Israel Orders "Complete Siege’ of Gaza After Unprecedented Hamas Attack
Nearly 1,000 Israelis Dead As Hamas Threatens To Kill Hostages
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Good morning,
Here’s a look at the White House last night paying tribute to Israel, one of the US’s closest allies.
Mosheh, Jill, & Courtney
🗞 INSIDE THE HAMAS’ TERROR ATTACK ON ISRAEL
The situation in the Middle East is escalating quickly, which we’ve been covering 24/7 on the Mo News Instagram account. That said, here’s a state of play in Israel and Gaza, after Hamas terrorists launched an unprecedented attack on Saturday morning, described as Israel’s 9/11.
A war is now underway in the Middle East as Israel has begun a counterstrike. It has been sudden, historic, and there are signs that it is escalating — quickly. Israel has now sealed off Gaza after the incursion—blocking power, fuel and food to the territory as it begins a potential invasion. That comas as Hamas vows to execute Israeli hostages, if Israel continues its counterstrike.
WHAT HAPPENED: DEATH TOLL & HOSTAGES
Hamas, the Palestinian terror group that rules the Gaza Strip, launched a vicious attack against Israel that began early Saturday morning local time.
Hamas fighters infiltrated Israel through its border with the Gaza Strip and immediately began murdering, raping, and kidnapping hundreds of innocent civilians.
The magnitude and complexity of Hamas’ attacks has shocked the world. We will spare you some of the most inhumane images and videos, which showed Hamas terrorists dragging the bloodied corpses of civilians and Israeli soldiers across the dirt, stripping some of them naked, and parading their dead bodies as prizes on the back of their pickup trucks. They kidnapped entire families, including young children and elderly, and raped women at a music festival, whose theme was ‘peace.’
The State Department confirmed 11 Americans have been murdered in the attack on Israel from Gaza by Hamas. The number of Americans being held hostage by Hamas is still unknown. The State Department says it's working with its Israeli partners to help find them. The dead, the missing and the hostages also come from nearly two dozen other countries.
By the numbers, as of Tuesday morning eastern time:
900+ Israelis killed
2,500+ hospitalized with injuries across Israel and Gaza
150+ Israelis, including children and elderly, are being held hostage by Hamas
600+ Palestinians killed, 3,700+ wounded, according to Hamas. Israel says most of the dead are Hamas terrorists.
Thousands of Israelis displaced; 180,000+ Palestinians displaced
GEOGRAPHY OF THE WAR
Below you can see the map of Israel and its surrounding regions. Israel is roughly the size of New Jersey. The attacks are taking place along its border with Gaza - that’s where Hamas terrorists entered the country on Saturday and began attacking civilians.
The Gaza Strip is one of the world’s most impoverished and most destitute areas. Israel officially withdrew forces from Gaza in 2005. Shortly after, Hamas— a terrorist organization— won Palestinian elections and then conducted a military takeover of the 7 mile by 25 mile territory. Both Israel and Egypt maintain a pretty consistent blockade on the territory due to terrorist activity, though commerce, aid and workers pass through the border.
Meanwhile, the West Bank is home to about 4 million Palestinians, and Israel has been controversially building settlements in the area—where more than 400,000 Jews live. It is governed in-part by the Palestinian Authority and in-part by Israel.
WHAT IS HAMAS?
Hamas is a designated terrorist organization by Israel, the US, UK, and EU. It was founded in 1987 with a charter calling for the destruction of Israel and the killing of all Jews.
Hamas is backed by Iran, which funds it and provides its weapons and training.
There are reports that Iran helped Hamas plot this attack on Israel for weeks.
MAGNITUDE OF THIS ATTACK
This is the most significant attack Hamas has ever launched, and the most catastrophic attack Israel has faced in 50 years. Saturday was the deadliest day for Jews since the Holocaust.
Throughout the day Monday, Israel launched a series of retaliatory strikes against Gaza, hitting several civilian targets like mosques and a marketplace.
Israel is targeting these locations because military officials say Hamas purposely operates out of civilian targets, including one of the mosques Israel struck yesterday.
It’s a strategy to protect their assets; Hamas will be less susceptible to attacks if they use innocent civilians as a “shield.”
HAMAS WARNS OF EXECUTIONS
Hamas is now threatening to kill the Israeli citizens it is holding hostage, one by one — and says it will broadcast the executions — for every retaliatory attack Israel launches on Gaza.
INTEL FAILURE & U.S. RESPONSE
The fact that the attack came as a complete surprise suggests a massive intelligence failure by both the Israeli government and U.S. intelligence agencies, both of which said they were blindsided by the barrage of Hamas fighters across the border and the launch of thousands of rockets.
It will inevitably raise investigations into how Israel could have been caught off guard by such a large-scale and sophisticated attack.
The Hamas attack is putting fresh attention on the U.S. southern border, where the number of suspects on the terrorist watchlist trying to cross the border has risen.
FEARS OF ESCALATION
While it as been a bloody and violent past few days in the Middle East, this is likely the start of even deadlier war. Taking out Hamas infrastructure in Gaza is fraught with risk, including a high death toll on both sides and the more than 150 hostages under Hamas control.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu says Israel will amplify its military operation against Hamas, warning of an offensive stronger than ever before. “We always knew who Hamas was. Now, the rest of the world knows.”
⏳ SPEED READ
🚨NATION
📌 Robert F. Kennedy Jr. to run for president as independent, leaving Democratic primary (NEW YORK TIMES)
📌 Biden Interviewed by Special Counsel regarding classified documents (WALL STREET JOURNAL)
📌 Will Hurd suspends 2024 presidential campaign (NBC NEWS)
📌 Ken Paxton to file criminal complaints against Texas House impeachment managers (THE TEXAS TRIBUNE)
🌎 AROUND THE WORLD
📌 Schumer, U.S. senators meet China's Xi in latest diplomatic outreach (AXIOS)
📌 Morocco welcomes annual meeting of IMF and World Bank a month after deadly earthquake (ABC NEWS)
📌 Hezbollah fires again at Israel, spurring fears of second front (THE HILL)
📌 Airlines cut flights in Israel during war with Hamas (WASHINGTON POST)
📱BUSINESS, SCIENCE & TECH
📌 X, formerly Twitter, amplifies disinformation amid the Israel-Hamas conflict (CNBC)
📌 Godfather of AI tells '60 Minutes' he fears the technology could one day take over humanity (YAHOO! ENTERTAINMENT)
📌 Walgreens pharmacy staff walk out, citing unsafe working conditions (WASHINGTON POST)
📌 California to require big firms to reveal carbon emissions in first law of its kind (THE GUARDIAN)
🎬 SPORTS & ENTERTAINMENT
📌 Dwayne Johnson apologizes for asking those people to donate to his Maui wildfire fund (FOX NEWS)
📌 Celebrity chef Michael Chiarello dies at 61 in Napa Valley after allergic reaction (ABC NEWS)
📌 Actors continue strike talks with studios after writers agree to deal (DEADLINE)
📌 Cricket, squash, lacrosse and flag football all set for 2028 LA Olympics (THE GUARDIAN)
🗓 ON THIS DAY: OCTOBER 10
On this day in 1996, the Seinfeld episode featuring Elaine’s infamous ‘dance’ aired.
1865: The billiard ball—made of a synthetic plastic—was patented by John Wesley Hyatt. It was previously made of ivory from elephant tusks.
1966: Beach Boys released ‘Good Vibrations.’
1980: The arcade game ‘Pac-Man’ was released in North America
1999: The inaugural Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival was held at the Empire Polo Club in Indio, California.