Israel forces clash with Hamas as tanks move on Gaza City, more than 8,300 killed

No concessions under brutal bombardment: Islamic Jihad

Spokesman for the Palestinian Islamic Jihad movement, Daoud Shehab, said the resistance cannot make any concessions under Israeli pressure and brutal bombardment, in comments made to The New Arab’s sister site.

"What is happening is a major aggression, and the countries that talk about Israel's right to defend itself are denying international laws,” he told Al-Araby Al-Jadeed.

“The whole world has contributed to creating our suffering, and today it is participating in killing us and exterminating children."

Rockets fired at Iraq's Ain al-Asad air base housing US forces: security sources

Four Katyusha rockets on Monday fired at Iraq's Ain al-Asad air base which hosts U.S. and other international forces in western Iraq, security sources said.

It was not clear yet if the attack caused any casualties or damage and two army officials said the rockets might landed away from the base.

Rockets were fired from a desert area around 25km (15 miles) north of the base and Iraqi security forces launched a search for the attackers, two security sources said.

UN warns of Syria danger and Israel-Hamas 'spillover'

The United Nations on Monday warned that Syria was at its "most dangerous" point in a long time as violence surges and as "spillover" from the Israel-Hamas war starts to have an impact.

Syria has "seen growing instability and violence, exacerbated by the lack of a meaningful political process," Geir Pedersen, UN special envoy for Syria, told the Security Council.

"Today, I am sounding an alarm that the situation is now at its most dangerous for a long time."

"On top of the violence emanating from the Syrian conflict itself, the Syrian people now face a terrifying prospect of a potential wider escalation," Pederson said.

"Spillover into Syria is not just a risk; it has already begun."

Syria's "humanitarian emergency has only deepened," added Edem Wosornu, of the UN Department of Humanitarian Affairs.

"This month, several areas across northern Syria experienced a serious escalation in hostilities.

"It is even more concerning as we approach the winter season, with an estimated 5.7 million people across the country in need of humanitarian support for critical shelter and household items."

Israeli soldier freed in Gaza during ground operation, Israeli army says

An Israeli soldier was freed from Hamas captivity in the Gaza Strip during the Israeli military's ground operation, the army said on Monday.

The army said the soldier, who it named as Ori Megidish, had been kidnapped by Hamas on 7 October.

It said she had since undergone medical checks and was "doing well." It did not give details on the circumstances of her release.

She is home.

PVT Megidish was abducted by Hamas on October 7. Tonight, she was released during IDF ground operations.

Ori is now home with her family. pic.twitter.com/ZiEs3UrWMI

— Israel Defense Forces (@IDF) October 30, 2023

Cancer hospital in Gaza hit for second time

The Turkish-Palestinian Friendship Hospital in Gaza - the territory's only hospital for cancer treatment - has been hit for a second time, the hospital's director said Monday.

Dr. Subhi Skeik said the bombing - allegedly carried out by Israel - had caused widespread damage.

Gaza's Hamas-run government blamed Israel for the attack.

Footage shared online showed smoke billowing from the building.

"لحظة قصف الاحتلال مستشفى الصداقة التركي الفلسطيني الوحيد لمرضى السرطان في قطاع غزة" pic.twitter.com/n7phaA6AVQ

— وكالة شهاب للأنباء (@ShehabAgency) October 30, 2023

Several dozen aid trucks enter Gaza, more needed to meet needs

Several dozen trucks set off from the Egyptian side of Rafah on Monday, humanitarian and security sources said.

The Palestinian Red Crescent said so far 140 trucks of aid had entered Gaza since 7 October and the biggest delivery so far of 33 trucks arrived on Sunday.

But UN officials say at least 100 trucks a day are required to cover Gaza's urgent needs. Before the war several hundred trucks were normally arriving in Gaza daily.

On Sunday US President Joe Biden and Egypt's Abdel Fattah al-Sisi committed to a significant acceleration of assistance.

Gaza breakdown in order halts four aid distribution centres: UNRWA

A breakdown in civil order has put four U.N. aid distribution centres and a storage facility out of action in Gaza as people search desperately for food and water, a UN Palestinian refugee agency (UNRWA) official said on Monday.

Tom White, director of UNWRA Affairs in Gaza, also said that a logistics base at the Rafah border crossing vital to aid distribution had become increasingly difficult to operate because 8,000 people were sheltering at it.

"With the breakdown of civil order, every day now we've got hundreds of people trying to get into the warehouses to steal flour," he told Reuters.

"Right now people are in survival mode. It's about getting enough flour and it's about getting enough water."

Thousands of Gaza residents broke into U.N. warehouses on Sunday to seize flour and other items. One of the warehouses, in Deir al-Balah in central Gaza, is where UNRWA stores supplies delivered by humanitarian convoys crossing into Gaza from Egypt.

"Effectively, we have lost Deir al-Balah. We'll see whether we can get that up and operational again, but of course it's complicated because right now the Rafah log (logistics) base has become a magnet for people who are either seeking shelter, seeking protection under the UN flag, or are trying to get into the warehouses to get flour," White said.

More than 53,000 people sign a petition demanding Ursula von der Leyen’s immediate resignation

More than 53,000 people have so far signed a petition launched by MERA25 Germany - the political party of pan-European movement DiEM25 - demanding the immediate resignation of the President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen.

This is "over her disregard of the EU’s legal framework and basic moral decency in her unqualified support for the Israeli government’s collective punishment of the civilian population of Gaza," according to a statement from DiEM25.

Hamas says clashing with Israeli army in northwest Gaza

Hamas' military wing Al-Qassam Brigades said they are engaged in clashes with Israeli forces in northwest Gaza, using machine guns and "Al-Yassin 105" anti-tank missiles.

Israel advanced deeper into the Gaza Strip on Monday from the north.

Hamas official says Israel has not achieved anything in Gaza war

Hamas deputy Ghazi Hamad said Israel has been unable to achieve a political, military or security achievement in the Gaza Strip since the start of the war.

"The Al-Qassam Brigades were able to repel the Zionist occupation forces in all the places from which they tried to enter, and inflicted heavy losses on personnel and equipment," Hamad said during a press conference from the Lebanese capital, Beirut.

He said 42 percent of victims killed by Israel in Gaza were children, adding that Israel had committed massacres against more than 880 families in the enclave.

Nearly 670 thousand sheltering at UNRWA installations in Gaza

The UN agency for Palestinian refugees said Monday that some 670,000 Palestinians displaced by Israeli bombing were sheltering at 149 installations across the Gaza Strip.

"Lifesaving assistance was impeded by a 36-hour communications blackout across that affected the whole Gaza Strip," UNRWA said.

🔺 Nearly 672,000 people are sheltering in 149 @UNRWA installations across the📍#GazaStrip - facing increasingly desperate conditions.

🔺Lifesaving assistance was impeded by a 36-hour communications blackout across that affected the whole Gaza Strip.https://t.co/vjkB3ZIDjH pic.twitter.com/YI1QfiQOaJ

— UNRWA (@UNRWA) October 30, 2023

Palestinian actress Maisa Abd Elhadi charged by Israel over Gaza post

Palestinian actress Maisa Abd Elhadi was charged Sunday with "inciting terrorism" after expressing solidarity with the people of Gaza.

Read the full article here.

6 Palestinians killed by Israel in occupied East Jerusalem since 7 Oct.

Israeli forces have killed at least six Palestinians from occupied East Jerusalem since October 7. 

The last incident was on Monday, when Israeli forces shot and killed a Palestinian man who reportedly stabbed an Israeli officer, a statement released by the Israeli police claimed.

Anger over Israel's bombardment of the Gaza Strip has been on the rise in Palestinian territories.

Read the full article here.

Lebanese army says 21 rocket launchers found in south

The Lebanese army said Monday it found at least 21 rocket launchers in south Lebanon.

Hezbollah continued to trade heavy fire with Israel on Monday. Missiles have been fired on the Upper Galilee as the Israeli army responded by shelling villages in south Lebanon.

Lebanese media said the shelling resulted in some 40 fires.

Hamas releases video of 3 Israeli hostages

Hamas has released a video it says are of three Israeli hostages.

It was not immediately possible to verify the identity of the women in the 76-second video in which one calls for Israel to make a deal for the release of all captives. She blames Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for failing to protect her and Israelis on 7 October.

Hamas said the women were "Zionist detainees".

Israeli Prime Minister Bejamin Netanyahu condemned the video as "cruel psychological propaganda"

Oman cancels airspace deal with Israel: Haaretz

Oman has cancelled a previous agreement allowing Israeli aircraft to fly through its airspace, Israel’s Haaretz publication has reported.

Lebanon PM tells AFP working to avoid 'war' with Israel

Lebanon's caretaker prime minister said Monday he was working to ensure his country does not enter the Hamas-Israel war, even as Hezbollah and Israel have been exchanging cross-border fire.

Najib Mikati said he feared an escalation, with the border skirmishes stoking concerns that Lebanon's Iran-backed Hezbollah could launch its own war with Israel.

"I am doing my duty to prevent Lebanon from entering the war" raging further south, Mikati told AFP in an interview.

"Lebanon is in the eye of the storm," Mikati said.

"I cannot rule out an escalation because there is a race to reach a ceasefire before escalation spreads in the entire region."

Rocket lands in West Bank Israeli settlement

One of several rockets reportedly fired from Gaza toward Jerusalem and the occupied West Bank landed in an Israeli settlement near Bethlehem.

Videos shared on social media and Alaraby TV showed smoke billowing from the settlement of Efrat, apparently from one of the rockets landing.

Rockets sirens were sounded in Jerusalem and across the occupied West Bank earlier.

A rocket from Gaza fell near the town of Efrat, south of Bethlehem. pic.twitter.com/TUGlPlo1W3

— Sprinter (@Sprinter99800) October 30, 2023

Russian airport reopened after anti-Israel riot

Russia's Makhachkala airport in the Muslim-majority region of Dagestan reopened on Monday afternoon following an anti-Israel riot the previous day.

"The arrival and departure of aircraft at Makhachkala Uytash Airport resumed at 14:00 Moscow time (1100 GMT) on October 30," Russia's federal air transport agency said in a statement.

The Kremlin on Monday blamed "external interference" for the riot. oOficials in Dagestan have pointed to Ukraine.

The Kremlin announced Putin will gather his top advisers - including the defence minister and spy chiefs - later Monday to discuss the "West's attempts to use the events in the Middle East to split Russian society."

South Africa calls for UN force to protect civilians in Gaza

South Africa on Monday called for the United Nations to deploy a rapid protection force to protect civilians in Gaza from further strikes as Israel steps up its bombardment of the enclave.

"Entire generations of families have been wiped out in Gaza over the last three weeks," the foreign ministry said in a statement.

A member of the Palestinian community in Johannesburg had 25 family members killed in an Israeli air strike on Monday morning, the statement said, while family members of a senior Palestinian diplomat in South Africa were killed in their apartment building the day before.

"The numbers of non-combatants killed, especially the numbers of children killed, requires that the world to show that it is serious about global accountability," the statement said.

South African President Cyril Ramaphosa has previously offered to help mediate in the conflict.

Germany asks Israel to 'protect' Palestinians from settler attacks

Germany on Monday called on Israel to "protect" Palestinians in the occupied West Bank from attacks by "extremist" Israeli settlers.

"Israel, as the occupying power in the West Bank, is responsible for ensuring the safety and integrity of the Palestinian population in the West Bank," foreign ministry spokesman Sebastian Fischer said.

"We call on Israel to protect Palestinians from the activities of extremist settlers and to hold those responsible accountable."

Hezbollah says one fighter killed

Hezbollah announced the death of another one of its fighters on Monday, identifying him as Mounir Yousef Ashour from the south Lebanese village of Shaqra.

This brings the number of Hezbollah fighters killed in clashes with Israel since 7 October to 47.

3 rockets land in Netivot, building damaged: Israeli army

The Israeli army said three rockets fired from Gaza landed in the settlement of Netivot, east of the Palestinian enclave, damaging at least one building.

No casualties were reported.

Hamas had fired a barrage of rockets, but most were intercepted.

Videos were shared of the damage building, although they could not be verified by The New Arab.

Significant damage as a result of rockets falling on Netivot in the Western Negev pic.twitter.com/FOG0krISqg

— Sprinter (@Sprinter99800) October 30, 2023

1,680 arrested, 121 killed in West Bank since war started

Israeli forces have arrested at least 1,680 Palestinians and killed another 121 in the occupied West Bank since 7 October, Palestinian authorities said Monday.

Israeli army shells Naqoura in south Lebanon

The Israeli army bombed the south Lebanon coastal town of Naqoura with 15 shells Monday morning, Alaraby TV reported.

Some of these shells caused fires.

مراسل المنار :

العدو استهدف منطقة "المشرفة" جنوب #الناقورة ب 15 قذيفة أدت إلى إشعال حرائق . pic.twitter.com/UcyJVCHw2M

— علي شعيب || Ali Shoeib 🇱🇧 (@alishoeib1970) October 30, 2023

Gaza death toll reaches 8,306: health ministry

The Gaza Strip's health ministry said 8,306 Palestinians have been killed so far in Israeli bombardment, including 4,357 children.

Several thousand more are injured.

The ministry called on Egypt to open the Rafah border crossing and allow wounded civilians to exit Gaza, as it warned of a spread of diseases in the enclave due to severe water shortages.

US Marine rapid response moves toward east Med: CNN

A US Marine rapid response force is moving toward the eastern Mediterranean Sea, CNN has quoted two officials as saying.

The 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit - aboard the USS Bataan amphibious assault ship - began making its way toward the Suez Canal late last week, the officials said. It had reportedly been operating in Middle East waters in previous weeks.

The Bataan is currently in the Red Sea and is expected to pass into the eastern Mediterranean soon, one official said, adding that it will be closer to Lebanon.

More than 18 thousand tons of explosives dropped on Gaza: govt.

The government’s media office in the Gaza Strip confirmed on Monday that more than 18,000 tons of explosives were dropped on the territory since the beginning of the war, resulting in widespread destruction and more than 10,000 dead or missing.

It added that about 50 tons of explosives have been dropped on every kilometre in the Gaza Strip since 7 October.

Gaza public services on verge of total collapse

Authorities in the Gaza Strip said Monday that public services in the enclave were on the verge of total collapse amid power and water cuts.

Gallant shoots down Hamas offer for hostage-prisoner deal

Military pressure on Hamas is more likely to secure the release of hostages being held by the group in Gaza, instead of a prisoner swap deal, Israeli Defence Minister Yoav Gallant told hostages' family members on Sunday.

Gallant shot down a Hamas offer to release the hostages it captured on 7 October in exchange for Palestinian prisoners in Israeli jails, calling it "psychological games" by Hamas.

"If there is no military pressure on Hamas, nothing will progress," Gallant told relatives, according to a statement from the Israeli defence ministry.

Britain working for humanitarian pause in Gaza, foreign minister says

Britain is trying to arrange a temporary cessation of hostilities in the Gaza Strip so that more humanitarian aid can be delivered to the besieged Palestinians, its foreign secretary said on Monday.

British Foreign Secretary James Cleverly said that humanitarian aid was trickling into Gaza but the volume needed to be increased significantly.

"We're working extensively with the Egyptians, with the Israelis, and others to try and have a humanitarian pause, temporary pause so that we can get that humanitarian aid to the people that need it," Cleverly told Reuters at the British Ambassador's residence in Abu Dhabi.

However, he stopped short of calling for a full ceasefire in the conflict.

Cleverly is due to meet with United Arab Emirates Foreign Minister Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan later on Monday.

Iran tells U.S. to stop blaming it for Hamas attack on Israel

Iran's foreign ministry spokesperson said on Monday the U.S. should refrain from blaming Tehran for Hamas' 7 October attacks on Israel.

"Stop it," Nasser Kanaani said, when asked by a journalist about statements by U.S. officials, including President Joe Biden, accusing Iran in relation to developments in Gaza.

Israeli death toll rises

The death toll in Israel since the start of the war on 7 October has risen to 1,538, the army confirmed on Monday.

It said 239 hostages were in Gaza, with another 40 people missing.

Israeli army says targeted sites in south Lebanon, Syria

The Israeli army said it struck sites on Monday used by Hezbollah to launch missiles from southern Lebanon, as well as sites within Syria.

Israeli troops shelled the Lebanese border villages of Rmaysh and Ayta al-Shaab– which have constantly been targeted since 7 October.

They also fired incendiary bombs around the Shebaa, Alaraby TV said.

Images shared online showed homes targeted in Ayta al-Shaab and an unexploded ordnance.

طائرة مسيّرة للاحتلال استهدفت منزلاً في وسط بلدة عيتا الشعب 🇱🇧🇵🇸 pic.twitter.com/L88prOjY8d

— مصدر مسؤول (@fouadkhreiss) October 30, 2023

العدوان يطال احد المنازل السكنية في بلدة عيتا الشعب بقذيفة اطلقتها مدفعية الاحتلال ولم تنفجر 🇱🇧🇵🇸 pic.twitter.com/AaW3ZTXa9m

— مصدر مسؤول (@fouadkhreiss) October 30, 2023

Gaza government denies Israel army advancing in enclave

The Gaza Strip government's media office denied reports Monday that Israeli troops were advancing on ground towards the war-torn city, saying there were no signs of this advancement in residential neighbourhoods "at all."

It said there were no Israeli army vehicles on Salahedin road and life was "back to normal," as reported by Alaraby TV.

Shia cleric Sadr urges closure of US embassy in Baghdad

Prominent Iraqi Shia cleric Muqtada al-Sadr called Friday for the closure of the US embassy in Baghdad in a boost of support to the people of Palestine and the Gaza Strip, which he said is facing a "genocide by the Israeli army".

Read full article here.

Man shot in Jerusalem for alleged stabbing attempt

Israeli forces said they shot at a suspect who allegedly tried to carry out a stabbing in Jerusalem, Alaraby TV reported.

Israeli army claims over 600 Gaza targets hit in 24 hours

Israel's military said Monday it had struck more than 600 targets in Gaza in the past 24 hours, one of the heaviest bombardments yet since the start of the war,

"We have hit more than 600 targets in the past 24 hours," a military spokesperson told AFP, a rise of 450 targets reported on Sunday.

Israeli tanks on the edge of Gaza City, key road cut: witnesses

Israeli tanks on Monday entered the edge of Gaza City and cut a key road from the north to the south of the war-torn Palestinian territory, witnesses told AFP.

The witnesses said tanks were seen in the Zaytun district. "They have cut the Salahedin road and are firing at any vehicle that tries to go along it," said one resident.

The New Arab's Gaza correspondent said she had seen footage of a shell hit a vehicle transporting civilians.

Israel's military spokesperson said the army will not confirm the location of Israeli forces in Gaza, even if material appears on social media.

More than 3,000 children killed in Gaza

The Gaza Strip's health ministry said 8,005 have been killed so far by Israel's bombardment, including 3,342 children.

Several thousand more have been wounded.

Four killed in Israeli raid on West Bank's Jenin: ministry

Four Palestinians were killed Monday during an early-morning Israeli raid in the northern occupied West Bank city of Jenin, the Palestinian health ministry said.

According to the official Palestinian agency WAFA, "more than 100 military vehicles and two bulldozers" took part in the raid which took place in the city and its refugee camp.

#عاجل ⚠️: "قوات الاحتلال الإسرائيلي تٌدمر البنية التحتية لشوارع جنين في هذه الأثناء!!
pic.twitter.com/Iqb5zJ1plB

— Dr.Sam Youssef Ph.D.,M.Sc.,DPT. (@drhossamsamy65) October 30, 2023

The four were aged between 23 and 28, and another nine people were wounded, a ministry statement said.

Military drones hovered over the area during the raid, while snipers were positioned on buildings around Jenin's main hospital, Wafa said.

Part of the hospital's perimeter wall was also demolished by military bulldozers.

حالة الاحتفاء في الاعلام العبري بهدم الجيش لقوس النصر والمقاومة في مدخل مخيم جنين، لا توصف .. الخبر يبدأ ب " شاهد قوات الجيش تهدم مدخل مخيم جنين …"

قوات الاحتلال الاسرائيلي هدمت مدخل مخيم جنين الذي يحمل شعار العودة بعد اقتحامها للمخيم صباح اليوم ما ادى الى وقوع اشتباكات اسفرت… pic.twitter.com/WWvv4A2nsb

— Muna Omari (@MonaOmary) October 30, 2023

The Israeli military did not immediately comment on the incident.

The deaths come a day after five Palestinians were killed by army fire during several military incursions into the West Bank.