Back to homepage / Middle East
HOUR BY HOUR
🔴Live: Around half a million Israelis displaced inside Israel, says military
Israel launched strikes overnight on Hezbollah “terrorist” targets in Lebanon, a statement from the Israeli army said early Tuesday morning. US President Joe Biden will travel to Israel and on to Jordan Wednesday to meet with both Israeli and Arab leadership, as concerns increase that the raging Israel-Hamas war could expand into a larger regional conflict. Read our live blog for all the latest updates. All times are Paris time (GMT+2).
Issued on: 17/10/2023 – 01:11
5 min
A picture taken from the southern Israeli town of Sderot on October 16, 2023, shows plums of smoke ascending over the northern Gaza Strip following Israeli military strikes, amid the ongoing battles between Israel and the Palestinian group Hamas.
A picture taken from the southern Israeli town of Sderot on October 16, 2023, shows plums of smoke ascending over the northern Gaza Strip following Israeli military strikes, amid the ongoing battles between Israel and the Palestinian group Hamas. © Jack Guez, AFP
By:
FRANCE 24
Follow
|
FRANCE 24
04:50am: Top US general flies into Israel as its war with Hamas deepens
The top US general overseeing American forces in the Middle East made an unannounced trip to Israel on Tuesday, saying he hoped to ensure its military has what it needs as it fights a deepening war against Palestinian militant group Hamas.
The trip by Army General Michael “Erik” Kurilla, head of US Central Command, is the latest by a senior US official to Israel ahead of an expected ground assault by Israel’s military in Gaza.
The US military is increasing its firepower in the region, aiming to prevent Iran and other Iran-backed groups from getting involved in the conflict as international fears of a wider, regional war grow.
The Pentagon is also rushing weaponry, including air defenses and munitions, to Israel.
04:27am: UN Security Council rejects Russian resolution on Israel-Hamas war
The UN Security Council on Monday rejected a Russian resolution condeming spiralling violence in the Middle East, with delegates refusing to back a motion that did not single out Hamas for its surprise attack on Israel that left at least 1,400 people dead.
Just four countries voted with Russia on its proposed text. Four others — including the US — voted against, while six abstained.
A second text proposed by Brazil with unequivocal language condeming the Islamist group appeared to have broader support, and was expected to come to the vote on Tuesday evening, diplomats said.
FRANCE 24’s correspondent Jessica Le Masurier reports from New York:
01:14
04:16am: Around half a million Israelis displaced inside Israel, says military
Around 500,000 Israelis have been evacuated and displaced in the 10 days since Hamas unleashed the bloodiest attack in the country’s history, the Israeli military said Tuesday.
“There are about half a million internally displaced Israelis at the time,” Jonathan Conricus, spokesman for the Israel Defense Forces (IDF), said in an online briefing.
He pointed out that all communities around the Gaza Strip had been evacuated, as had more than 20 communities along Israel’s northern border with Lebanon.
03:34am: Hamas seeks Palestinian prisoners’ release, calls non-Israeli captives ‘guests
A top Hamas leader said on Monday the group “has what it needs” to free all Palestinians in Israel’s jails, indicating the militant group may try to use the Israelis it kidnapped as bargaining chips to secure the release of Palestinian prisoners.
Soon after Hamas official Khaled Meshaal made the remarks on the captives, who include Israelis and non-Israelis kidnapped by Hamas on Oct. 7, the group’s armed wing separately said the non-Israelis were “guests” who would be released “when circumstances allow”.
02:39am: US, Israel agree to develop plan for aid to Gaza, says Blinken
The United States and Israel have agreed to work out ways to let international assistance come into the blockaded Gaza Strip, Secretary of State Antony Blinken said early Tuesday.
“At our request, the United States and Israel have agreed to develop a plan that will enable humanitarian aid from donor nations and multilateral organizations to reach civilians in Gaza,” Blinken said after nearly eight hours of overnight talks with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
02:23am: Biden will travel to Israel Wednesday amid concern that Israel-Hamas conflict could expand
President Joe Biden will travel to Israel on Wednesday to show support for the US ally as concerns increase that the raging Israel-Hamas war could expand into a larger regional conflict.
Biden is looking to send the strongest message yet that the US is behind Israel. His Democratic administration has pledged military support, sending US carriers and aid to the region. Officials have said they would ask Congress for upward of $2 billion in additional aid for both Israel and Ukraine, which is fighting Russia’s invasion.
He will travel to Jordan on Wednesday to meet with Arab leaders following his trip to Israel as concerns increase that the raging Israel-Hamas war could expand into a larger regional conflict.
01:20am: Nearly 1,000 US citizens, family have departed Israel on charter flights
Nearly 1,000 US citizens and family members have departed Israel on State Department-sponsored charter flights since Friday for Europe, a department spokesperson told Reuters on Monday.
The State Department said it had offered more than 4,000 seats on US government-chartered transport by air and sea to US citizens and immediate family but said the flights and other departure options have generally departed at half capacity or less.
12:46: Israel strikes Hezbollah ‘terrorist’ targets in Lebanon, says army
Israel launched strikes overnight on Hezbollah “terrorist” targets in Lebanon, a statement from the Israeli army said early Tuesday morning.
“The Israeli army is striking military targets of the terrorist organisation Hezbollah on Lebanese territory,” the statement said.
12:30am: Hamas releases hostage video of Franco-Israeli woman
The Islamist group Hamas released a video on Monday showing a statement from one of the captives seized in last week’s devastating attack on Israel.
In the footage, the woman, whose injured arm is shown being treated by an unidentified medical worker, identifies herself as 21-year-old Mia Schem and asks to be returned to her family as quickly as possible.
Daily newsletter
Receive essential international news every morning
Subscribe
A representative of the family, which was among a group of French families that appealed last week to President Emmanuel Macron to help free their missing relatives, confirmed her identity to Reuters.
Key developments from Monday, October 16:
The Israeli military said Monday that Hamas and other Palestinian militants are holding 199 hostages in Gaza, a figure higher than previous estimates.
Iran’s top envoy said that a “preemptive action” could be expected in the coming hours, state TV reported on Monday, adding that Israel will not be allowed to take any action in the Gaza Strip without facing consequences.
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken has categorically rejected the idea floated of expelling Palestinians from the Gaza Strip, saying they should be able to stay as Israel battles Hamas.
(FRANCE 24 with AFP, AP and Reuters)
