Just In News | The Hill
Defense &
National Security
Defense &
National Security
<!–
The Big Story
Israel tells more than 1M Palestinians to leave Gaza
The order comes as Israeli forces are expected to launch a ground invasion of the coastal enclave.
© AP
Israel dropped fliers and leaflets to citizens in Gaza, instructing them to flee south in just 24 hours as a ground offensive appears imminent.
Palestinians in Gaza have nowhere to go, but they are running from the northern part of the territory in a mass exodus.
The United Nations has warned that an evacuation order under such a quick timeline could be disastrous.
White House National Security Council spokesperson
John Kirby acknowledged Israel issued a “tall order.”
“It’s a million people and it’s a very urban, dense environment,” he said. “It’s already a combat zone.”
Israel is vowing to get vengeance after Hamas killed more than 1,300 of its people in a deadly surprise attack last weekend.
Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant said his country will “win this war” against Hamas.
“This is a war on freedom and on our common values, and we are on the front line,” he said at a press conference.
Gallant said soldiers will “not shoot civilians on purpose,” but he urged Palestinians to head south to disengage with Hamas.
Israeli forces have spent days cleaning up Hamas militants in southern Israel and bombing Gaza, where around 1,800 Palestinians have already died.
Read the full coverage of the war at TheHill.com.
Welcome to The Hill’s Defense & National Security newsletter, I’m Brad Dress — your guide to the latest developments at the Pentagon, on Capitol Hill and beyond.
Did someone forward you this newsletter? Subscribe here.
Essential Reads
How policy will affect defense and national security now and in
the future:
Israel’s expected ground offensive in Gaza will be potentially catastrophic for civilian life in Gaza, while also posing steep risks for Israeli forces and raising the danger of widening a war with Iran-backed proxy groups. For the first time in years, Israeli forces will have to penetrate deep into Gaza, a coastal enclave where thousands of Hamas militants operate out of an underground network of tunnels, while also …
Rep. George Santos (R-N.Y.) got in a heated exchange with an activist over Israel — and his holding of a baby — on Friday in one of the House office buildings near the Capitol that ended with him walking away while cursing and calling the activist “scum.” The altercation took place in the Longworth House Office building, where House Republicans were gathered to pick their nominee for Speaker and which is open to …
New York City Council member Inna Vernikov, a Republican, was arrested Friday after carrying a gun at a pro-Palestine peace rally in Brooklyn the day before, according to a statement from the New York Police Department. Police charged her with criminal possession of a firearm. Vernikov was contacted by police and turned herself in to the 70th Precinct after she was observed “with the but-end of a firearm handgun” …
Former President Trump praised the Israeli military Friday, after his recent comments criticizing Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. “I have always been impressed by the skill and determination of the Israeli Defence Forces,” Trump said in a Truth Social post Friday. “As they defend their Nation against ruthless terrorists, I want to wish every soldier the best of luck. May you return home safely to your families, and …
On Our Radar
Upcoming things we’re watching on our beat:
Secretary of State Antony Blinken is on a visit to the Middle East through Sunday.
Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin arrived in Israel on Friday.
President Biden is expected to discuss the conflict in Israel with CBS’ “60 Minutes” Sunday.
In Other News
Branch out with a different read from The Hill:
Biden says Hamas makes ‘al Qaeda look pure’
President Biden on Friday said the terrorist group Hamas, which brutally attacked Israel last weekend, is worse than al Qaeda, the organization behind the Sept. 11, 2001, terror attacks. “The more we learned about the attack, the more horrifying it becomes. More than 1,000 — 1,000 innocent lives …
On Tap for Monday
Events in and around the defense world:
The American Enterprise Institute will discuss the “trajectory of the war in Israel” during a 12:30 p.m. ET hybrid event.
The Center for Nonproliferation Studies will discuss the implications of a U.S.-Saudi Arabia-Israel deal during a 9:30 a.m. online event.
The Center for Strategic and International Studies will preview the upcoming visit from Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese to the U.S. during a 10 a.m. call-in press briefing.
The Quincy Institute for Responsible Statecraft unpacks the role of Japan in a U.S.-China rivalry during a 8 a.m. online event.
What We’re Reading
News we’ve flagged from other outlets:
Israeli-Palestinian conflict: A chronology (Washington Post)
US intelligence warned of potential for Gaza clash in days before attack (CNN)
How Hamas secretly built a ‘mini-army’ to fight Israel (Reuters)
Trending Today
Two key stories on The Hill right now:
House Republicans nominated Rep. Jim Jordan (R-Ohio) for Speaker on Friday, the conference’s second attempt to find a candidate who can win the … Read more
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (R), a 2024 presidential candidate, had a heated exchange with a voter over Israel’s airstrikes in Gaza after Hamas militants launched… Read more
Opinions in The Hill
Op-eds related to defense & national security submitted to The Hill:
You’re all caught up. See you next week!
Defense & National Security, Newsletters, Gaza, Hamas, Iran, John Kirby, palestine, United Nations, Yoav Gallant Read More
Author Profile
Latest entries
HeadlinesOctober 20, 2024Maher says Harris is 'very vulnerable' to an October surprise after predicting 2024 win: 'Don't f— this up!'
HeadlinesOctober 19, 2024Rosie O’Donnell’s daughter Chelsea arrested for child neglect, drug possession
ScienceOctober 19, 2024Social media policies are no match for AI bots
HeadlinesOctober 19, 2024Mets survive Game 5 vs. Dodgers to send NLCS back to Los Angeles