Israel-Hamas Conflict: First Foreign Passport Holders Leave Gaza As Rafah Border Reopens

Israeli tank attacks Lebanon terrorists: IDF

An Israeli tank attacked a Lebanese "terrorist squad" that attempted to launch anti-tank missiles from Lebanon into Israel, chief of the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) Spokesperson's Unit Daniel Hagari said Wednesday local time, as per a Google-translated post on X.

Israel pays tribute to fallen soldiers

Israelis have been paying tribute to its soldiers who died amid ground clashes with Hamas militants in Gaza. Many people were seen attending the funeral of Staff Sgt. Adi Leon from Nili, who was among the troops who died amid expanded ground operations in the strip, local media reported.

Israel's defense minister Yoav Gallant also took to X to express his grief over the deaths of Israeli fighters, calling the casualties a "hard and painful blow."

Americans not believed to be among first to exit Gaza: report

U.S. nationals are not believed to be included in the first group of foreign passport holders leaving Gaza Wednesday, CNN reported, citing an unnamed Western official. Instead, Americans are expected to start leaving the war-torn strip as soon as Thursday, as per internal government correspondence obtained by the outlet.

740 of more than 1,000 wanted persons arrested had links to Hamas: IDF

Since the beginning of the war on Oct. 7, around 1,180 wanted persons were arrested and about 740 of them were associated with Hamas, chief of the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) Spokesperson's Unit Daniel Hagari said Wednesday, as per a Google-translated post on X.

Indonesia begins work on evacuating nationals from Gaza: foreign minister

Indonesian foreign minister Retno Marsudi said Wednesday that the government has kicked off work on evacuating Indonesian nationals stranded in war-torn Gaza. Some of the efforts could be accomplished "possibly today," but getting Indonesians out should be implemented with safety as the priority, he said as per the Jerusalem Post.

'It will be a long war': Netanyahu

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said in a message to the Israeli public Wednesday that he was expecting the war to drag on. "We are in a tough war. It will be a long war," he said, as per a Google translation.

He also condoled with the families of several Israeli soldiers who died earlier Wednesday in ground encounters against Hamas militants as the Israeli army advanced deeper into the Gaza Strip. "Our soldiers fell in an unjust war," he said, adding that the Israeli army "will continue until victory."

First group of injured enter Egypt: report

The first group of wounded evacuees from Gaza have entered Egypt through the reopened Rafah border crossing where ambulances have been waiting for them since Wednesday morning, Reuters reported, citing Egyptian media and a source at the border.

Sources previously told the outlet that 81 injured individuals will be allowed entry into Egypt.

Japanese foreign minister to visit Israel

Japanese Foreign Minister Yoko Kamikawa is set to visit Israel later this week as part of her four-day trip to the Middle East, Japanese media reported Wednesday. She is expected to meet with the families of hostages being held by Hamas and may also meet Gaza refugees.

7 hostages killed in Jabalia strikes: Hamas military wing

Hamas' military wing Al-Qassam Brigades said Wednesday that seven hostages were killed during the Jabalia refugee camp strikes, multiple outlets reported. Three of the deceased reportedly held foreign passports.

International Business Times could not independently verify the claim.

Departure of Britons from Gaza to be facilitated 'in stages': UK foreign office

Britain's Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office said Wednesday that the exit of British nationals from Gaza will likely take place "in stages over the coming days."

The office said it understands the Rafah border crossing's reopening will be "controlled and time-limited," but it has sent over officials to make sure British nationals are assisted accordingly.

Rocket barrage reported in central, southern Israel

Sirens are sounding across the coastal city of Ashkelon and communities near the border in southern Israel as "heavy rocket barrage" was fired from Gaza, local media reported Wednesday local time. There are also reports of rockets launched at central Israel.

Hamas will 'most likely abuse' expanding humanitarian aid: IDF spokesperson

There has been an "increase" in humanitarian access for Gaza residents in recent days, Israel Defense Forces (IDF) spokesperson Lt. Col. Peter Lerner told Sky News Wednesday. However, he said Hamas will "mostly likely abuse" expanding assistance for Gaza civilians.

He noted that while Israel was "facilitating" human access for civilians upon request of the United States, it was also considering how the terror group may take advantage of the developments.

Qatar mediated three-way deal to reopen Rafah border: Reuters

Qatar mediated an agreement between Israel, Hamas and Egypt to reopen the Rafah border crossing and allow foreign passport holders to leave Gaza, Reuters reported Wednesday.

The U.S. also coordinated with the parties for the deal that will allow some critically injured Palestinians to leave the strip and seek treatment in Egypt.

First foreigners leave Gaza as Rafah border crossing reopens

The first "scores of foreign passport holders" started leaving Gaza on Wednesday after the Rafah border crossing in Egypt opened for the first time since the war started in October.

Around 500 foreign nationals are expected to be allowed to leave Gaza, as per local media.

Important to 'draw attention' to 'appalling' hostage situation: UK deputy PM

British Deputy Prime Minister Oliver Dowden said he "would totally condemn" reports that some people in the United Kingdom were taking down posters of Israelis believed to have been kidnapped by Hamas terrorists.

It is important to "draw attention to the appalling situation of over 200 innocent people" being held hostage by the terror group, Dowden said, adding that the "hurt and pain" of the hostages' families should also be recognized by the world.

Bones found in Be'eri ruins weeks after Oct. 7 attack

Bone fragments and teeth were found in the rubble of Kibbutz Be'eri more than three weeks after Hamas operatives launched a surprise attack in southern Israel that resulted in the deaths of more than 1,400 people.

"This is all that is left of the murdered children of Be'eri. They were tortured, dismembered and then burned to death by Hamas terrorists," the Israeli government said in a post on X Wednesday morning that showed photos of what archaeologists found after sifting through the debris.

Israel hopes Hamas won't interfere with Rafah border opening: IDF

Israel hopes Hamas terrorists won't "thwart" plans to reopen the Rafah border crossing in Egypt, Israel Defense Forces (IDF) spokesperson Jonathan Conricus said Wednesday.

He said Israel already tried twice to get the border opened for Gaza residents with dual nationalities during the early days of the fighting, but Hamas "thwarted" the efforts. He added that he believes the terror group was keeping foreign nationals within the besieged Gaza Strip as a means of "maintaining leverage and pressure," similar to how the terrorists have held 240 people hostage for weeks.

Israel deploys missile ships in the Red Sea

The Israeli Navy deployed missile ships in the Red Sea following "aerial threats" in the region in recent days. The deployment was "part of the strengthening of the defense effort in the area," the IDF said Wednesday in a Google-translated post.

Fatah leader arrested in Jenin: IAF

Ata Abu Ramila, a leader of the Fatah political party in Jenin, West Bank, was arrested by security forces, the Israeli Air Force (IAF) said Wednesday in a Google-translated post on X. Ramila allegedly "incited, promoted and financed terrorism."

Rafah border crossing may open for injured Palestinians: reports

The Rafah border crossing in Egypt may be opened Wednesday to allow wounded Palestinians and other nationals to receive treatment in Egypt, multiple outlets reported.

Egypt will reportedly allow some of the most badly wounded Gaza residents through the border. An unnamed medical official in the Egyptian city of El Arish said a field hospital will also be constructed in northern Sinai to treat the injured Palestinians.

9 Israeli soldiers killed in ground operations: IDF

The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) announced the names of nine soldiers who were killed while clashing with Hamas terrorists in northern Gaza Wednesday, the Jerusalem Post reported.

• Lt. Ariel Reich, 21 – Jerusalem
• Cpl. Asif Luger, 21 – Yagur
• Sgt. Adi Danan, 20 – Yavne
• Staff Sgt. Halel Solomon, 20 – Dimona
• Staff Sgt. Erez Mishlovsky, 20 – Oranit
• Staff Sgt. Adi Leon, 20 – Nili
• Cpl. Ido Ovadia, 19 – Tel Aviv
• Cpl. Lior Siminovich, 19 – Herzliya
• Staff Sgt. Roei Dawi, 20 – Jerusalem

Barricaded Hamas in Jabalia struck by Israeli air strikes

Israeli forces on Tuesday directed air strikes at a "multi-story building" in the Jabalia region where "many" Hamas terrorists allegedly "barricaded" themselves. The targeted facility was located near government offices, a medical center and a school, IDF Spokesperson's Unit chief Daniel Hagari said in a Google-translated post on X Wednesday morning local time.

Over 11,000 Hamas targets attacked since war started: IDF

More than 11,000 Hamas targets have been attacked since Oct. 7, the IDF said Wednesday morning local time, as per a Google-translated post on X. Israeli troops have been expanding ground operations across the Gaza Strip in recent days.

Destruction of Hamas 'non-negotiable': US senator

Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., dodged questions from CNN's Abby Phillip when asked about whether the U.S. would do the same as Israel did in launching air strikes at a densely-populated area even if the target was terrorists, should the world's largest economy be put in such a situation in the modern war era.

Graham said he hated the "loss of innocent lives," but "the destruction of Hamas is non-negotiable." After Hamas is eliminated, "I hope we have a better life for the Palestinian people," he said.

He went on to say that he "knows" Israel had been trying to reduce civilian casualties while the militant group was "trying" to increase the numbers.

Israel shoots down missile from Lebanon

Israeli forces shot down a surface-to-air missile "fired from the Lebanese territory" that targeted an Israeli remotely piloted aircraft early Wednesday. The Israeli Air Force (IAF) responded with an air strike against the source of the missile and the "squad that carried out the launch," the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said in a Google-translated post on X.

'Aerial threat' intercepted around Red Sea: IDF

The IDF's Aerial Defense Array intercepted an "aerial threat" detected "in the area of the Red Sea" late Tuesday. The threat that was identified south of the city of Eilat posed no risks to civilians, the IDF added.

Killed Hamas commander among leaders who commanded Oct. 7 carnage: IDF

Ibrahim Biari, the Hamas commander who was assassinated when Israeli forces targeted his tunnel hideout within the vicinity of the Jabalia refugee camp in Gaza Tuesday, was "one of the leaders responsible for the murderous terror attack on Oct 7," the IDF said later that day.

The IDF added that Biari was involved in the 2004 Ashdod Port Terror Attack that killed 13 Israelis. He had also allegedly been managing Hamas operatives engaging in combat against Israeli troops in the northern Gaza Strip over the past days.

IDF defends refugee camp air strikes that killed top Hamas commander

The air strikes that hit the Jabalia refugee camp in Gaza Tuesday were targeted at assassinating a top Hamas commander and other terrorists with the militant group, the Israeli military said.

"We struck an important military objective – this Ibrahim Biari, who was a battalion commander, who was leading operations and fighting against Israel as he was targeted," IDF spokesperson Lt. Col. Jonathan Conricus told CNN's Wolf Blitzer.

Conricus further explained that Biari and "many dozens of enemy combatants" were inside a "tunnel complex underneath the ground." Israeli forces struck the said tunnel complex, causing the facility to collapse, thus killing dozens of Hamas operatives, including Biari.

He further reiterated that Palestinians have been repeatedly warned over the past two weeks to leave the area for their own safety, adding that the air strikes were aimed "in between" buildings, as the Israeli army was targeting the tunnel complex that housed Hamas.

At least 50 Palestinian casualties were killed when the Jabalia refugee was hit and around 150 civilians were wounded, Palestinian health officials said, as per Reuters. International Business Times could not independently verify the numbers.

Biden 'not done' pushing for more Gaza aid

U.S. President Joe Biden said Tuesday that he was "not done pushing for more aid and will continue to support safe passage for Gaza civilians seeking safety." His comments came after Gaza saw the entry of the largest convoy of trucks carrying food and medical supplies since the conflict started on Oct. 7.