Twenty-six days have passed since the tragic events of Oct. 7, when the Hamas militant group executed a series of fatal attacks in Israel.
These actions resulted in the loss of Israeli civilian lives and the abduction of an estimated 240 hostages who remain in captivity in the Gaza Strip. In response, the Israeli Defense Force has responded with airstrikes targeting Hamas in the Palestinian enclave, along with a ground invasion that commenced Oct. 27.
According to NBC, evacuations of people trapped in Gaza have started through the Rafah border. Injured civilians began arriving in Egypt.
The IDF reportedly killed a senior Hamas commander with an airstrike on the Jabaliya camp near Gaza City.
Al-Jazeera television aired footage of the devastation. The exact toll is not yet known.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Wednesday warned, “We are in a difficult war. This will be a long war.”
In the U.S., protesters interrupted U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken’s testimony before Congress on Tuesday.
Netanyahu refused to backdown and taking advise from allies for a cease fire for humanitarian aid and the safety of the hostages.
The Gaza Strip Crossing Authority listed 600 foreign nationals that were crossing in to Egypt. Around 400 of the foreign nationals are U.S. citizens.
A number of NATO personnel are waiting for the evacuees from Israel at the UK sovereign bases of Akrotiri and Dekhelia, which is in the island of Cyprus.
At a fundraiser in Minnesota, a donor heckled President Joe Biden pleading for a cease fire for the purpose of humanitarian efforts.
“I want to thank our partners in the region and particularly Qatar who’ve worked so closely with us to support negotiations to facilitate the departure of these citizens,” said President Biden.
Biden has called on Netanyahu and Hamas for a cease fire as foreign nationals are evacuating the region.
Israel was able to rescue and IDF soldier from Hamas as Private Uri Magadish was held in captivity.
“Last night our forces freed the female soldier Private Uri Magidish from Hamas captivity. Uri was kidnapped on the black morning of October 7th,” said Netanyahu in a tweet on X, former known as Twitter. “Welcome home, Uri. I congratulate the Shin Bet and the IDF for this important and exciting achievement, an achievement that expresses our commitment to the release of all the abductees.”
U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken is currently heading to Turkey as the U.S. renewing the support for Israel.
Produced in association with Benzinga
