Israel at War, Day 12

Tensions are rising as President Biden lands in Israel

Today is October 18, 2023, and here is the latest about what is happening in Israel. If you enjoy these daily updates, and want access to more, exclusive content, or to support my work, then please consider becoming a monthly subscriber by clicking the button below.

We have now entered the tenth day of the war in Israel, and here is everything you need to know. One note before I dive into the news: With war, there is a lot of information that is often difficult to compartmentalize into easily digestible reads. And, with the news moving at a fast pace, news is often missed and information is often interpreted incorrectly at first.

1) Tensions Rise Fast As Hospital Bombed

Tensions are rising fast in the Middle East after the bombing of a hospital in Gaza. As of this post, over 500 civilians, including many children were killed in the bombing. How this bombing happened, or who caused it, remains unclear however. Hamas, through Al Jazeera, has claimed that Israeli airstrikes were the cause of the bombing. Many Middle Eastern countries including Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Iran, and Qatar have blamed Israel for the bombing as well. One important note here, these countries were not supported of Israel's attacks on Gaza, so it is unsurprising that they came out against Israel here as well. On the other side, Israel is claiming that the bombing occurred as a result of a failed rocket attack by Hamas. Notably, between 20 and 30 percent of rockets fired by Hamas fail during or mid launch. Many have rallied in support of Israel as the military promised to release evidence to support their claim. As a result of the bombing, several groups, including Hezbollah and Iran, have called for attacks on Israel in the coming days with Hezbollah declaring a "Day of Rage" for today. This situation is becoming even more serious with each passing hour. 

2) Biden Lands In Israel

Meanwhile, President Joe Biden has landed in Israel in what will be a tenuous meeting in the Middle East. Biden was initially scheduled to participate in a summit hosted in Jordan with the Palestinian and Egypt Presidents. That summit was cancelled after the hospital bombing. The President is expected to spend the day in Israel meeting with the Israeli War Cabinet along with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. This meeting comes as Israel is preparing for a possible ground incursion of Gaza, and significant humanitarian issues remain in Gaza, including with allowing aid into Gaza and allowing refugees to leave. Importantly, during the meeting with Prime Minister Netanyahu, President Biden publicly commented on the hospital bombing claiming that the evidence he has seen points to culpability on "the other side" referring to Hamas, not Israel. 

3) Lebanon Travel Advisory

As tensions rise between Israel and Lebanon, the United States has issued a travel warning for Lebanon asking Americans to not travel there, and for residents currently living in Lebanon to make preparations to leave the country as soon as possible. This travel warning is the most serious one typically given by the State Department and underscores the danger of Hezbollah possibly getting involved in the war. Read the entire advisory below.

4) Death Toll Rises

The death toll of American citizens killed in Israel by Hamas has risen to 31 overnight. Others remain as hostages in the custody of Hamas in Gaza. Meanwhile, the death toll on the Israel side has surpassed 1,300 deaths, while the death toll on the Palestinian side has surpassed 2,700. In response to this rising death toll, especially on the Palestinian side, Hamas made a public offer to release all hostages in exchange for Israel to stop bombing Gaza. Such an offer must be taken with a grain of salt as there is no evidence to suggest that Hamas would follow through. Expect the bombing to continue with a ground operation in Gaza to begin shortly. 

Disclaimer: With any war, news and information is often scattered and hard to come by, as we learn more you will be the first to know.