U.S. President Joe Biden delivers a prime-time address to the nation about his approaches to the conflict between Israel and Hamas, humanitarian assistance in Gaza and continued support for Ukraine in their war with Russia, from the Oval Office of the White House in Washington, U.S. October 19, 2023.
This was CNBC's live blog tracking developments in the Israel-Hamas war. Click here for the latest Israel news and updates on Gaza.
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President Joe Biden addressed the nation Thursday night following a trip to Tel Aviv as the Israel-Hamas conflict drags into its second week.
Biden said he'll be sending Congress an "urgent budget request to fund America's national security needs to support our critical partners, including Israel and Ukraine."
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu warned that Israel's conflict with Palestinian militant group Hamas will not be a short-term engagement.
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Standing alongside British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak as the Israel-Hamas conflict enters its 13th day, Netanyahu said, "This is a long war, and we'll need your continuous support."
Meanwhile, Palestinian militant group Hamas said an Israeli airstrike in the north of Gaza City killed the head of its Hamas-led security forces. CNBC was not able to independently verify the report.
Biden and Egyptian President Abdel Fatah el-Sissi reached an agreement to allow humanitarian aid into the Gaza Strip, according to Egypt's readout of the leaders' phone call — lending hope to the civilians of the besieged enclosure.
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The U.S. Department of State also issued a worldwide caution advisory, asking U.S. citizens overseas to exercise increased caution due to increased tensions in various locations around the world.
That news comes as at least 32 Americans have died in the ongoing war.
'We can't ignore the humanity of innocent Palestinians:' Biden addresses Israel-Hamas war as fighting rages
In a rare prime-time Oval Office address, President Joe Biden urged Israel "not be blinded by rage."
"When I was in Israel yesterday, I said that when America experienced the hell of 9/11, we felt enraged as well," Biden said. "While we sought and got justice, we made mistakes. So, I cautioned the government of Israel not to be blinded by rage."
Biden also said that "Hamas does not represent the Palestinian people."
"The U.S. remains committed to the Palestinian people's right to dignity and to self-determination," President Biden says. "The actions of Hamas terrorists don't take that right away ... We can't ignore the humanity of innocent Palestinians who only want to live in peace."
— Riya Bhattacharjee
Biden slams Iran for involvement in supporting Russia, Hamas and other malign actors
President Joe Biden vowed to hold the Iranian regime to account for supporting both Russia, Hamas and other malign actors as the U.S. works to support Israel and Ukraine on two different war fronts.
"Iran is supporting Russia, Ukraine and supporting Hamas and other terrorist groups in the region and will continue to hold them accountable," Biden said.
The Biden administration has previously warned Iran to not further escalate the ongoing war in the Middle East.
— Amanda Macias
Biden to ask Congress for 'urgent budget request' to support Israel and Ukraine
President Joe Biden said he would ask Congress for an urgent budget request to support the security needs of Israel and Ukraine as both nations navigate conflicts.
"It's a smart investment that's going to pay dividends for American security for generations," Biden said in a rare primetime address from the Oval Office.
Biden said the additional security assistance will help "keep American troops out of harm's way" and help the United States "build a world that is safer, more peaceful and more prosperous for our children and grandchildren."
— Amanda Macias
U.S. able to continue providing Israel and Ukraine additional security assistance
The Pentagon said it was confident that the United States will be able to continue to provide security assistance for Ukraine as well as Israel.
President Joe Biden is expected to discuss U.S. support for Israel and Ukraine in a rare primetime address from the Oval Office.
— Amanda Macias
President Biden to address Israel-Hamas war as fighting rages
President Joe Biden is set to address the nation following a trip to Tel Aviv as the Israel-Hamas conflict drags into its second week.
Biden's remarks at the White House, which are scheduled for 8 p.m. ET, come as the U.S. works to provide critical humanitarian assistance to civilians in Gaza and additional security assistance to Israel.
A senior White House official confirmed to NBC News that Biden will address the nation about both the ongoing war between Israel and Hamas and Russia's war in Ukraine.
— Amanda Macias
California Gov. Gavin Newsom announces surprise trip to Israel
California Gov. Gavin Newsom said he is traveling to Israel to meet with victims of the deadly Oct. 7 attack by Hamas and pledge his state's support to those affected.
"I'm on my way to Israel," the high-profile Democratic governor said in a post on X on Thursday afternoon.
"I'll be meeting with those impacted by the horrific terrorist attacks and offering California's support."
Newsom is set to land in Israel on Friday morning and plans to leave the same day, a source familiar with his schedule told CNBC.
Newsom's surprise visit, which follows President Joe Biden's trip to Israel a day earlier, comes just a few days ahead of his previously planned trip to China.
"The Governor adjusted his planned international trip and will briefly visit Israel ahead of going to China," Newsom spokesperson Erin Mellon said in a statement.
Mellon reiterated the Newsom will "meet with those impacted by the violence" while in Israel.
On Monday, Newsom will lead a delegation on a weeklong trip that takes him through Hong Kong, Beijing, Shanghai, Guangdong and Jiangsu, according to his office.
The trip is focused on fostering cooperation between China and California, two of the world's largest economies, to combat climate change.
Newsom had planned to attend some personal and political events in New York before flying to Hong Kong, but the trip to Israel bumped those plans, the source said.
The back-to-back overseas trips could bolster Newsom's foreign policy resume, an area where he has relatively few achievements, as he positions himself for a possible run at a higher political office.
He is frequently talked about as a future Democratic presidential candidate. He recently batted away some speculation that he would mount a challenge to Biden in 2024.
Fueling yet more speculation about his White House ambitions, Newsom is soon set to debate Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, a current candidate for the Republican presidential nomination.
— Kevin Breuninger
Egypt prepares humanitarian tents near the Rafah border to Gaza
Tents set up by volunteers and NGO workers are erected along the Egyptian side of the Rafah border crossing. Palestinians in war-torn Gaza on October 19 eagerly await the arrival of aid trucks promised in a deal struck by U.S. President Joe Biden.
-Getty Images
U.S., EU must share information to prevent Israel-Gaza conflict escalation, EU's Michel says
European Council President Charles Michel said it was very important for the United States and the EU to share information and do what is needed to avoid escalation in the Israel-Gaza conflict.
Michel also noted the authorities must be vigilant to ensure that EU funds in Gaza are not misused.
— Reuters
At least 32 Americans have been killed, 11 unaccounted for
The State Department said that at least 32 U.S. citizens have died in the ongoing Israel-Hamas war and that 11 Americans are unaccounted for.
State Department spokesman Matt Miller declined to discuss updates related to U.S. citizens held by Hamas, citing diplomatic efforts.
— Amanda Macias
UN Secretary General calls for urgent humanitarian access for civilians in Gaza
United Nations Secretary General António Guterres called for urgent humanitarian assistance for civilians in Gaza during a meeting with Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry in Cairo.
"For nearly two weeks, the people of Gaza have gone without any shipments of fuel, food, water, medicine and other essentials. Disease is spreading, supplies are dwindling, people are dying and I was horrified by the images of deaths and destruction in the Al-Ahli hospital," Guterres said.
"Civilians in Gaza desperately need core services and supplies and for that we need rapid, unimpeded humanitarian access. We need food, water, medicine and fuel now — we need it at scale — and we need it to be sustained," he added.
Guterres said he was in Egypt to oversee United Nations preparations to deliver aid to Gaza.
— Amanda Macias
Top Israeli economist says a recession is almost certain as leaders warn of a long war
The ongoing Israel-Hamas conflict has left much of Israel's economy in limbo as more than 360,000 reservists have stepped away from their jobs for the war effort.
"The economic impact of something like this is immediate," said Joseph Zeira, a prominent economist, former professor at Hebrew University and author of "The Israeli Economy: A Story of Success and Costs."
A recession is almost guaranteed, Zeira predicts, as many parts of Israel are facing a drop in productivity.
"Tourism has stopped. People in Israel aren't going out right now to eat or shop," Zeira said.
Read the full story here.
— Jason Gewirtz
Biden to address ongoing Israel-Hamas war in primetime speech
U.S. President Joe Biden is set to address the nation following a trip to Tel Aviv as the Israel-Hamas conflict drags into its second week.
Biden's remarks at the White House, which are scheduled for 8 p.m. ET, come as the U.S. works to provide critical humanitarian assistance to civilians in Gaza.
— Amanda Macias
U.S. aid for Israel arrives in Tel Aviv
The Israeli Ministry of Defense said it received a new batch of U.S. military aid on Thursday.
Israel said it received a cargo plane from the United States carrying an initial shipment of armored vehicles designated for use by the Israel Defense Forces.
The delivery comes a day after U.S. President Joe Biden reaffirmed America's commitment to Israel in Tel Aviv. The president said he planned to ask Congress for an "unprecedented support package for Israel's defense" but did not elaborate.
Biden also committed $100 million in humanitarian assistance to Gaza and the West Bank, to support the more than 1 million people displaced by the ongoing conflict.
— Michele Luhn and Israeli Government Press Office | Getty Images
U.S. State Department issues 'worldwide caution' alert as Middle East tensions soar
The State Department warned Americans abroad to exercise increased caution as the ongoing Israel-Hamas war increases the potential for terrorist attacks, demonstrations or violence against U.S. citizens.
The State Department and the White House did not immediately respond to CNBC's requests for comment.
Earlier in the week, the State Department raised its travel advisory alert to Lebanon and warned U.S. citizens not to travel to the country due to "the unpredictable security situation related to rocket, missile and artillery exchanges between Israel and Hezbollah or other armed militant factions."
— Melodie Warner
World Health Organization says aid trucks are 'loaded and ready to go'
The World Health Organization said Thursday that its aid trucks are "loaded and ready to go" as soon as the Rafah crossing is open.
Speaking at a briefing, Director General Tedros Ghebreyesus said that he hoped the supplies could cross the border that links Egypt to the Gaza Strip by Friday.
"We hope it will happen tomorrow, but we cannot be sure," Tedros said.
Dr. Michael Ryan, executive director of the WHO's health emergencies program, said the trucks would include a range of essential aid including anesthetics, wound dressings, amputation kits and supplies for critical injuries such as lung punctures.
Addressing Tuesday's blast on a Gaza hospital, Ryan said that targeting health care facilities — whether intentional or not — are prohibited by international law and should not be considered "collateral damage."
"Health is not a target, it can never be a target," he added.
The cause of Tuesday's blast at Gaza's Al-Ahli Baptist Hospital remains unclear.
— Karen Gilchrist
Portraits of people killed, missing or abducted during the surprise attack on southern Israel shown at Tel Aviv University
Portraits of people killed, missing or abducted during the surprise attack on southern Israel on October 7, 2023, are placed on the seats of the Smolarz Auditorium at Tel Aviv University, in a memorial exhibition titled "United Against Terrorism."
-Ahmad Gharabli | AFP | Getty Images
Israel's Defense Minister Yoav Gallant meets with Israeli soldiers near Gaza border
Israel's Defense Minister Yoav Gallant meets soldiers in a field near Israel's border with the Gaza Strip, in southern Israel.
-Ronen Zvulun | Reuters
U.S. Embassy in Lebanon calls on Americans 'to depart as soon as possible'
The U.S. Embassy in Lebanon issued a security alert for U.S. citizens in the country "to make plans to depart as soon as possible while commercial options are still available."
"We recommend that U.S. citizens who choose not to depart prepare contingency plans for emergency situations," the U.S. Embassy in Beirut wrote in a statement.
The State Department has directed U.S. citizens seeking help to fill out a crisis intake form and to call the U.S. Embassy in Beirut at 961-4- 543 600.
"The Department of State reminds citizens to avoid demonstrations and exercise caution if in the vicinity of any large gatherings or protests as some of these have turned violent," the statement added.
— Amanda Macias
A look inside an UNRWA center in Khan Yunis to help displaced Palestinians
Tents for Palestinians seeking refuge have been set up on the grounds of an UNRWA center in Khan Yunis in the southern Gaza Strip, amid the ongoing battles between Israel and the Palestinian group Hamas.
The Israeli-Hamas conflict has claimed at least 3,500 lives in Gaza, its Hamas-controlled health ministry said.
Entire city blocks have been leveled, water, food and power have been cut off, and over a million people have been displaced.
-Getty Images
EU asks Meta, TikTok to answer questions over content risks in wake of Hamas attacks
The European Union has given Meta and TikTok until Oct. 25 to respond to a request for information on the measures they have taken to tackle disinformation in the wake of Hamas' terror attacks against Israel.
The European Commission on Thursday said it is making both requests under the Digital Services Act.
It asked Meta to provide more information "on the measures it has taken to comply with obligations related to risk assessments and mitigation measures to protect the integrity of elections and following the terrorist attacks across Israel by Hamas, in particular with regard to the dissemination and amplification of illegal content and disinformation."
TikTok was likewise requested to provide further information on steps taken over its "risk assessments and mitigation measures against the spreading of illegal content, in particular the spreading of terrorist and violent content and hate speech."
The Commission made similar requests last week of Elon Musk's X social media platform, previously known as Twitter.
— Ruxandra Iordache
World Food Programme calls for safe passage to bring in food supplies
The U.N. World Food Programme has called for "unimpeded, safe passage" to allow it to bring in and distribute food to the people of the besieged Gaza Strip.
"Our food supplies inside Gaza are running really short, but in the meantime food supplies are being stockpiled in the Egyptian city of al-Arish to be dispatched as soon as the border access is granted," WFP spokesperson Abeer Etefa said Thursday in a press briefing.
She added that the WFP has mobilized roughly 300 tons of food that is currently at or en route to the Rafah crossing that links Egypt to the Gaza Strip. These supplies should suffice to feed around 250,000 people for a week, according to Etefa.
The WFP says it has 951 metric tons of emergency food supplies at the site of al-Arish.
The Gaza Strip has been deprived of Israeli food, fuel, electricity and water supplies since Israel declared a complete siege of the region at the start of last week. The U.S. and Egypt have agreed a deal for humanitarian aid to Gaza via the Rafah crossing.
— Ruxandra Iordache
Humanitarian aid for Gaza provided by the United Nations is loaded in Dubai
Humanitarian aid provided by the United Nations is loaded onto a United Arab Emirates Air Force C-130H-30 Hercules turboprop military transport aircraft at Dubai International Airport before departure for Cairo on October 19, 2023. Egypt announced on Oct. 19 the "sustainable" passage of humanitarian aid to the Gaza Strip through the Rafah crossing, as hundreds of aid trucks wait at the gates of the enclave being bombarded by Israel.
— Giuseppe Cacace | AFP | Getty Images
Fuel shortage in Gaza after Israeli airstrikes
People line up in front of a gas station to get fuel due to a shortage after the Israeli airstrikes in Deir al-Balah, Gaza.
— Ashraf Amra | Anadolu via Getty Images
Saudi embassy urges Saudi nationals to leave Lebanon
Saudi Arabia has issued a call for all Saudi citizens to leave Lebanon as tensions envelop the south of the country in the wake of Israel's war with Palestinian militant group Hamas.
"The Embassy of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to the Republic of Lebanon is closely following the developments of the current events in the southern Lebanon region, calling on all citizens to adhere to the travel ban and to leave Lebanese territory immediately for those who are currently in Lebanon," the embassy said in a Google-translated statement published on social media.
Protests have been taking place in Lebanon following a blast that killed hundreds of people at a hospital in Gaza. Lebanese militant group Hezbollah has also been trading fire with Israel since last week, citing solidarity with Palestinian people.
— Ruxandra Iordache
Palestinian civil defense members and others conduct search and rescue operations in Khan Younis
Palestinian civil defense members and others on Thursday conduct search and rescue operations from a building hit by Israeli bombardment in Khan Younis on the southern Gaza Strip.
— Mahmud Hams | Afp | Getty Images
U.S. State Department official resigns over White House's 'blind support' of Israel
A senior U.S. State Department official has resigned, citing Washington's "blind support" for Israel in its war against Palestinian militant group Hamas.
Qualifying the Oct. 7 attack perpetrated by Hamas against Israel as a "monstrosity of monstrosities," Josh Paul — who worked for the U.S. State's Bureau of Political-Military Affairs — nevertheless said in a letter that the Israeli response to that offensive and the U.S. endorsement of it will only lead to "more and deeper suffering for both the Israeli and the Palestinian people."
He added, "The fact is, blind support for one side is destructive in the long term to the interests of the people on both sides. I fear we are repeating the same mistakes we have made these past decades, and I decline to be a part of it for longer."
The U.S. State Department declined to comment on personnel matters.
Human rights groups have raised the alarm over the impact to civilians of Israel's retaliatory siege and strikes against the Gaza Strip, which the country says it is proceeding with in an attempt to remove the military abilities of Hamas.
U.S. President Joe Biden and Secretary of State Antony Blinken have visited Israel to express solidarity with the country, while the White House has also reached a humanitarian aid deal with Egypt to assist the Palestinian people in embattled Gaza.
— Ruxandra Iordache
Egyptian soccer star Mohamed Salah says 'humanity must prevail' in Israel-Hamas war
Egyptian soccer star Mohamed Salah called for an end to "massacres" in Gaza, saying all lives must be protected amid the Israel-Hamas conflict.
In a 51-second video clip posted on social media platform X, formerly known as Twitter, Salah said that while "it was not always easy to speak at a time like this, there has been too much violence and too much heartbreak and brutality."
The post had been viewed 133 million times as of 7:45 a.m. ET on Thursday.
Salah, who plays for Liverpool in England, called for humanitarian aid to be allowed into Gaza immediately, saying people living in the enclave were in a "terrible condition."
"The people of Gaza need food, water and medical supplies urgently," he added. "I am calling on the world leaders to come together to prevent the further slaughter of innocent souls. Humanity must prevail."
— Sam Meredith
Israel's Netanyahu warns of 'long war' with Hamas
Israel's conflict with Palestinian militant group Hamas will not be a short-term engagement, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu warned in a press briefing following his Thursday meeting with British counterpart Rishi Sunak.
"This is a long war, and we'll need your continuous support," he told Sunak, adding that this is the darkest hour of both Israel and the international community. "This is not merely our battle [with Hamas], it's the battle of the entire civilized world."
Sunak, who arrived in Israel earlier this morning and has met with both Netanyahu and Israeli President Isaac Herzog, expressed solidarity with the country following the Oct. 7 Hamas terror attacks.
"We also recognize that Palestinians are victims of Hamas too," the British prime minister said. "I know that you are taking every precaution to avoid harming civilians, in direct contrast to the terrorists of Hamas."
Israel last week announced a complete siege of the Gaza Strip enclosure and has been carrying out airstrikes in the region. It says its goal is exclusively to neutralize the military capabilities of Hamas. Humanitarian groups have warned that the Israeli siege is exacerbating a deep humanitarian crisis in Gaza.
— Ruxandra Iordache
Images show daily life in Gaza as the Israel-Hamas war enters its 13th day
Images published Thursday by Getty Images show residents of the Gaza Strip walking through the rubble of residential buildings after Israeli airstrikes.
— Sam Meredith
Head of Hamas-led national security forces killed in airstrike, Hamas says
The head of the Hamas-led national security forces, Jihad Muheisen, has been killed in an Israeli airstrike in the north of Gaza City, the Palestinian militant group said in a Google-translated update on Telegram.
CNBC was not able to independently verify the report.
Israel has previously said that its offensives against the besieged Gaza enclosure target stripping away the military capabilities of Hamas, following the group's terror attacks of Oct. 7.
— Ruxandra Iordache
British PM, Israeli president agree on importance of 'urgent humanitarian support' to Gaza
British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and Israeli President Isaac Herzog on Thursday "agreed on the importance of getting urgent humanitarian support" for the Palestinian residents of the Gaza Strip, a communique from Sunak's office said.
The United States and Egypt have agreed a humanitarian aid corridor through Cairo's border with the besieged Gaza Strip.
Sunak, who arrived in Israel earlier on Thursday, also reiterated that Britain "stands in solidarity with Israel and firmly believes in the country's right to self-defence in line with international law."
The British and Israeli leaders stressed the need to avoid further escalation in the Middle Eastern region, amid fire exchanges between Israel and Lebanese militant group Hezbollah that have taken place recurrently since last week.
— Ruxandra Iordache
World Food Programme says another of its Gaza bakeries struck
Another one of the bakeries of the U.N.'s World Food Programme in the Gaza Strip was struck overnight, Executive Director Cindy McCain said Wednesday on X social media platform, previously known as X.
She added that four out of the WFP's 23 bakeries remain operational, as most units have run out of fuel.
"People need safe access to food," she said.
The besieged and bombarded Gaza Strip faces deep supply shortages, with Israel depriving it of its fuel, food, electricity and water since last week. U.S. and Egypt say they have agreed a corridor for humanitarian aid to the enclave.
Another U.N. agency, the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East, has flagged the impossibility of carrying out its duties, as staff members are unable to travel safely across the Gaza Strip.
— Ruxandra Iordache
Washington must make a 'clear commitment' to de-escalate Israel-Hamas conflict, law professor says
The U.S. must make a "clear commitment" to de-escalating Israel's war with Palestinian militant group Hamas, with a view to ease civilian suffering, according to Omar Dajani, professor of law at the University of the Pacific.
Stressing the urgency of recognizing the situation on the ground in the Gaza Strip, he added, "In the same way that the United States has pressed emphatically for ensuring in contexts like Ukraine that there be absolutely, absolute clarity in our commitment to avoid civilian deaths and casualties, whether Palestinian or Israeli, I think that that's exactly what we need to see in this context."
He said that the Biden administration had de-emphasized the tensions between the Israeli and Palestinian people for years in favor of other items on the White House's foreign agenda, and that the U.S. is now reaping the consequences of this "indifference."
What is needed from Washington, he added, is "a clear commitment to de-escalating the situation, rather than a green light to Israel down a path that not only is it unlikely to succeed with respect to its apparent stated goals, [of] dismantling the Hamas government, but that is also likely to plunge Israel-Palestine and perhaps the region into deeper conflict."
The U.S. has been a stalwart supporter of Israel, offering military assistance and repeatedly expressing solidarity through the high profile Tel Aviv visits of President Joe Biden and Secretary of State Antony Blinken. At the same time, the White House has agreed a deal for the delivery of humanitarian aid to the Gaza Strip with Cairo, through the Rafah crossing that bridges Egypt and the enclosure.
— Ruxandra Iordache
Jordan's King Abdullah to meet with Egypt's president to discuss Israel-Hamas war
Jordan on Thursday announced that King Abdullah II is making his way to Cairo to meet with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sissi and discuss "means to stop the Israeli aggression on Gaza."
The statement from Jordan's state news agency Petra comes as U.S. President Joe Biden returns to the U.S. after a brief visit to Israel.
Biden had also been scheduled to meet with Arab leaders, including the Jordanian monarch, but the summit was abruptly canceled following a deadly explosion at a hospital in central Gaza.
— Sam Meredith
Violence between Israelis and Palestinians rises in West Bank
Violence between Palestinians living in the occupied West Bank and Israeli forces and settlers has spiked amid the Israel-Hamas war in Gaza.
At least 61 Palestinians in the West Bank have been killed and 1,250 injured, including children, since the Hamas terrorist attack in Israel on Oct. 7., according to the Palestinian Health Ministry.
More than 1,400 people have been killed in Israel, including children, during and since the Oct. 7 attacks, according to Israeli authorities. Israel has retaliated with thousands of bombings of targets in the blockaded and Hamas-controlled Gaza Strip, which have killed at least 3,478 Palestinians, Gaza's health ministry says.
On Thursday, three Palestinians in the West Bank including two teenagers were killed by Israeli forces after they stormed the village of Budrus, Palestinian official news agency WAFA reported. It also reported separate incidents of Palestinians shot and killed by Israeli forces.
There was no immediate comment from Israel and CNBC has reached out to Israel's Defense Ministry for comment. Large and sometimes violent protests in the West Bank have taken place since Israel began its bombing of Gaza. The West Bank is run by the Palestinian Authority, a Hamas rival that has for years cooperated with the Israeli government.
— Natasha Turak
Germany's Scholz criticizes Russia's 'cynical' Israeli-Hamas casualty comments
German Chancellor Olaf Scholz on Thursday slammed Russian President Vladimir Putin for his "cynical" warnings over the violence and civilian casualties resulting from the ongoing war between Israel and Palestinian militant group Hamas.
"I am more than outraged when hearing that the Russian president is warning everywhere that there could be victims, civilian victims of military confrontations. It really doesn't get any more cynical than that," Scholz said in a speech to the German Parliament, according to Reuters.
Putin has repeatedly expressed concern over the casualties of the Israeli-Hamas conflict, urging an end to hostilities and for Israel's military not to press ahead with a ground incursion into the Gaza Strip. Divided between its interests in Israel and Hamas-supporting Iran, Russia has addressed the violence of the recent offensives in Israel, but has so far fallen short of condemning the Palestinian militant group for its terror attacks of Oct. 7.
Russia has simultaneously been waging a full-scale invasion of Ukraine since February 2022, which the Human Rights Watch says has has "a disastrous impact on civilian life, killing thousands of civilians, injuring many thousands more, and destroying civilian property and infrastructure."
— Ruxandra Iordache
UN envoy warns that Middle East region is at brink of a 'deep and dangerous abyss'
The escalating conflict between Israel and Palestinian militants Hamas is pushing the Middle East region to the precipice of a "dangerous abyss," with the risk of the conflict conflagrating, the United Nations' Middle East envoy warned.
Tor Wennesland, the UN's Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process, fears that "the world is at the brink of a deep and dangerous abyss that could change the trajectory of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict."
"This is one of the most difficult moments facing the Israeli and Palestinian people in the last 75 years," he said at the at the U.N. Security Council via a video link.
—Lee Ying Shan
Israeli military and Hezbollah exchange further fire
The Israel Defense Forces recorded nine missile launches from Lebanon into Israel over the past 12 hours, the military said on social media Thursday.
Several anti-tank missiles were also fired from Lebanon toward Israel, the IDF said, adding that it responded to the hostilities by returning fire and striking against the infrastructure of Lebanese militant group Hezbollah with tank fire.
Israel and Hezbollah have been exchanging fire since last week, pushing Israel to evacuate the residents of 28 of its settlements near the border. Hezbollah has cited solidarity with the Palestinian people and retaliation for the death of group members for its ongoing offensives.
The involvement of Hezbollah — which, along with Palestinian militant group Hamas, receives support from Iran — has stoked fears of a potential spread of the Israeli-Hamas conflict to the broader Middle East region.
— Ruxandra Iordache
China supports Egyptian efforts to broker a humanitarian corridor for Gaza, Xi says
Beijing supports Egypt's efforts to open humanitarian corridors for the Gaza Strip, Chinese President Xi Jinping told Egyptian Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly on Thursday, according to Chinese state media outlet Xinhua.
Xi's comments come after U.S. President Joe Biden and Egypt President Abdel Fatah el-Sissi struck an agreement to allow humanitarian aid into the Gaza Strip through the Rafah border crossing, according to an Egyptian readout.
China is open to strengthening coordination with Egypt and Arab countries to "facilitate a comprehensive, just and lasting solution" to the conflict between Israel and Palestinian militant group Hamas, Xi said.
Beijing, which has fallen short of joining the international community in condemning the Hamas terror attacks of Oct. 7, supports a cease-fire and a two-state solution to the hostilities, which would create an independent Palestinian state, alongside the Israeli one.
— Ruxandra Iordache
Deal reached to allow humanitarian aid into Gaza
U.S. President Joe Biden and Egypt President Abdel Fatah el-Sissi reached an agreement to allow humanitarian aid into the Gaza Strip through the Rafah border crossing, according to Egypt's readout of the leaders' phone call.
Biden told reporters aboard Air Force One that the deal will allow 20 trucks across to start.
The White House readout said the two discussed "mechanisms to ensure the aid is distributed for the benefit of the civilian population." They also emphasized the need to preserve regional stability and prevent escalation of the conflict.
— Christine Wang
British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak arrives in Israel
British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak arrived in Israel on Thursday, according to a social media post on his official account.
"I am in Israel, a nation in grief. I grieve with you and stand with you against the evil that is terrorism," he wrote.
Sunak is expected to meet with his Israeli counterpart Benjamin Netanyahu in Tel Aviv. The British leader's trip comes a day after the visit of U.S. President Joe Biden and follows several high-profile trips carried out by European Union officials since last week. British Foreign Secretary James Cleverly visited Israel on Oct. 11.
The U.K. has firmly condemned the Oct. 7 terror attacks of Palestinian militant group Hamas, which left at least seven British nationals dead, with another nine missing. London has also pushed for the opening of the Rafah crossing that bridges the Gaza Strip and Egypt to allow for evacuations and humanitarian aid.
— Ruxandra Iordache
Biden to make a speech on the ongoing conflicts at 8 p.m. ET
U.S. President Joe Biden will make a national address on Thursday on the ongoing conflicts in Israel and Gaza, as well as in Russia and Ukraine.
"Tomorrow, President Biden will address the nation to discuss our response to Hamas' terrorist attacks against Israel and Russia's ongoing brutal war against Ukraine," White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said in a statement.
"This speech will be delivered from the Oval Office at 8:00pm ET."
It comes a day after Biden's whirlwind trip to Israel, where he met with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in an effort to show "solidarity" with the country.
— Katrina Bishop
U.S. intel assessment: 'Israel was not responsible' for Gaza hospital strike
The U.S. government formally said it believes "Israel was not responsible" for a deadly strike at Al Ahli Hospital that killed hundreds of people in Gaza City Thursday.
"Our assessment is based on available reporting, including intelligence, missile activity, and open source video and images of the incident," National Security Council spokeswoman Adrienne Watson said in a statement to NBC News.
Following the blast, Hamas militants blamed Israel, which has launched massive air strikes on targets in northern Gaza. The Israeli military vigorously denied that one of its rockets had hit the hospital.
Watson said the United States was still trying to determine who fired the missile. She also offered a rare public description of active intelligence being gathered.
"Intelligence indicates that some Palestinian militants in the Gaza Strip believed that the explosion was likely caused by an errant rocket or missile launch carried out by Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ)," said Watson. "The militants were still investigating what had happened," she added.
"We continue to work to corroborate whether the explosion resulted from a failed PIJ rocket."
— Christina Wilkie and Amanda Macias
UK PM Sunak to visit Israel on Thursday
British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak will arrive in Israel on Thursday and meet with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and President Isaac Herzog, before travelling on to other regional capitals, his office said.
Sunak will share his condolences for the loss of life in Israel and Gaza as a result of the Oct. 7 attack on Israel by Gaza-based Palestinian Hamas gunmen, his office said, and warn against further escalation of conflict in the region.
"Every civilian death is a tragedy. And too many lives have been lost following Hamas' horrific act of terror," Sunak said in a statement ahead of his visit.
He said a deadly blast at a Gaza hospital on Tuesday which killed hundreds of Palestinians should be "a watershed moment for leaders in the region and across the world to come together to avoid further dangerous escalation of conflict", pledging Britain would be at "the forefront of this effort".
Sunak will also urge the opening up of a route to allow humanitarian aid into Gaza as soon as possible, and to enable British nationals trapped in Gaza to leave.
At least seven British nationals have been killed and at least nine are missing since the attack on Israel, Sunak's spokesperson said earlier on Wednesday.
Alongside Sunak's visit, British Foreign Secretary James Cleverly, who visited Israel last week, will travel to Egypt, Turkey and Qatar over the next three days to discuss the conflict and seek a peaceful resolution, his office said.
Britain said the three countries were "vital to international efforts to uphold regional stability, free hostages and allow humanitarian access to Gaza".
Cleverly will meet with senior leaders there to discuss efforts to prevent the conflict spreading, the urgent need to open the Rafah crossing with Egypt to let aid reach those who need it and for Hamas to release hostages, Britain said.
— Reuters
