• It is the 27th day of the war: According to Hamas, over 9,000 Palestinians have died; 1,400 of them were Israelis; 242 hostages in Gaza.
• The Israeli army’s announcement: “We are in Gaza City, it is surrounded.”
• Jordan, Bahrain, Chile, Colombia: These are the states that have withdrawn their ambassadors from Israel.
• Words and acronyms for understanding the conflict: the glossary.
• The history of the conflict between Palestinians and Israelis, explained.
6:49 a.m. – Perhaps Israeli defense: heroic nighttime fight in Gaza
“Heroic battle” during the night in the Gaza Strip between the Israeli army and the Palestinians, the Israel Defense Forces say. “They were killed and we continue our operation until victory,” they wrote on Telegram. Last night there were clashes between Israeli soldiers and “some terrorist groups in the Gaza Strip.” Despite “heavy fire” from the “terrorists,” “forces on the ground conducted airstrikes with aircraft and artillery.” The terrorists were killed and the threat to the troops was eliminated,” the IDF writes.
6:43 a.m. – Today the long-awaited speech from Hassan Nasrallah, head of Hezbollah
Lebanese Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah will today break weeks of silence since the outbreak of war between Hamas and Israel in a speech that could have implications for the region as the Gaza conflict rages. Cross-border attacks intensified yesterday as Israel responded with a “major attack” to Hezbollah attacks on 19 Israeli positions. The Lebanese arm of Hamas’s armed wing claimed rockets also hit the Israeli town of Kiryat Shmona, near the border. Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian warned that “the region is like a powder keg” and that “anything is possible” if Israel does not stop attacking Gaza. Nasrallah’s highly anticipated speech will be broadcast on Friday at 3pm (2pm in Italy) at an event to commemorate the fighters killed in Israeli bombings in the southern suburbs of Beirut, Hezbollah’s stronghold. On the Lebanese side, according to an AFP tally, more than 70 people were killed – at least 50 of them Hezbollah fighters, but also other fighters and civilians, including a Portal journalist. According to the army, nine people died on the Israeli side: eight soldiers and one civilian.
2:27 a.m. – US drones fly over Gaza to search for information about the hostages
The US is flying surveillance drones over the Gaza Strip to collect information about hostages held by the Palestinian extremist group Hamas. Two U.S. officials told Portal the drone flights had been underway for over a week.
2:23 a.m. – NBC, Biden administration fears international isolation due to war
Concern about the war waged by Israel is growing within the Biden administration. Several senior officials fear increasing U.S. isolation on the international stage in the wake of Joe Biden’s unconditional support for Israel. NBC reports this, citing some sources who say the possibility that Biden will be tried and found guilty for some of Israel’s military actions is also concerning.
2:01 a.m. – Syria will supply Hezbollah with a Russian missile defense system
Syrian President Bashar al-Assad has agreed to supply the Lebanese group Hezbollah with a Russian-made missile defense system that Moscow has delivered to Damascus for its own defense. This is reported by CNN, citing two sources familiar with US intelligence, according to which the Russian Wagner organization active in Syria will supply the SA-22 surface-to-air missile system. The sources could not say whether the system has already been delivered and how much time remains until delivery. The Wall Street Journal also reported on the Russian group’s role in supplying the SA-22 to Hezbollah, but did not mention the Syrian president.
1:50 a.m. – Two Palestinians are killed in clashes with Israeli forces in Jenin
Two Palestinians were killed in clashes with Israeli forces in Jenin in the northern West Bank. This was announced by the Palestinian Ministry of Health, quoted Haaretz. The ministry also reported four injuries.
01:25 a.m. – Wafa Agency, telephone conversation between Pope Francis and Abu Mazen
Palestinian President Abu Mazen held a telephone conversation with Pope Francis about the latest developments in Palestine. This was reported by the Palestinian news agency Wafa. “During the meeting, President Abu Mazen expressed his appreciation for the role and efforts of Pope Francis in supporting peace initiatives in the region and the world,” Wafa reported. “President Abu Mazen stressed the importance of the Vatican continuing its efforts to ensure an immediate ceasefire against Israeli aggression in Gaza and underscoring the need to spare civilians the horrors of war,” the Palestinian leader stressed also the need to “end settler terrorism against the Palestinian people in the West Bank and East Jerusalem” and reiterated “the clear rejection of the forced relocation of Palestinians from Gaza, the West Bank or Jerusalem.” Abu Mazen then stressed the importance of reaching a “political solution based on international legitimacy in order to achieve the freedom, independence and sovereignty of the Palestinian people.” According to the Palestinian News Agency, Pope Francis “emphasized the importance of achieving peace and ending war in the region and the world, as well as the urgent need to provide timely humanitarian assistance to all.” In conclusion, the Pope expressed “his deep sorrow for the civilian victims and assured that he would remain in touch with the President for further consultations and support.”
00:54 – Daniel Hagari: “Ground forces have completed the encirclement of the city of Gaza”
Daniel Hagari, IDF spokesman, said ground forces had completed the encirclement of the city of Gaza in the Gaza Strip.
00:54 – The US House of Representatives approves 14.5 billion in aid to Israel
The Republican-majority House of Representatives approves the measure providing $14.5 billion in military aid to Israel. The measure must be financed through cuts in other government spending. The green light contradicts the demands of Joe Biden, who linked aid to Israel with aid to Ukraine.
00:18 – Israel withholds tax money intended for Gaza
Israeli security cabinet ministers voted to transfer tax money collected for the Palestinian Authority to Ramallah, but withdrew funds earmarked for the Gaza Strip. This was announced by the Prime Minister’s Office. He added: “Israel is breaking off all contact with Gaza.” According to the Times of Israel, the statement said: “There will be no more Palestinian workers from Gaza and the workers who were in Israel on the day the war broke out will be sent to Gaza to return.”