Operation Swords of Iron: What happened on Day 13?

A US Navy warship traveling near Yemen intercepted multiple projectiles, a US official told Reuters on Thursday. The missiles, according to Israeli media citing the Pentagon, were launched at Israel.

Washington is on heightened alert for activity by Iran-backed groups as regional tensions soar during the Israel-Hamas war.

The official, speaking on the condition of anonymity, said there were no injuries and a number of projectiles, including drones, were brought down near the destroyer USS Carney.

Germany will increase relief for Palestinian civilians in Gaza by 50 million euros ($52.91 million), Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock said on Thursday, as the humanitarian crisis worsen for the 2.3 million people trapped there.

The German aid will support international organizations such as the World Food Programme, UN children's agency UNICEF and UN Palestinian refugee agency UNRWA, Baerbok told journalists in Amman where she met her Jordanian counter part, as part of a trip to the region including Israel and Lebanon.

"This crisis situation, which was acutely triggered by the terrible terrorist attacks by Hamas, also means a catastrophic humanitarian situation in Gaza," she said.

($1 = 0.9450 euros)

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said on Thursday the risk of regional spillover from the Israel-Hamas war is "real."

Speaking at the Hudson Institute in Washington, von der Leyen also said dialog between Israel and its neighbors must continue.

"We have seen the Arab streets fill with rage all across the region. So the risk of a regional spillover is real," she said.

The cost of the war

Israel is waging war against Hamas in the Palestinian enclave of Gaza after the terrorist group killed more than 1,400 people in a surprise attack on Israel on Oct. 7.

People call on the release of Israelis held hostage by Hamas militants in Gaza, outside the Ministry of Defense in Tel Aviv, October 18, 2023. (credit: Chaim Goldberg/Flash90)

The toll from Israeli strikes on Gaza has risen to more than 3,500 dead and more than 12,000 wounded, according to Palestinian health officials.

Israel is also clashing with Hezbollah at the Lebanon border.

"Iran, Hamas' patron, only wants to fuel the fire of chaos. Russia, Iran's war-time customer, is watching carefully. Russia and Hamas are alike," the EU leader said.

Moody's on Thursday placed Israel's A1 ratings on review for a possible downgrade, citing the ongoing military conflict with the Palestinian terrorist group Hamas.

The credit ratings agency last week had warned Israel that a prolonged conflict with Hamas could drag down the country's credit score.

Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh called on Thursday for a "general mobilization" by Arabs and Muslims around the world on Friday, as the war between Israel and Hamas continued.

Haniyeh called for supporters living in neighboring countries to march toward the borders with Israel as well.

Israel's position that Hamas must be ousted from Gaza is appropriate, US State Department Matthew Miller said on Thursday as he stressed that Palestinian civilians in the Strip must be protected. 

“They [Israel] want a situation where Hamas can never again govern and run Gaza in the way it has,” Miller told reporters in Washington.  

“They want to ensure that Gaza is not a place where Hamas can continue to exist and launch terror attacks against Israel, which we believe is a legitimate and appropriate position that any country would take,” Miller said.

He spoke as the IDF prepared to launch a ground campaign in Gaza following 13 days of aerial attacks. Leaders of the world powers, including Germany, the United Kingdom and the United States who visited Israel this week, all appear to give a nod in support of a ground campaign.

Israel Police arrested 12 people in Umm el-Fahm on Thursday evening and dispersed hundreds of others at a demonstration in support of Palestinian resistance. 

At the demonstration, participants chanted slogans against the State of Israel. 

Those arrested were taken in on suspicion of disturbing the peace. 

A majority of American voters support Israel, polling from the immediate aftermath of the October 7 massacre shows.

Conducted by Quinnipiac University, Connecticut between October 12-16, the poll shows an overwhelming majority of Americans (76%) agreed that supporting Israel was in the American national interest, while only 17% disagreed.

Americans are largely united in their support of Israel with 84% of Republicans agreeing that supporting Israel was in the American national interest, 76% of Democrats agreeing, and 74% of Independents agreeing. With 12%, 17%, and 19% disagreeing respectively.

Overall voters approve of sending weapons and military equipment from the USA to Israel with 64% approving and 28% disapproving.

According to Reuters citing an unclassified US intelligence report released on Thursday, the death toll is estimated to be "probably at the low end of the 100 to 300 spectrum." Reuters added that the assessment may evolve. 

Kiryat Shmona came under rocket fire on Thursday from Hamas forces in Lebanon to the north. Out of the 30 rockets launched at it, one moderately wounded two people, a father and his daughter. The sounds of artillery fire could be heard across the city.

Located just 3 km. from Lebanon, Kiryat Shmona is the latest war front, and it feels deserted. As darkness fell towards the evening, only a handful of cars could be seen on the street; restaurants and businesses were closed. Like many areas across the country, it has become a ghost town lost to war.

On Thursday, I drove up to the northern border to traverse the 28 towns that Israel evacuated amid threats from Hezbollah and Hamas. Many of these border areas have been threatened by anti-tank missiles, rockets, mortars, and light arms fire.

In Shtula, a van sat on the side of the road, its engine blown out, a victim of anti-tank fire. Damage was also sustained by a building under construction. On Sunday, one person was killed and several were wounded in an aerial attack.

The security team of this small community is varied, made up of young and old, some of them veterans of wars past. Haim Eliyahu lived in Shtula since he was a kid. His father had immigrated there from the Kurdistan region of Iraq in the 1950s.