Israel-Hamas war: Hamas must 'die' or 'surrender unconditionally': Israel minister

Israeli Defence Minister Yoav Gallant on Wednesday (Nov 1) said Hamas has to "die or to surrender unconditionally" in the war the two sides are fighting in Gaza.

"There is no third option," Gallant said in a televised speech. 

The UN child rights committee said there were "no winners in a war where thousands of children are killed", as they condemned mounting "grave human rights violations" in the Gaza Strip.

"The committee calls for an end to the devastating harm being wreaked on children's lives in the occupied Palestinian territory. We add our voice to those calling for an immediate ceasefire. We urge the immediate release of child hostages, with their caregivers," the independent committee, which monitors countries' adherence to the children's rights convention, said in a statement.

At least 320 foreign passport holders have crossed to Egypt from Gaza through the Rafah border crossing on Wednesday (Nov 1), Reuters reported, citing Egyptian security sources and a Palestinian official.

Fifteen Israeli soldiers have been killed fighting in Gaza since Tuesday, a spokesman for the country's military told AFP.

Israeli troops have been fighting Hamas militants on the ground since Friday, backed by heavy air strikes which have killed multiple civilians in the Palestinian territory.

Jordan on Wednesday (Nov 1) said that it would "immediately" recall its ambassador to Israel in protest at the war against Gaza's Hamas rulers trigged by the militant group's October 7 attacks.

"Jordanian Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi decided to immediately recall Jordan's ambassador to Israel," the foreign ministry said, adding that the move was "to condemn the Israeli war that is killing innocent people in Gaza".

Fifteen Israeli soldiers have been killed during Israeli Defence Forces' military operation in Gaza, reported Israeli news outlet

Ismail Haniyeh, leader of Hamas, has said that the attack on October 7 was a reaction to Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's policies. He also claimed that Israel is committing "massacres" in Gaza strip in order to cover its own "defeats".

Israel is "committing barbaric massacres against unarmed civilians", he said in a speech which was broadcast by Al Jazeera.
 

Iran's Foreign Minister Hosein Amir-Abdollahian echoed Iranian supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei's call to boycott Israel in light of the relentless bombing of Gaza.

"Our first duty, as Muslims and Arab countries, is to impose an embargo on Israeli goods, to be more aware about sending fuel and goods to Israel and to put an end to it," said Abdollahian.

He was in Turkish capital Ankara and met his Turkish counterpart Hakim Fidan.

Earlier in the day, Khamenei had said,"The bombings on Gaza must stop immediately ... the path of oil and food exports to the Zionist regime should be stopped." 

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More than 100 people including dual nationals and injured persons have crossed over from Gaza to Egypt through Rafah border crossing, reported BBC.

Rafah border crossing, which was closed to people, opened today for the first time since the outbreak of Israel-Hamas war.

Prime ministers of the Netherlands has urged for halt in relentless Israeli attacks on Gaza and the West Bank. Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte said in a press conference that the attacks must stop. He is on a state visit to Malaysia. He met his Malaysian counterpart Anwar Ibrahim and discussed co-operation between the two countries and also regional and global issues.

French President Emmanuel Macron said on Wednesday he "hates the debate" over value of "Jewish lives" and "Palestinian lives" as he called for "civilians in Gaza to be protected first".

"I hate this debate that divides people and where one says: 'for me the Jewish lives are more important' or 'for me Palestinian lives are more important'," he said as quoted by AFP.

"Every life counts in this world," he added.
 

The director of the New York office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights has stepped down from his position to mark a protest against the Israel-Hamas war saying it is a “text-book case of genocide”. “The governments of the US, UK and much of Europe, are wholly complicit in the horrific assault,” Craig Mokhiber said in his resignation letter. 

“Not only are these governments refusing to meet their treaty obligations to ensure respect for Geneva conventions, but they are in fact actively arming the assault… and giving political and diplomatic cover for Israel’s atrocities," he wrote and added, “It became painfully clear that we had failed in our duy to meet the imperatives of prevention of mass atrocities… we are failing again.”

Turkey and Iran on Wednesday called for a regional conference to contain the Israel-Hamas from spreading. 

"We do not want the human tragedy in Gaza to turn into a war that affects the region's countries," Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan reportedly said during a press briefing alongside Iranian counterpart Hossein Amir-Abdollahian.

Amir-Abdollahian has called for the meet to be held "as soon as possible".

Hamas-led health ministry said Wednesday (Nov 1) that the death toll in the Gaza Strip has reached 8,796. 

As per a statement from the health ministry, the deaths included 3,648 children while 22,219 were injured.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu pledged on Wednesday (Nov 1) to continue Israel's war on Hamas even as the "painful losses" continue in the Gaza Strip. "We have so many important achievements, but also painful losses. We know that every soldier of ours is an entire world," Netanyahu reportedly said. 

As the Gaza Strip continues to get pounded by Israeli airstrikes, Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has urged the Muslim nations to stop oil and food exports to Israel.

Khamenei reportedly said, "The bombings on Gaza must stop immediately ... the path of oil and food exports to the Zionist regime should be stopped." 

Palestinians across the West Bank declared a general strike on Wednesday (Nov 1), protesting against Israeli air strikes on Jabalia in Gaza last night.

Israeli military spokesman Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari has blamed Hamas for allegedly using human shields in the Jabaliya area in the Gaza Strip.

More than 50 people have been killed in Israeli airstrikes on the refugee camp in Gaza. 

IDF spokesperson Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari said Wednesday (Nov 1), “Our forces continue to significantly expand their ground operations in the northern Gaza strip. Overnight, forces engaged in significant battles, including a multi-story building in the Jabaliya area."

In the wake of the Israel-Hamas war, Palestinians are now in a state of panic and are running for cover while also assisting injured people in the Gaza's refugee camp of Jabalia.

The attack reportedly targeted a Hamas commander involved in the October 7 attacks. 

Hamas has claimed that 7 hostages have died in Gaza camp bombing carried out by Israel. The group has also said that three of those killed were foreigners.

At least four Palestinians were killed during Israeli raids in West Bank, Palestinian health officials said Wednesday. The violence in the separate Palestinian region away from Gaza Strip has continued alongside the Israel-Hamas war in the strip. 

Three people were killed during a raid in the northern city of Jenin, while another was shot dead in Tulkarem, also in the north, the Ramallah-based health ministry said. 

The latest incident came as Palestinians declared a general strike across the territory, with shops shuttered in Ramallah. 

Between 38,200 and 44,500 buildings throughout the Gaza Strip are estimated to have been damaged or destroyed since the beginning of the war, according to a satellite imagery analysis by geologists from CUNY Graduate Center and Oregon State University first reported by the New York Times. 

Scores of people were gathered outside Gaza's Rafah border crossing on November 1, as the first group of foreign nationals left Gaza strip as part of an agreement to allow the movement of foreign passport holders and some critically injured people into Egypt.

There is no timeline for how long the Rafah crossing would remain open for evacuation in the deal mediated by Qatar.

Wars often come at an enormous price for those caught in the midst. Away from the blood and the alarms of the Israel-Hamas war, a family in Minnesota is yet to come to grips with the massive price they've paid: 42 lives.

A week ago, a Palestinian American family in Maple Grove, Minnesota in the US, learned that they had lost 42 members of their family to the war.

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A first group of foreign passport holders have been allowed to leave the Gaza Strip for Egypt Wednesday, an Egyptian official at the Rafah border crossing told AFP.

"A first group of foreign passport holders is going to pass through the Rafah terminal to Egypt on Wednesday," the official said.

Qatar has mediated an agreement between Egypt, Israel and Hamas, in coordination with the U.S., to allow for the movement of foreign passport holders and some critically injured people out of Gaza, a source was quoted as saying by Reuters.

Blasts were heard over Gaza City early on Wednesday (November 1), as Israel continued to besiege the coastal strip in retaliation for an attack by the Hamas militant group.

Footage filmed by the Palestine Media Group also showed plumes of dark smoke rising above buildings just after sunrise.

The Israeli army in a statement has said it has carried out attacks against 11,000 militant targets in the Gaza Strip since the beginning of its ongoing war with Hamas.

"Since the beginning of the war, the IDF (Israel Defence Forces) has struck over 11,000 targets belonging to terrorist organizations in the Gaza Strip," a statement from the military said. (

Hamas said some foreigners and injured Palestinians will be allowed to leave Gaza, in a first since the war broke out with Israel.

Meanwhile, the US said it was sending its top diplomat back to the Middle East to stem violence in the wake of threats of escalation from Iran and vow of stronger retaliation from Israel.

US intelligence agency FBI's Director Christopher Wray warned on Tuesday (Oct 31) that amid the ongoing war between Israel and Hamas, the US is "in a dangerous period" and the threat of targeted attacks, including hate crimes not seen in about a decade, remains high.

The threat perception of international terrorism in the United States was deemed remarkably low in recent years, especially after the territorial gains of the so-called Islamic State terror group were liberated in Iraq and Syria.

But recent reports in the US media citing senior American officials say Hamas' deadly Oct 7 attack on Israel is likely to have implications for individuals in and beyond the United States.

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Iran has warned that its proxies and allied militias, like Houthis in Yemen, could expand their action against Israel, thus risking further escalation. 

“The warnings from Iran regarding the initial days of the Gaza civilian casualties highlighted a concern: if these atrocities were not halted, they could incite public outrage and exhaust the patience of the resistance movements,” the Iranian mission to the UN said in a statement to the Associated Press. 

IDF posts on X, "We will fight to eliminate Hamas."

IDF on Wednesday said that nine Israeli soldiers died while fighting in Gaza, as it continues to pound the strip relentlessly. However, it stopped short of revealing more details about when the soldiers died and where.

US President talked to Jordan's King Abdullah to discuss "urgent" ways to end violence and reduce regional tensions, said a statement by the White House.

The two leaders agreed that displacement of Gazans from the tiny strip will not be acceptable.

Egypt will treat badly wounded Palestinians after letting them into the country through the Rafah crossing, AFP reported Wednesday (Nov 1). 

The border authority in Hamas-ruled Gaza earlier said that Egypt has allowed accommodating at least 81 of the most badly wounded Palestinians. 

All of them will cross into Egypt through Rafah starting Wednesday, the only passage not controlled by Israel.

As per media reports, Egypt is building a special field hospital, with an area of 1,300 square metres (about 14,000 square feet), where these Palestinians will be taken care of.

The hospital is being built in the city of Sheikh Zuweid in northern Sinai, about 15 kilometres (nine miles) from Rafah.

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Oil prices inched up in early Asian trade as global investors awaited key central bank meetings, including the US Federal Reserve, while also closely monitoring developments in the Israel-Hamas conflict.

At 0330 GMT, Brent January crude futures climbed 0.3 per cent or 28 cents to $85.30 a barrel, following a decrease of more than 1 per cent on Tuesday. Meanwhile, Brent December futures settled slightly lower at $87.41 a barrel upon the contract's expiry on Tuesday.

US West Texas Intermediate crude futures rose 0.2 per cent or 16 cents to $81.02 a barrel, recovering some ground after a decline of about 1.6 per cent in the prior session.

In a post on X, Gaza's largest telecommunications provider Palestine Telecommunication Company, or Paltel said that communications and internet services have been completely cut off in the Gaza Strip due to international access being disconnected again.

The post translated from Arabic reads: "Dear people in our beloved homeland, We regret to announce a complete interruption of all communications and Internet services with the Gaza Strip, due to international routes that were previously reconnected being cut off again. May God protect you and protect our country."

The Biden administration on Tuesday urged Congress to approve its $105 billion national security supplemental request, which includes aid for both Israel and Ukraine.

As per a CBS report, this comes as the House of Representatives is set to deliberate on a bill that only supports Israel, prompting Secretary of State Antony Blinken to caution that separating funding for Ukraine from aid for Israel could embolden adversarial nations such as Russia and Iran.

Blinken emphasised that "For our adversaries — be they states or non-states — this is all one fight, and we have to respond in a way that recognizes that," Blinken told a Senate panel Tuesday. "If we start to peel off pieces of this package, they'll see that. They'll understand that we are playing whack-a-mole while they cooperate increasingly."

The proposed request comprises $61.4 billion for Ukraine and $14.3 billion for Israel, along with allocations for border security, humanitarian assistance, and initiatives in the Indo-Pacific region. The allotments for Ukraine and Israel also include provisions for their respective militaries weaponry from the US Defense Department.

In a phone call to Israel President Isaac Herzog, the US Secretary of State Antony Blinken "reiterated US support for Israel’s right to defend itself against terrorism consistent with international humanitarian law and emphasised the need to take feasible precautions to minimize harm to civilians."

As per a statement by the US State Department, the two leaders also "discussed efforts to safeguard US citizens in Israel, the West Bank, and Gaza; continue working tirelessly to bring hostages home; increase urgently the pace and volume of humanitarian assistance that is entering Gaza for distribution to Palestinian civilians; and prevent the conflict from spreading."

 The United States and other countries are looking at "a variety of possible permutations" for the future of the Gaza Strip if Hamas militants are removed from control, said Washington's top diplomat. 

During a Senate hearing, Secretary of State Antony Blinken said Hamas being in charge of the densely populated enclave could not continue, but Israel did not want to run Gaza either.

Therefore, they are looking at other options. Blinken said what would make most sense at some point  was an "effective and revitalized Palestinian Authority" to have governance over Gaza. 

"And if you can't, then there are other temporary arrangements that may involve a number of other countries in the region. It may involve international agencies that would help provide for both security and governance," he added. 

US and Israel are also considering the possibility of a multinational force that may involve American troops or Gaza be placed under United Nations oversight temporarily, Bloomberg reported on Tuesday.

Chile's government recalled its ambassador to Israel for consultations over what it described Israel's "unacceptable" violation of international humanitarian law stemming from its recent military attacks on the Gaza Strip.

"Chile strongly condemns and observes with great concern... these military operations," said the country's foreign ministry in a statement.

It added, that Israel's operations amounted to "collective punishment" of Gaza's civilian population. 

The South American nation also called for an immediate end to hostilities, the release of hostages held by the Palestinian militant group Hamas and allow transit of humanitarian aid for Gaza's around two million people. 

US Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin "emphasized the need to prioritize civilian safety in military operations," during his phone call with his Israeli counterpart Yoav Gallant, on Tuesday, said the Pentagon in a statement. 

The statement came hours after Israel struck Gaza's largest refugee which according to Hamas-run Palestinian health ministry killed at least 50 people and injured dozens of others. 

Austin also "acknowledged the increased humanitarian aid delivery through the Rafah crossing today, and urged continued progress to increase assistance to civilians in Gaza," said the readout by Pentagon.

The Israeli military said they shot down a surface-to-air missile that was launched from Lebanon at an IDF drone. 

"Air Force aircraft attacked the source of the fire from which the missile was launched, as well as the squad that carried out the launch," said the Israeli army in a post on X. 

US State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller said that Washington has made "real progress" in the last few hours in negotiations to secure a safe passage for Americans and other foreigners who wish to depart the Gaza Strip. 

"While I can't make an announcement today, we do think we've made very real progress on this as I said in just the past few hours," said Miller.

This comes as United States has been working with Qataris and Egyptians to open the Rafah border crossing into Egypt to allow American citizens inside Gaza to leave amid intensified Israeli bombardment of the densely populated enclave. 

"We would hope that any agreement to get any individuals out would also unlock the possibility of American citizens or their families and other foreign nationals coming out," said the state department spokesperson. 

Romanian Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirmed two more Romanian citizens are among the hostages being held in the Gaza Strip, bringing the total number of Romanian hostages to three.

Romania’s embassy in Tel Aviv and its consulate in Haifa are in contact with the Israeli authorities over the matter, said the ministry. 

According to the Associated Press, all three hostages hold dual Romanian-Israeli citizenship.

This comes after the country has previously confirmed the death of at least five Romanian citizens in Israel who also held dual Israeli citizenship since Hamas' attacks on October 7.

The United States President Joe Biden took to X and said, "Yesterday saw the largest delivery of life-saving humanitarian assistance into Gaza so far, and more trucks are being cleared to enter today." 

He also said "many more are needed," adding that "I'm not done pushing for more aid and will continue to support safe passage for Gaza civilians seeking safety."

 

White House national security spokesperson John Kirby told reporters that 66 trucks of humanitarian assistance entered Gaza in the last 24 hours, adding that dozens of more trucks are expected to be cleared for deliveries.

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken will make another trip to the Middle East, starting with Israel on Friday (Nov 3) said a spokesperson. 

"Secretary Blinken will travel to Israel on Friday for meetings with members of the Israeli government, and then will make other stops in the region," said State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller told reporters Tuesday. 

A report by The Times of Israel, citing an Israeli official, said that US Secretary of State Antony Blinken will make his second war-time visit to Israel on Friday (Nov 3). 

The visit comes weeks after Washington's top diplomat visited Israel and held a nearly eight-hour meeting with Israeli PM Netanyahu's war cabinet ahead of visits to five other countries in the region. 

Israeli families of victims of the October 7 Hamas attack have urged the International Criminal Court (ICC) to order an investigation into the killings and abductions. However, Israel is not a member of the Hague-based ICC and refuses to recognise the court's jurisdiction.

The filing by Tel Aviv-based international lawyer Yael Vias Gvirsman, who represents the families of more than 34 victims, including hostages, missing persons and people killed, called on ICC prosecutor Karim Khan to focus his investigation on Hamas' actions on October 7. 

This comes as ICC has already launched an investigation into any alleged crimes within its jurisdiction committed on Palestinian territory and by Palestinians on the territory of Israel, reported Reuters. 

The humanitarian group, Doctors without Borders (MSF) took to X and said, "We are horrified by news coming from Jabalia camp where high numbers of people have reportedly been killed by an Israeli airstrike. "

It added, "After the attack, many wounded people arrived to Al Shifa hospital where our teams helped to provide emergency medical care." 

Mohammed Hawajreh, MSF nurse said, "Young children arrived at the hospital with deep wounds & severe burns. They came without their families." 

"Many were screaming, asking for their parents. I stayed with them until we could find a place, as the hospital was full with patients," said the MSF nurse. 

The organisation condemned the "latest episode of senseless violence" reiterated its calls for an "immediate ceasefire" in Gaza to "prevent more deaths" across the Palestinian territory. 

"Enough is enough!" 

Qatar condemned Israel's bombing of Gaza's largest refugee camp and warned that expanded strikes on the besieged Palestinian enclave would "undermine mediation and de-escalation efforts".

Qatari foreign ministry, in a statement said that the strike on Jabalia camp was a "new massacre against the defenceless Palestinian people". 

Doha also said that the "expansion of Israeli attacks in the Gaza Strip to include civilian objects, like hospital, schools, population centres and shelters for displaced people, is a dangerous escalation." 

Israeli army fire killed two Palestinians, a teenager and a 70-year-old, on Tuesday in the occupied West Bank, said the Palestinian health ministry. This comes amid rise in violence in the Palestinian territory since the beginning of the war between militant group Hamas and Israel. 

According to the Palestinian ministry, the 70-year-old identified as Rawhi Rashid Sawafta died "after being shot in the face" during a raid by the Israeli army in the city of Tubas in the north of the West Bank. 

At least nine others were injured - two seriously - during the clashes with Israeli forces during the raid, said the ministry. 

The ministry also said that 16-year-old Abdallah Moqbel, was killed by Israeli fire in Beit Ummar in the southern West Bank. 

United Kingdom Prime Minister Rishi Sunak stressed the importance of taking all possible measures to minimise casualties and protect civilians in Gaza during a call with his Israeli counterpart Benjamin Netanyahu on Tuesday, said the Downing Street in a statement. 

"The Prime Minister reiterated the UK’s resolute backing for Israel’s right to defend itself against terrorism, while emphasising the importance of taking all possible measures to minimise civilian casualties." 

The two leaders, as per the readout from Sunak's office, also discussed the situation in the West Bank and "the long-term goal of a two-state solution" with Netanyahu.

In a separate statement Downing Street said that the UK PM also spoke to Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas and discussed the humanitarian crisis unfolding in Gaza.

"He said the UK would continue to support diplomatic action to protect Palestinian civilians, prevent wider escalation and secure a peaceful and lasting resolution to the crisis." 

Bolivia's government said that they are breaking diplomatic ties with Israel and accused Israel of committing crimes against humanity in its attacks on the Gaza Strip, reported Reuters. 

Bolivia had also cut diplomatic ties with Israel in protest of its attacks in Gaza back in 2009, which were re-established under the government of President Jeanine Anez around three years ago. 

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White House national security spokesperson John Kirby told reporters that 66 trucks of humanitarian assistance entered Gaza in the last 24 hours, adding that dozens of more trucks are expected to be cleared for deliveries.

United States President Joe Biden would speak later with Jordan's King Abdullah for discussions about Gaza, said Kirby. 

He also acknowledged that the level of truck aid deliveries so far is "just a fraction" of how much is needed in Gaza and officials would at some point  reach up to 100 a day. 

However, the White House did not comment on the Israeli strike which, according to Hamas-run health ministry, killed dozens of people in a refugee camp. 

Kirby said he had no information on it but said "killing civilians is not a war aim" of Israel and that Israel is trying to minimize civilian casualties.

Israeli military confirmed striking Gaza's Jabaliya refugee camp, saying the operation succeeded in killing a key Hamas commander linked to the October 7 attack on Israel by the Palestinian militant group. 

The Israel Defense Forces said that they killed the commander of Hamas' Central Jabaliya Battalion, Ibrahim Biari and several other militants after the strike caused underground terror tunnels to collapse, bringing down several nearby buildings.

His elimination was carried out as part of a wide-scale strike on terrorists and terror infrastructure belonging to the Central Jabaliya Battalion, which had taken control over civilian buildings in Gaza City," said the IDF. 

More than 50 people were reported killed after Israeli forces allegedly bombed a refugee camp in the Hamas-run Gaza Strip, the health ministry claimed on Tuesday.

"More than 50 martyrs and around 150 wounded and dozens under the rubble, in a heinous Israeli massacre that targeted a large area of homes in Jabalia camp in the northern (Gaza) Strip," a ministry statement said.

According to AFP, at least 47 bodies have been recovered at the Jabalia refugee camp in northern Gaza.

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