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- 🐾 Israel ignored warnings
🐾 Israel ignored warnings
Geopolitics Hound
October 10, 2023
Good morning, readers!
Middle East tensions skyrocket with no end in sight as Israel mobilizes a record number of reservists to tackle Hamas.
➕ As the Israel-Hamas war rages into day 4, more damning information about Israeli intelligence’s negligence is surfacing.
Today’s hotspots
What happened:
Israel-Hamas war (day 3)
Casualties.
Deaths (both sides): Above 1,500.
Hostages (Israel): Above 150.
Israel regains control of attacked territories.
Israeli forces have regained full control over all Gaza Strip-bordering towns, quashing the weekend’s Hamas incursions, according to a Israeli military spokesperson.
Israeli defense minister Yoav Gallant (middle).
Defense minister orders total siege of Gaza.
Israeli defense minister Yoav Gallant has ordered a complete blockade of the Gaza Strip, cutting off all supplies and access to the outside world.
Israel Defense Forces (IDF) reservists preparing to fight.
300,000 reservists mobilized.
The Israeli military has mobilized 300,000 reservists, the largest number in decades, for a possible ground offensive. Meanwhile, Israel is also on high alert for a possible war with Hezbollah in the northern border with Lebanon.
US warns Hezbollah.
The US is deploying a carrier strike group to the eastern Mediterranean to deter the Iran-backed group from opening a second front against Israel. The US says Hezbollah’s actions would be a “wrong decision” with grave consequences.
Netanyahu tells Biden: We have to go in.
Prime Minister Netanyahu reportedly told President Biden that he has no choice but to respond with force to Hamas’ attacks.
Hamas threatens to kill hostages.
Hamas warned Israel that it will execute one Israeli hostage every time Israel targets Gaza civilians “without warning.” Note that Hamas intentionally places military installations around residential areas, hospitals, and schools.
Quick updates
Click the country's name for more.👇🏻🇪🇬 Egypt:
Hamas blindsides Israel with a deadly surprise attack.
According to an Egyptian intelligence official, Egypt repeatedly alerted Israel of “something big” from Gaza. Israel, however, brushed off the warnings and focused on the West Bank instead.
✱ NOTE: Egypt’s intelligence minister personally called Netanyahu 10 days before the surprise Hamas attack, but was met with indifference.
🇨🇳 China:
US Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (left) shaking hands with Xi Jinping (right) on October 9.
Schumer pressures Xi to condemn Hamas attacks on Israel.
Schumer, who met with Xi in Beijing, criticized China’s weak response to the Hamas rocket attacks on Israel and demanded a stronger statement that shows sympathy for the Israeli people. China obliged, but not without some resentment.
Original:
China is deeply concerned over the current escalation of tensions and violence between Palestine and Israel. We call on relevant parties to remain calm, exercise restraint and immediately end the hostilities to protect civilians and avoid further deterioration of the situation.
Revised:
China is closely following the escalating conflict between Palestine and Israel. We’re deeply saddened by the civilian casualties and oppose and condemn acts that harm civilians. We oppose moves that escalate the conflict and destabilize the region and hope fighting will stop and peace will return soon.
✱ NOTE: China’s revised statement still did not mention Hamas by name or explicitly support Israel’s right to self-defense.
🇪🇺 European Union:
EU flip-flops on suspending aid to Palestinians after Hamas attacks.
The EU can’t seem to make up its mind on whether to cut off funds for the Palestinian authorities. Mere 5 hours after an EU commissioner announced a halt to all payments and projects in response to Hamas’ attacks on Israel, the bloc backtracked and said there was no suspension for now.
✱ NOTE: The EU said it would review its assistance to ensure that no money goes to terrorists, but also stressed its support for the Palestinian people.