1️⃣0️⃣1️⃣ HOSTAGES 🎗️
• Hamas on Thursday rejected any proposal for a temporary halt to more than a year of fighting in Gaza and reiterated its insistence on a lasting ceasefire, as American, Egyptian, and Qatari mediators tried to coax the Palestinian terror group back to the negotiating table. https://lnk.sk/hsb0
———
ISRAEL 🇮🇱
• Israeli government has approved budget for 2025, which significantly increases defense spending while cutting healthcare, education and social services. https://lnk.sk/sek7 ; https://lnk.sk/rklo
• IDF announces formation of new division to defend Israel’s border with Jordan. Move comes weeks after gunmen breached border in an area south of the Dead Sea. https://lnk.sk/ubeu
———
IRAN 🇮🇷 ⏳ ISRAEL 🇮🇱
• Iran is preparing to attack Israel from Iraqi territory using a large number of drones and ballistic missiles, possibly before the US election on Nov. 5, Axios reported citing two unidentified Israeli sources…
• …New York Times report, citing three Iranian sources, said that Ayatollah Ali Khamenei had already on Monday, ordered to prepare to strike Israel. https://lnk.sk/rszt
• Israel is at a “high level of readiness” as it awaits response from Iran, a military source tells CNN. Israel’s strikes “created a dilemma for Tehran” since it diminished its capability to attack and defend. https://lnk.sk/hwnz
———
HEZBOLLAH IN LEBANON 🇱🇧
• US asked Lebanon to declare unilateral ceasefire with Israel, two sources say https://lnk.sk/hrhw
• Hezbollah rocket attacks on northern Israel killed seven people in agricultural fields near Metula (four Thais) and Haifa Thursday, marking deadliest day in months for civilians in Israel. https://lnk.sk/eovt
• Israel carried out air strikes early on Friday on Beirut’s southern suburbs. Marking the first strikes in nearly a week. IDF Arabic spokesperson issued an evacuation warning before. https://lnk.sk/ipa2
• The IDF had destroyed around 70% of Hezbollah’s drones, killed 10% of Hezbollah’s drone operators since it escalated its attacks in mid-September. https://lnk.sk/kh49
———
SAMARIA & JUDEA (so called West Bank), GAZA
• A counterterrorism operation led to the elimination of known terrorists in the West Bank. During the operation, a drone identified terrorists smuggling weaponry into a Tulkarm hospital. https://lnk.sk/bfxq
• IDF says it hit terrorists hiding in Gaza hospital, claims Hamas crumbling in Jabalia. Military publishes video of former UNRWA employee telling interrogator Hamas looted refugee aid agency. https://lnk.sk/mxi0
———
UNRWA 🇺🇳
• Lawmakers behind UNRWA ban dismiss international criticism. “Our goal is not to stop the humanitarian aid but to go through channels that are not pro-Hamas,” MK Dan Illouz said. https://lnk.sk/vhu6
• UNRWA chief says new Israeli laws targeting UN agency mean ‘more people will die in Gaza’ https://lnk.sk/hwq8
Sources: Axios, New York Times, CNN, Jerusalem Post, The Times of Israel and the sources cited directly in some reports
©️ ICEJ Slovakia; peter.svec@icej.sk