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.
Prime Minister Rishi Sunak: “We stand with Israel”
Prime Minister Rishi Sunak hosted CFI’s Parliamentary Officer group at 10 Downing Street this morning, where he reiterated his strong support for Israel in the wake of Hamas’ deadly attack on 7th October.
At Cabinet this morning, the Prime Minister also restated his commitment to tackle antisemitism and “stand with Israel”. In an online statement, the Prime Minister said: “as we stand with Israel, we will play our part in helping Palestinian civilians”. “And at home we will continue to take every step to support our Jewish community. There is no excuse for antisemitism”, he added.
Today, Home Secretary Suella Braverman released an online statement stating that “the UK stands shoulder to shoulder with you Ambassador Tzipi Hotovely and the people of Israel”. “The dignity and strength you have shown since the barbaric attacks by Hamas has been extraordinary and the UK firmly supports you in fighting this evil”.
Commenting on the protests over the weekend, the Home Secretary said yesterday that “last weekend an intimidating mob marched through London chanting “From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free” – a slogan that is widely understood as a demand for the destruction of Israel. Attempts to pretend otherwise are disingenuous”. “It means the River Jordan and the Mediterranean Sea- the boundaries of Israel – and comes from the dark days when most Palestinian groups sought to eliminate Israel. It was dropped by mainstream organisations after Israel and the PLO made peace with the 1993 Oslo Accords”.
A group of protestors were also seen chasing after Iranian-British citizen Vahid Beheshti who continues to stage a sit-in-protest outside the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, urging the UK to proscribe Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC). Vahid had an Israeli flag with him and was chased by a group shouting death threats with one caught with a knife. This morning CFI Honorary President Lord Polak, CFI Parliamentary Chairman (House of Lords) Lord Pickles, and CFI Officer Nicola Richards MP visited Vahid and offered their support.
Yesterday evening, in the House of Lords, the Prime Minister’s statement made earlier in the Commons on Hamas was read out, with Members of the House of Lords provided with an opportunity to also say a few words.
CFI Honorary President, Lord Polak CBE, paid tribute to one of the Israeli victims Ada Sagi. He said that “it is so vital to mention her name. Ada Sagi should have been in London today, celebrating her 75th birthday with her family. She is from Kibbutz Nir Oz and she is being held by those monstrous Hamas terrorists”.
He also recited the Jewish prayer “Acheinu Kol Beit Yisrael”; “As for our brethren, the entire house of Israel who still remain in distress and captivity, whether on sea or on land, may God have compassion on them, bring them from distress to relief, from darkness to light, from servitude to redemption, at this moment, speedily, very soon”.
Former Leader of the Conservative Party, Lord Howard, called for Hamas “to release the hostages now—the grandmother, the Holocaust survivor, the babes in arms, all 199 of them” and asked the NGOs and United Nations who “have been working in Gaza for many years and so must have extensive contacts with Hamas and its leadership” to persuade them, and “in return for which Israel has said it will resume the supplies of food, fuel and water to the people of Gaza”.
Leader of the House of Lords, Lord True, noted that “it is Hamas that has been discouraging civilians in Gaza to move towards the relative, certainly not perfect, safety that might be afforded. Hamas has shown no consideration, certainly not for the Israeli civilians it so brutally slaughtered, but nor for the Palestinian people it purports to represent”.
1,400 Israelis have been killed and over 3,900 injured in Hamas’ deadly attack on Israel including 13-year-old British citizen Yahel, who was confirmed dead today.
Yahel’s mother Lianne was also murdered by Hamas. Her 16-year-old sister Noiya is still missing as well as their father.
At least 199 Israeli hostages taken from Israel are being held by Hamas, with many more missing. This excludes approximately 50 hostages which are held by other militant groups including Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ), and foreign hostages – described by Hamas military spokesman Abu Obedia as “our guests” – not included in this count.
Hamas, yesterday, released the first video of a hostage in Gaza; 21-year-old Mia Schem. Mia was kidnapped from the Nova music festival in Reim.
In the video Mia said: “I’m only asking to be returned home as soon as possible, to my family, to my parents, to my siblings. Please get me out of here as soon as possible”.
Mia’s mother Keren, said of the video: “Until I saw the video, I had no idea whether my daughter is alive or dead. The video offers a glimmer of hope for Mia and the other hostages, but she remains wounded, hurt, and extremely frightened. I worry about her. It’s evident that she is repeating what she’s being told to say. I implore all world leaders to bring my baby back”.
Hamas political official Khaled Mashal yesterday demanded the release of 6,000 Palestinian prisoners held in Israel in return for the release of hostages.
Rocket fire continues from the Gaza Strip towards Israel, with over 6,900 launched since Saturday 7th October. Last night, a rocket directly hit an area in Bethlehem in the West Bank. Today, Hamas has fired a barrage of rockets towards Beersheba and central Israel. In a late afternoon barrage, four rocket impacts were seen in Sderot.
Anti-tank missiles and rockets also continue to be launched by Hezbollah from Lebanon. Two rockets were fired this afternoon towards Kiryat Shemona; one intercepted by Israel’s Iron Dome, and the other fell in an open area. Earlier today an anti-tank missile was launched towards Metula injuring two IDF soldiers and a civilian. Israeli troops have responded with artillery fire.
This morning, four Hezbollah terrorists were killed by a drone strike when trying to infiltrate Israel’s border and plant an explosive device.
The IDF also confirmed that the IAF intercepted an unmanned aerial vehicle from Lebanon late this afternoon.
Yesterday, IDF spokesman Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari said that “we have increased our forces on the northern border and will respond aggressively to any activity against us”.
The Hamas-run Gaza health ministry has reported over 2,300 deaths in Gaza and over 9,000 injuries. It remains unknown how many are Hamas terrorists or civilians.
The IDF has arrested approximately 800 Hamas terrorists within Israel according to the Prisons Service. Approximately 4,000 Gazan residents with work permits in Israel are likely to be questioned to see if they knew anything about the Hamas attack, following reports that some of the terrorists personally knew their victims and had extensive intelligence on residents and buildings in the neighbouring communities.
The Israeli Air Force (IAF) continue to strike Hamas targets in the Gaza Strip, with over 200 Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ) targets struck overnight. Hamas announced that Ayman Nofal, head of the Central Brigade and member of Hamas’ military council, was killed by a strike.
Israeli Defence Minister, Yoav Gallant, said earlier that “our planes will reach everywhere…every missile has address. We will reach each and every one of the members of Hamas”.
Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei warned today that “if the crimes of the Zionist regime continue, Muslims and resistance forces will become impatient, and no one can stop them”.
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
