Saudi Arabia condemns Israel in ‘strongest terms possible the inhumane targeting’
Saudi Arabia has condemned “in the strongest terms possible the inhumane targeting by the Israeli occupation forces of the Jabalia refugee camp in the besieged Gaza Strip,” its Foreign Ministry said in a statement.
Saudi Arabia denounced “the repeated targeting by the Israeli occupation forces of densely populated civilian areas, and its continuing violation of international law and international humanitarian law.”
The Israeli military said a lethal air strike on the Jabalia refugee camp in the northern Gaza Strip killed a senior Hamas commander on Tuesday. Dozens of other people were killed, while hundreds were wounded, a local hospital says.
Saudi Arabia has historically supported the cause of the Palestinian people, refusing to knot diplomatic ties with Israel as a result. Progress was being made on normalizing relations between the two countries — encouraged by the United States, which seeks coordination between two strong Middle East allies — prior to the Oct. 7 terror attacks perpetrated against Israel by Palestinian militant group Hamas.
— Ruxandra Iordache
Bolivia cuts diplomatic ties with Israel; Chile and Colombia recall ambassadors
Bolivia on Tuesday announced it has severed diplomatic ties with Israel as a result of civilian losses caused by its war campaign in the Gaza Strip, while Chile and Colombia have recalled their ambassadors to the Middle Eastern country for consultations.
The Bolivian decision took place after a Monday meeting with the Palestinian ambassador to the South American country, said Maria Nela Prada, minister of the Bolivian presidency, in an update.
In addition to dissolving diplomatic ties with Israel, she said Bolivia’s government “demand the end of attacks in the Gaza Strip, which have so far led to thousands of civilian deaths, and the forced displacement of Palestinian people,” according to a CNBC translation.
Bolivia’s new President Luis Arce’s Presidency Minister Marianela Prada delivers a speech during her inauguration ceremony at the Casa Grande del Pueblo government palace in La Paz on November 9, 2020. – Leftist economist Luis Arce assumed the Bolivian presidency facing the challenge of uniting a polarized society and reactivating an economy ravaged by the coronavirus pandemic. (Photo by AIZAR RALDES / AFP) (Photo by AIZAR RALDES/AFP via Getty Images)
Aizar Raldes | Afp | Getty Images
“The government of Bolivia’s decision to cut diplomatic ties with Israel is a surrender to terrorism and to the Ayatollah’s regime in Iran,” Israel’s Foreign Ministry said in a statement. “By taking this step, the Bolivian government is aligning itself with the Hamas terrorist organization.”
It added, “In any case, since the change of government in Bolivia, relations between the countries have been devoid of content.”
Bolivia interrupted diplomatic ties with Israel between 2009 and 2020 also because of fighting in the Gaza Strip.
Overnight, Colombian President Gustavo Petro and his Chilean counterpart Gabriel Boric Font both announced recalling their countries’ ambassadors to Israel for consultations in separate social media posts translated by CNBC.
Several countries have called upon Israel to be proportionate in its military response in the Gaza Strip, where Israeli military says it is only targeting the forces and position of Hamas, after the Palestinian militant group’s terror attacks of Oct. 7.
— Ruxandra Iordache
Doubts on opening of Rafah border crossing
Military personnel stand guard on the day of Egyptian Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly’s visit to the Rafah border crossing between Egypt and the Gaza Strip, amid the ongoing conflict between Israel and Palestinian Islamist group Hamas, in Rafah, Egypt, October 31, 2023.
Mohamed Abd El Ghany | Reuters
There are still doubts surrounding the opening of the Rafah border crossing for wounded people on Wednesday, according to NBC News.
The news outlet reports that there has been no confirmation from the Egyptian side and it would also need the approval of Israel.
That comes despite the media director on Palestinian side saying “The Rafah land crossing will be opened tomorrow, Wednesday, for a number of wounded to leave to complete their treatment in Egyptian hospitals.”
The BBC reported late Tuesday that the U.K. Foreign Office had informed British nationals trapped in Gaza about “credible reports” that Rafah might open for limited exits.
— Matt Clinch
Palestinian telco says internet service has been interrupted in the Gaza Strip
Palestinian telecommunications provider Paltel said all internet and communications services in the Gaza Strip have been interrupted, according to a statement on X, the social media platform previously known as Twitter.
— Christine Wang
WHO chief: ‘There’s no time to waste’
A boy stands holding a fresh and cracked loaf of bread along an alley in Rafah in the southern Gaza Strip on October 31, 2023 amid ongoing battles between Israel and the Palestinian Hamas movement.
Mohammed Abed | Afp | Getty Images
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