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.
Release the hostages
Yesterday, Home Secretary Suella Braverman met with Chief Rabbi of the UK and the Commonwealth, Sir Ephraim Mirvis. The Home Secretary “reaffirmed our unwavering support for Israel and our commitment to the safety of the UK Jewish community”. In an online statement, Chief Rabbi Sir Ephraim Mirvis, said that “today I took the opportunity to thank Home Secretary Suella Braverman for her vital leadership in protecting our community in the UK, and her clear condemnation of Hamas’ terrorism”.
Education Secretary, Gillian Keegan, has written to schools and colleges “following the barbaric terrorist attacks in Israel” providing advice on how to respond to the war between Israel and Hamas in the classroom.
“The UK unequivocally condemns these terrorist attacks and stands in solidarity with Israel in its hour of need”, she said.
“Hamas is a proscribed terrorist organisation, and it is illegal to encourage support for them. This would also be contrary to the British values that schools and colleges should promote and embody”.
“In the past, we have seen how events in the Middle East are used as an excuse to stir up hatred against communities, including in schools and colleges. It is of the utmost importance that schools and colleges tackle this head on and ensure that where behaviour extends into antisemitism or other discriminatory bullying, it is responded to with all due seriousness. There is also support through the Prevent programme if teachers consider that abusive or discriminatory views indicate a wider vulnerability to radicalisation”.
Fourteen days have passed since Hamas’ deadly massacre where they killed over 1,400 people and abducted over 200 Israelis. A further 100 are considered missing.
A solidarity rally for the hostages will take place this Sunday afternoon in a Central London location.
Rockets continue to be fired towards Israel
Rockets continue to be launched from the Gaza Strip as well as from Lebanon towards Israel.
Rockets from Gaza today were launched towards Jerusalem and its suburbs with Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ) claiming responsibility for the barrage.
Over 150 rockets have been fired from Lebanon since 7th October and over 20 anti-tank missile strikes – the most dangerous escalation in 15 years. Hezbollah terrorists have also tried to infiltrate Israel. This morning 3 terrorists were spotted trying to infiltrate the Israeli border and were killed by Israeli troops. Terrorists also shot light fire at IDF military posts. A barrage of 30 rockets were launched towards Israel’s Mount Dov today as well as five anti-tank missiles towards its northern border. Israel responded with artillery fire.
Kiryat Shmona, which was hit yesterday, has now also been evacuated by 20,000 residents by instruction from the Israeli Defence Ministry.
Gazans still in Israel
This morning the Israeli police force arrested four Gazans who had hidden in an apartment in Beersheba, south of Israel. It is currently unclear whether the Gazans are labourers who have work permits for Israel, or if they were among the terrorists who infiltrated Israel’s borders on 7th October.
Other involvement
A senior member of Hamas, Khaled Mashaal, was interviewed last night by the Saudi ‘Al-Arabiya network. He described Hamas’ deadly massacre as “a calculated move that Hamas is fully aware of the consequences of”.
He admitted that “Hezbollah and Iran provide us with weapons, experience, and technology support in this battle, but we demand more from them”. He also called for more support from Arab countries.
Yesterday, three missiles were fired by the Iranian-backed Houthis in Yemen. They were intercepted by a U.S. warship in the Red Sea. Pentagon Spokesman Brigadier General Patrick Ryder said that the missiles were “heading north along the Red Sea, potentially towards targets in Israel”.
Abdul Malik al-Houthi, leader of the Houthis, last week said that “the Yemeni people are.. ready to do everything they can to perform the sacred duty of standing with the Palestinian people”. “Our people are ready to move in the hundreds of thousands to join the Palestinian people and confront the enemy”, he added.
Fatah’s (the party of Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas) terrorist wing, the Al-Aqsa Martyrs’ Brigades, have also been caught boasting about helping Hamas. In a video message, spokesman Abu Muhammad, praised Allah “who strengthened and supported, humiliated and defeated, and turned the Zionists into a lesson for those who are watching”, in Hamas’ deadly massacre. He expressed that the Brigades are “fighting” with Hamas carrying out attacks “behind enemy lines”.
The video included a background image showing a masked Brigades terrorist taking an Israeli soldier captive, as well as masked terrorists holding machine guns and rocket launchers on top of an Israeli tank.
The Al-Aqsa Martyrs’ Brigade also posted an image with the caption: “First liberation of the Gaza Strip – and tomorrow at the gates of Jerusalem #The_Al-Aqsa_Flood_battle”.
Under the influence
It has been reported that Hamas terrorists carrying out the deadly massacre against Israeli civilians on Saturday 7th October were under the influence of Captagon, a synthetic amphetamine-type stimulant. Its production and distribution has links with the Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC).
The drug allowed the terrorists to be highly alert as well as indifferent and calm whilst carrying out barbaric atrocities.
The drug was found amongst terrorists killed by the IDF.
Israel’s Operation Iron Sword
Overnight, the Israeli Air Force (IAF) struck more than 100 Hamas targets as it continues to strike Hamas infrastructure and terror facilities.
According to the Hamas-run health ministry, 4,137 Gazans have been killed since the start of the war. It remains unknown how many are Hamas terrorists or civilians.
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
