran – he added – supports Hamas and other terrorist groups in the region.” “The United States and its partners in the region – emphasized Biden – are working to build a better future.”
2:14 a.m. – Biden: Israel and Ukraine victories are critical for America
Israel’s victories against Hamas and Ukraine against Russia “are critically important for America.” This is what United States President Joe Biden said in his highly anticipated speech from the Oval Office of the White House on the complicated situation in the Middle East and Ukraine. Hamas like Russian President Vladimir Putin want to destroy “democracies” close to them, Biden added.
1:27 a.m. – Moody’s may downgrade Israel’s rating due to war risks
Moody’s warned that Israel’s A1 rating could be downgraded due to the severity of the military conflict with Hamas. “Israel’s credit profile has proven resilient to previous terrorist attacks and military conflicts,” the ratings agency said. “However, the severity of the current military conflict raises the possibility of more sustained and significant credit impacts.” Moody’s said its review will focus on the duration and extent of the conflict, as well as its impact on Israel’s economy, institutions and public finances. The ratings firm said the review could take longer than the typical three-month period.
01:16 – One: 6 speakers accuse Israel of crimes against humanity in Gaza
Six UN special rapporteurs accuse Israel of committing crimes against humanity in Gaza following a 16-day siege of Gaza, military actions, arrests and killings, saying there is a “risk of genocide” in Palestinian territory. “There is no justification for these crimes and we are appalled by the international community’s inaction in the face of this warmonger,” the U.N. experts said in a statement. They added that Gaza’s population, half of whom are children, have already suffered decades of illegal occupation, endured 16 years of blockade and now face “a total siege coupled with impossible evacuation orders to respect,” in violation of international law violates. The declaration is signed by the United Nations rapporteurs on water and sanitation (Pedro Arrojo), human rights in Palestine (Francesca Albanese), violence against women (Reem Alsalem), rights of displaced people (Paula Gaviria), nutrition (Michael Fakhri) and shelter (Balakrishnan Rajagopal).
00:49 – CNN: The Rafah border crossing will not be open today
The Rafah border crossing will not open today, Friday, to allow a convoy of humanitarian aid from Egypt to enter Gaza, despite the expectations of the President of the United States, Joe Biden. This is reported by CNN, citing “some sources”.
00:27 – Senior Israeli officer: “The offensive in Gaza will be long and intense”
The head of the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) Southern Command said that Israeli forces are completing preparations for a ground invasion of the Gaza Strip. Major General Yaron Finkelman, speaking to troops near the Gaza border, said the expected ground offensive in the Gaza Strip would be “protracted and intense,” writes the Times of Israel. “We will defeat them on their own territory,” he said. “It will be difficult, long and intense.”
00.26 – Bin Salman responds to Sunak: “The attacks against civilians in Gaza are cruel.”
Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman has strongly condemned attacks on civilians in Gaza, calling them “cruel” and warning of “dangerous repercussions” if the conflict escalates. This was reported by Saudi state media with reference to the meeting with British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak. Sunak met bin Salman after a visit to Israel, where he met Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu as part of a meeting tour that is expected to take him to other Middle Eastern countries to ease tensions in the region. Prince Mohammed said: “The kingdom considers attacks on civilians in Gaza as a heinous crime and brutal attack and underlines the need to work to provide them with protection,” the official Saudi Press Agency reported. He also stressed “the need to make every possible effort to reduce the pace of escalation and ensure that violence does not spread, in order to avoid dangerous consequences for security and peace in the region and the world.”