► 199 hostages in the hands of Hamas, according to the Israeli army
The Israeli army on Monday increased the number of hostages held by Hamas. It is estimated that 199 people were captured by the Palestinian Islamist movement Hamas in the October 7 attack.
“We have informed the families of 199 hostages,” Daniel Hagari, a military spokesman, said during a news conference on Monday.
An earlier report published on Sunday reported 155 hostages. “We are making enormous efforts to free the hostages,” a military spokesman assured.
► The Cardinal of Jerusalem offers himself as a hostage.
Pierbattista Pizzaballa, the new cardinal of Jerusalem, offered on Monday to be taken hostage if “children can be freed in this way and returned home.” “That would not be a problem,” assured the Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem, according to the German agency KNA.
The release of the hostages is an essential prerequisite for de-escalation, emphasized Pierbattista Pizzaballa, estimating that “otherwise it will be very difficult to stop the escalation and the humanitarian catastrophe that is afflicting Gaza.”
► According to Hamas, around 2,750 people were killed in Israeli attacks
Around 2,750 people have been killed in Israeli strikes in the Gaza Strip, according to an updated report released on Monday, October 16, by the health ministry of Hamas, the Islamist movement in power in the Palestinian micro-territory.
Israeli attacks on Gaza continue in retaliation for the bloody Hamas attack on Israeli soil on October 7th. According to the Hamas ministry, they also caused “more than 9,700 injuries.” The UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) said on Sunday that around a million people have been displaced by the war in the Gaza Strip.
► UN humanitarian chief negotiates access to aid supplies to Gaza
Martin Griffiths, the United Nations’ humanitarian emergency manager, announced in a video message that he would travel to the Middle East on Tuesday to “help negotiate” the delivery of aid to Gaza.
“We are in intensive discussions with the Israelis, the Egyptians and others who have been enormously helped by American Secretary of State Antony Blinken in his travels in the region,” the senior UN official assured.
► Eleven Palestinian journalists killed in Gaza
Eleven Palestinian journalists have been killed in the Gaza Strip since the war between Israel and Hamas began, the Palestinian journalists’ union said on Monday.
In a statement, the occupied West Bank-based union also said that “20 journalists were injured as a result of Israeli aggression” in the Gaza Strip.
► The Arab League “demands” an end to military operations
The head of the Arab League “demanded” “the immediate cessation of military operations” in the Gaza Strip.
“We demand the immediate cessation of military operations and the opening of safe corridors to help the population,” said Ahmed Aboul Gheit at a meeting of justice ministers from Arab countries in Baghdad on Monday.
► “No ceasefire,” says Benyamin Netanyahu’s office
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office said Monday that there is “no ceasefire” between Israel and Palestinian Hamas at this time, on the 10th day of a war that has left thousands dead.
“There is no ceasefire and no entry of humanitarian aid into the Gaza Strip in exchange for the departure of foreigners,” Benyamin Netanyahu’s office said in a brief statement following reports of a ceasefire.
► An “unprecedented humanitarian catastrophe” is underway in Gaza, according to the UN
The UN agency for Palestinian refugees warned on Sunday of an “unprecedented humanitarian catastrophe” in the Gaza Strip.
“Not a drop of water, not a grain of wheat, not a liter of fuel has been allowed to enter Gaza in the last eight days,” Philippe Lazzarini, the head of UNRWA, said during a press conference, believing that “Gaza is being strangled”. “An unprecedented humanitarian catastrophe” is unfolding in the Palestinian territory, he expressed concern.
► Mahmoud Abbas believes “Hamas’ actions” do not “represent the Palestinian people”
According to the official Palestinian news agency Wafa, Mahmoud Abbas stated in an interview with Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro that “Hamas’ policies and actions do not represent the Palestinian people” and that the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) is the only legitimate representative of the Palestinian people People.
►France continues “its efforts to prevent a wildfire”, 19 French people were killed
France will continue “its efforts to avoid a conflagration” in the Middle East, the French Foreign Minister assured on Sunday. “The situation is difficult and worrying. It is serious,” Catherine Colonna said in a press statement after her visit to Israel, calling for the responsibility of all leaders. She also announced that the number of French people killed in the “terrorist attacks” continued to rise, rising to 19 dead – two more than the previous day – and 13 missing.
For his part, during a telephone interview with his counterpart on Sunday, Emmanuel Macron “warned” Iranian President Ebrahim Raïssi on Sunday “against any escalation or expansion of the conflict” between Israel and Hamas, “particularly in Lebanon.”
The French president “also recalled the need for everyone to unequivocally condemn the terrorist attacks carried out by Hamas in Israel and Israel’s right to defend itself and eliminate the terrorist groups that have afflicted its population.”
► The peacekeeping headquarters in Lebanon was hit by a rocket
The UN peacekeeping headquarters in southern Lebanon was hit by a rocket on Sunday, the UN force said, citing an intensification of exchanges of fire on the Israeli-Lebanese border.
“Our headquarters in Naqoura was hit by a rocket, we are working to verify the origin of the shot,” UNIFIL, the peacekeeping force in Lebanon, said in a press release, without reporting any casualties. “Attacks against civilians or UN personnel constitute violations of international law that may amount to war crimes,” it added.