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.
Death toll in Hamas’ attack reaches over 1,000
Over 1,000 Israelis have been confirmed dead and over 2,800 injured by Hamas terrorists since Saturday.
Labelled by Hamas as “Operation Al-Aqsa Deluge”, terrorists have slaughtered men, women, and children without distinction. Not since the Holocaust, has this amount of Jewish people been killed in one day.
Details of some of the massacres perpetuated have been reported on today.
40 babies were found by the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) in Kfar Aza, some beheaded.
Israeli Major General Itai Veruv, in a statement said: “You see the babies, the mothers, the fathers, in their bedrooms, in their protection rooms and how the terrorist kills them. It’s not a war, it’s not a battlefield. It’s a massacre, it’s a terror activity”. “It is something that I never saw in my life. It’s something that we used to imagine from our grandfathers, grandmothers in the pogrom in Europe and other places. It’s not something that happens in new history”, he added.
Zaka – Disaster Victim Identification – confirmed that more than 100 Israelis were murdered in Kfar Aza. Civilians of all ages were found beaten and burnt.
The IDF have now secured their borders, although infiltration attempts continue. This morning, four terrorists were caught infiltrating on Zikim Beach. This evening three more Hamas terrorists also tried to infiltrate by Zikim Beach. All seven were killed by IDF troops.
IDF forces also clashed with terrorists near kibbutz Mefalsim, close to the Gaza border. Two terrorists were killed in the clash.
Israeli forces later found large amounts of explosives in the terrorists’ vehicle
The IDF are continuing to evacuate communities near the South. Today the IDF started to evacuate people 60 years and over from the city of Sderot.
The number of hostages taken by Hamas to Gaza are still unknown, but reports have suggested it could be between 100 and 150. The IDF has confirmed that 50 hostage families have been notified. Israeli President Isaac Herzog met today with the families of abducted and missing people.
Today saw a large barrage of rockets from Gaza towards Tel Aviv, Ashkelon and Be’er Sheva, with direct hits. A 54-year-old woman was moderately hurt in a rocket attack on Ashkelon.
Hezbollah once again launched missiles towards the north of Israel today in three barrages. Four were intercepted by the Iron Dome, with the rest landing in open areas. An anti-tank guided missile hit an IDF armoured vehicle on the Lebanon border. No IDF soldiers were hurt. The IDF responded with artillery fire in Lebanon.
At 6.45pm Israeli time, residents of the North of Israel within four kilometres of the fence within Israeli territory were instructed to enter bomb shelters. The Galilee Medical Center in the North, Nahariya, moved all patient wards to bomb shelters underground.
Missiles were also launched from Syria this evening. Some missiles crossed into Israeli territory and landed in open areas. The IDF responded with artillery and mortar shells towards the launch in Syria.
The Hamas-run health ministry has reported 1,000 people killed. Over 1,000 Hamas terrorists have been killed inside of Israel’s border since their massacre began. Terrorists have been found inside Israel with maps and instructions in their pocket.
Israeli airstrikes as part of Operation Swords of Iron continues. The IAF has so far struck 2294 Hamas targets. In a press conference, IDF spokesman Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari said that “we will not stop the effort to eliminate senior Hamas officials”. “This is a top priority”, he added.
The House of Hamas spokesman Abu Obeida was targeted today.
Hamas, Hezbollah and Syria are all backed by Iran. The Iranian-backed Houthi leader Abdel-Malek al-Houthi warned “that if the US intervenes in the Gaza conflict directly, the group will respond by firing drones and missiles, and take other military options”.
Tensions are also high in the West Bank where Iran also orchestrates. Two terrorists were killed this evening after exchanging fire with IDF soldiers. Explosives were found in the terrorist’s vehicle.
The Conservative Government continues to stand in solidarity with Israel.
Prime Minister Rishi Sunak spoke to Sky News today underscoring that “We stand in solidarity with Israel and the people of Israel in the face of these barbaric acts of terrorism”. He also reminded listeners that Hamas is “a proscribed terrorist organisation”.
Foreign Secretary James Cleverly also spoke on Sky News this morning stating that “Hamas are not the friends of the Palestinian people”.
Both the Foreign, Commonwealth, and Development Office, and the Home Office flew Israel’s flag today.
Defence Secretary Grant Shapps released a video on social media sharing that “the British Government utterly condemns Hamas and all those who’ve shown support for them.” He declared that “Hamas are not militants. They’re not freedom fighters. They are terrorists”. Shapps announced that “in a show of solidarity, I’ve ordered Israeli flags to fly above the Ministry of Defence…and at other defence sites across the country”.
Cabinet Members and Conservative MPs attended prayer services this evening with the Jewish Community including Deputy Prime Minister Oliver Dowden, Home Secretary Suella Braverman, Security Minister Tom Tugendhat, Mike Freer MP and David Simmonds CBE MP.
CFI’S Honorary President, Lord Polak was featured in the Daily Express today. Returning to the UK after a visit to Israel, Lord Polak wrote: “It’s a trip we have made countless times. But this time it feels so very different. We are leaving a country, a people, in total shock, engulfed in sadness and in the midst of a national period of mourning”.
