Israel-Hamas Conflict: Top Hamas Commander Killed; US Boosts Middle East Personnel Protection

Grisly details of Hamas' Oct. 7 orders found on terrorist

The IDF released a photo of a note found on a Hamas operative after the militant group attacked Israel. "Know that this enemy of yours is a disease that has no cure, other than beheading and extracting the hearts and livers," the note said, as per the Israeli military.

The note was allegedly given by Hamas commanders in Gaza to the terrorist "as encouragement" during the surprise incursion on Oct. 7.

IMF chief says conflict 'terrible' for regional economy

Managing director of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) Kristalina Georgieva said Wednesday that the Israel-Hamas war could have grave repercussions for the Middle East's economy.

"It is terrible in terms of economic prospects for the epicenter for the war. [There will be] negative impact on the neighbors: on trade channels, on tourism channels, cost of insurance," she said.

Some progress made in hostage negotiations: Qatar

Qatari Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Sheikh Mohammed Bin Abdulrahman al-Thani said that some progress has been made in negotiating for the release of more than 200 hostages being held by Hamas, the Jerusalem Post reported.

"Qatar is becoming an essential party and stakeholder in the facilitation of humanitarian solutions" amid the conflict, Tzachi Hanegbi, head of the Israeli National Security Council, wrote on X on Wednesday.

Israel says Iran backing online anti-Israel propaganda

Iran has been helping stir up anti-Israel sentiment through a global online messaging campaign, Israel's chief military spokesperson Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari said in a TV briefing Wednesday, Reuters reported.

Hagari also claimed that Iran ordered recent attacks against Israel by militias it supported in Yemen, Iraq, and Lebanon and had been providing intelligence to Hamas militants in Gaza.

IDF air strikes kill top Hamas commander

The Israeli Air Force (IAF) said Wednesday that IDF forces have killed Taysir Mubasher, "the Commander of the North Khan Yunis Battalion of the Hamas terrorist organization", and a former naval forces leader in the group.

Mubasher was allegedly responsible for several attacks against Israeli troops and Israeli nationals "over the years," as per the Jerusalem Post. He allegedly led an attack in March 2002 that resulted in the deaths of five students and many others injured.

He was also "considered close to the senior members of the terrorist organization," specifically Muhammad Daf, who heads the militant group's military unit, the IAF said, as per a Google translation.

Israeli foreign ministry slams UN chief's 'biased' attitude

Israel's Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) on Wednesday criticized United Nations chief Antonio Guterres for his remarks regarding the Israel-Hamas war. "The Secretary-General's assertions reflect a biased and distorted attitude towards Israel," the ministry said.

"It is important to also recognize the attacks by Hamas did not happen in a vacuum. Palestinian people have been subjected to 56 years of suffocating occupation," Guterres said Tuesday.

The Israeli foreign ministry reiterated that there was "no way to justify" the "monstrous atrocities" that Hamas operatives carried out on Oct. 7.

Israel's daily war expenses at $246 million

Israel's Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich said Wednesday that the direct cost of the Israel-Hamas war stood at 1 billion shekels ($246 million) daily. He said the 2023-2024 budget was "no longer relevant" due to the said costs, and would be amended.

US boosts Middle East personnel protection

The U.S. military is enhancing its protection strategies in the Middle East amid concerns that other Iran-backed groups will initiate attacks. Among the new measures being taken are increasing intelligence gathering and restricting access to base facilities, Reuters reported, citing officials who spoke on condition of anonymity.

They added that they aren't ruling out the possibility of evacuating American military families if necessary as the Israel-Hamas conflict ensues.

UK doesn't believe Israel broke international laws: minister

"We don't believe that Israel has broken any international law. There is a clear right in international law for a nation to defend itself, and that's what Israel is doing," British Minister of State for Immigration Robert Jenrick said Tuesday.

"It would be a blessing if we can rid the world of Hamas," he added. Jenrick made the comments after United Nations chief Antonio Guterres called on "all parties" involved in the Israel-Hamas conflict to "uphold and respect their obligations under international humanitarian law."

Florida university system bans pro-Palestinian group

Florida's university system has ordered colleges to shut down a pro-Palestine student organization, marking the first time a U.S. state has banned the Students for Justice in Palestine (SJP). The system has also claimed it consulted with Gov. Ron DeSantis.

The State University System of Florida's chancellor, Ray Rodrigues, wrote in a memo to university leaders Tuesday that the SJP's chapters "must be deactivated," as the organization had been supporting terrorism.

US military officials suggesting targeted special ops over ground incursion: Sources

Backed by the experience American troops gained during the Iraq War, U.S. military officials are urging Israel to steer clear of conducting a ground incursion, CNN reported, citing unnamed sources familiar with the matter.

American officials are reportedly urging the Israeli government to implement other strategies such as targeted special operations instead of a full-scale ground incursion that could endanger civilians and further escalate tensions in the region.

Canada draws line regarding ceasefire calls: 'Hamas has to be eliminated'

Canada's minister of national defense Bill Blair told reporters Tuesday he had "no expectation that a terrorist organization would respect international law or any call for ceasefire" amid questions regarding Ottawa's supposed silence in calling for a ceasefire so humanitarian aid could be delivered faster to besieged Gaza.

"Hamas has to be eliminated as a threat, not just to Israel, but to the world," he reiterated.

Australia ups deployments to Middle East

Australia has deployed more Australian Army personnel and two Royal Australian Air Force C-130J aircraft to the Middle East as part of the country's Operation Beech, which is the Australian government's "response to the Hamas-Israel conflict."

The additional deployments have been made as a "precautionary measure" due to the risk of the deteriorating security situation in the area, as per Deputy Prime Minister Richard Marles.

IDF strikes Syrian Army infrastructure

The IDF said Wednesday that its warplanes struck some of the Syrian Army's infrastructure and mortar launchers at the Golan Heights in response to "rocket launches from Syria toward Israel yesterday."

Two rockets were reportedly launched at Israel from Syria Tuesday evening and fell on open fields, the Jerusalem Post reported, citing the IDF. The Israeli army "rarely" claims responsibility "for strikes attributed to Israel in Syria," the report noted.

8 relief trucks enter Gaza through Rafah crossing

The Palestine Red Crescent (PRCS) said Tuesday it received the fourth convoy of humanitarian aid from its Egyptian counterpart through the Rafah crossing.

Five trucks of water, two trucks of food and one that carried medicine have been delivered to the agency. CNN reported that there were 20 aid trucks scheduled to cross the Rafah crossing, citing a spokesperson for the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA). It is unclear why the other trucks weren't able to pass through.

Hamas blocking Americans from leaving Gaza

Mark Regev, senior adviser to the Netanyahu government, told CNN Tuesday that Hamas was keeping hundreds of Americans stranded on the Gaza side of the Rafah border crossing from leaving the besieged city.

"In many ways Hamas is keeping them hostage," he said, adding that the Rafah crossing was the only way for around 500 to 600 stranded Americans to leave Gaza since border crossings on Israel's side have been destroyed.

"Hamas has decided to play games with these Americans," he said, clarifying further that it was the terror group interfering with the exit of U.S. nationals, not Egypt.

Israel says 'next stage' coming

Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Tuesday visited the IDF's Yahalom Unit, which is the Israeli army's special unit of the Combat Engineering Corps. During the visit, he hinted that the country was entering the "next stage."

"We stand before the next stage, it is coming," he wrote on X. His remarks came amid an expected ground incursion into Gaza that experts said was inevitable at this point in the 18-day conflict.