Israel at War - What happened on day 27?

Over 130 terrorists have been killed by the IDF during recent ground operations in Gaza, the IDF Spokesperson's Unit said on Thursday.

The IDF also took out terror infrastructure in Gaza and destroyed many weapons caches alongside Hamas operating bases.

"IDF fighters continue to wage fierce battles against Hamas terrorists in the Gaza Strip," the IDF spokesperson said.

The IDF struck Hamas bases using a combination of air, ground and sea forces.

Israel has no right to defend itself as it is an occupying power, Russia’s representative to the United Nations, Vasily Nebenzya, said at an emergency special session of the UN General Assembly on Wednesday.

“The only thing they can muster is continued pronouncements about Israel’s supposed right to self defense, although as an occupying power, it does not have that power as confirmed by the advisory opinion of the International Court of Justice handed down in 2004,” said the Russian representative.

Despite stating that Israel does not have the right to defend itself, Nebenzya proceeded to state that Israel does have the right to “ensure its security” and “to fight terrorism.”

“As for Israel’s security - and we recognize its rights to ensure its security - this security can only be fully guaranteed if we resolve the Palestinian issue on the basis of relevant UN Security Council resolutions," said the Russian representative. "The Jewish people suffered persecution for many centuries and the Jewish people should know better than anyone that the suffering of ordinary people, innocent lives lost in the name of blind retribution, will neither restore justice, nor bring the dead back to life, nor console their families.”

The results of a vote to adopt a draft resolution are shown on a display during an emergency special session of the UN General Assembly on the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas, at UN headquarters in New York City, US, October 27, 2023 (credit: Mike Segar/Reuters)

Russia accuses US of 'hypocrisy' in handling of Gaza war

In a possible reference to Western criticism of Russia's invasion and occupation of eastern Ukraine, Nebenzya accused the US and its allies of “hypocrisy,” saying that “in other completely different situations are issuing appeals for the respect of humanitarian law, establishing investigation committees, imposing sanctions on those who are actually genuinely only resorting to force as a last resort to put an end to years of violence.”

Nebenzya accused Western countries of “torpedoing” efforts to reach a peaceful settlement of the situation and condemned efforts by Arab states to normalize relations with Israel before the Israeli-Palestinian conflict is settled.

The Russian representative additionally stated that criticism of comments by UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres - in which he stated that Hamas’s October 7 massacre “did not occur in a vacuum” - was “undeserved.”

The Hezbollah terrorist movement fired a surface-to-air missile at an IDF drone on Wednesday night near the Lebanese-Israeli border.

The IDF said that the surface-to-air missile did not damage the drone and that the IDF responded by striking the cell which fired the missile. Hezbollah claimed that it had downed the drone.

Additionally, a number of projectiles were fired from Lebanon toward the Mount Dov and Hermon area. The projectiles fell in open areas and the artillery forces struck the site where the fire was conducted from in response.

The US House of Representatives approved a bill to sanction foreign supporters of the Hamas and the Palestinian Islamic Jihad terrorist movements on Wednesday night.

The bill, titled the Hamas International Financing Prevention Act, passed 363-46. Some 45 Democrats and one Republican voted in opposition of the bill. The bill, which was first introduced in the House in January, will now head to the Senate.

The bill would require the president to periodically report to Congress a list of each foreign person who knowingly provides “significant support or services” to a senior member or supporter of Hamas or the Palestinian Islamic Jihad.

Any such person must have two or more sanctions imposed on them.

The president would also be required to provide Congress with a list of any foreign governments that have repeatedly provided material support for the terrorist groups’ activities. These governments will be barred from receiving US assistance or the exports of controlled munitions for one year. International financial institutions will also be instructed to oppose providing assistance to these governments for one year.

Palestinians take part in a protest in support of the people of Gaza, as the conflict between Israel and Hamas continues, in Hebron in the West Bank, October 20, 2023. (credit: WISAM HASHLAMOUN/FLASH90)

The bill provides for certain exceptions and waivers.

The House just overwhelmingly passed a bipartisan bill to sanction supporters of Hamas, following the terrorist group’s brutal terrorist assault against Israelis on Oct. 7.

The Hamas and Other Palestinian Terrorist Groups International Financing Prevention Act targets foreign… pic.twitter.com/ShNeOuSOdw

— AIPAC | Text ISRAEL to 24722 | #StandWithIsrael (@AIPAC) November 1, 2023

AIPAC welcomed the passing of the bill, thanking Rep. Brian Mast and Rep. Josh Gottheimer for leading the effort to pass the bill.

Resolution to censure Rashida Tlaib tabled

The House additionally voted 222-186 to table a resolution which would have censured Rep. Rashida Tlaib for her support of Hamas.

The commander of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) Quds Force, Esmail Qaani, visited Lebanon to coordinate with Hezbollah concerning the conflict with Israel on Wednesday, the Lebanese al-Jadeed news reported on Wednesday.

In early October, just a day after Hamas’s October 7 assault on Israel, Syrian media reported that Qaani was on a visit to Lebanon as well.

Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian told Iranian media on Wednesday that Qaani is “working for peace and security in the region and fighting terrorism” and that Iran is not giving direct orders to its proxies in the region.

“They make decisions according to their interests and developments,” said Amir-Abdollahian.

People take part in the funeral of Hezbollah member Abbas Shuman, who was killed in southern Lebanon amid tension between Israel and Hezbollah, during his funeral, in Baalbek, Lebanon, October 23, 2023 (credit: REUTERS/AMR ALFIKY)

Qaani’s latest reported visit to Lebanon comes just two days before Hezbollah Secretary-General Hassan Nasrallah is set to make his first public comments since the war between Israel and Hamas began.

Hamas trained with IRGC Quds Force before massacre

Last week, the Wall Street Journal reported that at least 500 Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad terrorists received specialized training from the Quds Force up to a month before the October 7 massacre.

The World Jewish Congress (WJC) has reported on the progress of its high-level delegation's discussions in Qatar, which took place from October 30th to November 1st, concerning the 240 Israeli hostages in Gaza.

A statement released by the WJC on Wednesday details the diplomatic efforts led by WJC President Ronald Lauder: "During these high-level meetings, Lauder articulated the profound concerns of global Jewry regarding the plight of Israeli hostages in Gaza, seeking the influential intervention of the Arab leaders to secure their unconditional release."

The WJC delegation, which included prominent Jewish figures from the United Kingdom, France, and Switzerland, was reassured by Qatari leaders of their "unwavering commitment to the hostages' immediate freedom," a stance that resonates with the shared aspirations for humanitarianism and peace in the region.

WJC president remains optimistic about Qatari mediation

Lauder, who initiated this urgent diplomatic mission, is quoted expressing his forward-looking stance: "Mr. Lauder remains optimistic about the potential outcomes of these engagements. He trusts that the esteemed Arab leaders will dedicate their efforts to saving lives and forging pathways toward a harmonious and peaceful future for the entire region."

RONALD S. LAUDER (credit: RSL Office Media)

The Jerusalem Post reached out to members of the delegation who have declined to comment on the content of their visit.

Saudi Arabian Defense Minister Prince Khalid bin Salman Al Saud said he met on Wednesday with U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken to review strategic relations as well as the efforts to de-escalate tensions in the region.

"We also explored aspects of cooperation to achieve our shared vision of promoting security and stability, both in the region and the world," he said on social media platform X.

Palestinians living in Gaza must not be forcibly relocated to neighboring Egypt as they seek a safe haven from IDF aerial bombing, US President Joe Biden and Jordan's King Abdullah agreed when they spoke by phone on Tuesday night.

They “agreed that it is critical to ensure that Palestinians are not forcibly displaced outside of Gaza,” the White House said after the call.

US National Security Council spokesperson John Kirby echoed that sentiment in a briefing with reporters on Wednesday.

He rejected any reports of a plan to expel Palestinians from Gaza.

“I want to stress that is not our policy. That is not what we are after. We want to make sure that the people of Gaza should they want to go back home, can go back home. But if they want to get out in the interim they should be able to get out.”

Military personnel stand guard on the day of Egyptian Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly's visit to the Rafah border crossing between Egypt and the Gaza Strip, amid the ongoing conflict between Israel and Palestinian Islamist group Hamas, in Rafah, Egypt, October 31, 2023. (credit: REUTERS/MOHAMED ABD EL GHANY)

Some 1.4 million of the 2.3 million residents of the Gaza Strip have fled their homes in an attempt to escape IDF bombings or explosions from failed Palestine rocket launches. 

Hamas has asserted that over 8,600 Palestinians have been killed since the start of the war on October 7. 

Israelis have suggested that Palestinian civilians in Gaza should be temporarily allowed to relocate to Egypt for safety until the war ends. 

Palestinians have voiced concern that this would be a second expulsion, akin to what happened to them during Israel’s War of Independence in 1948. The some 750,000 Palestinians who fled during that war were never able to return home, an event which Palestinians refer to as the Nakba.

Kirby on Wednesday stressed that “There is no US policy for endorsement for some sort of permeant settlement” of Palestinians outside of Gaza.

The Gaza War was sparked when Hamas infiltrated southern Israel, killing over 1,400 people and taking more than 240 hostage.

Hamas says it will conduct October 7-type attack again

Hamas official Ghazi Hamad told a Lebanese news outlet this week his organization would execute an October 7-type attack again, because it did not believe that Israel should exist and should be removed.

Kirby said, “this is what is at stake for the Israeli people, that is what is at stake for the people of Gaza, that Hamas is wiling to continue this fight and will continue to try and slaughter innocent Israelis. Those are chilling comments and we all ought to take them seriously.”

Hamas, he said, can not remain in power after the war, he added.

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said on Tuesday that the United States and other countries are looking at "a variety of possible permutations" for the future of the Gaza Strip if Hamas militants are removed from power.

Blinken told a Senate Appropriations Committee hearing the status quo of Palestinian Islamist group Hamas being in charge of the densely populated enclave could not continue, but Israel did not want to run Gaza either.

Between those two positions were "a variety of possible permutations that we're looking at very closely now, as are other countries," Blinken said.

What would make most sense at some point, Blinken said, was an "effective and revitalized Palestinian Authority" to have governance over Gaza, but it was a question whether that can be achieved.

"And if you can't, then there are other temporary arrangements that may involve a number of other countries in the region. It may involve international agencies that would help provide for both security and governance," Blinken said.

Washington has been speaking with Israel, as well as other countries in the region, on how to govern the Palestinian enclave if Israel triumphed on the battlefield, but a clear plan was yet to emerge.

Among the options that are being explored by the United States and Israel was the possibility of a multinational force that may involve US troops, or Gaza be placed under United Nations oversight temporarily, Bloomberg reported on Tuesday.

In response to the report, the White House said sending US troops to Gaza as part of a peacekeeping force is not something being considered or under discussion.

Some of US President Joe Biden's aides are concerned that while Israel may craft an effective plan to inflict lasting damage to Hamas, it has yet to formulate an exit strategy.

"We have had very preliminary talks about what the future of Gaza might look like," State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller said in a briefing. "I expect that it will be the subject of a good bit of diplomatic engagement moving forward," he added.

Reuters contributed to this report

British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and Egypt's President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi spoke on Wednesday to discuss the situation in Gaza and the wider Middle East, Sunak's office said in a statement following the call.

Sunak's office said the pair "discussed diplomatic efforts to secure the release of hostages held by Hamas, prevent escalation in the wider Middle East and achieve long-term peace and prosperity for the Palestinian people."

Sunak also welcomed the opening of the Rafah crossing to allow British and other foreign nationals and injured Palestinians to leave Gaza, his office said.