• It is the 70th day of the war: According to Hamas, over 18,800 Palestinians have been killed, including 7,112 children. In Israel, 1,200 people died in the attack on October 7th.
• IDF: “Three hostages accidentally killed in fighting in Gaza.”
• Two cargo ships were attacked in the Red Sea by Houthi rebels in Yemen.
• The words and acronyms to understand the conflict: Here is the glossary.
• The history of the conflict between Palestinians and Israelis, explained here.
9:56 a.m. – Israel: “Operations in Gaza City and Jabalaya continue”
According to the army itself, the Israeli army's operations in the Gaza Strip, including Gaza City and Jabalya, continue and details of the operations carried out yesterday have been announced. In particular, the IDF announces that following information that “Hamas terrorists were hiding in schools, IDF forces carried out a targeted raid yesterday in Al-Mu'tasim Bi'llah and Al-Farabi schools, in where Hamas terrorists were hiding.” in the Rimal district of Gaza City.” He then explains that the Israeli military “killed the terrorists in the fighting in the area and other terrorists who were hiding in the schools were turned in and arrested.” Also yesterday The IDF announced that it had “carried out targeted raids on the operational complexes in Khan Yunis, where numerous terrorist-used weapons and underground infrastructure were located,” particularly in Jabalya.
9:38 a.m. – The Israeli army: “Hamas members hiding in Gaza schools arrested”
Troops from the 401st Armored Brigade and Marine Commando Unit Shayetet 13 raided two schools in Gaza City's Rimal neighborhood where Hamas members were hiding. This was reported by the Israel Defense Forces (IDF), the Times of Israel reported. The IDF said troops fought and killed several Hamas gunmen in the area, and members in the schools later surrendered. Meanwhile, troops from the Kiryati Brigade raided a number of apartments used by Hamas in Khan Younis, southern Gaza. According to the IDF, troops found “many” weapons and tunnels used by agents. The Israel Defense Forces also reported that the 551st Brigade detected suspicious movements on the roof of a building in the Jabaliya area from which shots had previously been fired at troops. The troops launched an airstrike on the building.
9:14 a.m. – Palestinian media: “Dozens dead and injured due to Israeli bombing in Gaza”
Israeli bombing raids on Gaza have killed and injured dozens of Palestinians. The Palestinian agency Wafa reports at least 14 deaths in air strikes on two houses in the northern Gaza Strip and dozens more victims in the bombing of another house in Jabalia. According to Wafa, dozens of people are also trapped under the rubble and the victims include women and children.
9:06 a.m. – Israeli ambassador to Russia: “Ready for a long war, no news on the talks”
“There is nothing new.” This was said by Israeli Ambassador to Russia Alexander Ben Zvi in connection with news of the resumption of talks mediated by Qatar during the conflict in the Gaza Strip after the terrible attack on October 7 in Israel, a country , which continues, continues, declares itself “ready” for a “longer” war. “I know that various parties are trying to resort to certain experiments,” the ambassador said in statements to the Russian Tass agency. “However, these attempts have so far been unsuccessful.” “We have shown in the past that when there were concrete suggestions, we followed them,” he said again. “At the moment there is nothing to consider as there are no proposals. This means that hostilities will continue.” And he added that the Israeli economy is “ready for prolonged hostilities.” “We will continue to fight,” he emphasized. “The economic factor will not affect our determination to carry out combat operations.”
8:10 a.m. – Iran says it executed a Mossad agent
The official Iranian news agency IRNA reported that an agent of the Israeli secret service Mossad was executed on Saturday in Iran's southeastern Sistan-Baluchestan province. The Guardian writes this, citing Portal. “He communicated with foreign services, including the Mossad, collected confidential information and, with the participation of others, provided documents to foreign services, including the Mossad,” is the motivation that emerges from the IRNA agency, while the identity is not specified the executed person.
7:47 a.m. – Sirens sound in Israel due to rockets fired from the border with Lebanon
Air raid sirens are also wailing in northern Israel. According to Jerusalem Post news, the alarm was raised in the Zar'it area, near the demarcation line of the border with Lebanon. Sirens sounded again this morning in the Netiv HaAsara area of southern Israel, near Gaza.
7:34 a.m. – “Three hostages killed by Israeli soldiers in accident.” Hundreds protest in Tel Aviv
Hundreds took to the streets in Tel Aviv overnight to protest after news that three hostages had been killed in a “tragic accident” by Israeli soldiers in the northern Gaza Strip. Images broadcast by Israeli television showed a crowd gathering in the center of the city, with streets blocked and calls for the government to intervene to secure the immediate release of everyone who has been in Israel since the horrific attack on October 7th are still being held captive in the Palestinian enclave. The crowd was armed with posters and banners with photos and names of the hostages and marched to the army headquarters. As the Israeli news site Ynet reported, demonstrators threw red paint onto the street. “Time is running out for them, bring them home now,” the crowd chanted, sparing no criticism of the government of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who was accused of not doing enough to secure the release of the hostages , believing that an agreement reached at the end of November would have avoided “accidents” like the one of the last few hours.
6:09 a.m. – Israeli ambassador in Moscow: “We are ready for a long war”
“Israel is capable of conducting hostilities for a long period of time, the country's economy is ready for this,” Israeli Ambassador to Russia Alexander Ben Zvi told TASS. “The economy is ripe for a prolonged war. The fact is: there is no way out, the war continues. We will fight. The economic factor will not affect our determination to carry out hostilities,” the diplomat added.
5:13 a.m. – UN: “Israel’s reopening of Gaza border crossing for aid deliveries is good”
“The United Nations welcomes Israel's announcement to open the Kerem Shalom border crossing for the direct delivery of humanitarian aid to Gaza, saying: the sooner the better.” The international media reported this. United Nations spokesman Stephane Dujarric says that “the rapid implementation of this agreement will increase the flow of aid” and “a humanitarian ceasefire will further increase the distribution of this aid throughout the Gaza Strip.” Dujarric also says U.N. humanitarian officials reported Friday that the humanitarian suffering of Palestinians in Gaza has been worsened by flooding caused by heavy rains in the area in recent days.
4:54 a.m. – Palestinian media, heavy bombardment in Gaza
“Intense bombing” by Israel is underway across the Gaza Strip, including the southern city of Khan Younis and areas in the north of the enclave. This was reported by some Palestinian media outlets, as the Times of Israel reported.
3:52 a.m. – Mossad chief to meet Qatar prime minister for hostage talks
Mossad Director David Barnea is expected to meet Qatari Prime Minister Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani in Europe this weekend to discuss resuming negotiations on a deal to secure the release of hostages held by Hamas in Gaza. This is what the American website Axios writes, citing two sources familiar with the matter. The portal emphasizes that this is the first meeting between senior Israeli and Qatari officials after the end of the ceasefire in Gaza and after the Israeli army announced that it had accidentally killed three hostages in the Gaza Strip.
3:25 a.m. – Hundreds block streets in Tel Aviv: “Hostages now at home”
Protests are growing in Tel Aviv after Israel reported that it had accidentally killed three hostages in Gaza: After gathering outside a headquarters, hundreds of protesters reached and blocked the intersection of Kaplan Street, one of the city's main arteries Street. Ynet reports on this and emphasizes that the crowd had previously blocked one of the lanes of Begin Road. Chanting “Now, now,” demonstrators are demanding an immediate agreement to return hostages held in the Gaza Strip home. Some of them hold signs and photos of the abductees.
3:14 a.m. – Hostages killed by friendly fire in Gaza, protest in Tel Aviv
“The news of the death of three hostages in Gaza by friendly fire has once again sparked protests and discontent in Israel.” This is what Harretz writes and reports that dozens of people are demonstrating in front of the military headquarters in Tel Aviv in these hours. Demonstrators wave placards with the names and photos of many other hostages and demand their immediate release.
2:53 a.m. – Netanyahu: “All of Israel is crying tonight”
“An unbearable tragedy. All of Israel is crying tonight.” Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said this, recalling the three hostages killed by Israeli soldiers in Gaza due to a “tragic mistake.” “My heart goes out to the grieving families at this difficult moment.” The name of the third person killed has now been revealed: it is 26-year-old Alon Lulu Shamriz from Kibbutz Kfar Aza.
02:41 – IDF: “Three Israeli hostages killed due to tragic mistake”
Israeli troops accidentally killed three Israeli hostages during fighting in Shejaiya, northern Gaza. This was stated by IDF spokesman Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari, according to The Times of Israel. The military, he explains, mistakenly “viewed the three Israeli hostages as a threat and opened fire on them, killing them”: “It was a tragic accident, the IDF bears responsibility for it,” says Hagari. “This is an area where soldiers have encountered many terrorists, including suicide bombers,” he added. Hagari names the hostages as Yotam Haim, who was kidnapped by Hamas in Kfar Aza, and Samer Talalka, who was kidnapped from Nir Am. The third hostage was not identified at the request of his family.
02:22 – Ben Zvi: “There are no prerequisites for resuming talks on Gaza”
“There are currently no prerequisites for resuming talks in Qatar to resolve the conflict in the Gaza Strip,” Israeli Ambassador to Russia Alexander Ben Zvi told TASS. “At the moment everything remains the same,” the diplomat added, “and there is nothing new.” I know that different parties are trying to resort to certain experiments. However, these attempts have so far been unsuccessful. I don't see anything at the moment.”
1:41 a.m. – Blinken: “German leadership would do well to support Israel’s right to defense”
Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken spoke today with German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock. The minister – according to Blinken's spokesman – welcomed the German leadership, which supports Israel's right to guarantee that Hamas can never repeat the October 7 attacks. The two leaders discussed the urgency of meeting humanitarian needs in Gaza, protecting civilians from harm and making efforts to prevent the conflict from spreading further. The minister highlighted international efforts to stop recent Houthi attacks on merchant vessels operating in the Red Sea and support maritime security. Finally, Minister and Foreign Minister Baerbock reiterated the joint commitment of the USA and Germany to support Ukraine.
1:25 a.m. – White House: “The conflict could last months”
The USA assumes that the war in Gaza could continue for months. This was said by one of the White House advisers, John Kirby, in a conference call with the media. «We – he explained – do not dictate conditions to the Israelis. We have spoken to them about what they think about transitioning from high-intensity operations to lower-intensity operations.” “We agree with the Israelis,” he added, “that this conflict could last for months.”
1:08 a.m. – Cargo ship hit by Yemeni rebels in the Red Sea
A cargo ship was hit in the Red Sea by a projectile fired by Yemeni rebels, a U.S. official and an intelligence firm said, saying it was the latest in a series of attacks. “We are aware of the fact that a projectile fired from a Houthi-controlled region in Yemen struck a ship, which was damaged, and there was a report of a fire,” the U.S. defense official said .
00:12 – Hamas government: 18,800 Palestinians killed in Gaza
The Palestinian Hamas government has announced that Israeli military operations in the Gaza Strip have caused 18,800 deaths since the war began on October 7. Of the dead Palestinians, mostly killed in airstrikes, 75% were children (8,000) and women (6,200), Hamas's press office said in a statement, which increased the number of missing on the 70th day of the war with Israel estimated at 7,500.