Hostage parents describe difference in support from US versus Israel as "startling" and "awful"
The parents of two dual Israeli-Americans taken hostage on October 7 said the United States government had so far shown more attention and compassion to hostage families than the Israeli government, describing the difference in support as startling.
Orna Neutra, the mother of Israeli-American hostage Omer Neutra, told CNN's Jake Tapper that as a dual citizen of both countries, "the compassion and the attention and the seriousness with which we've been addressed over here [in the United States], the difference is startling towards the hostage families.It's been pretty awful."
She went on to say that she believed that apart from some fringe members of the Israeli government, most feel it is time to bring the hostages out "right now."
Ruby Chen, the father of Israeli-American hostage Itay Chen, who was killed on October 7, said that he echoed Neutra's comments, adding that he never received a condolence call from Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu after his son's death was confirmed.
"When I got the awful news, President Biden gave us a condolence call.I am still waiting for that call from our Prime Minister," Ruby Chen said.
Israel says the Gaza war will not stop for hostage talks with Hamas. Here's what you should know
From CNN staff
Israel's Minister of Defense Yoav Gallant said Wednesday the country's military offensive in Gaza would not be halted for any resumption of ceasefire and hostage release talks with Hamas.
Egyptian, Qatari and American officials were expected to meet in Doha from Wednesday to revive Gaza truce negotiations, according to US and Egyptian officials.
The meetings come after US President Joe Biden on Friday laid out a three-phase proposal— a plan characterized as an Israeli plan — that would pair a release of hostages with a “full and complete ceasefire” in Gaza.
Here are other headlines you should know:
Shooting at the US embassy in Lebanon:
- A man has been arrested following an overnight shooting near the US embassy in Lebanon, in Awkar, northeast of Beirut, Lebanese authorities say. The embassy has been shut down to the public following the incident.
- A Syrian national was injured after army members deployed to the area responded with fire, the Lebanese army said Wednesday, adding the male suspect was arrested and transferred to a hospital for treatment. Security forces in Lebanon also detained the sibling of the gunman, according to local media.
- An investigation is underway, the army said.The gunman who allegedly targeted the embassy was wearing “what appeared to be ISIS insignia,” according to a State Department spokesperson. A source at the embassy in Lebanon previously told CNN they could not divulge information about the gunman's motivations.
The latest from Lebanon:
- The United States remains “incredibly concerned” about the risk of escalation on the Israel-Lebanon border, State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller said Wednesday.
- Meanwhile, at least 10 people were injured in northern Israel on Wednesday following a drone assault from the militant group Hezbollah in Lebanon, according to Israeli authorities.
- The Israeli military says Hezbollah militants in Lebanon launched at least two explosive UAVs in the attack on northern Israel Wednesday evening. Hezbollah claimed responsibility for the attack that came amid an escalation of tensions along the Israel-Lebanon border.
Controversial march:
- A controversial annual flag-flying march held bynationalistIsraelis through Muslim areas of Jerusalem's Old City took place on Wednesday. Large crowds of young Israeli nationalists pushed their way through the narrow streets of Jerusalem’s Old City intimidating, and in some cases attacking, Palestinian shopkeepers and journalists, as they marked Jerusalem Day in what has become the traditional fashion.
- Israeli police said they detained five suspects for throwing objects toward journalists during the parade.
IDF investigation:
- The Israeli military has launched investigations into the deaths of Palestinians who died in Israeli military custody during its offensive in Gaza, an Israel Defense Forces (IDF) spokesperson has told CNN.
- At least 36 detainees have died in Israeli detention facilities since October, according to an IDF statement on Wednesday, including those with previous illnesses or injuries sustained as a result of the fighting.
Israeli army says Hezbollah used2self-detonating drones in attack on northern Israel
From CNN's Jonny Hallam
The Israeli military says Hezbollah militants in Lebanon launched at least two explosive UAVs in an attack on Hurfeish, a Druze Arab village, in northern Israel on Wednesday evening.
Nine people were treated for shrapnel injuries sustained in the drone strikes, according to the Galilee Medical Center in Nahariya, including a woman suffering abdominal and chest injuries, whose condition was described as moderate to serious.
The Israeli army has not commented on the identity of the injured, but the Reuters news agency says soldiers were among those wounded. Video obtained by the agency showed an ambulance moving several injured soldiers from the scene.
In one clip, a paramedic can be seen carrying a uniformed Israeli soldier on his back toward an ambulance. The soldier is conscious with his head raised and does not appear to be badly injured.
An eyewitness told Israel’s Channel 11 that the second self-detonating drone exploded as emergency responders arrived on the scene to treat patients injured in the first drone strike.
“We came to rescue those who were injured, and suddenly a second UAV approached,” Anwar Maer, head of the Hurfeish municipality said.
Hezbollah claimed responsibility for the attack which comes amid an escalation of tensions along the Israel-Lebanon border.
According to the Israeli military, Wednesday saw approximately 30 rockets and drones launched from Lebanon towards Israel. Israeli fighter jets also targeted Hezbollah positions, the military said.
"The [Israeli] strikes included terrorist infrastructure in Naqoura and Matmoura, Hezbollah military structures in Ayta ash Shab, and a Hezbollah observation post in Khiam," the military added.
Tamar Michaelis contributed reporting to this post.
At least 10 injured in northern Israel, after Hezbollah launches attack from Lebanon
From CNN's Tamar Michaelis and Jonny Hallam
At least 10 people were injured in northern Israel on Wednesday following a drone assault from the militant group Hezbollah in Lebanon, according to Israeli authorities.
One person was severely injured, one moderately and eight lightly, Israel's Magen David Adom (MDA) emergency service said. An MDA ambulance driver was also injured by shrapnel when he arrived at the scene of the attack.
Several launches identified from Lebanon fell in Hurfeish, a town in northern Israel, according to the Israel Defense Forces (IDF), which said, "No sirens were sounded, the incident isunderreview."
An Israeli military source told CNN their initial assessment was that Hezbollah militants launched at least one explosive unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) in the assault.
Tensions ramp up: The Iranian-backed-Hezbollah has increased attacks on Israel's border in recent months, saying they are in protest at Israel's war in Gaza. Just this week, cross-border attacks from Lebanon led to large fires blazing through Israel’s northern region, burning through patches of land and triggering evacuations.
US "incredibly concerned" about risk of escalation on Israel-Lebanon border: State Department
From CNN's Jennifer Hansler
The United States remains “incredibly concerned” about the risk of escalation on the Israel-Lebanon border, State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller said Wednesday.
“It's something we've been concerned about since the immediate aftermath of October 7, and we have been engaged in intense diplomatic conversations, intense diplomatic negotiations, to try to avoid that conflict from escalating beyond control,” Miller said at a department briefing with reporters.
Tensions on the borderhave been rising. Cross-border attacks from Lebanon led to large fires blazing through Israel’s northern region this week, and the Israeli military warned it was prepared to launch a large-scale attack in the north to deter the Iran-backed Islamist group Hezbollah.
Miller reiterated Wednesday that “it is an untenable situation for Israel right now” as tens of thousands of Israelis cannot return to their homes in the north due to “constant Hezbollah shelling and drone attacks.”
Miller claimed that the Israeli government has privately maintained to the US that “their preferred solution to this conflict is a diplomatic one.”
He added that “one of the reasons we think a ceasefire in Gaza is so important is because that ceasefire would unlock the potential for us to actually achieve lasting calm in the north.”
Beirut embassy gunman wore "what appeared to be ISIS insignia": State Department
From CNN's Michael Conte
The gunman who allegedly targeted the US Embassy in Beirut on Wednesday morning was wearing “what appeared to be ISIS insignia,” according to a State Department spokesperson.
“We are aware that the individual who was arrested was wearing what appeared to be ISIS insignia, but we are conducting a full investigation with the Lebanese authorities into the actual motivations,” said State Department Spokesperson Matthew Miller at a press briefing.
Miller said that one member of the embassy’s local guard force was “seriously injured” in the incident.
“We achieved full accountability of all official US citizens and locally employed staff, and the embassy closed today following the incident but plans to be open for business-as-usual tomorrow,” said Miller.
Meanwhile, the Lebanese army said its forces had arrested five suspects in connection with the shooting.
The arrests came after raids on several houses in Majdal Anjar and Swairi in eastern Lebanon near the Syrian border, the army said.
The five suspects are a Lebanese national, a Syrian national, and three family members of attacker.
Israeli nationalists mark Jerusalem Day with anti-Palestinian chants and intimidation in the Old City
From CNN staff in Jerusalem
Large crowds of young Israeli nationalists pushed their way through the narrow streets of Jerusalem’s Old City intimidating, and in some cases attacking, Palestinian shopkeepers and journalists, as they marked Jerusalem Day in what has become the traditional fashion.
The annual event marks the capture of the eastern part of Jerusalem by Israeli forces during the Six Day War in 1967. In recent years it has taken the form of a rally of right-wing religious Israelis, with anti-Palestinian songs and chants becoming standard.
After gathering at the Damascus Gate entrance to the Old City, the mostly young men, many in religious clothing, many others carrying Israeli flags, passed through the gateway and made their way through what is known as the Islamic quarter towards the Western Wall, the most religious place Jews are allowed to pray.
Videos either shot or obtained by CNN showed groups of young men intimidating shopkeepers. Other videos showed them shouting, “Death to Arabs” and “Burn Down the Villages,” a reference to Palestinian homes. Another video showed a group of young men singing and dancing on the Aqsa Mosque compound, where Jews are allowed to visit but not pray.
A CNN crew outside the Damascus Gate witnessed bottles and sticks being thrown at TV crews. An Israeli journalist working for Haaretz newspaper said he was among a group of about ten people thrown to the floor by the nationalists and given a kicking. Police intervened, he said, and pulled him and others to safety.
Eighteen people had been arrested on suspicion of violent offenses, assault, threats, and disorderly conduct, police said.
The two political figureheads of Israel’s far-right, National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir and Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, both made an appearance at the rally, which comes as Israel’s war in Gaza approaches its ninth month.
Ben Gvir told the crowd they were conveying a message to Hamas: “Jerusalem is ours, Damascus Gate is ours, Temple Mount is ours, and with God's help, total victory [will be] ours,” he said referring to the holiest site in Judaism, known to Muslims as the Noble Sanctuary and the location of the Aqsa Mosque.
Further underlining the unique status of Jerusalem as a trigger in the wider, decades-long, conflict, a statement from Hamas’s political leader Ismail Haniyeh said the nationalists’ actions showed that “Jerusalem is the core of the conflict, and our people will not rest until the occupation departs and the independent Palestinian state is established with its capital in Jerusalem.”
On the same Jerusalem Day occasion three years ago, after weeks of building tensions in the city, Hamas triggered an 11-day war with Israel when it launched six rockets towards Jerusalem sending air raid sirens blaring for the first time in years.
IDF opens investigations into deaths of Palestinians held in Israeli detention facilities
From CNN's Andrew Carey and Mitchell McCluskey
The Israeli military has launched investigations into the deaths of Palestinians who died in Israeli military custody during its offensive in Gaza, an Israel Defense Forces (IDF) spokesperson has told CNN.
At least 36 detainees have died in Israeli detention facilities since October, according to the IDF statement on Wednesday, including those with previous illnesses or injuries sustained as a result of the fighting.
"In accordance with the law and IDF directives, in each case of death of a detainee in an IDF detention facility, a criminal investigation is opened by the militarypolice," the statement said.
The Chief of the General Staff Herzi Haleviordered an advisory committee to investigate the conditions at the Sde Teiman, Anatot and Ofer detention facilities amid allegations of detainee mistreatment.
Timeline: Thousands of Palestinians from Gaza have been detained since the war, the IDF said. The committee will assess detention conditions, the treatment of detainees, the management of facilities, and overall compliance with Israeli and international law, added the IDF. It will start investigating immediately and will submit its recommendations to the Chief of the General Staff within three weeks, the spokesperson said.
CNN investigation: Earlier on Wednesday, astate attorney toldIsrael’s Supreme Court that hundreds of Palestinian detainees would be transferred out of the Sde Teiman facility. The move comes shortly after aCNN investigationinto extreme abuse at that facility.
Israel says Gaza war will not stop for hostage talks with Hamas
From CNN's Tamar Michaelis and Jonny Hallam
Israel's Minister of Defense Yoav Gallant said Wednesday the country's military offensive in Gaza would not be halted for any resumption of ceasefire and hostage release talks with Hamas.
"We are in a process of continuous engagement to wear down the enemy. Any negotiations with the terrorist organization Hamas will only be conducted under fire," Gallant said in a recorded video statement.
Gallant made the comments after conducting a flight in an Israeli air force F-15 fighter jet over Gaza and Israel's northern border with Lebanon to "observe all the combat theaters of the IDF."
Egyptian, Qatari and American officials were expected to meet in Doha from Wednesday to revive Gaza truce negotiations, according to US and Egyptian officials.
The meetings come after US President Joe Biden on Friday laid out a three-phase proposal— a plan characterized as an Israeli plan — that would pair a release of hostages with a “full and complete ceasefire” in Gaza.
