ISRAEL MOBILIZES 300,000 SOLDIERS AT GAZA BORDER AS DEATH TOLL RISES

Israel has deployed around 300,000 soldiers along the Gaza border, according to Israel Defence Forces (IDF) spokesperson Lt Col Jonathan Conricus. He mentioned that following a breach by Hamas into Israel and various attacks, the death toll in Israel has risen significantly, with over 1,200 dead, mostly civilians, and more than 2,700 wounded. Conricus also explained the reasons behind the increasing death toll, including discovering bodies of those killed during the Hamas attack. He clarified that an allegedly residential building in Gaza was actually used by Hamas for their activities. Despite Israeli airstrikes in Gaza, there are concerns that the number of casualties may increase as more bodies are discovered, while Hamas continues rocket attacks and disrupts life in Israeli cities. Humanitarian groups are urging the establishment of aid corridors for Gaza.

US AND ALLIES CAUTION HEZBOLLAH AGAINST ESCALATION IN ISRAEL CONFLICT

The Lebanese militant group Hezbollah has received warnings from the United States and its allies to refrain from escalating the conflict in Israel. In response to concerns, the US has deployed military assets to prevent the conflict from expanding further, as reported by multiple US officials to CNN. Messages urging Hezbollah to avoid involvement in the conflict have been conveyed through various channels, including the Lebanese government and Nabih Berri, the Hezbollah-allied Speaker of Lebanon's Parliament.

The US, which designates Hezbollah as a terrorist group, does not engage directly with them, making Berri a natural intermediary, as per CNN. A senior defense official emphasized their deep concern about Hezbollah's potential decision to open a second front in the conflict. They are collaborating with Israel and regional partners to contain the situation within Gaza.

Hezbollah, known for its extensive training, advanced weaponry, and Iranian support, represents a significant escalation if it enters the conflict. However, current and former senior officials believe Hezbollah is unlikely to join the war, as the risks far outweigh any potential rewards.

In response to the situation, US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin has ordered the deployment of a carrier strike group to the eastern Mediterranean. This move serves as a message to Hezbollah and its Iranian supporters, urging them to refrain from entering the war. Jake Sullivan, US National Security Advisor, clarified that the carrier's relocation is intended as a clear deterrence message to other states or non-state actors considering widening the conflict.

GAZA'S POWER PLANT SHUTS DOWN AS NETANYAHU FORMS WARTIME CABINET

In a move to unify their efforts against Hamas militants, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and senior opposition leader Benny Gantz, a former defense minister, set aside political differences to establish a wartime Cabinet. While this political shift occurred, the situation in Gaza took a grim turn as the territory's sole power plant ran out of fuel, plunging the region into darkness. Israeli airstrikes continued to devastate neighborhoods, leaving residents scrambling for safety.

As the conflict escalated, hospitals in Gaza faced severe challenges in treating the wounded due to dwindling medical supplies. Israel's actions included leveling over 1,000 buildings and imposing a total siege on Gaza, causing water, food, and energy supplies to be cut off from 2.3 million people. Gazans expressed their concerns about Israel targeting structures that are typically considered safe, such as schools, hospitals, and mosques.

The cycle of violence began when Hamas launched an attack, citing worsening conditions for Palestinians under Israeli occupation as the reason. This incident only fueled Israel's determination to crush the group's influence in Gaza. The Israeli military reported over 1,200 casualties, including 155 soldiers, while Gaza's health ministry cited over 1,100 deaths. The conflict also displaced over 260,000 Gaza residents, prompting the EU to call for a "humanitarian corridor" to help civilians flee the area.

This crisis, often referred to as "Israel's 9/11," prompted Prime Minister Netanyahu to announce an emergency government and suspend his government's contentious judicial overhaul plan, which had triggered mass protests. Netanyahu and Benny Gantz set aside their political disputes to form an emergency government and a war cabinet. However, Netanyahu's right-wing and ultra-Orthodox allies will remain in the government. Opposition leader Yair Lapid did not join the temporary alliance, but the joint statement suggested a reserved seat for him in the cabinet.

The United States pledged "urgent action" to support Israel's response to the conflict. The first shipment of new US weapons arrived in Israel, and Secretary of State Antony Blinken traveled to the region. Additionally, concerns of a broader conflict emerged as flare-ups occurred on Israel's borders with Lebanon and Syria. President Joe Biden issued a stern warning to Israel's adversaries, emphasizing that the US would not tolerate any attempts to take advantage of the situation.

Furthermore, the US State Department reported that the known death toll of US citizens had risen to 22, with several American hostages believed to be in the hands of Hamas.

US IS INFLAMING W ASIA WITH MILITARY AID: PUTIN

Russian President Putin accused the US on Wednesday of inflaming West Asia by sending an aircraft carrier group to the region, saying “compromise solutions” were needed. “I don’t really understand the point. Are they going to bomb Lebanon or what? “Or have they decided to try to scare someone? There are people there who are no longer afraid of anything.”

NOTHING OFF TABLE: US ON POSSIBLE IRAN CURBS

US treasury Secretary Janet Yellen said Wednesday that the Israel-Gaza war represents a potential concern for the global economy. She also pushed back on the notion that US sanctions against Iran — a key backer of Hamas — have become too lenient. Yellen said US continued to review its sanctions. “I wouldn’t take anything off table in terms of future possible actions.”

PUSH FOR LIFESAVING ACCESS TO GAZA AS ISRAEL CUTS OFF POWER AND SUPPLIES

Essential supplies of food, fuel and water must be allowed to reach civilians in Gaza under Israeli bombardment and blockade, says the UN secretary-general

"We need rapid and unimpeded humanitarian access now," says Antonio Guterres

The US is in talks with Israel, the UN and Egypt on allowing some aid in and residents out, the White House says

Gaza's only power station has shut down, after Israel cut off electricity supplies as well as goods including medicines, food, fuel and water

Meanwhile, the Israeli military says hundreds of thousands of troops are near Gaza "ready to execute the mission we have been given"

The death toll in Israel from the Hamas attacks has reached 1,200 - while more than 1,100 people have been killed by Israeli air strikes on Gaza

The BBC has learned that 17 UK nationals are dead or missing since Hamas launched its attacks on Saturday, with 26-year-old Jake Marlowe confirmed dead

HOW ISRAEL-HAMAS CONFLICT CAN HIT UKRAINE WAR EFFORT

Russiais set to benefit from the Israel-Hamas conflict, as Israel’s requests for US military aid risk diverting weapons and focus from Ukraine while the rising price of oil bolsters Moscow’s economy.

US and Nato allies have rebuffed concerns about their ability to continue supporting Ukraine militarily in the aftermath of Hamas’s attack on Israel, which already receives billions in aid from Washington every year.Yet there’s a clear understanding in the Kremlin that the war between Israel and Hamas will work in Russia’s favour, according to two people with knowledge of the situation, who asked not to be identified.The conflict may, at the very least, work to distract US and European attention from the war in Ukraine, the people said, even while Russia has concerns about itsescalation.

President Putin’s objectives “will be achieved faster” if a US focus on the Israel conflict results in the slowdown of arms deliveries to Kyiv, Russian fore ign minister Sergei Lavrov said Monday, after talks with Arab League secretary general Ahmed Aboul Gheit. “But they will be achieved in anycase.”

For the most part, there is no major overlap between Israel and Ukraine’s military asks, and Tel Aviv’s existing supplies are robust in light of years of stockpiling, officials and experts say. Israel is seeking Iron Dome missiles, precision-guided munitions and artillery rounds from the US, as it readies its next response to Hamas’sattack.But the pressure on supplies could increase if Israel launches a ground assault in Gaza, as isexpected.

ZELENSKY ASKS FOR MORE WEAPONS AT NATO HQ

President Zelensky on Wednesday asked Nato allies for more weapons to tide Ukraine through another wartime winter as it braces for a barrage of Russian attacks on power stations and other infrastructure. Zelensky made his first visit to Nato headquarters at a time when the world’s attention is drawn to another crisis unfolding in Israel. He compared Russian President Putin and the Palestinian Islamist group Hamas, and said Western aid was crucial to put Moscow on the backfoot in the war.

REPORT: INITIAL US INTEL SHOWS HAMAS HIT SURPRISED IRAN

Washington: Initial US intelligence reports show that key Iranian leaders were surprised by the unprecedented attacks on Israel by Palestinian Islamist group Hamas, according to a source familiar with the reports. The source said these Iranian leaders would ordinarily know about such an operation. The White House did not immediately respond to a request for comment. White House national security adviser Jake Sullivan said on Tuesday that the US did not have confirmation of an Iranian link to the attack. “We are talking to our Israeli counterparts on a daily basis about this question. We are looking back through our intelligence holdings to see if we have any further information on that,” he said.

ERDOGAN VOWS TO INTENSIFY STRIKES ON KURDISH GROUPS IN IRAQ, SYRIA

ISTANBUL: Turkey’s President on Wednesday vowed to intensify strikes against Kurdish fighters in Syria and Iraq. Turkey has been bombing sites in northeast Syria since Thursday, hitting civilian and military targets, according to Kurdish authorities. Ankara has said that it launched a new wave of air strikes.