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Live Updates: Lebanon's Hezbollah Struck Israeli Base in Response to Killing Senior Hamas Leader

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MOSCOW (Sputnik) - The escalating conflict between Israel and the Palestinian group Hamas has killed more than 1,200 people in Israel and more than 23,000 in... 09.01.2024, Sputnik Africa

2024-01-09T08:08+0100

2024-01-09T18:07+0100

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Live Updates: Lebanon's Hezbollah Struck Israeli Base in Response to Killing Senior Hamas Leader

08:08 09.01.2024 (Updated: 18:07 09.01.2024)

MOSCOW (Sputnik) - The escalating conflict between Israel and the Palestinian group Hamas has killed more than 1,200 people in Israel and more than 23,000 in the Gaza Strip since the beginning of October.

The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said on Monday that it had discovered the largest weapons production site of Palestinian movement Hamas found since October 7 in the Gaza Strip.

"In recent weeks, the 36th Division has been operating in Bureij in the central Gaza Strip … Soldiers of the 188th and Golani brigades uncovered several tunnel shafts reaching a depth of approximately 30 meters … The Golani Brigade located the largest weapons production site discovered since the beginning of the war," the IDF said on Telegram.

Israeli soldiers found components for long-range rockets capable of hitting northern Israel, as well as mortar shells, explosives, ammunition, small arms and drones, the statement added.

On October 7, 2023, Palestinian movement Hamas launched a large-scale rocket attack against Israel from the Gaza Strip, while its fighters breached the border, opening fire on the military and civilians. As a result, over 1,200 people in Israel were killed and some 240 others abducted. Israel launched retaliatory strikes, ordered a complete blockade of Gaza and launched a ground incursion into the Palestinian enclave with the declared goal of eliminating Hamas fighters and rescuing the hostages. Over 23,000 people have been killed so far in Gaza as a result of Israeli strikes, local authorities said.

On November 24, Qatar mediated a deal between Israel and Hamas on a temporary truce and the exchange of some of the prisoners and hostages, as well as the delivery of humanitarian aid into the Gaza Strip. The ceasefire was extended several times and expired on December 1.

Table of contents

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15:19 09.01.2024

Video Circulating on Social Media Shows Sheikh Zayed Mosque in Northern Gaza Destroyed by Israeli Shelling

15:14 09.01.2024

EU Voices Support for Top UN Court Amid Probe Into Israel's Genocidal Intent in Gaza

The lead EU spokesperson for foreign affairs said Tuesday that Brussels supported the International Court of Justice, a top UN court tasked with determining whether Israel's war on Gaza was genocidal.

"We are supporting the International Court of Justice because this is the highest UN court, and since we are a community based on the rule of law and in the respect for international law and UN Charter, of course, we are supporting the International Court of Justice," Peter Stano told a midday briefing.

The spokesperson added that countries had the right to file lawsuits with the ICJ, but declined to comment on the pending case submitted against Israel by South Africa on December 29.

"Countries have the right to submit cases or law suits. The European Union is not part of this law suit, so its not really for us to comment because this is a pending case in front of the International Court," he said.

15:11 09.01.2024

Blinken Tells Herzog of Need to Minimize Harm to Gaza Civilians - State Dept.

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken met with Israeli President Isaac Herzog and stressed the need to minimize harm to the civilian population in the Gaza Strip amid Israel's military operations, State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller said Tuesday.

Blinken is currently in Israel as part of his fourth trip to the Middle East since the October 7 Hamas attack.

"The Secretary reiterated US support for Israel’s right to ensure the terrorist attacks of October 7 cannot be repeated and emphasized the need to take all feasible precautions to minimize harm to civilians," Miller said in a readout.

Blinken and Herzog also reviewed the ongoing efforts to free all remaining hostages.

"Secretary Blinken emphasized the imperative of facilitating the increased and sustained delivery of humanitarian assistance to civilians in Gaza and discussed efforts to achieve broader regional integration that ensures Israel’s security and advances the establishment of an independent Palestinian state," Miller added.

13:54 09.01.2024

Algeria Proposes UNSC Meeting on Palestinian Resettlement Threat on January 12 - Reports

Algeria, as a new non-permanent member of the UN Security Council, has suggested holding an open meeting on the issue of the unacceptability of the forced resettlement of Palestinians from the Gaza Strip on January 12, Al Jazeera broadcaster reported on Tuesday, citing diplomatic sources.

In late December, a source familiar with the matter told Sputnik that the Israeli government was planning to transfer a significant number of Palestinians from Gaza to Egypt under the pretext of ensuring their safety.

13:53 09.01.2024

Israeli Troops Death Toll Since Start of Ground Offensive in Gaza Rises to 180 – Reports

The number of Israeli soldiers killed since the start of the ground operation against Palestinian movement Hamas in the Gaza Strip has risen to 180, Israeli broadcaster i24 reported on Tuesday, citing the Israel Defense Forces (IDF).

At least seven wounded soldiers are reported to remain in serious condition.

13:52 09.01.2024

Lebanon's Hezbollah Says Struck Israeli Base in Response to Killing Senior Hamas Leader

Lebanese Shia movement Hezbollah said on Tuesday it had struck an Israeli military base using drones in response to the killing of one of its senior commanders and a senior leader of allied Palestinian movement Hamas.

Last week, an Israeli drone hit an office of Hamas in southern Beirut, killing six people, the chairman of the movement's political bureau, Ismail Haniyeh, said, adding that the dead included his deputy, Saleh al-Arouri. Hezbollah then threatened Israel with retaliation. On Monday, the Lebanese movement said that its senior commander Wissam al-Tawil, known as Jawad, had also been killed in another Israeli air attack on southern Lebanon.

"As part of the response to the killing of commander Saleh al-Arouri and his brothers in the southern suburbs of Beirut as well as the killing of Wissam al-Tawil, Hezbollah fighters have struck the headquarters of the enemy's [Israel's] army command in the north of the occupied city of Safed using several offensive drones," Hezbollah said in a statement.

The situation in southern Lebanon deteriorated after the start of Israel's military operation in the Gaza Strip. The Israeli army and Hezbollah fighters regularly exchange fire in areas along the border.

08:17 09.01.2024

Senior Palestinian Official Says Sees No Signs of Political Settlement to War Due to US

There are no signs yet of ending the Israeli military operation in the Gaza Strip through diplomatic efforts because of the position of the US administration, Mahmoud al-Habbash, an adviser on Islamic affairs to the Palestinian Authority president, told Sputnik.

"So far, there is nothing on the horizon [ regarding signs of an end to the war in the Gaza Strip], the problem is in the United States. The US administration had not yet decided to stop this aggression. The aggression began with the decision of the United States, and will end with the decision of the United States," al-Habbash said.

Only pressure from Arab and Islamic countries, as well as other influential powers, on Washington can change the situation, the official added.

08:16 09.01.2024

UNGA to Hold Plenary Meeting Tuesday Due to US Blocking Russian Amendment in UNSC

The UN General Assembly will hold a plenary meeting on January 9 following the United States’ veto of a Russia-drafted amendment to a resolution on Gaza at the UN Security Council, according to the United Nations program of work.

The meeting will start at 10:00 am EST time and it is expected to continue until the afternoon.

On December 22, the UN Security Council adopted a resolution to facilitate humanitarian aid to Gaza.

Before the vote, Russia proposed an amendment to the resolution calling for an immediate cessation of hostilities in Gaza. The only country that voted against the amendment was the United States.

The UN General Assembly session will provide a forum for the United States to explain the reasoning for vetoing the amendment.

08:15 09.01.2024

Israel Believes Hostage Deal Needed Before Palestinians Return to North Gaza, Reports Say

The Israeli government will tell US Secretary of State Antony Blinken during meetings on Tuesday that Hamas must agree to a new hostage deal before Palestinians are allowed to return to northern Gaza, the US media reported, citing two senior Israeli officials.

Blinken is set to visit Israel as part of a broader trip around the Middle East, during which he also met with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and Emirati President Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan.

Israeli officials will tell Blinken that Israel will restrict Palestinians from returning to northern Gaza until Hamas agrees to release more hostages, the report said on Monday. On Sunday, Blinken said that Israel must allow Palestinian civilians to return home as soon as conditions permit.

08:14 09.01.2024

Blinken Meets With Saudi Crown Prince to Discuss Gaza Crisis, Houthi Attacks: State Department

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken has met with Saudi Arabian Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman and discussed the humanitarian crisis in Gaza and the Houthi attacks on vessels in the Red Sea, State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller.

"Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken met today with Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman in Al ‘Ula. The Secretary underscored the need to urgently address the humanitarian situation in Gaza and prevent further spread of the conflict," Miller said in a press release.

Blinken and Bin Salman also discussed the ongoing efforts to reduce regional tensions, including by deterring Houthi attacks on commercial ships in the Red Sea, the release said.

The US diplomat emphasized the importance of building a more secure and integrated Middle Eastern region, including via establishing a Palestinian state.

08:13 09.01.2024

Iranian Ambassador Says US Urges Tehran to Solve Crisis in Region

The United States sent a message to Iran through one of the Arab countries of the Persian Gulf and called on Tehran not to expand the area of military operations and resolve the crisis in the region, Iranian Ambassador to Syria Hossein Akbari said.

"The United States sent delegations to Iran and called for non-expansion of the area of military operations. About ten days ago we received a message from one of the Arab countries of the Persian Gulf, which sent its delegation to Tehran and carried a message from the United States. In this message they [US] called for a resolution of the crisis in the entire [Middle East] region," Akbari said in an interview with Lebanese news portal Al-Ahed.

Iran said, in turn, that its allies have the right to determine their own destiny, the freedom of their people and their political independence, Akbari added.

08:13 09.01.2024

MSF Says Staff Shelter Shelled in Southern Gaza, Four People Injured

Medecins Sans Frontieres (MSF), which translates as Doctors Without Borders, said that its shelter in the southern Gaza Strip, housing over more than 100 staff and their families, had come under air strike, with four people injured.

"This morning, a shell broke through the wall of an MSF shelter housing over 100 staff and their families in Khan Yunis. Four people were injured, including the 5-year-old daughter of an MSF staff who is in critical condition" the organization said on X.

MSF informed the Israeli forces that the building was its shelter, the organization also said, adding that it had not received any evacuation orders.

The organization condemned the attack, saying that it had shown yet again that "nowhere is safe in Gaza."

08:12 09.01.2024

Blinken Says Discussed With Saudi Crown Prince Issue of Normalization With Israel

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said that he discussed with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman the issue or resuming normalization talks with Israel, adding that there is still a clear interest in pursuing the initiative.

"So normalization, yes, we talked about that actually on every stop, including of course here in Saudi Arabia., and I can tell you this, there's a clear interest here in pursuing that, there's a clear interest in the region in pursuing that, but it will require that the conflict end in Gaza and it will also clearly require that there be a practical pathway to a Palestinian state," Blinken told reporters in Al Ula, Saudi Arabia before departing for Israel.

Blinken met with the Saudi crown prince earlier in the day before departing to Israel as part of his Middle East tour that aims to contain the Gaza conflict.

08:11 09.01.2024

Biden Says Understands Gaza Frustrations, is Working top Get Israel Out of Enclave

US President Joe Biden said that he understands mounting frustrations over the ongoing conflict in Gaza and emphasized that he is quietly working to get Israel to reduce its military operations and ultimately get out of the territory.

"I understand their passion, and I've been quietly working with the Israeli government to get them to reduce and significantly get out of Gaza. I'm using all that I can to do that," Biden said after protesters interrupted his speech in Charleston, South Carolina to demand a ceasefire.

08:10 09.01.2024

UN Reiterates Need to Protect Gaza Journalists After 2 Reporters Killed, Spokesperson Says

The United Nations repeats its call to protect all journalists in the Gaza Strip after an Israeli airstrike killed two reporters in the enclave, the Deputy Spokeswoman Florencia Soto Nino said.

"We reiterate that journalists, just like any other civilians, must be protected and that they should not be targeted for the job that they're doing there [in Gaza]," Nino told a press briefing.

Journalists risk their lives to bring the truth to everyone all over the world, and this is increasingly difficult in the conditions they face in Gaza, she added.

08:09 09.01.2024

US Officials Increasingly Left Wondering Whether Netanyahu Really in Charge, Reports Say