Secretary of State Antony Blinken conveyed to Benjamin Netanyahu President Biden's desire to reach "humanitarian pauses" in Israel's conflict with Hamas, something that the Israeli Prime Minister ruled out in the short term "hostages or no hostages". The head of U.S. diplomacy pointed out to the Israeli prime minister that "it's not just about confronting Hamas in terms of defeating it physically. It's about making sure that it can't repeat what it did on October 7, but it's also about defeating an idea - a perverted idea...- that we have to combat with a better idea...with a better vision of what that future can be and demonstrating that we are committed to achieving it."
In this regard, Blinken insisted that the creation of two states could "give people something to trust" and that there is a broad and strong coalition across the region" that supports it. In addition, the secretary stressed that "we need to do more to protect Palestinian civilians," stressing that while Israel has the right to defend itself, "it matters how it does it."
#VIDEO | El secretario de Estado estadounidense Antony Blinken, tras su reunión con el presidente israelí Isaac Herzog: "Insistimos en que Israel no sólo tiene el derecho, sino también tiene el deber de defenderse y de hacer todo lo posible para que el ataque del 7 de octubre no… pic.twitter.com/5ft9MeLnMI
— VOZ (@VozMediaUSA) November 3, 2023
Israel fights terrorist in the streets of Gaza
Secretary of State, Antony Blinken, returned to Israel to meet with Benjamin Netanyahu as the war on the ground and pressure for a pause in the fighting continues to advance. The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) are already fighting Hamas terrorists on the streets of Gaza. Escorted by an armored battalion, the soldiers signaled objectives from the ground to the aviation and artillery support to eliminate targets while they faced Hamas members who tried to ambush them and push back their advance. Army spokesmen announced the elimination of the Hamas commander leading the city's defense, Mustafa Dalul.
Soldiers from the Golani Brigade’s 13th Battalion and the Armored Corps’ 53rd Battalion clashed with multiple terrorist squads inside Gaza overnight.
The terrorists fired anti-tank missiles at the troops, activated a number of IEDs and attempted to climb onto one of the troop’s… pic.twitter.com/0hH6KzEvpO
— Israel Defense Forces (@IDF) November 3, 2023
Overnight, Israeli troops fought Hamas terrorists in the streets of Gaza. The IDF announced the entry of the 13th Battalion of the Golaní Brigade into the city along with the 53rd Battalion of the Armored Corps. The terrorists attacked with anti-tank missiles and even tried to capture some of the vehicles, but they were neutralized by the soldiers deployed. During the fighting, the IDF killed terrorist commander Mustafa Dalul, who was responsible for the defense of Gaza and held a key position within the group's armed forces.
IDF and ISA forces eliminated a Hamas battalion commander during overnight operations.
Mustafa Dalul directed combat against IDF forces and held key positions in Hamas’ Gaza City Brigade.
Our ground, aerial and naval forces continue to operate to eliminate Hamas’ chain of…
— Israel Defense Forces (@IDF) November 3, 2023
Gaza City—what you can’t see from above. pic.twitter.com/RKoi1R2CAL
— Israel Defense Forces (@IDF) November 3, 2023
"Israel is severing all contact with Gaza"
In a statement, the Prime Minister's Office announced the deduction of all funds destined for the Gaza Strip from the funds of the Palestinian Authority. This is in addition to the deduction, as established by law, of the funds given to terrorists and their families. Additionally, Israel announced that it was "cutting all ties with Gaza, which includes banning the entry of Palestinian workers from the Strip. The statement added that "Gaza workers who were in Israel on the day of the outbreak of the war will be returned to Gaza."
Israel is severing all contact with Gaza. There will be no more Palestinian workers from Gaza. Those workers from Gaza who were in Israel on the day of the outbreak of the war will be returned to Gaza.
— Prime Minister of Israel (@IsraeliPM) November 2, 2023
About 400 Americans will leave Gaza through Egypt
Some 400 Americans have received permission to leave Gaza through the Rafah crossing into Egypt. So far, 74 North American citizens managed to leave last Thursday, adding to the 5 who did so on Wednesday. According to The Washington Post, the second consignment of civilians that will leave the conflict zone consists of 600 people of various nationalities, including nationals of Mexico, Italy, South Korea and Azerbaijan.
