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.
Defence Secretary Grant Shapps: Israel “have the perfect right to go after Hamas under international law”
“To call for a ceasefire is to essentially say to Israel they hadn’t gone through that absolutely horrific, horrendous terrorist attack just two and a half weeks ago. You know, don’t go after Hamas. And I don’t think anyone thinks that would be right, because they have the perfect right to go after Hamas under international law”, Defence Secretary Grant Shapps said during a visit to Saudi Arabia.
“We understand that Israel was attacked in a very brutal way by Hamas terrorists butchering men, women and children, cutting heads off ISIS-style. And I think to then ask Israel not to respond…” “They have a perfect right to go after those terrorists. But it’s the international humanitarian situation that a pause could really assist with”, he added.
The Defence Secretary also noted that “the problem we have with Hamas, of course, is not just that they butchered and killed and raped those Israelis. It’s that they also use their own Palestinian population who are no friends of Hamas as human shields, and they hide themselves amongst them. And so we understand and appreciate that it’s a very difficult position for Israel to be in”.
Trade Secretary and Minister for Women and Equality Kemi Badenoch said that “the hostility directed towards our Jewish communities, the calls for jihad, the ostentatious indifference to the victims of terrorism, the aggressive chanting by mobs brandishing placards of hate, and the odious people ripping down posters of missing children do not reflect our values as a nation”.
“We must all stand firm on the boundaries of acceptable behaviour, particularly in the public space that we all share. That is why today I am reminding public sector organisations that they have a legal obligation, as part of the equality duty, to consider how they contribute to the advancement of good relations in communities as they deliver public services”, she added.
“One of the reasons we have been able to integrate people from all over the world is an unwritten rule that people with roots elsewhere do not play out foreign conflicts on the streets of this country. We owe a duty of care and civility to our neighbours, whatever their ethnicity, religion or background”, she said.
Deputy Prime Minister criticises UN Secretary General amid controversy
Deputy Prime Minister Oliver Dowden has condemned the UN for its disproportionate focus on Israel, in the wake of controversial remarks by UN Secretary-General António Guterres’ which appeared to legitimise Hamas’ brutal 7th October attack: “I’ve always had a little bit of scepticism about the volume of resolutions that are tabled at the United Nations in respect of Israel versus in respect of other states”.
Tom Hunt MP has joined the growing condemnation of the UN Secretary General during an appearance on BBC’s Politics Live this morning. The MP for Ipswich said that “it was almost coming up with some kind of soft justification for what was the most shocking, sickening attack on Jewish people since the Second World War”. “I do have concerns about the UN – I do find it interesting how they seem to fail to get themselves organised to condemn all sorts of different things but whenever it comes to Israel – the UN seem to be there to condemn them”, he added.
He also declared that “Hamas are a terrorist organisation who are hellbent on the destruction of Israel and killing Jews, so it’s easy to say ceasefire, but what does that actually mean in practice? Because we’ll just go back to a situation where we’ll wait until the next time, and the next time, and the next time; when Hamas do exactly the same thing again”.
Sir Michael Ellis at Transport OPQs
Former Attorney General Rt Hon Sir Michael Ellis KC MP has today condemned a Transport for London tube driver for leading divisive pro-Palestinian chanting on a train last week.
During Transport OPQs, Sir Michael explained that “many Jews in London do not feel safe” and that “London underground employees that misuse transport for London equipment to take part in intimidatory acts should not only be disciplined for gross misconduct but considered for prosecution causing harassment, alarm and distress under the Public Order Act”.
It has now been 20 days since Hamas’ deadly attack which killed 1,400 and injured over 4,000.
224 hostages have been confirmed abducted from Israel into Gaza with numbers potentially still changing. Four hostages have since been released and are not included in this figure.
World Health Organisation chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said on Wednesday that “there is an urgent need for the captors of the hostages to provide signs of life, proof of provision of health care and the immediate release, on humanitarian and health grounds, of all those abducted”.
Due to the scale of deaths and horror of the crime, 808 civilian victims have so far been identified and 309 IDF soldiers out of the more than 1,400 killed.
Yesterday, the largest barrage of rockets since the war began on 7th October was directed towards Tel Aviv and central Israel from Gaza. A large barrage was launched today, early-evening, towards central Israel and Ben Gurion International Airport.
Today there has been direct impact in Petah Tikva as well as a cemetery in Holon.
Over 250,000 Israelis have been displaced since the beginning of the war after being evacuated from both Israel’s north and southern border.
The Hebrew University has opened its doors to 150 children who were evacuated with their families from Sderot, allowing them to maintain a study routine, turning the university into a school.
Israel’s northern border
At least 46 Hezbollah terrorists have reportedly been killed by the IDF in response to rockets and anti-tank missiles fired from southern Lebanon towards Israel’s border.
Operation Swords of Iron
74 aid trucks (some of which are double in size) have entered Gaza since the war began carrying water, food and medical equipment. 12 aid trucks entered Gaza today.
According to the Hamas-run health ministry, over 6,000 Gazans have been killed, and some 17,000 wounded. It is unclear how many in this figure are terrorists and civilians.
The Israeli Airforce (IAF) continue to strike Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad targets in the Gaza Strip. 250 targets have been struck in the past 24 hours including infrastructure, command centres, tunnels, and rocket launchers.
The IDF continue to issue warning to residents in northern Gaza to head southwards to avoid hostilities. Hamas however are blocking access to the South, forcing Gazan civilians to act as human shields. In a recorded phone call between an IDF officer and resident of Gaza, the resident says that Hamas “are simply sending everyone back home”. “Hamas are blocking the Salah al-Din route” and “shooting the people that ask to leave”.
The IDF conducted a limited ground incursion in the northern Gaza strip last night in order to prepare for a future ground incursion. IDF troops withdrew back to Israel’s border after they completed their mission.
It is unclear when a ground incursion will take place, however Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu confirmed last night that it would. He said that Israel “are preparing for a ground incursion. I will not detail when, how or how many, or the overall considerations that we are taking into account”. Timings “will be determined unanimously by the War Cabinet, together with the IDF Chief-of-Staff. Together with the Security Cabinet, we are working to ensure the optimal conditions for our soldiers in the coming actions”, he added.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu addresses the Israeli nation
“We do not forget for a moment the immense pain of the loss of over 1,400 of our brothers and sisters, who were massacred in cold blood and who heroically fell in battle against the bloodthirsty monsters who have risen up to destroy us. Cutting short their lives is like a hail of arrows at our heart. The soul of the nation is bleeding”, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said as he addressed the Israeli nation last night.
He stated Israel’s goals in its war with Hamas; to “eliminate Hamas by destroying its military and governing abilities”, and “to do everything possible to bring our captives home”.
The Israeli Prime Minister declared that there would be an investigation after the war concludes on the “failure” of intelligence and lack of prevention. He asserted that “everyone will need to provide answers, myself included, but all of this will happen only after the war.”
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
