Hamas remains firm on hostage deal terms, Hezbollah responsible for rocket attack on UNIFIL post

The IDF announced on Tuesday the deaths of four soldiers who fell in battle against Hamas in Jabalya in the northern Gaza Strip.

The soldiers served in the IDF's Multidimensional Unit. The were reportedly killed by an explosive device, Hebrew media reported. They entered a building to clean and scan the area in the Palestinian city at 3 a.m., according to Maariv.

The World Food Programme on Tuesday called for immediate action to avert famine in the Gaza Strip, saying that the humanitarian crisis could soon escalate amid "severe" restrictions on aid flows.

"As the situation in northern Gaza continues to deteriorate, the likelihood of a larger group being impacted by famine will surely increase unless conditions on the ground improve," WFP said, calling for more crossing points to be open and safety guaranteed.

A global monitor warned earlier this month that the entire Gaza Strip remains at risk of famine and is experiencing emergency levels of hunger.

A shooting incident took place at an olive grove in the West Bank, Army Radio reported on Tuesday. 

Two members of the Palestinian security apparatus were moderately and lightly wounded by Israelis from the Gilad farm outpost, Army Radio stated. 

תקרית ירי במסיק זיתים בשומרון: שני אנשי מנגנוני הביטחון הפלסטיניים נפצעו בינוני וקל מירי של ישראלים מחוות גלעד, צה"ל איתר תרמילים בשטח, המשטרה פתחה בחקירה@Doron_Kadosh

— גלצ (@GLZRadio) October 29, 2024

According to the report, the IDF found backpacks in the area, and the police opened an investigation into the event. 

Iran says it is planning to raise its military budget by two hundred percent, which would essentially triple its defense spending. This should raise eyebrows in the region and could lead to an arms race. Reports say that Iran’s government spokesperson Fatemeh Mohajerani declared on Tuesday, October 29, the goal of this major raise in the budget.

"A considerable raise that amounts to 200% has been witnessed in the country's defense budget," Mohajerani said. It was a short statement and led to a great deal of speculation about what Iran’s government actually intends to do. The report of the increased military expenditure plans was picked up by Reuters and has been reported by DW, Al-Arabiya, and many other media. It’s worth looking more closely at what the Iranian government said and what this might mean for Iran and the region.

Tasnim News in Iran noted that the government spokesperson had slammed Israel in the comments in which the budget discussion came up. Mohajerani also discussed threats to Iran from what Iran labels “terrorists” in Baluchistan province. “The terrorist group in the southeast of the country killed 10 of our border guards during a planned action at the same time as the Zionist regime attacked,” she said.

Spain's Interior Ministry said on Tuesday it was canceling a contract to buy ammunition from an Israeli firm, widening a Spanish pledge not to sell weapons to Israel to include purchases too.

Cadena Ser radio earlier reported that the Guardia Civil police force had agreed to buy more than 15 million 9-mm rounds for six million euros ($6.48 million) from Guardian LTD Israel.

Spain said it would stop arms sales to Israel in October 2023 when Israel's war with Hamas started in Gaza.

Reservist Yedidya Bloch succumbed to his wounds on Tuesday after fighting in southern Lebanon, the Mevo Horon Regional Council announced in a statement. 

Bloch was 32 years old and is survived by his wife, Sapir, who is eight months pregnant, along with his parents and seven brothers and sisters. 

The head of the Mevo Horon Regional Council, Binyamin Israel Gantz, wrote, "All these days we prayed for our dear friend. He went into battle with self-sacrifice and lived a noble life and fought and died for the people of Israel and for its complete victory."

"We embrace his wife Sapir, as well as his parents and siblings, and ask to strengthen the community of Mevo Horon. Thanks to him, the people of Israel will overcome and win," Gantz wrote in the statement. 

Eight Austrian soldiers belonging to the UN peace-keeping force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) sustained slight and superficial injuries in a rocket strike on Camp Naqoura near the Israeli border, Austria's Defense Ministry said on Tuesday.

"We condemn this attack in the strongest possible terms and demand that it be investigated immediately," the ministry said in a statement, adding that it was not clear where the attack came from and none of the soldiers needed urgent medical care.

Defense Minister Yoav Gallant posted to X on Tuesday that the newly appointed Hezbollah leader, Naim Qassem, would not last long.

Temporary appointment.
Not for long. pic.twitter.com/ONu0GveApi

— יואב גלנט - Yoav Gallant (@yoavgallant) October 29, 2024

The MDA confirmed that a man was killed by a Hezbollah rocket on Tuesday in Ma'alot-Tarshiha in the Galilee region.

24-year-old Israeli Arab Mohammad Naim was killed by a direct hit to his house in the northern city, Ynet reported. A total of 13 others were wounded in the rocket fire and are in light condition, including three children, Ynet also said, citing the Galilee Medical Center in Nahariya, including those suffering from anxiety.

The IDF's military operation in Jabalya in the northern Gaza Strip came as a surprise to the terrorists in the area, the military said on Monday. 

“The surprise for Hamas was complete. We trapped hundreds of terrorists inside the camp, including senior operatives," the IDF said, adding that the terror group had used the population as human shields for over a week and had shot at the legs of residents who attempted to escape.