RT News - October 21 2023 Late

A spiral of violence. According to Palestinian officials, 4,385 are dead and more than 13,500 wounded since the start of the conflict. More than 1 million people have been displaced.

A family's home collapses in Gaza, killing 12 and trapping five more under the rubble. That's after reports of Israeli forces hitting the area adjacent to a nearby hospital. Food is all but run out and there is no drinking water. Hamza Chalan reports.

20 trucks have arrived into Gaza from Egypt, some are still stuck at the border as officials argue the toss. 20 trucks isn't enough for even a fraction of the people. Antonio Guterres from the UN visited the Rafah border crossing and witnessed protests. Civilians hope these small shipments won't be under attack from Israel. Hossein Kolivand, president of the Iranian Red Crescent spoke to RT in the light of their RC workers coming under attack.

Two hostages have been released by Hamas. Israeli civilians protest about lack of information regarding other Israeli hostages which number around 200. Nikki speaks to an Israeli activist Ofer Rosenbaum.

USA are still obstructing investigations into the Al-Ahli hospital bombing with Pres. Biden saying he takes the word of Israeli government. RT's Marina Kosareva presents details about dual standards. Live footage from Al Jazeera would seem to put the responsibility for the hospital bombing as Israel's. Al Jazeera may be banned from Israel's broadcasting. The UN asks for an independent inquiry. John Varoli contributes.

Essential medicines are also critically low and there is little fuel to power the generators which are being used, due to the cuts of electricity by the Israeli government to Gaza. A doctor at the neo-natal unit in Al-Shifa makes reports.

Funerals were held for 18 victims killed at the Greek Orthodox church which was bombed by Israel forced.

As the evacuees from the north of Gaza move south as instructed by the Israeli government, the cities they arrive at come under bombardment from the Israeli forces. 28-30 tower blocks of flats were levelled in Al-Zahra leaving little but rubble. Earlier this week IDF bombed Khan Yunis, instantly killing 40 civilians and wounding scores more. Rami Almughari reports from Al-Zahra.

RT Quick take : Two American hostages are released by HAMAS with around 200 people remaining in captivity after the latest violence erupted two weeks ago. We hear from the relatives of those yet to be freed. Washington rejects the need for an independent investigation into the brutal attack on a Gaza hospital that killed hundreds of civilians, and adopts Israel's version of events.

Extra: Up to 300,000 people turned out in London today calling for a ceasefire in the Gaza / Israel conflict (X, formerly twitter) https://twitter.com/BenJamalpsc/status/1715779166216368350
Ben Jamal is a director of Palestine Solidarity Campaign
also https://twitter.com/CensoredMen/status/1715743149761397174 from @CensoredMen (don't know who this man is)

Israel doubles number of Palestinian prisoners to 10,000 in two weeks. Since October 7, Israel has arrested 4,000 labourers from Gaza and more than 1,000 people in the occupied West Bank acording to Palestinian officials.

Hezbollah militants are paying “a heavy price” for their cross-border attacks on Israel, Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant said during a visit to troops stationed near the Lebanese border. Gallant added that the challenge posed by Hezbollah “will become greater,” and that Israeli forces should be prepared “for any situation.”
Clashes along the border have escalated in recent days, with dozens of rockets fired into Israel on Friday. One Israeli soldier died in an anti-tank missile attack while another was seriously wounded by gunfire, the IDF said