LIVE | Israel-Hamas war Day 33: Israel Cabinet to meet in West Bank after ‘warning’
The Israeli military has said that its ground forces are now fighting in “the depths” of Gaza City. The comments signalled a new stage by the Israeli military as it moves in toward what it says is the headquarters and stronghold of the Hamas militant group. Speaking to reporters, the chief military spokesman, Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari, said that Israeli ground forces “are located right now in a ground operation in the depths of Gaza City and putting great pressure on Hamas”.
Meanwhile, top diplomats from the Group of Seven (G7) leading industrial democracies announced a unified stance on the Israel-Hamas war on Wednesday after intensive meetings in Tokyo, condemning Hamas, supporting Israel's right to self-defence and calling for “humanitarian pauses” to speed aid to desperate Palestinian civilians in the Gaza Strip.
In a statement, the nations sought to balance criticism of Hamas' attacks against Israel and a push for “urgent action” to help civilians in the besieged Palestinian enclave in need of food, water, medical care and shelter.
Earlier on Tuesday (November 7), Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu claimed Israel was making great progress in its war, saying that the army has killed thousands of Hamas fighters.
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- 8 Nov 2023 6:22 AM GMT
40 Filipinos flee Gaza Strip through Rafah Crossing into Egypt
Dozens of Filipinos fled the war-ravaged Gaza Strip into Egypt through the Rafah crossing after Filipino diplomats negotiated for their safe passage and Qatar mediated for the border to be opened, Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. said on Wednesday.
The 40 Filipinos were traveling to the Egyptian capital of Cairo, where they planned to take flights back to the Philippines, Marcos said in a video message in Manila. Two Filipino doctors managed to leave the Gaza Strip into Egypt last week.
“I hope the rest of our countrymen who also wanted to return home can also exit properly with their spouses and loved ones,” Marcos said.
Most of at least 134 Filipinos in Gaza, many of whom are married to Palestinians, have sought help to leave the besieged territory and are waiting for an opportunity to leave, the Department of Foreign Affairs in Manila said.
- 8 Nov 2023 6:22 AM GMT
Explosions reported across Gaza city and Shati refugee camp
Residents reported loud explosions across Gaza City and the adjacent Shati refugee camp overnight into Wednesday, as Israel's military said its troops were battling Hamas forces deep inside the densely populated urban area.
The Hamas-run Interior Ministry said an airstrike Wednesday morning hit a house near the Jabaliya refugee camp, also part of that built-up area. “The bombings were heavy and close,” said Mohamed Abed, who lives in Gaza City's Sheikh Radwan neighbourhood. He said people around him panicked when they heard the news late on Tuesday that Israeli ground forces were fighting deep in the city.
- 8 Nov 2023 6:16 AM GMT
More Palestinians fleeing combat zone in northern Gaza: UN
The pace of Palestinian civilians fleeing the combat zone in northern Gaza has picked up as Israel's air and ground campaign there intensifies. The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs said on Wednesday that about 15,00 people fled on Tuesday, compared to 5,000 on Monday and 2,000 on Sunday.
The densely populated northern area of Gaza, specifically Gaza City and adjacent crowded urban refugee camps, are the focus of Israel's campaign to crush Hamas, the militant group that has ruled Gaza for 16 years.
- 8 Nov 2023 2:41 AM GMT
IDF shares footage of Hamas’ weapons stash
The Israel Defence Forces (IDF) claims to have recovered weapons used by Hamas’ militants during its ground incursion on Monday.
The IDF shared a video of the weapons on X.
It includes 1,493 hand grenades and explosives, 760 RPGs, 427 explosive belts, 375 firearms, and 106 rockets and missiles.
“These are just a few of the weapons used to massacre over 1,400 Israeli civilians. Weapons used for the killing of innocents,” the IDF said on X.
