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 and Gaza.
What you need to know today:
• Leader of the House of Commons Penny Mordaunt said Hamas’ use of “hospitals and civilian places” is “very clear”
• Conservative parliamentarians voice concern at “deeply disrespectful” behaviour of pro-Palestinian protestors, such as the “desecration” of memorials
• Body of Israeli hostage Yehudit Weiss, 65, found at sight near Shifa Hospital in Gaza
• Hamas commits a terror attack south of Jerusalem, police find arms intended for a “massacre”
• In Gaza: Hamas weapons found under girls bed, Palestinian Islamic Jihad conversations reveal plans to smuggle rockets in baby strollers, vehicle full of Hamas weapons found near Shifa Hospital intended for October 7th massacre
Leader of the House of Commons Penny Mordaunt: “Very clear” Hamas uses “hospitals” as human shields
Leader of the House of Commons, Penny Mordaunt, today said it was “very clear” that Hamas is using “hospitals and civilian places” as human shields, noting Israel’s “great care” taken with regard to civilian life. She addressed the issue of misrepresentation “in the media and across the world”, when CFI Parliamentary Officer Bob Blackman CBE MP asked about the Government’s position on “progress in liberating Gaza from Hamas”. Mr Blackman spoke of 60 parliamentarians being “horrified” after watching a video of Hamas “atrocities” on October 7th.
Rt Hon Penny Mordaunt MP outlined that “it is now very clear that hospitals and other civilian places have been used by Hamas”. Referring to a 2015 report by Amnesty International which alleged that Shifa Hospital served as a “Hamas interrogation and torture centre”, she said that “this is not news”.
The IDF’s delivery of “incubators, baby food, additional medical supplies to hospital compounds”, opening of “additional humanitarian corridors from various hospitals” and the “provision of fuel to UNWRA to enable the delivery of aid into Gaza” were evidenced by the Cabinet Minister.
Conversely, “a third of the names” provided by Hamas to Israel and Egypt for evacuation “were known Hamas terrorists”, delaying “civilians requiring medical attention” and obstructing humanitarian efforts.
“I would urge Hon Members to be kept informed and up to date about what is actually happening on the ground”, Ms Mordaunt said.
Rt. Hon. Tobias Elwood MP warned that the Gaza conflict was becoming “dangerously oversimplified and binary”, as some aim to frame the debate as being “in favour of a ceasefire or in favour of the war continuing”.
Penny Mordaunt said that people were wrong to call for Israel to “deviate from its duty to protect its citizens and defend herself” by calling for a ceasefire, and explained that “if Israel puts down its arms, it ceases to exist”.
Conservatives condemn “disrespectful” protests at Royal Artillery Memorial
Home Secretary James Cleverly, who served in the Royal Artillery, expressed his concern at the “deeply disrespectful” behaviour of pro-Palestinian protestors last night, after footage emerged of protestors climbing over the Royal Artillery Memorial in London, waving Palestinian flags and signs and seemingly arguing with police.
The Home Secretary joined the Veterans Minister Johnny Mercer MP, who said that “I will not stand idly by whilst individuals think this is the correct way to treat these memorials.” Many Conservative parliamentarians have condemned provocative protesting over past weeks.
Danny Kruger MBE MP, representing the HQ of the Royal Artillery in his constituency of Devizes, was outraged at the “desecration” of the sight, describing the protestors as “hooligans”. Fallen soldiers deserve “solemn reverence, not this”, the MP said.
“It is not illegal to climb onto the statue”, said the Metropolitan Police Commissioner, Sir Mark Rowley, but conceded that the behaviour was “inflammatory in certain ways”.
Body of hostage recovered near Shifa Hospital
Yehudit Weiss, 65, who was abducted from her Be’eri home on October 7th by Hamas. Her body was found in a structure adjacent to the hospital complex. “The IDF sends its heartfelt condolences to the family,” stated the IDF.
Hamas commit Jerusalem terror attack
A soldier has been killed and five injured after multiple Hamas terrorists opened fire at a checkpoint on Route 60, south of Jerusalem. Cpl. Avraham Fetena, 20, was taken to the Shaare Zedek Medical Center where he succumbed to his wounds.
Axes, rifles, pistols, loaded magazines, and an IDF-like uniform were discovered in the terrorists’ vehicle, with Police Commissioner Kobi Shabtai warning that the group were planning a “massacre” in Jerusalem.
Shifa Hospital: New Hamas human rights abuses surface
IDF operations recommenced at Shifa Hospital after a short withdrawal. A boobytrapped vehicle full of weapons including assault rifles, RPGs and knives was discovered beside the medical facility; likely used during Hamas attack on October 7th.
IDF forces have shared new footage of rockets discovered under a young girl’s bed in northern Gaza and has released videos of Hamas terrorists cheering civilian bodies as he boasts of killing soldiers. The IDF also released a voice recording of Islamic Jihad terrorists planning to smuggle anti-tank missiles in a baby stroller, so that they can move the munitions in disguise, together with a weapons cache and tunnel opening within the Shifa Hospital complex.
Developments on Northern Border
Anti-tank missiles were fired by Hezbollah across the border toward the Israeli town of Misgav Am, according to Lebanese media reports.
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