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Israel Hamas at war, current news | Israeli drone hits Beirut: “Number 2 killed…

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by Francesco Battistini, correspondent, Paolo Foschi and online editorial team

The news from Tuesday, January 2nd, on the conflict between Israel and Hamas, live. Among the six killed in the Beirut explosion were Saleh al-Arouri, the deputy head of Hamas' politburo, and al Hayya, another leader. Israel convenes a war cabinet. Hezbollah leader's speech tomorrow

• 87th day of the war: According to Hamas, more than 22,000 Palestinians have died, including around 8,000 children. In Israel, 1,200 people died in the attack on October 7th.
• Iran is stationing a destroyer in the Red Sea
• Israel's Supreme Court rejects Netanyahu's desired judicial reform
• Red Sea, US sinks three Houthi ships, some rebels also killed

9:43 p.m. – Hezbollah: The killing of al Arouri will not go unpunished

The pro-Iranian Lebanese Shiite movement Hezbollah said the killing of Hamas second-in-command Saleh al-Arouri in Beirut would not go unpunished, defining what happened as an aggression against Lebanon, its people, its security, sovereignty and resistance. “We Hezbollah reiterate that this crime will not go unanswered or unpunished,” the group wrote in a statement. We consider the crime of assassination of Sheikh Saleh al-Arouri… in the heart of the southern suburbs of Beirut as a serious attack on Lebanon… and a dangerous development in the course of the war, the statement continued.

9:38 p.m. – Haniyeh: Hamas will never be defeated

A movement whose leaders and founders fall as martyrs for the dignity of our people and our nation will never be defeated. Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh said this in a televised address after the killing of his number two, Saleh al-Arouri, in a raid in Beirut attributed to Israel. the story of resistance and the movement becoming even stronger and more determined after the assassination of its leaders, he added. Haniyeh said seven Hamas members were killed in the attack, including two commanders of the Al-Qassam Brigades, the movement's armed wing.

8:28 p.m. – Arabic sources in Haaretz, negotiations are stopped after Arouri's death

Arab diplomatic sources said in Haaretz in the evening that the killing of al-Arouri in Beirut had interrupted negotiations on an agreement between Israel and Hamas and that talks were now focused on preventing escalation, particularly in northern Israel. According to sources involved in the talks brokered by Egypt and Qatar, the assassination attempt has changed the situation and no progress is now possible. The aim now is to ensure that any response, particularly from Lebanon, is appropriate and that negotiations can continue if necessary.

8:00 p.m. – Israeli Army: We are on high alert

“We are on high alert in the face of any development,” said military spokesman Daniel Hagari. At the moment, he added, we are focused on the war in Gaza. Hagari also recommended that the population carefully follow the instructions of the rear command.

7:49 p.m. – Iran: The assassination of Al-Arouri shows the failure of the Zionists

The assassination of Al-Arouri was the result of the Zionist entity's serious failure to deal with the resistance in Gaza. We strongly condemn the assassination of Al-Arouri and the Zionist organization responsible for its effects. This was announced by the Iranian Foreign Ministry, quoted by Al Jazeera. The killing of Al-Arouri is a violation of Lebanon's sovereignty and we call on the United Nations to respond urgently and effectively.

7:32 p.m. – Who was Saleh Al Arouri, Hamas's number 2, killed by Israel in Beirut: a reward of 10 million on him

(by Guido Olimpio) Saleh Al Arouri was on the death list. He knew it well. Israel had repeatedly described him as one of the possible targets of the campaign to eliminate Hamas leaders abroad. And he didn't hide, he probably counted on being protected in Beirut, with the help of the pro-Iranian Hezbollah and the Pasdaran themselves.

Read the article here.

7:12 p.m. – Netanyahu-Gallant consultations after Arouri's assassination

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Yoav Gallant hold talks at the Defense Ministry in Tel Aviv following the assassination of Hamas number two, Saleh al-Arouri. As a result, the convening of the War Cabinet was postponed by two hours. The security cabinet, which consists of a larger number of ministers, will then also be convened. There has been no official comment from Israel on al-Arouri's death.

6:58 p.m. – Nasrallah's speech tomorrow

Yellow for the speech announced by Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah that will take place tomorrow. After the assassination of the number two in Hamas' political bureau, Saleh Al-Arouri, rumors circulated in Beirut that the speech would be canceled. Instead, Hezbollah confirmed to the Lebanese newspaper L'Orient-Le Jour Nasrallah's appointments for this week, including both the speech scheduled for Wednesday and Friday, denying the circulating news.

6:55 p.m. – Media: Al Hayya was also killed by Israel in Beirut

Kalil Al Hayya, a senior official and member of the Hamas politburo, was also reportedly killed in the Israeli raid on the Hamas office on the outskirts of Beirut. Lebanese media reported on this.

6:53 p.m. – Likud representative congratulates Mossad on al-Arouri's death

I congratulate the Israeli army, the Shin Bet (Internal Security), the Mossad and the security forces on the elimination in Beirut of Hamas leader Saleh al-Arouri: former Israeli ambassador to the United Nations Danny Danon, now a leading Likud figure. Everyone involved in the October 7 massacre needs to know that we will hunt them down and settle the score. Meanwhile, Israeli public broadcaster Kan reported that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had asked his ministers not to comment on the matter for the next 24 hours.

6:19 p.m. – Hamas confirms: Arouri murdered in cowardly Zionist attack

Hamas television confirmed Israel's killing of the group's deputy leader in the southern suburbs of the Lebanese capital, Beirut. Saleh al-Arouri was killed in a cowardly Zionist attack, Hamas said on its official channel.

6:17 p.m. – Media: Death toll in Israeli attack in Beirut rises to 6

The new death toll from the explosion on the southern outskirts of the Lebanese capital, Beirut, where a Hamas headquarters would have been in the crosshairs of a so-called Israeli drone attack, stands at at least six dead. This was reported by the Lebanese agency Nna, while Hamas confirmed the death of its number two in political office, Saleh al-Arouri.

6:01 p.m. – Israel meets the War Cabinet

Israel's war cabinet met at the Defense Ministry in Tel Aviv, as announced since morning. So far there has been no comment from the Israeli side about the attack in Beirut.

5:42 p.m. – Saleh al-Arouri, Hamas's number 2, killed in Beirut

Saleh al-Arouri, a Hamas member and founder of the group's armed wing (the Ezzedin al-Qassam Brigades), would have died in the blast on the southern outskirts of Beirut. Al-Arouri is the deputy to the head of the Hamas politburo, Ismail Haniyeh. This was reported by the al-Arabiya group's al-Hadath channel, citing a security source.

5:36 p.m. – Israel attacks a Hamas office south of Beirut, 4 dead

An Israeli drone hit a Hamas office in a southern suburb of Beirut, killing four people. This was reported by the Lebanese National News Agency. Four people died and many more were injured in the attack on the Hamas office.

5:31 p.m. – Explosion on the outskirts of Beirut, possible targeted attack

An explosion occurred in the Moucharrafi district on the southern outskirts of Beirut, the capital of Lebanon. According to a Hezbollah spokesman, it could be a targeted assassination and a rocket attack.

5:09 p.m. – The explosion in Beirut, in a Hezbollah stronghold

A huge explosion rocked Beirut, the capital of Lebanon. According to Lebanese media, the explosion was caused by an Israeli drone that hit the Hamas office on the outskirts of Beirut. A Hamas leader was killed. Some people were injured.

The explosion occurred in Dahieh, the city's southern suburb, which is considered one of Hezbollah's strongholds. The news comes amid growing tensions between Hezbollah and Israel.

5:06 p.m. – Speech by the Secretary General of Hezbollah, tomorrow

Tomorrow, Wednesday, January 3, Hezbollah Secretary General Sayyed Hasan Nasrallah will deliver a speech marking the fourth anniversary of the deaths of Iranian General Qassem Soleimani and Iraqi Popular Mobilization Forces Commander Abu Mahdi Al-Muhandis.

The two were killed by US drones at Baghdad airport.

The main topics of the speech will be the latest developments in the Gaza war and the ongoing military clashes between Hezbollah and the Israeli army on the Israel-Lebanon border.

2:40 p.m. – Israel confirms: The air force has struck in Syria

Israel has confirmed the authorship of an airstrike carried out in Syria yesterday. During the night – according to the armed forces website Idf.il – we attacked military infrastructure in Syria. This is in response to yesterday's launches aimed at Israeli territory. Indeed, yesterday there was news that five rockets from Syria had exploded on Israeli territory in open areas without causing any casualties or damage. Syria then reported an Israeli air strike in the Damascus area.

2:04 p.m. – Israel: Hamas commando captured in eastern Gaza

At the end of a series of battles, some of which took place at close range, Israeli forces managed to take control of the Hamas military command in the east of the Gaza Strip. This was announced by the military spokesman. It consists, he specified, of 37 buildings within a civilian residential area that includes hospitals, schools and condominiums. The Hamas command was connected to a network of tunnels. The military found the entrances to five important tunnels. At a depth of 20 meters was the command bunker from which Hamas managed the phases of the war. During the patrols, the soldiers of the elite Shaldag unit engaged in firefights and destroyed the Hamas troops on the spot. The underground area was then blown up. During this operation there were three fatalities in Israel: an officer and two non-commissioned officers.

1:49 p.m. – Gallant: The feeling that we're about to stop is wrong

The feeling that we are about to stop is not right. If we do not assert ourselves clearly, we would not be able to resist in the Middle East: Defense Minister Yoav Gallant said this today during an inspection in the Gaza Strip. The war – he added – was now in Khan Yunis. We strive in several passages, both above the tunnels and underground. We come from all directions. The army has ordered residents of Nusseirat (in the southern part of the Gaza Strip) to move further south towards Deir el Ballah as it expands its operations.

12:22 p.m. – The Axios website: New proposal from Hamas, no from Israel

According to two Israeli officials and a source familiar with the proposal, Hamas presented Israel with a proposal for a new hostage agreement on Sunday through Qatari and Egyptian intermediaries: Jerusalem rejected the proposal, but one of the Israeli officials said the offer showed that Hamas is ready to begin negotiations on a new hostage-taking agreement even as fighting continues in Gaza. Axios' website says the plan called for a three-step process.

One of the Israeli officials said that each phase should include a pause in fighting of more than a month in return for the release of the hostages. Under the proposal, Israel would begin withdrawing its forces from Gaza during the implementation of the deal's first phase, which would include the release of around 40 hostages, the official said. Some Palestinian prisoners should probably be released too. The proposal would end the war after implementing the final phase of the deal, which would include the release of soldiers held hostage in Gaza, the official said. Israel's war cabinet discussed the new Hamas proposal and told Qatari and Egyptian mediators on Monday that it found it unacceptable, the Israeli official said. The proposal we received from Hamas was completely out of place and we asked the mediators to try to come up with something more acceptable. “They’re working on it and let’s see what happens,” the official said. “We are in the preliminary negotiation phase.” Although the negotiations are no longer blocked, they are not making any significant progress yet.

11:34 a.m. – Hamas Ministry of Health: The death toll is 22,185

The Hamas Ministry of Health announces a new death toll of 22,185 in the Gaza Strip.

8.32am – Tony Blair, his return as mediator after his failure as Quartet envoy

(Francesco Battistini) Here it is again. The last time he dealt with the Arab-Israeli conflict, when he was seconded by the UN-US-EU-Russia Quartet for eight years, it was certainly not a success: very high costs for him and his staff and no results. This time Tony Blair has opted for a much more reserved profile. They traveled from Jordan and met silently with Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu and Defense Minister Benny Gantz last week.

Here is the full article.

8:06 a.m. – Violent Israeli attacks overnight in the southern Gaza Strip

Israeli air and tank attacks in the southern Gaza Strip intensified overnight, residents said, the Times of Israel reported.

7:53 a.m. – Syria: The Israeli Air Force has attacked some locations in Damascus

According to a Syrian military source, the Israeli Air Force attacked some locations on the outskirts of Damascus at 4:35 a.m. This is what the Syrian state news agency SANA writes.

5:14 a.m. – West Bank, the Israelis have arrested 2,550 wanted people since October 7th

The Israeli army said it had arrested more than 2,550 wanted people in the West Bank since the conflict with Hamas broke out on October 7. In a statement released yesterday and reported by local media, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said around 1,300 of those arrested were members of the Palestinian Islamist movement in power in the Gaza Strip.

5:11 a.m. – Israel will defend itself against genocide charges in the Hague court

In an unprecedented move, Israel has decided to appear before the International Criminal Court in The Hague to defend itself against South Africa's allegations of genocide in Gaza. This was announced by the head of the National Security Council, Tzachi Hanegbi, to the Israeli newspaper Yedioth Ahronoth. Israel, which has long been a signatory to the Genocide Convention, will not boycott the proceedings: we will participate and refute the absurd accusation, which amounts to slander, he explained. The International Court of Justice announced on Friday that it had received a request from South Africa to prosecute Israel for genocide in the Gaza Strip.

02:03 a.m. – West Bank, Jenin and Al-Quds Brigades parade

Dozens of young Palestinians marched with guns in hand and chanted anti-Israel slogans through the streets of Jenin in the West Bank: al-Jazeera reports. They were men from the Jenin Brigade of the Quds Force, the military wing of Islamic Jihad, who were organizing a march and military parade in support of Gaza and the Palestinian resistance. Shortly afterwards, Israeli troops began operating in the refugee camp, which was accompanied by clashes with Palestinian militiamen.

1:37 a.m. – Palestinian media: Israeli raid on a house, 15 civilians killed

According to the Palestinian news agency Wafa, 15 Palestinian civilians were killed and several others injured last night in an Israeli shelling that hit a house in Deir el-Balah in the central Gaza Strip. According to Wafa, additional victims were registered yesterday in the Nuseirat refugee camp and in the center of the city of Khan Yunis. The latest figures provided by local authorities put the number of deaths in Gaza at 21,978 since Israel began attacking the Palestinian enclave on October 7 in response to Hamas attacks.

1:18 a.m. – Red Crescent opens the first refugee camp in Khan Younis

The Palestinian Red Crescent announced last night that it had set up the first organized camp for displaced people in the southern Gaza Strip town of Khan Younis. In a post on its X account, the aid organization explains that the facility was set up with around 300 helpers, rescue workers and other staff as well as their families.

1:03 a.m. – Israeli attack in southern Lebanon, 4 Hezbollah fighters killed

Hezbollah says four of its fighters were killed in southern Lebanon yesterday after being hit by Israeli bombing earlier in the day. Arabic broadcaster Al Jazeera quoted the Iran-backed Lebanese Islamist movement as saying the militiamen came from the southeastern village of Kfarkila.

12:57 a.m. – The aircraft carrier USS Gerald R. Ford will return to base in the United States

Following Israel's announcement that it would soon reduce the contingent stationed in Gaza, the USA is also preparing to reduce its involvement in the region. The American aircraft carrier USS Gerald R. Ford, which was sent to the eastern Mediterranean after the Hamas attack on Israel in October, is scheduled to begin operations in the coming days, the US Navy said. New generation aircraft carrier, the USS Gerald Ford, a 100,000-ton nuclear-powered ship equipped with new technologies. Following Hamas' bloody attack on Israel, Washington pledged military support to Israel and bolstered its forces in the region by deploying a number of warships, including the aircraft carrier USS Gerald R. Ford. It will now return to its home port as planned, to prepare for future operations.

January 2, 2024 (changed January 2, 2024 | 9:44 p.m.)

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