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 United Nations 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 US is working with the UN and other international relief agencies to establish safe areas within Gaza for Palestinian civilians, a senior State Department official said. Hamas, designated a terrorist group by the US and the European Union, called for a “Day of Rage” across the Muslim world and mass protests 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)
Four Palestinians Killed Trying to Damage Perimeter Fence In West Bank (4:35 p.m.)
Undercover border police officers killed four Palestinians who were trying to damage a perimeter fence and throw explosives near the West Bank town of Tulkarm, the Israel police spokesman’s office said in a statement.
JP Morgan’s Dimon Warns on Geopolitical Risks (4:30 p.m.)
JPMorgan Chase & Co. Chief Executive Officer Jamie Dimon warned of serious geopolitical risks amid expectations Israel will make a ground assault on Gaza.
“This may be the most dangerous time the world has seen in decades,” the CEO of the biggest US bank said in its third-quarter earnings statement. “The war in Ukraine compounded by last week’s attacks on Israel may have far-reaching impacts on energy and food markets, global trade, and geopolitical relationships.”
NYC Preps for ‘All Out for Palestine’ Protest With More Security (3:35 p.m.)
Some New Yorkers weighed whether to stay home Friday amid surging tensions spurred by the war, even as Mayor Eric Adams said the city had “no credible or specific threats.”
Morgan Stanley told staff they could work from home Friday, when an “All Out For Palestine” rally was scheduled to be held in Times Square, not far from the bank’s headquarters. Google parent Alphabet Inc. said New York employees could decide whether to stay at home, while at least one Jewish school in Queens told parents it would close for the day.
Thousands Protest in Yemen In Rallies Called By Iran-Backed Group (3:30 p.m.)
Thousands of Yemenis took to the streets in different parts of the country to denounce Israeli airstrikes on Gaza. There were big protests organized by the Iran-backed Houthi rebels in the Yemeni capital Sanaa. People chanted anti-Israel slogans and called for mobilization to support Palestinians in Gaza.
There were also some protests in areas under Yemen’s internationally-recognized government like Mahra and Taiz in the south.
Israeli Army Says It Intercepts Rockets (3:15 p.m.)
Air raid sirens sounded across northern Israel and Hamas said it was firing rockets at the area in response ‘’to the displacement and massacre of civilians” in Gaza. The Israeli army said it identified the rockets, adding they were successfully intercepted.
‘Unrealistic’ for A Million People to Leave in 24 Hours, Borrell Says (3:05 p.m.)
Civilians in Gaza must be warned about military operations but it “is utterly unrealistic that one million people can move in 24 hours,” Josep Borrell, the EU’s foreign policy chief, said Friday in a press briefing in Beijing.
Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said at the same event that Zhai Jun, China’s special envoy on Middle East issues, would visit the region soon, without giving further details on his itinerary.
US Defense Secretary Says Support For Israel Is ‘Ironclad’ (3:00 p.m.)
US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin met with Israel’s prime minister and defense minister, and said Washington’s support for Israel is “ironclad.” In a press conference in Tel Aviv, Austin said US military aid – including munitions, air defense capabilities and interceptors for the Iron Dome missile defense system – is already flowing to Israel.
“We will continue to coordinate closely with Israel to help secure the release of the innocent men, women, and children in the clutches of Hamas, including American citizens,” he said.
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.)
A large pro-Hamas protest took place in Ramallah in the West Bank on Friday, according to regional TV station 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.
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