ISRAEL UNDER ATTACK Putin Calls for Palestinian State With Capital in Jerusalem, IDF Publishes List of Eliminated Hamas Officials, Canada Appoints Antisemitism Envoy
As Israel enters a new, dangerous phase in its conflict with Hamas, The Algemeiner is rounding up developments in the region and around the world.
Volunteers in Tel Aviv pack boxes of aid for the thousands of Israelis impacted by the Oct. 7 Hamas invasion. Photo: Reuters/Janis Laizans
Minute of Silence for Israeli Victims at New York Liberty Game Drowned by Booing, Chants
A minute of silence for the Israeli victims of the Oct. 7 Hamas terrorist invasion that was held prior to Sunday’s WNBA match between the New York Liberty and Las Vegas Aces descended into boos, jeers and catcalls from large sections of the crowd at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn.
Video of the minute of silence filmed by a member of the audience and shared with The Algemeiner showed the booing becoming louder and more intense as the announcer spoke of the “senseless loss of life in Israel,” before highlighting the plight of Omer Neutra, one of the nearly 200 hostages seized by Hamas and spirited to Gaza. The Algemeiner’s Ben Cohen has more.
UNRWA Deletes Official Statement Accusing Hamas of Aid Theft
The UN agency responsible for Palestinian refugees on Monday said that it had received reports that Hamas had seized humanitarian supplies from a UN compound in Gaza City before backtracking and deleting all references to the accusation. “UNRWA received reports this morning that yesterday a group of people with trucks, purporting to be from the Ministry of Health of the de facto authorities (DFA) in Gaza, removed fuel and medical equipment from the Agency’s compound in Gaza City,” UNRWA now deleted statement said. “UNRWA’s fuel and other types of material are kept for strictly humanitarian purposes, and any use of such assets for any other purposes is strongly condemned.” The Algemeiner’s Andrew Bernard has more.
Putin Tells Abbas Russia Supports Palestinian State With Jerusalem as Capital
Russian President Vladimir Putin has reiterated his support for the creation of a Palestinian state with its capital in eastern Jerusalem in a phone call with Palestinian Authority (PA) President Mahmoud Abbas.
During a conversation on Monday, the Russian leader also “expressed his condolences to the victims of the Palestinian people, reiterating the importance of stopping the fighting, providing humanitarian aid, and not displacing the Palestinians outside their country,” according a readout of the call from the official Palestinian news agency WAFA.
For his part, Abbas reportedly “rejected the killing of civilians on both sides, underscoring the importance of releasing civilians and prisoners detained on both sides.” Abbas also warned that the displacement of civilians from Gaza would amount to a second “Nakba” or “catastrophe” — the term used by Palestinians to describe the creation of Israel in 1948.
No mention of Hamas or its terrorist acts was made during the call. Abbas criticized Hamas on Sunday but then walked the comment back, with WAFA removing it from its report.
Canada Appoints Top Diplomat as Antisemitism Envoy
A former Canadian Ambassador to Israel has been appointed as the country’s special envoy on Holocaust remembrance and combating antisemitism.
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced on Monday that Deborah Lyons, a diplomat with 25 years of experience, was the first holder of the newly-created post. Lyons, who was appointed to a two-year term in the post, was Canada’s ambassador to Israel from 2016 to 2020.
“Ms. Lyons will be a critical voice in fighting antisemitism and preserving the memory of the Holocaust so that younger generations know the truth about what happened and how antisemitism continues today,” Trudeau said in a statement.
Lyons said that the Oct. 7 Hamas onslaught against Israel was an opportunity for Canadians to unite against antisemitism.
“I am proud to accept this role and responsibility and I am committed to working with all levels of government, institutions and stakeholders to promote Holocaust awareness and combat antisemitism here in Canada and abroad,” she said.
Top German Official Pledges Further Bans on Islamist Organizations
Four days after Chancellor Olaf Scholz banned all Hamas-related activities in Germany following scenes of supporters of Samidoun, a Palestinian prisoners organization, distributing cakes and candy to celebrate the Oct. 7 Hamas onslaught on Israel, the head of the country’s Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution, has said that the further bans on Islamist groups are likely.
“Antisemitism is part of the DNA of Islamist organizations,” Thomas Haldewang told the Spiegel news outlet. He declined to give details of a “whole series” of Islamist organizations currently being considered for a ban.
IDF Publishes List of Eliminated Hamas Officials
The IDF has published a list of key Hamas officials who have been eliminated since the terrorist group’s Oct. 7 invasion of Israel.
The group includes Hamas military commanders Ali Qadi, Belal Alqadra and Muetaz Eid, as well as Zakariya Abu Ma’amar, the head of the Hamas international relations bureau.
Hamas is a genocidal terrorist organization.
We will eliminate Hamas. pic.twitter.com/pjz6mC2FYl
— Israel Defense Forces (@IDF) October 16, 2023
Top Vatican Official in Israel Offers to Exchange Himself for Child Hostages Held by Hamas
The top official of the Roman Catholic Church in Jerusalem has offered to travel to Gaza as a hostage to secure the release of some of the children being held among the 199 Israelis kidnapped by Hamas terrorists during their Oct. 7 onslaught against Israel.
“If I’m available for an exchange? Anything, if this could bring about the freedom of children, no problem. My absolute willingness,” Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa told a reporter during an online press conference.
Pizzaballa also expressed fear of a regional conflagration. “I don’t know, it’s very difficult to predict the developments, but the fear of regional expansion is real, and I’m not the only one saying it,” he said.
To catch up on Sunday’s developments in Israel and Gaza, click here
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