The United States and Israel held an “in-depth discussion” on Saturday about the Jewish state’s need for military assistance in light of the Hamas offensive. The toll from clashes on Saturday evening totaled more than 200 Israeli deaths and 232 deaths on the Palestinian side. Follow our live stream.
Published on: 08/10/2023 – 00:35
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12:26 a.m.: Blinken speaks to Egypt about “immediately stopping” the Hamas offensive
American diplomacy chief Antony Blinken spoke with his Egyptian counterpart Sameh Choukri on Saturday in the hope that Egypt, a key mediator between Israel and Hamas, will help end the Palestinian Islamist movement’s offensive, according to reports the Foreign Ministry.
In a phone conversation with Sameh Choukri, Antony Blinken “emphasized the urgency of bringing an immediate end to the horrific attack by Hamas terrorists against Israel,” State Department spokesman Matthew Miller said.
12:18 a.m.: US and Israel have “extensive” discussion about military aid
The United States and Israel held an “in-depth discussion” on Saturday about the Jewish state’s need for military assistance in light of the Hamas offensive, a senior White House official said. He pointed out that an announcement on the American side was possible as early as Sunday, but acknowledged that the executive branch faces a complicated parliamentary situation since one of the chambers of Congress is paralyzed after the dismissal of its Republican leader: “There is probably “The role that Congress has to play here, and without the Speaker of the House, this is an unprecedented situation that we have to deal with.”
This senior official also judged that it was “too early” to say whether Iran was involved in the Hamas offensive. However, he added that there is “no doubt” that Hamas is “financed, equipped and armed” by the Tehran regime, among others.
The analysis of our correspondent in Washington
02:04
00:11: Numerous condemnations of Hamas in France, LFI causes controversy
La France insoumise (LFI) was accused on Saturday of finding justifications for the Hamas attack on Israel, which caused numerous civilian deaths, by denouncing with one voice the Islamist movement and Israeli colonization, a position that does not agree with the Rest of the political class agrees.
“The armed offensive by the Palestinian forces led by Hamas is linked to the intensification of Israeli occupation policies in the Gaza Strip, the West Bank and East Jerusalem,” the Hamas party faction said in a statement from the radical left.
Party leader Jean-Luc Mélenchon stated that “all the violence unleashed against Israel and in Gaza proves only one thing: violence only produces and reproduces itself.” “Our thoughts and our sympathy are horrified with all the distraught populations, the victims all of which are. The ceasefire must be enforced,” he added on the X platform.
Hundreds of rockets were fired into Israel from the Gaza Strip on Saturday during a large-scale Hamas offensive and gunmen entered Israeli territory. The Jewish state responded with airstrikes on the Gaza Strip and ground fighting, according to an Israeli army spokesman.
Hamas’s military wing confirmed it had captured dozens of Israeli soldiers and officers during its surprise offensive, which was condemned by the United States and Europe.
More than 200 Israelis and 232 Palestinians were killed on Saturday evening.
Update on the situation on Saturday evening with our correspondent in Jerusalem
01:37