AGI – US President Joe Biden will pay a solidarity visit to Israel on Wednesday following the Hamas attacks. This was announced by US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, citing progress in persuading the US ally to protect the civilian population in the Gaza Strip.
On Wednesday I will travel to Israel to show solidarity in the face of Hamas’ brutal terrorist attack.
I will then travel to Jordan to address urgent humanitarian needs, meet with leaders, and make clear that Hamas does not stand for the Palestinians’ right to self-determination.
– President Biden (@POTUS) October 17, 2023
Biden will hear a firsthand account of Israel’s military needs and work with Congress to meet them, Blinken said. He will visit Tel Aviv, National Security Council spokesman John Kirby added in Washington, and will then travel to Jordan to meet King Abdullah II, a key partner of the United States, as well as Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas and Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al -Yes to meet, yes.
What you need to know
- Israel: “Hamas intelligence chief killed”
- Russia and Iran warn: “High risk” that the conflict will spiral out of control
- Appeal from the UN, EU and USA: reopen the border crossings in Rafah
- Hamas: “We have 200/250 hostages.” The first video of a hostage situation has been released
- The death toll is rising: 1,400 Israelis and 2,808 Palestinians.
- Scholz today in Israel and then in Egypt
- Biden on Wednesday in Tel Aviv: “Hamas must be eliminated, but occupation would be a serious mistake”
- Mattarella: “A cowardly attack in the Middle East that has increased the spiral of horror”
The live broadcast
06:44. Israel, 600,000 people have left Gaza City
More than 600,000 people evacuated the Gaza City area following warnings from the Israeli army on Friday, while 100,000 people did not leave the city. Israel Defense Forces spokesman Jonathan Conricus said this, according to Israeli media reports.
03:25. Half a million Israelis were displaced at home
“At this point, there were around 500,000 displaced Israelis,” Israel Defense Forces (IDF) spokesman Jonathan Conricus said in an online briefing, adding that all communities around the Gaza Strip were evacuated, as well as another 20 communities in the north of the country.
02:12. USA and Israel agree on aid plan for Gaza
The USA and Israel agree on an aid plan for Gaza, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken reported.
00:48. Israel attacks some Hezbollah targets in Lebanese territory
Israel has attacked Hezbollah “terrorist” targets in Lebanon: army sources have revealed. Since the start of the war, clashes on the border between the two countries have resulted in the deaths of about 10 people on the Lebanese side, mostly fighters but also a Portal journalist and two civilians.
00:25. New York Times quotes Iranian minister: “Entering war is possible”
Iran does not rule out war if the situation in the Middle East worsens. This is reported by the New York Times, citing Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir Abdollahian. The minister said on state television that “any preventive action” by the regional militia against Israel would be possible in the next few hours if attacks on civilians in Gaza continued. This refers to the Hezbollah militia in Lebanon. Asked whether Iran would go to war, Abdollahian replied: “Anything is possible, neither side can remain indifferent.”
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