The Israeli army announced that it had killed Hamas’ general intelligence chief in Khan Younis, southern Gaza, and released a video of the action. Meanwhile, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu today reiterated Israel’s warlike intentions against Hamas during the first session of the Knesset’s fall session. “We will triumph because our very existence is at stake in this region full of dark forces,” the prime minister said. “Hamas,” he continued, “is part of the evil axis formed by Iran and Hezbollah.” Its goal is to plunge the Middle East into an abyss of chaos. There are many questions about the disaster that hit us ten days ago. We will examine every aspect.” The representatives of the different groups took turns on the podium of the Israeli parliament. Among them was Yair Lapid, the opposition leader who – unlike his friend Benny Gantz – refused to join the government of national unity, but who today promised some kind of “external support” for the war cabinet convened to protect the government of Islamists to avenge the massacre committed on October 7th. “It will take time, it will take a lot of strength. And if the world doesn’t like it, then so be it. It is not their children who were murdered, but ours.” However, the debate in the Knesset had to be interrupted because the alarm sirens sounded again in both Tel Aviv and Jerusalem in the afternoon due to the arrival of Hamas rockets from the Gaza Strip. All parliamentarians had to seek refuge in underground bunkers. The session then continued after about 40 minutes.
The fate of the hostages in Gaza
However, the start of the ground operation has been delayed, among other things, by the assessment of the risks to the Israeli hostages who are being held by Palestinian Islamist groups in Gaza. Today, the IDF updated its estimated number upward: There are 199 people captured by Hamas in the Gaza Strip, Israeli army spokesman Daniel Hagari said in a press conference, reiterating that “Israel also has a national one against them “Use of intelligence information.” The IDF has also so far informed “295 families of soldiers who died in the conflict” with the militia party. An ominous warning came from Tehran today about the fate of the hostages. The Iranian regime acted as a spokesman for Hamas and said that the militiamen would be willing to release the hostages if Israel stopped the attacks on the Gaza Strip. This was said by Iranian Foreign Minister spokesman Nasser Kanaani, quoted by the Times of Israel. However, no statement was made by Hamas. According to Hanani, representatives of the Palestinian faction “stated that they were ready to take the necessary measures to release the civilians held by the resistance groups, but that they considered that such measures required preparations that were impossible given the daily bombardments of the Zionists against different parts of Gaza.” And again from Tehran came the warning: “No one can guarantee control of the situation if Israel invades the Gaza Strip,” the warning from Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amirabdollahian after a meeting with Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh in Doha.
Putin is in favor of the creation of a Palestinian state
Russian President Vladimir Putin spoke by phone with Egypt’s Presidents Abdel Fattah al-Sisi, Iran’s Ebrahim Raisi, Syria’s Bashar al Assad and Palestinian Authority President Abu Mazen and “underlined the unacceptability of any form of violence against civilians.” In the middle east. The Kremlin’s version is reported by the Tass agency. In telephone conversations, he reiterated that Moscow supports a “just solution to the Palestinian question” through the creation of an independent Palestinian state.
UNRWA: “Gasoline and medical equipment stolen in Gaza City”
The UN Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) has reported that several individuals – calling themselves Hamas – have “seized petrol and medical equipment” from their base in Gaza City. “Our employees – he writes in UNRWA has since had no access to the site and had no further details regarding the removal of the assets. UNRWA fuel and other materials are stored exclusively for humanitarian purposes and any other use is strongly condemned,” he concludes.
The hot front with Hezbollah
There are still exchanges of fire on the northern border between Israel and Hezbollah. According to Haaretz reports, the Shiite group said it attacked five bases of the Jewish State Army, which in turn attacked targets in southern Lebanon. Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallan reiterated today that Tel Aviv has no interest in opening a second front in the north. “We don’t want the situation to escalate,” he explained, but if Hezbollah “chooses the path of war, it will pay a heavy price.” The IDF spokesman’s statement is harsher: “If Hezbollah makes a mistake, “To test us, our reaction will be deadly”: This is the warning that came today from Israeli military spokesman Daniel Hagari, after two gun battles on the border with Lebanon yesterday where Israelis were killed. “Hezbollah – he concluded – is operating under the direction and support of Iran, putting Lebanon at risk.” After increasing hostilities with Hezbollah, the Israeli army ordered the evacuation of people living in 28 communities within a two-kilometer radius lived on the border with Lebanon. Hezbollah – writes AFP – has also begun destroying surveillance cameras at various Israeli army positions along the border. The Shiite Islamic paramilitary organization’s goal appears to be to prevent the IDF from monitoring movements on the Lebanese side of the border, according to military sources.
Blinking in Tel Aviv. Netanyahu: “No ceasefire”
The new tensions prompted US Secretary of State Antony Blinken to return to Israel today for some “crisis talks” after a diplomatic trip to the Middle East region. The US diplomat chief, who was in Israel on Thursday on a solidarity visit, landed in Tel Aviv and will meet Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu again in Jerusalem. In the morning, he announced that “there is currently neither a ceasefire nor the entry of humanitarian aid into Gaza in exchange for the escape of foreign citizens,” his office said, commenting on previously widespread news about the opening of the Gaza Strip’s Rafah border crossing (between Egypt and Gaza) at 9 a.m. local time, 8 a.m. in Italy. According to a US official quoted by CNN, the US Secretary of State will also meet with Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant and opposition leader Yair Lapid. Meanwhile, Jake Sullivan, the US national security adviser, emphasized in an interview with CBS: “The threat is real.” There is a risk of an escalation of this conflict, the opening of a second front in the north and, of course, Iranian involvement. We have to prepare for all eventualities.”
Meloni: “Solidarity with Israel”
“The government expresses its closeness to the Jewish community of Rome, to the families and descendants of the deportees. “After the terrible attack by Hamas, today more than ever we reaffirm our solidarity with the entire Israeli people, who have once again been wounded by anti-Semitic hatred,” said Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni. The words appear in the government note “received at Palazzo Chigi by the President of the Jewish Community of Rome, Victor Fadlun, on the occasion of the 80th anniversary of the raid against the Jews of Rome.” “On this day – added Meloni – we renew our commitment to keep alive the memory of these terrible events and to combat the virus of anti-Semitism in all its new and old forms.”
Biden: “The occupation of Gaza is a serious mistake”
Yesterday – Sunday, October 15 – the US President called “the occupation of Gaza” a “big mistake,” reports the Washington Post. “Hamas and the extreme elements of Hamas do not represent the entire Palestinian people,” Biden explains, also affirming that the terrorist organization for the US and the EU must be completely eliminated, but there must also be a path to a Palestinian state. However, the president says he does not believe Israel will pursue that path at this time. “But I believe that the Jewish state understands that a significant part of the Palestinian people does not share the opinion of Hamas and Hezbollah,” the US president concluded. According to an Israeli source, the US President could arrive in Israel next Wednesday. Haaretz reports it.
Also read:
