Monday, October 30, 2023

10/30 WAKE-UP CALL: Gaza City Is Battlefield, Civil Order Crumbles


Israeli forces expanded a foray into northern Gaza, while thousands of Palestinians raided food warehouses. Israeli soldiers clashed with fighters in Gaza as Israel's ground operation expanded overnight. Meanwhile, thousands broke into United Nations food warehouses in central and southern Gaza this weekend, taking wheat flour and other basic items like hygiene supplies. Since Israel largely cut off food, water and electricity for Gaza's 2 million residents following Hamas's Oct. 7 attacks, only a fraction of the aid that is needed has entered the enclave, according to the U.N. After a blackout that began Friday, internet and cellphone services gradually began returning to Gaza on Sunday morning.

Israel warned the streets of Gaza City were now a 'battlefield' as fighting intensified between the Israel Defence Forces (IDF) and Hamas terrorists yesterday. The military said its warplanes had attacked more than 450 targets in the last 24 hours, while dozens of terrorist commanders had been eliminated. Tanks and infantry were pictured advancing down the Gazan coastline and rolling across the desert border, while the Israeli flag was hoisted by troops above a beach hotel in northern Gaza city.

U-S Daily Mail Graphic

➤CIVIL ORDER BREAKING DOWN: The U.N.'s Palestinian relief agency warns that "civil order is starting to break down" in Gaza as thousands of desperate people broke into warehouses and distribution centers to take food and other supplies after Israeli ground forces moved in. Thomas White, the Gaza affairs director of the U.N.'s Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East, said Sunday in a statement that the current system for delivering humanitarian aid isn't working. He said displaced Palestinians are crowding into homes in the middle and southern areas of the Gaza Strip, with up to 50 people sheltering in some households. Also Sunday, a hospital in Gaza City where about 14,000 people were sheltering was damaged by Israeli airstrikes after its administrators said they couldn't follow orders to evacuate for fear of endangering patients' lives.

➤HARRIS SAYS U.S. HAS NO INTENTION OF SENDING COMBAT TROOPS TO ISRAEL OR GAZA: Vice President Kamala Harris said in an interview that the U.S. has “absolutely no intention” of sending American combat troops into Israel or Gaza amid fears over a wider regional conflict. “We have absolutely no intention, nor do we have any plans, to send combat troops into Israel or Gaza, period,” Harris said in an interview with CBS’ “60 Minutes” that aired Sunday. Harris, who has been included in briefings and phone calls on the Middle East crisis, closely stuck to the administration’s approach: Supporting Israel’s right to defend itself while also calling for the protection of civilians.


➤SQUAD MEMBER HAS 'WARNING' FOR BIDEN: Rep. Pramila Jayapal, D-Wash., warned President Biden that his response to Israel's war against Hamas may cost him the votes of U.S. Muslims. Jayapal made the comments during a Sunday morning appearance on "Meet the Press" with host Kristen Welker. Welker asked whether Jayapal was concerned Biden's response to the conflict could weaken his chances in the 2024 presidential election. "I have been one of President Biden's biggest supporters. I have been proud to be a partner as he has been courageous and strong on the domestic front," Jayapal responded. "The president needs to be just as courageous on this issue so that we keep the unity within our country."

"He is, I think, going to be challenged to explain an issue of this moral significance to the American people," she added. "The American people are actually quite far away from where the president and even the majority of Congress has been on Israel and Gaza.'

FRIENDS  DEVASTATED: The cast of “Friends” are “reeling” from the death of their beloved “brother” Matthew Perry, sources tell Page Six. Jennifer Aniston, Courteney Cox, David Schwimmer, Matt LeBlanc and Lisa Kudrow are preparing to release a joint statement after their former co-star was found dead in his Los Angeles home Saturday at age 54, we’re told. “The cast is reeling from the loss of their brother, because that’s what Matty was — their brother,” an industry source told us Sunday. “It’s just devastating.” 


The series, which ran for 10 seasons from 1994 to 2004, catapulted all six of the actors to international stardom, and led to decades-long friendships. Perry, who was open about his struggles with alcohol and drug addiction, remained especially close with Aniston, 54, after the iconic sitcom wrapped.

➤AUTHORITIES WERE ALERTED TO SHOOTER'S THREATS: Maine police were alerted weeks ago about the shooter's threats and even paid a visit to shooter Robert Card's home, but he could not be found. Card, a firearms instructor, had made threats against his military base and fellow soldiers leading to authorities to increase patrols around the base. Card was sent to a mental health facility for two weeks after displaying erratic behavior and expressing intentions to carry out a violent act on a military base. Despite these warning signs, Robert Card later carried out a mass shooting in Lewiston, killing 18 people and injuring 13 others. His subsequent suicide marked the end of an intense two-day manhunt.


➤CORNELL ON EDGE: Cornell University was on high alert Sunday night after a series of “horrendous, antisemitic” messages threatening the school’s Jewish community were posted earlier on a public forum, school officials said Sunday night. The school notified law enforcement agencies and campus police were taking precautions after a series of disturbing online posts made threats directed at Jewish students and the Center for Jewish Living, according to the university’s president Martha Pollack. The FBI has been contacted of a potential hate crime at the upstate New York Ivy League school amid the Israel-Hamas war, Pollack said. “Earlier today, a series of horrendous, antisemitic messages threatening violence to our Jewish community and specifically naming 104 West — the home of the Center for Jewish Living — was posted on a website unaffiliated with Cornell,” Pollack wrote. “Threats of violence are absolutely intolerable, and we will work to ensure that the person or people who posted them are punished to the full extent of the law,” she also wrote. “Our immediate focus is on keeping the community safe; we will continue to prioritize that.”


➤MOB TARGETS PLANE'S ARRIVAL: A plane was targeted at an airport in Dagestan by an anti-Semitic mob who demanded to see passengers' passports. Israeli passengers onboard flight WZ4728 from Tel Aviv were caught in chaos on Sunday at Makhachkala airport in the Russian republic after people stormed the airstrip.  The protesters, some carrying Palestinian flags, broke through doors in the terminal, with some running onto the runway while others broke barriers, aiming to check the cars leaving the airport for Israeli passengers, according to videos posted online. 

➤2 DEAD IN FLORIDA SHOOTING: Two people were killed in a shooting Saturday night in the Tampa, Florida, neighborhood of Ybor City.BA Tampa Police Department release described the incident as "an altercation between two groups [that] escalated to gunfire."BOne person was dead at the scene and another died after being transported to a hospital, according to police. Tampa Police Chief Lee Bercaw said at a Sunday morning press conference that one of the people (right) involved in the shooting "turned himself in," and the department is searching for a second person. The person described has not been charged, according to a Tampa police spokesperson.


➤PENCE ENDS WHITE HOUSE CAMPAIGN AFTER STRUGGLING TO GAIN TRACTION. 'THIS IS NOT MY TIME,' HE SAYS: Former Vice President Mike Pence on Saturday dropped his bid for the Republican presidential nomination, ending his campaign for the White House after struggling to raise money and gain traction in the polls. “It’s become clear to me: This is not my time,” Pence said at the Republican Jewish Coalition’s annual gathering in Las Vegas. “So after much prayer and deliberation, I have decided to suspend my campaign for president effective today.”


🏈NFL CHARGERS 30 BEARS 13: Justin Herbert passed for 298 yards and three touchdowns and Cameron Dicker kicked three field goals to boost the Los Angeles Chargers to a 30-13 win against the Chicago Bears on Sunday in Inglewood, Calif. Los Angeles (3-4) stopped a two-game losing streak behind an efficient passing attack. Aiming to win consecutive games for the first time this season, the Bears (2-6) were outgained 352-295 as undrafted rookie Tyson Bagent struggled under center in his second career start.

🏈NFL BRONCOS 24 CHIEFS 9:  Russell Wilson became the first Broncos quarterback since Peyton Manning to defeat the Kansas City Chiefs as Denver claimed a 24-9 home victory on Sunday. The Chiefs had won 16 straight games against Denver, dating back to 2015. Wilson was 12-of-19 passing for 114 yards with three touchdowns. The Denver defense forced five Kansas City turnovers. Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes fell to 29-4 vs. the AFC West in his career. This was his first loss in a division road game. He finished 24-of-38 passing for 241 yards with two interceptions and a lost fumble. It also was Mahomes' first loss to the Broncos in 13 career starts.


🏈SOURCE: QB KIRK COUSINS TEARS RIGHT ACHILLES IN VIKINGS' VICTORY: Minnesota Vikings quarterback Kirk Cousins reportedly torn his Achilles. The veteran will undergo an MRI on Monday to confirm the injury. Head coach Kevin O'Connell told reporters after his team's win over the Green Bay Packers that Cousins did suffer an Achilles injury.

🏀WARRIORS' CHRIS PAUL DOESN'T START FOR 1ST TIME IN 19-YEAR CAREER: Golden State Warriors guard Chris Paul came off of the bench for the first time in his 19-season career in the Warriors' 106-95 win over the host Houston Rockets on Sunday. Paul had started 1,365 career games, which includes the playoffs and the regular season. Since 1970-71, that's the most consecutive starts to begin a career prior to coming off the bench for the first time.

🏒EX-NHL PLAYER ADAM JOHNSON DIES AFTER BEING SLASHED BY SKATE: Former NHL player Adam Johnson died after a "freak accident" during his English team's game Saturday. He was 29. Officials stopped the Panthers' game Saturday against the Sheffield Steelers after Johnson was involved in a collision on the ice during the second period. Johnson's throat was cut by a skate blade during the collision, according to the team.

➤MONDAY'S WEATHER..



Posted

No comments:

Post a Comment

Subscribe to: Post Comments (Atom)