Israel says it will take ‘security responsibility’ for Gaza after war ends

Blinken calls for a united G7 in Japan

After making multiple stops in the Middle East, Secretary of State Antony Blinken arrived in Japan today appealing to the Group of Seven leading industrial democracies to align on the Israel-Hamas war.

“It’s a very important moment as well for G7 to come together in the face of this crisis and to speak as we do with one clear voice,” Blinken told Japanese Foreign Minister Yoko Kamikawa, after a meeting with Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida.

Kamikawa vowed Japan’s support.

“We appreciate the diplomatic efforts by the U.S. on the recent situation in Israel and Palestine. You have our utmost support,” he told Blinken.

University of Pennslyvania staff sent antisemitic emails threatening violence

Staff members at the University of Pennsylvania have received “vile, disturbing antisemitic emails that threatened violence against members of our Jewish community,” the university’s president said in a statement yesterday.

M. Elizabeth Magill wrote in an online statement that the messages, received by a small number of staff, “included hateful language, targeting the personal identities of the recipients.”

Penn Hillel, a Jewish students’ group, was specifically mentioned in the messages, she said. The university’s security team conducted a search and concluded there was no “credible threat” of physical violence, she added.

The news comes a day after a student at the University of Massachusetts was arrested for allegedly punching a Jewish student at a vigil for the hostages taken by Hamas on Oct. 7, organized by UMass Hillel.

Tensions over Israel-Hamas war on the rise in the U.S.

The U.S. has seen hundreds of rallies in support of both Israel and Palestinian people which have sparked incidents on college campuses and even the blockade of a military ship believed to be carrying supplies bound for Israel. NBC News reports on how tension over the war is reaching a boiling point.

Israeli politicians condemn death of Jewish man at protest in California

Senior Israeli political figures have blamed antisemitism for the death of a Jewish man during rival protests inspired by the Israel-Gaza war in California on Sunday.

Paul Kessler, 69, died in Thousand Oaks, Ventura County, after falling backwards and hitting his head while pro-Palestinian and pro-Israeli demonstrators took to the streets and waved flags.

The cause of death is being investigated and community leaders — including local Jewish figures — have urged both sides not to speculate.

“The murder of Jewish-American Paul Kessler should serve as a stark warning sign to the whole world,” said Benny Gantz, the opposition leader who joined a wartime cabinet after Hamas’ Oct. 7 attack.

“Israel stands today at the forefront of the global fight against the murderous antisemitic ideology behind the Hamas terror attacks of 7.10,” he said in a post on X.

Another Israeli opposition leader, Yair Lapid, said in a post on X: “Paul Kessler was killed in Los Angeles because he was a Jew. It is not because of Gaza, it is because of antisemitism.”

‘One full month of carnage,’ U.N. human rights chief begins Middle East visit

The United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights today began his five-day visit to the Middle East region, seeking access to Israel, Gaza and West Bank, a month after the Oct 7. attacks.

“It has been one full month of carnage, of incessant suffering, bloodshed, destruction, outrage and despair,” Türk said in a statement, who will visit Gaza’s Rafah border crossing with Egypt tomorrow said.

“Human rights violations are at the root of this escalation and human rights play a central role in finding a way out of this vortex of pain,” he added.

Israeli who survived Hamas attack recalls events of a month ago

Max Burman

Amir Tibon, a prominent Israeli journalist, has shared his account of his family hiding from Hamas terrorists a month ago and his views on the war and a way forward.

“It was 7AM, they had just woken up in a dark room with no electricity or food, and five people were shouting outside the window,” he wrote on X in a lengthy thread to mark the date.

In Israel, a moment of silence a month after Hamas’ attack

TEL AVIV — An informal moment of silence was held in Israel today as residents marked one month since Hamas launched its deadly attack on Oct. 7.

In the weeks since the ambush, those whose loved ones were among the 1,400 killed or the dozens of of people taken hostage in the attack have gathered with supporters day after day in a square in Tel Aviv near the Israel Defense Forces’ headquarters.

Today, many have gathered there as they continue to call on the Israeli government to do everything it can to see those taken hostage returned.

Around the time that the informal moment of silence was held, a red alert warning of a possible air attack over Ashkelon in southern Israel was sent out, while Israeli forces continued their deadly offensive in Gaza in a war that one month on, appears to be far from over.

Gaza is becoming a ‘graveyard for children,’ U.N. chief says

The Gaza Strip is becoming a “graveyard for children,” U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said, as he called for an immediate humanitarian cease-fire and the unconditional release of all hostages being held by Hamas.

The U.N. Security Council failed again last night to agree on a resolution on the war, however.

Despite more than two hours of closed-door discussions differences remained, with the U.S. calling for “humanitarian pauses” and many council members demanding a “humanitarian cease-fire.”

Yesterday the U.N. launched a $1.2 billion humanitarian appeal to help 2.7 million Palestinians in Gaza and the West Bank. According to the health ministry in Gaza, more than 10,000 people, including more than 4,000 children, have died since the conflict began a month ago.

“Gaza is becoming a graveyard for children,” Guterres said. “Hundreds of girls and boys are reportedly being killed or injured every day.”

“Ground operations by the Israel Defense Forces and continued bombardment are hitting civilians, hospitals, refugee camps, mosques, churches and U.N. facilities — including shelters. No one is safe,” he told reporters yesterday in New York. “At the same time, Hamas and other militants use civilians as human shields and continue to launch rockets indiscriminately toward Israel.”

Analysis: Netanyahu’s ‘little pauses’ a little step toward U.S. position

LONDON — Overnight, Prime Minister Netanyahu endeavored to answer some of the questions the U.S. and its allies have been asking. In an interview with ABC News he said that Israel ‘will have the overall security responsibility’ for the Gaza Strip ‘for an indefinite period’ after the war, hinting at a potential endgame for his military’s ground assault. But there was no detail or explanation of exactly how that might work.

And he seemed to move a little bit toward the White House call for a ‘pause.’ He said again there ‘will be no cease-fire — general cease-fire — in Gaza, without the release of our hostages.’ But then went on to say that ‘as far as tactical, little pauses — an hour here, an hour there — we’ve had them before. I suppose we’ll check the circumstances in order to enable goods —humanitarian goods — to come in or our hostages, individual hostages, to leave.”

But diplomats that have spoken to NBC News in recent weeks have talked of the need for a pause that lasts days in order to get the hostages out. Hamas has been described as needing to reach some hostages held by other groups and organizing the release of up to 240 people would inevitably take time. Offering pauses of ‘an hour here, an hour there’ will be viewed by many as the minimum concession to massive pressure from the Biden Administration.

Vigils held in Jerusalem and Tel Aviv a month after Hamas attack

Some 1,400 candles were lit at Jerusalem’s Western Wall last night in tribute to the 1,400 victims of the Hamas-led terror attack in Israel a month ago. In Tel Aviv another vigil took place in Habima Square, where tempty beds were presented in memory of hostages who remain held in the Gaza Strip.

Singapore threatens jail for displaying symbols linked to Israel-Hamas war

Singapore has threatened jail time for the public display or wearing of signs and symbols related to the Israel-Hamas war, calling it an “emotive issue.”

Those convicted can be fined up to 500 Singapore dollars ($370), imprisoned for up to six months or both, the Ministry of Home Affairs said in a statement yesterday.

“The peace and harmony between different races and religions in Singapore should not be taken for granted, and we must not let events happening externally affect this peace and harmony we have in Singapore,” the ministry said. It added that displaying the logos of militant groups such as Hamas would in particular not be condoned.  

The semiauthoritarian city-state said Singaporeans who wish to express their support for those affected by the war should contribute to authorized charities.

IDF says it took control of a Hamas stronghold in northern Gaza

TEL AVIV — Israel has taken control of a military stronghold in northern Gaza, the Israel Defense Forces said this morning, as it advances its ground operations in the enclave.

“Anti-tank missiles and launchers, weapons, and various intelligence materials were located in the compound by the troops,” it said.

The IDF also said it struck a building next a hospital that was being used by Hamas for attacks, which “led to significant secondary explosions,” indicating “the presence of a Hamas weapons depot.”

Israeli ground operations in northern Gaza

Max Butterworth

An image released by the Israeli army today shows soldiers during ground operations in northern Gaza.

Iranian and Indian leaders emphasize need for de-escalation

Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi emphasized the need for de-escalation, continued humanitarian aid and the early restoration of peace and stability, according to a readout of their call from Modi’s office.

During the call yesterday, Raisi said that he “supports any joint global effort for an immediate ceasefire, lifting the blockade and providing relief to the oppressed people of Gaza,” Iran’s state-run IRNA news agency reported.

Raisi also accused the United States of complicity in recent “crimes” against Gaza because of its support for Israel. 

“Terrorist incidents, violence and loss of civilian lives are serious concerns,” Modi said yesterday on X after their call. “Preventing escalation, ensuring continued humanitarian aid and early restoration of peace and stability are important.”

Israel open to ‘little pauses’ and will have Gaza ‘security responsibility’ for indefinite period, says Netanyahu

Israel is open to “tactical little pauses” for humanitarian aid to be let in to Gaza and hostages to be allowed out, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said yesterday.

The Israeli leader also gave the strongest indication yet of what Israel may plan for the Palestinian enclave after the war, now a month old.

“I think Israel will, for an indefinite period, will have the overall security responsibility because we’ve seen what happens when we don’t have that security responsibility,” Netanyahu told ABC News, when asked about who would govern Gaza if Hamas is removed.

Indonesia denies Gaza hospital is being used by Hamas

JAKARTA, Indonesia — Indonesia’s foreign ministry said today that the purpose of the Indonesia Hospital in Gaza was to “fully” serve Palestinians in response to an accusation by the Israeli military that it has been used by Hamas to launch attacks.

“Indonesia Hospital in Gaza is a facility built by Indonesians fully for humanitarian purposes and to serve the medical needs of Palestinians in Gaza,” the ministry said in a statement, adding that the hospital is run by Palestinian authorities with the help of a few Indonesian volunteers.

The hospital “is currently treating patients in the amount that far exceeds its capacity,” the ministry said.

Sarbini Abdul Murad, chairman of the MER-C voluntary group that funded the Indonesia Hospital, also denied Israel’s accusations, saying yesterday that they were a “precondition so that they can attack the Indonesian Hospital in Gaza.”

Israeli flares light up Gaza City refugee camp

Max Butterworth

Illumination flares fired by Israeli forces light up the night sky over the Al-Shati refugee camp in the Gaza Strip last night.

Massachusetts family trapped in Gaza returns safely to the U.S.

A Massachusetts family that spent weeks trapped in war-torn Gaza is back in the United States.

Abood Okal, Wafaa Abuzayda and their 1-year-old son, Yousef, arrived in Boston on Monday and are now safely back in their home in Medway, according to a statement from the family.

“The Okal Family continues to be incredibly thankful for their family and friends around the world who spoke up on their behalf, the Medway community, the media for sharing their plight and the plight of the hundreds of other Americans trapped in Gaza, their elected officials who fought hard for their return, and the State Department for providing them with safe departure,” the statement read.

The couple and their baby had spent weeks waiting to cross through the Rafah border into Egypt.

Catch up with NBC News’ latest coverage of the Israel-Hamas war