Gaza live: Several dead including Hezbollah commander after Israeli strike on southern Beirut

A freelance writer who fabricated claims about the Gaza conflict between Israel and Hamas, told a Channel 13 reporter he wished Hamas would kill him after the reporter exposed his true identity, the Times of Israel reported.

Yifrach Eli, who had written under the pseudonym Elon Perry, was dismissed from The Jewish Chronicle last week. His articles were subsequently removed from the publication's website.

In a heated phone conversation, Eli lashed out, saying: “You are a monster, a maniac, a liar. I don’t understand who created you. I wish Hamas would kill you, you are unnecessary in Israeli society.”

When asked if he had any regrets, Eli responded: “No, I have no regrets. You should be the one with regrets. The guardians and all those who have published until now — they are like you, bloodthirsty,” he said, referencing The Guardian newspaper, which reported on the controversy.

The reporter then questioned why Eli had been fired, to which he replied: “That was my deal with them. They had to say what they said to keep you and the others satisfied.”

Aden Golan, Israel’s Eurovision contestant who came fifth earlier this year, has announced her upcoming enlistment in the Israeli army.

Golan's participation in the Eurovision Song Contest stirred controversy when her performance was met with boos and chants of "Free Palestine" from the audience.

Golan plans to serve as a singer in a military band, performing for soldiers stationed at military bases.

In an interview with Israeli media, she expressed her views on the importance of military service: "I believe it's very important to serve the country, especially given the reality we're living in. I really hope to perform as a singer for the soldiers at the bases, to visit those who protect us and bring them some joy. I get chills just thinking about it."

Human rights advocates and pro-Palestine activists at the time called for Israel's ban from Eurovision in response to the ongoing onslaught in Gaza which has left more than 40,000 Palestinians killed.

Reports have confirmed that the individual suspected of carrying out a stabbing near Damascus Gate in occupied East Jerusalem was shot and killed by an Israeli border police officer.

According to Palestinian media, the assailant was identified as a Palestinian citizen of Israel, though Israeli police have not yet confirmed his identity.

The Palestinian Civil Defence reported that an Israeli airstrike targeting a home in the Sheikh Radwan neighborhood, north of Gaza City, resulted in the deaths of three people, including a woman.

Mahmoud Bassal, spokesperson for the Palestinian Civil Defence, stated that efforts are ongoing to locate two missing children trapped under the rubble of the house, which is owned by the Bahloul family.

Four prominent columnists of The Jewish Chronicle have resigned as the British newspaper addresses a scandal involving a freelance writer accused of fabricating claims about the Gaza war between Israel and Hamas.

David Baddiel, Jonathan Freedland, David Aaronovitch, and Hadley Freeman announced they would no longer write for the Jewish publication, according to statements and posts on X.

The Jewish Chronicle launched an investigation after publishing an article by freelancer Elon Perry this month. Perry claimed a document had been uncovered in the Gaza Strip showing that Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar was planning to smuggle himself and some Israeli hostages out of Gaza via the Philadelphi Corridor to Iran.

However, the Israeli army stated it was unaware of such a document's existence. Given that Perry’s claims mirrored recent talking points from Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, there has been speculation about the distribution of false information as part of a disinformation campaign.

The Jewish Chronicle’s investigation into Perry began shortly after the Israeli army announced its own probe into leaked documents from Gaza, which were reportedly aimed at influencing public opinion on hostage negotiations.

Freedland, announced his resignation via X. He posted a copy of the letter he submitted to Jewish Chronicle editor Jake Wallis Simons.

"Of course, all newspapers make mistakes and run articles that writers on the paper dislike," Freedland wrote. "The problem in this case is that there can be no real accountability because the JC is owned by a person or people who refuse to reveal themselves. As you know, I and others have long urged transparency, making that case to you privately – but nothing has happened."

The Israeli army reported that several soldiers were lightly injured by two drones that exploded near an intersection in the northern occupied Golan Heights.

The Government Media Office in Gaza announced that the death toll of journalists has reached 173, since the start of the Israeli onslaught on the Gaza Strip.

This increase follows the death of journalist Abdullah Shakshak.

Israel's Foreign Ministry accidentally released a statement condemning the International Criminal Court (ICC) over arrest warrants for Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, despite no such decision being made yet.

The English-language statement was briefly posted on the ministry's website and later removed after circulating on social media.

Israel is known to spy on the ICC and often gains advanced knowledge of pending decisions. This surveillance, part of its broader intelligence strategy, allows Israel to prepare responses and take preemptive actions regarding international legal rulings that may affect its leaders or military personnel.

The country's sophisticated intelligence apparatus, which includes both cyber and human intelligence, has been used to track developments within key international organisations like the ICC.

For the past four months, the ICC has been considering Chief Prosecutor Karim Khan's request to issue international arrest warrants for Netanyahu, Gallant but no verdict has been reached.

A Foreign Ministry official told Haaretz that this was a human error.

The ministry had prepared the condemnation statement in anticipation of the possible warrants, although it is still unclear if or when the court will announce its decision. 

A 20-year-old Israeli man was injured in a stabbing attack at Damascus Gate in occupied East Jerusalem on Sunday and was subsequently taken to a hospital for treatment.

The assailant was described as having been "neutralised," though no details were given regarding their identity.

More than nine months after their bodies were found, the Israel army announced on Sunday that an investigation concluded with a “high probability” that its air strike was responsible for the deaths of three Israeli captives held in Gaza

On 10 November, 2023, the Israeli army launched an airstrike near where the bodies were later discovered.

The bodies of the three captives — Corporal Nik Beizer, Sergeant Ron Sherman, and French-Israeli national Elia Toledano — were recovered on 14 December.

Nasr al-Din Amer, the deputy chief of the Houthi media authority, had this to say to Al Jazeera following today's missile attack on Israel:

"Today's operation sends a message of continued support for the Palestinian people. We will not hesitate to target any Israeli enemy site. Our weapons development is aligned with a thorough study of Israeli defence systems. We are focusing on targeting some of Israel's most advanced air defence technologies. Our operations are coordinated with the Palestinian resistance to maximise their effectiveness. We are prepared for any retaliation, and those who attack us will also face consequences. There are additional phases to our operations in support of the Palestinian resistance."

The Houthis have enhanced their missile capabilities and are now able to strike central Israel, according to the Israeli Institute for National Security Studies (INSS).

Yemeni drones demonstrated their lethal effectiveness in a recent attack on Tel Aviv, which occurred just before Israel bombed Hodeidah port, the security think tank reported. 

"This is serious and demonstrates that despite all efforts to counter them, the Houthis not only have the capacity to strike Israel but have also upgraded their launch abilities to reach the centre of the country." 

The Houthi movement, which controls northern Yemen, has fired at Israel several times since last October in solidarity with Palestinians in Gaza.

Three Palestinian civilians have been killed and several others wounded in a series of Israeli strikes targeting western Gaza City and the Nuseirat refugee camp.

The Palestinian Red Crescent Society (PRCS) reported that two people were killed and several wounded when an Israeli air strike hit a group of civilians near al-Azhar University in central Gaza. The wounded were transported to the al-Ahli Arab Hospital in Gaza City.

In addition, Wafa news agency reported that one person was killed and several others injured when a vehicle transporting water was hit by Israeli shelling west of the Nuseirat refugee camp. The casualties were taken to al-Awda Hospital in the camp.

Five Palestinians have been killed in an Israeli drone strike on Gaza City, according to medical sources cited by Wafa news agency.

The attack targeted the Zeitoun neighbourhood, southeast of Gaza City, and left several others wounded several others. The injured were taken to the nearby al-Ahli Arab Hospital.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu issued a threat to Yemen's Houthis during a cabinet meeting in Jerusalem, saying: "They should have known by now that we are charging a heavy price for any attempt to harm us." pic.twitter.com/eMQgIxUlHD

— Middle East Eye (@MiddleEastEye) September 15, 2024