U.S. President Joe Biden "welcomed the release of two additional hostages from Gaza earlier today, and reaffirmed his commitment to ongoing efforts to secure the release of all the remaining hostages taken by Hamas" in a call with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Tuesday, the White House said.
Read more:
Biden also underscored the need to sustain "a continuous flow" of humanitarian assistance into Gaza, the White House added. He also updated the prime minister on "U.S. support for Israel and ongoing efforts at regional deterrence, to include new U.S. military deployments," according to the White House.
13 View gallery
US President Joe Biden and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in Tel Aviv
(Photo: GPO)
White House national security spokesman John Kirby told CNN early Tuesday the time was not right for a ceasefire in the conflict between Israel and Hamas terrorists
"We don't believe that this is the time for a ceasefire," he said. "Israel has a right to defend themselves. They still have work to do to go after Hamas leadership."
Chinese state media reported early Tuesday that the country's foreign minister told his Israeli counterpart Eli Cohen in a phone call that China will do its utmost when it comes to contributing to Palestinian-Israeli reconciliation.
China will firmly support any resolution as long as it is conducive to peace, Foreign Minister Wang Yi told Cohen, calling the conflict a "major choice between war and peace", state media said on Tuesday.
Wang also called for Israel to take effective measures to protect the safety of Chinese citizens and institutions in the Middle East, adding that "all countries have the right to self-defense, but they should abide by international humanitarian law and protect the safety of civilians."
China has condemned violence and attacks on civilians in the war, and while Wang has declared Israel's actions "beyond the scope of self-defense" he has not named Hamas in his comments.
The call comes just days before Wang will travel to the United States in a long-anticipated visit that comes amid soaring tensions in the Middle East, which U.S. officials hope Beijing can help contain. Wang will visit Washington from Oct. 26-28 and meet with U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken and President Joe Biden's national security advisor Jake Sullivan, officials said, declining to say if he will meet with Biden as well.
Meanwhile, the IDF reported early Tuesday that it struck Hezbollah targets in Lebanon, including a military compound and an observation post. "The attack was carried out in response to earlier launches from Lebanese territory," the IDF Spokesperson’s Unit said.
Earlier, the Hezbollah-affiliated Al Mayadeen network reported late on Monday that three U.S. military bases in Syria were attacked by Iranian-backed militias using drones.
According to the report, the targeted bases include a facility in the al-Omar oil field area in eastern Deir ez-Zur, and the two bases, al-Tanf and al-Shaddadi. Katai’b Hezbollah, an Iraqi militia group established by Iran's elite Quds Force, claimed responsibility for the attacks on al-Omar and al-Shaddadi.
U.S. President Joe Biden was informed about the attack as he held a press conference and stated that he had to head to the situation room.
Israel confirmed the release of two of its hostages held in Gaza and that they have been transferred to Egypt. Hamas said on Monday evening that it released two women whom he identified as 85-year-old Yocheved Lifshitz and Nurit Cooper, 80, both abducted from Kibbutz Nir Oz. Israeli officials said they were not party to negotiations.
The Wall Street Journal said a plan to release 50 of the hostages who have foreign passports, which was reported earlier in the day, was foiled by Israel's refusal to allow fuel to be included in the transfer of aid to Gaza.
Hamas terrorists with the two captives released
Egypt TV shows released Israeli captives
Saudi-based news outlet Al Arabiya and the New York Times claimed there would be an imminent release of 50 of the hostages who hold foreign passports. According to a Wall Street Journal report, that release did not take place after Israel refused to allow fuel into Gaza with the transfer of humanitarian aid.
"We decided to release them for compelling humanitarian and health reasons, despite the occupation committing more than eight violations of the procedures that were agreed upon with the mediating brothers for the occupation to adhere to during this day to complete the handover process," the Hamas terror group's military wing said. It claimed Israel refused to receive the two on Friday.
U.S. President Joe Biden said hostages held by the Hamas terrorists should be released, in response to questions about a possible ceasefire in Gaza ."We should have those hostages released and then we can talk," Biden said.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Yoav Gallant made public statements rejecting reports that they disagreed on the timing or even the need of a ground offensive against Gaza. the IDF and Defense officials said earlier that the military was prepared to begin its attack on the Strip and was awaiting the order from the government. Netanyahu said all decisions on the war are made in unanimity by members of the war cabinet.
13 View gallery
Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Chief of staff Herzi Halevi in a joint statement
(Photo: GPO)
A captured Hamas terrorist told his interrogators that Hamas said they would pay $10,000 for each Israeli hostage abducted to Gaza. Another captured terrorist said Hamas instructed its troops to go house to house and kill everyone including women and children. He told his interrogator the killings were approved by religious authorities before the attack began.
13 View gallery
Captured Hamas terrorist says ordered to kill women and children
(Photo: Screenshot)
The U.S. will act appropriately to secure its national security interests in the Middle East but does not want to see the Israel-Hamas conflict widen, White House spokesman John Kirby said on Monday amid what he called an uptick in rocket and drone attacks by Iranian-backed proxy groups, Reuters reported.
The International Court of Justice (ICJ) said Monday it will hold public hearings on the legal consequences of Israel's occupation of the Palestinian territories before eventually issuing a non-binding legal opinion after the 193-member UN General Assembly asked the court in December to express its opinion on the Israel-Palestinian conflict. Hearings will open in February 2024.
The IDF shot down a UAV from Lebanon that entered Israel from the sea in Western Galilee. Sirens blared in Acre for the first time since the war began and Kiryat Shmona also came under fire. At the same time, the military said it shot down two Hamas UAVs launched in Gaza. Hamas also launched rockets at Beer Sheva, which reportedly fell in open areas causing no injuries or damage. All the while rocket fire to communities along the border continued including one landing in Sderot.
The military said its forces struck a terror squad preparing to launch anti-tank missiles across the Lebanon border.
Shas leader Aryeh Deri told his Knesset faction members on Monday that there are no disagreements on the progression of the war between the government and military. "There were no plans in place to eradicate Hamas," he said. "The plans are being drawn up on the go." On Sunday the IDF spokesperson said the forces were prepared for a ground offensive in Gaza and were awaiting the green light from the government.
Netivot Mayor Yehiel Zohar wrote a scathing letter addressed to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and the Dir. Gen. of the Prime Minister's Office Yossi Shelley, in which he criticized the decision not to facilitate the evacuation of his residents to safety after their ordeal starting October 7. The city came under Hamas terrorist attack with battles raging in the streets and has been targeted by heavy rocket fire since. Some who had evacuated to the Dead Sea hotels were informed that their rooms would no longer be paid for and there was no new decision to evacuate the city.
The New York Times admits it made mistakes in covering the hospital explosion in Gaza in a statement published on Monday. "Times editors should have taken more care with the initial presentation, and been more explicit about what information could be verified," said the newspaper - which in the middle of the event adopted the Palestinians' claims and highlighted them in its main headline.
The Israel Defense Forces announced early Monday afternoon that it intercepted a "suspicious aerial target that crossed from Lebanon into Israeli territory. As a result of the interception, sirens were activated in open areas in northern Israel."
Meanwhile, a third convoy of aid trucks entered Rafah Crossing from Egypt bound for Gaza, Reuters reported, citing an aid worker and security sources. On Saturday and Sunday, 34 trucks passed through Rafah, the main crossing in and out of Gaza that does not border Israel. The number of trucks in Monday's convoy was similar to each of those days, the aid worker and security sources said.
13 View gallery
An Israeli flag flies in Sderot; in the background, smoke in the Gaza Strip from Israeli Air Force air strikes
(Photo: Thomas COEX / AFP)
After a 14-hour lull, rockets were fired from Gaza late on Monday morning toward Ashkelon and the surrounding communities.
The Israel Defense Forces struck several Hezbollah targets overnight between Sunday and Monday, including terrorist outposts and watchtowers. On Monday morning, IDF forces attacked a terror cell on the Lebanon border, destroying the anti-tank missile launcher it had planned on using against IDF positions, according to the IDF Spokesperson's Unit.
13 View gallery
The flags of the Palestinians and Hezbollah near UN UNIFIL inspectors in southern Lebanon
((Photo: Joseph EID / AFP))
IDF spokesman Brig.-Gen. Daniel Hagari said on Monday morning that, in the last day, the IDF has eliminated eight terrorist squads in Lebanon that tried to launch anti-tank missiles at troops and since the beginning of the war it has eliminated more than 20 terrorist squads in Lebanon.
The IDF also announced Monday morning that, in the past day, the IDF attacked more than 320 targets throughout the Gaza Strip, including terror tunnels where Hamas operatives were located, dozens of operational command centers, military compounds and observation posts used by the terrorist organization. The IDF said it also struck targets that posed a threat to forces in the area surrounding the Gaza Strip who are preparing for ground operations, including dozens of mortar shell and anti-tank missile launch posts.
Also overnight, in a joint operation of infantry and armored forces of the Givati Brigade with the assistance of the 215th Fire Brigade, several terrorist squads were attacked, including anti-tank squads and other infrastructure targets.
Hagari also said that he IDF has we have notified 308 families of killed IDF soldiers and the families of 222 abductees. "The number of abductees has been updated and has changed in the face of our intelligence gathering. This is due to the fact that there are quite a few foreign citizens that it took us time to classify them and understand who they are. We are in contact with all the families of the missing through the IDF officers who are personally assisting them," Hagari said. He added: "We continue and will continue to act in all possible ways in order to return the abductees home safely."
13 View gallery
U.S. President Joe Biden and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu
(Photo: Haim Zach, GPO)
The New York Times reported Monday that the White House "advised Israel to delay a ground invasion of Gaza" in order to buy more time for negotiations on the release of hostages. Another goal of the US in calling for the postponement is to prepare for attacks by pro-Iranian militias against American targets. However, the US still supports Israeli entry into the Gaza Strip and does not "require" a delay. According to the report, the release of Judith and Natalie Raanan from Gaza led the US administration to put more significant pressure on Israel to delay ground invasion.
Meanwhile, the leaders of the United States, Canada, France, Germany, Italy and Britain late on Sunday underscored their support for Israel and its right to defend itself, but also urged it to adhere to international humanitarian law and protect civilians. In a joint statement issued after a telephone call convened by U.S. President Joe Biden, the leaders also welcomed the release of two hostages and called for the immediate release of all remaining hostages.
U.S. President Joe Biden and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu agreed on the "continued flow" of humanitarian assistance into the Gaza Strip amid Israel's war against the territory's ruling Hamas terrorist faction, the White House announced Sunday night.
13 View gallery
Truck convoy carrying humanitarian assistance entering Gaza through Rafah border crossing, Saturday morning
(Photo: AP / Fatima Shbair)
"The President welcomed the first two convoys of humanitarian assistance since Hamas’s October 7 terrorist attack, which crossed the border into Gaza and is being distributed to Palestinians in need," according to a readout of the call between the leaders. "The leaders affirmed that there will now be continued flow of this critical assistance into Gaza."
National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir blasted Netanyahu shortly following the White House announcement. "Any agreement on ‘continued flow’ of assistance to Gaza that doesn't include the release of all our captives is a continuation of the approach that brought us to our current situation. Humanitarian aid should only be given in exchange for the release of all the captives," he said.
First published: 12:07, 10.23.23