IDF announces death of Col. Ehsan Daxa, Israel's military operates in Lebanon

A two-day festival organized by a number of right-wing political parties and organizations calling to resettle the Gaza Strip began on Sunday, and a “sukkot tent city” was set up in a closed military zone approximately 1 km. southwest of Be’eri and approximately 3 km. east from the Gaza border, according to a statement by the pro-settlement Nahala Movement.

The event received the IDF's approval. Civilians can apply for permits to hold events in closed military zones, and a number of other events in the Gaza border area, including memorial events on October 7, received the IDF's approval in closed military zones near the border in recent months.

The event began on Sunday afternoon with a tour of lookout points near the Gaza border and then the building of a “city of sukkot” at the site southwest of Be’eri, known as the Machsanei Hatachmoshet (“Ammunition Warehouses”). By Sunday evening, approximately 100 families had constructed sukkot at the site, according to Nahala. The IDF spokesperson said that at approximately 8:00 p.m., there were less than 100 people at the site.

According to the Nahala statement, Monday will include the “peak” of the events, which will include the opening of Sukkat Hatkuma (Sukkah of Revival), which will host bereaved families and family members of hostages; a press conference with bereaved families and settler leaders; “practical training” and a “unique fair” dedicated to “logistical preparations” for founding settlements; and a Simchat Beit Hashoeva (festive Sukkot celebration) with musical performances, rabbis, ministers, MKs, and other public figures in attendance.

Settlers from the Nahala Settlement Movement beginning to march from the Gush Etzion junction on their way to establish illegal outposts on Wednesday, and, on the right, Israeli and Palestinian detractors protesting the action. (credit: YONATAN SINDEL/FLASH90)

Politicians attend the settlement festival

The politicians expected to attend include some from the far-right parties Otzma Yehudit and Religious Zionist Party, but also from the Likud governing party. Women’s Advancement Minister and Social Equality Minister May Golan (Likud) wrote on social media on Sunday evening that she was participating because “the days of ‘land for peace’, of the messiahs of peace, and of silencing people in the name of ‘pluralism’” were over.

“Our enemies must understand the hard way the price for murder, arson, rape, and taking civilians hostage,” Golan wrote.

While Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has said that Israel does not intend to resettle Gaza, as of Sunday evening he had not addressed the fact that in addition to Golan, nine MKs from Likud had appeared on a flyer of the event that included the Likud’s banner.

Earlier on Sunday, the left-wing Peace Now nonprofit wrote a letter to IDF Chief of Staff Herzi Halevi calling on him “to prevent any attempt by settlers and extreme-right activists to cross the border and infiltrate Gaza.”

According to the letter, this was “dangerous criminality that will necessarily endanger soldiers and security forces and harm Israel on the international stage.” The nonprofit demanded “zero tolerance and a strong hand,” including against MKs who “may attempt to take advantage of their immunity.”

According to a report on Kan Radio on Sunday evening, a large number of media teams from foreign networks were covering the event.

The Palestinian Authority is pressing the United Nations Security Council to approve a resolution calling for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza, as the UN warned that the humanitarian crisis in the enclave had intensified.

“We will be pressing for as quickly as possible for a resolution, demanding an immediate ceasefire” in Gaza, Palestinian Authority ambassador Riyad Mansour told reporters in New York on Saturday.

The resolution would also bring “humanitarian assistance to scale” to all corners of Gaza, he said, adding that the resolution could be brought forward as early as Tuesday.

“We need to save lives, not to kill more people, and we need to stop this crime against humanity and war” as well as the “crime of forced displacement” that Israel is committing, he said.

“It is the duty of the Security Council to say, ‘we demand an immediate ceasefire and compliance by all parties, and we demand that this take place, for example, within 24 hours or within 40 hours. Or else,” Mansour said.

Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu grimaces after addressing the 79th United Nations General Assembly at U.N. headquarters in New York, U.S., September 27, 2024. (credit: REUTERS/MIKE SEGAR)

“The Security Council has the tools to force its will and to use everything available to it, including should not be a taboo, going into the area of Chapter 7,” he said, referring to a mechanism that gives the Security Council some tools to enforce its decisions.

He also warned Israel that Israel risked getting kicked out of the United Nations General Assembly if it continued to work to shut down the UN Relief and Works Agency which services Palestinian refugees in Gaza, the West Bank, east Jerusalem, Lebanon, Syria, and Jordan.

Calling on Israel to withdraw

Overall he called for an Israeli withdrawal to the pre-1967 lines and for a two-state resolution to the conflict with east Jerusalem as the capital of the future Palestinian state.

UNSC members have individually called for a ceasefire in Gaza, including the United States, France, and Great Britain. The US, however, tends to vote against UNSC resolutions that are against Israeli interests.

In June, they secured UNSC approval for Resolution 2735 that backed a three-phase hostage deal that would lead to a permanent ceasefire and secure the release of the remaining 101 captives in Gaza.

Qatar and Egypt, which have been the main mediators for the deal, were unable to secure a Hamas agreement to the deal.

Mansour spoke as the UN said it was alarmed by the continuing humanitarian crisis in Gaza.

Wennesland also called for an end to the displacement of Palestinians in Gaza, saying civilians must be protected wherever they are, and “humanitarian aid must be delivered unimpeded,” Wennesland said.

“The path ahead will require courage, political will, and renewed dialogue. We owe it to the families suffering in Gaza and Israel. The war must stop now,” he said.

The international community has increased its calls for a ceasefire in the aftermath of the IDF killing last week of Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar in Gaza.

On Saturday night British Prime Minister Keir Starmer spoke with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, explaining that Sinwar’s death presented an opportunity for a hostage deal, according to 10 Downing Street.

Starmer “also stressed the importance of getting much more aid into Gaza,” Downing Street said.

UN Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process Tor Wennesland warned that the “nightmare in Gaza is intensifying. Horrifying scenes are unfolding in the northern Gaza Strip amidst conflict, relentless Israeli strikes, and an ever-worsening humanitarian crisis.

“In Beit Lahia last night, dozens were reportedly killed in Israeli airstrikes. This follows weeks of intensified operations resulting in scores of civilian fatalities and near total lack of humanitarian aid reaching populations in the north,” Wennesland stated.

“Nowhere is safe in Gaza,” he stated.

Wennesland called for the release of the remaining 101 hostages in Gaza, stating that “the hostages held by Hamas must be freed.”

IDF spokesperson R.-Adm. Daniel Hagari is expected to speak on Sunday evening at 20:45 regarding the heavy firing of Hezbollah rockets toward Israel throughout the day, Israeli media reported. 

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu spoke with former US President Donald Trump, the prime minister's office said on Sunday.

"Prime Minister Netanyahu reiterated what he has also said publicly: Israel takes into account the issues the US administration raises, but in the end, will make its decisions based on its national interests," it said.

Defense Minister Yoav Gallant called to enter into the next stage of the war during a Sunday situational assessment with the 98th Divison at the northern border, the Defense Ministry reported.

The meeting came as the IDF reported ongoing operational activity in southern Lebanon.

During the situational assessment, Gallant and the 98th Division reviewed the progress of the IDF up until now.

The IDF announced the name of fallen soldier, Brigade Commander Col. Ehsan Daxa of the 401st "Iron Tracks" Brigade, on Sunday evening.

Daxa, aged 41 from Daliyat al-Karmel, fell in combat in the northern Gaza Strip, the IDF said. 

The IDF thwarted a drone attempting to smuggle weapons into Israel from Egypt on Saturday, Israel's military reported on Sunday.
 
The drone had reportedly managed to cross over from Egypt into Israel.

Weapons discovered on drone that attempted to cross over Egyptian border before being thwarted by IDF, released on October 20, 2024 (credit: IDF SPOKESMAN’S UNIT)

According to the IDF, the Paran Regional Brigade identified the drone. Subsequently, it was shot down and discovered to have had eight handguns and magazines on it.

The forces had monitored the drone until it was brought down, the IDF added.

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken is expected to arrive in Israel on Tuesday, Israeli media reported on Sunday afternoon.

Blinken is reportedly scheduled to hold a series of meetings with senior Israeli officials during his visit. 
 
 

Israeli Foreign Minister Israel Katz announced on Sunday that the Foreign Ministry would begin preparing to take legal and diplomatic action against the decision to block Israel from an arms fair in Paris next month.

J'ai demandé au ministère israélien des Affaires étrangères de prendre des mesures juridiques et diplomatiques contre la décision du président français @EmmanuelMacron d'empêcher les entreprises israéliennes de présenter leurs produits au salon @SalonEuronaval à Paris le mois…

— ישראל כ”ץ Israel Katz (@Israel_katz) October 20, 2024