There was an explosion near the border in Egypt. Israel claims to have killed several Hamas leaders. All information in the news blog.
The most important things at a glance
Hamas terrorists crossed the border into Israel on October 7 and carried out massacres. Since then, Israel has been attacking targets in the Hamas-occupied Gaza Strip. This live blog informs you about the current developments:
California city accuses Israel of ‘ethnic cleansing’
5.15 a.m.: The city council of Richmond, a city in California, has condemned Israel’s attacks in a resolution. According to the San Francisco Chronicle, it says that Palestine is experiencing a campaign of ethnic cleansing and collective punishment. This is a war crime under international law. City councilors called for an immediate ceasefire and for safe aid deliveries to the Gaza Strip. “The city of Richmond opposes all existing and future military aid to Israel,” says the document, which was approved by a vote of 5-1 on Wednesday (local time).
Report: Rocket apparently hit Egypt – injured
2.30am: Early on Friday morning, a medical facility and an administrative building were apparently hit by a rocket in the Egyptian town of Taba, near the Israeli border. Egyptian news agency Al Qahera News reported that six people were injured in the incident. Citing insiders, Al Qahera said the explosion in the Red Sea city was linked to fighting between Israel and the militant Hamas in the Gaza Strip.
According to the agency, the rocket hit an ambulance in Taba and a residential building for the administration of the local hospital. The Israeli military said it was aware of a security incident in the area but that it occurred “outside our borders.” It is still unclear who fired the rocket. Reuters could not immediately independently confirm the reports.
Taba is a popular Red Sea resort located directly opposite the Israeli port city of Eilat. This week, according to Israeli sources, a rocket claimed by Hamas hit an area outside Eilat.
Israel: Several Hamas leaders killed
1:23 a.m.: According to the Israeli military, the deputy head of Hamas’ intelligence directorate, Shadi Barud, was killed in an air strike on Thursday. Israel accuses Barud of plotting the October 7 massacre along with Gaza’s Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar. Barud previously served as a battalion commander near Khan Younis, The Times of Israel quoted the Israeli military as saying. Another attack killed Hassan al-Abdullah, the leader of Hamas’s North Khan Younis missile complex. The army said fighter jets attacked and killed several more Hamas members and destroyed several of the terror group’s sites throughout the day. And in the evening other names were mentioned: the battalion commander Rifaat Abbas; the deputy commander, Ibrahim Jadba; and a combat support commander, Tarek Maarouf, were killed.
Israel: No comment on call for ceasefire
0.03 a.m.: Israel’s Foreign Ministry initially did not want to comment on the EU states’ demands for ceasefires and protected corridors for safe aid deliveries in the Gaza Strip. When asked late on Thursday evening, a spokesman said that they might comment on this on Friday. Immediately before, EU heads of state and government had called for “humanitarian corridors and breaks for humanitarian purposes” in the Gaza Strip in a summit declaration.