Defense Minister Yoav Gallant said on Saturday that Israel began a new stage in the war late on Friday when forces entered Gaza. "The ground in Gaza shook," Gallant said "We attacked above and below ground, struck terrorists of all ranks and in all places. The orders are clear. the fight continues until otherwise ordered.
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After hours of intense rocket fire in the south of the country including the border area and the city of Ashkelon, Hamas targeted Tel Aviv and Beer Sheva in the early afternoon. A rocket landed in the southern city causing damage but no injuries.
Hamas said it was trying to locate eight Russian-Israeli dual citizens who were taken hostage during the terrorist attack on Israel in order to free them on Moscow's request, Russian news agencies reported Saturday. "From the Russian side, via the foreign ministry, we received a list of citizens that have dual citizenship," senior Hamas representative Moussa Abu Marzook was cited as saying by the RIA Novosti news agency. "We are looking for those people... It is hard but we are looking. And when we find them, we will let them go."
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Empty chairs line up Haifa streets as families seek to keep their captivity top of mind
(Photo: Jakob Sheckner )
Gallant finally agreed to meet with members of family of the hostages abducted by Hamas terrorists and held in Gaza. Some among them demanded answers from the leadership as to how their loved ones would be protected during a ground offensive on Gaza.
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Families of hostages erect installation in central Tel Aviv square
(Photo: Shmulik Davidpur)
On Friday, a delegation of family members met with U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris who said the administration was making every effort to secure the release of hostages. You are not alone, she told them.
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U.S. Vice President Kamal Harris meets meets family members of hostages held by Hamas in Gaza
(Photo: X)
Israel intercepted a missile fired at it from Lebanon, the military said on Saturday. Earlier residents of the are reported an explosion in the sky over the Golan Heights. the military said it targeted terror squads attempting to launch fire at Israel soon followed by sirens alerting to incoming fire on the Lebanon border and the Western and Lower Galilee.
In the south, the IDF confirmed that its troops remain in Gaza as Hamas targets continue to come under attack. In a briefing Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari said forces were pounding Hamas and that two of its tactical commanders were killed, resulting in weakening the fighting ability of Israel's enemies.
A surface to air missile fired from Lebanon at a manned Israeli aircraft, was intercepted over the Golan Heights. IDF attacked Hezbollah targets across the border. Meanwhile a Syrian opposition news site posted a clip they say shows a civilian airliner landing in an airfield near Homs in Western Syria which is under the control of pro-Iran militias. the site said the plane was carrying weapons for pro-Iran forces in Syria and Lebanon.
The military said its jets struck 150 underground Hamas targets in the northern areas "including terror tunnels, underground combat spaces and additional underground infrastructure. The IDF also said it has killed Asem Abu Rakaba, head of the Hamas Aerial Array.
Israel decided that humanitarian aid to the Strip would increase, bringing food and medicine as the land incursion proceeds but stands on its refusal to allow fuel to be delivered. Military officials said its offensive would pressure Hamas to negotiate for the release of hostages.
The Palestinians said Israeli strikes continued into the morning hours. "Internet and communications have been down for the past 12 hours and ambulances were unable to reach to locations bombed," they said.
Hamas said its forces were prepared to confront the Israeli troops after claiming firefights were taking place in Beit Hanoun in the north eastern part of the Strip and at the al Bureij refugee camp in the center, overnight.
The IDF said on Saturday that it had intercepted a missile from from Lebanon toward Israel. earlier residents in the area reported an explosion in the sky above the Golan Heights
Lebanese daily Al Akhbar reported on Saturday that there was an unusual movement of U.S. troops in the American bases in Syria. "The Americans began transporting to their bases, by air and land, systems to take down UAVs," the publication closely affiliated with Iran-backed Hezbollah said. Sources told the paper some 50 trucks entered Syria in the past three days. "Their presence in Syria and Iraq is not wanted," the reports claimed.
The UN said on Saturday that it had lost contact with its staff, and members of aid organizations in Gaza after a communication and internet failure since late on Friday as Israel expanded its incursions into Gaza. World Health Organization (WHO) chief Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said contact with Gaza health facilities was also lost. "This siege makes me gravely concerned for their safety and the immediate health risks of vulnerable patients," he said.
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Air Force jet takes off to strike Hamas underground infrastructure
(Photo: Screenshot)
Pro Palestinian protesters demanding a cease-fire between Israel and Hamas forced officials on Friday to close Grand Central Terminal, one of New York City's major transit hubs, the Metropolitan Transportation Authority said.
The UN On Friday voted on a call for an immediate truce in Gaza. the resolution drafted by Arab states passed with 120 votes in favor, while 45 abstained and 14 - including Israel and the United States - voted no.
UN ambassador Gilad Erdan slammed the international body for not even mentioning the Hamas terror group in the wording of its resolution and asked why the murderers of babies were being protected by members of the general assembly
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UN General Assembly passes resolution calling for Gaza truce
(Photo: Sarah Yensel / EPA)
Sounds of explosions were heard in the border communities as massive airstrikes targeted the Jabalia refugee camp in the north-eastern part of the Strip. Internet in the Strip was down. IDF Spokesperson Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari said the military was increasing the scope of incursions into Gaza to "meet the objectives of the war." The spokesmen said reports that hostage release was imminent, were part of the Hamas psychological warfare.
He earlier revealed what he described as intelligence showing a Hamas command center located under a the Shifa Hospital in Gaza City. In a briefing to foreign journalists, the IDF revealed what it described as intelligence showing a Hamas command center located under a the Shifa Hospital in Gaza City.
"There are a number of areas, used by Hamas to direct its military operations. A tunnel that reaches the hospital can accesses the command center and a control room used by the terror group's internal police force, is located inside the hospital, and heavily staffed by armed forces," the spokesperson said.
Illustration of Hamas HQ at Shifa
(IDF)
"Another command center is located in the hospital, used among other things, to direct rocket fire at Israeli communities, while the 4,000 medical and administrative staff of the 1,500 bed medical facility, are used as human shields.
The UN General Assembly on Friday overwhelmingly called for an immediate humanitarian truce between Israel and Hamas and demanded aid access to the besieged Gaza Strip and protection of civilians. The resolution drafted by Arab states passed with 120 votes in favor, while 45 abstained and 14 - including Israel and the United States - voted no.
A rocket struck a Tel Aviv residential block in a heavy barrage targeting the metropolitan area and the central plains on Friday afternoon. At least four people were hurt, one suffering moderate wounds. A rocket also landed in Jaffa, while the southern cities of Ashkelon and Ashdod also came under attack.
Building hit by rocket
(Fire & Rescue)
Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian said on Friday that troops loyal to Iran in Lebanon are ready to "pull the trigger" if the IDF begins its ground offensive on Gaza.