Note to reader: We wanted to give you a trigger warning on what you may read below. We have chosen, as with every night of these briefings, to not share horrific images, however we want to alert you as sensitively as we can to the reports coming out of Israel.
Seven days since Hamas’ massacre killing over 1,300
UK Defence Minister Grant Shapps told BBC this morning that “it is the case that we want to enable Hamas to be removed from the scene but to do so in a manner which does not affect the Palestinian population as far as is possible. And the difficulty is that Hamas hide themselves within that population deliberately, as a deliberate policy – using the population as human shields. So Israel is letting people know in advance, and we very much support that advanced notice being given”.
In a press conference, IDF spokesman Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari said: “Hamas is taking advantage of the residents of the Gaza Strip, bringing disaster upon them and calling on the residents of the Gaza Strip at this time as well not to listen to the IDF’s recommendations”. “The responsibility for what may happen to those who do not evacuate is on Hamas’s head”, he added.
On Wednesday, Security Minister, Tom Tugendhat told Sky News that “what the Nazis did is exactly what Hamas is doing today. It’s preaching a blood libel, preaching a hatred of Jews, and preaching a hatred that extends around the world”.
British Health Secretary Steve Barclay said to Times Radio that “people should be clear in the language they use”. “One can see quite clearly the terrorist atrocities that Hamas have perpetrated, the fact they’ve taken hostages, the appalling crimes that we have seen in Israel”.
Speaking on BBC’s Today Programme, the Health Secretary, said that Israel has “been subject to the most appalling terrorist attacks. We’re very clear that Hamas is a terrorist organisation and Israel has the right to deter future attacks and also to rescue the hostages that have been taken”. “We’re also clear that civilian casualties need to be minimised. But Israel has the right to defend itself. And it’s the terrorist organisation Hamas, that is putting the people of Gaza at risk. They’re the ones that are embedding military operations in civilian areas. They’re the ones that are taking civilian hostages, and they’re the ones that have launched the atrocities that are triggering the Israeli action”.
Seven former Culture Secretaries – led by Rt. Hon. Sajid Javid MP – have written to Tim Davie, Director General of the BBC expressing concern at the organisation’s failure to label Hamas a terror organisation. The letter contends that “not only is this inaccurate, it is understandably upsetting to many Israelis, British Jews, and all of us who were shocked” by Hamas’ terror attacks. The letter was also signed by former Conservative Culture Secretaries, CFI Officer Rt. Hon. Karen Bradley MP, Rt. Hon. Nadine Dorries, Rt. Hon. Matthew Hancock MP, Rt. Hon. Jeremy Wright MP and Rt. Hon. Baroness Morgan.
Today marks seven days since Hamas’ barbaric massacre “Operation Al-Aqsa Deluge”, which has taken the lives of over 1,300 Israelis and wounded over 3,000.
Saturday marked the bloodiest ever day in Israel’s history. Not since the Holocaust, has this amount of Jewish people been killed in a day.
120 abductee families have now been notified. The number of hostages taken into Gaza is not yet confirmed although it has been reported that there is more than 150.
Over 6,000 rockets have been fired towards Israel from Gaza including a barrage towards Ashkelon and Sderot this morning. Hamas has claimed the launch towards Ashkelon numbering 150.
This afternoon rockets were fired towards Haifa (152km away)/Safed (189km away). Hamas claimed they launched an Ayyash-250 missile which can reach a distance of 250 kilometres. David’s Sling, Israel’s medium-range missile defence system, successfully intercepted the rocket.
Rockets were also fired towards Tel Aviv, central Israel. There was a direct hit reported in Rehovot which injured a woman in her 30s.
A terrorist infiltrated the Ashkelon Industrial Zone today and was killed by IDF soldiers. No injuries were reported.
Metula, northern Israel, next to the Israel-Lebanon border, was declared a closed military zone by the IDF earlier today. Residents have already been told to leave. An estimated 400,000 residents have also been evacuated from southern Israel, concentrating residents from border towns into central Israel.
This afternoon, a blast tore through part of the security barrier between Israel and Lebanon, followed by an exchange of fire between the IDF and Hezbollah. An alert was sounded for a suspected terrorist infiltration in Hanita, Israel, south of the Lebanese border, and was later given the all clear. Rockets from Lebanon have since been fired towards Israel with red alerts sounding in Misgav Am. Hezbollah has also taken responsibility for firing at Israeli military posts today near the Israel-Lebanon border.
Today, Hamas called for a day of rage. Thousands of people gathered on the Lebanese border and there were also demonstrators in Jordan. This morning, Jordanian forces were deployed on the Israeli border to prevent demonstrators from approaching.
In response to Hamas’ call, President of the Palestinian Authority Mahmoud Abbas said that “we reject killing civilians and abusing them on both sides because this is against morality and international law. Peaceful resistance is the way to achieve our national goals.”
Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi said: “We call for a rational approach in de-escalation and for removing civilians from the cycle of revenge. I urge a return to the path of negotiations.”
A number of Jewish schools around the world were closed today in fear for their children’s safety. It was reported that over four Jewish schools in the UK were closed “in the interests of the safety of our precious children”. Jewish schools this week have also advised their pupils not to travel on public transport or wear their school uniform with identifiable logos.
Tomorrow, whilst Israel celebrates Shabbat – a day where observant Jews do not watch TV amongst other technological restrictions – Israel’s Channel 14 has made its station ‘Shabbat friendly’. The channel will be on mute and when necessary will go live to deliver “life-saving information”.
Israel’s national airline El Al will also fly for the first time in thirty years on Shabbat (1982). The airline will operate two relief flights from America and the East in order to return Israeli reservists who have been called for duty.
According to the Hamas health ministry, over 1,799 people have been reported dead in the Gaza strip and over 6,388 wounded from Israel’s airstrikes against Hamas. It remains unknown how many are Hamas terrorists or civilians – The IDF has said that a significant proportion are Hamas terrorists. Israel has also killed approximately 1,500 Hamas terrorists inside its borders.
The IDF has struck over 2,600 Hamas targets in Gaza including weapon storage facilities, control rooms, and Hamas operatives.
The IDF has warned Palestinian civilians in the northern Gaza strip to vacate their homes. It is a mass evacuation of 1.1 million residents. Hamas has claimed the warnings are false and Gazan residents should not listen, forcing them to serve as human shields.
Egypt has refused to provide a humanitarian corridor from Gaza into Egypt. President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi has said that Gazans must “stay steadfast and remain on their land”.
Iran’s Foreign Minister met Hezbollah leadership this morning in Lebanon. After the meeting, Hezbollah’s Deputy Leader said: “We will contribute to the confrontation with Israel. When the time comes – we will take action”.
During this difficult time please consider donating to Magen David Adom’s urgent appeal https://mdauk.org/
Please also email your MP to share your support with Israel. You can do this via We Believe in Israel: https://tinyurl.com/mr2rcbej
Wishing you all a Shabbat Shalom.
