Middle East: Hamas claims responsibility for Jerusalem attack and calls for escalation, three Israelis killed

IDF, six hostages freed, are on their way to Israel

Six Israeli hostages have been released by Hamas and are on their way to Israel. The army announced this, as Haaretz reports.

“Hamas is ready to extend the ceasefire with Israel”

Hamas is available “to extend the ceasefire,” which has been in force since November 24 and is due to end at 7 a.m. tomorrow (6 a.m. in Italy). This was reported by a source close to the Palestinian movement that governs the Gaza Strip. “The mediators are making intensive efforts, which are currently ongoing, to secure an additional day of rest and then work towards an extension of several more days,” the source said.

Blinken calls on Israel to establish safe zones for civilians in Gaza

“The Biden administration’s immediate goal is to work with our partners to extend the pause” in fighting between Israel and Hamas to allow more hostages to get out. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said this at a press conference at the American Embassy in Jerusalem. The US has reiterated to Israel that plans to further reduce civilian casualties must be implemented before the operation in southern Gaza, for example by creating safe areas for Palestinians. “How Israel defends itself is important. As I told the Prime Minister, intentions are important, but so are results.”

According to the BBC, almost 100,000 buildings would be damaged in Gaza

“Satellite images taken over the Gaza Strip show that almost 100,000 buildings could be damaged.” The BBC reports, saying that “these images were taken shortly before the suspension of hostilities came into effect, after weeks of Israeli air strikes and fighting on the ground.” The British broadcaster publishes various photos showing a “series of craters visible in a former residential area.” Some of the beach-facing buildings that housed Gaza’s first five-star hotel, the Al-Mashtal, as well as shacks and restaurants, appear to have been partially destroyed,” we read on the BBC website.

The US insists this is not the time for a permanent ceasefire

For the USA it is not yet “time for a permanent ceasefire” in Gaza. “We want the ceasefire to be extended until the eighth and ninth days, but this is not the time for a permanent ceasefire,” US National Security Council spokesman John Kirby said in a press conference.

USA, attack on Jerusalem, example of a Hamas threat

The United States has condemned the terrorist attack in Jerusalem. “It is another example of the threat posed by Hamas,” John Kirby, spokesman for the US National Security Council, said in a news conference.

Israel, two hostages handed over to the Red Cross

Two Israeli women held hostage in Gaza have been handed over to the Red Cross and are heading towards Israeli territory. This was announced by the military spokesman for the Israeli army. In the next few hours, he added, more hostages should be released.

The victims of the attack in Jerusalem were a rabbi, a school principal and a teacher

The three victims of the Jerusalem attack were identified as Rabbi Elimelech Wasserman, 73, Hanna Ifergan, 67, and Liviya Dickman, 24. Wasserman was a rabbinic judge. Hanna Ifergan was the director of a girls’ school, and the young pregnant woman was a teacher. Haaretz writes it.

Attack near Jordan: “Palestinian driver dead”

The Palestinian driver of the car that struck and injured two Israeli soldiers at the Beqaot checkpoint in the Jordan Valley today has died. The Palestinian news agency Maan learned this from local medical sources. The military spokesman had previously reported that the man had been “neutralized” by military fire. Some Palestinian media outlets identified him as Karem Bani Odeh, who lived in the nearby Palestinian West Bank town of Tubas.

Blinking to Netanyahu: When the ceasefire ends, protect civilians

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken has asked Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to “protect the civilian population” in southern Gaza if the ceasefire ends.

Attack in Jerusalem, the 24-year-old victim was pregnant

Livia Dickman, 24, who was killed in the attack in Jerusalem this morning, was pregnant. Ynet reports it.

Netanyahu to Blinken: “We swore to eliminate Hamas”

“We swore, I swore myself, to eliminate Hamas.” “Nothing will stop us”: Benyamin Netanyahu reiterated this at the end of a meeting with US Secretary of State Antony Blinken. “Our meeting – he repeated – took place a few hours after the murder of Israelis by Hamas assassins here in Jerusalem. I told him: “This is the same Hamas.” The same Hamas that carried out the terrible massacre of October 7, and the same Hamas that is trying to kill us everywhere.” “We will continue this war,” the prime minister said anew. – until we reach our goals”.

Ben Gvir, with today’s attack, Hamas violated the ceasefire

Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir said Hamas’s acceptance of responsibility for today’s terrorist attack in Jerusalem, which left three civilians dead, was a violation of the ceasefire. “With one hand Hamas signs the ceasefire, with the other it sends terrorists to kill Jews in Jerusalem,” the minister said, quoted by The Times of Israel. “This is not a ceasefire, but rather a continuation of the concept of curbing terrorist attacks and concessions that have led us to kill people, which gives hope to Sinwar, the leader of Hamas in Gaza, that he can get out of this conflict, by seizing power.” “” he continued, “we must stop doing business with the devil and immediately return to the fight with rare strength.”

Hamas calls for an escalation of resistance against Israel

In the statement with which Hamas claimed responsibility for the attack in Jerusalem, it called for an “escalation of resistance” against Israel. “This operation is a natural response to the unprecedented crimes committed by the occupiers in the Gaza Strip and against children in Jenin,” the Palestinian Islamic faction said in a statement.

Egypt and Qatar are pushing for a ceasefire lasting another two days

Egyptian and Qatari negotiators are pushing for another two-day extension of the ceasefire in Gaza and the release of more prisoners, according to sources in Cairo. Haaretz reports it.

Hamas claims responsibility for the attack in Jerusalem

In a statement, Hamas claimed responsibility for the attack on Jerusalem that killed three Israelis.

Car hits Israelis in Jordan Valley, injured

A car hit and injured some Israelis in the Beqaot area of ​​the Jordan Valley. According to media reports, it could be an attack. The driver, presumably a Palestinian, was “neutralized,” public broadcaster Kan reported. The army rushed to the scene.

20-year-old pregnant Bedouin woman stabbed to death in Lod

A pregnant young woman in her 20s was stabbed to death this morning in the Ramot Eshkol district of Lod in central Israel, Ynet reported. The police began investigations and searches and a few hours later announced the arrest of two suspects, the woman’s father and brother, who live in the Bedouin diaspora and in Lod. In a video you can see the stabber attacking the young woman from behind while her five-year-old son, other children and a woman are at her side. From Shamir-Assaf Harofeh Hospital, doctors said they fought for the life of the young woman and the fetus, but to no avail.

Attack in Jerusalem, victims aged 16 and 24 and a 73-year-old rabbi

The victims of this morning’s attack were two girls aged 16 and 24 and a 73-year-old man, identified as Rabbi Elimelech Waserman.

Source Egypt, 10 Israeli and 4 Thai hostages in Rafah

The ten Israeli hostages and four Thai workers who were due to arrive in Egypt from the Gaza Strip last night were handed over to the Egyptian security service and the Red Cross this morning. This was announced by a security source, stating that they will now be taken from the Rafah land crossing to the Kerem Shalom border crossing and then by plane to Israel. The seventh day of the ceasefire has already begun and both sides are following the protocols of the last few days

Israel, alarm sirens in Galilee

The alarm sirens sound in the Upper Galilee, near the border with Lebanon, near the cities of Sasa and Dovev. The military radio reported it. It is possible, the broadcaster added, that the intrusion of an enemy aircraft had been detected.

One of the hostages kidnapped at the rave party died; he was 27 years old

The family of Ofir Sarfati, who was kidnapped at a rave party in the Negev desert on October 7, has been told that the 27-year-old, who was taken to Gaza with serious injuries, has died. Ynet reports it. Ofir, an electrical engineering student, was at the Nova festival with his girlfriend Shovel and other friends. His fate remained unknown for three weeks, then his relatives found out about the kidnapping. Some videos showed that he had been seriously injured and was being taken away by terrorists. Today the community of Kiryat Ata, where he lived, announced his death. Around 364 young people died at the rave party.

Blinken to Herzog, continued contacts regarding the ceasefire

“This process has brought results.” “It is important and we hope that it continues,” said Secretary of State Antony Blinken today, according to military radio, at the start of a meeting with Head of State Isaac Herzog. He was referring to the ongoing mediation for an extension of the ceasefire in Gaza. “We – added Blinken – are preparing to continue discussions with the Israeli government on the situation in Gaza.”

Attack in Jerusalem: “Terrorists are linked to Hamas”

The two attackers were identified as Murad Nimer (38 years old) and Ibrahim Nimer (30 years old), residents of the Tsur Baher neighborhood in East Jerusalem and holders of Israeli identity cards. According to military radio, both were serving prison sentences in Israel for “terrorist activities.” According to the Palestinian website QudsNews, both are linked to Hamas. According to police, hundreds of bullets were found in her car. The two were apparently planning a major attack.

Attack in Jerusalem, three Israelis killed

The number of Israelis killed in a Palestinian terrorist attack at the entrance to Jerusalem has risen to three. This was reported by the director of Magend David Adom (local equivalent of the Red Cross) Eli Bin. He had previously reported the killing of a 24-year-old woman and a 70-year-old man. Four injured people are in serious condition.

Jerusalem attack, minister attributes to Hamas

Today’s attack in Jerusalem was “apparently” carried out by Hamas. This was stated by Minister of National Security Itamar ben Gvir after an initial on-site inspection. “Hamas operatives organized the attack.” “Hamas – he added – speaks to us with two voices: one is that of ceasefire, the other that of terrorism.” “We,” he continued, “are not allowed Show weakness.” “We can only have a dialogue with Hamas through crosshairs and through war.”

Attack in Jerusalem, 2 Israelis killed and 8 injured

Two Israelis were killed and eight others injured in today’s attack in Jerusalem. This was announced by the city’s police chief, Doron Turgeman. The two attackers, two Palestinians from East Jerusalem, arrived by car: they immediately got out with an M-16 rifle and a pistol and opened fire. Turgeman added that they were killed by the immediate intervention of two soldiers and a civilian present at the scene. Police remain on high alert in East Jerusalem, where there is great excitement following the release of Palestinian prisoners linked to the ceasefire with Hamas.

Israel, today Hamas releases eight hostages, including women and children

According to Israeli sources, the list of hostages to be released today includes eight people, probably six women and two children. Israeli media reported this, adding that the bodies of three kidnapped people would also be returned. Efforts to continue the ceasefire and release more hostages continued throughout the night. Hamas initially insisted on handing over five live hostages and three bodies, all women and children. A list that Israel rejected because it violated the condition agreed in the original agreement that Hamas would release ten live hostages every day.

A girl was killed in an attack in Jerusalem

A girl was killed and six other people were injured in a gun attack at a bus stop at the entrance to Jerusalem this morning, according to Israeli emergency services. The Jerusalem Post reports on it. Highway 1 from the Motsa interchange towards Jerusalem was closed to traffic after the attack. Last year, two Israelis died in another terrorist attack at the same bus stop.

Gun attack in Jerusalem, six injured

Six people were injured by gunfire at the tram stop at the entrance to Jerusalem on Weizman Boulevard. Two injured people are in critical condition. The two attackers were killed, Ynet reports.

Gaza: Israel, new list of hostages released by Hamas today

The Israeli government announced this morning that it has received a new “list” of names of women and children held hostage in the Gaza Strip who will be released later today in exchange for Palestinian prisoners in accordance with the ceasefire agreement with the Palestinian movement Islamist Hamas .

Qatar, the ceasefire remains in place under the same conditions

In a statement quoted by international media, the Foreign Ministry in Doha said that the ceasefire in Gaza would be extended today “under the same previous conditions – namely the ceasefire and the entry of humanitarian aid – within the framework of the joint mediation of the State of Qatar with the Arab Republic of Egypt and the United States of America”.

Hamas confirms agreement on seventh day of ceasefire

Hamas confirmed this morning that an agreement had been reached to “extend the ceasefire for a seventh day.” This was reported by international media, citing a statement from the Palestinian Islamist movement. Earlier, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) wrote in a post on its X account that the ceasefire in Gaza would continue “in light of the efforts of mediators to advance the process of releasing the hostages.”

Hamas to the fighters, ready to continue the fight

According to a statement cited by international media, the Al-Qassam Brigades, Hamas’ armed wing, has told its fighters in the Gaza Strip that they are ready to resume fighting with Israel if the ceasefire is not renewed. “The Al-Qassam Brigades,” the statement said, “calls on its active forces to maintain a high level of combat readiness during the final hours of the ceasefire, which ends at 6 a.m. Italy time.” The fighters are expected to They “will remain at these bases until an official statement is made confirming the extension of the ceasefire,” the statement continued.

Israel goes to Hamas, new hostage list or the war starts again

Israeli public broadcaster Kan reports that the country’s War Cabinet meeting ended without a decision on extending the ceasefire in Gaza, which expires this morning. According to Kan, Israel wants to receive from Hamas an “improved list” of the next prisoners to be released by 7 a.m. local time (6 a.m. in Italy). An official Israeli source added to the broadcaster that “fighting in Gaza will resume if the list does not change by this date.”

China, permanent humanitarian ceasefire in Israel-Hamas crisis

China calls for a “permanent and extended humanitarian ceasefire” in the Israel-Hamas conflict: the parties should implement it “with immediate effect as part of a comprehensive ceasefire and an end to the fighting.” This can be read in the position paper published today by the Beijing Foreign Ministry on resolving the crisis, which is based on several points, including the global ceasefire, protecting civilians, ensuring humanitarian assistance, strengthening diplomatic mediation and searching for a political one Solution. China also calls for a “two-state solution” and direct negotiations between Palestine and Israel.

Gaza: Ahed Tamimi is also one of the youngest Palestinians to be released

22-year-old Ahed Tamimi is also among the group of Palestinians Israel released this evening as part of the ceasefire with Hamas. Local media reported this, citing prison authorities.

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