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Israeli-Palestinian conflict

Israeli intelligence knew of Hamas plans to seize 250 hostages weeks before attack — media

The report said that Hamas was planning to seize some 200-250 hostages (over 240 people were captured and some 1,200 killed in the October 7 attack)

TEL AVIV, June 18. /TASS/. The Israeli military intelligence knew about the radical Palestinian movement Hamas’ plans to attack the country and take 250 hostages three weeks before the incident, the Kan radio station said.

According to its information, the corresponding report was prepared by Unit 9200, which is an Israeli Intelligence Corps unit of the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) specializing in warfare. The radio station pointed out the document was sent to various units on September 19, 2023, and was brought to the attention of at least one senior Israeli intelligence official, but was ignored.

The report said that Hamas was planning to seize some 200-250 hostages (over 240 people were captured and some 1,200 killed in the October 7 attack). The document also emphasized that Palestinian fighters were training to storm military strongholds and cities, and to seize and transport hostages. In addition, the report included Hamas instructions on the circumstances for killing hostages.

Tensions flared up again in the Middle East on October 7, 2023, when militants from the Gaza Strip-based radical Palestinian movement Hamas staged a surprise attack on Israeli territory from Gaza, killing residents of Israeli border settlements and taking over 240 hostages, including women, children and the elderly. Hamas described its attack as a response to the aggressive actions of Israeli authorities against the Al-Aqsa Mosque on the Temple Mount in Jerusalem’s Old City. In response, Israel declared a total blockade of the Gaza Strip, home to 2.3 million Palestinians before the crisis, and has been delivering air strikes on Gaza as well as some parts of Lebanon and Syria. Clashes have also been reported on the West Bank. In late November 2023, a temporary humanitarian ceasefire was brokered by Egypt and Qatar that lasted a week, during which 110 hostages were released, according to Israel. On December 1, the ceasefire was violated and fighting resumed, continuing to this day.

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Israeli-Palestinian conflict

Military operation in Ukraine

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ICQ messenger stops working

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Russian, US defense chiefs exchange views on situation around Ukraine in first phone call

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Wikileaks founder departs island of Saipan for Canberra

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Trump team's plan on Ukraine should factor in situation on battlefield — Kremlin

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Kiev's mining of Black Sea poses threat to other nations in region — diplomat

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Erdogan urges Middle Eastern countries to support Lebanon amid tensions with Israel

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Available nuclear deterrents to ensure Russia's security for decades to come — MFA

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Russia sees no conditions for normalizing dialogue with West — Kremlin

Dmitry Peskov stressed that restoring ties "depends on the stance of our counterparts"

Talks on Ukraine need to start with clean slate — Lavrov

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Russia does not recognize ICC’s arrest warrants for Shoigu, Gerasimov — Kremlin

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US defense secretary speaks over phone with Russian defense minister — Pentagon

Secretary Austin also spoke by phone today with Russian Minister of Defense Andrey Belousov

US 'confrontational hysteria' led to Sevastopol terrorist attack — media

According to the agency, a continuous chain of defeats in the military confrontation with Russia has caused "Ukrainian puppets to resort to reckless terrorism"

US not implementing UN Security Council resolutions 'will haunt' them — Lavrov

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Gasum to stop buying Russian LNG from July 26

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US cash infusion in Russian foreign agents up 40% in 2023 to $14.9 mln — Justice Ministry

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One in five Gazans facing extreme lack of food, WHO chief says

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Assange plea deal hearing gets underway — agency

The Associated Press points out that dozens of media workers from all over the world have gathered near the court building to cover the hearing

NATO countries approve Rutte's candidacy for five-year term as Secretary General

Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte will replace Norway’s Jens Stoltenberg in October 2024

Press review: Russia sees US behind Sevastopol attack and Serbian arms flowing to Kiev

Top stories from the Russian press on Monday, 24th

Plane carrying Wikileaks founder lands in Saipan

The court hearing is set to take place on Saipan at 9:00 a.m. local time on June 26

Body of US diplomat found in Kiev hotel — report

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France not to send troops to fight in Ukraine in near future — Macron

The French president said that he understands concerns of those who "are afraid that the conflict might spread into France"

Belarus scrambles Su-30SM fighter jet in snap combat readiness check

A surprise combat readiness inspection of Belarusian troops to fulfil assigned missions began on June 21

US walks fine line on sanctions to keep global oil prices in check — WSJ

The West imposed sanctions on Russian oil on December 5, 2022

Russia has plans to revive its troika with India, China, Lavrov says

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Russian troops wipe out three US-made HIMARS rocket launchers in Ukraine operation

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US intention to inflict 'strategic defeat' on Russia 'doomed to failure' — Lavrov

"There is an impression that the US ruling elites have not learned any lessons from their recent numerous foreign policy and military failures," the foreign minister noted

Is Gaddafi's gloom prophecy in regard to Europe bound to be fulfilled?

As Europe’s migrant crisis grows far and wide, many Russian media are recalling the late Libyan leader Muamar Gaddafi’s gloom prophecy made several months before his violent death

Ukrainian authorities begin forced evacuation from Toretsk in DPR

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US coalition's drone flies too close to Russian plane in Syria &mdash — top brass

According to Yury Popov, a pair of the coalition’s F-15, a pair of F-16 and a pair of Rafale fighter jets violated Syria’s airspace in the al-Tanf area, across which international air routes run, six times during the day