Protesters marched against Israel in Jordan, Lebanon, Iraq, Syria and Iran, as the Israeli military urged an evacuation of the northern part of Gaza in preparation for a possible ground invasion of the territory.
(Bloomberg) — Protesters marched against Israel in Jordan, Lebanon, Iraq, Syria and Iran, as the Israeli military urged an evacuation of the northern part of Gaza in preparation for a possible ground invasion of the territory.
The UN warned of a disaster and said it would be impossible to move the million or so inhabitants of north Gaza to the south, as demanded by Israeli authorities.
The Iran-backed Hezbollah group said it was “fully prepared” for any action against Israel when “the time comes,” Deputy Secretary General Sheikh Naim Qasem said. Hezbollah, which operates from Lebanon, has fired several rockets at Israel in recent days.
Hamas called for a “Day of Rage” across the Muslim world and mass protests on Friday against Israel, which the group attacked last weekend, killing 1,300. More than 1,500 people have been killed in Gaza in retaliatory airstrikes.
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(All time stamps are Israeli time)
Treasuries and Oil Jump on Israel-Hamas Conflict (2:50 p.m.)
Treasuries rallied as investors turned to havens on signs Israel is preparing for a ground invasion of Gaza. Crude oil jumped around 4%.
Pro-Hamas Protests Take Place in West Bank (2:30 p.m.)
An usually large pro-Hamas protest took place in Ramallah in the West Bank on Friday, according to al-Jazeera. The West Bank is run by the Palestinian Authority, while Hamas rules Gaza.
Elsewhere in the West Bank, there were clashes between Palestinians and the Israel Defense Forces. At least three Palestinians died, according to West Bank authorities.
Israeli Gas Fields Ramp Up Production After Conflict Shuts Tamar (2:30 p.m.)
Gas fields off northern Israel are producing at full capacity to partly offset the shutdown of the Tamar platform due to safety concerns amid fighting between the military and Hamas.
Still, Israeli gas exports to Egypt have continued to decline as Israel prioritizes supplying the domestic market, according to people with knowledge of the matter. Chevron Corp. said Monday that it had been ordered by the Israeli authorities to shut down Tamar, located 25 kilometers (16 miles) from Ashkelon, north of Gaza.
Hezbollah Says It Is Prepared to Act Against Israel When ‘Time Comes’ (2:10 p.m.)
Iran-backed Hezbollah is watching Israel’s steps and is “fully prepared” for any action when “the time comes,” Deputy Secretary General Sheikh Naim Qasem said, according the militant group’s Al Manar TV.
Hezbollah, which operates from Lebanon, has expressed solidarity with Hamas and fired several rockets at Israel. The group is viewed as one of the most powerful and effective organizations in the country.
Rallies Held Against Israel After Hamas Call (2:15 p.m.)
Crowds held protests in countries including Jordan, Iraq and Syria after Hamas called for a “Day of Rage.” Thousands of Jordanians gathered in the capital Amman to take part in a demonstration in support of Gaza, according to the state-run Al Mamlaka TV. Jordanians assembled in several governorates too, the station said.
In Lebanon, thousands packed Beirut’s southern suburb of Dahiye, a stronghold of Hezbollah to protest Israel’s attacks on Gaza and waved Palestinian flags as a speaker condemned what he said was the west’s hypocrisy and silence on killings in Gaza. Protesters also packed squares in the West Bank city of Ramallah and in Pakistan’s Islamabad, in footage aired by Al Jazeera.
Palestinian President Warns Of Humanitarian Catastrophe (1:45 p.m.)
President Mahmoud Abbas said Gaza was facing a “humanitarian catastrophe.” There is an urgent need for humanitarian corridors and the provision of medical supplies, water, electricity and fuel, he said after meeting with Blinken in Amman.
Abbas reiterated he rejected the killing and abuse of civilians on both sides and called for the release of civilians, prisoners and detainees.
Stocks Retreat While Bonds Rally (1:33 p.m.)
Stocks fell globally and Treasuries advanced on worries about the economic spillover effects of the conflict. Europe’s Stoxx 600 Index sank 0.9% and S&P 500 index futures slid 0.3%. The 10-year yield dropped eight basis points to 4.62%. Oil surged, with West Texas Intermediate rising above $86 a barrel.
“Bonds are rallying ahead of the weekend as traders likely want to hedge geopolitical risk,” said Christophe Barraud, chief economist and strategist at Market Securities LLP.
Turkey Tells West to Reduce Tensions (1:02 p.m.)
“Western countries, in particular, should take steps to reduce tension and stay away from efforts that don’t serve peace,” Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan told French counterpart Emmanuel Macron in call, according to presidency statement on X, without naming specific countries.
“Human rights violations against the innocent civilian population in Gaza are unacceptable,” he added.
Putin Says Israel Has Right to Defend Itself (12:30 p.m.)
Israel has been subjected to an attack unprecedented in its cruelty, and has the right to defend itself and to peaceful existence, Russian President Vladimir Putin said at a summit of Commonwealth of Independent States in the capital of Kyrgyzstan Bishkek.
But the priority now is to stop the bloodshed and stabilize the situation on the ground, Putin added, saying that a ground operation in Gaza would bring heavy consequences and casualties among civilians would be unacceptable.
Jordan’s King Warns Blinken on Gaza Escalation (12:00 p.m.)
Jordan’s King Abdullah II urged US Secretary of State Antony Blinken to open a humanitarian corridor to Gaza and to prevent the displacement of Palestinians.
Abdullah, who met Blinken on Friday morning in Amman, warned against “inflicting collective punishment against Gaza residents,” saying international aid agencies shouldn’t be hindered and that escalation risked spilling over into the West Bank. Blinken is set to later meet officials in Qatar and Bahrain before ending the day in Saudi Arabia. He will also meet Saudi officials ahead of short visits to the UAE and Egypt before returning to Washington.
Iran Says US Complicit in ‘Israeli Crimes’ (11:39 a.m.)
The US and other countries that support Israel “should know they are complicit in the injustice of the Zionist regime’s crimes,” Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi said in a speech.
Iran has warned of expanded “resistance” if Israel continues attacks on civilians.
Iran Holds Street Marches to Support Palestinians (11:25 a.m.)
Iranian state TV showed marches “in support of the Palestinian resistance” in the capital Tehran and the central city of Arak, without saying how many people attended.
The main thoroughfare in central Tehran has been closed to traffic, the semi-official Tasnim reported.
Tasnim also reported a march in Yemen’s Sa’dah, while state-run Al Alam showed one in the Palestinian Khan Dannun camp in Syria. Neither indicated the size of the events.
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