V Reuters
The #European Commission said it was putting its full portfolio of development #aid to #Palestinian s, worth 691 million euros, under review and immediately suspending all payments.
"The scale of terror and brutality against #Israel and its people is a turning point," Oliver Varhelyi, the Commissioner for the #EU 's neighbourhood, said in a post on X. "There can be no business as usual."
GRAPHIC UPSETTING TRIGGERING CONTENT
#Supernova #festival : How massacre unfolded from verified video and social media
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-67056741
#Israel #hamas #Gaza
US President Joe #Biden has confirmed at least 11 #Americans have been killed since the #Hamas attack on #Israel started on Saturday.
"Sadly, we now know that at least 11 American citizens were among those killed — many of whom made a second home in Israel," he said in a written statement from the White House.
The US defense dept would not go into specifics about the type of weaponry and defence support it is sending #Israel
A senior official said that aircraft had already taken off with #munitions and added that the #Pentagon is in constant contact with counterparts in Israel.
When asked if the US is worried they have used up ammunition supporting #Ukraine , the official said they are able to support the armed forces there as well as Israel.
The European Commission now says that aid payments for #Palestinians are not being suspended, despite an earlier statement of Oliver Varhelyi.
The Commission said in a statement that it was launching a review of its #aid programme.
"In the meantime, as there were no payments foreseen, there will be no suspension of payments," the statement added.
Elsewhere, the UK has announced it is also reviewing its aid for #Palestinian projects.
#EU #Israel #hamas #Gaza
#BBC iv with #UNRWA rep (UN Relief and Works Agency for #Palestine #Refugees in the Near East): Juliet Touma says people in #Gaza are "terrified" and worried for their safety
Asked how much harder it will be to get aid into Gaza since a "complete siege" was ordered, she said "We worry that further tightening will make a situation that is already bad far far worse," adding 1.2 million people rely on the agency for food assistance - a significant number of those being women and children.
Recap:
Benjamin #Netanyahu warned the country will use "enormous force" against #Hamas
Israel's defence minister ordered a "complete #siege" of the #Gaza Strip, cutting off food, fuel, electricity and water supplies
The armed wing of Hamas, the Al-Qassam brigades, has announced it will "begin executing an #Israeli civilian captive in return for any new Israeli bombing of civilians houses without pre-warning"
Why did it take #Israel so long to deal with #Hamas 's attack from #Gaza ?
Analysis by BBC security correspondent Gordon Corera
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-67056987
'Defences seem to have been patchy - #Israeli security and defence forces had in recent months been more focused on the West Bank rather than Gaza, potentially leaving gaps.
Israel's military and intelligence capability has long been rated one of the best in the world. But they may also have underestimated the abilities of their opponents.'
Every #Jewish family in #UK affected by attack on #Israel , says chief rabbi
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-67030722
"a traumatic and horrific time"; "many, many people showing their full solidarity with our Jewish community and people in Israel".
" #Antisemitism is a feature of life right around the globe, and we have just witnessed one of the most awful terrorist outrages in living memory, ever since the conclusion of World War Two."
#BBCNews - #Israelis , united in shock, rally behind war to punish #Hamas
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-67056981
Jeremy Bowen reporting from southern #Israel
'Outside a military base on the highway that goes south to #Gaza hundreds of cars were parked along both hard shoulders and on the central reservation. They were left by reservists who had reported for duty. More were arriving.'
'More armed men have entered Israel through breaches in the wire that was designed by Israel to contain Hamas.'
(Cont.)
#Israelis are incredulous that their army is taking so long to regain control of the land and villages bordering #Gaza . One unit appealed on social media for drones, others have asked for sleeping bags and food.'
#Israel is still bitterly divided about Mr #Netanyahu , whose government's extreme right-wing agenda prompted months of protests. But citizens of all political persuasion are rallying behind their flag'
Barack Obama:
"All Americans should be horrified and outraged by the brazen terrorist attacks on #Israel and the slaughter of innocent civilians."
"We grieve for those who died, pray for the safe return of those who’ve been held hostage, and stand squarely alongside our ally, Israel, as it dismantles #Hamas ."
"As we support Israel’s right to defend itself against terror, we must keep striving for a just and lasting peace for #Israelis and #Palestinians alike."
By Sebastian Usher, #BBC Arab Affairs Editor:
'Reports have emerged from #Qatari officials that the Gulf state - which has long provided vital financial support for #Gaza and also hosts some of the #Hamas leadership - has tried to initiate talks that could secure the release of some of the #hostages
Both #Israel and #Hamas have denied reports of a possible prisoner exchange.'
Good morning from London, posts to follow from where i left yesterday, so you don’t miss any major news on #Israel #Gaza #hamas
Leaders of UK, US, France, Italy and Germany released a stmt last night which voices "unequivocal condemnation of Hamas and its appalling acts of terrorism".
"Our countries will support Israel in its efforts to defend itself and its people against such atrocities. This is not a moment for any party hostile to Israel to exploit these attacks to seek advantage"
(Cont.)
"All of us recognize the legitimate aspirations of the #Palestinian people, and support equal measures of justice and freedom for #Israelis and Palestinians alike."
"But make no mistake: #Hamas does not represent those aspirations, and it offers nothing for the Palestinian people other than more terror and bloodshed."
'before calls for restraint from #Washington (the only power that matters here) will become hard to resist.
If #Israel is determined to deal a decisive blow to #Hamas , this will inevitably involve a massive ground operation, at which point civilian casualties – already high – are likely to soar.
Complicating matters enormously is the fate of at least 100 Israeli #hostages – soldiers and civilians - now being held in #Gaza .'
V Reuters
the #Rafah border crossing between #Gaza and #Egypt had been closed - and then reopened but for humanitarian cases only. #Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-#Sisi and #Saudi Arabian Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman #MBS - talking in a phone call - have said the "voice of reason" should prevail in the conflict between #Israel and #Hamas.
An Egyptian presidency spokesman said that they agreed the ongoing escalation threatens the region's stability.
V RBC.ru
Russia and #hamas are in touch about the return of Russian hostages
https://www.rbc.ru/politics/10/10/2023/6524cf909a7947899592b026?from=from_main_3
V Reuters
PA leader to visit Moscow:
"An agreement has been reached that Mr Abbas will come here to Moscow," Abdel Hafiz, Palestinian envoy to Moscow is reported as saying. "We are awaiting an official statement from the Kremlin... about when the visit will take place,"
The #BBC has been hearing from Doron #Kempel, former deputy chief of the #SayeretMatkal - #Israel 's elite commando unit:
"The challenge is how to know enough about where the #hostages are and how to time the assault such that you can at one time break into wherever they’re being held and save as many of them as possible."
GRAPHIC WARNING
Aftermath of #airstrike on #Jabalia #refugee camp
#Palestinian health officials say at least 15 people were killed in an #Israeli attack in the densely populated Jabalia refugee camp in the north of the #Gaza Strip.
#BBC Arabic filmed some of the destruction left by the airstrike.
Analysis by #BBC security corr Frank Gardner:
'There is an assumption in some quarters that the threat to #Israel from #Hamas can somehow be eliminated once and for all with a full-scale invasion on the ground.
History would suggest this is unlikely to be the silver bullet some are hoping for.
When Israel invaded #Gaza in 2014, more than 2,000 #Palestinians were killed, with each funeral generating ever more radicalised young men.'
(Cont.)
' #hamas armed wing is believed to number around 30K fighters, they know their tunnels, cellars, bunkers and backstreets better than the invaders.
Such a densely populated place is no place for tanks, which would be highly vulnerable to ambush.
From a purely military standpoint, a ground assault could result in short-term success, eliminating most of Hamas’s commanders.
But in the absence of a lasting peace deal, it would likely regenerate itself...'
Kriszta Satori
RobCornelius