October 7 Hamas attack aimed at disrupting Saudi-Israel ties, says Biden

Issued on: 21/10/2023 – 07:28

1 min

The latest news in brief:

• The Hamas October 7 attack on Israel was aimed to disrupt a potential normalisation of ties between Israel and Saudi Arabia, US President Joe Biden said on Friday.

• Israel confirmed on Friday that Hamas had released two Americans among more than 200 hostages abducted earlier this month. No details were given on their condition, but US President Joe Biden quickly said he was “overjoyed” at the news.

• The death toll in Gaza has risen to 4,137 since the Israeli bombardment began, the Hamas-run Gaza health ministry said Friday.

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Key developments from Tuesday, October 20:

Israel confirmed on Friday that Hamas had released two Americans among more than 200 hostages abducted earlier this month. No details were given on their condition, but US President Joe Biden quickly said he was “overjoyed” at the news.

France’s President Emmanuel Macron welcomed the release of two American hostages in Gaza, highlighting Qatar’s role and saying he hoped similar initiatives would happen in the coming days, including for French nationals.

Palestinians are awaiting a first delivery of desperately needed international emergency aid. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres paid a visit to the Egyptian side of the Rafah border crossing with Gaza on Friday to oversee preparations for the delivery of aid to the war-torn enclave.

The death toll in Gaza has risen to 4,137 since the Israeli bombardment began, the Hamas-run Gaza health ministry said Friday.

(FRANCE 24 with AFP, AP and Reuters)