As Israel enters a new, dangerous phase in its conflict with Hamas, The Algemeiner is rounding up developments in the region and around the world.

Volunteers in Tel Aviv pack boxes of aid for the thousands of Israelis impacted by the Oct. 7 Hamas invasion. Photo: Reuters/Janis Laizans

Hamas Releases First Footage of Israeli Hostage, IDF Responds

The Hamas terror group on Monday released the first footage showing one of the 200 or more Israeli hostages being held in the Gaza Strip.

The clip shows 21-year-old Mia Schem being treated after she was wounded in her arm. Schem was kidnapped by Hamas terrorists last weekend during a music festival where more than 260 people were massacred. In total, over 1,400 Israelis were killed during Hamas’ surprise invasion, and many hostages were brought to Gaza.

חמאס שחרר סרטון של חטופה ישראלית.
– פרסום לאחר אישור המשפחה. pic.twitter.com/YJlMWeapzT

— Fadi Amun | فادي أمون | פאדי אמון (@FadiAmun) October 16, 2023

The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) responded to Hamas’ video and gave an update on the situation.

“In the video published by Hamas, they try to portray themselves as humane. However, they are a [horrific] terrorist organization responsible for the murder and abduction of babies, children, men, women, and the elderly,” the Israeli military said.

Last week, Mia was abducted by Hamas.

IDF officials have since informed Mia’s family and are in continuous contact with them.

In the video published by Hamas, they try to portray themselves as humane. However, they are a horrorific terrorist organization responsible for the…

— Israel Defense Forces (@IDF) October 16, 2023

US House Progressives Introduce Resolution Demanding ‘Cease-Fire in Israel and Occupied Palestine’

Seven members of the so-called “Squad” of far left members of the US House joined with a number of fellow progressive Democrats on Monday to introduce a resolution calling for an “an immediate deescalation and cease-fire in Israel and occupied Palestine.”

The resolution does not mention Hamas, the Palestinian terrorist group in control of Gaza, by name or single it out for responsibility for the Oct. 7 slaughter of 1,400 people in Israel. It also accepts without question the casualty figures of the Gaza-based Palestinian Health Ministry, which is controlled by Hamas and typically includes terrorists in its publicly announced death tolls.  The Algemeiner‘s Andrew Bernard has more.

Major Philanthropic Group Terminates Partnership With Harvard Over Pro-Hamas Debacle

The Wexner Foundation, a prominent philanthropic organization, announced on Monday that it is terminating a longstanding partnership with Harvard University because of the school’s belated condemnation of Hamas’ terrorist onslaught against Israel and refusal to censure students who expressed support for it.

“The Wexner Foundation is formally ending its financial and programmatic relationships with Harvard and the Harvard Kennedy School,” the group said in a letter to the university’s board of overseers. “We make this decision with an unwavering commitment to our Israel alumni, to Israel’s civil service, and to the State of Israel.” The Algemeiner‘s Dion Pierre has more.

Most Americans Believe Israel’s Military Response to Hamas Justified, Poll Finds

A large majority of Americans believe that Israel’s military response to Hamas is justified in the wake of the Palestinian terrorist group’s brutal invasion of the Jewish state last weekend that left over 1,400 Israelis dead, according to a new poll.

CNN on Sunday released a new poll showing that 50 percent of the 1,003 US adult respondents said the Israeli government’s military response was “fully justified,” while another 20 percent said it was “partially justified.” Only 8 percent of Americans said that Israel was “not at all justified,” with the remainder unsure, according to the findings. The Algemeiner‘s Andrew Bernard has more.

Jailed Iranian Dissident Fatemeh Sepehri Expresses Support for Israel

An Iranian woman who was jailed for 18 years in February for demanding the resignation of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, the Islamic Republic’s “supreme leader,” has released a video condemning Hamas and expressing support for Israel.

Fatemeh Sepehri was reported to have recorded the video during a hospital visit for treatment for a heart condition.

“I condemn Hamas’ attack on Israel and say loudly that the Iranian nation stands by the Israeli nation,” Sepehri said.

Sepehri is one of 14 activists in Iran who have publicly called for Khamenei to step down. She has been arrested and interrogated many times in recent years. She and the other activists have also called for a new political system within the framework of a new constitution that would secure dignity and equal rights for women.

Sepehri was arrested in Sept. 2022, at the beginning of nationwide protests in Iran over the September 16 death of Jina “Mahsa” Amini, a 22-year-old Kurdish woman who was arrested and murdered by Iran’s morality police for allegedly violating the country’s hijab law.

The courage of Iranian political prisoner Fatemeh Sepehri knows no limits. She is currently imprisoned by the Islamic Republic of Iran and is receiving treatment in the hospital for a heart condition where she recorded this video condemning Hamas and expressing support for… pic.twitter.com/LI7yTRA0rf

— Emily Schrader – אמילי שריידר امیلی شریدر (@emilykschrader) October 16, 2023

Antisemitism Envoy Lipstadt “Disgusted” by Murder of Palestinian-American Child in Illinois

The murder of a six-year-old Palestinian child in a frenzied stabbing attack by his family’s landlord that was apparently triggered by the Oct. 7 Hamas onslaught against Israel has been roundly condemned by US Antisemitism Envoy Deborah Lipstadt.

“I am disgusted and heartbroken by this murder of a Palestinian American child in Illinois. Such hatred and evil must be fought by all good people in America,” she posted on X/Twitter. “Anti-Muslim hatred, antisemitism, racism, and all other forms of hate derive from the same deplorable, intolerant, conspiracy-based mindset.”

Wadea Al-Fayoume was stabbed 26 times at his Plainfield home by his landlord, Joseph Czuba, 71, on Saturday, investigators said. He died at the hospital. His mother, Hanaan Shahin, 32, was stabbed more than a dozen times, authorities said, adding that she is at a hospital and is expected to survive.

I am disgusted and heartbroken by this murder of a Palestinian American child in Illinois. Such hatred and evil must be fought by all good people in America. Anti-Muslim hatred, antisemitism, racism, and all other forms of hate derive from the same deplorable, intolerant,… https://t.co/I7MwhVAO6Y

— Special Envoy to Monitor and Combat Antisemitism (@StateSEAS) October 16, 2023

“This Will be a Long War,” Gallant Tells Blinken

Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant has told visiting US Secretary of State Antony Blinken that “this will be a long war; the price will be high.”

The two top officials met in Tel Aviv on Monday. “We always knew that the United States is a great ally.  But today people in Israel, in the world, see with their own eyes you are here for the second time in this week, senior officials of America are here every day, and the American flag is sailing on boats in the Mediterranean, and we know what is the meaning,” Gallant told Blinken.

“You know our deep commitment to Israel’s right – indeed, its obligation – to defend itself and to defend its people.  And in that, you have and always have the support of the United States,” Blinken responded, in remarks reported by the US State Department.

Pentagon Sends “Prepare to Deploy” Orders to 2,000 US Troops

The Associated Press news agency reports that the Pentagon has sent “prepare to deploy” orders to about 2,000 US troops to be ready to respond to the Israel-Hamas war, two US officials speaking on condition of anonymity said on Monday.

The troops are set to cover a variety of support roles, such as additional medical support or explosive ordnance support, including providing additional security at gate crossings, one of the officials said.

They will not be sent to Israel but could be sent to countries in the region, the official added.

Shin Bet Head on Hamas Invasion: “Responsibility is Mine”

“Despite a series of actions we carried out, unfortunately on Saturday we were unable to generate a sufficient warning that would allow the attack to be thwarted,” wrote Ronen Bar, the head of Israel’s Shin Bet security agency, in a note to colleagues addressing the Oct. 7 invasion of southern Israel by Hamas terrorists.

“As the one who heads the organization, the responsibility for this is mine,” he continued. “There will be time for investigations. Now we are fighting.”

Minute of Silence for Israeli Victims at New York Liberty Game Drowned by Booing, Chants

A minute of silence for the Israeli victims of the Oct. 7 Hamas terrorist invasion that was held prior to Sunday’s WNBA match between the New York Liberty and Las Vegas Aces descended into boos, jeers and catcalls from large sections of the crowd at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn.

Video of the minute of silence filmed by a member of the audience and shared with The Algemeiner showed the booing becoming louder and more intense as the announcer spoke of the “senseless loss of life in Israel,” before highlighting the plight of Omer Neutra, one of the nearly 200 hostages seized by Hamas and spirited to Gaza. The Algemeiner’s Ben Cohen has more.

UNRWA Deletes Official Statement Accusing Hamas of Aid Theft

The UN agency responsible for Palestinian refugees on Monday said that it had received reports that Hamas had seized humanitarian supplies from a UN compound in Gaza City before backtracking and deleting all references to the accusation. “UNRWA received reports this morning that yesterday a group of people with trucks, purporting to be from the Ministry of Health of the de facto authorities (DFA) in Gaza, removed fuel and medical equipment from the Agency’s compound in Gaza City,” UNRWA now deleted statement said. “UNRWA’s fuel and other types of material are kept for strictly humanitarian purposes, and any use of such assets for any other purposes is strongly condemned.” The Algemeiner’s Andrew Bernard has more.

Putin Tells Abbas Russia Supports Palestinian State With Jerusalem as Capital

Russian President Vladimir Putin has reiterated his support for the creation of a Palestinian state with its capital in eastern Jerusalem in a phone call with Palestinian Authority (PA) President Mahmoud Abbas.

During a conversation on Monday, the Russian leader also “expressed his condolences to the victims of the Palestinian people, reiterating the importance of stopping the fighting, providing humanitarian aid, and not displacing the Palestinians outside their country,” according a readout of the call from the official Palestinian news agency WAFA.

For his part, Abbas reportedly “rejected the killing of civilians on both sides, underscoring the importance of releasing civilians and prisoners detained on both sides.” Abbas also warned that the displacement of civilians from Gaza would amount to a second “Nakba” or “catastrophe” — the term used by Palestinians to describe the creation of Israel in 1948.

No mention of Hamas or its terrorist acts was made during the call. Abbas criticized Hamas on Sunday but then  walked the comment back, with WAFA removing it from its report.

Canada Appoints Top Diplomat as Antisemitism Envoy

A former Canadian Ambassador to Israel has been appointed as the country’s special envoy on Holocaust remembrance and combating antisemitism.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced on Monday that Deborah Lyons, a diplomat with 25 years of experience, was the first holder of the newly-created post. Lyons, who was appointed to a two-year term in the post, was Canada’s ambassador to Israel from 2016 to 2020.

“Ms. Lyons will be a critical voice in fighting antisemitism and preserving the memory of the Holocaust so that younger generations know the truth about what happened and how antisemitism continues today,” Trudeau said in a statement.

Lyons said that the Oct. 7 Hamas onslaught against Israel was an opportunity for Canadians to unite against antisemitism.

“I am proud to accept this role and responsibility and I am committed to working with all levels of government, institutions and stakeholders to promote Holocaust awareness and combat antisemitism here in Canada and abroad,” she said.

Top German Official Pledges Further Bans on Islamist Organizations

Four days after Chancellor Olaf Scholz banned all Hamas-related activities in Germany following scenes of supporters of Samidoun, a Palestinian prisoners organization, distributing cakes and candy to celebrate the Oct. 7 Hamas onslaught on Israel, the head of the country’s Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution, has said that the further bans on Islamist groups are likely.

“Antisemitism is part of the DNA of Islamist organizations,” Thomas Haldewang told the Spiegel news outlet. He declined to give details of  a “whole series” of Islamist organizations currently being considered for a ban.

IDF Publishes List of Eliminated Hamas Officials

The IDF has published a list of key Hamas officials who have been eliminated since the terrorist group’s Oct. 7 invasion of Israel.

The group includes Hamas military commanders Ali Qadi, Belal Alqadra and Muetaz Eid, as well as Zakariya Abu Ma’amar, the head of the Hamas international relations bureau.

Hamas is a genocidal terrorist organization.

We will eliminate Hamas. pic.twitter.com/pjz6mC2FYl

— Israel Defense Forces (@IDF) October 16, 2023

Top Vatican Official in Israel Offers to Exchange Himself for Child Hostages Held by Hamas

The top official of the Roman Catholic Church in Jerusalem has offered to travel to Gaza as a hostage to secure the release of some of the children being held among the 199 Israelis kidnapped by Hamas terrorists during their Oct. 7 onslaught against Israel.

“If I’m available for an exchange? Anything, if this could bring about the freedom of children, no problem. My absolute willingness,” Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa told a reporter during an online press conference.

Pizzaballa also expressed fear of a regional conflagration. “I don’t know, it’s very difficult to predict the developments, but the fear of regional expansion is real, and I’m not the only one saying it,” he said.

To catch up on Sunday’s developments in Israel and Gaza, click here