Israel-Hamas war rages as crisis deepens in Gaza
From CNN’s Joseph Ataman in Paris
France will give 10 million euros — approximately $10.55 million — to United Nations agencies and humanitarian NGOs to help the population of Gaza, the French foreign minister told journalists Monday in Beirut.
“This aid is ready and now it must be able to proceed. It’s an emergency,” Catherine Colonna said of aid prepared by the international community for Gaza.
The minister added that “a few dozen, perhaps a little more than 100” French citizens were present in Gaza, mainly in the southern part of the territory, and that France is working to “help them leave Gaza as quickly as possible.”
Nineteen French citizens have been killed following the Hamas attacks on Israel on October 7, Colonna added.
From CNN's DJ Judd
The White House said President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris were briefed this morning “on the latest updates in the wake of Hamas’s abhorrent attack in Israel and the resulting conflict in Gaza,” according to a statement.
White House chief of staff Jeff Zients joined the briefing, which was led by National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan, Director of National Intelligence Avril Haines and CIA Director Bill Burns, the White House said.
Some more context: Biden was originally scheduled to travel to Pueblo, Colorado, to deliver remarks on wind energy but the White House on Monday announced Biden was scrapping the trip just hours before he was set to depart to instead hold meetings with his national security team.
Discussions are underway for a possible Biden visit to the Middle East after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu extended an invitation to Biden, though the White House said Sunday it has no new travel plans to announce at this time.
The last-minute decision to cancel the trip to Pueblo, Colorado, to discuss his clean energy agenda underscores how seriously Biden is taking the conflict. Presidential travel is highly coordinated and requires extensive planning, and trips are rarely postponed on the day they are set to take place.
CNN's Donald Judd and Kyle Feldscher contributed reporting to this post.
From CNN's Kevin Flower
Israel's top domestic security official took responsibility Monday for the Hamas attacks that killed more than 1,400 people, according to the country's Army Radio station.
In his first comments since the attacks of October 7, Shin Bet chief Ronan Bar wrote in a statement, "Despite a series of actions we carried out, we weren’t able to create a sufficient warning that would allow the attack to be thwarted."
"The responsibility is on me," Bar said.
Shin Bet is Israel’s domestic security agency, tasked with combating terrorism.
In remarks before the Knesset on Monday, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu promised the security and intelligence failures leading to the Hamas attacks would be investigated by the government.
From CNN’s Celina Tebor
The father of a missing American-Israeli IDF soldier said he spoke with several US senators and the White House about his son and is in communication with the State Department and FBI.
Rubi Chen, father of Itay Chen, said he recently spoke with several US senators who traveled to Israel, including New York Sen. Chuck Schumer.
Chen was on the phone call with President Joe Biden last week and other families of missing Americans, he said. What was supposed to be a 15- or 20-minute call turned into a 90-minute conversation, he said.
“I think all of us felt that commitment of time and listening, and also sharing a little bit of his personal loss that he had as well,” Chen said. “It gave us that feeling that he cares deeply about this and has the best people on his team supporting to get this issue resolved as quickly as possible.”
Chen told CNN he is in contact with the State Department and FBI and has been assigned a case manager. There’s been “very open conversations and fluid flowing information between the two sides,” he said.
Chen said he hasn’t received any new information about his son who went missing after Hamas’ attack on Israel last Saturday.
From CNN’s Pierre Meilhan and Ruba Alhenawi
Hamas on Monday urged Egypt to open the Rafah crossing so that aid can enter Gaza and those who have been injured can be transported for treatment.
In the wake of attacks by Hamas, Israel closed its border crossings with Gaza, which has been pummeled by Israeli airstrikes. That makes the Rafah crossing between Gaza and Egypt the only viable outlet for people to leave the enclave and to send in supplies.
But the crossing has been closed for much of the past week, with neither Gazans nor foreign nationals able to cross, as vital humanitarian supplies pile up on the Egyptian side of the border.
From CNN's Jennifer Hansler
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken is meeting with the Israeli “war cabinet” in Tel Aviv, according to the traveling press.
His meetings in Israel – his second round in less than a week – come as Israel seems poised for an imminent ground incursion.
Blinken said he wanted to return to Israel to discuss his meetings with regional Arab leaders, many of whom have strongly and publicly condemned Israel’s aerial campaign on Gaza.
From CNN's Jennifer Hansler
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken reiterated Israel will “always have the support of the United States," while speaking alongside Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant in Tel Aviv on Monday.
Blinken said the US had a "deep commitment to Israel's right, indeed, its obligation to defend itself and to defend its people."
Gallant, in turn, warned, "This will be a long war."
“The price will be high, but we are going to win for Israel and the Jewish people and for the values that both countries believe in,” Gallant said.
From CNN’s Celina Tebor
An American serving in the Israeli military turned 22 on Friday after his parents say he was kidnapped by Hamas last weekend, according to family and his synagogue.
Omer Neutra, from Long Island, New York, is among the IDF soldiers kidnapped by Hamas, his parents told CNN’s Anderson Cooper last week.
Friday, October 14, marked his 22nd birthday, according to his parents and his synagogue.
From CNN’s Catherine Nicholls in London
At least six British citizens have been killed while 10 others remain missing following Hamas' attacks on Israel, UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak confirmed Monday.
The United Kingdom is “working with Israel to establish the facts as quickly as possible," the prime minister said.
“We are supporting the families who are suffering unimaginable pain," he added.
