21-Ocober 2023-Aljazeera
- Hamas says it informed Qatar the armed group planned to release two Israeli captives for “humanitarian reasons” – but Israeli authorities refused.
- Israel to “deepen” Gaza strikes ahead of its ground invasion as preparation for “the next stage” of its war on Hamas, military official says.
- Red Crescent trucks containing food and medicines but no fuel have begun entering Gaza from Egypt. Aid groups say 20-truck aid delivery nowhere near enough.
- At least 4,385 Palestinians have been killed in Israeli strikes on Gaza since Hamas’s October 7 attack inside Israel, which killed more than 1,400 people.
A pro-Palestinian protester holds a placard on a march through London on Saturday [Andy Rain/EPA-EFE]
- Israel to “deepen” Gaza strikes ahead of its ground invasion as preparation for “the next stage” of its war on Hamas, military official says.
- Red Crescent trucks containing food and medicines but no fuel have begun entering Gaza from Egypt. Aid groups say 20-truck aid delivery nowhere near enough.
- Arab leaders condemn Israeli bombardment of Gaza at international summit held in Egypt’s Cairo.
- At least 4,385 Palestinians have been killed in Israeli strikes on Gaza since Hamas’s October 7 attack inside Israel, which killed more than 1,400 people.
We will deepen our attacks’ on Gaza: Israeli military
Israel plans to step up its attacks on the Gaza Strip as preparation for “the next stage” of its war on Hamas.
Asked about a possible ground invasion into Gaza, Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari told reporters the military is trying to create optimal conditions beforehand.
“We will deepen our attacks to minimise the dangers to our forces in the next stages of the war. We are going to increase the attacks – from today,” Hagari said.
He repeated his call for residents of Gaza City to head south for their safety.
At least 1,782 injured in occupied West Bank since October 7
Reporting from Nablus, Occupied West Bank
At least 1,782 Palestinians have been wounded in the occupied West Bank, including East Jerusalem, since October 7, the Palestinian Red Crescent Society says.
Forty-one were injured on Saturday alone, it told Al Jazeera.
The injuries are as follows:
- 5 – live ammunition
- 1 – shrapnel
- 30 – tear-gas inhalation
- 5 – burns, cuts and physical assault
UN agencies call for Gaza ceasefire, humanitarian access
UN agencies have called for a ceasefire and unrestricted humanitarian access throughout Gaza after 20 trucks carrying a shipment of aid reached the enclave through the Rafah crossing.
“We call for a humanitarian ceasefire, along with immediate, unrestricted humanitarian access throughout Gaza to allow humanitarian actors to reach civilians in need, save lives and prevent further human suffering,” said a joint statement from the UNDP, UNFPA, UNICEF, WFP and WHO.
“Flows of humanitarian aid must be at scale and sustained, and allow all Gazans to preserve their dignity.”
Erdogan-Haniyeh call focuses on Gaza aid, treatment in Turkey
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan discussed Gaza in phone call with Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh, the Turkish presidency says.
Erdogan told Haniyeh about Ankara’s efforts for humanitarian aid to reach Gaza and possible treatmen壯陽藥 t of the wounded in Turkey.
Turkey is working for a ceasefire as soon as possible between the sides
Hezbollah fighter killed on Israel-Lebanon border
Lebanon’s Hezbollah has announced the death of one of its fighters along the border with Israel, bringing to 14 the total number of members killed since October 7.
According to the Reuters news agency, a security source in Lebanon said the fighter died in the Lebanese region of Hula, facing Margaliot on the Israeli side.
Pro-Palestine rally held in Dublin, Ireland
Thousands have congregated on the streets of Dublin to express unity with the Palestinians and to condemn Israeli attacks on Gaza.
Demonstrators assembled at the Garden of Remembrance before proceeding to Merrion Square, brandishing signs and Palestinian flags.
For the second consecutive weekend, a significant protest backing Palestinians has unfolded in the Irish capital. Last week, also saw an Ireland Israel Alliance (IIA)-sponsored rally and march in support of Israel.
UN aid chief says ‘chance’ more aid allowed into Gaza tomorrow
United Nations aid Chief Martin Griffiths says the organisation “insists” that more aid trucks are allowed into Gaza.
That could happen as soon as tomorrow, he told Al Jazeera, although negotiations are continuing and the amount of aid will still be below that needed by the population.
“There’s a chance tomorrow that aid might get in. It’s not going to be anything like the levels that you have accurately described are needed. We’re hoping that aid goes in every single day. And we’re hoping that it becomes a dependable, reliable, efficient, and at-scale operation.”
What we are hearing is that there is a lot of behind-the-scenes pressure, diplomatic pressure by Western governments for Israel to delay a possible ground invasion into Gaza until they can find out if more captives can be released, especially Israelis who have dual nationality with Western countries.
We are also starting to see more anger towards the Israeli government from family members of captives being held in Gaza. On Saturday evening, there was a protest in front of the defence ministry in Tel Aviv.
They were demanding that the Israeli government not press ahead with a ground invasion until it could secure those captives’ release from Gaza. So, we are starting to see some mounting pressure from some sectors of Israeli society, specifically those related to the captives, to have the government hold off.
