The Times of Israel is liveblogging Wednesday’s events as they happen.
Russia lodges protest over alleged settler attack on Russian diplomatic vehicle
Russia has lodged a formal protest to Israel following an alleged attack on a Russian diplomatic vehicle near the settlement of Givat Assaf near Jerusalem, according to a statement issued by the Russian foreign ministry.
“On July 30, a vehicle of the Russian Federation’s mission to the Palestinian National Authority, bearing diplomatic license plates and carrying personnel of the Russian diplomatic mission accredited by Israel’s Foreign Ministry, was attacked near the illegal Israeli settlement of Givat Assaf, near Jerusalem, by a group of settlers,” Russia’s foreign ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova says in a statement.
The incident occurred “with the acquiescence of Israeli military personnel, who were present at the scene and did not attempt to stop the attackers’ aggressive actions,” she adds.
Reuters was not able to independently verify the Russian foreign ministry’s report.
Zakharova says the Russian embassy in Tel Aviv submitted an official démarche to Israeli authorities.
Trump says ‘pretty much up to Israel’ when asked if he backs potential occupation of Gaza
WASHINGTON — Pressed on whether he supports reported Israeli plans to occupy the entire Gaza Strip, US President Donald Trump responds, “That’s pretty much going to be up to Israel.”
Trump says his primary focus is on feeding Gazans “who are obviously not doing to well with the food.”
Trump says “Israel is going to help us with that in terms of distribution and also money.”
Israel has reportedly already funneled millions of dollars to the controversial Gaza Humanitarian Foundation, though it has yet to publicly confirm doing so, as such funding would likely be unpopular among Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s base.
Trump said eight days ago that the US would establish new food centers in Gaza, and the White House has been saying since that it will unveil a new aid distribution plan for Gaza. That has yet to rolled out, though.
Trump tells reporters that “Arab states are also going to help us with that in terms of money and possibly distribution.”
Trump says he watched ‘horrible’ Hamas video of hostage Evyatar David, ‘hopes a lot of people see it’
WASHINGTON — US President Donald Trump says he has watched Hamas’s “horrible” video of emaciated Israeli hostage Evyatar David being forced to dig his own grave in the tunnel where he is being held in Gaza.
Asked what his reaction was to watching it, Trump tells reporters, “I think it’s horrible.”
“I hope a lot of people do get to see it, as bad as it is because I think it’s a horrible thing,” he adds.
Ayalon Highway reopened to traffic after protesters blocked road in call to release hostages
Ayalon Highway has reopened to traffic after it was blocked by dozens of protesters earlier this evening amid a demonstration against the government’s widely-reported plan to forgo negotiating a hostage deal in favor of occupying the Gaza Strip.
Smaller simultaneous protests cropped up elsewhere in the country as well, including in Rehovot, near the Weizmann Institute of Science.
UN: Reports of Israeli plans to take full control of Gaza are ‘deeply alarming’
The United Nations calls reports about a possible decision to expand Israel’s military operations to take control of the entire Gaza Strip “deeply alarming” if true.
UN Assistant Secretary-General Miroslav Jenca tells a UN Security Council meeting on the situation in Gaza and the hostages that such a move “would risk catastrophic consequences … and could further endanger the lives of the remaining hostages in Gaza.”
“International law is clear in the regard, Gaza is and must remain an integral part of the future Palestinian state,” he adds.