“Israel, Hamas and the United States are reportedly nearing a tentative agreement to release dozens of women and children hostage in Gaza in exchange for a five-day pause in fighting,” The Washington Post reports, citing some sources the release of the hostages should be imminent. But the White House denies this
IDF, Hamas military infrastructure in residential areas
Israeli army units discovered 35 entrances to military tunnels during searches of Hamas members’ homes in the Sheikh Ajlin and Rimal districts of Gaza City. This was announced by the military spokesman. “The soldiers – he added – found numerous weapons caches and killed terrorists.” In addition, according to the army, a Hamas intelligence base was also discovered. Although Rimal is essentially a residential area, according to the spokesman, various Hamas infrastructure was found there, including positions for launching rockets.
Haniyeh calls for new meeting of Arab and Muslim countries
Hamas political leader Ismail Haniyeh hoped to organize a new meeting between Arab and Muslim countries after the summit held in Riyadh this month. This was reported by the Palestinian Islamist group, recounting a series of phone calls Haniyeh made with regional and international leaders after the evacuation of al-Shifa hospital in Gaza. During his talks, Haniyeh stressed “the need to urgently hold a meeting of the follow-up committee approved by the Arab-Islamic Summit” to “stop the ongoing aggression and break the siege of the Gaza Strip.” The member countries of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) and the Arab League took part in the summit on November 11 in the Saudi capital.
MSF, one of our convoys was hit in Gaza, one dead
The humanitarian organization Doctors Without Borders (MSF) denounced a “deliberate attack” on one of its convoys in Gaza yesterday afternoon, in which one person was killed and one was injured. This is according to a statement from Doctors Without Borders, which does not specify who caused the attack. “A family member of an MSF worker was killed and another injured in an attack on a humanitarian convoy evacuating 137 people trapped for a week due to clashes around the hospital in Al Shifa. Médecins Sans Frontières strongly condemns this deliberate aggression,” we read.
Houthis, we will attack any type of ship associated with Israel
A spokesman for the Iran-aligned Yemeni Houthis Yahya Sarea said on Telegram that the group would “target all ships owned by Israel, operating for Israeli companies or flying the Israeli flag.” This was reported by Haaretz, after which the spokesman made an appeal to all nations to withdraw their citizens working on board each of these ships.
Kiev invaded 8 km from the eastern bank of the Dnipro River
The Ukrainian army claims to have pushed Russian forces back “3 to 8 kilometers” deep from the bridgehead established by Kiev forces on the Russian-occupied eastern bank of the Dnipro River. This is the first declaration of a territorial conquest in this sector since the Ukrainian counteroffensive began last June. Ukrainian Armed Forces spokeswoman Natalia Gumenyuk said this on Ukrainian television, without specifying whether Russian forces have completely withdrawn from the part of the territory where the advance is claimed.
During the night there was an exchange of drones and missiles between Russia and Ukraine
Last night was again marked by mutual drone and missile launches between Russia and Ukraine, most of which were intercepted before they could hit. Kiev – writes the Ucrinform agency – claims to have shot down at least 15 of the 20 Russian “Shahed” kamikaze drones manufactured in Iran. There is no evidence of the five drones that allegedly passed through Ukrainian defenses for the second night in a row of airstrikes. Moscow, in turn, explains through the Ministry of Defense that “an attempt by the Kiev regime to carry out a terrorist attack using a drone against some facilities on the territory of the Russian Federation was foiled” and the drone was shot down in the city of Bogorodsky district, Moscow region.
Zalensky, we have imposed sanctions on 140 companies and individuals
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said in a late-night speech reported on the presidential website that Kiev had imposed targeted sanctions on 40 legal entities and more than 100 individuals “responsible for the abduction and deportation of our children.” as well as against those deemed responsible for helping Russia in its “daily terror” against the Ukrainian people. “We are increasing our state’s pressure on these people. “Each of them must be held accountable for what they did, and we will no longer allow them to have any connection with Ukraine,” Zelensky said. The Ukrainian president also thanked some countries for new support for Kiev’s war effort announced during the week, particularly from Germany, Finland, Lithuania, Estonia, as well as Norway and the United Kingdom from a humanitarian perspective.
Wafa, “15 dead in Israeli attacks” in northern Gaza Strip
The Palestinian agency Wafa reported that “15 Palestinians were killed in an Israeli attack in the Nuseirat and Khan Yunis refugee camps” in the northern Gaza Strip. The agency – quoting its correspondent in the strip – reported that “two houses” were bombed in the two locations – that of Khan Younis near the “Indonesian” hospital – and that the attack also included “a woman” and his son were killed.”
Mortar shells from Lebanon in Upper Galilee, Israel responds
About ten mortar shells were fired this morning from southern Lebanon towards the town of Shlomi in the Upper Galilee, on Israeli territory near the border. The military spokesman said there was no news of casualties or damage. “The army – he added – responded to the fire.” At the same time, the spokesman said, the Israeli Air Force also attacked “Hezbollah infrastructure” in southern Lebanon.
Borrell discussed Gaza with the Arab League
– EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs Josep Borrell discussed with Arab League Secretary-General Ahmed Aboul Gheit the “terrible humanitarian situation in Gaza and the longer-term prospect of peace” in the Middle East: We read it on Borrells X- Twitter account that shows a photo of the two in conversation. “We launched the Peace Day initiative together last September and agreed to relaunch it in light of the new, tragic circumstances. Get to work!” writes in X Borrell, who is on a diplomatic trip to the countries of the region alongside the President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen.
Clashes in West Bank, 2 Palestinians killed
Two Palestinians were killed in clashes with the Israeli army in two different locations in the West Bank. This was reported by the Wafa agency, according to which the first was killed in the Dheisheh refugee camp south of Bethlehem. Wafa identified the Palestinian as Omar Ali Al-Laham, who was “hit by bullets in the head.” The second person killed – also according to Wafa – was in the Jenin refugee camp: Issam Hussein Al-Fayed (46 years old), disabled
Israel, 2 more soldiers killed in Gaza, total 58
The Israeli army has announced the deaths of two more soldiers in combat in the Gaza Strip. This is what the military spokesman said. The total number of soldiers killed since ground operations began in the Gaza Strip now stands at 58.
Iran: “Israel continues to massacre and the world does not react”
“In the shadow of the inertia of the countries of the world and international organizations towards the Israeli genocide in the Gaza Strip and the West Bank, the Zionist regime commits new crimes every day and massacres Palestinians, even in refugee camps,” he explained late in the evening, the Irna agency quoted the spokesman as saying the Iranian Foreign Ministry, Nassar Kanani. Kanani, writes Irna, therefore appealed to the international community to “feel responsible for this problem” and to Islamic countries to take “urgent and preventive” measures against what he described as “blatant genocide and brutal crimes by Israel.” .
USA, still no Israel-Hamas hostage-taking agreement
There is still no agreement between Israel and Hamas over the hostages, but “we continue to work hard to get there.” This is what the White House explains in its commentary on the Washington Post’s indiscretions. The White House has dismissed reports of a U.S.-brokered deal between Israel and Hamas that could lead to the release of dozens of women and children held hostage in Gaza in exchange for a five-day pause in fighting. “We haven’t reached an agreement yet, but we continue to work hard to get there,” White House National Security Council spokeswoman Adrienne Watson said on X.
WP, Israel-Hamas deal, 5 day break for dozens of hostages
Israel, Hamas and the United States are nearing a tentative agreement to release dozens of women and children hostage in Gaza in return for a five-day pause in fighting. This is reported by the Washington Post, citing some sources, according to whom the release of the hostages should begin in the next few days. In the six-page agreement, all sides commit to freezing hostages for at least five days and releasing 50 or more hostages in batches every 24 hours. Air surveillance will monitor movements on the ground.
What happened on November 18, 2023?
Yesterday’s news about the war in the Middle East
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