A delicate dilemma: How to get the hostages back? By #BBC Frank Gardner
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#Israel #Gaza #hamas

Here is a short documentary about how #GiladShalit was returned:
https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/w3ct3c3v

#Israeli captives kept in secure places and tunnels, #Hamas says

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#Israel #Gaza

Deepening risk of an explosion for months
Analysis by #BBC 's Jeremy Bowen

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#Israel #Gaza #hamas

Deadliest day of violence since the Yom Kippur war
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At least 250 #Israelis have been reportedly killed following #Hamas 's ground, air and sea offensive. More than 1,000 people have been wounded - and more than 3,000 rockets have been fired into the Israeli territory, according to the #Israeli army.

More than 230 #Gazans were also killed when #Israel responded with retaliatory strikes, #Gaza officials have said.

V Times of Israel:
Some #hostages rescued in southern #Israel following unprecedented #Hamas assault

#IDF hits Hamas targets in #Gaza ; #rocket hits #Ashkelon hospital; relatives of missing persons rush to help with identification; forces take control of #Sderot police station
https://www.timesofisrael.com/liveblog-october-8-2023/?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=twitter

What could happen next?
By Yolande Knell, #BBC #MENA correspondent in #Jerusalem
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#Israel undoubtedly sees the potential for a war that could open up on multiple fronts. A worst-case scenario is that it could draw in the powerful #Lebanese militant group, #Hezbollah .

Meanwhile, the Israeli military has ordered a massive reinforcement of troops. As well as its intense air raids on #Gaza, it has indicated that it is planning a ground operation there .

'Safe recovery of #hostages may call for ground operation'
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'Overnight, #Israelis have been watching social media posts of civilians dragged out of their homes at gunpoint, shipped into #Gaza and often humiliated on camera.

That is a searing shock to the country. The safety and recovery of those hostages will be at the forefront of everyone's minds.'

The Israeli military is mobilising thousands of infrantry and tanks are being brought on the road to Gaza.
#hamas #IDF

V WSJ:
#Israel Asks #Egypt to Help Negotiate Release of Israelis, say Egyptian Officials

https://www.wsj.com/livecoverage/israel-hamas-gaza-rockets-attack-palestinians/card/israel-asks-egypt-to-help-negotiate-release-of-israelis-say-egyptian-officials-4mGrUhbvOSbN1tPVInmC
#hamas #Gaza

V Times of #Israel :
The #Israeli military says it is evacuating civilians from towns adjacent to the border with the #Gaza Strip at this stage.

The towns include #Nahal Oz, #Erez, #Nir Am, #Mefalsim, #Kfar #Aza, #Gevim, #Or Haner, #Ibim, #Netiv Ha’asara, #Yad Mordechai, #Karmia, #Zikim, £Kerem Shalom, #Kissufim, #Holit, #Sufa, #Nirim, #Nir Oz, #Ein Hashlosha, #Nir Yitzhak, #Be’eri, #Magen, #Re’im, #Sa’ad and #Alumim

V Haaretz:
#Israel 's death toll reached 350

(Israeli TV has reported 400)

#Israeli Health Ministry reports 2048 injured - 20 critical, 330 serious, 396 moderate, 967 light injuries

V Times of #Israel :
The security cabinet voted last night to put the country officially at war, and it can carry out “significant military activities,” the PM Office announces.

#Netanyahu had already said the country was at war.

The security cabinet decision gives the declaration legal standing in keeping with Basic Law: The Government, which in its Clause 40 says that the country cannot go to war without a government decision.

The #Iranian president has spoken with the leader of #Palestinian militant groups #Hamas and Islamic Jihad ( #PIJ ) after the latest developments, state media in #Iran reports.

Details of Ebrahim #Raisi 's conversations with the two men were not disclosed.

Hamas is backed by Iran, which funds it and provides weapons and training.

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V Times of #Israel :

More restrictions introduced - #IDF announces schools to remain closed, as the Home Front Command extends existing restrictions.

businesses south of #Netanya and north of the central #Negev can only be opened if there is ready access to bomb shelters, the military says.

Gatherings are restricted to 10 people outdoors and 50 people indoors in those areas.

The restrictions are valid till Tuesday at 6 p.m
#hamas

More than 600 Israelis have been killed since Saturday, according to a Facebook post from the press office of #Israel 's government.

It adds that more than 100 people have been kidnapped, and more than 2,000 injured.

In #Gaza, at least 370 people have been killed following Israeli air strikes and 2200 injured, according to #Palestinian officials.

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Secretary of State Anthony #Blinken told CNN the #US government has received reports that several Americans have died in #Israel - and that officials are trying to verify those reports.

The US is "likely" to give details on new military assistance for Israel later today, he says. "Our first focus is to make sure Israel has what it needs."

A rally has taken place in #Beirut #Lebanon which saw people wave #Palestinian and #Hezbollah flags, followed Hezbollah’s limited artillery and missile strikes this morning on #Israeli positions.

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