By Rosie Scammell and AFP bureaus in Israel and Palestinian territories SDEROT, Israel, Oct 8, 2023 (AFP) – Israel, reeling from the deadliest attack on its territory, declared war on Hamas Sunday as the conflict’s death toll surged above 1,100 after the Palestinian militant group launched a surprise assault from Gaza. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu steeled the nation for a “long and difficult” war a day after Hamas fired a barrage of thousands of rockets […]
Tag: conflict
Israel-Gaza war ignites worldwide impact
The conflict between Israel and Hamas militants is making a global impact with Britain, Canada, France and Germany among nations stepping up security around potential Jewish targets as pro-Palestinian protests break out in the Middle East. – Britain – Police in London said Sunday they had boosted patrols following the Hamas attack. “We are aware of a number of incidents… in relation to the ongoing conflict in Israel and the border with Gaza,” the Metropolitan […]
Desperate search for missing Israelis in aftermath of Hamas attack
By Amit Meyer LOD, Israel, Oct 8, 2023 (AFP) – Dozens of distraught Israeli families scrambled for information on missing loved ones Sunday, a day after Palestinian militants unleashed a surprise attack and forced hostages, some of them bloodied, back to Gaza. More than 100 Israelis have been taken hostage, the government’s press office said. “I just want to be able to hug him,” said Omri Shtivi, 30, whose brother Idan went missing after a […]
What we know about the Hamas assault on Israel
Gun battles raged Sunday between Hamas militants and Israeli forces a day after the Islamist group launched a surprise attack on Israel from Gaza, in a dramatic escalation of the Israel-Palestinian conflict. Hundreds of people have been killed on both sides since the Iran-backed Hamas launched the multi-pronged assault at dawn on Saturday, with Israeli forces fighting holdout militants and pounding the Gaza Strip with air strikes. This is what we know about the conflict […]
BREAKING: US aid amounts to ‘aggression’ against Palestinians: Hamas
GAZA CITY, Palestinian Territories, Oct 8, 2023 (AFP) – Palestinian militant group Hamas said Sunday that the United States’ plan to provide increased military aid to Israel amounts to “aggression” against Palestinians, after Washington ordered navy ships and warplanes closer to Israel. “The announcement of the US that it will provide an aircraft carrier to support the occupation (Israel) is actual participation in the aggression against our people,” Hamas, which on Saturday launched the deadliest […]
Two Israeli tourists, local guide shot dead by Egypt policeman
CAIRO, Oct 8, 2023 (AFP) – An Egyptian policeman shot dead two Israeli tourists and their Egyptian guide Sunday, local media and Israeli authorities said, as war raged for a second day between Israel and Palestinian militants. Israel’s National Security Council later said its citizens should consider not travelling abroad particularly in the Middle East “on the backdrop of the attack in Egypt.” It said visitors already in Egypt should leave “as soon as possible.” […]
Germany, France step up security at Jewish sites
BERLIN, Oct 7, 2023 (AFP) – Germany and France on Saturday moved to reinforce security around Jewish temples, schools and monuments after the surprise attack by Palestinian militant group Hamas against Israel. Germany tightened police protection of Jewish and Israeli institutions, as some supporters of the Palestinians took to the streets of Berlin to celebrate the attack. France focussed on Jewish temples and schools in cities across the country, as one Jewish leader expressed concern […]
President Biden vows ‘rock solid’ support, defense aid for Israel
By Maria DANILOVA WASHINGTON, Oct 7, 2023 (AFP) – The United States on Saturday condemned the attacks by “Hamas terrorists” against Israel and vowed to ensure the key US ally has the means to defend itself. President Joe Biden described the assault as “a terrible tragedy on a human level” and said he had spoken to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to underline his support. “I told him the United States stands with the people […]
Hamas violently forces detour from Saudi-Israel momentum
By Shaun Tandon with Robbie Corey-Boulet in Riyadh WASHINGTON, Oct 7, 2023 (AFP) – With its surprise attack against Israel, Hamas has violently shifted the world’s eyes back to the Palestinians and dealt a severe blow to momentum to secure a landmark US-brokered deal between Israel and Saudi Arabia. The Iranian-backed Islamist militants who run the impoverished, blockaded Gaza Strip on Saturday fired thousands of rockets and infiltrated forces into Israel, 50 years after Arab […]
World in shock after attacks on Israel
Countries around the world have reacted to a wave of Palestinian attacks by land, sea and air that Israel says has claimed more than 600 lives. The statements by world leaders ranged from outright condemnation of the Palestinian attacks and strong support for Israel from Western nations, to support from some Middle Eastern countries. Many have called for a de-escalation of the conflict, after Israel launched air strikes and other military operations targeting Gaza that […]
Israel says 22 dead in ‘war’ after militants enter from Gaza
By Ahmad Gharabli, with Adel Zaanoun and Mai Yaghi in Gaza City ASHKELON, Israel, Oct 7, 2023 (AFP) – Palestinian militants had begun a “war” against Israel which they infiltrated by air, sea and land from the blockaded Gaza Strip on Saturday, Israeli officials said, a major escalation in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Israeli medics reported 22 people killed. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said “we are at war” and vowed severe retaliation after ordering an extensive […]
Russian defence minister inspects factory for advanced missiles
MOSCOW, Oct 7, 2023 (AFP) – Russia’s defence minister Sergei Shoigu inspected a military factory producing the Sarmat intercontinental missile, saying it would soon be ready for use, his ministry posted on Telegram Saturday. The Sarmat is capable of carrying multiple nuclear warheads and is among Russia’s next-generation missiles which Putin has described as “invincible”. The Russian defence ministry posted footage of Shoigu and other military officials being given a tour of the Kramash factory […]





