Israel-Hamas war Nov 2 top developments: Israeli troops surround Gaza from several directions

A barrage of rockets injured two people in the Israeli town of Kiryat Shmona near the Lebanese border on Thursday (Nov 2), Israel's Magen David Adom emergency medical service said.

One of the injured is "a 25-year-old man in moderate condition who was injured by shrapnel," the medical service said.

An AFP photographer who was present on the scene saw Israeli emergency forces sifting through debris of burnt vehicles following the attack.

Cornell University in the US said on Thursday (Nov 2) that it has cancelled classes for a day after a student was accused with making anti-Semitic threats, including one to "shoot up" a dining hall that serves kosher food.

No classes will be held Friday so as to observe a "community day, in recognition of the extraordinary stress of the past few weeks," a spokeswoman for the Ivy League university told AFP.

A rocket launched from Lebanon has caused heavy damage in the northern city of Kiryat Shmona.

Live television footage shows several cars and stores on fire as a result of the rocket impact.

There are no reports of injuries in the attack.

IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen Herzi Halevi has said that troops are operating inside Gaza City, and are surrounding it from several directions.

“We have advanced another significant stage in the war. The forces are in the heart of northern Gaza, operating in Gaza City, surrounding it, and deepening [the ground offensive], and achievements,” Halevi says in a statement from an Air Force base.'

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken spoke with Saudi Arabian Defence Minister Khalid bin Salman about the “shared priority” of “working toward a sustainable peace between Israelis and Palestinians”. A US readout said that the meeting between the two leaders took place on Wednesday.

“Blinken underscored the US commitment to support the defense of US partners against threats from state and non-state actors and reaffirmed the enduring value of the US-Saudi strategic partnership,” the readout adds.
 

IDF Arabic-language spokesman Avichay Adraee has said that Iran-sponsored militia which was originally deployed in Syria has been moved to south Lebanon in order to support Hezbollah.

“After a series of failures suffered by Hezbollah against Israel in recent weeks, the Iranian Imam Hussein Brigade, led by a commander known as Zulfiqar, has arrived in southern Lebanon,” Adraee announced in his account on X, formerly Twitter.
 

Seven Palestinians were killed when an Israeli airstrike hit Maghazi refugee camp in central Gaza on Thursday.

Rescuers are trying to search for eight others who are believed to have been buried under the rubble. 

Bahraini Parliament has decided to recall the country's envoy to Israel, say multiple reports in global media. Bahrain is an Abraham Accords signatory. The deal had normalised ties between Israel, UAE and Bahrain in the year 2020.

Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari, the spokesperson of Israeli Army has said that Israeli soldiers continued their advance in Gaza City area. He added that they were conducting face-to-face battles with Hamas terrorists.

The death toll for Gazans has crossed the concerning mark of 9,000. Hamas-led Health Ministry said that the death toll has reached 9,061.

About 3,760 of the total Gazans were children. A total of about 32,000 had been injured amid the ongoing Israel-Hamas war, as per the ministry.

Another group of dual nationals left Gaza for Egypt on Thursday (Nov 2) through Rafah border crossing, as per Palestinian officials.

Palestinians spokesperson Wael Abu Mohsen in a statement said that "100 travellers of foreign nationalities" crossed into Egypt on November 2 morning. 

The Israeli army said on Thursday that its forces were on high alert on the Israeli-Lebanese border as cross-border fire continued.

Lebanon's Hezbollah said it destroyed an Israeli drone over south Lebanon with a surface-to-air missile, an account disputed by Israel's military which confirmed the missile launch but said its aircraft suffered "no damage."

The number of Hezbollah fighters killed since fighting with Israel erupted last month rose to 50 Thursday, with the Iran-backed group announcing another death.

Egypt's foreign ministry said it will help evacuate "about 7,000" foreigners and dual nationals from the Gaza Strip, according to news agency AFP.

In a meeting with foreign diplomats, the country’s assistant foreign minister said Egypt was preparing "to facilitate the reception and evacuation of foreign citizens from Gaza through the Rafah crossing".

The official said the figure of "about 7,000" represents "more than 60" nationalities.

Egyptian officials have said 76 wounded Palestinians and 335 foreign passport holders had crossed into Egypt on Wednesday (Nov 1).

Among those who were allowed to cross were 31 Austrians, four Italians, five French nationals and several Germans, their governments have said.

Hamas-run Gaza government said that 195 people were killed in Israeli strikes this week on Gaza's Jabalia.

Israel’s air force released a statement saying IDF fighters and armoured forces were fired on with anti-tank weapons and grenades in overnight operations in norther Gaza.

"The forces engaged in prolonged battles with the terrorists, assisted by brigade fire from artillery and tanks, while directing an aircraft to attack from the air and directing a missile ship to attack from the sea. At the end of the fighting, dozens of terrorists were killed."

The US Secretary of State Antony Blinken is set to embark on his second trip to West Asia this week, days after his much-criticised shuttle diplomacy in the region failed to yield geopolitical results aimed towards a purported de-escalation of Israel-Hamas war and access to humanitarian aid into Gaza Strip.

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Doctors Without Borders (MSF) estimate that despite initial evacuations of foreign passport holders and badly injured Palestinians across the border to Egypt, more than 20,000 wounded people are still trapped in the Gaza Strip.

In a statement released on Wednesday MSF said that in the evacuations "a number of severely injured" people, among them its 22 international staff members left Gaza via the Rafah border crossing.

"However, there are still over 20,000 injured people in Gaza with limited access to healthcare due to the siege," it added.

As per the United Nations children's agency estimates, every day, more than 400 children are killed or injured in Gaza due to Israeli aggression.

In a statement, the UN agency said that around 3,500 children have reportedly been killed, while more than 6,800 have been injured due to the "ongoing bombardment".

"This cannot become the new normal," it asserted, adding, "Children have endured too much already. The killing and captivity of children must stop. Children are not a target."
 

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken who will visit Israel on Friday will voice solidarity with its retaliation against Hamas in Gaza but also to reassert the need to minimize Palestinian civilian casualties, said his spokesperson.

Talking to the press, State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller said Blinken will meet Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and other senior officials and receive an update on Israel's military objectives and its plans to achieve those goals.

"He will reiterate US support for Israel’s right to defend itself in accordance with international humanitarian law, and discuss the need to take all precautions to minimise civilian casualties, as well as our work to deliver humanitarian assistance," added Miller.

Some of Latin America's largest countries came out on Wednesday to condemn Israel's attacks on a refugee camp in the Gaza Strip. 

Argentina, home to Latin America's largest Jewish community, Peru and Mexico lambasted the Israeli attacks. 

The criticisms come a day after Bolivia cut diplomatic ties with Israel over its bombardment and siege of Gaza. 

Colombia and Chile recalled their ambassadors to the country.

"Peru condemns, and will continue to condemn, violence from wherever it comes from," the South American nation's foreign ministry said in a statement.

Mexican diplomat Alicia Buenrostro, speaking at a UN emergency special session on Gaza, called for the "occupying power" of Israel to cease its claim to the Palestinian territories, arguing for a two-state solution. 

"This needs to stop," she said. 

"The humanitarian situation in Gaza is more alarming by the day," Argentina's foreign ministry also said, urging Israel to allow aid into the occupied territory.

The House, in a bipartisan 222-186 vote defeated a resolution to censure US Democratic congresswoman Rashida Tlaib after she spoke at a rally that called for a ceasefire in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. 

Republican Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene introduced the resolution on Oct 26, accusing Tlaib of "antisemitic activity, sympathising with terrorist organisations, and leading an insurrection at the US Capitol Complex."

Tlaib in a statement called the resolution "deeply Islamophobic". 

A heckler pushing for a ceasefire in the ongoing Israel-Hamas war confronted Biden at a campaign fundraiser as the US president called for a "pause" in the conflict. 

Biden was speaking to about 200 people when the heckler shouted: "As a rabbi, I need you to call for a ceasefire right now."

Biden responded: "I think we need a pause. A pause means give time to get the prisoners out."

The United States Vice President Kamala Harris arrived in London for a visit, on Wednesday (Nov 1) and her motorcade en route to the United Kingdom Prime Minister Rishi Sunak’s residence was met with hundreds of pro-Palestinian protesters chanting “ceasefire now” amid the ongoing war between Israel and the Palestinian militant group Hamas. 

The US and UK have repeatedly backed Israel and its right to defend itself against the Palestinian militant group.

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US president Biden's administration said it would develop a strategy to combat Islamophobia amid nationwide tensions since the beginning of the war between Israel and Palestinian militant group Hamas. 

"President Biden ran for office to restore the soul of our nation. He is unequivocal: there is no place for hate in America against anyone. Period," White House spokesperson Karine Jean-Pierre. 

"For too long, Muslims in America, and those perceived to be Muslim, such as Arabs and Sikhs, have endured a disproportionate number of hate-fueled attacks and other discriminatory incidents," she added. 

The strategy will be developed following discussions with communities concerned. White House also mentioned the recent "barbaric" killing of a six-year-old Palestinian American boy outside Chicago which the police have linked to the ongoing war. 

This comes as the US government has already launched a plan to counter anti-Semitism across the country. 

A report by Reuters citing the Hamas-run government media office said at least 195 Palestinians were killed in Israeli attacks on Gaza's largest refugee camp. 

In a statement, the Palestinian militant group also said that around 120 were still missing under the rubble, and at least 777 more were wounded. 

Meanwhile, Israeli army said that they killed a number of members of Hamas leaders who were hiding in the camp.

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WION cannot independently verify this claim.

Australian foreign ministry said 20 Australians were among the first group of foreign citizens who entered Egypt from Gaza Strip via the Rafah border crossing. This comes as some 320 foreign nationals left the Palestinian enclave. 

Assistant Minister for Foreign Affairs Tim Watts made the announcement on Thursday (Nov 2) adding that there were still 65 Australians trapped in Gaza.

"We are providing all possible support we can, communicating through all available channels," Watts told ABC television. "It is not always perfect. This is a conflict zone."

Watts said the government was not planning for more assisted flights given there are enough commercial options available. 

The Australian official also "strongly encouraged" Australians in Lebanon to leave the country amid deadly clashes between Israel and the Iran-backed Hezbollah militant group.

France said that it was "deeply concerned" about Israeli strikes on the Gaza Strip's largest refugee camp and called for a humanitarian pause to allow aid in the Palestinian territory. 

"France is deeply concerned about the very heavy toll on the Palestinian civilian population from the Israeli strikes against the Jabalia camp, and expresses its compassion for the victims," the government said in a press release.

Paris reiterated a call for "an immediate humanitarian truce so that aid can reach those who need it in a sustainable, safe and adequate way".

The Hamas-run Palestinian health ministry said Israeli air strikes hit a maternity ward in a hospital filled with women and medical personnel in Gaza City. 

Palestinian ministry spokesperson, Ashraf al-Qudra, said the maternity ward was moved from Gaza’s main Al-Shifa Hospital to the Al-Helou International Hospital. 

The incident, according to the ministry, took place at the Al-Helou International Hospital which was allegedly "bombed". 

Israel has "suffocated the healthcare system, stopped the delivery of medical supplies and fuel, and flooded (Al-Shifa) with thousands of wounded people, forcing us to move maternity services to the Al-Helou," said al-Qudra, as quoted by Al-Jazeera. 

He added, "We call on the international community to urgently intervene to stop Israel and protect hospitals, medical staff, and patients before another…massacre is repeated."

According to media watchdog, Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ), as of Wednesday, at least 33 journalists have been killed amid the ongoing Israel-Hamas war. 

The organisation noted, "More members of the press have died in the first weeks of the Israel-Gaza war than any other conflict since at least 1992," in a post on X. 

At least eight journalists have also been injured during the war and some nine are "missing or detained," said CPJ. 

Speaking at an event in Minnesota, United States President Joe Biden said Israel has a right to "respond and a responsibility to defend its citizens from terror". 

However, Israel needs to do it in a manner which is "consistent with international humanitarian law, that prioritises protection of civilians," said Biden. 

The US president also said that some American citizens were able to leave on Wednesday are part of the first group of "probably more than 1,000" people via the Rafah border crossing. 

The head of the Catholic church Pope Francis said that a two-state solution is needed for Israel and Palestine, adding that war is always a defeat.

"[Those are] two peoples who have to live together. With that wise solution, two states. The Oslo Accords, two well-defined states and Jerusalem with a special status," said the pope in an interview with Italy's RAI broadcaster.

US State Department spokesperson, Matthew Miller, said that Secretary of State Antony Blinken will go to Jordan on Friday (Nov 3) to discuss the "importance of protecting civilian lives". 

This comes a day after the state department had announced that Washington's top diplomat will visit Israel on Friday and meet with Israeli PM Netanyahu and other Israeli lawmakers. 

Blinken will "reiterate us support for Israel's right to defend itself in accordance with international humanitarian law and discussed the need to take all precautions to minimise civilian casualties, as well as our work to deliver humanitarian assistance," said Miller. 

A group of 31 Austrians, including a six-year-old girl and nine other minors, has been evacuated from Gaza on Wednesday, said Austrian foreign ministry. This comes after hundreds of injured residents and foreigners escaped Gaza to Egypt, the first evacuations from the war-torn Palestinian territory. 

"We are very relieved that late this afternoon we managed to evacuate the first group of 31 Austrians to Egypt via the Rafah border crossing in the south of Gaza and thus bring them to safety," said the Austrian officials. 

"All evacuees are doing well under the circumstances and are physically well," it added.

The United Nations Human Rights Office took to X, on Wednesday (Nov 1) and said that the Israeli airstrikes on Gaza's largest refugee camp "could amount to war crimes". 

"Given the high number of civilian casualties & the scale of destruction following Israeli air strikes on Jabalia refugee camp, we have serious concerns that these are disproportionate attacks that could amount to war crimes," said the UN agency. 

The Hamas-run Palestinian ministry of health said over 50 people were killed in the attack on Jabalia refugee camp.

The United States does not believe the pro-Iranian Palestinian militant group Hamas can govern the Gaza Strip when the war with Israel is over, said the White House national security spokesperson John Kirby. 

The US does not support a permanent settlement of Gaza civilians outside of Gaza, which has been run by Hamas, said the White House spokesperson. 

"What comes after the conflict, we don't have all the answers yet but we are working with our partners in the region to explore what governance in Gaza can and should look like," Kirby told reporters. 

Israel Defense Forces (IDF) spokesperson Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari said ground forces have broken through Hamas' front lines of defence in northern Gaza. 

"The ground operation is progressing as planned," said Hagari, as quoted by Times of Israel.

He added, "With advance planning, precise intelligence, and joint attacks, our forces broke through Hamas’s front lines of defense in the north of the Gaza Strip."