Swords of Iron: Here is what happened on days 3, 4 and 5

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas is expected to visit Moscow, Russian news media quoted the Palestinian envoy to Moscow as saying late on Monday.

"We are awaiting an official statement from the Kremlin, from the Russian side, about when the visit will take place," Russia's RBC news outlet said, citing Ambassador Abdel Hafiz Nofal as saying.

"An agreement has been reached that Mr. Abbas will come here to Moscow."

Separately, he told Russia's state television that the two sides maintain "daily contacts."

On Monday, Israel imposed a total blockade of the Gaza Strip after an unprecedented weekend attack by the Islamist group Hamas that has killed hundreds.

Russia, which has relationships with Arab countries, Iran and Hamas as well as with Israel, condemned violence against both sides and accused the United States of ignoring the need for an independent Palestinian state.

Russian President Vladimir Putin last met with Abbas a year ago on the sidelines of a regional conference in Kazakhstan. Abbas last visited Russia two years ago, according to Russian media.

The leaders of the US, Germany, Britain, France and Italy issued a joint statement on Monday condemning the attacks on Israel by the Hamas terrorist group and expressed their "steadfast and united support" for Israel.

"Over the coming days, we will remain united and coordinated, together as allies, and as common friends of Israel, to ensure Israel is able to defend itself, and to ultimately set the conditions for a peaceful and integrated Middle East region," said the statement by US President Joe Biden, French President Emmanuel Macron, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni and British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak.

The US military is "surging" fresh supplies of air defenses, munitions and other security assistance to Israel to help it respond to an unprecedented weekend attack by Hamas, a senior US defense official said on Monday.

"Planes have already taken off," the US official said, speaking on condition of anonymity to Pentagon reporters.

"We are surging support to Israel... We remain in constant ongoing contact with our counterparts in Israel to determine and then support their most urgent requirements."

The United States has not yet detailed the extent of Israel's requests for security assistance. But the US defense official said Washington was contacting the defense industry to expedite pending Israeli orders, and looking at the US military's own stockpiles to help fill Israeli gaps.

Support for Israel and Ukraine

An Israeli soldier launches a remote-controlled drone as Israeli soldiers patrol near Israel's border with Lebanon, northern Israel, October 9, 2023. (credit: REUTERS/AMMAR AWAD)

The official also appeared to dismiss concerns that the United States might struggle to supply Israel at the same time that it funnels weaponry to Ukraine.

"We are able to continue our support both to Ukraine, to Israel, and maintain our own global readiness," the official said. Palestinian Islamist group Hamas launched a surprise attack on Israel on Saturday, killing hundreds of Israelis and seizing dozens of hostages. The attack led Israel to declare war, and the spiraling violence threatens to start a major new war in the Middle East.

The senior US official compared the attack by Hamas to "ISIS-level savagery," a characterization echoing Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who also said on Monday that Hamas' attack mirrored those carried out by the jihadist group Islamic State.

US citizens killed and captured by Hamas

US President Joe Biden said at least 11 American citizens were among those killed in Israel and added US citizens were likely among the Hamas hostages.

"I have directed my team to work with their Israeli counterparts on every aspect of the hostage crisis, including sharing intelligence," Biden said in a statement released by the White House.

The senior US defense official said there was not yet any evidence seen by the United States of Iran being behind the attack in Israel, following a report by the Wall Street Journal alleging Iranian security officials helped plan it.

"Of course, Iran is in the picture. Iran has provided support for years to the Hamas and Hezbollah. But we have no information corroborating the specifics of the Wall Street Journal story at this time," the official said.

Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi and Turkish counterpart Tayyip Erdogan called on Hamas and Israel to immediately end violence and protect civilians, the Egyptian presidency said on Monday.

In a phone call, both leaders agreed civilians should not be exposed to "further risks and loss of life," a presidency spokesman said.

Delta Air Lines said on Monday it will cancel flights to and from Tel Aviv through Oct. 31 after a surprise attack by Hamas terrorists on Israel over the weekend.

The Atlanta-based airline said customers can currently get into or out of the market via partner flights. The airline added it will work with the US government as needed to assist with the repatriation of US citizens who want to return home.

There were over 900 dead and 2,600 wounded Israelis mostly from Hamas’ invasion of Israel’s South and also from some of its rocket fire at press time, with the security cabinet set to meet on Tuesday to approve operational plans against Gaza.

By early Monday, the Gaza corridor was finally clear of Hamas invaders who had penetrated on Saturday morning in numbers ranging between hundreds to thousands.

Israeli security forces eliminated a number of armed individuals who had penetrated a small distance into Israeli sovereign territory on the border with Lebanon in the Western Galilee on Monday.

It was unclear whether these invaders were associated with Hezbollah or some other terror group, like Hamas, but initial estimates noted that Hezbollah had not taken credit for the raid the way it took credit for firing a symbolic number of rockets at Israel on Sunday.

There were also a number of IDF casualties during the gunfight repelling the invaders.

Israeli President Isaac Herzog addressed the global community on Friday. He spoke on the war, the crimes committed by Hamas, and the victims of the terror organization’s violence. He also went on to state that Israel would defend itself and called on the international community to condemn Hamas.

Herzog’s address 

“As President of the State of Israel, I speak to you right now from our capital, Jerusalem, in the dark shadow of war, while my nation continues to be under savage attack by a cruel and inhumane enemy.

Operations at the Rafah crossing on the border between the Gaza Strip and Egypt's Sinai Peninsula were disrupted on Monday following a strike nearby on the Gaza side, three Egyptian security sources and a witness said.

The border crossing was partially closed following the strike, which occurred as Israel bombarded Gaza in response to an incursion into Israeli territory by Palestinian militant group Hamas, the sources said.

The United Nations Security Council on Monday failed to heed Israel’s call to condemn Hamas’s war crimes, after the terrorist group launched a war against Israel, killing more than 700 civilians and soldiers and taking some 100 others hostage.

“This is Israel’s 9/11,” Israeli Ambassador to the UN Gilad Erdan told reporters, adding that “from now, nothing will be as it was.”

Due to the developing security situation, the Homefront Command is advising citizens to prepare equipment that will enable them to stay in a protected area for up to 72 hours:

• 3 liters of water per person per day for 72 hours
• Dry and canned food supplies
• Lighting equipment or flashlights operated by batteries
• Means of receiving alerts and updates, such as a battery-operated radio or portable batteries for mobile phones
• Medications
• First aid kit
• Personal documents, certificates, and cash
• Equipment for infants or pets, as per the family's needs

"Following these instructions could save lives," the Homefront Command said.