It is the fourteenth day of the war between Israel And Hamas. The ground operation in the Gaza Strip is getting closer. “Our armed forces continue to prepare for the next phase of the war, the ‘Timrun’ (editor’s note),” revealed IDF spokesman Daniel Hagari. The regional and international context is becoming increasingly uncertain: yesterday, a US warship in the Red Sea intercepted missiles aimed at Israel from Yemen, while a military base in Iraq where US soldiers were stationed was attacked by dozens of drones. During the Italian Night, US President Joe Biden delivered an important speech to the nation. Biden acknowledged that the ongoing conflict could spread to other parts of the world and linked the conflict in Israel with the war in Ukraine: For the head of the White House, the victory of the allies in these two theaters is of great importance to America crucial importance. The American president also announced a new emergency package for the two countries. Overall they are awarded 100 billion, including 60 in Kiev and 14 in Tel Aviv. In addition, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni will travel to Cairo tomorrow to attend the international peace summit organized in Egypt. Here is the news from today, Friday October 20th.
“Signals of impending attack reached Israel”
More than two hours before the devastating Hamas attack on Saturday morning, October 7, heads of Israel’s security services received “indicator signals” of an impending attack, albeit on a much smaller scale than the one that had taken place. This was announced by the Israeli broadcaster Channel 12. The “concrete” indications, the channel continued, quoting the Times of Israel, point to a likely “battle” that day in which terrorists would have attempted to enter across the border, control one or two communities and/or attempt kidnappings to carry out. The information was discussed during a consultation between senior military officials and the Shin Bet, as well as Defense Forces Chief of Staff Herzi Halevi. However, no alarm was raised. According to the broadcaster, the consultation took place around 4 a.m. The attack began at 6:29 a.m.
Biden: “Israel-Egypt deal, Rafah opens in 24-48 hours”
US President Joe Biden announces that he has reached an agreement with Israel and Egypt to open the Rafah border crossing in the next 24 to 48 hours, when the first 12 aid trucks will arrive in Gaza.
Hamas releases two American hostages
The Palestinian terror group claims to have freed two hostages, a mother and a daughter with American citizenship. This – according to Hamas – should “show the American people how false the statements of Biden and his fascist government are.” Hamas then thanked Qatar for its mediation. Satisfaction from the White House: “Today we secured the release of two Americans taken hostage by Hamas,” who will now soon be with their families, said Joe Biden. “I thank the governments of Qatar and Israel for their partnership in this work,” Biden added, noting that government efforts will continue to secure the release of the other hostages.
Erdogan: “It is genocide in Gaza, Israel is suspending operations”
“I renew our call on the Israeli government not to increase the scope of its attacks on civilians and to immediately stop operations that border on genocide,” Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said of Israeli operations in Gaza. “Instead of correcting its mistakes and acting with the wisdom of a state, Israel behaves like an organization that is often egged on by actors outside the region,” the Turkish president added.
Hamas weapons development chief killed
The Israeli army has killed a senior operative in Hamas’s strategic weapons development unit. This is Mahmoud Sabih, a senior engineer and department head in Hamas’ Projects and Development Department. Its structure would have helped increase Hamas’ war capabilities by sharing information with terrorist organizations in the Middle East. Mahumd Sabih worked particularly on obtaining information for the production of weapons and drones.
UN: “Immediately evacuate schools with Palestinian refugees”
The United Nations Palestinian Refugee Agency (UNRWA) has called for the evacuation of many of its Gaza City schools where Palestinians have sought refuge as it considers the sites “no longer safe” after receiving an Israeli warning. “We have been informed by Israel of the need to evacuate these infrastructures as quickly as possible,” UNRWA said in a statement. “We have done our utmost to protest and reject this decision, but the bottom line is that our infrastructure will no longer be safe from now on.”
The plan to attack Gaza: three phases, then a new regime
One floor below three phases to destroy the terrorist threat. This is how Defense Minister Yoav Gallant described Israel’s strategy for attacking Hamas in the Gaza Strip. It will begin with a “prolonged firefight with a ground maneuver to eliminate Hamas members and faction structures”; A second phase then begins, the so-called “intermediate phase”, which will serve to eliminate the “nests of resistance”. The third and final part ends when we can reflect on “creating one.” new regime “Galant, however, warned that his country did not intend to control people’s lives once the soldiers entered the Gaza Strip.
The Rafah border crossing is still closed
The Rafah crossing It may remain closed for the duration of today. 20 trucks loaded with humanitarian aid are expected to cross the road connecting the southern part of the Gaza Strip with Egypt, but their crossing will most likely be postponed until the weekend. The vehicles carry food, water and medicine, but not fuel, as stipulated in the tripartite agreement between the United States, Egypt and Israel. Egyptian excavators are working on repairing the crossing.
Tajani: “We are working to get the Italians out of Gaza”
The Farnesina is committed to safe evacuation 15 Italians remained in Gaza. This was stated by Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani, who landed in Tunis. “Let’s see when the time will be for the opening of the Rafah border crossing,” commented the Italian Deputy Prime Minister. “We need – added the chairman of Forza Italia – an agreement between Israelis and Egyptians to receive humanitarian aid, there are organizational problems and I hope that we can all work together to also support our 12-15 Italians who are in the Gaza Strip “You could pass through the Rafah border crossing with other Westerners and at the same time provide humanitarian assistance to the civilian population.”
Almost 5,000 injured in Israel
According to the latest data from the Israeli Ministry of Health, the number of injured in Israel following the Hamas attack on October 7th has risen to 4,834. 301 are hospitalized while 48 are in serious condition. Confirmed victims are 1,400.
Rockets from Yemen, Israel ‘ready to protect itself’
“We are ready to protect ourselves from possible attacks Houthis supported by Iran.” This is what Israeli military spokesman Daniel Hagari said about the interception by the United States of some rockets fired against his country by pro-Tehran Yemeni rebels. “Israel – Hagari continued – has some of the best air defense assets in the world and is prepared for threats like this.”
The Israeli army: “The Hamas hostages are alive”
Most of them hostages It is still alive in the hands of Hamas. This was announced by the Israeli army. According to the IDF, about 10 of the seized civilians are over 60 years old, while 20 are children.
Iran’s advance against Israel
“Serious measures” are needed to prevent “the crimes of the Israeli regime” against Palestinian civilians in Gaza, who must be guaranteed humanitarian assistance. This is the message that emerged from the conversation between the Chief of Staff of the Iranian Armed Forces Mohammad Bagheri and Turkish Defense Minister Yashar Güler.
Rockets from Gaza, alarm near Jerusalem
That sounds goodalarm Anti-aircraft fire in the communities of Mefalsim and Nir Am. Hamas has resumed its attacks Rockets from Gaza after an 11-hour “break.” Another terrorist target is Aderet, a nearby agricultural community Jerusalem. Hamas claimed responsibility for the operation in the city, but no warning was issued.
Raid against Hezbollah
The Israeli Air Force bombed the infrastructure of Hezbollah on the border of Lebanon. The Defense Forces (IDF) wrote this on Telegram, specifying that in the attack the military jets eliminated three terrorists who were trying to fire anti-tank missiles against Israel.
About 30 rockets were fired from Lebanon at Mount Dov in northern Israel, near the border. This was reported by Israeli army spokesman Daniel Hagari, citing Israeli media. The IDF responded with artillery fire on Lebanon and “killed a terrorist unit that fired mortars into Israeli territory.”
100 Hamas targets destroyed in Gaza
The Israeli army has done more than attack and destroy 100 goals Links to Hamas in Gaza. One of the victims of the attacks is Amjad Majed Muhammad Abu ‘Odeh of the Palestinian Organization’s naval command. The focus also included a tunnel, weapons depots and operational command centers. Tel Aviv also eliminated a team of rocket launchers.
Israeli soldiers train at a secret military site on the Gaza border.
City on the border with Lebanon evacuated
Theevacuation From Kiryat Shmona, an Israeli city located two kilometers from the border with Lebanon. This is reported by the Israeli Ministry of Defense. About 20,000 people live in Kiryat Shmona. The authorities’ decision was taken as a precautionary measure amid ongoing exchanges of fire between Hezbollah militants and the Tel Aviv defense forces.
18-year-old Palestinian arrested: “He was planning attacks”
The Israeli authorities have arrested an 18-year-old Palestinian resident of Ramallah who was in the country illegally. Tel Aviv accused the young man of stealing a car with intent attack the soldiers stationed at the Hizma checkpoint in the West Bank. The interrogation also revealed that the 18-year-old was a Hamas sympathizer.
The Greek Orthodox Church of San Porfirio was damaged
The Orthodox church in Gaza where displaced Palestinian families sought refuge was bombed, killing at least 18 people. The Israeli army admitted that it had hit “a wall near” the church in an airstrike. And he specifies: “The church was not the target of our raid.” According to the Israeli military, the fighters’ target was a Hamas command and control center, from where rockets and mortars were fired. The Israelis later admitted that a wall of the church collapsed during the bombing. From the Greek Orthodox Patriarchate of Jerusalem comes a condemnation of what is described as an “Israeli bombing of one of our churches in Gaza City.”
United Nations peacekeepers in Lebanon (Unifil) patrol the Lebanese-Israeli border in Odeissa, southern Lebanon.
A US base in Baghdad was attacked that night
The bases Use in Iraq I’m under fire. After yesterday’s foiled attack on the al-Asad compound, Iraqi police reported a new rocket launch against nearby US Army positions Baghdad. “While I have no intention of predicting a possible response to these attacks, I want to say that we will take all necessary measures to protect U.S. and coalition forces from any threat,” Pentagon spokesman Pat Ryder was quoted as saying by Portal .