Israel-Palestine Escalation
Israel was hit by an unprecedented rocket attack from the Gaza Strip on October 7, with Hamas movement's troops infiltrating border areas. On October 8, the Israeli government announced that it had invoked Article 40 of the Basic Law, which means the country was officially in a state of war.
Smoke rises following an Israeli airstrike in the Gaza Strip, as seen from southern Israel, Saturday, Oct. 28, 2023. - Sputnik Africa

Live Updates: Israeli Defense Minister Reportedly Says New Phase of Military Action Begun

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UNITED NATIONS (Sputnik) - The United Nations General Assembly on Friday approved a Jordan-submitted resolution calling for a humanitarian truce in the Israel-Gaza conflict, a Sputnik correspondent reported. The resolution was adopted in a 120-14 vote, with 45 abstentions.
Some of the countries which voted against the resolution on the humanitarian truce were: the United States, Austria, Israel and Hungary. On the other hand, countries such as France, Belgium or Ireland voted in favor of the document. This means that the European Union could not have a unified position due to the sensitivity of the issue.
The resolution "calls for an immediate, durable and sustained humanitarian truce leading to a cessation of hostilities." It also urges "immediate, full, sustained, safe and unhindered humanitarian access" for the United Nations and other humanitarian agencies.
The resolution follows four attempts of the UN Security Council to adopt its own resolution on the Israel-Gaza situation, but these resolutions did not gather enough votes or were vetoed.
The UN General Assembly has also voted against amending a draft resolution on Israel and Gaza to include condemnation of the October 7 Hamas attack on Israel. The original document proposed by the Arab Group at the UN does not condemn violence by either side.
The proposed amendment, drafted by Canada, would have altered the text to include a clause that “unequivocally rejects and condemns the terrorist attacks by Hamas that took place in Israel starting on 7 October 2023 and the taking of hostages, demands safety, well-being and human treatment of the hostages.”
Pakistan's Ambassador to the UN, ahead of the vote, said that if the amendment passed, his country would seek to again amend the draft resolution to condemn violence by the Israeli side.
For its part, Israel rejected the UN General Assembly's call for a ceasefire. According to Israeli Foreign Minister Eli Cohen, his country plans to eliminate Palestinian group Hamas.
"We reject outright the UN General Assembly despicable call for a ceasefire. Israel intends to eliminate Hamas just as the world dealt with the Nazis and ISIS," Cohen wrote on X (formerly known as Twitter).
The Islamic State terrorist organization, also known as ISIS or Daesh, is banned in Russia.
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Table of contents
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18:57 28.10.2023
Hamas Demands Release of Palestinian Prisoners in Exchange for Israeli Hostages It Holds
18:10 28.10.2023
Israel's Chief of Staff Says Army On High Alert Along Northern Border
18:08 28.10.2023
Israeli Chief of Staff Says War Goals Require Ground Operation in Gaza
MOSCOW (Sputnik) – Israel’s objectives in the Palestinian-Israeli conflict require a ground operation in the Gaza Strip, Israel Defense Forces (IDF) Chief of Staff Herzi Halevi said on Saturday.
"The objectives of this war require a ground operation - the best soldiers are now operating in Gaza," Halevi said.
18:08 28.10.2023
Israel Recalls Diplomats From Turkey After Erdogan's Scathing Remarks
MOSCOW (Sputnik) - Israeli Foreign Minister Eli Cohen on Saturday recalled diplomats in Turkey for consultations after the Turkish president lashed out at Israel for escalating strikes on the Gaza Strip.
"Given the grave statements coming from Turkey, I have ordered the return of diplomatic representatives there in order to conduct a reevaluation of the relations between Israel and Turkey," Cohen said on social media.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan demanded that Israel "must immediately come out of this state of insanity and stop its attacks" on Gaza following the escalation of bombardments by Israel in preparation for a ground offensive against Palestinian group Hamas.
18:05 28.10.2023
UN Chief Says Surprised by Unprecedented Escalation in Gaza Despite Calls for Pause
MOSCOW (Sputnik) - UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said on Saturday he was blindsided by what he called an unprecedented escalation in Israeli strikes on the Gaza Strip that came in spite of a growing consensus among world powers and Israeli allies for the need of a humanitarian ceasefire.
"I was encouraged in the last days by what seemed to be a growing consensus in the international community, including the countries supporting Israel, for the need of at least a humanitarian pause in the fighting… Regrettably, instead of the pause, I was surprised by an unprecedented escalation of the bombardments and their devastating impacts," he said.
Israel stepped up air and artillery strikes on the Palestinian exclave on Friday night in a bid to destroy Hamas' underground infrastructure. There have been reports of a communication blackout in Gaza that preceded the escalation in bombardments.
Guterres, who was in Doha on Saturday for talks with Qatari mediators, said he was concerned about the breakdown in communications with the UN staff delivering humanitarian assistance in Gaza and called on all sides to the conflict to step back from fighting.
"This situation must be reversed. I reiterate my strong appeal for an immediate humanitarian ceasefire, together with the unconditional release of hostages and a delivery of humanitarian relief at the level that corresponds to the dramatic needs of the people in Gaza, where a humanitarian catastrophe is unfolding in front of our eyes," he said.
16:45 28.10.2023
UN Secretary-General Guterres Discusses Humanitarian Aid for Gaza With Egyptian Leader
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres spoke by telephone with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah Al-Sisi to discuss humanitarian efforts to help the people of the Gaza Strip, the UN Press Office reported on Saturday.
16:32 28.10.2023
Germany Deploys 1,000 Soldiers to Cyprus Amid Israeli-Palestinian Conflict - Reports
MOSCOW (Sputnik) - Germany has moved more than 1,000 soldiers to Cyprus as it mulls an operation to evacuate citizens from the war-hit Middle East, the dpa news agency cited security sources as saying on Saturday.
The force is now on standby and ready for rapid deployment, although sources admitted there was no way to predict how the Israeli-Palestinian conflict would unfold.
The German military has set up an operational headquarters on the Mediterranean island, where German marines and military divers are already based. A group of elite KSK special forces has been deployed to Jordan.
15:59 28.10.2023
Thousands Rally in London to Demand End to Israeli Attacks on Gaza - Reports
MOSCOW (Sputnik) - Thousands of pro-Palestinian protesters descended on central London on Saturday to demand an end to Israel's deadly bombardment of the Gaza Strip, UK media reported.
Police expect around 100,000 people to gather in London alone, with thousands more anticipated to take to the streets in many cities across the country, including in Glasgow and Manchester.
London’s Metropolitan Police said that more than 1,000 officers would be on duty as it gears up for a large protest in the afternoon.
"A significant protest will take place in central London this afternoon. Expect large crowds around the Embankment, Westminster & Waterloo Bridges, Strand, Whitehall and nearby roads," the force said on social media.
The rallies come as Israel prepares to launch a ground offensive against Palestinian group Hamas, which controls Gaza. Israeli military spokesman Daniel Hagari said earlier on Saturday that all residents of northern Gaza and Gaza City should "relocate south immediately," pending the start of the invasion.
15:56 28.10.2023
Police Say Detain 74 Protesters as New Wave of Pro-Palestine Rallies Sweeps Berlin
MOSCOW (Sputnik) - Berlin police said on Saturday that 74 protesters were detained at pro-Palestinian rallies that broke out sporadically across the German capital overnight after Israel intensified its bombardment of the besieged Gaza Strip.
"Around 620 police officers observed five rallies staged in relation to the conflict in the Middle East and enforced three bans on gatherings. Six criminal and 68 administrative offense reports were filed. Freedom restrictions were imposed on 74 people," police said in a statement.
The protesters defied a ban on pro-Palestinian gatherings, which the authorities in Berlin see as supportive of Hamas, to gather at several locations in the city. Police said they carried flags and chanted pro-Palestinian and anti-police slogans.
Two officers were hurt during operations to break up the alleged "unauthorized gatherings". Property was damaged and pro-Palestinian and anti-Israeli graffiti was sprayed on buildings during the night of unrest.
Separately, hundreds of people staged four pro-Israeli vigils in solidarity with the Jewish state. These were authorized by the police and went off without incident.
Police stepped up their presence across Berlin following two nights of violence that were sparked by a deadly airstrike on a Gaza hospital last week. Israel again pummeled the Palestinian exclave with air and artillery strikes on Friday night to allegedly destroy a sprawling network of Hamas' tunnels.
14:50 28.10.2023
Israeli Defense Minister Announces New Phase of Military Action in Gaza
MOSCOW, October 28 (Sputnik) - Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant on Saturday announced the next stage of the operation in the Gaza Strip, which is set to continue until a new order.
"We have moved on to a new phase in the war … [The military action] will continue until a new order is issued," Gallant was quoted as saying by the Haaretz newspaper
14:49 28.10.2023
IDF Says Striking Hezbollah Military Infrastructure in Lebanon
14:48 28.10.2023
IDF Says Detected Several Launches of Anti-Tank Missiles, Mortar Shells From Lebanon
MOSCOW (Sputnik) - The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said on Saturday it had detected several launches of anti-tank missiles and mortar shells from Lebanon and responded to the fire by targeting Hezbollah's military infrastructure.
"Following the initial report regarding sirens that sounded in northern Israel, several anti-tank missile and mortar shell launches were identified from Lebanese territory toward Israel, including IDF posts along the border. The launches fell in open areas," the IDF said on Telegram.
IDF tanks and artillery are responding with fire "toward the origin of the launches and striking Hezbollah military infrastructure in Lebanon," the statement read.
14:46 28.10.2023
IDF Again Urges Residents of Northern Gaza, Gaza City to Temporarily Move South
MOSCOW (Sputnik) - Israel Defense Forces (IDF) spokesman Daniel Hagari on Saturday once again called on Gazans to urgently move from the northern part of the Strip and Gaza City and relocate south for their "immediate safety."
"For your immediate safety we urge all residents of northern Gaza and Gaza City to temporarily relocate south immediately. This is a temporary measure … Move south. This is not a mere precaution. It is an urgent plea," Hagari said in a video address.
The IDF spokesman added that moving back to northern Gaza would be possible "once the intense hostilities end."
14:31 28.10.2023
Moscow Warns Against Foreign Actors Seeking to Ignite Major War in Middle East
MOSCOW (Sputnik) – Russia warns in connection with the Palestinian-Israeli conflict against external actors who want to ignite a major war in the Middle East and reverse the positive development of the region, the Russian Foreign Ministry said on Saturday.
"We warn against adventurous decisions by those external actors who are tempted to ignite another major war in the Middle East and to reverse the positive evolution of this strategically important region, which is characterized by the gradual recovery of interstate relations," the ministry said.
Russia, which maintains contacts with all interested parties, contributes to the achievement of peaceful solutions to the conflict, including through mediation, the ministry added.
"We call for the consolidation of collective steps aimed at restarting the full-fledged negotiation process … to realize the two-state formula endorsed by the United Nations. This should lead to the establishment of an independent Palestinian state … living side by side in peace and security with Israel," the ministry said.
Moscow has repeatedly warned of the negative consequences of Israel's ground military operation in Gaza, it added.
14:07 28.10.2023
SpaceX to Support Internet Communications With International Organizations in Gaza - Musk
UNITED NATIONS (Sputnik) - US billionaire entrepreneur Elon Musk said on Saturday that his company SpaceX would support communications in Gaza with internationally recognized organizations, but no terminal has requested connection as of now.
"SpaceX will support communication links with internationally recognized aid organizations [in Gaza]," Musk replied on the social platform X, formerly Twitter, to a question whether he can provide Starlink connection to the exclave.
He added that "it is not clear who has authority for ground links in Gaza, but do we know that no terminal has requested a connection in that area."
Earlier on Saturday, Palestinian National Authority (PNA) Communications Minister Ishaq Sadr said that the body was negotiating with Starlink the use of its services to restore communications in the Gaza Strip. The minister added that Palestine was in talks with Egypt to facilitate the entry of Starlink equipment into Gaza through the Rafah border crossing.
Al Arabiya broadcaster reported on Friday that communications and internet services in the Gaza Strip had been disrupted amid massive Israeli attacks.
14:05 28.10.2023
Russia Calls for Resumption of Talks After Start of Israeli Ground Operation in Gaza - Foreign Ministry
14:03 28.10.2023
Total of 5,000 US Soldiers Joined Israeli Ground Operation in Gaza on Friday - Reports
MOSCOW (Sputnik) - A total of 5,000 US servicepeople took part in Israel's overnight ground operation in northern Gaza, Iranian news agency Tasnim reported on Saturday, citing sources.
The Israeli operation reportedly involved three divisions and several brigades of the US Armed Forces, according to the news agency.
The Israeli army is now trying to divide the Gaza Strip into two or three zones by entering from these areas and then starting the next phase of the war with Palestine to eliminate the link between the forces of Palestinian movement Hamas, the report said.
Earlier on Saturday, Ali Baraka, the head of Hamas National Relations Abroad, said Israel's overnight attempt to launch a ground offensive from three directions on the Gaza Strip failed and Israeli troops suffered heavy losses. At the same time, Israel Defense Forces spokesman Daniel Hagari said that the Israeli military had suffered no casualties during the overnight operation in the northern Gaza Strip.
13:36 28.10.2023
Hamas' Military Wing Says Fires Rockets at Tel Aviv
TUNIS (Sputnik) - Hamas' military wing, the Qassam Brigades, said Saturday that it had fired rockets at Tel Aviv in response to the "massacre of civilians."
"The Qassam Brigades fired rockets at Tel Aviv in response to the Zionists' massacre of civilians," it said in a statement.
13:34 28.10.2023
Hamas Ready for Ceasefire Amid UN Calls, Not for Direct Talks With Israel - Politburo
MOSCOW (Sputnik) – Hamas is ready for a ceasefire, but not for direct talks with Israel, Mousa Abu Marzouq, the deputy head of the movement's political bureau, told Sputnik.

"No. No direct negotiations. This is an occupying force, we are not ready for direct contact with them. Hamas has no contact with murderers of children and women," Abu Marzouq said, adding that Hamas has called for a ceasefire and is ready for it.

"Of course Hamas is ready [for a ceasefire]. We called for a ceasefire and the implementation of the UN General Assembly resolution. Only four countries opposed the resolution. Israel's representative insulted and disrespected the UN, even though 120 countries voted for a ceasefire and aid to the victims," Abu Marzouq said.
12:42 28.10.2023
Hamas' Military Wing Says Fired Rockets at Israeli Troops' Gathering Points in Mivtahim, Southern Israel
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