Israel-Hamas War LIVE: Israeli Military Says 'Palestinian Militants' Holding 199 Hostages

After some incidents at pro-Palestinian marches in Britain occured this weekend, British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak condemned it calling them “simply not acceptable.”

As quoted by The Times of Israel, Sunak during a visit to a Jewish school in London said, “There is no place in our society for antisemitism and we will do everything we can to stamp it out. And where it happens, it will be met with the full force of the law.”

The Foreign Ministry of Iran said that Hamas is potentially ready to release the 200 hostages if Israel stops the airstrikes targeted on the Gaza Strip, as quoted by The Times of Israel.

However, the terror group has not acknowledged of making any such offer.

The Israel Defense Forces said that in the last few hours it conducted dozens of strikes in the Gaza Strip.

According to IDF,as quoted by The Times of Israel, Hamas headquarters, mortar launching positions, and a number of terrorists at a military compound, were included among the targets.

UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, in a conversation with Sky News said that Israel has been very clear that Hamas is the entity that’s responsible for this.

He further said, “The government is taking steps to ensure the situation in the Middle East remains contained to dealing with Hamas and does not spread more broadly”.

An Iranian official said that the United States is already involved in the conflict between Israel and the Palestinians and must be held accountable for that.

When asked about Tehran’s engagement incase of the US influence, Hindustan Times quoted the Iran foreign ministry spokesperson Nasser Kanaani as saying, “Iran considers that the United States is already militarily involved in the conflict between Israel and Palestinians. The crimes that are being caaried out in the Zionist regime are being done with the support of the US and Washington must be held accountable.”

Israel’s Education Ministry has said that about 5,000 laptops have begun to be distributed to the displaced students so that they can continue their learning, i.e., distance learning.

The laptops are for “children and teenagers whose families were forced to escape from their homes because of the security situation, so they have nothing at all,” the ministry was quoted as saying by The Times of Israel.

This will allow students to “return to a stable framework and a clear daily routine, and to provide emotional and mental support,” it added.

Israeli author and historian Yuval Noah Harari commenting on India’s response has said that, “Distinction needs to be made between people of Palestine and those with Hamas… India has good relations with Iran. Hope India uses all good relations to bring tensions down.”

“If all hostages are released, it will give some hope and relief,” he added.

Yuval Noah Harari, Israeli author and historian, said that Hamas was frightened about a possible peace talk between Israel and Palestine, adding that the militant groups aim was to leave no possibility of peace between both the nations.

Speaking to CNN-News18, Harari said that “Israel must keep the possibility of peace alive.”

He also said that the memories of that day (day of attack) are painful and that even if the pain is of others, it is still difficult to talk about.

The US Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Monday returned to Israel after completing a tour of six Arab countries, an AFP report said.

Blinken is expected to meet Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu again in Jerusalem.

Israel Defence Forces spokesman Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari has warned the Lebanese terror group Hezbollah of ‘deadly’ response from Israel if they continue to carry out attacks against the country.

“Hezbollah carried out a number of attacks in yesterday in order to try to divert our operational efforts, under the direction and backing of Iran, while endangering the state of Lebanon and its citizens,” Hagari was quoted as saying in a press conference by The Times of Israel.

“We have increased our forces on the northern border and respond aggressively to any activity against us,” Hagari added.

The Israeli military has said that Iran instructed Hezbollah to carry out Sunday’s attacks at the Lebanon-Israel border, say reports.

The Israel Defence Forces spokesman Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari has said that the military has so far notified the families of 199 hostages, informing them that their loved ones are being held in the Gaza Strip.

The Israel Defence Forces have said that they have arrested 360 Palestinians across the West Bank, including 210 Hamas members, since the start of the war on October 7.

The military said that last night, 20 Hamas members were arrest, The Times of Israel noted.

The IDF also seized weapons and military equipments from one of the detainees.

The Israeli Prime Minister’s Office announced that a top-level security cabinet will be held at 8 pm (around 10 pm IST) at the military headquarters in Tel Aviv.

The meeting comes in the backdrop of Israel’s preparation to launch a ground offensive on Gaza, The Times of Israel said.

The United Nations Agency for Palestinian Refugees (UNRWA) has said that it is on the verge of collapse and is even running out of body bags amid the increasing tension between Israel and Hamas.

As I speak with you, Gaza is running out of water and electricity. In fact, Gaza is being strangled and it seems that the world right now has lost its humanity, United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) Commissioner-General Philippe Lazzarini said on the situation in the Gaza Strip on Sunday.

Addressing a press conference at UNRWA headquarters in East Jerusalem, Lazzarini said, “Gaza is now even running out of body bags. Entire families are being ripped apart.” He also added that his colleagues in Gaza are no longer able to provide humanitarian assistance.

(Source: PTI)

The Norwegian government has said that as of Sunday, 170 of its nationals want assistance from Norway to leave Gaza.

“The situation in Gaza is unclear and is getting worse with every passing hour,” Foreign Minister Anniken Huitfeldt was quoted as saying by an AP report.

Pakistan’s caretaker Foreign Minister Jalil Abbas Jilani has condemned the bombings on Gaza by the Israeli forces and dubbed the act as “genocide”.

“This is a humanitarian crisis, a situation which can be equated to genocide. In fact, it is genocide being conducted by Israel against the people of Palestine,” Jilani was quoted as saying by Aljazeera.

He said that Pakistan has — over the years — consistently backed the Palestinian cause, adding that, he urges Israel to abide by the international laws and also by UN resolutions on Palestine, the report added.

Indian American Presidential candidate Nikki Haley has rebuked the Arab countries, including Qatar, Lebanon, Jordan, and Egypt for not opening their gates for civilians from Gaza who are seeking to flee their homes in the face of an imminent ground invasion from Israel.

“We should care about the Palestinian citizens, especially the innocent ones, because they didn’t ask for this. But where are the Arab countries? Where are they? Where is Qatar? Where is Lebanon? Where is Jordan? Where is Egypt? Do you know we give Egypt over a billion dollars a year? Why aren’t they opening the gates? Why aren’t they taking the Palestinians?” the GOP White House hopeful told CNN on Sunday.