Israel-Hamas war top developments (Nov 9): Talks to release 12 hostages held by Hamas underway, says report

Biden administration's National Security Council spokesperson John Kirby told CNN, "I think all of us can foresee a period of time after the conflict is over where Israeli forces will likely still be in Gaza and will have some initial security responsibilities."

In a what is being seen as a u-turn by the White House which previously disagreed with Netanyahu's comments, who said Israel would have to maintain overall security control of Gaza for an indefinite period.

However, Kirby also told CNN that the US believes it would be a "mistake" for Israel to reoccupy the territory. "But for how long and where and to what size and scale and scope, I think it’s too soon to know," said the White House spokesperson. 

Hamas' Gaza Ministry of Interior says an Israeli air attack targeted an "inhabited home near al-Yemen al-Saeed Hospital" in the middle of the the refugee camp in northern Gaza. 

The Hamas-run ministry also reported several injuries in a separate attack in Jabalia. 

WION was unable to independently verify this claim.

The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) announced Staff Sgt. Noam Yosef Abou, of the Nahal Brigade’s 931st Battalion was killed while fighting against Hamas in northern Gaza Strip amid Israel's ground operation in Gaza. 

The 20-year-old soldier was said to be from the southern city of Dimona.

The number of army personnel killed since October 7 now stands at 351, according to Israeli reports, while some 33 soldiers have been killed amid the ground offensive. 

Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte is en route to Israel to meet with his Israeli counterpart Benjamin Netanyahu for the second time since the start of the war between Israel and Hamas. 

This comes after Rutte held talks with Qatari leaders in Doha. He "spoke about the hostages, who have been held by the terrorist organization Hamas for weeks now," Rutte said in a post on X about the talks in Doha. 

"They must be released as soon as possible and reunited with their loved ones," said the Dutch PM. "The Netherlands is very grateful to Qatar for its efforts to make this possible," he added. 

A report by news agency AFP citing a source close to Hamas said talks are underway for the release of a dozen hostages held by Hamas, including six Americans, in return for a three-day ceasefire in the Gaza Strip. 

"Talks revolve around the release of 12 hostages, half of them Americans, in exchange for a three-day humanitarian pause, to enable Hamas to release the hostages and to enable Egypt an extended (period of time) to deliver humanitarian aid," the source told AFP. 

The situation in occupied West Bank is becoming "increasingly dire," said the Martin Griffiths, United Nations humanitarian chief, in a post on X. This comes as the war has mostly been focused on Gaza, but Israeli forces have continued raids, which often turn deadly to find Hamas fighters, not to mention the surge of settler violence. 

Griffiths, in the post, noted that nearly 160 Palestinians, including 45 children have been killed in West Bank since the beginning of the war on October 7. Additionally, over 2,400 people have been injured, including at least 250 children, said the UN humanitarian chief.  

Italian Defense Minister Guido Crosetto stated that a navy ship equipped with a hospital is being sent by Italy to Gaza for treating the victims of the war.

The ship, which is known as Vulcano, has left from an Italian port with 170 staff, which included 30 people trained for medical emergencies, stated Crosetto in a press briefing.

The minister also added that a field hospital will be brought "directly to Gaza in agreement with the Palestinians."

“We are the first to carry out a humanitarian operation in that area, and we hope that other countries will follow us,” he stated.
 

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken stated that it’s "clear that Israel cannot occupy Gaza," but "there may be a need for some transition period at the end of the conflict" between Israel and Hamas.

The remark of a "transition period" was made by the US diplomat after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu earlier stated that Israel will have the "overall security responsibility" in Gaza for an "indefinite period" after end of the war.

Blinken stated that Israeli officials have expressed "no intent to reoccupy Gaza and retain control of Gaza."
 

Hamas said that the United Nations agency for Palestinian refugees has been "colluding" with Israel in the "forced displacement" of people residing of Gaza.

"UNRWA and its officials bear responsibility for this humanitarian catastrophe, in particular the residents of the Gaza (City) area and north of it" who are following the orders given by Israeli military to flee south, stated Salama Maruf, head of the media bureau of Gaza rulers Hamas.

Qatar has been carrying out negotiations between Israel and Hamas for the release of 10-15 hostages in Gaza after a short ceasefire, as reported by AFP.

“Negotiations mediated by the Qataris in coordination with the US are ongoing to secure the release of 10-15 hostages in exchange for a one- to two-day ceasefire,” a source was quoted by AFP as saying.
 

Israel stated that 130 Hamas tunnels have been destroyed within the Gaza Strip since the ground operations started.

IDF spokesperson Daniel Hagari shared a video of destruction on X as an evidence and wrote, "The activity of the engineering warriors within the combat teams fighting in Gaza includes destroying the enemy’s weapons, locating, exposing and detonating tunnel shafts. With the expansion of the ground operation in the Gaza Strip, the fighters are thwarting the terrorist infrastructure of Hamas."

"As part of the ground forces’ activity in the Gaza Strip, an effort is underway to uncover and destroy the tunnels of the terrorist organisation Hamas, and since the beginning of the fighting, 130 tunnels have been destroyed," he added.

Hagari stated that connections to oxygen and water supplies suggested that preparations have been made by Hamas to remain in tunnels for lengthy periods of time.
 

Belgium's deputy prime minister appealed the government to adopt sanctions against Israel amid ongoing investigations into bombings over refugee camps and hospitals in Gaza.

“It is time for sanctions against Israel. The rain of bombs is inhumane," said Deputy Prime Minister Petra De Sutter, while speaking to Nieuwsblad newspaper. “It is clear that Israel does not care about the international demands for a ceasefire,” she added.
 

Israel's Foreign Minister Eli Cohen, while speaking to MEPs in Brussels, said that his country's war with Hamas is "not just the war of the state of Israel," but concerns the "free world".

The address of Cohen came more than a month after the deadly attack carried out by Hamas on Israel, in which nearly 1,400 people were killed.

Israeli Defence Minister Yoav Gallant stated that Gaza was 'the biggest terror base ever built by mankind', in a media briefing in Tel Aviv.

Israeli military said that many fighters and a Hamas weapons maker were killed in the air strikes on the Gaza Strip on Wednesday, as the air and ground offensive targeted the tunnel network of the militants beneath the Palestinian enclave.  

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky took to X on Wednesday to confirm the evacuation of 43 Ukrainian citizens from Gaza.

He added that the citizens are “now safe in Egypt, where Ukrainian diplomats are providing them with the necessary assistance”.

Zelensky also spoke about the involvement of Ukraine in the evacuation of Moldova's 36 citizens. “We are glad to help our friendly neighbor,” he stated.

The president stated that  further evacuation operations are underway. “Our embassies in Israel and Egypt, as well as other relevant agencies, are working hard to get more of our citizens out of Gaza,” he stated.  

The Israel Defence Forces stated that the evacuation corridor's window  was extended by one hour to allow people to move from northern Gaza to the south.

IDF spokesperson Avichay Adraee taking on X, said that the corridor will be closed at 3pm local time (8 a.m. ET) instead of 2pm local time.

Malaysia's leader Anwar Ibrahim has said his nation will maintain ties with Hamas and will "not punish" the group. Malaysians should "unanimously back" the Palestinian cause, the prime minister told parliament on Tuesday. Mr Anwar was responding to a proposal by US lawmakers to sanction Hamas's foreign supporters.

The Hamas-run health ministry in the Gaza Strip said the death toll from the war there reached 10,569 on Wednesday, as fighting in the Palestinian territory enters its second month

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said that Israel should not "reoccupy" Gaza. 

Speaking to reporters after G7 foreign ministers held talks in Japan, Blinken said that there should be "no reoccupation of Gaza after the conflict." 

G7 said that it recognises Israel's right to defend itself "in accordance with international law". 

As per a Reuters report, there are an estimated 350,000 patients with chronic conditions in Gaza. This includes those suffering from diseases like cancer and diabetes. Additionally, as per data from United Nations organisations, there are 50,000 pregnant women.

With Gaza's health system nearing collapse, there is a surge in trauma patients while supplies like medicines and fuel are diminishing. A trickle of aid has been allowed in, while about 80 patients were allowed out.

In a press conference last month Dr Richard Peeperkorn, WHO representative for Gaza and the West Bank, said "We always talk about trauma and rightly so...but we have to think about the 350,000 patients."

For some patients, the needs are acute. Around 1,000 in Gaza need kidney dialysis to stay alive, however, about 80 per cent of the dialysis machines are in hospitals that are under an evacuation order.

Additionally, as the fighting rages, some 400 patients and their companions who left Gaza for treatment before the war have been stranded in east Jerusalem and the West Bank, said the WHO. Many struggle to contact their relatives, with scant cellular service and electricity in Gaza.

A survey by AP has revealed that Americans are divided over Israel's retaliation to the Hamas' Oct 7 assault, with some fearing the Jewish nation might have gone too far. 

The survey was conducted between Nov 2 to 6, which revealed that Democrats have started having second thoughts about USA's support to the Jewish nation, something that can present challenges to Joe Biden's reelection bid in 2024.

White House national security spokesperson John Kirby said Tuesday they were not trying to  dictate the “red lines" for Israel. 

The statement comes as Arab countries urge US to wield its influence on the Jewish nation to halt its aggression for humanitarian assistance.

IDF launched raids in West Bank's Aqaba early Wednesday. Videos on internet showed an IDF convoy moving through a narrow valley.

Another video posted by Aljazeera said an Israeli solider being attacked in the neighbourhood of Kafr Saba in the city of Qalqilya.

The ongoing war in Gaza overshadowed G7 foreign ministers meet Tuesday morning in the first session. Japanese Foreign Minister Yoko Kamikawa said G7 summit has never been more important amid severe tensions in Gaza.

Kamikawa says for Japan, the priority is improving the humanitarian situation in Gaza and we’ve had similar sentiments from the French and the Canadians.

The UN has confirmed the closure of all bakeries and flour shops in northern Gaza, amidst a looming shortage of water and fuel. 

The flour shortage occured after UN aid groups failed to deliver any food there amid incessant bombings and raids by Israeli forces.

In the south of Gaza, the UN said that only nine bakeries are still “intermittently” open, providing bread to shelters when flour and fuel are available.

Saudi Arabia has reportedly invited Arab, Islamic, and African leaders to discuss the war in Gaza. Riyadh will be hosting an "emergency Arab summit, an Africa-Saudi summit, and an Islamic summit" to discuss the matter, Saudi Arabia's investment minister, Khalid Al-Falih declared.

Canadian poet Rupi Kaur has reportedly rejected an invitation by the White House for Diwali celebrations over Biden administration's strong support to Israel in its war against Hamas.

The India-born poet said she was surprised to see Biden administration celebrate Diwali, as it is "a celebration of righteousness over falsehood and knowledge over ignorance".

Diwali celebrations are due to take place in White House on Nov 8, an event likely to be hosted by Vice President Kamala Harris.

Israeli aircraft resumed their bombing of the Nuseirat refugee camp in central Gaza early on Wednesday (Nov 8), leading to multiple casualties and deaths, according to Wafa news agency. Reports from local sources said that the Israeli forces struck the residence of the Wahba family in Nuseirat.

The White House has cautioned Israel against considering a potential reoccupation of Gaza.

This warning comes in response to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's suggestion that Israel could maintain a security presence in Gaza "for an indefinite period" after the war concludes.

John Kirby, the White House national security spokesman, stated that ongoing discussions with Israeli counterparts are taking place to determine the post-conflict situation in Gaza.

He reiterated the President's position that the reoccupation of Gaza by Israeli forces is not a favorable course of action.

Israel believes it can “kill any and every Palestinian in Gaza”, says Ambassador Majed Bamya, the State of Palestine’s deputy permanent observer to the UN.

Bamya took to X saying that Israel perceives itself as having unrestricted authority to take lives in Gaza, categorising all Palestinians as either "terrorists, sympathizers of terrorism, or human shields."

A Labour Member of Parliament (MP) in the UK steps down from a prominent party position in protest of the party leader's position on Gaza.

At a two-day summit in Tokyo, foreign ministers from the Group of Seven (G7) deliberated on what comes next in the Gaza Strip once the Israeli war concludes, reported Reuters. The topic of post-war Gaza was introduced during a working dinner on Tuesday evening, as noted in a statement from the summit's host, Japan. The G7 ministers are set to continue these discussions on Wednesday (Nov 8).

Israel's ground forces in the Gaza Strip initiated efforts on Wednesday (Nov 8) to locate and neutralise the extensive tunnel network used by Hamas terrorists beneath the enclave. This action represents the next stage of an Israeli offensive that has resulted in the deaths of thousands of Palestinians.

Since the October 7, cross-border gun rampage by Hamas gunmen, in which they killed 1,400 people and took around 240 hostages, Israel has conducted airstrikes and deployed ground troops to effectively divide the coastal enclave into two.

The IDF has posted a video on X which it says shows a tunnel shaft in an amusement park in northern Gaza. There is an extensive network of tunnels beneath Gaza.

Reuters has reported that after encircling Gaza City, Israeli forces will now prepare to destroy vast network of Hamas tunnels in the Gaza Strip.

Israeli army has said that its engineers are using explosive devices to begin destroying that vast tunnel network that runs beneath Gaza for hundreds of kilometres.

Hamas is reportedly offering stiff resistance to Israeli tanks and have been able to launch ambushes with the help of tunnel network.

Israel Defense Forces (IDF) has posted a video on its official handle on X and has said that the cache of weapons visible in the video contains some of the arms taken from Hamas fighters who attacked Israel on October 7.

Israeli shelling has hit Lebanese village of Kfar Kila. In addition to combating Hamas fighters, Israel has also exchanged fire with Iran-backed Lebanese militant group Hezbollah across Israel-Lebanon border. Israel has already deployed tanks and troops along the border and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has repeatedly warned Lebanon against opening a new front amid the war that is already ongoing.

Flares continued to light up Gaza sky on Tuesday night as they did just a night before. On Tuesday night, red flares were observed in Gaza skies.

Israelis held a vigil at the Western Wall on Tuesday and called for release of the hostages that are currently in Hamas custody. The Western Wall is remanent of an ancient temple and is holiest site for the Jewish people.

(An ultra-Orthodox Jewish man assists a woman as they light up one of the candles during a vigil near the Western Wall, the holiest site where Jews are allowed to pray, in the old city of Jerusalem on November 7, 2023. AFP image)

During his speech, Netanyahu again ruled out the possibility of a ceasefire and said that delivery of fuel in the besieged Gaza Strip would not take place until Hamas released all hostages in its custody

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US President Joe Biden has reportedly told Israel PM Benjamin Netanyahu that a three-day pause in fighting will help secure release of hostages.

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Canada has said that 59 citizens, permanent residents and family members were evacuated from Gaza through Rafah border crossing on Tuesday.

"As the situation is quite fluid and unpredictable, Canadians should be prepared for significant delays at the Rafah border," said the foreign ministry in a statement.
 

Axios has reported that US President Joe Biden has told Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu that a three-day pause in fighting may help in securing release of Israeli hostages currently in Hamas custody.

Till now, Netanyahu has vehemently maintained that there will be no ceasefire till all hostages are released. But a nudge from the US, which is Israel's biggest international backer, may make Netanyahu consider other options.

The White House said that more US citizens are expected to leave Gaza Strip.

"We do expect more individuals to depart Gaza" said John Kirby, White House national security spokesperson.

The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) has said that its humanitarian convoy came under fire as it made its way through Gaza City. The agency added that despite the attack, the convoy delivered medical supplies to Al Shifa hospital.
 

Israel PM Benjamin Netanyahu has once again rejected possibility of a ceasefire or fuel delivery in Gaza Strip till Hamas frees all the hostages it took during its attack on October 7. He said this in a televised statement that marked completion of first month of the war. In his statement, Netanyahu said that if Iran-backed Hezbollah joins the war, "it will be making the mistake of its life".

The United States has made it clear that it doesn't support Israel freshly occupying Gaza Strip for long-term. 

"Our viewpoint is that Palestinians must be at the forefront of these decisions and Gaza is Palestinian land and it will remain Palestinian land," said Vedant Patel, Spokesman, US Department of State

"Generally speaking, we do not support the reoccupation of Gaza and neither does Israel," he told reporters.

Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has already said that Israel will takover "overall security" of the Palestinian enclave after the war. His words are being taken as an indication that Israel probably plans long term deployment of its forces in the Gaza Strip.