US Secretary of State lands in Tel Aviv in first stop of wider regional tour
Blinken arrives in Israel in solidarity visit after Hamas attacks
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken has landed in Tel Aviv as part of a wider Middle East tour to display Washington’s solidarity with Israel after the attack by Palestinian Hamas militants and to seek to quell the conflict.
Death toll from Israel-Gaza war hits 2,400
The death toll from the Israel-Gaza war has reached 2,400, according to officials from both sides.
The toll in Israel has reached 1,200 with more than 2,700 wounded, a military spokesman has confirmed.
The death toll in the Gaza Strip has risen to 1,200 people, a representative for the Health Ministry in Gaza said.
Germany’s Scholz to work to free Israeli hostages
German Chancellor Olaf Scholz has said he is working with full force to free hostages in close co-ordination with Israel.
“While we have no firm proof that Iran operationally supported this cowardly attack, it is clear to us all that without Iranian support Hamas would never have been able to launch this unprecedented attack,” Mr Scholz said.
“I am in close contact with Egypt’s President Sisi, who has channels to Gaza. I will speak with Turkey’s President Erdogan today and receive the Emir of Qatar,” he added. “All three can play an important role in de-escalating the situation.”
Source: Reuters
About 1,300 Israelis killed since Hamas attack on Saturday
Israel’s death toll has risen to about 1,300 since Hamas’s attack on Saturday, Israel’s public broadcaster Kan has said.
Source: Reuters
Iran and Syria presidents call for Islamic state unity in support of Palestinians
The presidents of Iran and Syria urged Islamic countries to hold a single position in support of Palestinians, a news agency linked to Iran’s top security agency, Nournews, has reported.
“Islamic and Arab countries as well all free people of the world must reach a single position to stop the crimes of the Zionist regime against the oppressed Palestinian people,” Ebrahim Raisi told his Syrian counterpart, Nournews reported.
Source: Reuters
