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Live Updates: Death Toll From Israeli Bombings Rises to 4,137 - Palestinian Health Ministry

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As the latest escalation of the Palestinian-Israeli conflict nears its third week, several thousand people have been killed on both sides, with the death toll... 20.10.2023, Sputnik Africa

2023-10-20T09:31+0200

2023-10-20T12:38+0200

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Live Updates: Death Toll From Israeli Bombings Rises to 4,137 - Palestinian Health Ministry

09:31 20.10.2023 (Updated: 12:38 20.10.2023)

As the latest escalation of the Palestinian-Israeli conflict nears its third week, several thousand people have been killed on both sides, with the death toll from large-scale Israeli attacks in Gaza approaching 4,000, especially after the bombing of a hospital that killed more than 500 Palestinians.

Israeli forces stationed on the border of the Gaza Strip will soon be on its territory, declared the Israeli Minister of Defense, according to The Times of Israel.

"You see Gaza now from afar. Soon you will see it from within," the official said, addressing servicemen.

On the morning of October 7, Israel was hit by an unprecedented rocket attack from the Gaza Strip as part of Operation Flood of Al-Aqsa, announced by the military wing of the Palestinian Hamas movement "in response to Israeli provocations".

The Jewish state responding by starting a wide-scale military operation called Iron Swords against the Gaza Strip of Palestine. Additionally, Israel announced a complete blockade of the Gaza Strip, cutting off water, food, electricity, medicine and fuel.

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18:45 20.10.2023

IDF Says Struck Several Hamas Command Centers, Underground Infrastructure in Gaza Strip

MOSCOW (Sputnik) - The Israeli military has been striking several command centers, launching positions and underground infrastructure facilities of the Palestinian movement Hamas in the Gaza Strip on Friday, the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) said.

"IDF: Since this morning, the IDF continued striking terror targets in the Gaza Strip, including numerous military command centers, anti-tank missile launching posts, and an underground infrastructure belonging to the Hamas terrorist organization," the IDF said on Telegram.

15:14 20.10.2023

Iran's Red Crescent Society Ready to Send Humanitarian Aid to Gaza Strip: Tehran

MOSCOW (Sputnik) - Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian has confirmed the Iranian Red Crescent Society's readiness to dispatch humanitarian aid to the Gaza Strip via Egypt during a phone conversation with his Algerian counterpart, Ahmed Attaf, the Iranian Foreign Ministry said on Friday.

"Pointing to the Islamic Republic of Iran's principled position, constant support and protection of the Palestinian issue, the foreign minister of our country emphasized the readiness of the Red Crescent Society of the Islamic Republic of Iran to send medicines and food to Gaza via Egypt," the ministry said in a statement.

The top Iranian diplomat also drew attention to the need to "intensify diplomatic consultations between Muslim countries to stop crimes against the civilian population" of Palestine, according to the statement.

15:14 20.10.2023

UN Opposes Israel's Plans to Shut Down Al-Jazeera Bureau

UNITED NATIONS (Sputnik) - The United Nations is opposed to Israel’s plans to shut down Al-Jazeera’s news bureau in the country, spokesman Farhan Haq told Sputnik on Friday.

"We are opposed to any restrictions on the freedom of the press," Haq said.

13:56 20.10.2023

Ramaphosa to Visit Egypt Summit to Discuss Situatuion in Gaza

South African President Cyril Ramaphosa will attend the October 21 Cairo summit on the situation in the Gaza Strip, the official presidential website announced on Friday.

Earlier, the South African president repeatedly called for termination of the Gaza conflict, urging the global community to support an inclusive process towards the creation of a "lasting and durable peace" that would ensure the calm existence of a "viable Palestinian State" alongside Israel.

13:44 20.10.2023

Russia's Lavrov Hopes Israel, Palestine Will Start Negotiations

MOSCOW (Sputnik) - Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov expressed hope that Israel and Palestine will start negotiations and take into account the UN Security Council's decisions.

"I hope everyone [Israel and Palestine] will come to reason and join the negotiating table," the foreign minister said in an interview for a TV show at the Rossiya-1 broadcaster aired on Friday, adding that it will be necessary for authorities of Israel and Palestine "to look on the map and coordinate all their actions with the UN Security Council's decision and take into account the realities on the ground after 1967."

On Friday, the Russian Foreign Ministry said it was working on the evacuation of Russian citizens from the conflict zone, adding that over 1,000 people had applied for help, including the citizens of former Soviet countries and their family members.

12:53 20.10.2023

Mahmoud Abbas Refuses Telephone Conversation With Biden During US President's Visit to Israel: Reports

12:25 20.10.2023

Palestinian Health Ministry: Death Toll From Israeli Bombing Rises To 4,137

The Palestinian Ministry of Health announced on Friday that the death toll from the Israeli bombings has now risen to 4,137, with more than 13,000 wounded and more than a thousand missing, most of them children.

12:21 20.10.2023

Netherlands Urges Nationals to Avoid Travel to Lebanon Amid Security Risks

MOSCOW (Sputnik) - The Netherlands has urged its citizens to avoid traveling to Lebanon due to rising security risks amid "unpredictable" developments in the Israeli-Gaza conflict, the Dutch Foreign Ministry said on Friday.

The Lebanese Shia movement Hezbollah has been exchanging airstrikes with Israel in recent days. The authorities have been working on maintaining peace in the country after the Israeli-Palestinian conflict broke out, acting Lebanese Prime Minister Najib Mikati has said.

"The travel advisory color code for the whole of Lebanon is red. Do not travel to Lebanon. As a result of unpredictable developments between Israel and the Palestinian Territories (Gaza), the tensions in Lebanon are rising," the Dutch Foreign Ministry said in a statement.

Amsterdam has also called on the Dutch citizens in Lebanon to leave the country as soon as possible, the statement read.

Acting Lebanese Public Health Minister Firass Abiad told Sputnik on Thursday that the Lebanese health authorities were taking measures to enhance the preparedness of healthcare facilities to cope with possible emergency situations.

11:47 20.10.2023

US Embassy in Beirut to American Citizens: Prepare to Leave Lebanon

The United States Embassy in Lebanon has issued a second call for American citizens to leave the territory of the Middle Eastern country "due to the unpredictable security situation".

"On October 17, the State Department issued a Travel Advisory advising U.S. citizens to not travel to Lebanon due to the unpredictable security situation. The Department of State urges U.S. citizens in Lebanon to make plans to depart as soon as possible while commercial options are still available. We recommend that U.S. citizens who choose not to depart prepare contingency plans for emergency situations," the diplomatic mission said Friday.

11:17 20.10.2023

IFJ Calls on Israel to Review Decision to Close Al Jazeera Bureau

MOSCOW (Sputnik) - The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) calls on Israel to review its decision to close the Al Jazeera bureau in the country, IFJ General Secretary Anthony Bellanger told Ria Novosti on Friday.

Earlier in the day, the Israeli government approved emergency rules for the closure of broadcasters that cause "harm to the security of the state," which will allow the closure of Al Jazeera in Israel.

“We are deeply concerned at Israel's attempt to censor media coverage of the ongoing Israel-Gaza conflict using national security as an excuse to restrict critical media that do not confirm its narrative of the ongoing war. This is a clear attack on media pluralism and the public's right to know. The whole world must be allowed to see what is happening in the ongoing conflict and we urge Israel to review its decision," Bellanger said.

11:10 20.10.2023

IDF Spokesman On Rocket Launches From Yemen: Israel Ready to Repel Such Threats

TEL AVIV (Sputnik) - Israel is ready to deal with threats such as those caused by a missile launch from Yemen that was shot down by the US Navy in the Red Sea, Israel Defense Forces (IDF) spokesman Daniel Hagari said.

Defense Department Press Secretary Brig. Gen. Patrick Ryder on Thursday confirmed that a US Navy warship shot down three missiles launched by Houthi militants in Yemen that were possibly headed toward Israel.

"Israel has some of the best air defense capabilities in the world and is also prepared for these types of threats," Hagari told reporters.

11:08 20.10.2023

Israeli Army Announces Over 100 Overnight Strikes Against Hamas

MOSCOW (Sputnik) - The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said on Friday it had struck over 100 operational targets of Hamas overnight and neutralized a member of the movement's naval forces.

"The IDF struck over a hundred operational targets belonging to Hamas terrorist organization overnight and killed a Hamas operative who took part in the murderous massacres in southern Israel," the IDF said on Telegram, identifying the fighter as Amjad Majed Muhammad Abu 'Odeh.

The targets included an underground tunnel, weapon warehouses, and dozens of operational command centers, the IDF said, adding that it had also destroyed Hamas' "terror assets and weapons" in a mosque in the city of Jabalia in the Gaza Strip.

10:50 20.10.2023

Hamas Spokesman Arrested During Israeli Raid in West Bank: Israeli Security Agency

MOSCOW (Sputnik) - Hamas spokesman Hassan Yousef was arrested during an Israeli raid in the West Bank on Thursday, the Israeli Security Agency Shin Bet said on Friday.

"[Arrested] on suspicion of acting on behalf of Hamas," the agency told media.

Yousef is the official spokesman of the Hamas movement in the West Bank and a member of the Palestinian Legislative Council.

09:55 20.10.2023

Israeli Government Decides to Close Qatari TV Channel Al Jazeera in Israel

TEL AVIV (Sputnik) - The Israeli government has approved emergency rules for the closure of broadcasters that allegedly cause "harm to the security of the state," which will allow the closure of the Al Jazeera TV channel in Israel, the Ynet news portal reported on Friday.

The rules were approved with the support of the government's security bloc and in agreement with the government's legal adviser, Gali Baharav-Miara, the news portal said.

A number of politicians in Israel have called on the government to close a branch of the Qatari TV channel for alleged pro-Palestinian coverage of the escalation of the conflict.

09:51 20.10.2023

Orthodox Patriarchate of Jerusalem Condemns Bombing of Churches in Gaza as 'War Crime'

MOSCOW (Sputnik) - The Orthodox Patriarchate of Jerusalem on Thursday expressed "its strongest condemnation" of the Israeli strike on a church compound in the Gaza Strip and called it "a war crime that cannot be ignored."

"The Orthodox Patriarchate of Jerusalem expresses its strongest condemnation of the Israeli airstrike that have struck its church compound in the city of Gaza. The Patriarchate emphasizes that targeting churches and their institutions, along with the shelters they provide to protect innocent citizens, especially children and women who have lost their homes due to Israeli airstrikes on residential areas over the past thirteen days, constitutes a war crime that cannot be ignored," the Patriarchate said in a statement on the website.

The Patriarchate said that despite "the evident targeting of the facilities and shelters of the Orthodox Patriarchate of Jerusalem and other churches," it remains "committed to fulfilling its religious and moral duty in providing assistance, support, and refuge to those in need, amidst continuous Israeli demands to evacuate these institutions of civilians and the pressures exerted on the churches in this regard."

The Patriarchate also said it will not "abandon its religious and humanitarian duty" to provide "all that is necessary in times of war and peace alike."

Earlier on Thursday, Greek media reported that the Greek Orthodox Church of Saint Porphyrious had been destroyed in Israel's bombing, leaving dozens of people injured and under the rubble and some people killed.

09:49 20.10.2023

Biden Says Cannot Give Up on Two-State Solution, Both Sides Deserve Safety, Peace

WASHINGTON (Sputnik) - US President Joe Biden said the world cannot give up on a two-state solution to the Israel-Palestine conflict.

"We cannot give up on a two-state solution. Israel and Palestinians equally deserve to live in safety, dignity and peace," Biden said in a national address on Thursday.

09:48 20.10.2023

'Mutiny Brewing' at State Dept. Over US Support for Israeli Operation in Gaza - Reports

WASHINGTON (Sputnik) - State Department staffers are preparing a dissent cable against US staunch support of Israel's expanding operation in Gaza, with some fearing the Biden administration is providing cover for excessive force to be used against Palestinians, HuffPost reported citing officials.

During a national address on Thursday, President Joe Biden said he would send a supplemental request to Congress on Friday to provide Israel and Ukraine with urgent security funds. Biden said the security aid would "sharpen Israel's qualitative military edge." Media reported that Biden's request will include $60 billion for Israel and $14 billion for Ukraine.

"There’s basically a mutiny brewing within State at all levels," one State Department official was quoted as saying in the report on Thursday.

The report said diplomats are preparing what is known as a "dissent cable" - a document critical of State Department policy that goes through a protected channel to the agency's leaders.

Some staffers believe US Secretary of State Antony Blinken and his senior advisers are uninterested in the advice from the State Department's own regional experts. They also have a sense that the US will do little to ensure Israeli restraint, the report said.

The report comes a day after veteran State Department official Josh Paul publicly resigned citing the US decision to continue "lethal assistance."

Multiple officials said they heard colleagues talk about quitting as Paul did, a move that was seen as a major loss for the State Department, according to the report.

09:46 20.10.2023

IDF Announces Evacuation of Residents in Kiryat Shmona City Bordering Lebanon

MOSCOW (Sputnik) - The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) announced early Friday an evacuation order for the residents of the city of Kiryat Shmona bordering Lebanon.

"The National Emergency Authority (NEA) in the Ministry of Defense and the IDF announced the implementation of a plan to evacuate the residents of Qiryat Shemona to state-funded guest houses," the IDF said on Telegram, adding that the plan had been approved by Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Galant.

Fighting erupted along the Israeli-Lebanese border after Hamas attacked Israel in early October, prompting retaliation from the IDF. The Israeli military said it destroyed several military posts in Lebanon on Wednesday in response to attacks on Jewish border towns. The Lebanese authorities said they were working to restore peace.

09:45 20.10.2023

Most Americans Disapprove of Biden's Handling of Israel-Hamas Conflict - Poll

MOSCOW (Sputnik) - As many as 56% of US citizens are critical of the way President Joe Biden is handling the ongoing conflict between Israel and Palestinian group Hamas, while 44% are of the opposite view, according to a fresh CBS News/YouGov poll.

The survey split heavily along party lines, with 66% of Democrats happy about the president's policy in the conflict, whereas 72% of Republicans disapprove of it.

Opinions also divided on whether the United States should provide military aid to Israel, with 57% of Republicans supporting this idea and 53% of Democrats against. Meanwhile, 70% of Democrats threw support behind sending humanitarian aid for Palestinians in the Gaza Strip, versus just 41% of Republicans.

The survey was conducted among 1,878 US adults residents from October 16-19. The margin of error does not exceed 2.9 percentage points.

During a national address on Thursday, Biden said he would send a supplemental request to Congress on Friday to provide Israel and Ukraine with urgent security funds. Media reported that the extra funding for Israel would total $14 billion.

09:44 20.10.2023

Israel Commits Crimes Against Humanity in Gaza, Possible Risk of Genocide - UN Experts

GENEVA (Sputnik) - The Israeli bombing of schools and hospitals in the Gaza Strip, as well as the blockade of the enclave are crimes against humanity, and there is a risk of genocide of the Palestinian people, the UN special experts said in a report.

Given the statements of the Israeli political leaders and their allies, as well as the military actions in the Gaza Strip and the escalation of arrests and killings in the West Bank, there is a risk of genocide against the Palestinian people, according to the report, published by the United Nations Human Rights Office (OHCHR).

"We are sounding the alarm: There is an ongoing campaign by Israel resulting in crimes against humanity in Gaza. Considering statements made by Israeli political leaders and their allies, accompanied by military action in Gaza and escalation of arrests and killing in the West Bank, there is also a risk of genocide against the Palestine people," the experts said.

The experts also called for the protection of all humanitarian workers after World Health Organization recorded over 136 attacks on health care services in Palestine, with 59 of them occurring in the Gaza Strip, resulting in the death of at least 16 health workers since October 7.

"The strike against Al Ahli Arab Hospital is an atrocity. We are equally outraged by the deadly strike on the same day on an UNRWA [UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East] school located in Al Maghazi refugee camp that sheltered some 4000 displaced people, as well as two densely populated refugee camps," the experts said.

The complete blockade of Gaza, coupled with "unfeasible evacuation orders and forcible population transfers," is also a violation of international humanitarian law, the experts added.

The report is signed by seven UN Special Rapporteurs on various human rights, including UN Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in the Palestinian Territory occupied since 1967, Francesca Albanese.