Hamas releases prisoner video; Egypt urges restraint by all parties
by AFP Staff Writers
Gaza City, Palestinian Territories (AFP) Oct 7, 2023

Palestinian militant group Hamas, which controls the Gaza Strip, released a video Saturday showing its fighters had captured three men who were dressed in civilian clothes.

"Scenes of Al-Qassam Brigades capturing a number of enemy soldiers in the battle of Al-Aqsa Flood," said a sentence appearing on a black background at the start of the video.

Signs in Hebrew in the background suggested the footage was filmed on the Israeli side of the Erez crossing between Israel and the Gaza Strip.

Other videos circulating on social media showed bodies of a number of people in military fatigues as well as dead motorists and passengers on a highway.

None of the footage could immediately be independently verified by AFP.

Israel's Magen David Adom emergency medical services said 22 people had been shot dead in the country, after Palestinian militants crossed from the Gaza Strip.

Militants also fired thousands of rockets towards Israel, which hit back with air strikes.

There was no official confirmation from Gaza health officials of reports that multiple Palestinians had been killed inside the territory.

Israel has imposed a crippling blockade on Gaza since 2007, following Hamas taking control, and the army has since fought multiple wars against militants.

Egypt urges Palestinians, Israelis to 'exercise restraint'
Cairo (AFP) Oct 7, 2023 - Egypt urged the Palestinians and Israel to "exercise restraint" after Hamas militants launched a deadly air, land and sea assault Saturday from Gaza against Israel which responded with air strikes.

Historically a key mediator in conflicts between the two sides, Egypt warned of the "dire danger of ongoing escalation".

The Egyptian foreign ministry in a statement appealed to "both the Palestinian and Israeli sides to exercise the highest degrees of restraint".

Top diplomat Sameh Shoukry made a series of calls Saturday in an attempt to rally "international actors" to "intervene immediately".

In a call with Jordanian Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi, both ministers "expressed their deep concern about the progressive and dangerous deterioration of events".

In a separate statement, Safadi warned of the "volatility" of the situation, "particularly in light of what cities and areas of the West Bank are witnessing of Israeli attacks and violations against the Palestinian people."

The Hamas assault follows months of surging violence in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, with fatalities in the occupied West Bank hitting a scale not seen in years.

Jordan and Egypt were the first two countries in the region to forge peace deals with Israel, before a wave of United States-backed diplomatic normalisation since 2020, including the United Arab Emirates.

Egypt's Shoukry called UAE Foreign Minister Sheikh Abdullah Bin Zayed Saturday, to discuss "the gravity of the current situation and the need to make every effort to prevent the security situation from getting out of control."

The Hamas attack has been met with a wave of condemnation from around the world. European Union chief Ursula von der Leyen called it "terrorism in its most despicable form."

In a call with EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell, Shoukry stressed the "importance of stopping the escalation and all sides' exercising restraint".

Egypt also called on the international community to "urge Israel to stop the attacks and provocative actions against the Palestinian people and to adhere to the principles of international humanitarian law with regard to the responsibilities of an occupying state."

US condemns attacks on Israel by Hamas 'terrorists'
Washington (AFP) Oct 7, 2023 - The United States on Saturday "unequivocally" condemned attacks by "Hamas terrorists" against Israel and promised to ensure the key US ally has the means to defend itself.

"The United States unequivocally condemns the unprovoked attacks by Hamas terrorists against Israeli civilians," National Security Council spokeswoman Adrienne Watson said in a statement, adding that "there is never any justification for terrorism."

National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan has spoken to Israeli National Security Advisor Tzachi Hanegbi and will remain in close contact with Israeli partners over the operation, according to the statement.

"We stand firmly with the Government and people of Israel and extend our condolences for the Israeli lives lost in these attacks," Watson added.

In a separate statement, Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin reaffirmed the United States' "unwavering" commitment to Israel's right to defend itself.

"Over the coming days the Department of Defense will work to ensure that Israel has what it needs to defend itself and protect civilians from indiscriminate violence and terrorism," Austin said.

The Palestinian militant group Hamas launched an air, sea and land attack on Israel Saturday.

Israel said it was at war with Hamas following the surprise dawn attack from the blockaded Gaza Strip that, according to medics, had so far killed at least 40 people on its territory.

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