Day 17, Monday 23 October
• Israel soldier killed during raid in Gaza
• IDF hit Egyptian position accidnetally
• Macron to arrive in Israel
• Israel claims terrorists had instructions for making chemical weapons
Israel has given notice to the families of 308 IDF soldiers who were killed, and to the families of 212 taken hostage.
Israeli tank fire accidentally hit an Egyptian position near the border with Egypt. Israel expressed its sorrow in communication with Egypt for the an operational malfunction, and will investigate the incident. Reassuringly, a statement from the Egyptians acknowledged the accidental nature of the incident.
The IDF continues to find weapons left by Hamas in Israel territory, including a pink children’s schoolbag which contained an explosive device for remote activation and seven kilos of explosive material.
Israeli President Isaac Herzog has presented a document to the press, which instructions on how to assemble chemical weapons. He said the document was originally prepared by Al Qaida and was found on the body of one of the terrorists.
UK Home Secretary Suella Braverma will meet the head of London's Metropolitan Police Service, to discuss why no arrests were made of people calling for “Jihad” at a Hizb ut-Tahrir organised protest in London on Saturday.
INTERNATIONAL
French President Emmanuel Macron will arrive in Israel today or tomorrow, as will Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte. Macron’s presence will be important in the context of containing the war in the north, as France is considered influential in the Lebanese arena and has the ability to influence Hezbollah.
US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said on Sunday that should “any group or any country” seek to widen the conflict, America “won't hesitate to take the appropriate action.”
Thousands of people gathered in Trafalgar Square for a vigil to mark 16 days since the Hamas attacks of 7th October and call on Hamas to release the dozens of hostages still held in Gaza. Speakers included Michael Gove, the Chief Rabbi and the families of the kidnapped and murdered.
Iran’s foreign Minister will meet his counterparts from Turkey, Russia, Armenia and Azerbaijan in Tehran today.
GAZA
During a ‘local raid’ in the Gaza Strip yesterday, one IDF soldier was killed and three were injured. This was the result of an anti-tank missile launched toward an IDF tank and an engineering vehicle.
Hamas announced it had fought a battle with the IDF force that crossed the border in the area of Kisufim.
Israel’s activity within the strip was part of the effort to prepare the area for an attack, and to gather information about the missing and abducted.
14 more lorries worth of aid went into Gaza today. This is the second day of aid crossing through the Rafah crossing from Egypt. Not for the first time since the beginning of the war, UNRWA announced on Sunday that fuel in Gaza has started to run out.
THE NORTH
Israel struck two Hezbollah cells in southern Lebanon last night. Yesterday, the IDF attacked a terrorist cell in Lebanese territory suspected of planning to fire an anti-tank missile into the Har Dov area.
Hezbollah has so far suffered 30 deaths within its ranks as a result of Israeli strikes. Seven Israelis have been killed on the Lebanon border.
The US is also instructing its citizens in Lebanon to leave, while 'commercial options remain available"
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