RT News - October 28th 2023 LATE

"With all communications down it means that it will be even more difficult to obtain critical information and evidence about human rights violations and war crimes being committed against Palestinian civilians in Gaza and to hear directly from those suffering the violations" Amnesty International said today.
(more LIVE UPDATES below commentary)

Overnight the bombardment of Gaza continued and more than 100 civilians are reported dead. Rafah has been attacked by Israel, it's the route for humanitarian supplies. The first images emerge amidst the blackout.

Footage of Israeli fighter jets bombing Gaza. (my comment - who knew they would be used for such purposes as destroying an already fully blockaded country that Israel has occupied for 56 years and wiping out it's people. These airstrike bombings happened whilst the United Nations voted for a humanitarian ceasefire.)

Rory talks to Walid Seyam who reports on the blackout, it's devastating, terrifying and chaotic - we are cut out.

Israel releases images of the tanks it's lining up to use for the "ground incursion"

Maria Finoshina gives an update report from Jerusalem, including hostages status. (there is no internet for usual on the ground Gaza reports) Rami Aman (contributor journalist) comments with Eunan; he has lost contact with his family in Gaza.

Iran's FM Hossein Amir-Abdollahian says the US is running the war and has called it a proxy war.

Iran is hosting an emergency meeting with it's top military officials as the conflict escalates. Yusef Jalali reports from Iran and was at the meeting.

Yasen Eken reports from the Lebanon/Israel border and says the sentiments from Iran are felt in Lebanon too. Drones can be heard 24/7, towns near to the border have been evacuated. The Lebanese military are being sent to the south, there are about 100,000 readied. Non state actors could also amount to 10,000

The Grayzone spoke with Gabor Mate (trauma expert) who says it's the worst thing he's seen in his whole life; the victims are being shown as the perpetrators.

Protests continue around the world. In South Africa Katlego Msomi reports from Johannesburg where people are calling for immediate ceasefire in Gaza and BDS to apply for every import and product from Israel and to cease all Israel investments.

In Türkiye many thousands have rallied in support of Palestine. Pres. Erdogan has called for an immediate ceasefire. Melda Dogan reports from Istanbul.

In the United Nations General Assembly a humanitarian resolution was passed. As the meeting continued Israeli airstrikes and bombing continued. 120 voted to uphold the resolution whilst 45 abstained and 14 voted against it. UN posted "The United Nations General Assembly on Friday adopted a resolution calling for an “immediate, durable and sustained humanitarian truce” between Israeli forces and Hamas militants in Gaza. It also demands “continuous, sufficient and unhindered” provision of lifesaving supplies and services for civilians trapped inside the enclave, as news reports suggest Israel has expanded ground operations and intensified its bombing campaign."

Israel's UN amb. Gilad Erdan said voting for peace is the same as supporting HAMAS.

Short take : The first images emerging from Gaza show smoke covering the area following Israel's massive overnight strikes and a complete communications blackout. The IDF releases footage of its tanks entering Gaza from the north, as debate swirls whether a full ground operation is now in fact underway. Israel rejects a UN resolution calling for an immediate ceasefire and declares that it will use all available tools to rid the world of what it calls the evil of Hamas.

28 October 2023

16:06 GMT
Israel can only succeed in destroying Hamas if it continues ground operations in Gaza, IDF Chief of Staff General Herzi Halevi said in a statement. “The objectives of the war require ground entry. There are no achievements without risks, and there is no victory without prices being paid,” he said. “In order to expose the enemy and destroy it, there is no other way but to enter its territory with great force.”

14:31 GMT
Israel is recalling its diplomats from Türkiye in light of “harsh statements” from Ankara, Israeli Foreign Minister Eli Cohen has announced. It is unclear how many Israeli representatives are still in Türkiye, as officials from both countries told media outlets last week that Israeli ambassador Irit Lillian and other staff had left the country amid protests outside her residence.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan described Hamas militants as “freedom fighters” earlier this week, and on Saturday said that Türkiye would soon show the world evidence of Israeli “war crimes” in Gaza.

13:23 GMT
Israel has “moved on to a new phase in the war,” Defence Minister Yoav Gallant announced, declaring that “the ground shook in Gaza” on Friday night as Israeli forces “attacked above ground and below ground, attacking terrorists of all ranks, in all places.”

Friday night saw both the heaviest Israeli bombardment of Gaza since the beginning of the conflict and the first major incursion into the strip by Israeli troops and armour. Gallant said that the operation will continue in this manner “until new orders are given.”

(see earlier short post for "events as they happened" today)