Back to homepage / Middle East
AS IT HAPPENED
Israel vows to kill new Hamas chief Sinwar as US warns against escalation
Israel’s army chief vowed on Wednesday to pursue and eliminate Yahya Sinwar, who was named leader of Hamas following the killing of his predecessor in Tehran last week. Earlier in the day, Israeli forces raided the Balata refugee camp near the city of Nablus and destroyed the local headquarters of the Fatah faction, Palestinian authorities said, as security forces continued sweeps in the occupied West Bank. Read our liveblog to see how all the day’s events unfolded.
Issued on: 07/08/2024 – 07:36
Modified: 07/08/2024 – 14:01
1 min
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken speaks at the State Department in Washington, DC, on August 5, 2024.
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken speaks at the State Department in Washington, DC, on August 5, 2024. © Ting Shen, AFP
By:
NEWS WIRES
This liveblog is no longer being updated.
Summary:
Israel’s army chief vowed on Wednesday to pursue and eliminate Yahya Sinwar, who was named leader of Hamas following the killing of his predecessor in Tehran last week.
Israeli forces raided the Balata refugee camp near the city of Nablus and destroyed the local headquarters of the Fatah faction, Palestinian authorities said, as security forces continued sweeps in the occupied West Bank.
Yemen’s Iran-aligned Houthi movement said on Wednesday that it had targeted a ship identified as the Contship Ono with ballistic missiles in the Red Sea, as well as two US destroyers heading northwards in the waterway.
At least 39,677 Palestinians have been killed and 91,645 injured in Israel’s war in Gaza, according to the health ministry in the Hamas-run enclave. The Hamas-led October 7 attacks resulted in the deaths of more than 1,190 people, mostly civilians, according to official Israeli figures. Some 250 people were taken hostage, with about 120 remaining in Gaza. Many have been declared dead by Israeli authorities.
Last to first
3 hours ago
Palestinian World Central Kitchen staff member killed in Gaza, says organization
The WCK identified the person as Nadi Sallout, saying in a post on X that he was “an integral member of our warehouse team from the early days of our response in Rafah and a humanitarian at his very core”.
The organisation said it believes he was off duty at the time.
SHARE
3 hours ago
EU, France, UK slam Smotrich for saying Gaza starvation could be ‘justifiable and moral’
“No one in the world will allow us to starve two million people, even though it might be justified and moral in order to free the hostages,” Israel’s Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich said at a conference earlier this week. “We are bringing in humanitarian aid because we have no choice.”
“It demonstrates, once again, his contempt for international law and for basic principles of humanity,” the EU said in a statement. “We expect the Israeli government to unequivocally distance itself from the words of Minister Smotrich.”
France also criticised Smotrich, expressing its “deep dismay at the scandalous remarks”.
UK Foreign Minister David Lammy said on X that there “can be no justification for Minister Smotrich’s remarks”, and called on “the wider Israeli government to retract and condemn them”.
SHARE
6 hours ago
Macron tells Netanyahu to ‘avoid cycle of reprisals’
French President Emmanuel Macron told Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Wednesday to “avoid a cycle of reprisals” in the Middle East, his office said, as fears of a regional war soar.
After earlier telling his Iranian counterpart to “avoid a cycle of reprisals that would put the populations and stability of the region at risk”, Macron urged Netanyahu in a telephone call to adopt the same reasoning, the French presidency said in a statement.
SHARE
6 hours ago
Israel court hears bid to close prison where soldiers are accused of sexually assaulting Palestinian
The Israeli Supreme Court considered a petition Wednesday to shutter a desert military prison where soldiers have been accused of abusing Palestinians, as a new video emerged purporting to show the sexual assault of a Palestinian detainee.
Rights groups have been engaged in a legal battle since June to shut down the detention facility, known as Sde Teiman, where Israel has held many Palestinians detained in Gaza during the 10-month war with Hamas.
The groups claim that conditions at the facility are grave and that abuse by Israeli soldiers is common, basing their claims on testimony from released detainees and Israeli whistleblowers.
SHARE
7 hours ago
Islamic bloc says Israel ‘fully responsible’ for Hamas leader’s killing
The Organisation of Islamic Cooperation on Wednesday blamed Israel for the attack that killed Hamas political leader Ismail Haniyeh last week in Iran, which has vowed to retaliate.
A statement issued after an extraordinary meeting of the 57-member bloc in the Saudi coastal city of Jeddah said it “holds Israel, the illegal occupying power, fully responsible for this heinous attack”, which it described as “a serious infringement” of Iran’s sovereignty.
SHARE
7 hours ago
Reports of Israeli abuse of Palestinian prisoners concerning, White House says
Reports of rape, torture and abuse of Palestinian prisoners by Israel’s military are deeply concerning, the White House said on Wednesday.
“It is essential that the rule of law and due process prevail,” said White House spokesperson Karine Jean-Pierre.
The Israeli military, which runs some detention facilities where Palestinian prisoners have been held, has rejected allegations of systematic abuse.
SHARE
10 hours ago
Yemen’s Houthis say they targeted Contship Ono ship, two US destroyers in Red Sea
Yemen’s Iran-aligned Houthi movement said on Wednesday that it had targeted a ship identified as the Contship Ono with ballistic missiles in the Red Sea, as well as two US destroyers heading northwards in the waterway.
SHARE
10 hours ago
Israeli forces continue West Bank raids
Israeli forces raided the Balata refugee camp near the city of Nablus on Wednesday and destroyed the local headquarters of the Fatah faction, Palestinian authorities said, as security forces continued sweeps in the occupied West Bank.
No casualties were reported in Wednesday’s raid, which came a day after at least 11 Palestinians were killed in clashes with security forces carrying out raids around the flashpoint city of Jenin, in the northern West Bank.
SHARE
11 hours ago
Israel army chief vows to ‘find, attack’ and eliminate new Hamas chief Sinwar
Israel’s army chief vowed to pursue and eliminate Yahya Sinwar on Wednesday after he was named leader of Hamas following the killing of his predecessor in Tehran last week.
“We will strive to find him, attack him, and replace the head of the political bureau again,” Lieutenant General Herzi Halevi told soldiers, according to a statement issued by his spokesman.
“We have carried out very important operations in recent weeks, we’ve killed the most senior commanders of our most dangerous enemies, and we are not stopping.”
SHARE
11 hours ago
Egypt asks its airlines to avoid Tehran airspace for three hours on Thursday
Egypt instructed all of its airlines to avoid Iranian air space for a three-hour period in the early morning on Thursday amid tension between Israel and Iran.
The NOTAM, a safety notice provided to pilots on Wednesday, said the instruction would be in effect from 0100-0400 GMT.
“All Egyptian carriers shall avoid overflying Tehran (Flight information Region) FIR. No flight plan will be accepted overflying such territory,” the notice said, referring to the three-hour period provided.
Many airlines are revising their schedules to avoid Iranian and Lebanese air space while also calling off flights to Israel and Lebanon as many fear a possible broader conflict after the killing of senior members of militant groups Hamas and Hezbollah.
SHARE
11 hours ago
Netanyahu says Israel ‘striking enemies’ as attack expected
Netanyahu said Israel was hitting its enemies and “continuing forward to victory” on Wednesday as the country braced for an expected attack by Iran and its proxies.
Israel was “determined to defend” itself following threats of retaliation after its killing of a top Hezbollah commander and following the death of Hamas’s former chief Ismail Haniyeh.
“We are continuing forward to victory,” the premier told new recruits at the Tel Hashomer military induction in Tel Aviv.
“I know that the citizens of Israel are concerned, and I ask one thing of you: be patient and level-headed.
“We are prepared both defensively and offensively. We are striking our enemies and are determined to defend ourselves.”
SHARE
11 hours ago
US says Gaza ceasefire still ‘close’ despite tensions
Israel and Hamas are still close to a ceasefire deal, the White House insisted Wednesday, despite growing fears of a regional war following the assassination of a key Hamas leader.
Washington is still engaged in “intense diplomacy” to prevent further escalation after Iran threatened revenge for the killing of Hamas political leader Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran.
Hamas has named Yahya Sinwar — the alleged mastermind of the October 7 attack on Israel — as its new leader, sparking fears the torturous negotiations have become even more difficult.
“We are as close as we think we have ever been” to a deal for a Gaza ceasefire and the release of hostages held by Hamas, National Security Council spokesman John Kirby told reporters.
SHARE
11 hours ago
France’s Macron tells Iran cycle of retaliation must stop
French President Emmanuel Macron told Iranian counterpart Massoud Pezeshkian in a phone call on Wednesday that he must do everything in his power to avoid escalation in the region and that the cycle of retaliation must stop, the Elysée palace said in a statement.
Macron said Iran has to call on the “destabilising players it supports” to exercise the utmost restraint to avoid a conflagration.
Tensions have soared in the Middle East following the assassination of Palestinian group Hamas’ leader Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran last week and after an Israeli strike in Beirut killed Fuad Shukr, a top military commander from Lebanese armed group Hezbollah.
SHARE
11 hours ago
Iran’s response to Hamas leader’s killing will happen at right time, acting foreign minister says
Iran’s response to the killing of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran will take place “at the right time and in the appropriate shape”, Acting Foreign Minister Ali Bagheri Kani said in a statement on Wednesday.
Iran and Palestinian Islamist group Hamas accuse Israel of carrying out Haniyeh’s assassination on July 31. Israel has not claimed or denied responsibility.
SHARE
11 hours ago
Hamas leader’s killing risks ‘wider conflict’, Islamic bloc chair warns
The “heinous” killing of Hamas political leader Ismail Haniyeh risks tipping the Middle East into “wider conflict”, the chair of a Saudi-based Islamic bloc told a summit on Wednesday.
Gambian Foreign Minister Mamadou Tangara spoke at the beginning of an extraordinary session of the 57-member Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) in the Saudi coastal city of Jeddah.
The gathering of foreign ministers was called in part by Iran, where Haniyeh was killed last week in an attack the Islamic republic has blamed on Israel.
“This heinous act serves only to escalate the existing tensions potentially leading to a wider conflict that could involve the entire region,” said Tangara, whose country currently chairs the OIC.
Haniyeh’s killing “will not quell the Palestinian cause but rather it amplifies it, underscoring the urgency for justice and human rights for the Palestinian people,” he said.
SHARE
13 hours ago
Turkey submits request to join genocide case against Israel in UN court
Turkey has filed a formal request with the International Court of Justice to join South Africa’s genocide lawsuit against Israel, Turkey’s state-run news agency reports.
Turkey’s ambassador to The Netherlands submitted a declaration of intervention at the UN court in The Hague, Anadolu Agency reported.
Turkey, one of the fiercest critics of Israel’s actions in Gaza, becomes the latest nation to seek to participate in the case.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has accused Israel of genocide, called for it to be punished in international courts and criticized Western nations for backing Israel.
SHARE
13 hours ago
Iran will never remain silent in the face of aggression, president says
Iran will never remain silent in the face of aggression against its interests and security, President Masoud Pezeshkian told his French counterpart Emmanuel Macron, state media reported on Wednesday, amid an increase in regional tensions following the killing in Tehran last week of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh.
SHARE
14 hours ago
Paris probes threats to Israeli Olympic athletes amid tensions over Gaza war
Paris prosecutors are investigating death threats and other offenses against athletes from Israel’s Olympic team amid tensions over the Gaza war and increasing fears of a broader conflict in the Middle East.
FRANCE 24
Paris probes threats to Israeli Olympic athletes amid tensions over Gaza war
Paris prosecutors are investigating death threats and other offenses against athletes from Israel’s Olympic team amid tensions over the Gaza war and increasing fears of a broader conflict in the Middle…
Read the article on https://www.france24.com
SHARE
15 hours ago
Israeli army issues new evacuation orders in north Gaza after fresh rocket fire
Israeli forces on Wednesday issued new evacuation orders to Palestinians in areas of north Gaza that were among the first to be hit at the start of the war with Hamas in October, after militants fired a fresh volley of rockets into Israel.
Army spokesperson Avichay Adraee posted the evacuation orders for several districts in Beit Hanoun and Beit Lahiya, two now largely demolished towns into which Israeli tanks swept at the outset of Israel’s ground invasion.
“Hamas and terrorist organisations are firing rockets from your area towards the State of Israel. The IDF will act forcefully and immediately against them,” Adraee said in the message sent by text or social media to Palestinian residents.
“For your own safety, evacuate immediately to the known shelters in the center of Gaza City,” the army spokesman said.
SHARE
15 hours ago
Israeli foreign minister slams October 7 mastermind Sinwar’s promotion as new leader
Yahya Sinwar’s appointment angered Israel at a time when it is bracing for potential Iranian retaliation for the killing of his predecessor Ismail Haniyeh last week in Tehran.
Israeli Foreign Minister Israel Katz said Sinwar’s promotion was “yet another compelling reason to swiftly eliminate him and wipe this vile organisation off the face of the earth”.
Sinwar – the Palestinian militant group’s leader in Gaza since 2017 – has not been seen since the October 7 attack, after which Israel called him a “dead man walking”.
SHARE
Show More Posts
Yesterday’s key developments:
Hezbollah chief Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah vowed in a televised address on Tuesday that his group’s response to last week’s Israeli attacks would be “strong and effective”, adding that Hezbollah would act either alone or with its regional allies.
Palestinian officials said on Tuesday that 12 Palestinians were killed during Israeli military raids in the occupied West Bank, as world leaders try to stop tensions in the Middle East from boiling over into a regional war.
About casualty figures from Gaza’s Hamas-run health ministry:
Gaza’s health ministry collects data from the enclave’s hospitals and the Palestinian Red Crescent. For more on the health ministry’s casualty figures, click here.
(France 24 with Reuters, AFP, AP)
