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LIVE UPDATES: Hamas Rejects IDF Claims of Finding Group’s ‘Tunnel Shaft’ in Gaza

Sputnik International

The Israeli military began bombardment of the Gaza Strip shortly after the October 7 surprise large-scale attack on the Jewish state staged by Hamas from the Palestinian enclave.

2023-11-17T05:03+0000

2023-11-18T05:11+0000

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armed conflict between hamas and israel, idf's bombardment of gaza strip, idf's alleged detection of "hamas tunnel shaft' in gaza

Palestinians search for the bodies of the al Meghari family killed in the Israeli bombardment of the Gaza Strip in Bureij refugee camp, Gaza Strip, Tuesday, Nov. 14, 2023. - Sputnik International

LIVE UPDATES: Hamas Rejects IDF Claims of Finding Group’s ‘Tunnel Shaft’ in Gaza

05:03 GMT 17.11.2023 (Updated: 05:11 GMT 18.11.2023)

Oleg Burunov

All materials Write to the author

The Israeli military began bombing the Gaza Strip shortly after the October 7 surprise large-scale attack on the Jewish state orchestrated by Hamas from the Palestinian territory.

The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) argued on Friday that they had found what they described as a “Hamas operations tunnel shaft” inside the al-Shifa medical complex, which was raided by Israeli special services earlier this week. The Palestinian militant group rejected the claims as “baseless lies.”

In a separate development, the IDF reported several strikes against senior Hamas figures in two underground sites in Gaza in recent days. According to the Israeli military, they include the head of the Palestinian militant group's rocket brigade and northern Gaza unit. The report could not be independently verified.

The director of al-Shifa hospital has since said that hundreds of patients remain at the site, "screaming with thirst" as the facility runs out of oxygen and water.

Follow Sputnik’s live updates to find out more.

Table of contents

New firstOld first

00:06 GMT 18.11.2023

Projectiles land as a flare fired by Israeli forces falls at a position near Israel's southern border in the northern Gaza Strip. - Sputnik International, 1920, 18.11.2023

World

US-Supported Israel-Hamas Talks in Qatar Reach Tentative Deal - Hersh

18 November 2023, 00:07 GMT

23:56 GMT 17.11.2023

Russian Emergencies Ministry: 170 Russians, Family Members Who Crossed Rafah Checkpoint Head to Cairo

20:38 GMT 17.11.2023

Communication, Internet Services Partially Restored in Some Areas of Gaza - Company

The communication and internet services have been partially restored in some areas of the Gaza Strip after the supply of fuel for generators, Palestinian telecommunications company Paltel said on Friday.

On Thursday, the company said that all telecommunications in the Gaza Strip had become unavailable due to the depletion of available energy resources.

"We would like to announce the partial restoration of telecom services in various areas within Gaza Strip. This comes after a limited quantity of fuel was provided through UNRWA [UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East] to operate our main generators. Service continuity depends on receiving fuel supply regularly," Paltel said on X, formerly known as Twitter.

19:04 GMT 17.11.2023

Two Israeli F-16s Attack Infrastructure Near Damascus - Russian Military

Two F-16 fighter jets of the Israeli air force struck infrastructure facilities near Damascus with guided bombs, Rear Adm. Vadim Kulit, deputy head of the Russian Defense Ministry's Center for Reconciliation of Opposing Sides in Syria, reported on Friday.

"On November 17th, from 02:22 to 02:32 [local time, 23:22-23:32 on November 16 GMT], two F-16 tactical fighter jets of the Israeli air force struck using guided aerial bombs infrastructure facilities near the city of Damascus from the airspace of the occupied Golan Heights," Kulit told a briefing.

The Syrian air defense took down five Israeli aerial bombs, and there were no casualties as a result of the Israeli airstrike, the official added.

19:04 GMT 17.11.2023

WHO Chief Calls Gaza Crisis 'Acid Test' for UN

Director-General of the World Health Organization (WHO) Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus on Friday called the ongoing crisis in the Gaza Strip an "acid test" for the United Nations, questioning the organization's value if it fails to stop "bloodshed."

"This crisis is an acid test for the United Nations and for you, its member-states. This organization was established to foster peace in our world. If you, as member states of the United Nations will not or can not stop this bloodshed then we must ask: what is the United Nations for?" Tedros stated in his address to the UN General Assembly.

The crisis in the Gaza Strip is a crisis for whole of humanity, he said, adding that "talk is not enough, resolutions are not enough, statements are not enough" and urging member states to act now.

"We call on you to ensure unfettered access to deliver humanitarian aid to the civilians of Gaza, we call on Hamas to release the hostages, we call on Israel to restore supplies of water, electricity and fuel. We call on both sides to abide by their obligations under international humanitarian law. We call for attacks on healthcare to stop and for patients, health facilities, health infrastructure and health workers as well as aid workers to be protected," Tedros added.

19:02 GMT 17.11.2023

Palestinian Authority, Hamas Not in Contact Over Situation in Gaza - Leader's Adviser

The Palestinian National Authority and the Hamas group have not been in any contacts over the situation in the Gaza Strip, Mahmoud al-Habbash, an adviser to the Palestinian Authority president, told Sputnik on Friday.

"There is no connection. They have not talked to us, and we have not talked to them. This is actually sad," the adviser said, when asked whether there were any negotiations between the Palestinian National Authority and Hamas concerning the events in the Gaza Strip.

19:00 GMT 17.11.2023

Crown Prince of Bahrain Calls on Hamas to Release Israeli Civilian Hostages

Crown Prince of Bahrain Salman Al Khalifa on Friday called on the Palestinian movement Hamas to release Israeli civilian hostages from the Gaza Strip and Israel to release Palestinian prisoners.

"We are the first Arab country to call on Hamas to release Israeli hostages, women and children, and Israel to release Palestinian women and children in return," Salman Al Khalifa stated, speaking at the opening of the Manama Dialogue discussion forum.

Security in the region will not be guaranteed without finding a solution for the creation of two states, in particular an independent Palestinian state with all the attributes and powers, the Crown Prince stressed.

"Bahrain's position is that there should be no forced displacement of Palestinians from the Gaza Strip, there should be no re-occupation by Israel or annexation of part of its territory, as well as a repeat of attacks from the Gaza Strip on Israel. Diplomacy and international law should be the basis for resolving this conflict in order to ensure the aspirations of the Palestinians to create an independent state that would live in good neighborliness with Israel," Al Khalifa said.

18:59 GMT 17.11.2023

Death Toll in Gaza Strip From Israeli Strikes Reaches 12,000 - Authorities

The death toll in the Gaza Strip from the Israeli attacks reached 12,000, including 5,000 children, the press office of the authorities of the enclave said on Friday.

"The death toll in Gaza has reached 12,000 people, including 5,000 children," the statement read.

The number of missing persons in the Palestinian enclave, reached more than 3,750 people, the office reported.

18:57 GMT 17.11.2023

Erdogan, Steinmeier Agree to Work Together to Ensure Ceasefire in Gaza - Presidency

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier agreed to work together to ensure a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip and the speedy delivery of humanitarian aid to the enclave, the Turkish presidency said on Friday.

"Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan met with German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier at the Bellevue Palace in Germany. During the meeting, the Israeli attacks on the Gaza Strip, bilateral relations between Turkiye and Germany and global problems were discussed. During the meeting, President Erdogan said that Israel's attacks on the Palestinian territories should be stopped and that the reaction of the whole world to human rights violations is important," the office of the Turkish leader said, adding that the leaders "agreed to work together to ensure a ceasefire in the region and the speedy delivery of humanitarian aid to the region."

18:55 GMT 17.11.2023

Over 650 Patients, 300 Health Workers Still Inside Shifa Hospital in Gaza - Head of WHO

Over 650 patients and 300 health workers are still inside the Shifa Hospital in the Gaza Strip, the World Health Organization (WHO) Chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus stated on Friday.

"The Shifa Hospital must be able to function as a hospital. There are reportedly up to 300 health workers and 650 patients inside the hospital. Even if Hamas has used the hospital for military purposes, the hospitals and indeed all healthcare facilities, are never left without protection under humanitarian law," Tedros stressed.

18:03 GMT 17.11.2023

Erdogan Says Israel Possesses Nuclear Weapons, But Hides This Fact

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan speaks to students in Ankara, 19 May 2022. - Sputnik International, 1920, 17.11.2023

World

Erdogan Says Israel Possesses Nuclear Weapons, But Hides This Fact

17 November 2023, 18:02 GMT

17:41 GMT 17.11.2023

Agreement Reached on Fuel Supplies to Gaza Strip - WHO

A mechanism has been found to supply fuel to the Gaza Strip, with more details to be made public later, WHO representative in the occupied Palestinian territory Richard Peeperkorn stated on Friday.

"It's just been reported that there is a mechanism for the entry of fuel [to the Gaza Strip], which would be, I think, the best news of today [...] We really hope it would be a sustained mechanism because it is what is needed," Peeperkorn told reporters in Brussels.

The WHO representative added that he could not provide more details at the time.

Earlier in the day, Egyptian broadcaster Al-Qahera News reported that about 150,000 liters (39,600 gallons) of diesel fuel had been transported from Egypt to hospitals in Gaza via the Rafah crossing.

16:43 GMT 17.11.2023

Gaza Casualties 'Likely Much Higher' Than 11,000 Officially Reported - UN

Gaza Strip - Sputnik International, 1920, 17.11.2023

World

Gaza Casualties 'Likely Much Higher' Than 11,000 Officially Reported - UN

17 November 2023, 16:43 GMT

14:46 GMT 17.11.2023

IDF Killing Journalists Reporting on Gaza War — Israeli Media Exec

Palestinian journalists carry mock coffins of Palestinian journalists who were killed during the current war in Gaza during a symbolic funeral toward a United Nations office, in the West Bank city of Ramallah - Sputnik International, 1920, 17.11.2023

Analysis

IDF Killing Journalists Reporting on Gaza War — Israeli Media Exec

17 November 2023, 14:44 GMT

13:42 GMT 17.11.2023

Shifa Hospital Raid Carried Out With US Permission - Palestinian Official

The Israeli raid of the Shifa hospital, just like operations in other hospitals of the Gaza Strip, has been carried out with the permission of the United States, Mahmoud al-Habbash, an adviser of Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, told Sputnik on Friday.

“They [the US] gave the green light to the aggression [of Israel in the Gaza Strip], and even the storming of the Shifa hospital and other hospitals was carried out with the permission of the United States, so the United States decides, not Israel,” al-Habbash said.

13:39 GMT 17.11.2023

Ambassador Believes Israel Will Keep Receiving Aid From US Despite Bill Signed by Biden

Israeli Ambassador to Russia Alexander Ben Zvi on Friday expressed confidence that his country will continue to receive help from the United States despite the fact that such aid is not allocated in the temporary spending bill for 2024 signed by US President Joe Biden.

On Thursday, Biden signed legislation to fund the federal government at current levels for about two months. It does not include additional aid to Israel or Ukraine.

"Israel receives military aid from the US, always received and will [continue to] receive," the ambassador told a Russian broadcaster, commenting on the topic.

The US legislation funds one portion of the federal government through January 19 and the other through February 2. The temporary measure is a compromise as it neither includes $106 billion in supplemental funding for Ukraine and Israel, requested by Democrats as well, nor does it presuppose a budget reduction, demanded by Republicans.

13:38 GMT 17.11.2023

Israel’s War Cabinet Approves Request to Allow 2 Fuel Tanks Into Gaza Daily - Reports

Israel’s war cabinet has approved the US-requested recommendation to allow 2 fuel tanks into the Gaza Strip per day for the UN needs, the I24 broadcaster reported on Friday.

Fuel will pass through the UN to civilians in the southern part of the Gaza Strip, provided that it will not reach the Hamas movement, according to I24.

13:22 GMT 17.11.2023

Hospitals Must Not Be Attacked Even During Wars - Holy See

Hospitals cannot be attacked under any circumstances even during an armed conflict, Vatican Secretary of State Pietro Parolin said on Friday, commenting on recent developments in the Gaza Strip.

"There are several places that should be protected even during the war. It concerns primarily hospitals, and there should be no obstacles for the work of medical staff. The church insists on it," Parolin told the Sky TG24 broadcaster, adding that "nobody should attack these places."

Speaking of the fighting in the Gaza Strip, the Vatican secretary of state said that it demonstrated "inhumanity of the war that takes into account nobody and nothing, ignoring even basic rights of people." The official also did not rule out that the international community could classify some developments and incidents in the Gaza Strip as war crimes.

On Wednesday, the Israel Defense Forces said it was carrying out a precise and targeted military operation against Palestinian group Hamas in the Shifa hospital. According to Israeli forces, a Hamas command center and weapons were found in the hospital and tunnels underneath it. The Israeli operation caused concern worldwide over the fate of the civilians inside.

13:20 GMT 17.11.2023

Israel, Hamas May Agree on 3-Day Ceasefire, Release of 50 People From Both Sides - Reports

Israel and Hamas may agree on a three-day ceasefire and the release of 50 people from both sides, the Al Arabiya broadcaster reported on Friday, citing sources.

Israel and Hamas are close to an agreement that also provides for supplies of a limited amount of fuel to the enclave for power generators under the supervision of UN employees, the broadcaster said.

13:07 GMT 17.11.2023

One of Hamas Leaders Dies of Injuries Sustained in Israeli Attack - Reports

One of Hamas leaders, the deputy speaker of the Gaza legislative assembly, has succumbed to his injuries following an Israeli attack on the enclave, Maan news agency reported on Friday.

On October 27, Israel launched a large-scale ground incursion inside the Gaza Strip with the declared goal of eliminating Hamas fighters and rescuing the hostages. The conflict has resulted in the deaths of around 1,200 people in Israel and over 11,500 in the Gaza Strip.