Several US citizens were killed in the terrorist attack by Palestinian terror group Hamas on Israel, according to a US official. “We can confirm the deaths of several US citizens,” a US National Security Council spokesperson reportedly said. US Secretary of State Antony Blinken has said that the government is working to establish if reports of Americans being taken hostage are accurate.
Meanwhile, some reports have claimed that at least four Americans have died and the US government is trying to establish if there are more casualties.
At least 4 Americans have died in the savage Hamas attacks on Israel.
We are already at war and Joe Biden doesn't even know it.
According to a report by NBC, US lawmakers briefed on the situation in Israel were told that at least four Americans have died in the Hamas terrorist attacks. The numbers are reportedly expected to rise, according to sources.
NEW: American citizens have been taken as hostages by Hamas according to Israel Minister for Strategic Affairs Ron Dermer.
In response to these reports, Secretary of State Blinken says the US is “working overtime.”
While speaking to CNN, Israeli Ambassador to the United States Michael Herzog has said that Americans have been taken hostages. “All I can say is that there are Americans among the hostages but I cannot provide more details at this point,” he said.
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Israel has confirmed that American citizens are among the hostages being held by Hamas in Gaza pic.twitter.com/VOPxlTy1o5
While over 700people died in the Hamas terrorist attacks, casualties from retaliation by Israel have surpassed 400 in Gaza and elsewhere. This comes after Israel declared that it was in a “state of war” with Hamas.
At least 260 bodies of civilians, including many foreigners, have been recovered from the Nova music festival in Israel near Rei’m where Hamas attacked. Another 2,150 Israelis were wounded.
10 Nepali students have died in the Hamas attacks, the Nepali embassy in Tel Aviv reportedly said. This after at least 7 Nepali citizens were injured and 17 others were held captive by the terrorist group in Israel.
Caught in the crossfire are 11 Thai nationals who had been abducted by Hamas in southern Israel and presumably brought to Gaza. According to a report by the Bangkok Post quoted by The Times of Israel, Thai Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin said the Thai students “are innocent and have nothing to do with any conflict”.
Two Thai nationals have also died in the fight and a Cambodian student also lost their life.
India has said that it is working actively to evacuate stranded citizens in Israel. There are reportedly 18,000 Indian nationals living and working in Israel.
27 Indians including Rajya Sabha MP Wanweiroy Kharlukhi were safely evacuated even as no Indian is known to have been taken hostage by the terrorist group or killed in the crossfire.
Minister of State for External Affairs, Meenakshi Lekhi, said, “It is early to state when we will begin evacuation, but we could manage these tough exercises well.”
Meanwhile, the US is deploying US ships and warplanes to Israel. The Pentagon has said that it was sending the aircraft carrier USS Gerald R Ford and its accompanying warships to the eastern Mediterranean while boosting fighter aircraft squadrons in the region.
US President Joe Biden spoke to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Sunday (8th October) pledging additional assistance for the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF).
Hours after the State of Israel came under attack by Palestinian terror outfit Hamas, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau on Saturday (7th October) condemned the killing of Israeli civilians.
In a tweet, he said, “Canada strongly condemns the current terrorist attacks against Israel. These acts of violence are completely unacceptable. We stand with Israel and fully support its right to defend itself.”
Trudeau further added, “Our thoughts are with everyone affected by this. Civilian life must be protected.” While the Canadian Prime Minister has been upfront in condemning the terror attack, his own government contributed $50 million to the ‘irredeemably flawed’ United Nations Palestinian Refugee Agency (UNPRA).
Canada strongly condemns the current terrorist attacks against Israel. These acts of violence are completely unacceptable. We stand with Israel and fully support its right to defend itself. Our thoughts are with everyone affected by this. Civilian life must be protected.
Although the Trump administration stopped funding the UNPRA in August 2018, the Canadian government under Trudeau shelled out a whopping $50 million for a period of two years in the name of assisting ‘health and education efforts’ of the UN body.
In its defence, the Trudeau government claimed that it would help stabilise the region and alleviate people from poverty, food insecurity and unemployment. It also claimed that the $50 million would ‘improve neutrality’ within the UNPRA and its operations.
It must be mentioned that Israel has time and again accused UNPRA of fuelling the ongoing conflict with Palestine and instilling hatred against the Jewish State. The question remains whether funds meant for the ‘welfare’ of Palestinians are diverted for terror activities.
A case in point is that of a Gaza aid worker named Mohammed Halabi, who transferred $50 million of humanitarian funds to Islamic terror outfit Hamas. The funds were used to build tunnels and rockets to attack the State of Israel.
Israel’s Shin Bet intelligence service described him as “a major figure in the terrorist/military arm of Hamas”. Halabi, who worked for the global charity ‘World Vision’ transferred 60% of the funds to Hamas terrorists through a “sophisticated and systematic apparatus.”
The ‘aid worker’ also set up projects for farmers, fishermen and people with disabilities to siphon off humanitarian funds. He also imported thousands of tons of iron ore in the name of relief work and passed it on to Hamas to build secret tunnels. Mohammed Halabi was found guilty on 13 charges in June 2022.
A report by The Times of Israel stated, “Israel closely supervises aid to try to ensure it bypasses the terror group. But the Hamas-run government benefits from foreign countries footing the bill for schools, hospitals and infrastructure, allowing it to conserve its own resources, including the taxes and customs it collects.”
You personally directed $50,000,000 to Hamas-controlled Gaza after other democracies cut them off for corruption and terrorism. You took Canadian tax dollars and gave them to Jew-killers.
Justin Trudeau is now being accused of funding the ‘irredeemably flawed’ United Nations Palestinian Refugee Agency (UNPRA) and aiding Hamas terrorists in the process.
Rebel News founder Ezra Levant said, “You personally directed $50,000,000 to Hamas-controlled Gaza after other democracies cut them off for corruption and terrorism. You took Canadian tax dollars and gave them to Jew-killers. You literally funded this attack.”
Israel under attack from Hamas
On Saturday (7th October), a devastating conflict erupted between the terrorist organisation Hamas and Israel, resulting in a tragic toll of at least 300 casualties and over 1,000 injuries.
Hamas unleashed over 5,000 rockets from the Gaza Strip into Israel, while also seizing several Israeli soldiers near the border. In a video statement, Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu declared that Israel was engaged in a state of war and warned that Hamas would face consequences for initiating an attack on Israel.
He said, “We are at war, not an operation. Hamas has launched a murderous surprise attack against the State of Israel and its citizens. I ordered first of all to cleanse the settlements of the terrorists who had infiltrated and ordered a large-scale mobilisation of reserves. The enemy will pay a price they have never known.”
Following the massive attack on Israel from the Gaza Strip, Prime Minister Narendra Modi posted from his X handle that his thoughts and prayers are with the innocent victims of the attack on Israel by the Hamas terrorists. On India’s stand, Consul General of Israel, Kobbi Shoshani has also thanked India.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi said, “Deeply shocked by the news of terrorist attacks in Israel. Our thoughts and prayers are with the innocent victims and their families. We stand in solidarity with Israel at this difficult hour.”
It is notable that Prime Minister Narendra Modi called it a terrorist attack. The top chair clearly recognising the heinous acts as a terrorist attack means that India is calling Hamas a terrorist organisation.
Amid the deadly terrorist attacks launched by Hamas in Israel, several Western countries, including the US, UK, India, etc., have extended support to Israel and expressed solidarity with the Israeli government.
US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin announced on Sunday, 9th October that the country has directed American military ships, including an aircraft carrier and extra aircraft, to deploy closer to the eastern Mediterranean.
According to a National Security Council spokeswoman, some American citizens have been brutally murdered by the terrorists. The confirmation came after Austin’s direction to US aircraft carriers and ships to reach the Eastern Mediterranean in a show of support for Israel.
“Today, in response to this Hamas attack on Israel, and following detailed discussions with President Biden, I have directed several steps to strengthen Department of Defense posture in the region to bolster regional deterrence efforts,” Austin was quoted as saying on Sunday, 9th October.
Accordingly, the US aircraft, USS Gerald R. Ford (CVN-78), and the other ships in Carrier Strike Group 12, including Ticonderoga-Class Cruiser USS Normandy (CG-60) and Arleigh Burke-Class Destroyers USS Ramage (DDG-61), USS McFaul (DDG-74), and USS Thomas Hudner (DDG-116) are believed to be heading towards the Eastern Mediterranean to support Israel and to offer assistance with the possible evacuation of the US citizens.
The U.S. Aircraft Carrier, USS Gerald R. Ford (CVN-78) as well as the other Ships in Carrier Strike Group 12 which includes Ticonderoga-Class Cruiser USS Normandy (CG-60), as well as Arleigh Burke-Class Destroyers USS Ramage (DDG-61), USS McFaul (DDG-74), and USS Thomas Hudner… pic.twitter.com/FlV1tJT8DO
The USS Gerald R. Ford, based in Norfolk, was stationed in the western Mediterranean when it got instructions to deploy. It might have had to go over a thousand miles depending on its particular location.
USS Gerald R. Ford is the US Navy’s flagship carrier, its most advanced and lethal so far. It carries up to 90 aircraft and has nearly 6000 sailors on board. It had entered service in May this year.
Austin also revealed plans to strengthen US Air Force fighter plane squadrons in the region. Aircraft from the United States Air Force are being sent to sites in the Middle East, where they will be available for operations against Iran.
The munitions that the United States will deliver are being flown.
Reports mention that Austin talked with Israeli Defence Minister Yoav Gallant to express support for the people of Israel and to receive updates on Israel’s operation to restore security and safety from the Hamas terrorist attack. The duo will remain in close contact amid the mission.
President Biden and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu also spoke on Sunday as revealed by the White House. The two leaders discussed Hamas’s kidnapping of Israeli hostages, with Biden stating to Netanyahu that US help for Israel’s Defence Forces was on its way, with more to come in the following days.
“The President emphasized that there is no justification whatsoever for terrorism, and all countries must stand united in the face of such brutal atrocities. President Biden updated the Prime Minister on the intensive diplomatic engagement undertaken by the United States over the last 24 hours in support of Israel,” the statement by the White House read.
Lebanese terrorist group Hezbollah attacks Israel
Meanwhile, Israel exchanged fire with the Lebanese terrorist group Hezbollah on the Northern front, heightening the prospect of a larger regional struggle a day after Hamas launched an unprecedented surprise terrorist attack on southern Israel, killing hundreds of Israelis.
Hezbollah, supported by Iran, said it launched guided rockets and artillery into three Shebaa Farms installations “in solidarity” with the Palestinian people.
“On the path to liberate the remaining part of our occupied Lebanese land and in solidarity with the victorious Palestinian resistance and the steadfast Palestinian people, the groups of the martyr commander Hajj Imad Moghniyeh in the Islamic Resistance carried out an attack this Sunday, October 08, 2023, targeting 3 Zionist occupation sites in the occupied Lebanese Shebaa Farms region,” Hezbollah said in a statement.
On Sunday, the Israeli military said it fired artillery into a region of Lebanon from where cross-border mortar fire was launched. The Israeli military says one of its drones hit a Hezbollah station in the Shebaa Farms neighborhood of Har Dov.
Hezbollah has fired rockets from a high school in the village of Kfar Shuba, using the children inside as human shields in an attack on an IDF base on Mount Dov. A mosque is also in close proximity to the high school, hindering the IDF from neutralizing the Hezbollah fighters.… pic.twitter.com/XvCspukFcd
According to Israel, its soldiers “are now attacking with artillery fire the area in Lebanon from where the shooting was carried out a few minutes ago into Israeli territory”. According to Israeli soldiers, they are “prepared for all scenarios and will continue to protect the security of residents of the State of Israel.”
Since 1967, Tel Aviv has maintained the Shebaa Farms, a 39-square-kilometer (15-square-mile) plot of land. Both Syria and Lebanon claim control of the Shebaa Farms.
It was reported yesterday that Hezbollah had already notified Israel that if Israeli forces land in Gaza, then Hezbollah will enter to attack from the Northern front. Media reports have highlighted that Hezbollah has been armed and trained by Iran.
Israel attacked by Hamas terrorists, over 700 Israelis killed
On Saturday (7th October), a devastating conflict erupted between the terrorist organization Hamas and Israel, resulting in a tragic toll of at least 700 casualties and over 2,000 injuries.
Hamas unleashed over 5,000 rockets from the Gaza Strip into Israel, while also seizing several Israeli soldiers near the border. The terrorists also have held several Israelis hostage including women, children, and the elderly. They have killed several civilians in indiscriminate firing and videos of the incident doing rounds on the internet reveal that they had also paraded women bared and bruised on the streets of Israeli towns.
In a video statement, Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu declared that Israel was engaged in a state of war and warned that Hamas would face consequences for initiating an attack on Israel.
He said, “We are at war, not an operation. Hamas has launched a murderous surprise attack against the State of Israel and its citizens. I ordered first of all to cleanse the settlements of the terrorists who had infiltrated and ordered a large-scale mobilization of reserves. The enemy will pay a price they have never known.”
Following the massive attack on Israel from the Gaza Strip, Prime Minister Narendra Modi posted from his X handle that his thoughts and prayers are with the innocent victims of the attack on Israel by the Hamas terrorists. On India’s stand, Consul General of Israel, Kobbi Shoshani has also thanked India.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi said, “Deeply shocked by the news of terrorist attacks in Israel. Our thoughts and prayers are with the innocent victims and their families. We stand in solidarity with Israel at this difficult hour.”
Hamas is an acronym for Harakat al-Muqawama al-Islamiya, which means “Islamic Resistance Movement” in English. It was founded by Sheikh Ahmed Yassin who was a Palestinian cleric. In 1997, the United States designated Hamas a foreign terrorist organization.
Over 260 bodies of civilians have been recovered from a site where a music festival was underway when the Hamas terrorists started firing indiscriminately. Hundreds of civilians and soldiers alike, including children, have been abducted. A German tourist named Shani Louk was abducted and murdered, and her naked body was paraded by Hamas terrorists in a pickup truck inside Gaza. Eye witness accounts state that women in the music festival were raped near the dead bodies of their friends. Many of them were later executed.
On 8th October, a day after Hamas terrorists initiated one of the most brutal terror attacks on Israeli soil, more details came to light about the atrocities that Israelis and foreign tourists faced.
One of the first locations that the Hamas terrorists attacked was the Supernova music festival that was taking place close to the Gaza Strip. The survivors have spoken up about the terrifying ordeal that included the rape of women, abduction and merciless murders at the hands of Hamas terrorists. Reports say that over 260 dead bodies have already been recovered at the festival site.
Reports from Israeli local media suggest that around 700 people were killed across the country in the terror attack. The number continued to rise as more bodies were being recovered. Israel has officially declared war.
This is what the last day and a half in Israel has looked like.
Entire families butchered in their homes.
Grandmothers, mothers and children kidnapped and taken hostage by Hamas.
As per the survivors’ accounts, the assault began around 7 AM, catching the festival-goers off guard. As it was the festival’s last day, the attendees’ strength was at its peak.
Videos show that revelers were dancing to music and enjoying, unaware of the fact that Hamas terrorists were parachuting down from the other side of the border.
At the time of the initial explosions, the festival-goers assumed that the loud explosions were a “routine rocket attack”, a common sight in southern Israel. However, within minutes, the intense explosions caused panic and chaos at the festival. Reportedly, around 4,000 to 5,000 festival-goers were present at the scene at the time of the attack.
? ??A Rave que estava acontecendo no Kibbutz de Urim, em Israel, antes dos terroristas do Hamas invadirem a Faixa de Gaza. Os terroristas chegaram atirando contra os participantes da festa, matando e ferindo muitos deles. #Israel#Gaza#Hamas#Palestina#IsraelUnderAttackpic.twitter.com/PmpnZmKVUk
Most of the festival-goers were killed on the spot. Over 260 bodies have already been recovered by the Israeli security agencies at the site.
According to the survivor’s ordeal, the young men and women tried to flee the scene by running towards the western Negev desert. The terrorists followed, captured and handcuffed them. Several women were abducted. Reportedly, the terrorists raped the women irrespective of their nationality. Some of the victims of the attack were either executed or taken to Gaza, which has been confirmed by the videos and photos available on social media.
Tablet Magazine reported some survivor accounts, mentioning that women were raped at the festival site itself near the dead bodies of their friends. Several rape victims were then executed by the Hamas terrorists.
In the aftermath of the attack on the festival, drone footage showed extensive damage, burnt cars, and bodies and belongings strewn around the festival location. There were many foreign nationals among the festival attendees, mostly young people. The hostage numbers are said to be in the hundreds.
Drone footage of the aftermath of the "Nature Party" venue where dozens were killed by Hamas fire on the first day of the escalation of the conflict. pic.twitter.com/dPUj6rZG8I
Another video shows Hamas terrorists shooting at festival attendees trying to escape from the site. As per reports, around 3000-4000 people were present at the festival when the Hamas attacked, with terrorists firing indiscriminately into the gathering of dancing, enjoying people.
Video of festival goers trying to escape from the Re’im music festival.
Quran, AK-47s and RPG launchers found in terrorists’ possession
When the assault finally concluded, Israeli Defence Forces soldiers apprehended the terrorists only to find horrifying details of the preparations for the attack. They recovered RPG launchers, sophisticated communication equipment, AK-47s, Soviet-made weapons and copies of the Quran.
The dead body of a female German tourist was desecrated, stripped naked and displayed around by Hamas terrorists
One of the most horrifying videos that emerged on social media was the one in which the almost naked dead body of a German tourist identified as Shani Louk, which the Hamas terrorists were parading in the back of a pickup truck. Shani was abducted from the Supernova music festival. Initially, Hamas claimed she was an Israeli soldier, but her identity was revealed because of the tattoos she had on her legs. Pro-Palestine handles were seen giving clean chit to the Hamas terrorists with bizarre explanations.
Singapore is conducting a significant investigation into its largest money laundering scandal, primarily involving Chinese nationals, causing embarrassment for China, Khabarhub reported.
In mid-August, Singapore police arrested ten foreign nationals and conducted raids, seizing luxury items such as Hermes handbags, Patek Philippe watches, aged Macallan whisky, Bentley, and Rolls-Royce cars.
The scandal revolves around more than USD 2.4 billion worth of assets, shaking up the Asian financial hub. Consequently, Singaporean banks have become cautious regarding clients of Chinese origin holding other citizenships, following the exposure of this money laundering scheme, according to Khabarhub, a Nepali digital news media.
Several banks have revised their rules, particularly for clients of Chinese origin who possess investment-linked passports. Some international banks are even closing accounts of clients with citizenship from countries like Cambodia, Cyprus, Turkey, and Vanuatu. Singapore has intensified efforts to strengthen its anti-money laundering framework since island-wide raids on August 15 led to the arrest and charging of ten wealthy individuals of Chinese origin, describing it as “one of the most serious, if not the worst, money-laundering cases in Singapore.”
Of the ten suspects, three are current Chinese nationals, while the rest hold different primary passports but have origins in Fujian. They were also found with Chinese passports.
The case has affected Singapore’s reputation, but it has also cast a shadow on China, given the involvement of Chinese nationals in the scandal. It is important to note that Singapore initiated the investigation independently, denying any influence or request from the Chinese government.
The Singapore Police Force has seized USD 1.8 billion in cash and assets from the ten individuals, including properties, vehicles, cash, luxury items, and jewelry. These assets are believed to be the proceeds of organised crime committed overseas, including scams and online gambling, with funds laundered through Singapore’s financial institutions, as reported by Khabarhub.
Singapore’s reputation as a clean and efficient financial hub has taken a hit, but experts believe that the case has also damaged China’s image due to the involvement of its nationals.
The case includes individuals like Fujian Wang Bingang, who profited from illegal online gambling services offered to Chinese players. Wang formed his group in 2012 and made substantial profits through the Hongli International gambling site in the Philippines and Cambodia.
Financial institutions are now scrutinising all new account registrations and transactions involving individuals of Chinese origin. They are assessing and, in some cases, restricting transactions from users with citizenship from other nations. Accounts of customers from Vanuatu, Dominica, Cyprus, Cambodia, and Turkey are being closed.
The focus is on Singapore’s efforts to prevent Chinese nationals from engaging in money laundering practices, with the country’s attractive financial environment and proximity to China being key factors driving such illicit activities, Khabarhub reported.
(This news report is published from a syndicated feed. Except for the headline, the content has not been written or edited by OpIndia staff)
Alleging that the agents of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) were involved in the killing of Khalistani terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar, in Canada, an independent blogger, Jennifer Zeng, has said that China’s “purpose was to frame India and creating discord between India and the West”.
She also alleged that it was a part of the CCP’s sinister “Ignition Plan” to disrupt the world in line with Xi Jinping’s military strategy regarding Taiwan.
Jennifer Zeng is a Chinese-born rights activist, and journalist who is currently living in the US.
In a video posted on the social media platform, X, Zeng dubbed the killing of Nijjar as an assassination claiming, “Today shocking revelations about the ‘assassination ‘ of Sikh religious leader, Hardeep Singh Nijjar, in Canada have emerged from within the CCP. It is alleged that the ‘assassination’ was carried out by CCP agents.”
On 18 June 2023, Hardeep Nijjar, a designated terrorist in India, was shot and killed in the parking lot of the Guru Nanak Sikh Gurdwara in Surrey, British Columbia.
The independent blogger attributed her allegations to Chinese writer and YouTuber Lao Deng, who according to her, lives in Canada now.
“Lao stated that in early June this year as part of their disruption initiative ‘Ignition Plan’, the CCP Ministry of State Security sent a high-ranking official to Seattle, USA. A secret meeting was held there…The objective was to sabotage relations between India and the West,” Zeng claims in the video posted on X.
“The agents were tasked with assassinating Hardeep Singh Nijjar, the Kkhalistani leader in Canada. Following the meeting, the CCP agents meticulously executed the killing plan,” she claimed.
Explaining their modus operandi, the independent blogger alleges, “On June 18th, the agents armed with silenced guns tracked Nijjar. When the deed was done, they destroyed the dash camera in Nijjar’s Car to erase any evidence. After the crime, the agents fled, they burned their weapons and disguises to destroy all traces. The next day they left Canada in Airplanes.”
She also alleged that the killers even purposely learned Indian-accent English. “Therefore, they purposely spoke in India accent English…In fact, these actions were part of the scheme by CCP secret agent to frame India,” said Zeng.
She also claimed that Lao revealed that the CCP’s ‘ignition plan’ was devised this year after the CCP’s two sessions.
There has been no response to Jennifer Zeng’s allegations, posted in the video on Sunday afternoon (US time) from either the Chinese foreign ministry or the Ministry of External Affairs.
The diplomatic ties between India and Canada soured after the Canadian government expelled a senior Indian diplomat accusing India of playing a role in the killing of a Khalistani separatist leader, Hardeep Singh Nijjar in Canada.
In the aftermath, India swiftly retaliated by issuing a statement that denied any involvement in the issue and expelled a senior Canadian diplomat. India has outrightly rejected the claims, calling it ‘absurd’ and ‘motivated’.
Amid escalating tensions, India has called for parity in the number of Canadian diplomats in India.
Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Arindam Bagchi earlier this month said that Canadian diplomatic presence is much higher in India and they assume “there would be reduction”.
“On discussions on parity, given the much higher presence of diplomats or diplomatic presence here and their interference in our internal matters, we have sought parity in our respective diplomatic presence. Discussions are ongoing to achieve this. Given that Canadian diplomatic presence is higher, we would assume that there would be a reduction,” said MEA spokesperson Arindam Bagchi.
(This news report is published from a syndicated feed. Except for the headline, the content has not been written or edited by OpIndia staff)
As India has strongly condemned the Hamas attack on Israel, with PM Narendra Modi calling it a terror attack, the Muslim students of Aligarh Muslim University came out in support of Hamas today. As per reports, the students of AMU took out a rally on Sunday night (8 October) opposing the retaliatory military action by Israel against Hamas in the Gaza Strip.
The pro-Palestine Muslim students were chanting Allah-u-Akbar slogans, and carrying placards with slogans against Israel and in support of Palestine. One such placard said, ‘AMU stand with Palestine, Free Palestine, this land is Palestine, not Israel’.
As per media reports, hundreds of students of the university took part in the rally. The students anti-Israel and pro-Palestine slogans, along with Islamic chants like Allah-u-Akbar and la ilaha illallah. They claimed that Israel was doing atrocities on Palestine, and they raised their voice against oppression everywhere in the world.
In the meantime, the death toll in Israel following the multi-front attack by Hamas has crossed 700, as per the latest report by Times of Israel. Over 100 people are still in Hamas custody who were captured near the border and taken to the Gaza Strip by the terrorists, while over 2000 people are receiving treatments at hospitals.
Around 400 people were reportedly killed in Gaza in retaliatory action by Israeli forces, and over 2000 have been injured.
On 7th October (Saturday), Israel came under one of the worst attacks in recent history after dozens of Hamas terrorists infiltrated the Israeli territory from the Gaza Strip. Additionally, Palestinian terrorists also launched massive rocket barrages at southern and central Israel from the Gaza Strip prompting it to declare a ‘state of war’.
The terrorists also held several Israelis hostage including women, children, and the elderly. They have killed several civilians in indiscriminate firing and videos of the incident doing rounds on the internet reveal that they had also paraded women bared and bruised on the streets of Israeli towns.
Following the terrorist attack on Israel, Palestinian Islamic Movement, Hamas claimed responsibility for these attacks. In a rare public statement, the leader of the military wing of Hamas, Mohammed Deif announced that it has launched a new military operation against Israel.
Mohammed Deif added that 5,000 rockets had been fired into Israel early Saturday to begin “Operation Al-Aqsa Storm” and provoked all Palestinians to fight. It is important to note that Deif’s provocation was delivered in a recording as he has been in hiding after surviving multiple assassination attempts.
On its part, Israeli forces have started retaliation and are fighting to regain control of areas captured by the Hamas terrorists.
Amidst this, here is a brief overview of everything about this outfit1 Hamas, including its genesis, its supporters, and how it draws funds to attack Israel.
Hamas: Emerged out of the Muslim Brotherhood in the region
Hamas is an acronym for Harakat al-Muqawama al-Islamiya, which means “Islamic Resistance Movement” in English. It was founded by Sheikh Ahmed Yassin who was a Palestinian cleric. After doing Islamic scholarship in Cairo, he was associated with the local branches of the Muslim Brotherhood. In the 1960s, Yassin preached religious sermons in the West Bank and Gaza Strip.
Subsequently, in December 1987, Yassin established Hamas as the political arm of the Muslim Brotherhood in Gaza. This came in the backdrop of the first intifada – Palestinian attacks against Israel for alleged atrocities in the West Bank, Gaza, and East Jerusalem.
Initially, Hamas believed that Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ) was a threat to the Muslim Brotherhood so it did everything to ‘counter’ it. In 1988, Hamas published its charter which called for the destruction of Israel and the establishment of an Islamic society in historic Palestine.
Since April 1993, Hamas has been carrying out suicide bombings. The first reported bombing was done five months before PLO (Palestine Liberation Organization) leader Yasser Arafat and Israeli Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin signed the Oslo Accords.
The historic accord led to the establishment of limited self-government for parts of the West Bank and Gaza. A new entity called the Palestinian Authority (PA) was created for this purpose. However, Hamas condemned and tried to derail these developments towards peace. It also condemned the PLO’s and Israel’s recognition of each other.
Later, in 1997, the United States designated Hamas a foreign terrorist organisation as it went on to spearhead violent resistance during the second intifada, in the early 2000s. Hamas’s founder, Yassin was killed by Israeli forces in 2004.
Hamas controls the Gaza Strip since 2006
Apart from the Palestinian Liberation Organisation (PLO), Hamas is the other major outfit in Palestinian territories. Since 2006, the Islamist outfit Hamas has controlled the Gaza Strip. Back then, it defeated its rival political party, Fatah, in elections but after that, there hasn’t been any election in the Palestinian enclave.
It is notable that the Palestine state is divided into two territories, the Werst Bank on the east of Israel, and the Gaza Strip on the west. While Hamas governs Gaza, the governance of the West Bank, the much larger territory bordering Jordan and the Dead Sea apart from Israel, is complicated. While the West Bank is generally under the occupation is Israel, there are a large number of Palestinian enclaves that are under total or partial control of the Palestinian National Authority (PNA).
While anti-Israel sentiments prevail in the entire Palestinian state, this sentiment is strongest in the Gaza Strip, which is under Hamas rule.
Gaza Strip is a 41km-long and 6-12 km-wide territory between Israel, Egypt, and the Mediterranean Sea. It has one of the highest population densities in the world with a population of about 2.3 million people. Israel exercises control over the airspace above Gaza and its coastline, regulating the entry and exit of people and goods through its border crossings. Likewise, Egypt governs the passage of individuals into and out of Gaza through its border.
According to the UN, almost 80% of the Gazans depend on international aid, and about one million people rely on daily food aid. However, it is often reported that millions of foreign aid and funds from like-minded countries were funneled to anti-Israel activities including terror attacks.
In fact, Hamas which is ‘governing’ the Gaza Strip is notorious for launching attacks, and suicide bombings on Israel. Notably, dozens of nations, including Israel, the United States, and the European Union as a bloc, have classified Hamas as a terrorist organisation, particularly its military wing, due to its involvement in suicide bombings and acts of terror directed against Israel.
Organisational structure of Palestians’ Islamist outfit Hamas
Hamas has several bodies that perform various political, military, and social functions. There is an overarching consultative body referred to as the politburo. It operates in exile and sees the ‘General policy’ of the outfit. The grassroots issues in Gaza and the West Bank are seen by the local committees of Hamas. Since June 2021, Gaza’s de facto prime minister is Issam al-Da’alis.
Whereas, Ismail Haniyeh is the political head after he replaced longtime leader Khaled Meshaal in 2017. Since 2020, he along with other Hamas leadership has been operating from Doha in Qatar because Egypt limited his movement into and out of Gaza.
(Image Source – Council for Foreign Relations)
Previously, Syria used to host Hamas leadership, but it had a fallout with Syrian authorities after the Palestinian refugees participated in the 2011 uprising that preceded the Syrian Civil War. Meanwhile, some of the Hamas leadership has an office in Turkey and they reportedly operate from there.
Meanwhile, Yahya Sinwar who served twenty-two years in an Israeli prison for masterminding the abduction and killing of two Israeli soldiers sees ‘day-to-day’ affairs in Gaza. He was released from prison along with more than one thousand Palestinian prisoners in 2011 in exchange for an Israeli soldier held by Hamas terrorists.
Hamas’s military wing, the Izz ad-Din al-Qassam Brigades, is commanded by Marwan Issa and Mohammed Deif. It is important to note that the responsibility for recent terrorist attacks on Israel was taken by Deif stating that Hamas has carried out ‘Operation Al-aqsa storm’.
The founder of Hamas military wing, Salah Shehadeh was assassinated by the Israeli forces in a 2002 air strike.
Hamas operates from Lebanon which is reportedly headed by Saleh al-Arouri. He also took over Hamas’ West Bank leadership after internal elections in 2021. Hamas maintains close ties with Hezbollah in Lebanon.
Benefactors of Hamas
Hamas is a designated terrorist entity and for this reason, it is barred from getting official assistance that the United States and European Union (EU) provide to the PLO in the West Bank. Apart from funding from Palestinian expatriates, private donors in the Persian Gulf, and Islamic charities in the West, Hamas reportedly gets financial and other support from Iran, Turkey, and Qatar among other Islamic nations.
Iran is one of the biggest benefactors of Hamas as it contributes funds, weapons, and training to fight a proxy war against Israel. Iran pumps funds to the tune of $100 million annually to Hamas, PIJ, and other Palestinian outfits designated as terrorist organisations by the United States.
However, during the Syrian civil war, Iran and Hamas had a brief fallout with each other.
Qatar also provides hundreds of millions of dollars in assistance to Gaza through Hamas. However, foreign aid generally reaches Gaza via the PA and UN agencies.
Earlier, Hamas amassed funds to the tune of $12 million per month from taxes on Egyptian goods imported or smuggled into Gaza through tunnels. Gaza shares a 12 km long border with Egypt on its south. However, in 2013, Egyptian President Abdel Fatah al-Sisi assumed power. Since then, Cairo has ended Hamas’s operation as it asserts that Hamas is an extension of the Muslim Brotherhood.
Afterwards, the Egyptian military closed down the majority of tunnels that were crossing into its territory. This action took place during their campaign against a faction affiliated with the self-declared Islamic State on their side of the border, within the Sinai Peninsula.
Additionally, Turkey is another backer of the Hamas particularly after President Recep Tayyip Erdogan rose to power in 2002. Though it claims that it backs Hamas only politically, Ankara has been accused of funding Hamas’s terrorism, including through aid diverted from the Turkish Cooperation and Coordination Agency.
Hamas vis-a-vis Palestinian Authority
Hamas has been in control of Gaza since Israel’s withdrawal from the territory in 2005. In the subsequent year, Hamas got a majority of seats in the PA’s legislative body and established a government. It is claimed that Palestinians believed that Fatah’s leadership had become corrupt during its tenure within the PLO and had achieved limited progress in Palestinian-Israeli negotiations which resulted in Hamas getting the majority, after which it has never conducted an election. Since 2006, Palestinians have not voted for a legislature, nor for a president since 2008.
However, Fatah rejected the outcome of the elections and the party ousted Hamas from power in the West Bank. While in Gaza, Hamas hunted down Fatah’s militias to extend its authoritative control.
In theory, Hamas follows the Sharia-based Palestinian Basic Law, as does the PA. However, Hamas is notorious for implementing an extreme version of Sharia, including controlling how women dress and enforcing gender segregation in public during the early years of its rule.
It has repressed media, civilian activism on social media, the political opposition, and nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) in Gaza who argue that more focus should be diverted towards the welfare of Gazans than launching terror attacks on Israel.
Hamas carries out recurrent terror attacks on Israel
Hamas has been firing a spree of rockets and mortars into Israel after it took over Gaza. Iranian security officials admitted that Tehran provided some of these weapons. However, after getting training from Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) and proxies, Hamas has been building its own missiles as well.
Additionally, Hamas has been dropping hundreds of balloons laden with inflammatory substances and explosives, along with rockets on Israeli territories causing indiscriminate death and destruction to civilians. Israel has responded fiercely and unsparingly against the continued provocation, with persistent airstrikes and tank fires on locations described by it as Gaza’s military infrastructure installations.
Hamas has also launched incursions into Israeli territory, and it is responsible for numerous terrorist attacks including the recent one which is still ongoing. One of the most infamous incidents occurred in 2006 when they kidnapped Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit. In exchange for Shalit’s release, Israel released more than a thousand Palestinian prisoners, including Sinwar. Additionally, in 2014, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu accused Hamas of abducting and killing three Israeli teenagers in the West Bank.
Ever since the Palestinian terrorist group Hamas launched a deadly attack on Israel on Saturday (7th October) leaving hundreds dead, several videos have surfaced online from various countries wherein Palestinian supporters are seen celebrating Hamas’s offensive. Such celebrations were seen across the globe, including the UK, Germany, Canada, Turkey, Iran, Iraq and Lebanon.
On social media, videos emerged of people in London cheering the attack on Israel while wielding Palestinian flags.
Countdown presenter Rachel Riley taking to X said that she witnessed people with Palestinian flags celebrating the Hamas onslaught against Israel. “I just passed two cars in West London driving with Palestinian flags flying from each window, bouncing up and down in their cars, seemingly celebrating like they were having a party. Make no mistake, this is a dangerous and terrifying time for all Jews around the world,” Riley posted.
I just passed two cars in West London driving with Palestinian flags flying from each window, bouncing up and down in their cars, seemingly celebrating like they were having a party.
Make no mistake, this is a dangerous and terrifying time for all Jews around the world.
In another X post, Rachel Riley shared a video of Palestine supporters cheering and celebrating in London. “People have been brutally murdered, kidnapped and there are people in London dancing,” Riley posted on Saturday.
Acton, half an hour ago.
Popped into a cafe for some baklava with the kids and our Ukrainian friends.
People have been brutally murdered, kidnapped and there are people in London dancing.
Britain First Party leader Paul Golding shared a video of some people in London showing ‘solidarity’ with Palestine as he wrote, “Welcome to London, where terrorists are celebrated.”
In the wake of the incidents of pro-Palestine celebrations in London despite the fact that the UK Prime Minister has condemned the terrorist attacks in Israel and expressed solidarity with the nation, the Metropolitan Police has on Sunday issued a statement saying that it will ‘balance’ the right to protest and will avert any disruption to the people of London.
“We are aware of a number of incidents, including those that have been shared on social media, in relation to the ongoing conflict in Israel and [at] the border with Gaza. “We are aware that the ongoing conflict may lead to protests over the coming days. We will ensure that an appropriate policing plan is in place in order to balance the right to protest against any disruption to Londoners,” the police statement read.
Radicals affiliated with the Samidoun Palestinian Prisoner Solidarity Network gathered in the Berlin-Neukölln district and distributed sweets to celebrate Hamas’s attack on Israel. Notably, the Samidoun group has a history of organising gatherings glorifying Palestinian terrorism.
Gestern fand in der Sonnenallee, in Berlin Neukölln eine angemeldete Kundgebung zur Unterstützung des Widerstands in Palästina statt. Diese wurde von der Polizei angegriffen und mehrere Demonstranten wurden körperlich verletzt. pic.twitter.com/LI9eq4e6AJ
Taking to X on Saturday, the Embassy of Israel in Berlin posted, “Since 6:30 this morning, Hamas terrorists have been indiscriminately murdering Israeli civilians. All Democrats should be absolutely shocked that Samidoun is now celebrating this terror in the middle of Berlin, in the middle of Germany. Samidoun abuses German democracy as a Trojan horse. Words are not enough here! These terrorist supporters must be held accountable using all means of the constitutional state!”
Seit heute Morgen um 6.30 Uhr ermorden Terroristen der Hamas wahllos israelische Zivilisten. Alle Demokraten sollten absolut schockiert sein, dass Samidoun diesen Terror nun mitten in Berlin, mitten in Deutschland, feiert. Samidoun missbraucht als Trojanisches Pferd die deutsche… pic.twitter.com/eoNg1FYMhF
Palestine supporters hit the Canadian streets praising Hamas
After becoming a safe haven for Khalistani terrorists, and honouring a Nazi war veteran, Canada witnessed the celebration over the killing of Israeli people by Hamas. On Toronto’s Roncesvalles Pedestrian Bridge, pro-Palestine banners along with the Palestinian flag were put up on Saturday.
Toronto, Canada – Palestinian supporters waive their flags in support of Hamas terrorists who butchered, raped and kidnapped Jews across Israel.pic.twitter.com/vwbNEfM114
NOW IN TORONTO: Supporters of Hamas raise Palestinian flags at an overpass during an ongoing terror attack that has seen 200 Israeli's dead from executions and bombings so far. pic.twitter.com/P2DyQ9ViPr
— Efrain Flores Monsanto ??? (@realmonsanto) October 7, 2023
Palestinians celebrate in areas across the West Bank
On Saturday evening, Palestinians across the West Bank came to the streets to celebrate Hamas’s deadly attack on Israel, which killed at least 300 Israelis leaving thousands wounded and dozens taken hostage by Hamas.
People, including children, were seen waving Palestinian and Hamas flags, dancing and singing in the streets in key Palestinian cities such as Ramallah, Hebron, Nablus, and Jenin.
It is notable that the West Bank and the Gaza Strip, separated by Israel, form the Palestine state. The Gaza Strip is controlled by Hamas, some parts of the West Bank are governed by Palestinian National Authority, while the rest is under Israeli control.
Lebanon celebrates killings of Israeli civilians
In Lebanon’s Beirut, several bikers were seen waving Hamas and Palestinian flags.
Notably, Lebanon has joined forces with Palestine against Israel and mortar shells were fired towards Israel, as claimed by the Israeli media. The rockets landed near the Lebanon-Israel border in the disputed Mount Dov region. There have been no reports of injuries or property damage.
Iran lights up in celebration as Hamas kills Israeli people
In Iran, people gathered at the Felestin Square in Tehran and lit fireworks in celebration.
Hundreds rally in Felestin square in central Tehran and set off fireworks in celebration of Hamas' "Al-Aqsa Deluge" operation against Israel pic.twitter.com/TokdIdZT9Y
Tehran’s Azadi Square also went in celebration mode with a building lit up in the colours of Palestinian flag and hateful slogans.
الصور المنشورة على وسائل الإعلام تظهر قيام المؤسسات الحكومية في #إيران، أثناء احتفالات في الشوارع بهجوم #حماس العسكري على #إسرائيل، بإنارة ميدان آزادي وسط العاصمة طهران ورفع شعارات باللغة العربية، بالإضافة إلى اسم "فلسطين".https://t.co/ymHkRSvy7fpic.twitter.com/KXQuslfxAI
Notably, Yahya Rahim Safavi, a senior advisor to Iran’s supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei hailed the terror attacks in Israel as a “proud operation”.
Iranian MPs were reported to have chanted “Down with Israel,” “Down with America,” and “Welcome Palestine” slogans during a parliament session on Saturday.
Today, #Iran’s state-run media broadcasted parliament members rising from their seats to chant “Death to Israel” and “Palestine is victorious, Israel will be destroyed”. pic.twitter.com/UzpYHPJYuS
In Iraq’s Baghdad, a mall was illuminated in Palestinian flag colours and the phrase “Al-Aqsa Deluge,” the name Hamas gave to its attack.
Buildings in the Iraqi capital, Baghdad, are decorated with the Palestinian flag and the banner "Al-Aqsa Storm", the name of the current battle by the #Palestinian resistance against the Israeli occupation. pic.twitter.com/PFJwUanbPX
Rallies in favour of Hamas were also held in the Iraqi city of Basra, with individuals driving around carrying banners of local jihadist groups alongside Palestinian flags.
In Turkey, several protesters came together in front of Istanbul’s Fatih mosque. Users on social media were quick to point out that the vast majority of persons present were Arab refugees rather than local citizens.
Israel’s retaliation after Hamas terrorists launched an attack
On October 7th, Hamas terrorists launched thousands of rockets and deployed dozens of terrorists into Israeli cities near the Gaza Strip in an unprecedented terror attack during a major Jewish holiday, killing hundreds. The death toll in the Hamas attack in Israel has reached 600, while around 2000 are injured. On the other hand, around 400 have died and over 2000 people were wounded in Gaza in Israel’s retaliatory action.
Following the nightfall on Saturday, Israel’s retaliatory bombings under Operation Iron Sword in Gaza intensified. This comes after Hamas terrorists infiltrated Israel from Gaza, attacking towns and kibbutzim near the Gaza Strip, killing and injuring a large number of people, many of whom were civilians. Hamas also captured dozens of people and took them to Gaza.
Thousands of missiles were fired from Gaza attacking the south of Israel and places as far distant as Tel Aviv and Jerusalem in an unprecedented offensive that caught Israel off guard as it observed the Jewish festival of Simchat Torah.
Hamas military commander Muhammad Al-Deif called the operation “Al-Aqsa Flood” and said that the assault on Israel was a response to attacks on women, the desecration of the al-Aqsa mosque in Jerusalem and the ongoing siege of Gaza.
Israel’s government has formally declared war on Hamas following the massive terror attack by Hamas terrorists on 7 October. The security cabinet of Israel has voted to put the country officially at war, authorising the government to carry out “significant military activities,” the Prime Minister’s Office announced.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had already said yesterday that the country was at war after Hamas terrorists infiltrated southern Israel through land, water and air along with massive rocket attacks. The high-level security cabinet invoked Clause 40 of Basic Law: The Government, to authorise the govt to declare war. The clause 40 says that the country cannot go to war without a government decision.
The Israel Defence Force (IDF) would now be able to act independently and at its own discretion and report to the relevant national authorities. The 1973 Yom Kippur War marked the last time this Clause 40 was invoked to declare war.
It is notable that while saying that the country was at war, PM Benjamin Netanyahu also asked Palestinians to leave the Gaza Strip ‘now’, indicating that the IDF will launch a full-scale attack on the 41 km long, 6-12 km wide strip boarding Israel, Egypt and the Mediterranean Sea.
Notably, the death toll from the massive assault launched by Hamas on Israeli settlements near Gaza and thousands of rockets fired into Israel is over 600 including dozens of soldiers and police personnel. The Israeli Health Ministry informed that there are now 2,048 wounded people in hospitals among 20 who are in critical condition and 330 who are seriously wounded.
On the other hand, Israeli officials have claimed that hundreds of Hamas terrorists have been killed and many others captured during Operation Iron Sword. The Palestine authorities have confirmed that at least 370 people have been killed and nearly 2,200 injured in Israeli operations, including air raids on Gaza.
Colonel Roi Levy, commander of the special IDF (Israel Defense Forces) Multidimensional unit ‘Refaim’ (Ghost) was murdered on the fateful day of the assault while leading his troops in combat with Hamas terrorists in the southern settlement of Re’im close to Gaza. Colonel Yonatan Steinberg of the Nahal Infantry Brigade, another senior IDF commander was killed on the same day during confrontations with Hamas in the Kerem Shalom region close to the Gaza Strip border.
Levy and Steinberg are among the most senior officers to have been killed in combat in recent memory.” Israel’s Police have recorded 30 policemen dead since the onslaught commenced, and the IDF has officially acknowledged the fatalities of 44 soldiers. Israeli military officials proclaimed that unconfirmed estimates place the number of missing soldiers and citizens at over 750.
Meanwhile, two Israeli tourists were murdered on 8 October when a policeman opened fire on their group in the Egyptian port city of Alexandria. Their Egyptian tour guide was also killed and a third Israeli was moderately injured in the horrifying assault. Israel is sending a military plane to bring back the bodies from Egypt, along with other Israeli survivors of the attack.
Yom Kippur War
The Yom Kippur War known by multiple names such as the Ramadan War, the October War, the 1973 Arab–Israeli War or the Fourth Arab–Israeli War, was an armed conflict fought from October 6 to 25, 1973 between Israel and a coalition of Arab states led by Egypt and Syria. The war began when the Arab coalition jointly launched a surprise attack against Israel on the Jewish holy day of Yom Kippur which had occurred during the 10th of the Islamic holy month of Ramadan in that year.
Following the outbreak of hostilities, both the United States and the Soviet Union initiated massive resupply efforts to their respective allies during the war which led to a confrontation between the two nuclear-armed superpowers. The Arab forces were hoping to regain territory lost during the third Arab-Israeli War in 1967. However, Israel emerged victorious and the Arab countries faced humiliating defeat as a consequence of the altercation.
