Israel-Hamas War Day 265 |
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Shujaiyeh, central Gaza, on Thursday.
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Rocket fired from Lebanon intercepted by the Israeli army in northern Israel, Thursday.Credit: Gil Eliahu
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Relatives and supporters of Israelis taken hostage by Palestinian militants in Gaza in October demonstrate calling for their release in Tel Aviv on Wednesday.Credit: AFP
Israeli army says 40 rockets fired from Lebanon at northern Israel, half intercepted ■ Gazans report 30 killed and dozens wounded in ‘massive’ Israeli airstrikes in Shujaiyeh, Gaza City ■ U.S. urges citizens to ‘strongly reconsider’ Lebanon travel, says security situation can quickly ‘change’ ■ State Comptroller: Israel is not adequately prepared for evacuation of north in case of war with Lebanon ■ Reports in Lebanon: Israeli drone attacked motorcycle in Sohmor, southern Lebanon ■ IDF officer killed, 16 soldiers wounded in West Bank raid
Israeli army says 40 rockets fired from Lebanon at northern Israel, half intercepted ■ Gazans report 30 killed and dozens wounded in ‘massive’ Israeli airstrikes in Shujaiyeh, Gaza City ■ U.S. urges citizens to ‘strongly reconsider’ Lebanon travel, says security situation can quickly ‘change’ ■ State Comptroller: Israel is not adequately prepared for evacuation of north in case of war with Lebanon ■ Reports in Lebanon: Israeli drone attacked motorcycle in Sohmor, southern Lebanon ■ IDF officer killed, 16 soldiers wounded in West Bank raid
Biden, Trump clash over Israel, Iran and antisemitism at first president debate
WASHINGTON – U.S. President Joe Biden and presumed Republican frontrunner sharply sparred on Israel and the Gaza war during their landmark first presidential debate of the 2024 presidential election.
The exchange, which came 35 minutes into the debate, demonstrates how abnormally significant Israel will be in the upcoming presidential election.
Biden: We saved Israel when Iran launched a full-blown missile attack
Biden responded to criticism from Trump over his handling of Iran by saying that, “I’m the guy that organized against Iran when they had a full-blown kind of a missile attack on Israel. No one was hurt. One Israeli was accidentally killed and it stopped. We saved Israel. We are the biggest producer of support for Israel of anyone in the world.”
“There are two different things,” Biden continues. “Hamas cannot be allowed to be continued. We continue to send our experts and our intelligence people so how they can get Hamas like we did bin Laden. You don’t have to do it. And by the way, they’ve been greatly weakened. Hamas greatly weakened. And they should be, they should be eliminated, but you’ve got to be careful for what using certain weapons among population centers.”
Biden: I only withheld from Israel bombs that kill a lot of innocent people; Trump: Let Israel finish the job
Trump and Biden during Thursday’s presidential debate.Credit: REUTERS
Asked what leverage he will use to get Israel and Hamas to end the war in Gaza, Biden said that “everyone from the United Nations Security Council straight through the G7, to the Israelis and Netanyahu himself, have endorsed the plan that I put forward.”
Elaborating on his cease-fire proposal, Biden said that “it has three stages to it. The first stage is [to] trade the hostages for a cease-fire. [The] second phase is a cease-fire with additional conditions. The third phase is for the end of the war. The only one who wants the war to continue is Hamas. They’re the only one still holding out.”
Biden went on to say that “we’re still pushing hard from to get [Hamas] to accept [it] in the meantime. The only thing I’ve denied Israel was 2,000-pound bombs; they don’t work very well in populated areas; they kill a lot of innocent people. We’re providing Israel with all the weapons they need and when they need them.”
In response, Trump said that “Israel is the one that wants to keep going. He said the only one who wants to keep going is Hamas. Actually, Israel is the one that wants to keep going, and you should let them go and let him finish a job. He doesn’t want to do it. He’s become like a Palestinian, but they don’t like him because he’s a very bad Palestinian, he’s a weak one.”
Asked whether he would support the creation of an independent Palestinian state, Trump said: “I’d have to see,” beforing pivoting to attacking Biden on NATO and international trade.
Trump, Biden spar over Iran in first presidential debate
Half an hour into his presidential debate with President Joe Biden, Donald Trump said that “Israel would have never been invaded in a million years by Hamas, because Iran was broke.”
The former president added that “I wouldn’t let anybody do business with [Iran]. They ran out of money. They were broke. They had no money for Hamas. They had no money for anything. No money for terror. That’s why you had no terror at all during my administration. This place, the whole world, is blowing up under him.”
In response, Biden said that “Iran attacked American troops, killed, cause brain damage for a number of these troops, and he did nothing about it, not when he was president.”
Jewish Democratic Council: Jewish voters know and trust Joe Biden on antisemitism and Israel
Halie Soifer, the CEO of the Jewish Democratic Council of America, said Thursday, ahead of the presidential debate, that “President Biden will do what he has done so effectively before – beat Donald Trump. The President will demonstrate that he is aligned with the vast majority of Jewish Americans on every issue of importance to Jewish voters – the future of our democracy, abortion access, the economy, antisemitism, and support of Israel. Jewish voters know and trust Joe Biden on all these issues and more, and know that Donald Trump’s policies represent the antithesis of our views and a direct threat to our community and democracy.”
“Jewish Americans stand with President Biden because he stands with us, and we look forward to him standing up to Donald Trump’s bullying, threats, disinformation, and dangerous vitriol at tonight’s debate. Time and time again, Donald Trump has demonstrated animus toward the vast majority of American Jews, and our message to him is – the feeling’s mutual,” she added.
Sources: Smotrich will backtrack on decision to withhold funds from PA, fearing its collapse
Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich is set to backtrack on his decision to freeze the transfer to Ramallah of tax revenue that Israel collects for the Palestinian Authority. In addition, he is expected to cancel the freeze on the transfer of guarantees to Israeli banks that work with the PA. The decision comes amid concern in Israel and in the international community about the collapse of the PA.
U.S. readies to evacuate Americans from Lebanon if Israel-Hezbollah fighting intensifies
The U.S. is reportedly moving U.S. military assets closer to Israel and Lebanon to be ready to evacuate Americans if fighting with Hezbollah worsens.
According to NBC News, the USS Wasp amphibious assault ship and Marines from the 24th Expeditionary Unit (which is special operations capable) moved into the Mediterranean on Wednesday to join the dock landing ship USS Oak Hill and another ship in their amphibious ready group.
The Wasp will reportedly operate in the eastern Mediterranean to be ready for a Military Assisted Departure and other missions.