The Independent’s Bel Trew reporting from Israel-Gaza border
US President Joe Biden is expected to visit Israel on Wednesday to show solidarity with the nation while calling on its military leaders to avoid killing civilians ahead of an expected offensive into Gaza.
Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu said over the weekend that the tens of thousands of heavily-armed soldiers surrounding the border with Gaza were “ready” for war.
But for the past four days, since the first evacuation order was handed down to Palestinians to head southward towards Egypt, a major offensive has not materalised.
Following another late night meeting in Tel Aviv, the US secretary of state said that Mr Biden would visit on Wednesday to “hear from Israel what it needs to defend its people as we continue to work with Congress to meet those needs”.
Biden will also travel to Jordan to meet with Arab leaders amid fears that the fighting could expand into a broader regional conflict.
It comes as devastating airstrikes continue to kill civilians in Gaza despite calls from western leaders for Israel to exercise “restraint”.
At least 49 Palestinians were killed in an overnight strike that hit homes in Khan Younis and Rafah, Gaza’s interior ministry said on Tuesday.
Key Points
Show latest update
Biden to visit Israel
US President Joe Biden will visit Israel on Wednesday to meet with prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu and discuss the imminent offensive into Gaza.
US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken, who had returned to Israel after a six-country tour through Arab nations,concluded hours of talks with Mr Netanyahu in Tel Aviv early on Tuesday by saying that Mr Biden would visit Israel.
“(The) president will hear from Israel how it will conduct its operations in a way that minimizes civilian casualties and enables humanitarian assistance to flow to civilians in Gaza in a way that does not benefit Hamas,” Mr Blinken said.
He added that the US and Israel had agreed to develop a plan to enable humanitarian aid to reach civilians in Gaza.
There were few details but he said the plan would include “the possibility of creating areas to help keep civilians out of harm’s way”.
Gen. Erik Kurilla, the head of US Central Command, also arrived in Tel Aviv for meetings with Israeli military authorities ahead of the planned presidential visit.
Mr Biden will also travel to Jordan to meet with Arab leaders amid fears that the fighting could expand into a broader regional conflict.
Joe Biden has said the US can support wars in Israel and Ukraine at same time
(Getty Images)
Tom Watling17 October 2023 07:37
Live: Family members of hostage speak to media after Hamas releases video
Tom Watling17 October 2023 09:32
British girl confirmed as dead after Hamas attack, according to family
A British teenage girl who was believed to have been missing after a Hamas incursion into Israel on October 7 has been confirmed dead, her family told the BBC.
They said on Tuesday morning that 13-year-old Yahel was now confirmed as having been killed in the Hamas attack.
Her mother, Lianne, was also killed. Her sister, Noiya, 16, and father, Eli, are still missing.
Yahel, left, was confirmed dead by her family. Her sister, Noiya, 16, is still missing
(Family hand out)
Tom Watling17 October 2023 09:30
Satellite images show Egyptian border crossing
Satellite images from the past two days have shown the Rafah border crossing between Egypt and Gaza.
Hundreds of thousands of Palestinians have fled towards the border in the past four days following an Israeli evacuation order.
Satellite images show the Rafah border crossing on Monday
(Satellite image ©2023 Maxar Technologies)
Tom Watling17 October 2023 09:28
Labour councillors quit in protest over Keir Starmer’s Israel stance
Several Labour councillors have quit the part in protest over Sir Keir Starmer’s stance on Israel’s planned invasion of Gaza – including the first Arab Muslim woman on Manchester City Council.
Sir Keir, who has continued to emphasis his strong support for Israel’s “right to defend herself” and has said “responsibility lies with Hamas” for the bombardment on Gaza.
Full report below by political correspondent Adam Forrest.
Tom Watling17 October 2023 09:05
Hezbollah claims responsibility for northern Israel shelling
The Iranian-backed militia group Hezbollah has claimed responsibility for an anti-tank missile attack on the northern Israeli settlement of Metula.
The group, which is the de facto ruler of southern Lebanon, said it fired 17 mortar rounds on Tuesday morning.
Israeli reports claimed two people were (minorly) injured in the strike on Metula and footage showed a small fire in the area following the attack.
Images show aftermath of Hezbollah strike on Metula
(https://t.me/thearabworldsapirlipkin/3128)
Tom Watling17 October 2023 08:55
King of Jordan said accepting Palestinian refugees was ‘red line’
The King of Jordan has told a German delegation in Berlin that “accepting refugees [from Gaza] is a red line”.
Speaking to Germany’s President Frank-Walter Steinmeier, King Abudullah II said: “What is happening in Gaza is dangerous and threatens the security and stability of the entire region.
“We are working to end the tragic situation in Gaza, and not escalate the crisis. That is a red line, because I think that is the plan by certain of the usual suspects to try and create de facto issues on the ground. No refugees in Jordan, no refugees in Egypt.”
The King will later meet with German chancellor Olaf Scholz.
Jordanian King Abdullah addresses the 78th session of the United Nations General Assembly
(Copyright 2023 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.)
Tom Watling17 October 2023 08:47
Footage shows strike on northern Israel
Footage has shown the aftermath of a anti-tank missile strike allegedly carried out by the Iranian-backed Hezbollah on the Israeli settlement of Metula.
Reports suggest Israel retaliated with a strike of their own.
Tom Watling17 October 2023 08:37
Anti-tank missile fired from Lebanon towards Israel – photo
An anti-tank missile has reportedly been fired from Lebanon towards Israel this morning.
Images published to Telegram from southern Lebanon appeared to show the moment the missile was fired towards Metula, an Israeli settlement bulge on the borderline.
The Israeli Defence Forces (IDF) subsequently issued a statement on X, formerly Twitter, said a “report was received regarding a shooting toward the town of Metula on the border with Lebanon”.
On Monday, the Iranian foreign minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian said that that a war with Israel with multiple fronts was “inevitable” if airstrikes continued in Gaza.
“If the war crimes against the Palestinians are not immediately stopped,” he said, “other multiple fronts will open and this is inevitable.”
An anti-tank missile is fired from southern Lebanon towards Israel
(https://t.me/thearabworldsapirlipkin)
Tom Watling17 October 2023 08:23
More than 2,800 Palestinians killed, according to latest death toll
At least 2,837 Palestinians have been killed in the last nine days of Israeli airstrikes on Gaza, the ministry of health in the region has claimed.
They added that roughly 12,000 had been wounded.
An injured Palestinian man is carried on a stretcher into the al-Shifa Hospital
(Copyright 2023 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.)
Tom Watling17 October 2023 08:18