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🔴Live: 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. Meanwhile, the UN Security Council are set to meet to vote on rival Russian and Brazilian resolutions that reflect deep divisions over the decades-old Israeli-Palestinian conflict and the latest Hamas’ attacks and Israeli retaliation. Read our live blog for all the latest updates. All times are Paris time (GMT+2).
Issued on: 17/10/2023 – 01:11
3 min
A shell fired by Israel explodes over the southern Lebanese border village of Dhaira on October 16, 2023.
A shell fired by Israel explodes over the southern Lebanese border village of Dhaira on October 16, 2023. © AFP
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FRANCE 24
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FRANCE 24
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.
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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)
