Four days after Hamas's unprecedented attack on Israeli territory, the army intensified its bombing in the Strip while a volley of rockets was launched from Gaza towards central Israel, including the area of greater Tel Aviv and the airport Ben Gurion plane.
Hamas says it is ready to fight a long war, also using the dozens of hostages held in Gaza to guarantee the release of Palestinians detained in Israel and abroad. The announcement of retaliation on the militants' prisoners is macabre: "We will begin to publicly execute an Israeli civilian hostage for every Israeli bombing of civilian homes in Gaza without warning."
UPDATES:
Rockets from Gaza on Ashkelon hit the Hotel Regina - Hamas rockets, in the latest launch from Gaza, hit the Hotel Regina in Ashkelon and columns of smoke can be seen near the port. The Israeli media reported it.
Fifteen rockets from Lebanon – Approximately 15 rockets were launched from Lebanon towards Israeli territory. The military spokesman said this, according to which 4 were intercepted and the others fell in open areas.
Media: «Forty children killed in a kibbutz» – Israeli soldiers reported on I24 TV that they had found « children with decapitated heads » in Kfar Azza, a kibbutz stormed by Hamas militiamen in Gaza. According to the same source, " entire families were shot in their beds. " So far, around 40 babies and toddlers have been carried on stretchers.
Egypt closes Rafah crossing – Egypt has closed the Rafah crossing linking the Gaza Strip “sine die”. Sources reported this to Al Arabiya. According to what was reported by some international media, the crossing was hit by an Israeli raid today.
Over a thousand Israeli deaths – The Israeli death toll exceeds 1,000 deaths. “At least 1,008 Israelis have been killed since Saturday,” the Israeli embassy in the United States said. In a social media post, the embassy said more than 3,418 people were also injured.
Hamas to the inhabitants of Ashkelon: «Leave the city in 2 hours» – Hamas has issued an ultimatum to the inhabitants of Ashkelon, in southern Israel, 40 km north of the Gaza Strip: «Leave the city within two hours. We warned you." This was reported by Hamas spokesperson Abu Obeida, quoted by the Al Manar TV of the Lebanese Hezbollah allies of Hamas. “We warn the residents of Ashkelon to leave their city by 5am (4pm in Italy),” Abu Obeida said.
The EU: «Respect international norms and protect civilians» – «We condemn any attack on civilians and call for respect for the universal principles of international law. Israel certainly has the right to defend itself, but this must be done in line with international law. We demand the release of the hostages and that there be access to food, water and medicine. We will certainly condemn terrorist acts that have created so much suffering and have not helped the Palestinians." The EU High Representative for Foreign Policy Josep Borell said this during the press conference in Muscat at the end of the EU-Gulf countries summit.
Meloni at the synagogue of Rome – Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni visited the Synagogue of Rome today to «bring solidarity to the Roman and Italian Jewish community because in the terrible scenes coming from Israel there is something more than what is seen in a normal but already a tragic war scenario. In the house-to-house hunt for civilians, in the roundup of children and young people, there is hatred towards the entire population", said Meloni. Adding that "defending the right to exist and defend Israel means defending these young people, these children, these women" victims of Hamas's acts.
The mandate to Netanyahu for a unity government – The governing majority parties in Israel have given Prime Minister Benyamin Netanyahu a mandate to "establish a national emergency government" with representatives of the current opposition. The Likud, the prime minister's party, made this known. Even the Minister of National Security Itamar Ben Gvir (of Jewish Power), who had previously expressed opposition, finally accepted the line.
Attacks on Gaza – After new warning sirens signaling arrival from Gaza into southern Israel, including the city of Beersheba and areas of the Negev, the Israeli army is currently conducting «large-scale attacks on terror targets in Hamas" in the Strip. The military spokesman made this known.
Humanitarian corridor – The World Health Organization (WHO) is calling for the opening of a humanitarian corridor inside and outside the Gaza Strip, placed under total siege by Israel. «The WHO calls for an end to the violence. A humanitarian corridor is needed to reach people with essential medical supplies,” WHO spokesman Tarik Jasarevic said at a press conference in Geneva.
The UN warning - The total siege of Gaza is "prohibited" by international humanitarian law. It is the United Nations' warning to Israel.
More flights ready for Italians – Around 200 more Italians will board the Italian Air Force vehicles in Tel Aviv. During the day, after the arrival of around 200 people, two further flights were scheduled with the same military plane. The operations ordered by the Ministries of Defense and Foreign Affairs are managed by the Joint Forces Summit Coordination in coordination with the Maeci offices. In the next two flights the arrival of 180-200 Italians is expected, who will also land at the military airport of Pratica di Mare. At the end of the day, 400 Italians will have returned from Israel.
Khamenei denies Iran's role – The supreme leader of the Islamic Republic of Iran, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, has denied any direct involvement of Iran in the Hamas offensive from the Gaza Strip.
“Suspected air infiltration” – The Israeli army has carried out checks on a "suspected air infiltration" in the Golan Heights and the upper Galilee, probably from Lebanon. This was announced by the military spokesperson, according to whom soldiers are checking the areas and an Israeli aircraft has been raised for further control. Residents of some towns in the affected areas were ordered to stay indoors. The alarm then stopped.
(Unioneonline/ss)
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THE LANDING OF THE ITALIANS: