LIVEIsrael-Palestine War Highlights: Eleven workers with UN refugee agency, five IFRC members killed in Gaza

Eleven workers with UN refugee agency, five IFRC members killed in Gaza

Eleven workers with the UN Palestinian refugee agency have been killed in Israeli air strikes on the Gaza Strip since Saturday, and five members of the international Red Cross and Red Crescent have also been killed in the conflict, the organisations said on Wednesday.

"We are very saddened to confirm that 11 UNRWA colleagues have been killed since 7 October in the Gaza Strip," UNWRA said in a statement.

Britain's King Charles spoke with Israeli President Isaac Herzog on Wednesday, expressing his deepest condolences to the citizens of Israel and deep shock at Hamas attack

All of Northern Israel ordered to shelter amid drone infiltration

via Jerusalem Post

Nine staffers working with UN Palestinian refugee agency killed in air strikes on Gaza

Nine United Nations staffers working with the UN Palestinian refugee agency have been killed in air strikes on the Gaza Strip since Saturday, the United Nations wrote on X social media platform on Wednesday. 

French PM: Several French children likely among hostages held in Gaza

Several French children are missing and are likely among the hostages held in Gaza following Saturday's attack by Hamas against Israel, French Prime Minister Elisabeth Borne said on Wednesday."I want to have a special thought for the French victims (in Israel) and for our missing compatriots, whose situation is extremely worrying. Among them, several children, probably kidnapped," she told senators.

British Airways diverts Tel Aviv flight due to security concerns

British Airways has diverted a flight from London to Tel Aviv back to Britain due to security concerns in Israel, a spokesperson said on Wednesday."Safety is always our highest priority and we've taken the decision to return our Tel Aviv flight to Heathrow," a spokesperson for the airline said.Since the surprise attack by Palestinian militant group Hamas on Israel on Saturday, many international airlines have suspended flights to Tel Aviv.

China calls for ceasefire, humanitarian aid for Palestinian people

China calls for an immediate ceasefire in the conflict between Israel and the Hamas militant group, said Zhai Jun, China's special envoy on the Middle East, on Wednesday.The international community should offer humanitarian aid for the Palestinian people, Zhai said, according to a statement posted by the China foreign ministry.

Netanyahu, Israeli Opposition agree on emergency unity government, war cabinet

A rocket from Gaza hit a hospital in Israel's southern city of Ashkelon on Wednesday. The extent of damage is currently unclear

The Hezbollah warned on Wednesday that it considers the US a "full partner" with Israel in the ongoing war, saying it was "not frightened" by the entry of a US aircraft carrier to the area

via Jerusalem Post

Egypt discussing plans to provide aid to Gaza under limited ceasefire

via Jerusalem Post

IDF Chief of General Staff General Herzi Halevi reportedly met with commanders and reservists of the IDF Southern Command to discuss ongoing operations

Austrian who was missing in Israel after Hamas' attack is dead, country's ministry says

Turkey's Erdogan calls Israeli response to Hamas in Gaza a 'massacre'

via Jerusalem Post

Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

Israeli schools, already shuttered, to shift to remote learning on Sunday

Israeli schools, which have been shuttered since a weekend Hamas onslaught from Gaza triggered a surge in regional violence, will shift to remote learning on Sunday, the Education Ministry said. The online studies "will focus first and foremost on emotional and social aspects, in order to strengthen resilience, and on educational content appropriate for the situation," the ministry said in a statement on Wednesday. 

Gaza loses power as sole power plant shuts down amid Israeli blockade

The Gaza Ministry of Energy on Wednesday said it was shutting down its sole power plant, which had run out of fuel due to the Israeli blockade. 

Israeli municipal elections will be pushed off by three months, country's Interior Minister Moshe Arbel announced in view of the security situation

via Jerusalem Post

MEA sets up 24/7 control room, Indian Embassy in Tel Aviv sets up 24/7 helpline

MEA & Indian Embassy's emergency helpine nubers.

Israel's National Security Ministry said it received almost 8,000 new requests to carry guns since fighting with Hamas began

via Jerusalem Post

Seventeen British nationals including children are dead or missing in Israel after attacks by Palestinian militant group Hamas, the BBC reported on Wednesday, citing an official source. (Reuters)

Russia to maintain contacts with both sides of Israel -Palestine conflict: Kremlin

Russia will maintain contacts with both sides of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and will remain involved in its settlement, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said on Wednesday.

Moscow's top priority is the safety of its citizens who are present on territories controlled by both parties, Peskov told a briefing. (Reuters)

EU chief calls Hamas's attack on Israel 'act of war'

EU chief Ursula von der Leyen has called Hamas's attack on Israel a cold-blooded "act of war" as it fully backed Israel's right to defend itself, reports news agency AFP.

Israeli rescue workers work to remove dead bodies from near a destroyed police station that was the site of a battle following a mass-infiltration by Hamas gunmen from the Gaza Strip, in Sderot, southern Israel, October 11, 2023.

Pakistan cricketer Muhammad Rizwan dedicates match win against Sri Lanka to Gaza

Pope calls on Hamas to release all hostages

Pope Francis on Wednesday called on militant Islamist group Hamas to release all hostages captured during its weekend attack on Israel, while expressing grave concerns about the "total" Israeli siege imposed on Gaza.

"I pray for those families who saw a feast day turn into a day of mourning, and I ask that the hostages be immediately released," he said during his weekly audience.

Referring to Israel's response to Hamas, Francis said: "It is the right of those who are attacked to defend themselves, but I am very worried by the total siege in which Palestinians in Gaza live, where there have also been many innocent victims." (Reuters)

Norwegian Air plans flight to bring Nordic citizens back from Israel

Norwegian Air said on Wednesday it was organising an extra flight from Tel Aviv to Oslo to bring Norwegian and other Nordic citizens back from Israel.

The tentative departure time for the flight - which was set up on behalf of Norway's foreign ministry - was Wednesday evening, the company added.

The carrier said on Tuesday it was cancelling its flights to and from Copenhagen and Stockholm to Tel Aviv until December 19. (Reuters)

Indian-Americans hold rally in Chicago to express solidarity with Israel

Indian Americans held a peaceful rally in Chicago to express solidarity with Israel in the aftermath of the terrorist attack by palestinian militant group Hamas. “Terrorism is not only an Israel issue,it's an ongoing humanitarian issue. It must be stopped before it gets too late!” members of the Indian American community said in a statement.

The protestors displayed flags of India, the US and Israel during the rally. (PTI)

Bipartisan group of US lawmakers meets with Netanyahu in Israel

Four US lawmakers met with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and other government leaders in Israel on Tuesday, in what they described as a show of solidarity after Hamas’ surprise attacks over the weekend.

“We stand shoulder to shoulder so that we can go toe to toe with any terrorist going forward,” Rep. Jimmy Panetta, D- Calif., said during a news conference in Israel. “It is from our solidarity that we have our strength.”

Fiji Airways flight leaves Israel with pilgrims, travellers: Fiji minister

Fiji's Defence Minister said a Fiji Airways flight had left Tel Aviv with almost 200 Fijian religious pilgrims, plus citizens of Australia, New Zealand, Canada and the United States on board.

The flight will arrive in Nadi, Fiji, on Thursday, Defence Minister Pio Tikoduadua told reporters in Suva, and praised the aircrew "who chose to fly into a nation at war".

Fiji Airways flew into Tel Aviv for the first time a fortnight ago, carrying a large group of Christian pilgrims, as the Pacific Islands nation sought to build closer ties with Israel after it pledged to open an embassy next year.

A man holds Israel's national flag during a demonstration in support of Israel, in Sao Paulo, Brazil

Meanwhile, the Danish government has said it will offer to evacuate its citizens from Israel and Palestinian territories, reported news agency Reuters.

The first plane carrying US armaments has arrived in Israel, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said, according to FoxNews.

Gaza's health ministry said at least 900 people have been killed and 4,600 wounded in the crowded coastal enclave. Israeli public broadcaster Kan reported the weekend death toll had reached 1,200.

Biden and Netanyahu, after Tuesday call, agree to speak again in next few days

US President Joe Biden and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, in a phone call on Tuesday, discussed US military support for Israel following attacks by Hamas gunmen and agreed to speak again in the next few days, the White House said.

US's Blinken speaks with Israeli minister for strategic affairs

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken spoke with Israeli Minister for Strategic Affairs Ron Dermer on Tuesday, two days before Blinken arrives in Israel for a visit, the State Department said.

Blinken "reaffirmed unequivocal U.S. support for Israel’s right to defend itself" following attacks by the Palestinian militant group Hamas, the department said in a statement.

Pro-Israel rally outside UN spills into New York City streets

Pro-Israel demonstrators were joined by leading elected officials at a rally outside the United Nations headquarters on Tuesday that spilled onto the surrounding streets.

By 5 pm, the stretch of Second Avenue outside Dag Hammarskjöld Plaza, between East 45th and 47th streets, was crammed with thousands of people, and the street was shut down. Police were able to briefly clear one lane of traffic on Second Avenue, but the avenue was soon flooded with people again.

Explained | How statehood, land, Jerusalem, refugees shaped the Israel-Palestine dispute

The fighting between Israel and Hamas, which launched a surprise attack on Saturday, is the latest in seven decades of war and conflict between Israelis and Palestinians that has drawn in outside powers and destabilised the wider Middle East.

Read more

We must be crystal clear; we stand with Israel: Joe Biden

"In this moment, we must be crystal clear: We stand with Israel," says US President Joe Biden as he delivers remarks on the terrorist attacks in Israel.

"The loss of innocent lives is heartbreaking. Like every nation in the world, Israel has the right to respond, and indeed, has a duty to respond to these vicious attacks. I just got off the third call with Prime Minister Netanyahu and I told him the United States' response would be swift, decisive and overwhelming."

US says 20 or more Americans missing after Hamas's attack on Israel

Twenty or more Americans are missing following Palestinian Islamist group Hamas' attack on Israel over the weekend that left hundreds dead, US national security adviser Jake Sullivan said on Tuesday.

US talking to Israel about safe passage for Gaza civilians, White House says

US national security adviser Jake Sullivan said on Tuesday the United States was talking to Israeli officials and others about the idea of a safe passage for Gaza civilians after Israel's air strikes following a Hamas attack that left hundreds dead.