Swords of Iron: What happened on day 10?

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said on Tuesday that US President Joe Biden will travel to Israel on Wednesday after meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

Biden will reaffirm US solidarity with Israel and make clear that Israel has the right and duty to defend its people from Hamas, Blinken said.

The US President will continue to coordinate with Israeli partners to secure the hostages' release from Hamas, the US secretary said, and also noted that the US and Israel agreed on a plan that will allow aid to reach Gazan civilians.

"If Hamas blocks humanitarian aid from reaching civilians, we'll work to prevent it from happening again," the Secretary of State said.

Speaking with the Egyptian President

Biden earlier spoke with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi and discussed the need to preserve stability in the Middle East during a phone call on Monday, the White House said.

A billboard in support of US President Joe Biden seen in Israel, October 11, 2023 (credit: AVSHALOM SASSONI/MAARIV)

Biden and Sisi also discussed ongoing efforts to alleviate the worsening humanitarian crisis in the Gaza Strip, the White House said.

The State Attorney's Office announced on Monday on X that it has given its consent for the Israel Police to launch investigations into numerous cases involving the dissemination of support and praise for the terrorist activities of Hamas.

This decision comes in the wake of heightened security concerns and a firm commitment to combat any expressions of support for terrorism within the country.

In a significant move, the State Attorney's Office has authorized the police to identify the individuals responsible for these publications and, when deemed necessary, request that the courts detain them throughout the legal proceedings.

As of now, the police have initiated investigations into nearly 100 suspects, with some already apprehended and set to be held in detention while further investigations take place.

Zero-tolerance stance towards those who openly express support for the enemy

This decisive action reflects the State Attorney's zero-tolerance stance towards those who openly or indirectly express support for the enemy and their reprehensible actions, which have targeted and harmed Israeli citizens.

Iran ordered Hezbollah to escalate against Israel on Sunday, IDF Spokesperson Brig. Gen. Daniel Hagari said in his Monday morning press conference.

"If Hezbollah fails to understand us, the response will be deadly," said Hagari repeating the sentence for emphasis.

There has been an ongoing debate about whether Iran was involved more generally, with general training, funding and logistics support, or with specific direction and responsibility for Hamas' invasion of the South on October 7, but Hagari was unambiguous about his accusation on Monday.

Several UN-flagged trucks were leaving the southern Gaza Strip on Monday in the direction of a meeting point of the Palestinian enclave's borders with Israel and Egypt, a Reuters TV staffer said.

The trucks initially appeared to be en route to the Rafah crossing on the Gaza-Egypt border but their course later appeared to take them in the direction of Kerem Shalom, an Israeli border crossing close to the Egyptian frontier.

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz will travel to Israel on Tuesday, broadcaster ntv reported, citing government sources.

German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock was in Israel last week.

China's foreign ministry said on Monday that four Chinese nationals had been killed, with two missing and six injured in the conflict between Israel and Hamas.

At present, commercial flights between China and Israel are still in operation, the ministry said.

While the US is focused on the Middle East this week and Israel is considering whether a ground incursion in Gaza should take place; Russia and China are holding talks.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov arrived in the Chinese capital on Monday, starting his visit to Beijing which will host its third Belt and Road international forum, according to TASS. 

This is important because Russia and China have both been critical of Israel after the Hamas attack. Despite years in which Israeli foreign policy attempted to cultivate these two countries or at least encourage a balanced view of the conflict in Beijing and Moscow, both countries are now openly hostile to Israel and Hamas has praised Russia’s view of the current situation.

In addition, they are both close to Iran.

Israel’s decision to evacuate Sderot this week and also 28 communities on the northern border, has raised eyebrows in pro-Iranian media.

Al-Mayadeen media, which is pro-Iran, has celebrated this turn of events. This is important because the attack by Hamas on October 7 was designed to strike at 29 points and attack 20 communities. However, it is unlikely Hamas believed it could take most of those areas, rather it wanted to entrench in one or two and claim “victory.”

In general Hamas members went back to Gaza after the attack, although many were also killed in fighting.

Now Al-Mayadeen has continued to claim propaganda victories for what Iran calls the “resistance.” This includes their view that Iran and its proxies are making progress. Evacuations in Israel are one example of where the pro-Iran media is touting this development as a success. In past wars Israel did not evacuate so many communities. In fact generally Sderot was held up as an example of steadfastness in front of rocket fire.  

No ceasefire has been agreed to yet in southern Gaza, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said after reports claimed a ceasefire for the transport of foreign nationals and aid has been agreed.

One Israeli, a man in his 30s, was rushed to Soroka Medical Center in Beersheba after being lightly wounded by rocket shrapnel.

This is a developing story.