More than 1,500 individuals have lost their lives since the unexpected assault by the Hamas militant group on Israel from Gaza early Saturday, prompting Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to proclaim the onset of a war.
An Israeli embassy spokesperson revealed that the death toll among Israelis had surged to a minimum of 900, with the majority of them being civilians. Additionally, another 2,150 people have been reported as wounded. Among the casualties, over 250 were attendees of the Supernova music festival near the Gaza border, where militants opened fire on the crowd. Harry Michaels reporting.
—
The Biden administration has firmly rejected assertions linking last month’s prisoner exchange with Iran to the terrorist attack on Israel, which occurred after Hamas initiated its surprise assault.
Following the assault by Hamas militants on Israel, Republicans swiftly attempted to draw connections, unsupported by evidence, between the attack and the unfreezing of $6 billion in funds as part of the U.S.-Iran prisoner swap in September. State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller emphasized, “Let’s be unequivocal: the agreement to repatriate U.S. citizens from Iran is entirely unrelated to the tragic assault on Israel. Not a single dollar has been allocated.” Kyle Norris reporting.
—
Major airlines have suspended flight operations to and from Israel in the wake of the nation’s declaration of war following the extensive Hamas attack.
Israel has targeted over 1,000 sites in Gaza, while Palestinian militants persist in launching rocket barrages, triggering air raid sirens in Jerusalem and Tel Aviv. Online footage has emerged depicting a plume of smoke near a terminal at Tel Aviv’s Ben Gurion International Airport. Benjamin Wright reporting.
—
The White House disclosed that President Joe Biden has been interviewed by the independent prosecutor’s team investigating his handling of classified documents during his time out of office.
White House spokesman Ian Sams conveyed that the voluntary interview spanned two days, Sunday and Monday, concluding on Monday itself, and took place at the White House. Anna Shelling reporting.
