Scenes of absolute destruction in Gaza after a year of war
Max Butterworth
A man stands atop a heavily damaged building looking over the war torn landscape in Khan Younis, southern Gaza this morning.
Lloyd Austin discusses Iran actions with Israeli defense minister
Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin spoke with Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant last night to discuss Iran’s “destabilizing actions” in the Middle East.
In a readout of the conversation, the Pentagon said Austin also reiterated his “unwavering commitment to Israel’s security,” as well as a cease-fire in Gaza and a diplomatic resolution that would enable citizens to return home in Israel and Lebanon.
Austin also reaffirmed his support for Israel’s “right to defend itself,” and added that the U.S. remained in place to support Israel and deter further escalation.
Both Austin and Gallant expressed their commitment to deterring Iran and its proxies from expanding the current conflict, it said.
Families of Israeli hostages sound 2-minute siren outside Netanyahu’s residence
Peter Guo
One year after their loved ones were abducted by Hamas, families of Israeli hostages gathered outside Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s residence this morning and sounded a 2-minute siren, urging him to bring them back.
“We’re here in front of the Prime Minister’s residence to say we’ll never give up, we’re here until we bring them back, we won’t forgive, we won’t forget,” Eyal Kalderon, cousin of Ofer Kalderon who is still in captivity, said in a statement by the Hostages Families Forum.
Flight restrictions lifted in Iran
Reuters
Flight restrictions have been lifted in Iran after conditions were deemed safe, state media reported on Monday, shortening the period of flight cancellations announced earlier by the Civil Aviation Organization.
A spokesperson for the organization had earlier said that flights from all Iran’s airports would be cancelled until 6 a.m. (0230 GMT) on Monday from 9 p.m. on Sunday.
“After ensuring favorable and safe flight conditions by the Civil Aviation Organization, all announced restrictions are removed and airlines are allowed to carry out flight operations,” state media said six hours before the end of the initial flight cancellations deadline.
The flights were initially cancelled due to operational restrictions, state media cited the spokesperson as saying without providing further details.
Iran implemented restrictions on flights on Tuesday when it launched missiles at Israel, in an attack to which Israel vowed to respond.
Israeli strikes leave massive destruction in Beirut
Max Butterworth
A large crater is left in the wake of an overnight Israeli strike in Dahiye, Beirut this morning, as shattered buildings and charred vehicles lined the streets of the Lebanese capital.
Two injured as Hamas says it fired missiles at Tel Aviv
Peter Guo
Freddie Clayton and Peter Guo
Two people are injured after Hamas’ military wing said it bombarded Tel Aviv with a barrage of rockets, with sirens sounding in the bustling Israeli city.
Israel’s emergency services said staff were treating two female casualties “in mild condition with shrapnel injuries.”
The IDF confirmed that sirens had sounded due to projectiles fired from Gaza, and that five launches were identified with some falling in central Israel. It said the details were under investigation.
NBC News’ team in Tel Aviv heard two explosions.
Earlier, the Israeli military said it struck Hamas launch posts and underground infrastructure in Gaza to thwart an “immediate” threat.
The IDF said it detected Hamas was preparing to launch rockets into Israel and made preemptive strikes throughout the Gaza Strip.
Hamas boasts ‘historic milestone’ of Oct. 7 sent Israel back to ‘square one’
Hamas hailed its attacks a year ago that killed about 1,200 Israelis and saw some 250 others taken hostage, calling on Palestinians to escalate their resistance against Israel.
“We call on our Palestinian people in the West Bank, Jerusalem, the occupied land of 1948, and in refugee camps and the diaspora to escalate all forms of resistance and struggle,” the militant group said in statement this morning.
Senior Hamas official Khaled Mashaal also said in a speech this morning that the attack had taken Israel “to square one, and it is now living an existential war, as its self-confidence has been shaken and its psyche has been destroyed.”
Iran’s supreme leader praises Oct. 7 attack as tensions rise with Israel
Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei has praised the Oct. 7 attacks for “setting the Zionist regime back 70 years.”
Iran denied involvement in the attack, but supports the Hamas militant group and others.
The region remains on edge as Israel continues to threaten to strike Iran in response to Iran’s missile attack on Israel last week.
Photos: Mourners gather for vigil held at Nova festival site
Max Butterworth
Loved ones mark ‘the moment the music stopped’ at Nova festival site
Friends, family members and other loved ones gathered this morning at the site of the Nova music festival in Re’im, in Israel’s Negev region, where Hamas militants killed an estimated 364 people as they stormed into Israel on this day a year ago.
The festival grounds had some of the usual accoutrements, including stacks of loudspeakers and an area where DJs would otherwise use digital turntables and a sound mixer to play trance music. But this event was solemn, filled with a low hum of voices as people remembered those who lost their lives.
Photos of victims were presented on the edge of a stage used by the event’s speakers, who addressed their memories and sorrow in Hebrew. One man wept as he read from a sheet of paper and spoke into a microphone.
Those gathered stood or sat in white plastic chairs, swaying and singing along to music played between the times when people took the stage to offer words about the fallen.
Hamas militants stormed the southern region of Israel on Oct. 7 last year and came across the festival, still aglow from the night before. Terrorists streamed into the venue and its parking lot, part of the surprise attacks that ended with more than 1,200 people — mostly civilians — killed, 251 kidnapped and a war between Israel and Hamas that has killed more than 41,000 people in Gaza.
Partygoers in neon tops and summer-style light clothing were taken off-guard and fled in panic. Organizers of the anniversary event said the music stopped at 6:29 a.m. local time.
Among the hostages taken from the festival was Noa Argamani, 26, who screamed and pleaded after she was put on the back of a motorcycle by militants and taken away, as depicted on cellphone video.
She became the face of the festival’s tragedy and hope and, after her rescue by Israeli forces on June 8, has spoken out about the need to free the remaining hostages still believed to be in Gaza.
Israel marks the anniversary of Oct. 7 Hamas terror attacks
The anniversary of Hamas’ Oct. 7 terror attacks is being marked with somber ceremonies in multiple locations, including the Nova musical festival site.