Israel-Hamas War: Since Hamas' attack, Israel's bombardments have killed over 7,000 Palestinians
Israel has "expanded" its operations in the Gaza Strip with the Palestinian group Hamas saying its operatives were ready to confront attacks with "full force". As Israeli air and ground forces stepped up their attacks on Friday night, local telecom firms and the Palestinian Red Crescent Society in Gaza said that the internet and mobile phone services were cut off.
"In the last hours, we intensified the attacks in Gaza," Israel's military spokesperson Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari said in a televised news briefing. He also said that Israel's air force was conducting extensive strikes on Hamas' tunnels and other infrastructure.
"In addition to the attacks carried out in the last few days, ground forces are expanding their operations tonight," he said.
Since the October 7 Hamas attack on Israeli towns, that killed over 1,400 people, Gaza's health ministry has said that Israel's retaliatory bombardments have killed more than 7,300 Palestinians.
Here are the Highlights on the Israel-Hamas war:
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Israel Presses Ground Campaign Against Hamas In 'Second Stage' Of Gaza War
Israeli forces waged ground operations against Hamas in Gaza on Sunday in what Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu called the second phase of a three-week-old war aimed at crushing the Palestinian militant group.
US Republicans Pledge Support For Israel Amid War With HamasRepublican presidential hopefuls lined up Saturday to pledge unwavering support for Israel in its war on Hamas as they spoke at an annual gathering of influential Jewish donors.
Former president Donald Trump told the Republican Jewish Coalition event he would "defend our friend and ally in the State of Israel like nobody has ever."
The conflict between Israel and Hamas is "a fight between civilization and savagery, between decency and depravity, and between good and evil," said Trump, who received the warmest response from attendees, as he took aim at President Joe Biden's administration and avoided criticizing his rivals.
Health Ministry In Hamas-Run Gaza Says Death Count Passes 8,000
Health ministry in Hamas-run Gaza says death count passes 8,000
Turkey-Israel Ties In Tatters Over Erdogan AddressIsrael said Saturday it was recalling its diplomatic staff from Turkey after President Recep Tayyip Erdogan delivered a fierce attack on its military operation against Hamas militants in Gaza.
The announcement dealt a body blow to the sides' nascent efforts to restore political and economic relations after a decade of all but frozen ties.
Israel and Turkey -- an overwhelmingly Muslim nation that forms the bulwark of NATO defences on the edge of the Middle East -- had only just agreed to reappoint ambassadors last year.
EU Top Diplomat Calls For 'Pause Of Hostilities' In Gaza WarEU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell demanded on Saturday a "pause of hostilities" to allow humanitarian aid into the Gaza Strip after the intense overnight bombing of the coastal territory.
But later Saturday, his comments were challenged by Austrian Foreign Minister Alexander Schallenberg on social media for having exceeded the position agreed by EU leaders earlier in the week.
Israel unleashed its bombing campaign after Hamas gunmen stormed across the Gaza border on October 7, killing 1,400 people, mostly civilians, and seizing more than 220 hostages, according to Israeli officials.
World Must Not Tolerate 'Catastrophic' Gaza Situation, Says Red Cross ChiefThe president of the International Committee of the Red Cross on Saturday appealed for the world to act to halt the "intolerable level of human suffering" in the Gaza Strip.
"This is a catastrophic failing that the world must not tolerate," said Mirjana Spoljaric, as Israel declared its war on Hamas had "entered a new phase" with its massive bombardment of Gaza.
Second Stage Of War Has Begun: Benjamin NetanyahuIsrael Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Saturday said that the second stage of the war against Hamas started with the entrance of more ground forces into Gaza on Friday night, The Times of Israel reported.
He said that Israel's goal is to "defeat the murderous enemy and to ensure our existence in our land.
Egypt Says 'Israeli Obstacles' Impeding Aid Delivery To GazaEgypt's Foreign Ministry said on Saturday "Israeli obstacles" including truck inspection procedures were impeding the prompt delivery of aid to the Gaza Strip through the Rafah crossing between Egypt and the Palestinian enclave.
"The trucks must be inspected at the Israeli Nitzana crossing before they head to the Rafah crossing on a journey that takes a distance of 100 km (62 miles) before they actually enter the Rafah crossing, which causes obstacles that significantly delay the arrival of aid," a ministry spokesperson said in a statement.
Thousands March For Palestinians In UK, France, SwitzerlandTens of thousands of pro-Palestinian protesters marched in Britain Saturday calling for a ceasefire as Israel's army intensified its assault on the Gaza Strip. Thousands more demonstrated in France and Switzerland.
As Israel's intense strikes provided cover for its ground forces to step up fighting in Gaza, the United Nations warned thousands more civilians could die.
Qatar-Led Negotiations Between Israel And Hamas Continue: ReportQatar-mediated negotiations between Israel and Hamas aimed at de-escalating fighting in Gaza continued on Saturday, a source briefed on the negotiations said, even as Israel intensified its assault on the enclave.
Talks have not broken down, but are taking place at a "much slower pace" than before the escalation from Friday evening, the source told Reuters, speaking on condition of anonymity due to the sensitivity of negotiations.
"We Do What...": Israel Military On Gaza Telecommunications BlackoutIsrael's chief military spokesperson declined to say whether Israel was behind the telecommunications blackout that hit Gaza on Friday and which has left the besieged enclave largely cut off but said it would do what it needed to protect its forces.
Asked whether Israel had knocked out cellular services at the start of the ground offensive that began on Friday night, Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari said:
"We do what we have to do to secure our forces for as long as we must, temporary or permanent, as much as we need to and we will not say anything further about that."
Israel Hostage Families Demand Answers From Netanyahu GovernmentThe families of more than 220 hostages seized by Hamas demanded answers from the Israeli government on Saturday with many fearing that a military onslaught on the Gaza Strip is putting the captives' lives at risk.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu broke off from war planning for a hastily arranged meeting with hostage families after they had threatened to start street protests to highlight their desperation.
Netanyahu Says Defeating Hamas 'Existential Test' For IsraelPrime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Saturday that defeating Hamas was an "existential test" for Israel, charging that 90 percent of the group's military budget came from Iran.
"We must defeat Hamas because the test is an existential test for us," Netanyahu told a news conference.
"Iran supports Hamas. I think that 90 percent of Hamas's military budget comes from Iran. It funds, it organises, it directs it."
UAE Condemns Israeli Ground Operations In Gaza Strip: Report The United Arab Emirates (UAE) on Saturday condemned the Israeli ground operations in the Palestinian Gaza Strip, the state news agency WAM reported, citing the country's foreign ministry.
UAE, which became the first Gulf country to normalise relations with Israel in 2020, also "expressed its deep concern over the Israeli military escalation and exacerbation of the humanitarian crisis that threatens more loss of civilian lives."
Saudi Arabia Condemns Israeli "Ground Operation" In GazaAs the Israeli Army 'expanded' ground incursion in Gaza, Saudi Arabia's foreign ministry condemned any ground operations by Israeli forces that may cause threats to the lives of Palestinian civilians.
"The Kingdom condemns and denounces the ground operations carried out by the Israeli army in the Gaza Strip, and warns of the danger of continuing to carry out these blatant and unjustified violations of international law against our brotherly Palestinians," Saudi Arabia foreign ministry said in a statement.
Gaza War Entered Second Stage With Ground Operation, Says Netanyahu Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Saturday the ground operation launched by Israeli troops in Gaza was the second stage in a war against the Islamist group Hamas that would be long and difficult.
Speaking at a news conference, he said every effort would be made to rescue the more than 200 hostages held by Hamas.
Alert- Israel's Netanyahu Says Gaza War Will Be "Long And Difficult"
Egypt Says "Israeli Obstacles" Impeding Aid Delivery To GazaEgypt's Foreign Ministry said on Saturday "Israeli obstacles" including truck inspection procedures were impeding the prompt delivery of aid to the Gaza Strip through the Rafah crossing between Egypt and the Palestinian enclave.
"The trucks must be inspected at the Israeli Nitzana crossing before they head to the Rafah crossing on a journey that takes a distance of 100 km (62 miles) before they actually enter the Rafah crossing, which causes obstacles that significantly delay the arrival of aid," a ministry spokesperson said in a statement.
Israel Forces Still In Gaza More Than 24 Hours Into Ground Op: ArmyIsraeli ground forces were operating in the northern Gaza Strip Saturday, the army said, more than 24 hours after entering the Palestinian territory three weeks into war with Hamas.
"Since early Friday evening, combined combat forces of armour, combat engineers and infantry have been operating on the ground in the northern Gaza Strip," an army statement said.
Netanyahu Says Israel Will Use "Every Option" To Free Gaza HostagesPrime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said that Israel would explore "every option" to secure the release of more than 220 hostages taken by Palestinian militants to Gaza on October 7.
Facing increasing anger over the fate of the captives as Israel steps up its war on Gaza's Hamas rulers, Prime Minister Netanyahu agreed to meet representatives of hostage relatives who demanded to know how the government would handle the crisis.
Benjamin Netanyahu made no commitment to any exchange deal but told the families authorities would "exhaust every option to bring them (the hostages) home".
Israel Ground Forces Still "Operating In Northern Gaza": Army Israeli ground forces continued operating in the northern Gaza Strip Saturday, the army said, more than 24 hours after entering the Palestinian territory as the military expanded its war on Hamas."Since early Friday evening, combined combat forces of armour, combat engineers and infantry have been operating on the ground in the northern Gaza Strip," the army said in a statement.
Israel Recalls Diplomats From Turkey After Erdogan's "Crescent-Crusader" CommentIsrael recalls diplomats, asks citizens to return from Turkey after Erdogan's "crescent-crusader conflict" comment."Given the grave statements coming from Turkey, I have ordered the return of diplomatic representatives there in order to conduct a reevaluation of the relations between Israel and Turkey," Israel's Foreign Minister Eli Cohen said in a post on X, formerly Twitter. Read more
Hamas Demands Israel Free All Palestinian Prisoners In Exchange For HostagesHamas has demanded that Israel free all Palestinian prisoners in exchange for hostages. Earlier in the day, Hamas said they were trying to locate eight Russian-Israeli dual citizens that were taken hostages in order to free them on Moscow's request. Russia has good relations with Hamas, which it does not consider to be a terror group, and has begun a diplomatic effort to try to free hostages held in Gaza.
Hamas' Headquarters Under Shifa Hospital Draining Basic Necessities: Israeli Army
Israel Says Hamas War Has "Entered New Phase"Israel said its war with Hamas had "entered a new phase" as the army relentlessly pounded Gaza three weeks into a conflict sparked by the deadliest attack in the country's history.The United Nations warned thousands more civilians could die as Israel escalated ground operations in the Hamas-run Palestinian territory, while the European Union called for hostilities to stop to enable aid deliveries.
EU Top Diplomat Calls For "Pause Of Hostilities" In Gaza WarEU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell demanded on Saturday a "pause of hostilities" to allow humanitarian aid into the Gaza Strip after the intense overnight bombing of the coastal territory.
"Gaza is in complete blackout and isolation while heavy shelling continues. UNRWA warns about the desperate situation of Gaza people without electricity, food, water," he said on social media.
"Far too many civilians, including children, have been killed. This is against International Humanitarian Law," he said.
ALERT: Israel Army Warns Civilians Gaza City Region Now A "Battlefield"
Erdogan Calls West "Main Culprit" As Thousands March For Gaza In IstanbulTurkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Saturday called Western powers "the main culprit" behind the Israeli army's "massacre" of Palestinians in Gaza.
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"The main culprit behind the massacre unfolding in Gaza is the West," Erdogan told a rally of several hundred thousand Palestinian supporters in Istanbul.
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Thousands Join Pro-Palestinian Protest In London To Demand Gaza CeasefireHamas is trying to locate eight Russian-Israeli dual citizens that were taken hostage during the Palestinian militant group's attack on Israel in order to free them on Moscow's request, Russian news agencies reported Saturday."From the Russian side, via the foreign ministry, we received a list of citizens that have dual citizenship," a Hamas representative was cited as saying by the RIA Novosti news agency. "We are looking for those people... It is hard but we are looking. And when we find them, we will let them go."
As Israel Expands Gaza War, Hostage Families Scramble For AnswersThe families of 229 hostages seized by Hamas stepped up calls Friday for Israel's government to outline plans for their rescue as troops expanded a devastating assault on the war-torn Gaza Strip.
"The families don't sleep, they want answers, they deserve answers," said Haim Rubinstein, 35, a spokesperson at the event.
Hostage families say they have had little to no contact with officials and have been left with excruciating uncertainty over the fate of their loved ones.
"We don't know anything about what happened to them. We don't know if they were shot, if they saw a doctor, if they have food," said Inbal Zach, 38, whose cousin of Tal Shoham was kidnapped from kibbutz Be'eri with six other family members.
"We are just so worried about them."
"Potential For Thousands More Civilians To Die In Gaza": UNThe UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Turk warned on Saturday that there was the potential for thousands more civilians to die as Israel presses a ground operation in Gaza.
"Given the manner in which military operations have been conducted until now, in the context of the 56-year-old occupation, I am raising alarm about the possibly catastrophic consequences of large-scale ground operations in Gaza and the potential for thousands more civilians to die," he said.
Hamas Says Trying To Find 8 Russian-Israeli Hostages To Free Them: ReportHamas is trying to locate eight Russian-Israeli dual citizens that were taken hostage during the Palestinian militant group's attack on Israel in order to free them on Moscow's request, Russian news agencies reported Saturday."From the Russian side, via the foreign ministry, we received a list of citizens that have dual citizenship," a Hamas representative was cited as saying by the RIA Novosti news agency. "We are looking for those people... It is hard but we are looking. And when we find them, we will let them go."
Hundreds Of Gaza Buildings Destroyed In Israel Strikes: ReportIsraeli air strikes destroyed hundreds of buildings in the Gaza Strip overnight, the news agency AFP reported citing civil defence service in the Hamas-controlled Palestinian territory.
"Hundreds of buildings and houses were completely destroyed and thousands of other homes were damaged," AFP quoted Mahmud Bassal, a spokesperson for the Gaza Civil Defence, as saying.
He added that the intense bombardments had "changed the landscape" of northern Gaza.
Israeli Troops Still "In The Field" In North Gaza
A military spokesperson said that Israel would allow trucks carrying food, water and medicine to enter Gaza today.
Video: Israel Expands Ground Operations In Gaza
"Israel Must Immediately Stop This Madness, End Its Attacks": Turkey's ErdoganTurkey President Recep Tayyip Erdogan today slammed Israel and asked it to "immediately stop this madness" and end its "attacks" on targets in Gaza.
"The Israeli bombardments on Gaza intensified last night and once again targeted women, children and innocent civilians and worsened the ongoing humanitarian crisis," he posted on X.
"Israel must immediately stop this madness and end its attacks," he added.
Israel Hits 150 "Underground Targets" In North Gaza RaidsIsrael today said that its fighter jets struck 150 "underground targets" in northern Gaza during an intense night of raids in its war against Hamas.
The sites hit included "terror tunnels, underground combat spaces and additional underground infrastructure. Furthermore, several Hamas terrorists were killed", a military statement said.
Hamas' Aerial Array Head Killed In Israeli Air StrikeHead of Hamas' Aerial Array Asem Abu Rakaba was killed in an Israeli air strike overnight.
The Israel Defense Forces said that Rakaba was responsible for Hamas' UAVs, drones, paragliders, aerial detection and defense.
"He took part in planning the October 7 massacre and commanded the terrorists who infiltrated Israel on paragliders and was responsible for the drone attacks on IDF posts," the IDF said on X.
"Gaza Will Feel Our Wrath": Israel As It Intensifies Attack On HamasAn adviser to PM Benjamin Netanyahu told an American news channel on Friday that Israel was starting its payback against Hamas and "Gaza will feel our wrath tonight."
"They will continue to be on the receiving end of our military blows until we have dismantled their military machine and dissolve their political structure in Gaza," Mark Regev told Fox News.
"When this is over, Gaza will be very different," he added.
"Netanyahu, His Defeated Army Will Not Be Able To Achieve Any Victory": HamasHamas said on Saturday its fighters in Gaza were ready to confront Israeli attacks with "full force".
"The Al-Qassam brigades and all the Palestinian resistance forces are completely ready to confront (Israel's) aggression with full force and frustrate its incursions," Hamas said in a statement early on Saturday.
"Netanyahu and his defeated army will not be able to achieve any military victory," Hamas said referring to the Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
The Palestinian group said late on Friday that its members were fighting with Israeli troops in areas near the border with Israel.
"You Are Not Alone": Kamala Harris Meets Families Of American HostagesUS Vice President Kamala Harris and Second Gentleman Doug Emhoff on Friday met the family members of Americans who "remain unaccounted" for following Hamas' attack in Israel.
"My message to them was simple: You are not alone," Ms Harris said in a post on X and shared pictures with the families.
Ms Harris relayed to the families that there is no higher priority for her and US President Joe Biden than the safety of American citizens. She emphasized that the Biden-Harris Administration is "doing everything possible" to bring these Americans home and secure the release of all hostages held by Hamas.
Israel Says Hamas Using Hospital As A Shield For Its TunnelsIsrael's military has accused Hamas of
using hospitals as a shield for its tunnels and operational centres.
"The Shifa Hospital is not only the largest hospital in Gaza but it also acts as the main headquarters for Hamas' terrorist activity," the Israel Defense Forces said on X.
"Terrorism does not belong in a hospital and the IDF will operate to uncover any terrorist infrastructure, they added.
The Hamas, however, has denied the allegation.
"Information Blackout": Human Rights Watch After Internet, Phone Network Cut In GazaThe telecommunications
blackout in Gaza after Israel stepped up its attack on Hamas risks providing "cover for mass atrocities", the NGO Human Rights Watch (HRW) has said.
"Widespread phone and internet outages occurred in Gaza on October 27, 2023, amid a concerted Israeli bombardment, almost entirely cutting off the 2.2 million residents from the outside world," the HRW said in a statement.
"This information blackout risks providing cover for mass atrocities and contributing to impunity for human rights violations," the statement added.
New York Protesters Shut Grand Central, Seek Gaza CeasefireHundreds of protesters demanding a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas forced the closure of Grand Central Terminal, one of New York City's major transit hubs on Friday.
"Grand Central Terminal is closed until further notice due to a protest," the Metropolitan Transportation Authority said.
Israel-Hamas Conflict: India Abstains From UN Vote On Israel Which Doesn't Mention Hamas AttackIndia has abstained in the UN General Assembly on a resolution that called for an immediate humanitarian truce in the Israel-Hamas conflict leading to a cessation of hostilities. It also called for unhindered humanitarian access in the Gaza strip.
Besides India, Australia, Canada, Germany, Japan, Ukraine and the UK also abstained.
The Jordanian-drafted resolution did not make any mention of the Hamas, with the US expressing outrage at the "omission".
UN General Assembly Calls For "Humanitarian Truce" In GazaThe UN General Assembly on Friday called by a large majority for an "immediate humanitarian truce" in Gaza.
The non-binding resolution, which was criticized by Israel and the US, received 120 votes in favor, 14 against and 45 abstentions from UN members.
Humanitarian System In Gaza Facing "Total Collapse" UN ChiefUN chief Antonio Guterres on Friday said that the humanitarian system in war-torn Gaza is facing a "total collapse" with "unimaginable consequences" for more than 2 million civilians.
"Needs are growing ever more critical & colossal. Food, water, medicine & fuel must be allowed to reach all civilians swiftly, safely & at scale," he posted on official X (formerly Twitter) account.
"I repeat my call for a humanitarian ceasefire, the unconditional release of all hostages, and the delivery of life-saving supplies," Guterres said in a statement.
Before the war, about 500 trucks a day rolled into Gaza to bring in supplies, but in recent days the average is down to only 12, which enter from the Rafah border crossing with Egypt, he said.
Internet Blackout Across Gaza As Israel Steps Up Attack On HamasInternet access and the phone network were completely cut across the Gaza Strip on Friday night after Israel stepped up its attack on Hamas.
The Hamas-run government accused Israel of taking the measure "to perpetrate massacres with bloody retaliatory strikes from the air, land and sea."
The Palestinian Red Crescent said the "disruption affects the central emergency number 101 and hinders the arrival of ambulance vehicles to the wounded" in the ongoing Israeli strikes.
Hamas Says Fighting Israeli Troops Inside GazaHamas's armed wing has said it was fighting Israeli forces in two areas inside the Gaza Strip.
"We are confronting an Israeli ground incursion in Beit Hanoun (in the northern Gaza Strip) and in east Bureij (in the centre)," the news agency AFP quoted the Ezzedine al-Qassam Brigades as saying.
Israel-Hamas War Live Updates: Israel "Expands" Gaza Ground OperationsIsrael has "expanded" its operations in the Gaza Strip with its air force conducting extensive strikes on Hamas' tunnels and other infrastructure.
"In the last hours, we intensified the attacks in Gaza," Israel's military spokesperson Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari said in a televised news briefing.
"In addition to the attacks carried out in the last few days, ground forces are expanding their operations tonight," he said.