KEY POINTS
- France warned citizens against traveling to Middle Eastern countries where tensions are high
- Australia expressed concern over "indications" Iran is preparing for military action against Israel
- China's Wang Yi told US to play "constructive role" in the Middle East in talks with US' Antony Blinken
The war in Gaza is now on its 189th day with little signs the warring sides are closing in on a ceasefire. The U.S. is expecting Iran to retaliate against Israel following the suspected Israeli bombing of the Iranian consulate annex building in the Syrian capital that killed seven Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) members, including a top general.
The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) on Friday announced the assassination of Radwan Muhammad Abdullah Radwan, Hamas' head of internal security in the Jabalia area.
- Israeli army drops leaflets in Rafah, urging residents to help with information on hostages
- Iran's retaliatory attack against Israel may occur as soon as Friday: Report
- EU sanctions Hamas' military wings, elite Nukhba Force over Oct. 7 sexual violence
- Netanyahu intentionally torpedoing hostage deal to stay in power: Labor leader
- India advises citizens to not travel to Iran, Israel until further notice
- Joint IDF, Shin Bet, MGB forces eliminate Hamas' commander in Tubas
Iranian-backed Yemeni rebel Houthis claimed to have attacked Israeli and American ships on Thursday, one of them a battleship, as per Houthi spokesperson Yahya Sare'e.
Another Iran-backed terror group and Hamas ally, Hezbollah, said it attacked the "Zibdeen" base of the Israeli army in the disputed Shebaa Farms amid continuing fire exchanges between Israeli troops and the powerful Lebanon-based militant organization.
Despite mounting pressure to call for a ceasefire in Gaza, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has remained unmoved, saying Israel will pursue its goal of eliminating Hamas.
U.S. President Joe Biden has said Netanyahu was making a "mistake" in the latter's handling of the war that stems from the violent history of the Israel-Palestine conflict.
Back in Gaza, the first food aid trucks have entered the devastated Strip through a new northern crossing opened by Israel amid increasing pressure from the global community to facilitate more aid for hungry civilians in the war-torn enclave.
The live update has ended.
Hamas' Tubas chief eliminated: IDF
Muhammad Omar Daraema, whom the Israeli army said was Hamas' commander in Tubas, a city in the northeastern West Bank, was assassinated Thursday night by joint IDF, Shin Bet and MGB (Israeli border police) forces, the IDF said Friday.
The Hamas divisional commander is said to be a "central Hamas operative in the area" who promoted "significant terrorist acts against Israel in recent months."
