Connect with us

News

Hamas Surprise Attack Out Of Gaza Stuns Israel And Leaves Hundreds Dead In Fighting, Retaliation

Published

on

hamas

The Jerusalem Post: In an unprecedented surprise early morning attack on a major Jewish holiday on Saturday, dozens of Hamas militants escaped from the blockaded Gaza Strip and into nearby Israeli towns, murdering dozens and abducting others. A barrage of rockets aided them. Israel, in a state of astonishment, initiated bombardment in Gaza, with its prime minister declaring that the nation is now at war with Hamas and promising to exact an “unprecedented price.”

Hamas gunmen invaded 22 locations outside the Gaza Strip, including towns and other communities as far as 15 miles (24 kilometers) from the Gaza frontier, in an assault of astounding scope. In certain locations, they meandered for hours, firing upon civilians and soldiers while the Israeli military attempted to assemble a response. After nightfall, the gunfights persisted, and militants occupied a police station in a third town and held hostages in standoffs in two towns.

At least 250 people were murdered, and 1,500 were injured, according to Israeli media, which cited rescue service officials. This constitutes the deadliest attack in Israel in decades. According to the Palestinian Ministry of Health, at least 232 persons have been killed, and at least 1,700 have been injured in Israeli strikes in the Gaza Strip. The distressing social media recordings show that Hamas fighters captured an unknown number of civilians and soldiers in Gaza, a highly sensitive issue for Israel.

The conflict was in danger of becoming more lethal due to Israel’s threats of more severe retaliation. Previous conflicts between Israel and the Hamas leaders of Gaza resulted in days of rocket fire on Israeli cities and extensive death and destruction in Gaza. The situation could become more tense with Israel’s far-right government suffering from the security breach and Palestinians in despair over an endless occupation of the West Bank and a suffocating blockade of Gaza.

hamas

Hamas Surprise Attack Out Of Gaza Stuns Israel And Leaves Hundreds Dead In Fighting, Retaliation.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who had previously proclaimed Israel to be at war, stated in a televised address on Saturday evening that the military would employ every available resource to annihilate Hamas’ capabilities and “take revenge for this black day.” He cautioned, however, “This war will take time.” It will be challenging.”

“We will ruin every location where Hamas hides and operates,” he stated. “Get out of there now,” he advised the inhabitants of Gaza, who cannot escape the minuscule, overcrowded Mediterranean town of 2.3 million.

After nightfall, Israeli airstrikes in Gaza intensified, resulting in the massive explosive destruction of a number of residential structures, including a 14-story tower containing dozens of apartments and Hamas offices in central Gaza City. Just prior, Israeli forces fired a warning, and no casualties were reported.

Subsequently, a rocket barrage launched by Hamas into central Israel struck four cities, including Tel Aviv and a nearby suburb, where two individuals sustained severe injuries. The Israeli military reported that Hamas launched over 3,500 rockets throughout the day.

According to locals, an Israeli airstrike destroyed a residence in the southern Gazan city of Rafah late on Saturday, resulting in the deaths of twelve members of the Abu Qouto family. According to relatives, ten family members in the northern town of Jebalya were slain in an additional airstrike. It was unknown as to why the residences were targeted.

The sophistication, force, and timing of the attack that occurred on Saturday morning astounded Israelis. The border barrier enclosing Gaza was breached by Hamas fighters using explosives. Subsequently, they traversed the coastline using speed boats, motorcycles, pickup trucks, paragliders, and pickup trucks without opposition from the military.

In some cities, the locations where the advancing gunmen had affected the civilians were marked by a trail of bodies. On the road outside of Sderot, a woman who had been suffocated by blood lay lifeless in the upholstery of her vehicle. On the street, stretchers were used to lay out at least nine individuals who were gunned down at a bus shelter in the city, with their luggage still on the curb nearby. A screaming woman embraced the corpse of a family member who had fallen to the ground next to a toppled motorbike lying beneath a sheet. As she was led away, she picked up the deceased individual’s helmet from the ground.

Hundreds of horrified youths dancing at a rave fled after Hamas militants entered the area and opened fire on them, as captured on amateur video. According to Israeli media, dozens of individuals perished.

hamas

Hamas Surprise Attack Out Of Gaza Stuns Israel And Leaves Hundreds Dead In Fighting, Retaliation.

Photographs obtained by the Associated Press depicted a senior Israeli woman who had been kidnapped being returned to Gaza by militants from Hamas, while another woman was confined between two combatants on a motorbike. Fighters were also depicted in photographs paraded captured Israeli military vehicles through the streets of Gaza.

Col. Jonathan Steinberg, a senior officer who commanded the military’s Nahal Brigade, a notable infantry unit, was among those who perished in Israel.

Mohammed Deif, the covert leader of Hamas’ military wing, claimed that the attack was in response to the sixteen-year blockade of Gaza, Israeli raids in West Bank cities over the previous year, violence at Al Aqsa, the contentious Jerusalem holy site known to Jews as the Temple Mount, increased attacks by settlers on Palestinians, and the expansion of settlements.

“Enough is enough,” Deif, who abstains from public appearance, stated in the recorded message. He stated that the attack was merely the beginning of “Operation Al-Aqsa Storm” and urged Palestinians from northern Israel to eastern Jerusalem to enter the conflict. “Today, the people are regaining their revolution.”

Almost fifty years to the day, the Hamas incursion on Simchat Torah, a typically joyous occasion for Jews to conclude the yearly cycle of Torah scroll reading, evoked distressing recollections of the 1973 Mideast war, in which Egypt and Syria launched an unexpected assault on Yom Kippur, the holiest day of the Jewish calendar, to reclaim Israeli-occupied territory.

A comparison to one of the most traumatic events in Israeli history intensified the criticism against Netanyahu and his far-right allies, who had campaigned based on a more aggressive response to Gaza’s threats. As a result of the government and military’s failure to anticipate what appeared to be an unanticipated Hamas attack in terms of planning and coordination, political commentators criticized them.

hamas

Hamas Surprise Attack Out Of Gaza Stuns Israel And Leaves Hundreds Dead In Fighting, Retaliation.

When reporters inquired how Hamas had surprised the army, Israeli spokesman Lieutenant Colonel Richard Hecht responded, “That’s a good question.”

The abduction of Israeli civilians and soldiers also presented Israel with a dilemma, as the country has a history of engaging in asymmetrical transactions to return captive Israelis to their homes.

The military wing of Hamas asserted that it was enslaving dozens of Israeli soldiers in tunnels and “safe places” in the Gaza Strip. Hecht acknowledged that many Israelis were abducted but declined to provide a specific figure, stating that the number was “substantial.”

The allegation, if accurate, could pave the way for complex negotiations regarding a transfer with Israel, which is detaining thousands of Palestinians.

An undetermined quantity of civilians were also abducted. Journalists from AP saw that four people, including two women, had left the kibbutz of Kfar Azza. A black jeep stopped in Gaza, and upon opening the rear door, a young Israeli woman stumbled out, her wrists bound behind her back and her head bleeding. A man brandishing a firearm seized her by the hair and compelled her into the vehicle’s back seat. According to Israeli television, the captives also included laborers from Thailand and the Philippines.

Frightened residents gathered indoors in the kibbutz of Nahal Oz, located only four kilometers (two and a half miles) from the Gaza Strip, reported hearing continuous gunfire emanating from the structures as firefighting operations continued.

“The knowledge that we have the Iron Dome (missile defence system) and our safe rooms gives us a sense of security when we use rockets.” “However, knowing that terrorists are roaming communities is a different kind of fear,” said Mirjam Reijnen, a mother of three and a 42-year-old volunteer firefighter.

hamas

Hamas Surprise Attack Out Of Gaza Stuns Israel And Leaves Hundreds Dead In Fighting, Retaliation.

Netanyahu declared earlier that Hamas “will pay an unprecedented price.” Whether Israel will initiate a ground assault into Gaza, a tactic that has historically resulted in increased casualties, is currently of paramount importance.

Hagari, the spokesman for Israel’s military, stated that four divisions of soldiers and tanks were being transported to the Gaza border, joining the 31 battalions that were already present in the region.

After nightfall, a significant portion of Gaza’s population was plunged into darkness due to the interruption of Israel’s electrical supply, which provides nearly all of the territory’s electricity.

Hamas stated that they prepared for a potentially protracted conflict. “We are prepared for all options, including all-out war,” Saleh al-Arouri, Hamas’ political bureau deputy director, told Al-Jazeera television. “We are prepared to take any action necessary to protect the freedom and dignity of our people.”

Presidency of the United States Joe Biden condemned “this appalling assault against Israel by Hamas terrorists from Gaza.” In a conversation with Netanyahu, he stated that Israel “has a right to defend itself and its people,” as stated in a statement from the White House.

hamas

Hamas Surprise Attack Out Of Gaza Stuns Israel And Leaves Hundreds Dead In Fighting, Retaliation.

Saudi Arabia, which has been discussing with the United States regarding the normalization of relations with Israel, urged both parties to exercise restraint. According to the kingdom, an earlier warning had been issued regarding the potential for “the situation exploding as a result of the continued occupation (and) the Palestinian people being deprived of their legitimate rights.”

The militant Hezbollah of Lebanon, which saw the assault as a response to “Israeli crimes,” praised Hamas. Regarding the operation, the group stated that its command in Lebanon was in communication with Hamas.

The assault occurred during unprecedented discord in Israel due to Netanyahu’s proposal to reform the judicial system. There are concerns about the military’s preparedness for combat due to the chaos caused by the massive demonstrations over the plan, which have prompted hundreds of military reservists to avoid volunteer duty and hundreds of Israeli demonstrators to take to the streets.

In addition, it occurs when tensions between Israel and the Palestinians are rising, and the peace process has been effectively dormant for years. In the past year, Israel’s extreme right-wing government has increased the construction of settlements in the occupied West Bank. Israeli settler violence in the area has forced hundreds of Palestinians to flee, and a sensitive religious site in Jerusalem has become a flashpoint for tensions.

SOURCE – (AP)

Kiara Grace is a staff writer at VORNews, a reputable online publication. Her writing focuses on technology trends, particularly in the realm of consumer electronics and software. With a keen eye for detail and a knack for breaking down complex topics.

News

The IRS Will Give a Million People Up To $1,400. Their Identity—And Why Now?

Published

on

IRS

(VOR News) – The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) will be able to give almost one million people who have already filed their tax returns additional incentives of up to $1,400 during the next several weeks.

Those qualified to get the cash will either be placed straight into their bank accounts or get a physical cheque delivered by mail.

The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) would refund individual taxpayers who omitted a Recovery Rebate Credit on their tax returns for 2021 around $2.4 billion.

Those qualified for the credit were those who had either not gotten a COVID stimulus payment or one that was less than the whole amount. Conversely, the Internal Revenue Service declared on Friday that it had discovered a considerable percentage of eligible candidates had not.

“After reviewing our internal data, we came to the conclusion that one million taxpayers failed to claim this complicated credit when they were actually eligible,” said Danny Werfel, Commissioner of the Internal Revenue Service in his statement.

This taxpayer group may shortly be getting unexpected payments; the accompanying data provides specifics:

Could you kindly inform me about my chances of receiving a check from the IRS?

I’m sorry, but it most likely isn’t precisely that high. The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) reports that most qualified taxpayers—originally referred to as Economic Impact Payments—have already gotten their government stimulus money.

Those taxpayers who filed a tax return for the year 2021 but either left the Recovery Rebate Credit data box blank or entered $0 when they were actually eligible for the credit are qualified to get the special reimbursements announced by the Internal Revenue Service (IRS).

The way this is going to be carried out?

Those eligible taxpayers are not required to perform any chores to be qualified. The funds are expected to be received either by cheque or direct deposit account by the end of January 2025. Automatic distribution of them is set for this month. The Internal Revenue Service will deliver them to either the bank account shown on the taxpayer’s 2023 return or the address the taxpayer keeps on file.

Though there will be several possible payments, the highest amount any one person can pay will be $1,400. The Internal Revenue Service has made available on the internet information on eligibility and the process used to ascertain the payment amount.

The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) will send separate letters to taxpayers qualified for the special payment notifying of the payment.

Conversely, what would happen should I not yet have my 2021 tax return turned in?

You still might be able to turn around the money. The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) claims, however, that individuals must file a tax return and claim the Recovery Rebate Credit before April 15, 2025.

This is still the case whether or not a job, business, or any other source of income earned had any bearing on it.

How many financing rounds did the COVID stimulus program have?

Households impacted by the epidemic alone received compensation totaling $814 billion overall; this was divided across three rounds of payments. These figures were calculated by the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) considering the taxpayer’s income, tax filing status, and the count of dependents or children entitled for the tax deduction.

The CARES Act, which became operative in March of 2020, makes qualified persons eligible for a maximum of $1,200 per income tax filer and $500 each child.

Those qualified could get up to $600 for each child and $600 for each individual who submitted their income tax return according to the Consolidated Appropriations Act in December of 2020.

Those qualified under the American Rescue Plan Act received a maximum of $1,400 per child and $1,400 per person who paid their income taxes during the month of March in 2021. very

SOURCE: YF

SEE ALSO:

Cases Of The US Flu Season Are Rising, While Vaccinations Are Behind Schedule.

Social Security Change Approved By Senate Despite Fiscal Concerns

 

Continue Reading

News

Cases Of The US Flu Season Are Rising, While Vaccinations Are Behind Schedule.

Published

on

Flu Season
(AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh, File)

(VOR News) – The U.S. flu season has begun, according to health experts, who also noted a sharp rise in cases countrywide on Friday.

Significant increases were noted by the Centres for Disease Control and Prevention in a number of indicators, such as laboratory tests and ED visits. “For the past few weeks, it has been increasing steadily.” “Yes, we are in flu season right now,” CDC’s Alicia Budd said.

Last week, flu-like sickness was reported at elevated or very elevated levels in 13 states, roughly twice as many as the week before. Dr. William Schaffner, an infectious disease specialist at Vanderbilt University, says Tennessee is seeing a spike in sickness in the Nashville area.

Schaffner said, “Influenza cases have been increasing, but they have increased significantly in the last week.” He noted that up to 25% of patients in a nearby clinic, which is a gauge of illness trends, have flu-like symptoms.

An early focal point was Louisiana.

Our Lady of the Lake Regional Medical Centre, the largest private hospital in the state, in Baton Rouge, has infectious diseases specialist Dr. Catherine O’Neal, who said, “This week is a significant turning point as individuals are affected by the flu.” “Parents frequently say, ‘I have the flu and can’t go to work,’ and ‘Where can I get a flu test?'”

Fever, cough, sore throat, and other influenza-like symptoms are caused by a variety of viruses. COVID-19 is one of them. Another flu season common disease that causes cold-like symptoms but poses serious hazards to infants and the elderly is respiratory syncytial virus (RSV).

Recent CDC numbers indicate a decline in COVID-19 hospitalisations since the summer. According to CDC wastewater data, COVID-19 activity is modest nationwide but elevated in the Midwest.

Although RSV hospitalisations are still marginally more common than flu admissions, they started to rise before flu season cases and currently show signs of perhaps stabilising. RSV activity is low nationwide, but wastewater data shows that it is high in the South.

Based on a number of indicators, such as laboratory results from hospitalised patients and outpatient clinics, as well as the percentage of ED visits that resulted in an influenza diagnosis at discharge, the CDC declared the start of the flu season.

According to Budd, it is too early in the season to determine the effectiveness of the influenza vaccine, and no type of virus seems to be more common.

The flu season last winter was classified as “moderate” overall, but it continued for 21 weeks, and the CDC estimates that 28,000 people died from the virus. With 205 paediatric deaths reported, the situation was particularly dangerous for kids. It was the largest number ever recorded for a conventional influenza season.

The prolonged flu season was probably one of the reasons, Budd added.

The lack of influenza vaccinations was one of the contributing factors. The CDC reports that 80% of children who passed away and had verified vaccination status and were of the right age for flu shots were not completely immunised.

Children’s immunisation rates are drastically lower this year. About 41% of people had a flu shot as of December 7, which is similar to the percentage at the same time last year. For youngsters, the figure is steady, although it is lower than in the previous year, when 44% received an influenza vaccination, according to CDC data.

About 21% of adults and 11% of children are fully vaccinated against COVID-19, which is still a poor vaccination rate.

Influenza experts advise everyone to get vaccinated, especially as people get ready for holiday gatherings where respiratory diseases could spread widely.

“This virus also has the potential to spread from person to person at all those happy, pleasant, and heartwarming events,” Schaffner said. “flu season Vaccination remains a viable option.”

However, Louisiana’s health department announced on Friday that it was rescinding its COVID-19 and flu vaccination recommendations. According to an official, the department’s current position is that people should speak with their doctors about whether the immunisations are suitable for their situation.

The department’s spokesperson, Emma Herrock, did not respond to follow-up questions regarding the policy. Dr. Ralph Abraham, the state’s surgeon general, has expressed concerns in the past regarding the COVID-19 vaccine’s effectiveness and safety.

SOURCE: AP

SEE ALSO:

Social Security Change Approved By Senate Despite Fiscal Concerns

King Charles Could Millions Annually from Renting His Properties

Continue Reading

News

Social Security Change Approved By Senate Despite Fiscal Concerns

Published

on

Social Security

(VOR News) – On Saturday, the U.S. Congress passed a plan to increase Social Security retirement payouts for some retirees who receive public pensions, a move that critics say will further erode the program’s financial stability. Among these pensioners are former firefighters and police officers.

The Social Security Fairness Act was passed by the Senate on a bipartisan vote of 76-20 just after midnight. The act may lower payments for those receiving pensions and aims to repeal provisions that have existed for 20 years.

The House of Representatives passed the bill last month by a vote of 327-75, meaning that if the Senate also approves it, it would be delivered to Democratic President Joe Biden to become law.

The White House dodged enquiries regarding Social Security’s objectives.

In order to limit government benefits for certain higher-paid employees who are also getting pensions, the measure will reverse a long-standing change to the program. It has become increasingly common in recent years for municipal employees, such as postal workers and firefighters, to face pay limitations.

The vast majority of Americans do not take part in pension plans that provide a fixed return on investment, instead relying on their own savings and Social Security. According to data from the Department of Labour, only 10% of private sector employees in the US are covered by pension plans.

The new rules apply to about 3 percent of Social Security users, or more than 2.5 million people in the United States. Legislators are heavily influenced by the workers and retirees impacted by these rules, and the powerful advocacy organisations that speak for them have been using the legislative process to push for a legislative cure.

According to retirement experts, some retirees may be able to earn hundreds of dollars more in government benefits each month as a result of the move.

According to a Congressional Budget Office analysis, the bill is expected to cost approximately $196 billion over the next 10 years. As a result, federal budget experts are worried that the change could negatively affect the program’s already fragile financial status.

In an interview with the Bipartisan Policy Centre, Emerson Sprick, associate director of economic policy, said he was frustrated by “the overwhelming support in Congress for the contrary of what policy researchers concur on is quite frustrating.”

Instead of eliminating current formulas, we could improve them.

Among these changes is the Social Security Administration’s increased disclosure of the anticipated monetary benefits for these public sector workers.

The Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget, a nonpartisan fiscal think tank, has voiced concerns that the additional cost will impact the program’s ability to continue.

Maya MacGuineas, the organization’s leader, made the declaration, saying, “We are hastening towards our own fiscal ruin.”

“It is noteworthy that lawmakers are in a position to shorten the timeframe by six months, as there are just nine years left before the trust fund for the biggest program in the country runs out.”

Senator Ted Cruz, a Republican, said on the Senate floor on Wednesday that the bill in its current form would “throw granny over the cliff.”

According to what he stated, “every senator who votes to impose a burden of $200 billion on the Social Security Trust Fund is opting to put the interests of senior citizens who have contributed to Social Security and earned those benefits in jeopardy.”

Those who favoured the legislation said that the question of what would happen to Social Security could be settled later.

“Those are significantly longer-term concerns that we must collaboratively address,” a supporter of the idea Senator Michael Bennett told Reuters when asked if the move would affect the government’s capacity to be viable.

SOURCE: BR

SEE ALSO:

King Charles Could Millions Annually from Renting His Properties

Man Creates Candy Cane Car to Spread Christmas Cheer

Continue Reading

Trending