UPDATE Thur 9:56PM EST / 5:56AM IL: One commando has reportedly been struck by gunfire in the Chabad House. A Chopper continues to circle the building, as fresh gunfire erupts.
UPDATE Thur 10:03PM EST / 6:03AM IL: A hand is seen waving a white towel out the window of the Chabad House. It is unknown if this is one of the hostages trying to grab attention as to which room he is in, or from one of the terrorists showing a sign of surrender.
UPDATE Thur 10:41PM EST / 6:41AM IL: CNN reports that an IAF Chopper is now on the scene above the Oberoi Hotel - where there may still be Israeli hostages inside. Meanwhile, at the Chabad House, fresh gunfire has erupted - and smoke is shoring from one of the windows.
UPDATE Thur 10:49PM EST / 6:49AM IL: The white towel being waved out of the window may possibly be TZITZIS! We will allow the YWN readers to make that judgement. Photos have been uploaded at YWN. An India TV station reported that the white cloth may be a "Jewish prayer shawl".
UPDATE Fri 12:13AM EST / 7:13 IL: A final 300 Israelis arrived early Friday morning in Ben-Gurion International Airport from Mumbai. Some of them were actually in the Chabad House not long before Islamic terrorists began their siege of the area.
As of early Friday morning, there are no official reports being released in Eretz Yisrael from the Foreign Ministry or other government agencies.
UPDATE Fri 12:26AM EST / 7:27AM IL: An India TV reporter on the scene says that “Jewish people in the area say that the white cloth was a Jewish prayer shawl.†There is no movement from the building in the past hour.
UPDATE Fri 1:05AM EST / 8:05AM IL: India TV reports that commandos have cleared the top two floors of the Chabad House. Still no word on hostages. Over at the Oberoi Hotel, 40+ hostages have reportedly been rescued - most of them foreigners.
UPDATE Fri 1:15AM EST / 8:02AM IL: Prof. Yossi Katz of Bar Ilan University was one of the 300 Israelis who arrived on the El Al flight from Mumbai on Friday morning. He explained that only on his way home from Ben-Gurion Airport did he realize the magnitude of what had taken place, adding this Shabbos he will ‘bench gomel’ with much fervor.
Katz explained that Rav Holtzberg intentionally situated his Chabad House in the hotel district, which also serves as a hotel, where he and others were staying. He stressed the Chabad center serves as a hotel in every sense of the word and in addition, offers the spiritual nourishment which a simple hotel lacks.
Yehuda Mesh-Zahav, the international director of ZAKA reported a short time ago that his team of six people, seasoned volunteers who have been at disaster scenes around the world, are near the Chabad House. The team includes three paramedics.
Meshi-Zahav explained one of the advantageous of his organization is that some countries do not want aid from other countries but ZAKA is listed with the UN as an international organization and therefore, can enter certain areas that other Israeli agencies may be barred from. He added that his team is operating under the direction of the Government of Israel and fortunately, the unique arrangement, referring to the organization’s international status, permits ZAKA to become a “long extended arm of Israel around the worldâ€.
When asked if his men have any reports, he stated the information is “unconfirmed and coming in bits and piecesâ€, prompting him to decline responding regarding an inquiry pertaining to Rav Holtzberg.
UPDATE 1:20AM EST / 8:20AM EST: Heavy gunfire and numerous explosions suddenly erupt at the Taj Hotel. Footage coming in of everyone ducking for cover. Also, 6 hostages have been killed at the Oberoi Hotel.
Please be Mispallel for Aryeh Leibish ben Elta Nechama Maltshi (Teitelbaum), Bentzion ben Elka (Chroman), Gavriel Noach ben Freida Bluma (Holtzberg), and Rivka bas Yehudis (Holtzberg / Rosenberg)
YWN continues to monitor the situation, and will bring you the latest as soon as we have confirmed information from our highly credible sources.
Additional updates can be found at the following link: http://www.theyeshivaworld.com/news/General+News/26491/COMMANDOS+ENTER+HOUSE+-+TERROR+AT+CHABAD+OF+MUMBAI+[LAST+UPDATE+&+PHOTOS+1:20AM+EST].html
(Yehuda Drudgestein - YWN NYC NewsRoom / Yechiel Spira - YWN Israel Desk / YW-99)
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