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LIVE UPDATES: Israel and US Excluding Russians From Gaza Evacuation Lists - Hamas

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Hostilities tear Middle East apart for over a month since Palestinian militant group Hamas launched a surprise attack on Israel, firing missiles and catching its army off guard. In retaliation, Israeli government started conducting air strikes, introduced a humanitarian blockade of the Gaza Strip and launched ground invasion.

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LIVE UPDATES: Israel and US Excluding Russians From Gaza Evacuation Lists - Hamas

05:23 GMT 08.11.2023 (Updated: 04:50 GMT 09.11.2023)

Hostilities have torn the Middle East apart for over a month since the Palestinian militant group Hamas launched a surprise attack on Israel, firing rockets and catching the army off guard. In retaliation, the Israeli government launched air strikes, imposed a humanitarian blockade on Gaza and launched an expanded ground invasion.

Israeli Defence Minister Yoav Gallant said on Tuesday that the Israel Defence Forces (IDF) were fighting "in the heart" of Gaza City, in full coordination with the Israeli air force and navy.

Meanwhile, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has ruled out a ceasefire, citing the fact that Hamas is still holding a number of hostages. According to the latest figures, more than 240 people are being held.

Hamas officials say they have managed to destroy 15 Israeli military vehicles in the northern Gaza Strip over the past 24 hours.

Follow Sputnik’s live feed to learn more.

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03:41 GMT 09.11.2023

UN Rights Chief Says Situation in Middle East Most Dangerous in 56 Years of Occupation

UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Turk said Wednesday that the situation of the people of the Middle East today is the most dangerous even in the context of 56 years of occupation, and the situation in Gaza is "a living nightmare."

"Even in the context of a 56-year-old occupation, the current situation is the most dangerous in decades, faced by people in Gaza, in Israel, in the West Bank but also regionally," the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights quoted Turk as saying during his travel to the Rafah border crossing, connecting Gaza to Egypt.

The commissioner added that Palestinian movement Hamas and Israel are committing war crimes and called for the release of hostages held in Gaza and a ceasefire.

"I have just returned from the Rafah crossing — the symbolic lifeline for the last month for the 2.3 million people in Gaza. The lifeline has been unjustly, outrageously thin. In Rafah I have witnessed the gates to a living nightmare," he said.

Turk added that some of his colleagues were among those "trapped" in Gaza and those who "have lost family members, suffering sleepless nights filled with agony, anguish and despair."

"Gaza has already been described as the world’s biggest open-air prison before 7 October, under a 56-year occupation and a 16-year blockade by Israel," the commissioner added.

03:27 GMT 09.11.2023

Spanish Minister Urges Countries to Sever Ties With Israel Over Hostilities in Gaza

Spain's Minister of Social Rights Ione Belarra urged countries to sever diplomatic ties with Israel and impose sanctions on Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu amid hostilities in the Gaza Strip.

Earlier, Belarra proposed that the ruling Spanish Socialist Workers' Party (PSOE) suspend diplomatic relations with Israel amid a new escalation in the Palestinian-Israeli conflict.

“I call on my country [Spain] and other countries to sever diplomatic relations with Israel because... this will be the right political message, it will show that we do not want to have relations with the war criminal [Netanyahu]," she told Al Jazeera.

When asked about possible retaliatory actions against Israel for its actions in the Gaza Strip, the minister said there are many options.

“In this case, it is possible to do many things: impose sanctions against Netanyahu and his political cabinet, file a lawsuit with the International Criminal Court against everyone responsible for the attacks on Gaza,” Belarra said.

03:26 GMT 09.11.2023

Biden Meets Senators Returning From Israel, Arab Nations to Discuss Gaza War - White House

US President Joe Biden has met with a bipartisan group of senators who had recently returned from a trip to Israel and neighboring Arab countries to discuss developments in the Gaza conflict, the White House said in a statement.

"The President met with Senators who recently traveled to Israel, Saudi Arabia, and Egypt about their trip and the situation in Israel and Gaza," the statement said on Wednesday.

The meeting included Senators Lindsey Graham, Ben Cardin, Richard Blumenthal, Cory Booker, Katie Britt, Susan Collins, Chris Coons, Jack Reed, and Dan Sullivan, the release noted.

The Biden administration recently requested Congress approve $14.3 billion in emergency funding to provide Israel with additional security assistance amid its conflict with Palestinian movement Hamas in Gaza.

The Republican-majority House of Representatives already passed a bill to provide Israel with $14.3 billion, but it is expected to hit a dead end in the Senate.

Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer said senators will work on their own version of a bill that will include funding for Israel and Ukraine as well.

03:13 GMT 09.11.2023

Spain Plans to Triple Aid to Palestine in 2023 - Foreign Minister

Spain plans to triple aid to Palestine in 2023, the kingdom's acting Foreign Minister José Manuel Albares said.

Earlier, Albares, following an EU foreign ministerial meeting in Luxembourg, said the Spanish government had increased humanitarian aid to the Palestinian population to 21 million euros ($22.5 million), while preparing to double the amount in the near future.

"We have prepared a new aid package in the amount of 26 million euros [$28 million] for the Palestinian people amid the humanitarian crisis in the Gaza Strip. We will triple cooperation with Palestine: we will provide 48.5 million euros [$52 million] in 2023,” Albares said on X, formerly known as Twitter.

02:59 GMT 09.11.2023

Hundreds in New York Rally Calling for Gaza Ceasefire

Hundreds of demonstrators in New York took to the streets, carrying Palestinian flags and passionately calling for a ceasefire in Gaza.

Furthermore, the protesters were chanting slogans "Free Palestine," "Cease Fire Now," and "Stop Genocide," as the activists made their way through the city on Wednesday, a Sputnik correspondent reported.

Also, protesters could be seen carrying signs saying "Netanyahu & Biden War Criminals" and "Israel Is A Terrorist State That Is Openly Committing Genocide."

The protest passed by the United Nations headquarters building and then turned toward downtown Manhattan along 42nd Street. The police accompanied the protesters however, no fights or arrests have been reported.

02:21 GMT 09.11.2023

Palestine Red Crescent Society Says Received 106 Trucks Loaded With Aid for Gaza Strip

The Palestine Red Crescent Society (PRCS) said Wednesday that it has received 106 trucks loaded with aid for the Gaza Strip through the Rafah border crossing from the Egyptian Red Crescent.

"PRCS teams received today 106 trucks from the Egyptian Red Crescent, loaded with aid, in addition to five ambulance vehicles from Kuwait, through the Rafah crossing," PRCS said on X (formerly known as Twitter).

PRCS added that the aid includes food, water, relief assistance, medical supplies and medicines.

PRCS also said it has received as many as 756 trucks with aid since October 21, or approximately 39 trucks per day, but added that the entry of fuel to the Gaza Strip has yet to be allowed by "the occupation authorities."

02:15 GMT 09.11.2023

Pro-Israel Democrat Plans Measure to Condemn US Palestinian Expulsion Bill - Reports

Pro-Israel Congressman Greg Landsman is preparing a resolution condemning Republican Representative Ryan Zinke for pushing legislation to expel Palestinians from the United States, Axios reported.

Zinke introduced a bill that, if passed, would mandate the Department of Homeland Security to impose a pause on issuing visas and granting refugee status or asylum to individuals holding a Palestinian Authority passport.

Furthermore, it would entail the revocation of visas, refugee status, and asylum granted to Palestinians after September of the current year.

However, three Muslim members in the Congress, Representatives Andre Carson, Ilhan Omar and Rashida Tlaib, have expressed strong opposition to the bill, characterizing it as "fascism and pure bigotry." Landsman was one of 22 Democrats who voted with Republicans to censure Tlaib over her criticism of Israel.

00:07 GMT 09.11.2023

KSrelief Team Arrives in Egypt to Find Ways to Deliver Urgent Aid to Gaza

The King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Centre (KSrelief) has said its team is working in Egypt to explore ways of getting urgent humanitarian assistance to the population of the Gaza Strip.

"In accordance with the directives of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, and HRH Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz, to launch a Saudi National Campaign to support the Palestinian people in the Gaza Strip, a specialized team from KSrelief has arrived in Cairo, Egypt, to find ways forward in delivering urgent humanitarian aid to the people of Gaza," the release said.

The relief center said that Saudi Arabia's ongoing donation campaign dubbed "Sahem" is supporting the team’s response to save lives and alleviate the suffering inside the enclave.

KSrelief shared that its team has met with Saudi Ambassador to Egypt Osama Ahmed Nugali to discuss ways to facilitate and expedite the transfer and delivery of the multisector aid, which includes shelter materials, food baskets and medical supplies, through the Rafah border crossing.

"They stressed that the aid should be delivered as quickly as possible and should be prioritized according to the most urgent and pressing humanitarian needs," the release stated.

00:02 GMT 09.11.2023

No Guarantee Hamas Would Release All Hostages if Ceasefire Declared - US Senior Official

There is no guarantee that Hamas would immediately release all hostages in case a ceasefire is declared, Assistant Secretary Bureau of Near East Affairs of the State Department Barbara Leaf said in a congressional testimony.

“No, congressman, there's no guarantee,” Leaf told the US House Foreign Affairs Committee on Wednesday when asked whether Hamas would release all hostages “tomorrow” after a ceasefire is declared.

21:48 GMT 08.11.2023

Israel Strikes Several Military Positions in Southern Syria - Syria's Defense Ministry

Israel has carried out strikes against several military positions in southern Syria, having caused material damage, the Syrian Defense Ministry said Wednesday.

"This evening [on Wednesday], at around 22:50 [local time, 19:50 GMT], the Israeli enemy launched an air aggression from Baalbek in Lebanon, having hit some military positions in the southern region [of Syria] and caused some material damage," the ministry said in a statement.

21:47 GMT 08.11.2023

Saudi-Israel Normalization Talks Paused, Expected to Resume After Gaza War - State Dept.

The US-led Saudi-Israel normalization negotiations are on pause given the ongoing crisis in the Middle East, but they are expected to resume after the crisis ends, US Assistant Secretary for the Bureau of Near East Affairs Barbara Leaf said during a congressional hearing.

"[Saudi-Israel normalizations talks] They're on pause at this point given the crisis in the region... We were deep into discussions on a number of fronts," Leaf said on Wednesday. "Ironically, we were just on the cusp of beginning of the discussions about what we call the Palestinian component to that normalization agreement and it's something that I would expect to be able to resume on the other side of this crisis."

20:43 GMT 08.11.2023

Death Toll Among Israeli Soldiers October 7 Surpasses 350 - IDF

The IDF has released the names of 351 soldiers whose families were notified of their deaths. During the 10-day ground operation in the Gaza Strip, 37 soldiers were killed, according to the list published on the IDF's website.

20:40 GMT 08.11.2023

IDF Says Destroyed Tunnel Near UNRWA School in Gaza Strip

The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said on Wednesday it had destroyed "a terror tunnel" located near a UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) school in the Palestinian city of Beit Hanoun.

"IDF ground troops and 'Yahalom' soldiers conducted joint activity in the Beit Hanoun area in order to locate and destroy terror tunnels. The troops located a tunnel shaft near an UNWRA school and destroyed the terror tunnel," IDF wrote on Telegram.

19:02 GMT 08.11.2023

IDF Says Hamas Lost Control of North Gaza, Over 50,000 Residents Moved to South of Enclave

About 50,000 citizens of the Gaza Strip have moved from the north to the south of the enclave today, as Hamas has lost control in the north of Gaza, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) spokesman Daniel Hagari stated on Wednesday.

"Today [November 8] we saw that about 50,000 Gaza citizens have moved from the north of the Gaza Strip to the south. They are leaving [the north of the enclave] because they understand that Hamas has lost control in the north of Gaza, and that there is a safer area in the south where medicines, food and water are supplied," Hagari told a briefing.

19:01 GMT 08.11.2023

Rafah Crossing Remains Closed for Civilian Passage for Security Reasons - US State Dept.

The Rafah crossing between Gaza and Egypt has been closed for the passage of civilians and humanitarian aid due to security reasons, the US State Department deputy principal spokesman Vedant Patel said on Wednesday.

"[G]iven a security circumstance the Rafah border crossing remains closed today, but this is something that we are continuing to work with, in partnership with the government of Egypt and the government of Israel towards safe passage for more US citizens, eligible family members and lawful permanent residents to be able to exit [Gaza]," Patel stated during a press briefing.

The crossing is expected to reopen and return to normal operations "at regular intervals" after the security situation is resolved, Patel stressed.

The Rafah checkpoint is the only road to and from Gaza for the civilian population there, as well as the main artery for the supply of humanitarian aid to the Palestinian enclave, which remains under constant Israeli shelling following the Hamas attacks on October 7.

18:22 GMT 08.11.2023

Some 650 Trucks With Humanitarian Aid Entered Gaza Since Oct 21 - OCHA

Some 650 trucks with humanitarian aid have entered Gaza since October 21 through the Rafah checkpoint, the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) said on Wednesday.

A total of 81 trucks with food, medicines, water and hygiene products crossed the border on November 7, which brings the total number of trucks entering Gaza since October 21 to 650, OCHA stated in a report.

18:17 GMT 08.11.2023

At Least 19 People Die in Airstrike on Refugee Camp in Gaza - Enclave's Interior Ministry

At least 19 people were killed in an airstrike on a residential building in the Jabalia refugee camp in the northern Gaza Strip, the enclave's Interior Ministry reported on Wednesday.

"Nineteen people were killed as a result of the occupiers' bombing of a residential building near the Al-Yemen al-Saeed hospital in the center of the Jabalia camp in the northern Gaza Strip," the statement said.

18:13 GMT 08.11.2023

Canada’s Bloc Quebecois Calls for Urgent Ceasefire in Gaza, Deployment of Peace Force

The leader of Canada’s Bloc Quebecois Yves Francois Blanchet called for an urgent and immediate ceasefire as well as the creation of an international force for the maintenance of peace in Gaza.

Blanchet had previously and on several instances supported Israel and its right to self-defense in light of Hamas’ attacks on its territory, as long as it was in accordance with the respect of international law.

However, without retracting his condemnation of Hamas and its attacks on Israel, Blanchet in an apparent change of tone called the Israeli government the “Netanyahu Regime” and rebuked it for acting indifferently over the loss of Palestinian lives.

“US Secretary of State [Antony] Blinken repeatedly requested Mr. Netanyahu to exercise restraint and good judgement. This was only met with refusals. Today we even observe, contrary to what was said by everyone that it wouldn’t happen, that Mr. Netanyahu has permanent occupation fantasies over the territory of Gaza. Therefore, the Bloc Quebecois aligns itself, at the request of many, behind a ceasefire, pure and simple and urgent,” Blanchet stated during a press conference from Ottawa.

The ceasefire must involve all parties and should be accompanied by a call to calm in the West Bank, Blanchet stressed, where the most “inelegant” elements of those supporting the colonization by Israel, are happily targeting Palestinian families.

However, Blanchet said there was a high probability for a ceasefire failure, broken by either parties unless an international peace force was deployed in the Gaza Strip. The faction leader invited Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Minister of Foreign Affairs Melanie Joly to think about the proposal.

“On the ground, it will be the best way to ensure the protection of civilians in Gaza, the neutralization of Hamas, of protecting both Israeli civilians and favoring the liberation of hostages,” Blanchet continued.

When questioned on his change of stance, Blanchet stated he had initially thought the international community would be able to reason with Israel and ensure it acted with restraint. “I might’ve had a naive hope," he added.

18:11 GMT 08.11.2023

'Something Clearly Wrong' as Civilian Casualties Mount in Gaza - Guterres

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said on Wednesday that "something is clearly wrong" in the Palestine-Israel conflict given that civilian casualties are increasing as a result of military operations.

"But when we look at the number of civilians that were killed with the military operations, there is something that is clearly wrong," Guterres stated.

The UN chief said there are tremendous challenges of managing United Nations operations in the field, with 92 colleagues having already lost their lives.

"This is, I must tell you, very difficult," Guterres added.

The Gaza Health Ministry has said that more than 10,000 Palestinians have been killed during Israel's bombardments and invasion of the Gaza Strip, the home of 2.3 million people, while supplies of water, food, medicines, fuel and electricity are cut off. Some 1,300 Israelis, soldiers and civilians, have been killed in the attacks by Hamas since October 7.

18:09 GMT 08.11.2023

Netherlands Sending Patrol Ship to Cyprus for Potential Gaza Evacuation

The Netherlands is sending its patrol ship Zr.Ms. Holland to Cyprus to facilitate a potential evacuation from the Gaza Strip and the delivery of humanitarian aid, the Dutch Defense Ministry reported on Wednesday.

"The government is sending the patrol ship Zr.Ms. Holland to the Eastern Mediterranean. The ship can provide support there in the event of an evacuation from the region," the ministry said in a statement.

The vessel is expected to leave the Netherlands in mid-November and arrive within a week and a half. The duration of its deployment in the region will depend on the situation, according to the ministry.

"The government sees that the situation with the armed conflict between Israel and [Palestinian group] Hamas is developing rapidly. It has a serious impact on the population of both Israel and the Palestinian territories. The situation is especially serious in the Gaza Strip. Residents need immediate humanitarian assistance here. Expanding and accelerating access to the area by land is therefore a priority," the statement read.