News Update
Haaretz reported that, according to a forthcoming book by Shlomi Eldar and Ruti Yuval, the president of the United Arab Emirates, Mohammed bin Zayed, telephoned Prime Minister Netanyahu around 10 days before October 7, 2023 and warned him that Hamas was planning some sort of very large operation. Netanyahu allegedly played down the warning and said that Hamas would most likely act in the West Bank and that Israel was ready for anything. According to the report, Netanyahu did not share the warning with Israel’s security chiefs. The Prime Minister’s Office has called the report an “absolute lie,” alleging that there was no conversation or warning. The Emiratis just issued a “no comment”.
According to a senior Egyptian source, three days before Hamas’ surprise attack on Israel, Egyptian intelligence chief Gen. Abbas Kamel contacted Netanyahu’s office and relayed a message warning that “something unusual, a horrific operation” was about to take place from Gaza. The chairman of the U.S. House Foreign Affairs Committee also said the Egyptian warning had indeed been passed along. The Egyptian intelligence official told ynet that Kamel “was stunned by the indifference” displayed in Israel. Egyptian sources said the response to the Egyptian intelligence chief was that the IDF and Israeli security forces were “preoccupied” with dealing with cities in the West Bank from which terrorist attacks against Israel were being carried out. According to the source, senior Israeli officials told their Egyptian counterparts that “the situation in Gaza, and particularly along the border, is under control.” Netanyahu has denied all of this.
Delegates from 24 countries including Israel, the United States and 12 Arab countries, including states that do not maintain diplomatic relations with Israel, gathered in Washington on Tuesday for the fourth MEAD conference, a closely guarded forum focused on regional security and cooperation. The event brings together political leaders, senior policymakers and other officials for discussions intended to strengthen alliances, encourage dialogue and develop strategic approaches to regional challenges. Discussions cover security, intelligence, technology, business, energy, finance and governance, with a broader focus on strengthening U.S. engagement in the Middle East and encouraging greater regional integration.
The IDF and Shin Bet that they had destroyed three weapons depots and a rocket launch pit in Gaza, belonging to Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad, that had been used to fire rockets at Israel during the war. A statement said, “The terrorist organizations stored dozens of different kinds of weapons inside the storage facilities, including rockets, Kalachnikov rifles, and additional combat equipment. Furthermore, the IDF identified that recently, Hamas terrorists have been arriving at the storage facilities and using the weapons stored inside them to establish control in the Gaza Strip and carry out operations.”
Great Britain yesterday imposed sanctions on products produced in Israeli settlements in Judea and Samaria and on the individuals Bentzi Gopstein, Baruch Marzel, Meir Mordechai Ettinger, Avichai Suissa and Eliav Libi, calling them “extremist settlers”. In response, Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar ordered the closure of the British Consulate in East Jerusalem, the removal of British representatives from the Gaza coordination headquarters in the southern city of Kiryat Gat and an end to British involvement in training Palestinian Authority security forces in Ramallah. Israel also barred 12 Britons from entering the country, accusing them of involvement in antisemitic and anti-Israel activities and of denying Israel’s right to exist. Despite a warning from U.S. Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee, the U.S. did not protest the new British sanctions.
According to the latest Central Bureau of Statistics figures ahead of Rosh Hashanah, Israel’s population is at an estimated 10.305 million, with 7.828 million Jews and 2.173 million are Arabs. For more, click here.
