°®Âþµº

President Joe Biden, when responding to a heckler at a Minnesota campaign event Wednesday night, said he thinks there should be a humanitarian "pause" in the Israeli-Hamas war to get "prisoners" out of Gaza.

The 80-year-old Democrat was delivering remarks to some 200 supporters in the northern US state when a member of the audience shouted out to him.

"As a rabbi, I need you to call for a ceasefire right now," she said, referring to the deadly conflict between Israel and Hamas.

The president responded: "I think we need a pause. A pause means giving time to get the prisoners out."

Asked about his remarks, the White House later clarified that by "prisoners" the president was referring to hostages held by Hamas.

"I'm the guy that convinced Bibi to call for a ceasefire to let the prisoners out. I'm the guy that talked to (Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-)Sisi to convince him to open the door" along Gaza's border with Egypt to allow freed hostages to leave.

Biden indicated that he was discussing the recent release of two US hostages formerly held by the Palestinian Islamist group.

Lebanon's Hezbollah said on Thursday it destroyed an Israeli drone over south Lebanon with a surface-to-air missile, an account disputed by Israel's military which confirmed the missile launch but said its aircraft suffered "no damage".

Hezbollah said in a statement its fighters shot down the drone just after midnight over two villages on the Lebanese side of the frontier. "It crashed and fell instantly," it said.

The Israeli military said that a surface-to-air missile was launched from Lebanon toward one of its drones.

"In response, the (military) struck the terrorist cell that fired the missile and the launch site," the military said in a statement, without saying who was behind the firing.

"There was no damage to the (drone)," the statement said.

(Reuters)

Jordan on Wednesday said it would "immediately" recall its ambassador to Israel in protest at the war against Gaza's Hamas rulers trigged by the militant group's October 7 attacks.

"Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi decided to immediately recall Jordan's ambassador to Israel," the foreign ministry said in a statement that condemned "the ongoing Israeli war that is killing innocent people in Gaza and causing an unprecedented humanitarian catastrophe".

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken will visit Israel on Friday, his spokesperson said on Wednesday

State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller said Blinken will meet Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and other senior officials and receive an update on Israel's military objectives and its plans to achieve those goals.

"He will reiterate U.S. support for Israel’s right to defend itself in accordance with international humanitarian law, and discuss the need to take all precautions to minimize civilian casualties, as well as our work to deliver humanitarian assistance," Miller told reporters.

(Reuters)

Deadly Israeli air strikes on the Gaza Strip's largest refugee camp "could amount to war crimes", the UN Human Rights Office said on Wednesday.

Israeli strikes have targeted the Jabalia refugee camp twice in two days, killing and wounding dozens, according to the health ministry in the Hamas-run Palestinian territory.

Israel said Tuesday's raid was a successful hit on top Hamas commander Ibrahim Biari.

"Given the high number of civilian casualties & the scale of destruction following Israeli air strikes on Jabalia refugee camp, we have serious concerns that these are disproportionate attacks that could amount to war crimes," the office wrote on X, formerly Twitter.

Israel has relentlessly pounded Gaza in retribution for the worst attack in the country's history.

Renowned actress  Angelina Jolie posted a statement on her Instagram condemning the war in Gaza.

In her message, Jolie described the Israeli attacks on Gaza as a deliberate bombing of a trapped population with no escape.

Jolie highlighted the fact that Gaza has effectively become an open-air prison for nearly two decades, and the current situation is rapidly turning it into a mass grave. She notes that 40% of those killed are innocent children, and entire families are tragically losing their lives in the conflict.

The actress and activist emphasizes that millions of Palestinian civilians, including children, women, and families, are experiencing collective punishment and dehumanization, actions that violate international law. She raises concerns over the deprivation of essential resources such as food, medicine, and humanitarian aid, calling for urgent intervention.

Israeli Defence Minister Yoav Gallant on Wednesday said Hamas has to "die or to surrender unconditionally" in the war the two sides are fighting in Gaza.

"There is no third option," Gallant said in a televised speech, addressing the militant group which rules Gaza.

Turkey and Iran on Wednesday called for a regional conference aimed at averting the spread of the Israel-Hamas war.

Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan met counterpart Hossein Amir-Abdollahian a day after Iran's top diplomat met Hamas leaders in Qatar.

Fidan said Turkey was pushing for an immediate ceasefire because "it is not difficult to predict that this spiral of violence will grow" without a permanent solution to the war.

"We do not want the human tragedy in Gaza to turn into a war that affects the region's countries," Fidan said.

The Iranian foreign minister "shared with us that there are strong indications that other armed elements in the region may intervene in the conflict if conditions do not change", Fidan said.

"A ceasefire and peace have become more essential."

Amir-Abdollahian said a peace conference involving "Muslim and Arab" countries should be held "as soon as possible".

He also called on the Muslim world to boycott Israeli products because of the war.

The Iranian minister later met with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan in Ankara.

He said "if the war against the defenceless people of Gaza is not stopped immediately, there is a risk of expanding the scope of war and conflict in the region at any moment," in remarks carried by the Iranian foreign ministry.

"It is necessary for Islamic countries to take immediate and effective action to end the war crimes of the Zionist regime, lift the siege of Gaza and send humanitarian aid, and in this regard, the Islamic Republic of Iran emphasises the necessity of holding an urgent meeting of heads of Islamic and Arab countries," he added.

The government media spokesman in Gaza said Wednesday that Israel destroyed 82 government headquarters and dozens of service institutions in the territory since the start of its aggression.

President Joe Biden said US citizens would begin evacuating from Gaza on Wednesday, as hundreds of injured residents and foreigners left the war-torn Palestinian territory.

"Today, thanks to American leadership, we secured safe passage for wounded Palestinians and for foreign nationals to exit Gaza," Biden said on X, formerly Twitter.

"We expect American citizens to exit today, and we expect to see more depart over the coming days. We won't let up working to get Americans out of Gaza."

US National Security Council spokesman John Kirby confirmed that some American citizens were scheduled to leave Gaza on Wednesday as the evacuation plan develops.

"This is an important first step in a process that we expect to see continue over the coming days. The situation remains very fluid. But this is a significant breakthrough," he told reporters.

"I think you'll see more over coming days. A handful of Americans are expected to depart today.

"The State Department has communicated directly with American citizens in Gaza over the past 24 hours to tell them to be ready to go and to await further instruction."

UN decries Jabalia camp strike

The United Nations on Wednesday decried Israeli strikes on Gaza's largest refugee camp that killed scores of people on Tuesday.

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres "is appalled over the escalating violence in Gaza," his spokesman Stephane Dujarric said.

This includes "the killing of Palestinians, including women and children in Israeli airstrikes in residential areas of the densely populated Jabalia refugee camp," Dujarric said.

Israel struck the camp for second time on Wednesday, with the Health Ministry in Gaza saying that "dozens" have been killed.

Palestinian Red Crescent operating in difficult conditions

The Palestinian Red Crescent has been carrying out its work in challenging conditions amid Israel's war in Gaza. The PRC has had to drive ambulances as Israel bombards the territory, and risk not reaching victims on time following fuel shortages exacerbated by Israel's siege.

🤚🚑Humanitarian workers risk their lives to save people in strip.
This video shows a glimpse of the terror that paramedics have been experiencing for over three weeks due to the continuous aggression on Gaza.

— PRCS (@PalestineRCS)

How do Moroccan Jews feel about Israel's war in Gaza?

Many members of Morocco's Jewish community said they feel "ashamed" and "traumatised" by what they describe as atrocious violence committed by Israel in the name of their faith.

Read more from °®Âþµº's North Africa correspondent Basma El Atti.

320 foreign passport holders cross into Egypt amid Rafah crossing opening

At least 320 foreign passport holders crossed on Wednesday to Egypt from Gaza in a first batch of evacuations from the besieged enclave, three Egyptian security sources and a Palestinian official said.

The Palestinian official on the Gaza side of the border said the foreign passport holders departed the strip on six buses. A first list of about 500 foreigners or dual nationals had been cleared to leave Gaza, with evacuations expected to continue in the days to come.

(Reuters)

Israel's second strike on Jabalia killed 'dozens': Gaza MoH

The Health Ministry in Gaza said a second Israeli bombing raid in two days had killed and wounded "dozens" Wednesday at the territory's biggest refugee camp, Jabalia.

It said there were "dozens of martyrs and injured in a bombing by the occupation planes" at the Jabalia camp, a day after Israel acknowledged carrying out one devastating strike as part of its war waged on Gaza since October 7.

(Reuters)

BBC World Service to launch emergency radio service for Gaza

The BBC will start an emergency radio service for the people of Gaza in response to the ongoing war in the territory, the British broadcaster's World Service arm said on Wednesday.

The programme will aim to provide those in Gaza with the latest information plus safety advice on where to access shelter, food and water supplies, said the BBC.

"BBC News Arabic are extremely well-placed to offer this vital service for the people of Gaza at a time of greatest need," BBC World Service Director Liliane Landor said in a statement.

Produced in Cairo and London, the Gaza radio service will run one programme from November 3 and begin a second daily broadcast from November 10.

(Reuters)

Number of wounded Palestinians 'die' while being transported to Egypt: source

An unconfirmed number of Palestinian patients seeking treatment in Egypt have reportedly succumbed to their wounds, according to some sources, though °®Âþµº has been unable to confirm the incident.

Read more from TNA's Egypt correspondent here.

Belgium transport unions refuse handling arms weaponry shipment to Israel

Belgian transport workers' unions on Tuesday called on their members to refuse to handle military equipment being sent to Israel who has been waging a brutal war on Gaza since October 7, killing over 8,700 people.

The ACV Puls, BTB, BBTK and ACV-Transcom unions said in a joint statement that airport workers have seen arms shipments.

"While a genocide is under way in Palestine, workers at various airports in Belgium are seeing arms shipments in the direction of the war zone," the statement said.

Belgian transport unions refuse to load and unload weapons going to Israel (both via ports and airports) and call for an immediate ceasefire.

— Peter Mertens MP (@peter_mertens)

The unions said that loading or offloading these weapons would mean contributing to supplying organisations that kill innocent people.

"We, several unions active in ground logistics, call on our members not to handle any flights that ship military equipment to Palestine/Israel, like there were clear agreements and rules at the start of the conflict with Russia and Ukraine," the unions said.

Jordan to recall its ambassador to Israel

Jordan on Wednesday said it would "immediately" recall its ambassador to Israel in protest of its indiscriminate and vicious war in Gaza, ongoing since October 7.

"Jordanian Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi decided to immediately recall Jordan's ambassador to Israel," the foreign ministry said, adding that the move was "to condemn the Israeli war that is killing innocent people in Gaza".

US Secretary of State Blinken to visit Israel on Friday

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken will begin a new trip to the Middle East on Friday, a spokesperson said, as Israel's war in Gaza intensifies.

"Secretary Blinken will travel to Israel on Friday for meetings with members of the Israeli government, and then will make other stops in the region," State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller told reporters Tuesday.

Israeli media had previously reported the visit, citing Israeli officials.

Hamas spox denies presence of its leaders in Jabalia
 

Hamas’s spokesman has refuted reports stating that one the group's leader was present in the Jabalia refugee camp, that was targeted in a deadly Israeli strike on Tuesday, amid Israeli claims that the shelling killed a Hamas commander.

In a statement posted on Telegram channel yesterday, Hazem Qassem said: "The Zionist enemy’s talk of the presence of one of the leaders of Hamas in Jabalia camp, the place of the criminal massacre that took place today, is talk and has no basis."

First foreign nationals cross into Egypt from Gaza

A first group of foreigners and dual nationals fleeing war-torn Gaza arrived in Egypt on Wednesday, mostly women and children, an Egyptian official told AFP, speaking on condition of anonymity.

Parents with strollers and elderly people were seen among those getting off a bus on the Egyptian side of the Rafah crossing in footage broadcast by an Egyptian TV channel close to the intelligence services.

Gaza's only cancer hospital out of service

The only cancer treatment hospital in the Gaza Strip has gone out of service after it ran out of fuel, health officials said on Wednesday.

The director of the Turkish-Palestinian Friendship hospital told a press conference aired by Al-Jazeera TV that the hospital, which mainly treats cancer patients, had used up its fuel and was now out of service.

"We tell the world don't leave cancer patients to a certain death due to the hospital being out of service," the director, Subhi Skaik, added.

Palestinian Health Minister Mai al-Kaila confirmed the director's remarks in a statement, adding that this brings the total number of hospitals not operating right now in the Strip to 16 out of 35.

"The lives of 70 cancer patients inside the hospital are seriously threatened," she said in a statement.

"The number of cancer patients in the Gaza Strip is about 2,000 living in catastrophic health conditions as a result of the ongoing Israeli aggression on the Strip and the displacement of a large number," al-Kaila added.

(Reuters)

Russia FM Lavrov discusses Israel-Gaza war with Arab envoys: Moscow

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov has discussed Israel's war in Gaza with envoys of Arab countries in Moscow, Russia's TASS news agency reported on Wednesday.

(Reuters)

Jabalia massacre triggers nationwide protests in Morocco

Israel's massacre in the Jabalia camp in Gaza, has triggered nationwide protest in Morocco, with hundreds of activists demanding the end of normalisation with Israel and the immediate closure of the Tel Aviv's office in Rabat.

Read more from °®Âþµº's North Africa correspondent, Basma El Atti.

EU's Borrell 'appalled' by Jabalia camp strikes

The European Union's top diplomat Josep Borrell on Wednesday said he was "appalled" by the high number of casualties from the bombing by Israel of a refugee camp in Gaza and called for fighting parties to respect the international rules of war.

"Building on EU Council's clear stance that Israel has the right to defend itself in line with international humanitarian law and ensuring the protection of all civilians, I am appalled by the high number of casualties following the bombing by Israel of the Jabalia refugee camp, " Borrell said in a statement on X.

"Laws of war and humanity must always apply, including when it comes to humanitarian assistance," Borrell said.

(Reuters)

Hamas says seven hostages killed in Tuesday's Jabalia camp bombardment

Hamas said on Wednesday that seven hostages captured on October 7, including three foreign passport holders, were killed in Israel's bombing of Gaza's largest refugee camp.

"Seven detainees were killed in the Jabalia massacre yesterday, including three holders of foreign passports," said a Hamas military wing statement.

No details were given and it was not possible to independently verify the claim. The military wing, the Ezzedine al-Qassam Brigades, previously announced that "almost 50" hostages had been killed in earlier raids.

First ambulances carrying wounded enter Egypt

The first ambulances carrying critically injured Palestinians from war-torn Gaza entered Egypt via the Rafah crossing on Wednesday, an Egyptian official said, speaking on condition of anonymity.

Live footage shown on television stations showed Egyptian nurses and first-aiders examining wounded Palestinians then carrying them on stretchers to Egyptian ambulances.

At least one child was visible in one of the ambulances, with officials saying around 90 of the most seriously wounded would be allowed to cross for treatment in Egyptian hospitals.

On the Palestinian side of the Rafah crossing, an AFP correspondent saw 40 ambulances enter the terminal, each one carrying two people.

The patients were to be taken to several locations, including a field hospital in Sheikh Zuweid, some 15 kilometres (nine miles) from Rafah. Media reports said others would be taken to a hospital in El Arish, 30 kilometres to the west with the most complex cases referred to Cairo.

Gaza's Jabalia camp shelled by Israel for second time

Gaza's largest refugee camp - Jabalia - has been bombarded by Israeli warplane on Wednesday, Al Jazeera reported.

The camp was reportedly was targeted by Israeli warplanes and intense, indiscriminate shelling in the region, following a bombardment on Tuesday which killed over 100 people, with 400 more wounded on the same camp.

Hundreds people are feared to be trapped and buried under the rubble, while Israel had earlier dropped leaflets telling Palestinians to leave, said the Qatari broadcaster's Gaza correspondent, Wael al-Dahdouh.

Bombs of various sizes were used in the assault.

More to come...

Bolivia to sever ties with Israel over Gaza war

Bolivia said it was severing diplomatic ties with Israel on Tuesday over its disproportionate attacks in Gaza, as two other Latin American countries recalled their ambassadors over the mounting humanitarian crisis.

"Bolivia has decided to cut diplomatic relations with the State of Israel, in repudiation and condemnation of the aggressive and disproportionate Israeli military offensive being carried out in the Gaza Strip," deputy foreign minister Freddy Mamani told a press conference.

Hamas hailed Bolivia's decision on Tuesday, saying it "holds it in high esteem" while urging Arab countries who have normalised their relations with Israel to do the same.

The leaders of both Colombia and Chile also spoke out Tuesday against the Israel's assault on Gaza, which has now killed more than 8,500 Palestinians - two-thirds of them women and children.

Bolivia's Deputy Foreign Minister Freddy Mamani: "We have decided to break diplomatic relations with the Israeli state in repudiation and condemnation of the aggressive and disproportionate Israeli military offensive taking place in the Strip."

— Quds News Network (@QudsNen)

"I have decided to recall our ambassador to Israel (Margarita Manjarrez) for consultation. If Israel does not stop the massacre of the Palestinian people, we cannot be there," Colombia's leftist President Gustavo Petro wrote on X, formerly Twitter.

Chile, which has the largest Palestinian population outside the Arab world, also said on Tuesday it was recalling its ambassador to Israel in protest against Israel's "unacceptable violations of international humanitarian law."

General strike to be observed in West Bank

A comprehensive strike will be observed across the West Bank, including occupied Jerusalem, on Wednesday in a bid to denounce the ongoing Israeli assault in the besieged Gaza Strip, which has killed more than 8,500 people.

More than 120 people have also been killed in the West Bank since the war began, amid widespread Israeli aggression and indiscriminate bombardment of occupied Palestinian territories.

The strike, called for by the National Liberation Movement Fatah, and will impact shops, schools and banks amid calls for a halt to the escalation of Israeli violence, the Palestinian official news agency Wafa said.

Rafah crossing opens for foreign nationals and wounded Palestinians

Egypt's Rafah crossing opened for the first time since Israel's indiscriminate and brutal war on Gaza began on October 7, allowing those holding foreign passports - including dual nationals - and Palestinians seeking treatment for their critical wounds to enter Egypt.

Around 545 foreigners and dual nationals and 90 critically injured Palestinians are expected to enter, AFP said.

The move was reportedly brokered by Qatar, Reuters said, but the deal is no related to negotiations such as hostages freeing or calls for a humanitarian pause or ceasefire.

Communications blackout hits Gaza for second time

Internet and phone networks were down across the Gaza Strip on Wednesday, the Palestinian telecommunications agency said, in the second such blackout in the besieged territory in less than a week.

"To our good people in the beloved country, we are sorry to announce that communications and internet services have been completely cut off in Gaza," the Palestine Telecommunications Company (Paltel) said on X.

Gaza is back to communications blackout.
No internet no calls.
Tweeting from my esim now
Nonstop explosions & exchange of fire all night.

— Hind Khoudary (@Hind_Gaza)

Global network monitor Netblocks confirmed that Gaza "is in the midst of a new internet blackout with high impact to the last remaining major operator, Paltel.

"The incident will be experienced as a total loss of telecommunications by most residents," it said in a post on X.

Four Palestinians killed in Israel raid in West Bank

Israeli forces killed four Palestinian men in the West Bank city of Jenin, during a pre-dawn Israeli assault on the occupied city.

The victims were identified as Yanal Hamran, Wiam Al-Hariri and Mohammad Younis Jarrar, according to the official Palestinian news agency, Wafa.

Another was shot in the city of Tulkarm, and has been identified as 65-year-old Majdi Zakaria Youssef Awad.

Hamran succumbed to his injury after Israeli forces shot him in the head, the Al-Razi Hospital director confirmed.

Ibn Sina Hospital announced that two youths, Wiam Al-Hariri and Mohammad Younis Jarrar, were killed after they were bombed by a drone with two missiles in the Jourat Al-Dhahab area inside the Jenin camp.

Israeli forces, accompanied by bulldozers, stormed the city from several directions, before reaching the vicinity of the Jenin camp, before their assault.

Several injuries were also reported, as the Israeli army fired bullets, stun grenades, and toxic tear gas towards residents of the city, where the Israeli army carries out near-daily violent raids.