class=”sc-29f61514-0 icZBHN”>
Switzerland suspends flights to Tel Aviv until October 22
Due to the ongoing uncertain situation in Israel and after intensive analysis of the situation, airlines of the Lufthansa Group, including Swiss, have decided to suspend regular flights to and from Tel Aviv until October 22. Additionally, Swiss wrote in its statement that Swiss flights from Zurich to Tel Aviv are closed for sale until October 31. Switzerland regrets having to make this decision. The airline, of course, continues to closely monitor the security situation in Israel and is in close contact with the authorities. The safety of its passengers and crew members is Switzerland’s top priority.
224 more Swiss returned home
Switzerland’s third private plane from Tel Aviv to Zurich also arrived in Switzerland safely. The plane landed at Zurich-Kloten Airport at 21.04 on Thursday evening.
At the request of the Keystone-SDA news agency, an airline spokesman said there were 212 adults and children on board, as well as 12 babies.
Anyone visiting Israel on Friday?
The list of important politicians coming to Israel on Friday grows longer. So far the following politicians have announced visits:
- US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin (70)
- EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen (65)
- German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock (42)
- Canadian Minister of Foreign Affairs Melanie Jolly (44)
- Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani (70)
- President of the European Parliament Roberta Metsola (44)
Assailant opened fire on police officers in East Jerusalem
A gunman shot two Israeli police officers outside a police station in the annexed eastern part of Jerusalem on Thursday evening. Israeli police said one of the police officers was seriously injured in the incident that took place near Jerusalem’s Old City. The attacker was “neutralised”.
“After shooting at police officers, he attempted to flee and police attempted to arrest him before disarming him with a gun,” police said. A photographer for the AFP news agency reported that a body covered with a tarpaulin was lying near the police station. A large number of security forces were dispatched to the region.
Israeli flag shines at Berner Zytglogge
The city of Bern projected the Israeli flag onto Zytglogge on Thursday evening. With this action, he showed his solidarity with Israel.
On Friday afternoon, civic parties in the city of Bern issued a statement calling on the city government to show solidarity with Israel. For this reason, they demanded that either the Israeli flag be hung in Erlacherhof, where the Bernese mayor resides, or this building be illuminated.
Early Friday afternoon, the city’s information service announced that the city government had clarified an appropriate expression of solidarity regardless of the declaration.
Emergency government established in Israel
An emergency government in Israel, including the opposition, has been in power for several minutes. Many Israeli media report this unanimously. MPs voted 66-4 for the emergency government in a special session after Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu offered cooperation to the opposition in times of war. Netanyahu’s rival Benny Gantz and four members of his party were sworn in as ministers. Opposition leader Yair Lapid had previously refused to join the emergency government (see entry from 19:17).
13 French killed in Hamas attack
French President Emmanuel Macron announced on Thursday that 13 French citizens were killed in the Hamas attack on Israel.
Israel dropped 6 thousand bombs on Gaza in six days
The Israeli Air Force said it had hit more than 3,600 targets in the Gaza Strip since Saturday. Israel had previously announced that it had dropped 6,000 bombs on the densely populated area.
“We will continue our attacks with all our strength and relentlessly for as long as necessary,” the Air Force said on its former Twitter account, X.
Opposition leader does not want to enter emergency government
Yair Lapid (59) does not want to join the emergency government formed by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and opposition politician Benny Gantz. In his speech, the opposition leader said he did not believe the government would work. One reason is that the extremists are part of the emergency government. According to Lapid, there are forces responsible for the failures that made Hamas’ terrorist attack possible. This is how his party still supports the war against Hamas. On Saturday, Netanyahu offered Lapid to join an emergency government.
Britain sends warship to Israel
According to a report in the Times, England is shifting two warships to the Eastern Mediterranean. Additionally, the newspaper writes that surveillance flights will be conducted over Israel as a sign of support. According to the Times, two ships from the Royal Fleet Auxiliary Force will be sent to the region.
The government said maritime patrol and surveillance aircraft will fly in the region from tomorrow to detect threats to regional stability, including monitoring activities such as “the transfer of weapons to terrorist groups”. British forces will be present to “provide practical support, deterrence and security to Israel and its partners in the region”.
Palestinian President Abbas denies “the killing or mistreatment of civilians on both sides.”
Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas (87) called for “an immediate end to the comprehensive aggression against the Palestinian people.” Palestinian presidency, King of Jordan II. In a statement after his meeting with Abdullah in Amman, he said Abbas rejected “practices of killing or mistreating civilians on both sides.”
Palestinian militants fired dozens of rockets at Israel in the Gaza Strip on Saturday morning. The big attack came as a surprise. At least 15 people were injured; one woman (†60) and three others were also fatal.
Islamist Hamas, which rules the Gaza Strip, announced this morning that it has launched a military operation against Israel. Chief of Staff Mohammed Deif said in a message that Hamas had decided to put an end to Israel’s “crimes”.
The army said warning sirens were sounded in various cities of the country. Rocket alarms were also heard in Tel Aviv. The army called on residents of the southern and central parts of the country to stay in protected areas. Israel is currently celebrating the Jewish festival of Simchat Torah (Joy of the Torah). Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu wanted to hold security consultations with the Defense Ministry and army representatives later in the day.
Citizens should stay in their homes
Health officials reported that there were injuries in the rocket attacks in the Ashkelon, Gedera and Javne regions. Magen David Adom rescue service said a 70-year-old woman was seriously injured after a direct hit into a building near Gedera.
According to the army, following major attacks on Israel from the Gaza Strip, many armed Palestinians also entered Israeli territory. The army said on Saturday that many terrorists were in Israeli territory and appealed to residents of border towns along the coastline to stay home. Eyewitnesses reported hearing gunshots in the street. It was unclear how the attackers from the Gaza Strip crossed the heavily guarded border. Among other things, a hang glider was seen in a video circulating on social media. However, this could not initially be independently verified.
Violent protests have increased in recent months
However, the situation has recently worsened again, especially in the occupied West Bank. Four Palestinians have been killed here since Thursday, either in their own attacks or in clashes with the army. The security situation in Israel and the West Bank has long been tense. Since the beginning of this year, 27 Israelis, one Ukrainian and one Italian have been killed in attacks. During the same period, more than 200 Palestinians lost their lives as a result of Israeli military operations, conflicts or their own attacks.
Israel occupied the West Bank and East Jerusalem in 1967. Palestinians claim these areas as an independent Palestinian state, with the Arab-dominated eastern part of Jerusalem as its capital.
There have been several violent protests along the Gaza border in the past month. Additionally, explosives were thrown at the soldiers and many Palestinians were injured as a result of the gunfire. In light of the events, the Israeli air force has repeatedly attacked positions of Hamas, the militant Palestinian organization that rules the Gaza Strip.
According to the UN, more than two million people live in dire conditions in the Gaza Strip. Hamas, classified as a terrorist organization by the EU, the USA and Israel, seized power by violence in 2007. Israel later tightened the blockade of the coastal region, supported by Egypt. (SDA/AFP)
Source :Blick
I’m Tim David and I work as an author for 24 Instant News, covering the Market section. With a Bachelor’s Degree in Journalism, my mission is to provide accurate, timely and insightful news coverage that helps our readers stay informed about the latest trends in the market. My writing style is focused on making complex economic topics easy to understand for everyone.
