Israel-Hamas war, today’s news: raid on Rafah

Hamas: we remain in Qatar, but the second choice is Jordan

The political leadership of Hamas has no intention of moving from Qatar, but if it were to do so it would choose Jordan as its office location. This was stated by senior Hamas official Mousa Abu Marzouk, denying rumors that the group’s leaders could move from Qatar to Iraq, Syria or Turkey.

Interviewed by Iranian TV al-Alam, Marzouk explained that “any potential transfer, which is currently not planned, would take place in Jordan”. And this is because “Jordan is a nation that supports the Palestinian resistance and Hamas maintains a positive relationship with the Jordanian government.”

Blinken, pact for Riyadh-Israel relations almost concluded

The security pact between the US and Saudi Arabia which includes the normalization of relations with Israel is almost concluded. US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said this from Riyadh.

Bliken, Hamas decide quickly on a very generous proposal

“Hamas has an extraordinarily generous proposal from Israel before them. And right now, the only thing standing between the people of Gaza and a ceasefire is Hamas. They have to decide, and they have to decide quickly. I hope that will make the right decision, we can have a fundamental change in the dynamic.” US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said this while speaking at the World Economic Forum meeting in Saudi Arabia, as reported by the Guardian.

Gaza, 34,488 people have died since October 7th

At least 34,488 people have died in the Gaza Strip since October 7th. This was reported by the Ministry of Health of Gaza, which has been in the hands of Hamas since 2007, according to which 77,643 people have been injured since the Palestinian enclave was targeted by Israeli military operations launched in response to the October 7 attack in Israel. In 24 hours, according to ministry data relaunched by al-Jazeera, 34 dead and 68 injured were counted in Gaza.

Red Cross chief, no mandate to replace UNRWA in Gaza

The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) does not have the mandate to replace the UN agency for Palestinians (UNRWA) in Gaza. ICRC director general Pierre Krahenbuhl stated this in an interview with the Swiss newspaper Le Temps, underlining that “the mandates are completely different”. The mandate of UNRWA “derives from the UN General Assembly, that of the ICRC from the Geneva Convention. The ICRC cannot take over the mandate of UNRWA.

Blinken: Iran main source of instability in the Middle East

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, after meeting with Saudi Arabia’s Foreign Minister in Riyadh, Prince Faisal bin Farhan, said that Iran is the main source of instability in the region. The Guardian reports it. According to Blinken, the events of recent months have shown that there are two possible paths forward. One, he said, is “torn by division, destruction, violence and permanent insecurity.” Meetings like today’s have shown that there are many more nations in the region interested in the second path, that of “greater integration, greater security, greater peace”.

Tajani tonight in Riyadh, ‘immediate ceasefire’

The Vice-President of the Council and Minister of Foreign Affairs, Antonio Tajani, will be in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, this afternoon for a series of meetings on the war in Gaza and the crisis in the Middle East in general. The Farnesina writes this in a note. US Secretary of State Antony Blinken will also be in Riyadh, who will then continue with a new trip to the region to avoid the possibility of a new military escalation in the clash between Israel and Hamas. Tajani will share the results of the G7 meeting in Capri with the Arab and European ministers and will have various moments of discussion with his European colleagues, as well as with other colleagues in the region, including the ministers of Qatar, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Jordan.

Talks for the Gaza truce, a Hamas delegation expected in Egypt

A Hamas delegation is expected to arrive in Egypt today, where it will respond to Israel’s latest proposal for a long-sought deal on the release of hostages and a truce in the Gaza Strip after nearly seven months of war. Egypt, Qatar and the United States have been trying for months to broker a deal between Israel and Hamas, as the death toll in Gaza rises and calls for a deal intensify.

Lebanon, intense Israeli bombing in the south

Intense Israeli bombings have occurred in the last few hours in southern Lebanon at the end of a weekend of repeated exchanges of fire between Hezbollah and the army of the Jewish state.
Lebanese media report Israeli raids along the front line, in particular in the southern Lebanese district of Bint Jbeil, Marjouyoun and Tyre.
Over the weekend, Hezbollah claimed responsibility for a series of attacks on Israeli military positions in the Upper Galilee in response to Israeli bombing in southern Lebanon.

Hamas, the proposed agreement is still being studied

Hamas politburo official Izzat al-Risheq denied anonymous sources from the terrorist organization who told AFP late last night that they had not encountered any major problems with the latest proposal for the truce. In a statement, quoted by Haaretz, al-Risheq clarified that “the proposal is still being studied”.

Al Jazeera, at least 27 Palestinians killed in raid on Gaza

At least 27 Palestinians were killed, including many children and women, in overnight Israeli attacks in Rafah and Gaza City. Al Jazeera reports it.

IDF, Hezbollah positions hit in southern Lebanon

Israeli warplanes hit Hezbollah positions in southern Lebanon overnight. This was reported by the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF), cited by The Times of Israel. The bombings targeted infrastructure in Jabal Blat and several buildings in Marwahin believed to be used by Lebanese militiamen.

Al Jazeera, raid toll on Rafah rises to 20 dead

The death toll from air strikes conducted by Israeli forces on Rafah, in the south of the Gaza Strip, would have risen to 20, including five minors. This was reported by an Al Jazeera correspondent. In Rafah, where thousands of displaced Palestinians have found refuge, an Israeli ground operation is imminent but a possible agreement between Tel Aviv and Hamas for a truce in exchange for the release of hostages could avert the attack.

Blinken in Riyadh, first stop in a series of ceasefire talks

The US Secretary of State Antony Blinken he arrived at Riadat the start of a new round of talks on the crisis aimed at promoting a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas and to increase humanitarian aid in the Gaza Strip. Blinken, who will later visit the Jordan and Israelwill meet visiting Arab and European foreign ministers from the Gulf in the Saudi capital to discuss “day after” plans for the reconstruction of post-conflict Gaza.

A Hamas delegation will be in Cairo to discuss the ceasefire: “We don’t see any problems”

A delegation of Hamas led by the movement’s senior leader, Khalil al-Hayya, will deliver the group’s response to the truce proposal today during a meeting with Egyptian and Qatari mediators at Cairo. A Hamas official told AFP that the Palestinian group has “no major problem” with Israel’s latest proposal and Egypt for a ceasefire in Gaza: “The atmosphere is positive, unless there are new Israeli obstacles.”

Cairo invites Israel together with the Hamas delegation to discuss the conditions for the truce

The Cairo invited Israeli security officials to the country at the same time as the delegation’s arrival Hamas, to “shorten the timeframe and provide the necessary clarifications for the comments that the organization will submit”. According to Egyptian sources, “the Hamas delegation is expected to discuss several points of the Israeli response with Egyptian officials before presenting its final response.”

Media, Biden-Netanyahu “constructive phone call”

The conversation between the American president Joe Biden and the Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu was “constructive” and 75% focused on the hostage deal. This was reported by the American media, according to which the two leaders also spoke about the videos published in recent days of two American hostages.