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☆ Netanyahu says Israel is preparing ground invasion of Gaza
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-25 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

JERUSALEM, Oct 25 (Reuters) - Israel is preparing a ground invasion of Gaza, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said in a televised statement on Wednesday, but he declined to provide any details on the timing or other information about the operation. "We have already killed thousands of terrorists and this is only the beginning," Netanyahu said. "Simultaneously, we are preparing for a ground invasion. Israel has carried out days of intense bombardment of the densely populated Gaza Strip following the Oct. 7 Hamas attack on Israeli communities that killed some 1,400 people. Earlier, citing U.S. and Israeli officials, the Wall Street Journal reported that Israel had agreed to delay the invasion of Gaza for now, so the United States could rush missile defences to the region.

Persons: Benjamin Netanyahu, Netanyahu, Israel, Washington, Henriette Chacar, James Mackenzie, Crispian Balmer, Angus MacSwan Organizations: Hamas, Wall Street Journal, Reuters, Palestinian, Thomson Locations: Israel, Gaza, United States, Qatar

☆ Why is Israel attacking south Gaza after telling people to go there?
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-25 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

A woman stands near a bullet-riddled wall in Zahajra, near the border with Israel, in southern Lebanon October 10, 2023. Since telling Gazans to head south, the Israeli military (IDF) has continued to pound targets across the area, killing an unknown number of civilians. That's why we are asking civilians to go south of the Gaza River." Israel has massed troops on the border with Gaza and is widely expected to launch a land invasion. On Oct. 18, the military urged residents of Gaza to evacuate to what it called a humanitarian zone in Al Mawasi, on the coast of southern Gaza.

Persons: Mohamed Azakir, Gazans, Khan Younis, Jonathan Conricus, Israel, Hamas's, Antonio Guterres, Crispian Balmer, James Mackenzie, Nick Macfie Organizations: REUTERS, Residents, IDF, Military, Hamas, United Nations Office, Humanitarian Affairs, Thomson Locations: Zahajra, Israel, Lebanon, Gaza, Gaza City, Khan, Israeli, Al Mawasi, Gaza's, Egypt

☆ Israel's Netanyahu, fending off critics, says there's 'clear unity of purpose' with defence chiefs
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-24 | by ( James Mackenzie | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

Netanyahu, Israel's longest serving prime minister, has seen his already falling approval ratings plunge following the Oct. 7 Hamas attack, which killed some 1,400 people in the deadliest day for Israel in its 75-year history. "It has deeply impeded the need to focus on the war and on making decisions, including painful decisions. "Between Prime Minister Netanyahu and the Minister of Defense and the Chief of Staff there is complete and mutual trust and a clear unity of purpose," the statement said. In the wake of the Oct. 7 attack, Netanyahu invited former Defence Minister Benny Gantz, who leads one of the centrist opposition parties, to join his war cabinet as part of an emergency unity government. But his own personal standing, already clouded by a corruption trial on charges which he denies, has been badly damaged and a recent poll showed Gantz was now a far more popular choice as prime minister.

Persons: Benjamin Netanyahu, Netanyahu, Israel's, Yedioth, Israel, Haim Bibas, Benny Gantz, Gantz, James Mackenzie, Nick Macfie Organizations: of Defense, Gaza, Channel, Thomson Locations: Hamas, Gaza, Israel, Egypt, Syria, United States, Modiin

☆ Qatar hostage mediators press Hamas on civilian releases -diplomats, sources
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-24 | by ( Andrew Mills | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +6 min

Hamas on Monday freed two Israeli civilian women captives from the besieged enclave following the release of two hostages with dual U.S.-Israeli nationality on Friday. Qatar is now discussing a larger release of civilians with Hamas and Israel, a fifth source told Reuters on Tuesday after being briefed on the negotiations. The talks are not about any of the Israeli soldiers held by Hamas, the diplomats and regional source familiar with the talks said. When its fighters stormed into Israel on Oct 7, "Hamas did not expect the operation would be as catastrophically successful as it was. Qatar, which has ambitious foreign policy goals, has a direct line of communication with Hamas and Israel.

Persons: Ammar Awad, Matthew Miller, Washington, Osama Hamdan, Israel, Matt Spetalnick, Humeyra Pamuk, Nidal, James Mackenzie, Edmund Blair, William Maclean, Nick Macfie Organizations: Hamas, REUTERS, quicken, U.S, Reuters, Qatari Ministry of Foreign Affairs, . State Department, Qatar apprised, Thomson Locations: Tel Aviv, Gaza, Israel, DOHA, Gulf, Palestinian, Qatar, In Washington, U.S, Jerusalem, Washington, Beirut

☆ Israel's Netanyahu, Fending off Critics, Says There's 'Clear Unity of Purpose' With Defence Chiefs
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-24 | by ( Oct. | At A.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +4 min

Persons: James Mackenzie JERUSALEM, Benjamin Netanyahu, Netanyahu, Israel's, Yedioth, Israel, Haim Bibas, Benny Gantz, Gantz, James Mackenzie, Nick Macfie Organizations: of Defense, Gaza, Channel Locations: Hamas, Gaza, Israel, Egypt, Syria, United States, Modiin

☆ Qatar Hostage Mediators Press Hamas on Civilian Releases -Diplomats, Sources
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-24 | by ( Oct. | At P.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +5 min

Hamas on Monday freed two Israeli civilian women captives from the besieged enclave following the release of two hostages with dual U.S.-Israeli nationality on Friday. Qatar is now discussing a larger release of civilians with Hamas and Israel, a fifth source told Reuters on Tuesday after being briefed on the negotiations. The talks are not about any of the Israeli soldiers held by Hamas, the diplomats and regional source familiar with the talks said. Hamas says such captive soldiers are strategic assets the group can eventually exchange for major concessions from Israel. Qatar, which has ambitious foreign policy goals, has a direct line of communication with Hamas and Israel.

Persons: Andrew Mills, Matthew Miller, Washington, Osama Hamdan, Israel, Matt Spetalnick, Humeyra Pamuk, Nidal, James Mackenzie, Edmund Blair, William Maclean, Nick Macfie Organizations: Andrew Mills DOHA, Reuters, quicken, U.S, Hamas, Qatari Ministry of Foreign Affairs, . State Department, Qatar apprised Locations: Gaza, Israel, Gulf, Palestinian, Qatar, In Washington, U.S, Jerusalem, Washington, Beirut

☆ Hamas hostages: what we know so far
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-19 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +6 min

Israel has responded by pounding Gaza with air strikes, killing thousands, and has said it will act to free the hostages while wiping out Hamas. Hamas has suggested the hostages could be swapped for approximately 6,000 Palestinians held in Israeli prisons. Israel has said that there will be no end to the blockade of the enclave without freedom for Israeli hostages. Israel says the hostages were taken to Gaza but their exact whereabouts within the enclave are unknown, making their rescue more complicated. U.S. President Joe Biden said his administration is "workin’ like hell" to find American hostages held by Hamas.

Persons: Rachel Goldberg, Hersh Goldberg Polin, Ammar Awad, Israel, Kan, Mia Schem, Jake Sullivan, Jim Risch, Alberto Fernandez, Rishi Sunak's, Sunak, Ofir Engel, Kibbutz Be'eri, Garcovich, Ivan Illaramendi, Benjamin Netanyahu, Gal Hirsch, Hakan Fidan, Joe Biden, Britain's Sunak, Argentina's Fernandez, Emmanuel Macron, Olaf Scholz, Biden, Charlie Devereux, Crispian Balmer, Kylie MacLellan, Patricia Rua, John Irish, James Mackenzie, Patricia Zengerle, Grant McCool Organizations: REUTERS, Monday, Reuters, U.S, French, Tel Aviv . U.S, Thomson Locations: Gaza, Israel, Jerusalem, Rafah, Egypt, Thailand, Argentine, France, Portugal, Portuguese, Chilean, Spanish, Italy, Turkey, Germany, U.S, Franco, Berlin, Tel Aviv

Reuters fact-checking unit has identified numerous cases of social media posts using fake images and information about the Israel-Hamas conflict, and others in which confusion rather than deliberate disinformation appears to have heightened tensions. loading* A video of Russian President Vladimir Putin speaking about Ukraine last year was shared this month with fabricated subtitles warning the U.S. not to interfere in the Israel-Hamas conflict. The sheriff’s office said they were "targeted by the suspect due to them being Muslim and the on-going Middle Eastern conflict involving Hamas and the Israelis". Marc Owen Jones, a disinformation expert and professor at Hamad bin Khalifa University in Qatar, said there was often a rise in disinformation during conflicts. Clearly they seem directed at different audiences, but the combined effect is to muddy the waters about the truth in the conflict," he said.

Persons: Khan Younis, Abu Mustafa, Joe Biden, we’ve, Biden, Farida Khan, Al Jazeera, Jazeera, Vladimir Putin, Pink, Gerald Darmanin, Thierry Breton, Rafi Mendelsohn, Abu Obaidah, Tayyip Erdogan, Marc Owen Jones, Hamad, Stephanie Burnett, Stephen Farrell, Hardik, Abdel Fattah Sherif, Neha Mustafi, Jonathan B Mathew, Nidal, James Mackenzie, Andrew Mills, William Maclean, Angus MacSwan Organizations: REUTERS, Al, Hamas, Reuters, Louvre, Facebook, Meta, YouTube, Israel’s Office, State Attorney, Twitter, Palestine, Hamad bin Khalifa University, Hardik Vyas, Thomson Locations: Gaza, AMSTERDAM, LONDON, Israel, ., Al Jazeera, Ukraine, Guatemala, Israeli, New Zealand, kibbutzes, France, In Illinois, London, Middle, Tehran, Turkey, Qatar, Amsterdam, Bangalore, Jerusalem, Doha

☆ Israeli army spokesman says next phase of war may be different from expectations
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-17 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: 1 min

Palestinians search for casualties under the rubble of a building destroyed by Israeli strikes in Khan Younis in the southern Gaza Strip, October 17, 2023. REUTERS/Mohammed Salem Acquire Licensing RightsJERUSALEM, Oct 17 (Reuters) - The Israeli military is getting ready for the next phase of its campaign against the Gaza Strip but plans may not conform to widespread expectations of an imminent ground offensive, an army spokesperson said on Tuesday. Everybody's talking about the ground offensive. It might be something different," Lt Colonel Richard Hecht told a regular briefing with reporters. Reporting by James Mackenzie; Editing by Alison WilliamsOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Khan Younis, Mohammed Salem, haven't, Richard Hecht, James Mackenzie, Alison Williams Organizations: REUTERS, Rights, Thomson Locations: Gaza

Blinken said after lengthy talks with Netanyahu that Biden will reaffirm solidarity with Israel, which has widely been expected to launch a ground assault in Gaza. Earlier, Iran's foreign minister said Israel would not be allowed to act in Gaza without consequences, warning of "preemptive action" in the coming hours. ... All options are open and we cannot be indifferent to the war crimes committed against the people of Gaza." Iran refers to regional countries and forces opposed to Israel and the United States as a "resistance front." Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi said on Monday that while Tehran supported the Palestinian cause, the resistance front against Israel made its own independent decisions.

Persons: Khan Younis, Mohammed Salem, Biden, Joe Biden, Benjamin Netanyahu, Antony Blinken, Blinken, Netanyahu, , Israel, Hossein Amirabdollahian, Amirabdollahian, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Ebrahim Raisi, Nidal al, Bassam Massoud, Nuha Sharaf, Ari Rabinovitch, Dan Williams, Henriette Chacar, Dedi, Maayan Lubell, Emily Rose, James Mackenzie, John Davison, Parisa, Humeyra Pamuk, Hatem Maher, Ahmed Tolba, Omar Abdel, Trevor Hunnicutt, Nandita Bose, Rami Ayyub, Katharine Jackson, Michelle Nichols, David Brunnstrom, Howard Goller, Cynthia Osterman Organizations: REUTERS, Hamas U.S, Israel, Wednesday, Israeli, Iranian, Zionist, United Nations, Thomson Locations: Gaza, Israel, GAZA, JERUSALEM, WASHINGTON, Tel Aviv, U.S, Iran, United States, Lebanon, Tehran, Jerusalem, Dubai, Razek, Cairo, Washington

Iran, which backs Hamas, refers to regional countries and forces opposed to Israel and the United States as a "resistance front." Diplomatic efforts have concentrated on getting aid into Gaza through the Rafah crossing with Egypt, the sole route out that is not controlled by Israel. While tens of thousands have fled south, the United Nations says there is no way to move so many people without causing a humanitarian catastrophe. According to the United Nations, a million Gazans have already been driven from their homes. The Kremlin readout of the call did not include any mention of the ceasefire Russia was trying to achieve by putting forward a resolution in the United Nations Security Council.

Persons: Khan Younis, Mohammed Salem, Israel Russia's Putin, Israel's Netanyahu, Joe Biden, Antony Blinken, Benjamin Netanyahu, gunning, Hossein Amirabdollahian, Amirabdollahian, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Ebrahim Raisi, Israel, Netanyahu, Biden, Adrienne Watson, Khaled Meshaal, Vladimir Putin, Moscow, Putin, Abu Dahoud, Nidal al, Bassam Massoud, Nuha Sharaf, Ari Rabinovitch, Dan Williams, Henriette Chacar, Dedi, Maayan Lubell, Emily Rose, James Mackenzie, John Davison, Parisa, Humeyra Pamuk, Hatem Maher, Ahmed Tolba, Omar Abdel, Trevor Hunnicutt, Nandita Bose, Rami Ayyub, Katharine Jackson, Michelle Nichols, David Brunnstrom, Howard Goller Organizations: REUTERS, Diplomats, Gaza, U.S, Tel Aviv . Iranian, Zionist, Israel, National Security, Hezbollah, Nations, United Nations, Pentagon, United Nations Security Council, Palestinian Authority, Thomson Locations: Gaza, GAZA, JERUSALEM, WASHINGTON, Israel, Tel Aviv, Iran, Hamas, Israel's, Jerusalem, United States, Lebanon, Tehran, Egypt, Cairo, Rafah, Washington's, Syria, Lebanese, Russian, Russia, Dubai, Razek, Washington

☆ Hamas releases hostage video of Franco-Israeli woman
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-16 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

JERUSALEM, Oct 17 (Reuters) - The Islamist group Hamas released a video on Monday showing a statement from one of the captives seized in last week's devastating attack on Israel. The Israeli military issued a statement, saying it was in constant touch with Schem's family and condemning Hamas as a "murderous terrorist organization". "In the video, Hamas is trying to portray itself as a humane organization, while it is a responsible for the murder and abduction of babies, women, children, and elderly," it said. Earlier, Hamas' armed wing said non-Israelis kidnapped on Oct. 7, were "guests" who would be released "when circumstances allow". Reporting by James Mackenzie and Roleen Tafakji; Editing by David GregorioOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Mia Schem, Emmanuel Macron, James Mackenzie, Roleen, David Gregorio Our Organizations: Hamas, Reuters, Thomson Locations: Israel, Israel's

On Monday, rocket-warning sirens sounded in several towns in southern Israel, the Israeli military said. Authorities in Gaza said at least 2,750 people had so far been killed by the Israeli strikes, a quarter of them children, and nearly 10,000 wounded. But Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office said in a statement: "There is currently no truce and humanitarian aid in Gaza in exchange for getting foreigners out." Hamas has told people to ignore Israel's message and residents fear Israeli air strikes in southern Gaza too. In southern Gaza, five members a family were killed in Khan Younis refugee camp.

Persons: Daniel Hagari, Israel, Benjamin Netanyahu's, Izzat El Reshiq, Sameh Shoukry, Lisi Niesner, Joe Biden, Gazans, Khan, Suhail Baker, Baker, Abu Ahmed, Antony Blinken, Issam Abdallah, Nidal al, Ari Rabinovitch, Dan Williams, Henriette Chacar, Dedi, Maayan Lubell, Emily Rose, James Mackenzie, John Davison, Parisa, Humeyra Pamuk, Hatem Maher, Ahmed Tolba, Omar Abdel, Nandita Bose, Rami Ayyub, Katharine Jackson, Michelle Nichols, Angus MacSwan, Miral Fahmy, Philippa Fletcher Organizations: Hamas, Authorities, Reuters, United, Palestinian, REUTERS, Washington, U.S, Ambulance Service, United Nations, ISRAEL U.S, Sunday, Thomson Locations: Israel, Gaza Gaza, GAZA, JERUSALEM, CAIRO, Gaza, Hamas, Egypt, Rafah, United States, U.S, Lebanon, Al, Quds, Gaza City, Khan Younis, BLINKEN, ISRAEL, Iran, American, Iranian, Jerusalem, Dubai, Razek, Cairo, Washington

☆ Gaza Border Crossing Set to Reopen as Israeli Troops Prepare Ground Assault
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-15 | by ( Oct. | At P.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +7 min

NBC News, citing a Palestinian official, reported the Rafah border crossing would open at 9 a.m. on Monday. U.S. government officials say they are mobilizing to help alleviate the humanitarian crisis in Gaza, anticipating a brutal ground offensive. Washington is also focused on avoiding a spillover of the conflict, especially with clashes with Lebanon escalating on Israel's border. Israel's military, which has massed tanks on Gaza's border in preparation for a ground offensive, says it is targeting Hamas and its infrastructure in response. Israeli military chief Lieutenant General Herzi Halevi told soldiers near the Gaza border they would be entering Gaza to root out Hamas, targeting "every place, every commander, every operator."

Persons: Humeyra Pamuk, Nandita Bose, Nidal, Antony Blinken, Abdel Fattah al, Blinken, David Satterfield, Gazans, Joe Biden, Hossein Amirabdollahian, Bejamin Netanyahu, Israel's, General Herzi Halevi, Halevi, Netanyahu, Biden, Philippe Lazzarini, Hatem Maher, Ahmed Tolba, Omar Abdel, Rami Ayyub, Katharine Jackson, Ari Rabinovitch, Dan Williams, Henriette Chacar, Dedi, Maayan Lubell, Emily Rose, James Mackenzie, John Davison, Parisa, Michelle Nichols, Simon Lewis, Lisa Shumaker Organizations: Mughrabi, Gaza, United Nations, Veteran U.S, NBC, Palestinian, ABC News, Reuters, Authorities, United, State Department, Saturday, Palestinian Red Crescent Society, UN, UNRWA Locations: Mughrabi CAIRO, WASHINGTON, GAZA, Gaza, Israel, Rafah, Egypt, Middle East, U.S, Washington, Lebanon, Iran, Tehran, United States, France, Canada, Hamas, Al, Quds, Razek, Cairo, Jerusalem, Dubai

☆ Netanyahu Partner Says Israel's Leaders Failed to Protect Citizens
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-15 | by ( Oct. | At P.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: 1 min

JERUSALEM (Reuters) - Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich said on Sunday the government was taking responsibility for the devastating attack that allowed Hamas militants to enter Israel and kill hundreds of Israeli civilians. "We have to admit honestly, painfully and with a bowed head - we, the state leadership and the security establishment, have failed in maintaining the security of our citizens," Smotrich, a key partner in Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's government, told a news conference. "We failed to implement the unwritten contract, the first of its kind between a state and its citizens. A contract that was written in blood and is now stained with blood." (Reporting by Ari Rabinovitch and Steven Scheer; editing by James Mackenzie)

Persons: Bezalel Smotrich, Benjamin Netanyahu's, Ari Rabinovitch, Steven Scheer, James Mackenzie Organizations: Israeli Locations: JERUSALEM, Israel

☆ Israel's leaders failed to protect citizens, finance minister Bezalel Smotrich says
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-15 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich attends an inauguration event for Israel's new light rail line for the Tel Aviv metropolitan area, in Petah Tikva, Israel, August 17, 2023. REUTERS/Amir Cohen/File photo Acquire Licensing RightsJERUSALEM, Oct 15 (Reuters) - Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich said on Sunday the government was taking responsibility for the devastating attack that allowed Hamas militants to enter Israel and kill hundreds of Israeli civilians. "We have to admit honestly, painfully and with a bowed head - we, the state leadership and the security establishment, have failed in maintaining the security of our citizens," Smotrich, a key partner in Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's government, told a news conference. "We failed to implement the unwritten contract, the first of its kind between a state and its citizens. Reporting by Ari Rabinovitch and Steven Scheer; editing by James MackenzieOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Bezalel Smotrich, Amir Cohen, Benjamin Netanyahu's, Ari Rabinovitch, Steven Scheer, James Mackenzie Organizations: Tel, REUTERS, Rights, Israeli, Thomson Locations: Tel Aviv, Petah Tikva, Israel

NBC News, citing a Palestinian official, reported the Rafah border crossing would open at 9 a.m. on Monday. Washington is also focused on avoiding a spillover of the conflict, especially with clashes with Lebanon escalating on Israel's border. [1/5]Smoke rises in the air following Israeli bombings in Gaza, as seen from Israel's border with the Gaza Strip, in southern Israel October 15, 2023. Israel's military, which has massed tanks on Gaza's border in preparation for a ground offensive, says it is targeting Hamas and its infrastructure in response. Israeli military chief Lieutenant General Herzi Halevi told soldiers near the Gaza border they would be entering Gaza to root out Hamas, targeting "every place, every commander, every operator."

Persons: Antony Blinken, Abdel Fattah al, Blinken, David Satterfield, Gazans, Joe Biden, Hossein Amirabdollahian, Amir Cohen, Bejamin Netanyahu, Israel's, General Herzi Halevi, Halevi, Netanyahu, Biden, Philippe Lazzarini, Humeyra Pamuk, Hatem Maher, Ahmed Tolba, Omar Abdel, Nandita Bose, Rami Ayyub, Katharine Jackson, Nidal, Ari Rabinovitch, Dan Williams, Henriette Chacar, Dedi, Maayan Lubell, Emily Rose, James Mackenzie, John Davison, Parisa, Michelle Nichols, Simon Lewis, Lisa Shumaker Organizations: Gaza, United Nations, Veteran U.S, NBC, Palestinian, ABC News, Reuters, Authorities, REUTERS, United, State Department, Saturday, Palestinian Red Crescent Society, UN, UNRWA, Thomson Locations: Rafah, Gaza, Israel, Gaza CAIRO, WASHINGTON, GAZA, Egypt, Middle East, U.S, Washington, Lebanon, Iran, Tehran, United States, France, Canada, Hamas, Al, Quds, Razek, Cairo, Jerusalem, Dubai

Gaza authorities said more than 2,200 people have been killed, a quarter of them children, and nearly 10,000 wounded. On Friday, the Israeli military told residents of the northern half of the Gaza Strip, which includes the enclave's biggest settlement, Gaza City, to move south immediately. Hamas told people not to leave and says roads out are unsafe. Israel says Hamas is preventing people from leaving in order to use them as human shields, which Hamas denies. The only route out of Gaza not under Israeli control was a checkpoint with Egypt at Rafah.

Persons: Biden, Netanyahu, Abbas, Benjamin Netanyahu's, Ismail Haniyeh, Joe Biden, Mahmoud Abbas, Amir Cohen, Lloyd Austin, Shaheen, Israel's Kan, Tzachi Hanegbi, Israel, Nidal al, Ari Rabinovitch, Dan Williams, Henriette Chacar, Dedi, Maayan Lubell, Emily Rose, James Mackenzie, John Davison, Idrees Ali, Trevor Hunnicutt, Michelle Nichols, Patricia Zengerle, Daniel Wallis Organizations: Hamas, Lebanese, United Nations, . Security, Saturday, Israel, REUTERS, U.S . Department of Defense, Eisenhower, . Troops, Reuters, Palestinian Health Ministry, U.S . State Department, Thomson Locations: Gaza, Iran, GAZA, JERUSALEM, Israel, Sunday, Lebanon, Qatar, New York, Russia, Ashkelon, Gaza City, Egypt, Rafah, Cairo, U.S, United States, Palestinian, Washington, Israel's, Jerusalem

☆ Israeli military preparing for 'significant ground operations'
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-14 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: 1 min

Israeli tanks and military vehicles take position near Israel's border with the Gaza Strip, in southern Israel, October 14, 2023. REUTERS/Violeta Santos Moura Acquire Licensing RightsJERUSALEM, Oct 14 (Reuters) - The Israeli military said on Saturday its forces were preparing to implement a wide range of operational offensive plans as expectations grew of an imminent invasion of the Gaza Strip, a week after Hamas gunmen launched a devastating attack on Israel. In a statement, the Israeli military said its forces were deployed across the country, increasing operational readiness for the next stages of the war, "with an emphasis on significant ground operations". Reporting by James MackenzieOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Violeta Santos Moura, James Mackenzie Organizations: REUTERS, Rights, Thomson Locations: Israel's, Gaza, Israel

☆ Netanyahu, opposition's Lieberman disagree on reported unity deal
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-14 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

JERUSALEM, Oct 14 (Reuters) - Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's party said on Saturday opposition politician Avigdor Lieberman had agreed to join the security cabinet, but Lieberman appeared to deny this, saying he wanted to be part of a smaller forum running the Gaza war. "I am willing to join the war cabinet in order to bring about the fastest possible victory. I have no interest in being 'Minister Number 38' in the cabinet and serve as a fig leaf," Lieberman said in a social-media post. An hour earlier, Netanyahu's Likud party said he had invited Lieberman and another, unidentified member of the opposition politician's nationalist party to the security cabinet. Reporting by Dan Williams Writing by James Mackenzie Editing by Mark Potter and Christina FincherOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Benjamin Netanyahu's, Avigdor Lieberman, Lieberman, Netanyahu, Benny Gantz, Dan Williams, James Mackenzie, Mark Potter, Christina Fincher Organizations: Likud, Thomson Locations: Gaza, Israel

☆ US advises its citizens in Gaza to move closer to Egypt's Rafah crossing
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-14 | by ( Humeyra Pamuk | Thomson Reuters | Humeyra Pamuk Is A Senior Foreign Policy Correspondent Based In Washington Dc. She Covers The U.S. State Department | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

Washington has been working with Egypt, Israel and Qatar to open the Rafah crossing on Saturday afternoon to allow Palestinian-Americans to leave, a senior State Department official said earlier. "We have informed U.S. citizens in Gaza with whom we are in contact that if they assess it to be safe, they may wish to move closer to the Rafah border crossing," a U.S. State Department spokesperson said. "There may be very little notice if the crossing opens and it may only open for a limited time." [1/6]Palestinians with dual citizenship gather outside Rafah border crossing with Egypt in the hope of getting permission to leave Gaza, amid the ongoing Israeli-Palestinian conflict, in Rafah in the southern Gaza Strip October 14, 2023. "And we're working together to do exactly that, in particular working on establishing safe areas in Gaza, working on establishing corridors so that humanitarian assistance can reach people who need it.

Persons: Antony Blinken, Blinken, Prince Faisal Bin Farhan, Abu Mustafa, Wang Yi, Matthew Miller, Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Humeyra Pamuk, Matt Spetalnick, James Mackenzie, Helen Popper, Sharon Singleton, Mark Potter, Daniel Wallis Organizations: U.S, Saturday, State Department, Hamas, U.S . State Department, Palestinian, Saudi Foreign, REUTERS, United Arab, Saudi Crown, Thomson Locations: ABU DHABI, Gaza, Rafah, Egypt, Israel, Washington, Qatar, Palestinian, Antony Blinken . Washington, U.S, Riyadh, American, Beijing, it's, Saudi, United Arab Emirates

☆ Palestinians face Israeli deadline to leave northern Gaza
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-13 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +6 min

Israel has since put the Hamas-run Gaza Strip, home to 2.3 million Palestinians, under a total siege and bombarded it with unprecedented air strikes. More than one million residents of northern Gaza on Friday received 24 hours notice from Israel to flee south before an expected ground offensive. While several thousand residents headed south on Friday from northern Gaza, many others said they would stay. "Death is better than leaving," said Mohammad, 20, outside a building smashed by an Israeli air strike near the centre of Gaza. There have also been fears of hostilities spreading, including to Israel's northern border with Lebanon, where clashes this week have already been the deadliest since 2006.

Persons: JERUSALEM, Benjamin Netanyahu, Israel, Joe Biden, Daniel Hagari, Netanyahu, Mohammad, General Antonio Guterres, Biden, Ahmed Zakot, Stephane Dujarric, Martin Griffiths, Mahmoud Abbas, Antony Blinken, Lloyd Austin, Yoav Gallant, Austin, Gallant, Blinken, King Abdullah, Abbas, videographer Issam Abdallah, U.N, Gilad Erdan, Henriette Chacar, Dedi, Maayan Lubell, Emily Rose, James Mackenzie, Michelle Nichols, Emma Farge, Jeff Mason, Eric Beech, Humeyra Pamuk, Steve Gorman, Dan Whitcomb, Jonathan Landay, Cynthia Osterman Organizations: West Bank, Hamas, U.S, United Nations, REUTERS, Palestinian Authority, Gaza . U.S . Defence, Friday, Israeli, Bank, Reuters, Thomson Locations: Northern Gaza, Israel, Gaza, Philadelphia, Egypt, Jordan, Gaza City, Gaza . U.S, Qatar, U.S, Lebanon, Jerusalem, New York, Geneva, Washington, Amman, Los Angeles

☆ Palestinians Face Israeli Deadline to Leave Northern Gaza
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-13 | by ( Oct. | At P.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +6 min

JERUSALEM (Reuters) - More than 1 million Palestinians in northern Gaza faced an Israeli deadline on Saturday to flee south, and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Israel had only just begun to retaliate for last week's Hamas rampage across southern Israel. Israel has since put the Hamas-run Gaza Strip, home to 2.3 million Palestinians, under a total siege and bombarded it with unprecedented air strikes. More than one million residents of northern Gaza on Friday received 24 hours notice from Israel to flee south before an expected ground offensive. While several thousand residents headed south on Friday from northern Gaza, many others said they would stay. There have also been fears of hostilities spreading, including to Israel's northern border with Lebanon, where clashes this week have already been the deadliest since 2006.

Persons: Benjamin Netanyahu, Israel, Joe Biden, Daniel Hagari, Netanyahu, Mohammad, General Antonio Guterres, Biden, U.N, Stephane Dujarric, Martin Griffiths, Mahmoud Abbas, Antony Blinken, Lloyd Austin, Yoav Gallant, Austin, Gallant, Blinken, King Abdullah, Abbas, videographer Issam Abdallah, Gilad Erdan, Henriette Chacar, Dedi, Maayan Lubell, Emily Rose, James Mackenzie, Michelle Nichols, Emma Farge, Jeff Mason, Eric Beech, Humeyra Pamuk, Steve Gorman, Dan Whitcomb, Jonathan Landay, Cynthia Osterman Organizations: Hamas, U.S, United Nations, Palestinian Authority, Gaza . U.S . Defence, Friday, Israeli, Bank, West Bank, Reuters Locations: JERUSALEM, Gaza, Israel, Philadelphia, Egypt, Jordan, Gaza . U.S, Qatar, U.S, Lebanon, Jerusalem, New York, Geneva, Washington, Amman, Los Angeles

☆ Palestinian President Abbas condemns violence against civilians
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-12 | by ( Ali Sawafta | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

Russia's President Vladimir Putin and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas meet on the sidelines of the 6th summit of the Conference on Interaction and Confidence-building Measures in Asia (CICA), in Astana, Kazakhstan October 13, 2022. Sputnik/Vyacheslav Prokofyev/Pool via REUTERS/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsRAMALLAH, Oct 12 (Reuters) - Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas condemned violence against civilians on Thursday in the wake of the devastating attack by Hamas gunmen on Israel and the relentless bombardment of the Gaza Strip by Israeli jets that followed. "We reject the practices of killing civilians or abusing them on both sides because they contravene morals, religion and international law," the official Palestinian news agency Wafa quoted Abbas as saying. Earlier, Israeli settlers in the West Bank killed two Palestinians when they opened fire on a funeral procession. A 37-year-old woman was also killed when she was shot by security forces near Ramallah, the main city in the West bank, according to Palestinian health services.

Persons: Vladimir Putin, Mahmoud Abbas, Vyacheslav Prokofyev, Antony Blinken, Abbas, Wafa, Blinken, Israel, Fatah, Ali Sawafta, James Mackenzie, Mark Heinrich, Jonathan Oatis Organizations: Sputnik, U.S, Palestinian Authority, West Bank, Thomson Locations: Asia, Astana, Kazakhstan, RAMALLAH, Israel, Gaza, Jordan, East Jerusalem, Al Aqsa, Jerusalem, Old City, Palestinian, Ramallah, West

☆ Abandoned cars underline panic at Israeli music festival where Hamas gunmen killed hundreds
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-09 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

JERUSALEM, Oct 9 (Reuters) - Hundreds of cars abandoned in the scramble to flee a massacre at an Israeli music festival where Hamas gunmen killed 260 people and took captives back into Gaza underline the scale of the deadliest attack on Israel in decades. Video footage circulating on social media shows the gunmen descending in paragliders on the gathering in the Negev Desert. Israeli emergency services said 260 bodies had been recovered from the site of the festival. Other social media footage shows some of those taken captive from the party being led away by jubilant gunmen. "I live on the Gaza border and I've seen things in my life, but I've never felt it this close," Maariv said.

Persons: Arik Nani, Maariv, I've, James Mackenzie, Mark Heinrich Our Organizations: Hamas, Reuters, Nature Party, Thomson Locations: Gaza, Israel, Kibbutz Re'im, paragliders

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