RT News - October 17 2023 LATE

Dozens feared dead in a Tuesday morning attack allegedly carried out by Israeli forces on a residential building in southern Gaza.

Humanitarian agencies raise the alarm over the conditions civilians face in the area. In the midst of war, Israel scrambles to identify those killed in the initial attack by Hamas.

A forensic investigator says her nation will remain strong despite the emotional toll.

Pres. Vladimir Putin meets with a number of leaders at the third Belt and Road forum in China as Beijing hosts the event paving the way to connect the multipolar world.

UPDATES 17 October 2023

16:24 GMT
According to Palestinian medical sources, an Israeli airstrike in Gaza City's Sheikh Radwan neighbourhood resulted in the deaths of 14 family members of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh. Among the casualties, reportedly, are Haniyeh's brother and nephew. Haniyeh himself is in Qatar at present.

16:11 GMT
Israel's national security adviser Tzachi Hanegbi stated on Tuesday that the United States would become "involved" if the Gaza conflict escalated to the point where Iran and Hezbollah joined forces with Hamas. During a televised briefing, Hanegbi highlighted US President Joe Biden's expressions of support, including US naval deployments in the Mediterranean and a public warning to both the Lebanese group and Tehran against getting involved in the conflict.

"He is making clear to our enemies that if they even imagine taking part in the offensive against the citizens of Israel, there will be American involvement here," Hanegbi said.

"Israel will not be alone ... A US force is here and it is ready," he added, without elaborating.

16:09 GMT
The Bataan Amphibious Ready Group, consisting of over 4,000 sailors and marines, will be added to an expanding US fleet near the Israeli coast, according to two anonymous American defence officials who spoke with the Washington Post on Monday. This fleet will also comprise two aircraft carriers and their accompanying escort vessels.

14:13 GMT
The head of the IDF’s Military Intelligence Directorate, Major General Aharon Haliva, has said he bears full responsibility for Hamas being able to carry out its surprise attack on Israel. The events of October 7 were “an intelligence failure” on the part of the Israeli security services, Haliva acknowledged. The agency “under my command, failed to warn of the terror attack carried out by Hamas… and as the head of the Military Intelligence Directorate, I bear full responsibility for the failure,” the spy chief stressed.

On Monday, the head of Shin Bet security agency Ronen Bar also said that he was responsible for his organization being “unable to generate a sufficient warning” about what Hamas planned. The attack by the Palestinian armed group resulted in more than 1,400 people being killed and more than 4,000 being wounded. Some 200 Israelis and foreigners have also been taken hostage.

14:11 GMT
The US Department of Defence has confirmed media reports that around 2,000 military personnel are on alert due to the security situation in the Middle East. However, Deputy Press Secretary Sabrina Singh clarified that so far no decision has been taken to send them into action.

14:09 GMT
The Israeli military is preparing for an upcoming operation in Gaza, but it might not be the “imminent ground offensive” many expect, according to army spokesperson Lt Colonel Richard Hecht. “We are preparing for the next stages of war. We haven’t said what they will be. Everybody’s talking about the ground offensive. It might be something different,” Hecht stated.

13:45 GMT
The status of Gaza will become a “global issue” for discussion after Israel concludes its operation against Hamas, IDF spokesman Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari said at a briefing. “We’ve had all kinds of endgames,” Hagari replied, when asked about the possibly of an Israeli occupation of the Palestinian enclave. “The cabinet is also discussing what that could look like… this is also a global issue, what the situation will look like in this region,” he said. US President Joe Biden, who is expected to arrive in Israel on Wednesday, warned earlier that an Israeli occupation of Gaza is going to be a “big mistake.”

13:13 GMT
Some 1,200 people, including 500 minors, could be trapped under the rubble of collapsed buildings as result of Israeli airstrikes on Gaza, Mohammed Abu Selmia, head of Gaza’s largest medical center, Shifa Hospital, has told AP. According to Abu Selmia, this estimate is based on the number of distress calls received by emergency services. “So many times medics say they hear victims scream, but they cannot do anything about it,” he said.

12:51 GMT
Israeli Defence Minister Yoav Gallant has issued an ultimatum to Hamas fighters, saying they “have two options: either die in their positions or surrender unconditionally.”
“Our planes will reach everywhere… every missile has an address. We will reach each and every one of the members of Hamas,” Gallant told Israeli Air Force pilots during a visit to the Nevatim airbase. “We will wipe out the Hamas organization and dismantle it of all its capabilities,” the minister vowed.

12:44 GMT
The Israeli Health Ministry has said that 344 people out of the 4,229 injured as result of the October 7 Hamas attack remain hospitalized, adding that 82 patients are in serious condition. The death toll from the attack has surpassed 1,400.

According to the latest data from the Gaza Health Ministry, more than 2,800 people have been killed and almost 10,800 were wounded in IDF’s retaliatory strikes on the Palestinian enclave.