Stay informed with our live updates on the unfolding crisis in Israel and the Gaza Strip. The war that began on Oct. 7 has become the deadliest of the five Gaza wars for both sides. Here are the latest updates on the Israel-Hamas war:
US Sends More Air Defense Systems to Middle East, Orders More Troops to Prepare
The Pentagon announced on Saturday that the United States will deploy a Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) system and additional Patriot missile system battalions to the Middle East following recent attacks on U.S. troops. In recent weeks, the United States has also sent substantial naval resources to the region, including two aircraft carriers, support ships, and around 2,000 Marines. With rising regional tensions amid the Israel-Hamas war, the United States is on high alert for potential actions by Iran-backed groups. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin stated that the moves aim to strengthen the U.S. defense posture in the region and increase protection for U.S. forces, as well as assist in Israel’s defense. He added that he was placing additional troops on prepare-to-deploy orders, but did not say how many. The deployments come two years after Biden’s administration withdrew air defense systems from the Middle East, citing a reduction in tensions with Iran.
US Pushes UN to Back Israel’s Self-defense, Demand Iran Stop Arms to Hamas
The United States proposed on Saturday a draft U.N. Security Council resolution that says Israel has a right to defend itself and demands Iran stop exporting arms to “militias and terrorist groups threatening peace and security across the region.” The draft text calls for the protection of civilians—including those who are trying to get to safety—notes that states must comply with international law when responding to “terrorist attacks,” and urges the “continuous, sufficient, and unhindered” delivery of aid to the Gaza Strip. It was not immediately clear if or when the United States planned to put the draft resolution to a vote. To pass, a resolution needs at least nine votes in favor and no vetoes by Russia, China, the United States, France, or Britain.
Israel Strikes Underground Compound at West Bank Mosque: IDF
The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) reported that a military aircraft launched a strike on the Al-Ansar mosque in the Jenin refugee camp in the West Bank early Sunday. The mosque contained “a terror compound belonging to the Hamas and Islamic Jihad terror operatives that were responsible for several terror attacks over the last months, and were organizing an additional imminent terror attack,” the IDF said on Telegram. The Palestinian Red Crescent confirmed that one Palestinian was killed during the strike.
Casualties
More than 1,400 people have been killed and 4,450 have been injured in Israel. Most of the deaths are civilians slain during the initial Hamas attack on Oct. 7. Hamas captured at least 210 individuals, including children, taking them into Gaza. Separately, on Oct. 10, the IDF reported that they killed approximately 1,500 Hamas terrorists since the start of the war. The Gaza Health Ministry, backed by Hamas, has claimed that more than 4,000 civilians have been killed and more than 12,500 have been injured in Gaza. In past conflicts, some Palestinian deaths in Gaza were attributed to Hamas rockets that fell short.
Summary of Events
After the unprecedented attack by Hamas on Oct. 7, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) responded on Oct. 13 by urging civilians in northern Gaza to evacuate, anticipating intensified military actions. This came after around 1,400 Israelis were killed in the initial attack, prompting Israel to launch “Operation Swords of Iron” aimed at neutralizing Hamas. Israel declared war on Hamas on Oct. 8 and later relaxed its gun license regulations, to enable more civilians to arm themselves. By Oct. 8, Israel had already started its evacuation campaign through mass text messages. Hamas, an Iran-backed Islamist terrorist group, took control of Gaza in 2007 after clashing with Fatah, a rival Palestinian faction. While Fatah nowadays leans towards peaceful negotiations for a two-state resolution, Hamas denies Israel’s right to exist and resorts to armed violence. Hamas claimed to hold over 200 Israeli hostages and on Oct. 9 threatened to kill the hostages if Israeli airstrikes hit Gaza civilians “without warning.” The IDF noted on Oct. 10 that Hamas intentionally locates its bases near civilian buildings like hospitals and schools, thus turning the buildings into valid military targets. It blames Hamas for intentionally doing this to maximize international condemnation of any Israeli attempts to fight back against the terrorists. Israel on Oct. 9 cut off supplies of food, fuel, electricity, and medicine into Gaza and emphasized that the blockade would remain until all the hostages were released. By Oct. 11, Israel had established an emergency government and activated around 360,000 army reservists who have gathered along Israel’s border with Gaza. The Israeli military also disclosed plans to target Hamas’s sprawling tunnel network beneath Gaza City, which the terrorists use and is shielded by civilian structures above. Meanwhile, Hamas vowed to fight to the last drop of blood and told Gazan residents to refrain from evacuating the area. The United States began charter flights on Oct. 13 and boat evacuations on Oct. 17 to evacuate Americans out of Israel. The White House reported on Oct. 17 that 31 Americans had died, and 13 were missing since the war began.