Israel-Hamas war live: Tens of thousands of Gazans flee homes as IDF launches ground raids

Tens of thousands of Palestinians have fled their homes to southern Gaza as Israel launched its first ground raids into the enclave on Friday, according to the UN.

The United Nations said “tens of thousands” of Palestinians had fled their homes while more than 400,000 had already been displaced before the Israel Defence Forces gave an order to evacuate.

It comes as Israel launched its first ground attacks into Gaza on Friday after Hamas carried out an assault on southern Israel on Saturday, killing at least 1,300 people and injuring more than 3,000.

Israeli military spokesperson Lieutenant Colonel Jonathan Conricus said today: “We have seen a significant movement of Palestinian civilians towards the south. Around the Gaza Strip, Israeli reserve soldiers in formation (are) getting ready for the next stage of operations.

“They are all around the Gaza Strip, in the south, in the centre and in the north, and they are preparing themselves for whatever target they get, whatever task.”

The UN condemned Israel for giving residents of northern Gaza 24 hours to flee areas expected to see heavy fighting.

Key Points

• Israel's deadline for Palestinians to flee south ends as 'small raids' begin in Gaza

• Air strikes ‘kill dozens fleeing Gaza City'

• Israel ‘categorically’ denies using white phosphorus in Gaza

• Israelis rush back to volunteer for war effort

• ‘Top secret’ plans show Hamas mission to target schools and youth centre: report

• ‘Wiped off the map’: Palestinian civilians describe life under bombardment

• We are striking our enemies with ‘unprecedented might’, says Netanyahu

• Charter flight for US citizens fleeing Israel lands in Athens

‘150,000’ people attending London protest in ‘tremendous show of support’, organisers say

16:39 , Barney Davis

London’s Free Palestine protest co-organisers Friends of Al-Aqsa have claimed the number of people turning out stands at 150,000.

Fireworks and flares were let off in the crowd as supporters dispersed from Whitehall.

FOA’s Dr Ismail Patel: “What we are facing is nothing new. 75 years ago Palestinians faced the same crisis: either stay in their homes and die or become refugees.”

FOA’s Shamiul Joarder added: “Today we’ve seen 150,000 people on the streets of London in a tremendous show of support for Palestine.

“The British government must listen to the people now: it needs to uphold international law and impose sanctions on Israel until it stops violating human rights in Gaza”

Scotland Yard has deployed more than 1,000 officers to police the event.

Police are using powers to make a person remove items which conceal their identity along the march route.

A Met spokesman said: “We are aware of people lighting flares/fireworks within the group. This is clearly a danger to them and those around them. Action will be taken when we identify those in possession of/throwing them.”

Thousands take to the streets of London during pro-Palestinian march

17:38 , Barney Davis

Tens of thousands of protesters descended on the streets of central London to march in solidarity with Palestinians trapped in Gaza as the Israeli army begins their ground assault in the Strip.

Ben Jamal, director of the Palestine Solidarity Campaign and the organiser of the event, told The Independent towards the end of the march that they believed 100,000 people had been in attendance.

The police suggested the total was much lower, closer to 10,000, though they admitted it was subject to change.

The protests began walking towards Whitehall just after midday, making their way through Oxford Street and past Trafalgar Square before massing in front of the Cenotaph.

Thousands take to the streets of London during pro-Palestinian march

IDF says it is preparing for ground operation in Gaza Strip

17:33 , Barney Davis

The IDF has said it is completing preparations for a “significant ground operation” in the Gaza Strip.

In a statement, the IDF says it is readying to “expand the offensive” with a “joint and coordinated attack from the air, sea and land”.

The IDF says it is finalising the draft of hundreds of thousands of reservists and providing equipment.

“IDF battalions and soldiers are deployed all over the country and are prepared to increase readiness for the next stages of the war, with an emphasis on a significant ground operation,” the IDF adds.

Hamas leader calls on Palestinians to remain on our land after Israel warning

17:28 , Barney Davis

The leader of Palestinian Islamist group Hamas said on Saturday Palestinians will not leave Gaza or the West Bank to migrate to Egypt, after calls from the Israeli army for more than a million of the enclave’s residents to leave their homes and head south.

“Our decision is to remain in our land,” Ismail Haniyeh added in a televised speech, while addressing Egypt in that part of his address.

Egypt shares a border with Gaza and has been alarmed by the possibility that the enclave’s residents could be displaced by Israel’s siege and bombardment of the territory, launched in retaliation for a devastating incursion by Hamas militants.

Like other Arab states, Egypt has said that Palestinians should stay on their lands as the war escalates, and that it is working to secure delivery of aid into the Gaza Strip.

Israeli Defence Minister Yoav Gallant said on Friday that Palestinian civilians “who want to save their lives” must heed Israel’s warning to evacuate southward in Gaza.

British nationals evacuated from Israel on emergency flights

17:26 , Barney Davis

Foreign Secretary James Cleverley has said that the government has already chartered two evacuation flights from Israel.

He wrote on X: “The UK is continuing to help vulnerable British nationals leave Israel.

“Two charter flights have now left Israel and we expect more to leave in the coming days. It’s more important than ever than you follow our travel advice and register your presence.”

It came as tousands of Palestinians fled the north of the Gaza Strip on Saturday from the path of an expected Israeli ground assault, while Israel pounded the area with more air strikes and said it kept two roads open to let people escape.

US citizens in Gaza blocked from leaving after being encouraged to go to border by State Dept

17:07 , Barney Davis

Americans trying to escape Gaza were left waiting at Egypt‘s border after an apparent misunderstanding between Washington and Cairo.

Israel was preparing its ground push into Gaza on Saturday and warned anyone in the northern portion of the strip to evacuate. The Biden administration advised Americans that the Rafah border crossing between Gaza and Egypt would be open to US citizens.

Graig Graziosi reports:

Confusion reigns for US citizens in Gaza as border crossing remains closed

Hundreds gather to protest in Ramallah, West Bank

17:01 , Maira Butt

Mick Bowman, 65, from the Newcastle Palestine Solidarity Campaign reports that the situation in Ramallah is worsening rapidly as six villagers were killed in thirteen hours in Tulkarm. A rally is taking place today in Ramallah in the West Bank in solidarity with Palestinians in Gaza.

Jewish man in wheelchair surrounded by police as crowds form

17:00 , Barney Davis

Police officers guarded a Jewish man in a wheelchair during a March for Palestine in London

Fireworks were let off in the crowd as supporters dispersed from Whitehall.

A crowd surrounded a man in Parliament Square wearing a kippah with the Israeli flag on it, who was shielded by a team of Met Police officers.

Organisers of the pro-Palestinian march ended activities on stage by asking for donations towards their campaign.

Skirmishes between police and Palestine supporters in Central London

16:25 , Barney Davis

Protesters clashed with police at a Free Palestine march with some arrests being made by Trafalgar Square.

Young people in masks were seen pushing riot police as officers advanced through central London.

Flares went up as other activists scaled monuments to unfurl Palestinian flags.

Police are using powers to make a person remove items which conceal their identity along the march route.

It came after a minute’s silence was observed outside Downing Street by for those killed in the Israel-Hamas conflict.

A series of speeches were delivered by pro-Palestinian supporters, including former Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn and Palestine ambassador to the UK Husam Zomlot.

Corbyn told the crowds: “Today, as we wave the Palestinian flag, let’s hear it for the people of the West Bank, for the people of Gaza, for the people of the refugee camps, and say very bluntly to our political leaders in this country ‘do not condone war crimes, do not condone the starvation and the denial of medicine to desperate people in Gaza or anywhere else’.

“If you believe in international law, if you believe in human rights, then you must condemn what is happening now in Gaza by the Israeli army.”

‘Next stage is coming’, Netanyahu tells troops

15:52 , Alexander Butler

“The next stage is coming,” Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu told troops today.

The Israeli leader was speaking in southern Israel, in a video posted by his office.

“With our fighters in the Gaza Strip, on the front line. We are all ready.” the prime minister wrote on X, formerly Twitter.

Al Shifa Hospital Crisis : “The bodies are piled up. People are too scared to bury them”

15:37 , Maira Butt

Dr Ghassan Abu-Sittah at Al Shifa Hospital, the largest medical centre in Gaza says:

“Thousands of people, if not tens of thousands have flocked to the hospitals, they’re sleeping in the grounds. They’re sleeping in the hospitals, in between patient beds in the wards. They think this is the safest place. One of our colleagues, Dr Medhat Saidam, that I’ve worked with since the 2009 war went to escort his sister to her house and was killed along with all thirty members of his family.

“Unless there is respite there is going to be an infectious diseases public health catastrophe. The bodies are stacked up. People are too afraid to bury their dead. Alot of staff have lost their family or are too busy looking after them to be able to come in.

“We had to evacuate yesterday as Israeli army warned they were going to attack the hospital. We made sure patients were in ambulances and then came back to Al Shifa.

“When we drove up to Indonesia hospital, we drove past the morgue and could see the bodies piled up outside the morgue. We’re no longer able to take out the bodies. We’ve not been able to remove our colleague’s family’s bodies from the rubble.”

Aerial footage captures thousands of pro-Palestine protesters

15:25 , Alexander Butler

Thousands gather in Glasgow in solidarity with Palestinians

14:49 , Maira Butt

Thousands have gathered in Glasgow, Scotland to march in solidarity with Palestinians as Israeli troops gather at the border in preparation for a ground invasion.

Protestors required to remove masks that could conceal their identity, until 22:00 BST today

14:44 , Maira Butt

One protester, Mike, from north-west London, told the PA news agency: “The injustice of the situation is just totally outstanding.”

The Metropolitan Police said certain areas of central London were covered by a Section 60AA power, which requires a person to remove items such as masks that might be used to conceal their identity, until 22:00 BST.

1 million people have been displaced according to UNRWA

14:41 , Maira Butt

Director of Communications at UNRWA, Juliette Touma, has reported that 1 million people have been displaced following Israeli air strikes. “The situation is very desperate,” she says. “This is unprecedented and unlike anything I’ve ever seen before.”

Medical crisis in Gaza worsens

14:36 , Maira Butt

Dr Ghassan Abu-Sittah, a leading British plastic surgeon reports from Gaza:

“The hospital is overwhelmed with internally displaced families. There are people sleeping on the floors everywhere even inside the hospital. The crowding is going to lead to an infectious disease outbreak. The doctors have brought their families into the hospital for safety. I slept on an operating room table last night. One of our plastic surgery trainees at Shifa was killed last night with 30 members of his direct family. Internet is impossible.”

Pro-Palestinian protests take place in Dublin, Ireland

14:30 , Maira Butt

Thousands have gathered in Dublin in support of Palestine following an escalation in Israeli military action following Hamas attacks last weekend. The walk began from the General Post Office in Dublin city centre.

Israel carrying out strikes in Lebanon

14:08 , Alexander Butler

Israel has attacked locations in Lebanon following reports of multiple rocket launches from the south of the country.

Writing on X, formerly Twitter, the Israel Defence Forces spokesperson said: “Following the initial report of a number of launches from Lebanese territory towards the Mount Dov area, IDF forces are now attacking the source of the shooting.”

Missiles were fired at an Israeli army post in southeastern Lebanon, witnesses said. Heavy shelling from Israel and the sound of gunfire was also heard.

Rachel Riley speaks out about pro-Palestine rally

13:58 , Sam Rkaina

TV presenter Rachel Riley has urged anyone who feels unsafe as thousands of pro-Palestinian demonstrators take to the streets of London to contact police.

Writing on X, formerly Twitter, Ms Riley said previous rallies had seen people in cars shouting abuse at Jewish people, though Saturday’s march has been peaceful so far.

“Supporting Hamas helps no one, and is illegal. There will be a significant police presence at rallies today, and together with CST [Jewish charity the Community Security Trust] they encourage anyone who feels threatened or unsafe to contact them.”

Met Police issues order which could force people to remove face coverings

13:47 , Alexander Butler

The Met Police has issued an order which could force people to remove face coverings ahead of a pro-Palestine march in London today.

The Section 60AA order gives police officers the power to demand any item being worn to conceal identity to be removed. Failure to do so could result in an arrest.

Thousands of protesters have gathered in London today for a pro-Palestine rally. Scotland Yard has also deployed more than 1,000 officers to police the event.

Nine Israeli captives killed by IDF airstrikes

13:42 , Alexander Butler

Nine Israeli captives were killed by IDF air strikes over Gaza, Hamas said.

The terrorist group said four foreign captives were among those killed.

At least 1,300 people have died and 3,227 have been injured in Israel since the country was attacked last Saturday.

Women and children killed in Israeli airstrike

13:34 , Alexander Butler

Women and young children were among those killed in an Israeli airstrike on a convoy that left 70 people dead.

Some of the children killed were aged between two and five, according to the BBC. The strike hit vehicles in three locations as people fled Gaza City.

Two witnesses reported a strike on fleeing cars near Deir el-Balah, south of the evacuation zone and in the area where Israel told people to flee.

Fayza Hamoudi said she and her family were driving from their home in the north when the strike hit some distance ahead on the road and two vehicles burst into flames. A witness from another car on the road gave a similar account.

“Why should we trust that they’re trying to keep us safe?” Hamoudi said, her voice choking.

Many feared they would not be able to return or would be gradually displaced to Egypt’s Sinai Peninsula.

Starmer’s comments on Israel are ‘grotesque’, Palestinian activist says

13:15 , Sam Rkaina

The director of the Palestine Solidarity Campaign has called Sir Keir Starmer‘s recent comments on Israel‘s actions “grotesque”.

In an interview with The Independent, Ben Jamal, Director of UK-based Palestine Solidarity Campaign, critised the Labour leader’s comments which endorsed the Israeli government’s actions.

During an LBC interview on Wednesday 11 October, Starmer was asked whether cutting off water and electricity supplies in the besieged region of Gaza was a proportionate response to the assault by Palestinian fighters in southern Israel.

He responded: “I think that Israel does have that right, it is an ongoing situation, obviously everything should be done within international law but I don’t want to step away from the core principles that Israel has the right to defend herself.”

Mr Jamal spoke ahead of a pro-Palestine march in London protesting against Israel’s military action.

Met Police map showing route protesters must follow

13:11 , Sam Rkaina

Ahead of the UK march, the Met Police released a map showing the route protesters must stick to.

Under Section 12 of the Public Order Act, restrictions will be in place from midday on Saturday. The route goes from Portland Place to Regent’s Street, Piccadilly, Trafalgar Square and Whitehall.

Anyone who goes outside the demonstration path could be subject to arrest, the force has warned.

Spain holds pro-Palestine protests

13:03 , Sam Rkaina

Spain is holding its own pro-Palestine rallies today.

Crowds turned out in support of the Palestinian people and against the conflict between Israel and Hamas in Pamplona and Barcelona on Saturday.

Thousands of Israelis and Palestinians have died since the militant group Hamas launched an unprecedented attack on Israel from the Gaza Strip last weekend.

Pictured: People gather for pro-Palestine rally

12:20 , Alexander Butler

Thousands of people gather for pro-Palestine rally in London

12:06 , Alexander Butler

Thousands of protesters have gathered in London today for a pro-Palestine rally. Scotland Yard has also deployed more than 1,000 officers to police the event.

Protesters were pictured holding “Free Palestine” placards. One woman, wearing a red coat, was seen holding a sign saying “ethnic cleansing is not self defence”.

Up to 50,000 people are expected to join the rally, according to its organisers.

Pictured: Gazans flee airstrikes

11:54 , Alexander Butler

Israel must take ‘all possible measures' to protect Palestinians, UK says

11:50 , Alexander Butler

Israel must take “all possible” measures to protect ordinary Palestinians and facilitate humanitarian aid, the UK Foreign Office said.

The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office said Israel had “suffered a shockingly brutal terrorist attack” and the UK supported “Israel’s right to defend itself”.

But it added: “Given that Hamas has embedded itself in the civilian population in Gaza, it’s important that Israel takes all possible measures to protect ordinary Palestinians and facilitate humanitarian aid.”

Pictured: Israeli forces amass on Gaza border

11:41 , Alexander Butler

Met Police reviewing 55 counterterrorism cases

11:33 , Alexander Butler

London’s counterterrorism unit is reviewing 55 cases into potential terrorist content posted online following Hamas’s deadly attacks on southern Israel, the Met Police said.

“Following last week’s horrific terrorist attack by Hamas, and the escalation of the Israel-Hamas conflict, which has led to significant concern in communities in London and across the country, I want to thank the public for helping us by reporting potential terrorist content online.

“These referrals have already made a significant impact and we are currently reviewing 55 cases,” the force said.

11:25 , Alexander Butler

Campaign group Palestine Action has claimed responsibility for red paint which was thrown over the BBC’s London headquarters ahead of a pro-Palestinian march today.

Writing on X, formerly Twitter, the group said: “Palestine Action left a message overnight for the BBC: spreading the occupation’s lies and manufacturing consent for israel’s war crimes means that you have Palestinian blood on your hands.”

Over 50,000 people are expected to attend the pro-Palestine march in London, according to the organisers.

Hamas commander who led Israel attacks, ‘eliminated’

11:11 , Alexander Butler

Hamas commander Ali Qadi has been “eliminated”, the Israeli Defence Forces said.

Writing on X, formerly Twitter, the IDF said: “Ali Qadi led the inhumane, barbaric October 7 massacre of civilians in Israel.

“We just eliminated him. All Hamas terrorists will meet the same fate.”

Innocent Gazans will die, UK Israeli embassy admits

10:55 , Sam Rkaina

Israel is not targeting civilians but innocent people will die in its offensive against Gaza, the Israeli Embassy to the UK admitted.

“There will be innocent people who will pay tragically with their life, but this is a state of war and we have to prevent anyone from harming us again,” Orly Goldschmidt, spokesperson for the Israeli Embassy to the UK, told Times Radio.

“You know ‘never again’, this sentence we have said after the Holocaust, it’s happening at the moment, and never again is now and we need the full support of the international community because these are murderers and we need to make sure they won’t have any capacity ever again to harm.”

IDF ‘aware’ of journalist killed in Israeli strike

10:48 , Alexander Butler

The Israeli Defence Forces said it was ‘aware’ that a Reuters video journalist was killed and six other journalists were injured in southern Lebanon on Friday when missiles fired from the direction of Israel struck them.

“We are aware of the incident with the Reuters journalist. We are looking into it. We already have visuals. We’re doing cross examination. It’s a tragic thing,” a spokesperson said.

Issam Abdallah was killed while providing a live video signal for broadcasters. The camera was pointed at a hillside when a loud explosion shook the camera, filling the air with smoke, and screams were heard, the news agency said.

We are deeply saddened to learn that our videographer, Issam Abdallah, has been killed,” Reuters said.

Lack of water in Gaza ‘matter of life and death’, UN warns

10:43 , Alexander Butler

More than two million people are at risk of running out of water across Gaza, the UN has warned.

“It has become a matter of life and death. It is a must; fuel needs to be delivered now into Gaza to make water available for 2 million people,” said Philippe Lazzarini, UNRWA Commissioner-General.

The aid agency said clean water started to run out in Gaza after its water plant and public water networks stopped working.

Many Gazans are now forced to use dirty water from wells, increasing risks of waterborne diseases, it added.

Pictured: Gaza under siege

10:38 , Alexander Butler

Hezbollah could cause ‘huge earthquake’ for Israel, Iran says

10:27 , Alexander Butler

Iran’s foreign minister on Saturday called on Israel to stop its attacks on Gaza, warning that the war might expand to other parts of the Middle East if Hezbollah joins the battle, and that would make Israel suffer “a huge earthquake.”

Hossein Amirabdollahian said he met Hezbollah leader Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah who briefed him on the group’s conditions in Lebanon.“I know about the scenarios that Hezbollah has put in place,” Amirabdollahian said. “Any step the Hezbollah will take will cause a huge earthquake in the Zionist entity.”

Amirabdollahian added: “I want to warn the war criminals and those who support this entity before it’s too late to stop the crimes against civilians in Gaza, because it might be too late in few hours.”

Israel considers Hezbollah its most serious immediate threat, estimating it has some 150,000 rockets and missiles, including precision-guided missiles that can hit anywhere in Israel.

Gazan death toll rises to 2,215

10:14 , Alexander Butler

At least 2,215 Palestinians have been killed in Gaza and 8,714 have been wounded, according to the Palestinian health ministry.

It also said 54 have been killed in the West Bank and 1,100 have been injured.

Up to 324 Palestinians were killed in Israeli airstrikes over the past 24 hours. One-thousand were also wounded.

Red paint thrown over BBC’s London headquarters

09:53 , Alexander Butler

Red paint has been thrown over BBC’s London headquarters ahead of a pro-Palestinian march expected to see a turn out of 50,000 people. The motive is unclear. Watch here:

Over 300 Palestinians killed in Israeli airstrikes in 24 hours

09:51 , Alexander Butler

Up to 324 Palestinians have been killed in Israeli airstrikes over the past 24 hours, the Gazan health ministry said. One-thousand were also wounded.

Any Gazan crossing to Egypt will be coordinated with Israel

09:45 , Alexander Butler

Any use of the border crossing from the Gaza Strip into Egypt will be in coordination with Israel, the Israeli military spokesperson said on Saturday.

“Regarding Gaza, the crossings are closed. The borders are closed, and any movement or crossing to Egypt will be in coordination with us and in contact with us. For now, this issue is not happening,” Israeli military spokesperson Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari said.

Displacement of Palestinians will push Middle East into ‘abyss’, Jordan says

09:43 , Alexander Butler

Jordan said any move by Israel to impose a new displacement of Palestinians would push the region to the “abyss” of a wider conflict.

Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi also said Israel’s blocking of humanitarian aid to Gaza and forcing its residents to leave their homes were a “flagrant” breach of international law.

Drone footage shows IDF strike Gaza 'military headquarters and senior officials' houses'

09:20 , Alexander Butler

Israel does not have right to ‘smash one million children’

09:06 , Alexander Butler

Israel does not have the right to smash “one million children”, a leading humanitarian said.

Jans Egeland, Norweigan Refugee Council secretary-general, said: “Israel is doing catastrophic mistakes. It does not have the right to smash children because of what grown terrorist men did.”

“It has not sunk in at Western capitals what is happening in Gaza. There are tens of thousands of destroyed or unliveable housing units. There are hundreds of thousands of people fleeing for their life,” he told BBC Radio 4.

“This is not something that should be called an evacuation. It’s a forcible transfer of population of all people from northern Gaza. Which is, according to the Geneva Convention, a war crime.

“The UK, the US and the EU have rightfully said we are with Israel in fighting Hamas after the worst terror attack in its history. I hope they haven’t given a green light to smash a million children because that is what is happening now.”

Survivors pulled from rubble after Israeli airstrikes reduce Gaza building to ruins

08:48 , Alexander Butler

IDF kills top Hamas commander

08:12 , Alexander Butler

The Israeli Defence Forces killed a top Hamas commander after its fighter jets struck operational headquarters used by the terror group.

“During the strike, IDF fighter jets killed Merad Abu Merad who was the head of the Hamas aerial system in Gaza City, and was largely responsible for directing terrorists during the massacre on Saturday,” it said.

'We will dismantle Hamas,' Israel says as militants vow to fight till 'last drop of blood'

08:00 , Alexander Butler

Israel said it vowed to “annihilate Hamas” for its attack last week that killed 1,300 Israeli civilians.

Israeli forces have begun ground operations in Gaza for the first time since the conflict began, after a 24 hours deadline to civilians to move south of the Strip.

“The end state of this war is that we will dismantle Hamas and its military capability and fundamentally change the situation so that Hamas never again has the ability to inflict any damage on Israeli civilians or soldiers,” Israeli military spokesperson lieutenant colonel Jonathan Conricus said in a video briefing early on Saturday.

Meanwhile Hamas, who took more than 120 hostages, has vowed to fight “to the last drop of blood” and told residents to stay put, Reuters reported.

The UN has warned of a disaster if over a million people are forced to flee, adding that such movement of people was impossible.

“How are 1.1 million people supposed to move across a densely populated war zone in less than 24 hours?” spokesperson Stephane Dujarric asked.

Airstrikes in Gaza ‘kill 70 people fleeing city'

07:51 , Sam Rkaina

Hamas has said airstrikes in Gaza on Friday have killed 70 people, hitting cars in three locations as people headed south from Gaza City.

Two witnesses reported a strike on fleeing cars near Deir el-Balah, south of the evacuation zone and in the area where Israel told people to flee.

Fayza Hamoudi said she and her family were driving from their home in the north when the strike hit some distance ahead on the road and two vehicles burst into flames. A witness from another car on the road gave a similar account.

“Why should we trust that they’re trying to keep us safe?” Hamoudi said, her voice choking.

Many feared they would not be able to return or would be gradually displaced to Egypt’s Sinai Peninsula.

At least 1,900 Palestinians killed, taking combined toll to 3,200

07:30 , Vishwam Sankaran

Air strikes from Israel have killed at least 1,900 people in Gaza, authorities say.

As Israel begins its ground offensive in Gaza after its 24 hours deadline, forcing over a million Palestinians to move south, UN said over 400,000 Palestinians had already been internally displaced before the directive.

Israel has vowed to eliminate Hamas after militants killed 1,300 Israelis, mainly civilians, and seized over 120 hostages.

Since then, Israel has bombarded the Gaza Strip, home to 2.3 million Palestinians, with unprecedented air strikes that has led to the deaths of over 1,900 people in Gaza, Reuters reported.

The combined death toll in both Israel and Gaza is now over at least 3,200.

Israeli military allows safe movement for Gazans today

07:30 , Sam Rkaina

The Israeli Defence Force has said they will allow “safe movement” south for Gazans today - with a deadline of 4pm local time.

The IDF issued a statement on Saturday morning saying movement in the territory will be allowed between 10am and 4pm (8am and 2pm UK time) on two main roads south.

It comes after Hamas claimed 70 people, including women and children, had been killed in airstrike as they fled they fled Gaza City.

British-Palestinians say family members in Gaza 'running for their lives'

07:00 , Vishwam Sankaran

British-Palestinians say their family members in Gaza are “running for their lives” as Israeli military said the over 1.1 million people living in northern Gaza “should relocate” to the south within 24 hours.

Israel announced for the first time yesterday that its ground troops have begun operating inside Gaza.

Fady Abusidu, a 47-year-old business development consultant in Warwick, told PA that he was “really, really worried” having not heard from any of his cousins in northern Gaza.

“I don’t know where my cousins are at the moment, I’ve tried to call them so many times and it wouldn’t connect,” he said.

British-Palestinians say family members in Gaza ‘running for their lives’

The UN has condemned Israel, saying moving over one million people across Gaza was impossible.

“Moving more than one million people across a densely populated warzone to a place with no food, water, or accommodation, when the entire territory of Gaza is under siege, is extremely dangerous – and in some cases, simply not possible,” UN chief Antony Guterres said.

Bodies of missing Israelis recovered in Gaza ground raids, Israel says

06:42 , Vishwam Sankaran

The bodies of some of the Israelis taken hostage by Hamas during its attack last week have reportedly been recovered in the latest ground raids in Gaza.

Israeli defence forces say over 120 people have been taken hostage by Hamas since the terrorist group began its attack against Israel.

Following its latest on-ground offensive, Israeli forces say an unspecified number of bodies of Israelis have been recovered in Gaza.

The recovered bodies have been brought back to Israel, local news reports say.

China's special envoy meets Arab League amid crisis in Israel, Gaza

06:30 , Vishwam Sankaran

China’s Middle East envoy reportedly met representatives of the Arab League in China in an emergency session to discuss the ongoing crisis in Israel and Gaza.

The special envoy Zhai Jun said China would continue to provide aid to the Palestinian people and that the country supports the 22-member strong Arab League on the “Palestinian issue“, Reuters reported.

“The international community should earnestly enhance its sense of urgency to return to the correct basis of the Two State Solution to realise the peaceful coexistence of the two states of Palestine and Israel,” he added.

Israel strikes Hezbollah target in southern Lebanon

06:00 , Vishwam Sankaran

Israel has reportedly struck a Hezbollah target in southern Lebanon in response to the “infiltration of unidentified aerial objects into Israel,” the country’s military said.

Israel’s military said it intercepted the unidentified aerial objects and the fire on its drone.

This comes as UN chief Antonio Guterres warned last week against ongoing clashes in Israel and Gaza spreading with attacks from Lebanon.

“We must avoid spillover of the conflict....I appeal to all parties and those who have an influence over those parties to avoid any further escalation and spillover,” he said.

Civilians not our target, says Israeli army as 'small raids' begin in Gaza

05:40 , Alexander Butler

As Israel begins “small raids” in Gaza, Israel Defence Forces spokesperson Jonathan Conricus said “Palestinian civilians in Gaza are not our enemies. We don’t assess them as such and we don’t target them as such”.

“It is extremely sad and regrettable that so many media outlets are focusing on our actions instead of putting the responsibility on the entity that governs the Gaza Strip, and that is Hamas,” Mr Conricus said.

“They are the ones who initiated this war. They are the ones who targeted our civilians,” he said.

However, UN chief António Guterres criticised the evacuation order, calling it an impossible task, adding that “even wars have rules”.

“Moving more than one million people across a densely populated warzone to a place with no food, water, or accommodation, when the entire territory of Gaza is under siege, is extremely dangerous – and in some cases, simply not possible,” Mr Guterres said.

“International humanitarian law & human rights law must be respected & upheld; civilians must be protected and also never used as shields. All hostages in Gaza must be released immediately,” he added.

Hamas holding over 120 civilians hostage, Israeli army says

05:38 , Vishwam Sankaran

Israel has provided a new update on civilians held hostage by Hamas militants.

Over 120 civilians are being held captive in Gaza by Hamas, according to Israeli defence forces.

“As of this time, the IDF has confirmed that over 120 civilians are being held captive in Gaza by the Hamas terrorist organization,” IDF posted on X.

BBC says journalist stopped and assaulted in Israel

05:30 , Vishwam Sankaran

A BBC journalist team covering the crisis unfolding in Israel was held and assaulted by Israeli police in Tel Aviv, the news organisation said yesterday.

The BBC said its journalists were “dragged from their vehicle,” shoved against a wall and searched.

“Journalists must be able to report on the conflict in Israel-Gaza freely,” a BBC spokesperson told CNN.

Several news organisations, including Reuters and Al Jazeera have reported of their journalists being attacked or injured amid the ongoing crisis.

“I want to pay tribute to the journalists who have lost their lives while carrying out their work of bringing the truth to people around the world. My deepest condolences to their families and loved ones,” UN chief Antonio Guterres said.

UN Secretary General condemns Israeli evac warning as IDF masses forces

05:30 , Josh Marcus

UN Secretary-General António Guterres condemned Israel on Friday for giving civilians in Gaza a day to flee northern areas of the territory expected to see brutal fighting.

“Moving more than one million people across a densely populated warzone to a place with no food, water, or accommodation, when the entire territory of Gaza is under siege, is extremely dangerous – and in some cases, simply not possible,” he wrote on X.

IDF forces, including tank units, have been seen massing near Gaza ahead of a potential ground offensive.

Tens of thousands in Gaza flee south after Israel's deadline

05:00 , Vishwam Sankaran

Tens of thousands of Palestinians in Gaza have fled south after Israel issued a 24-hours deadline to begin a ground offensive from the enclave’s north.

Before the deadline was issued, over 400,000 Palestinians had been internally displaced since the crisis began, the UN’s Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) said.

Israeli forces have begun raids to hit Hamas rocket crews and gather information about hostages, according to Israel’s defence forces.

This marks the first official account of ground troops in Gaza since the Hamas terrorist attack on Israel last week.

The Palestinian workers who can’t return to Gaza, but were forced to flee from West Bank

05:00 , Josh Marcus

Sitting in a cramped room with peeling walls, Amir Badawi spoke of deep dread about the fate of his family in Gaza – his own future equally uncertain in the face of an impending Israeli ground assault.

He is among those from the territory working in Israel who had fled to the West Bank after facing retribution for the massacre carried out by Hamas in their assault across the border.

Amir and his companions say they arrived in Ramallah after being detained and beaten up by Israeli police. Other Gaza workers say they were rounded up by the security forces and dumped in the West Bank, or are asking for help to escape from Israeli settlers threatening to hold them hostage in revenge for captives taken to Gaza by Hamas.

Amir was in a room with half a dozen other workers in a dingy hotel near Ramallah while Palestinian authorities tried to organise relief. He had been working at a construction site near Tel Aviv until a few days ago when the situation became fraught.

Kim Sengupta reports from Ramallah.

Forced from Israel for being Palestinian – they fear what comes next

UK may fast-track aid for fleeing Palestinians

04:30 , Vishwam Sankaran

UK’s International Development minister Andrew Mitchell has reportedly said the government is speeding up the delivery of “essential humanitarian supplies” to support Palestinians as they flee south of Gaza.

“We will do whatever is necessary to play our part in meeting humanitarian need,” Mr Mitchell told BBC.

He said steps are being taken to ensure the aid doesn’t leak to the Hamas administration in Gaza.

Israelis rush back to volunteer for war effort

04:15 , Josh Marcus

Anafa Ifshitcl was in Kathmandu when the news of the attack by Hamas in Israel broke last Saturday. With no direct flights to her home country, she took a 22-hour bus travelling around 1,100km from Nepal to India’s capital Delhi.

“I just got a flight back to Israel, [almost] all of the flights got cancelled,” she tells The Independent, standing in a dingy back street near Chabad House, a Jewish community centre in the heart of the city. “I hope I make it to Israel because a lot of my friends were kidnapped in the [Supernova] party or died.”

Ifshitcl’s brother, who is serving in the Israeli army, is among those who disappeared in the weekend’s fighting and has possibly been taken hostage, she tells The Independent. “We don’t know what happened with him or with his team … This is just a terrible situation.”

Having already served two years in the Israeli army, she is now racing to return in the hopes of serving again.

At least 100 people have joined her, travelling from the UK to Israel to serve in the Israeli military following the attacks by Hamas.

Namita Singh and Bel Trew report.

Israelis rush back home from around the world to volunteer in fight against Hamas

Israel's deadline for Palestinians to flee south ends as 'small raids' begin in Gaza

04:13 , Vishwam Sankaran

More than a million Palestinians face a deadline to flee south as first confirmation of Israel beginning ground offensive in northern Gaza surfaces.

Troops have begun raids to hit Hamas rocket crews and gather information about hostages, marking the first official account of ground troops in Gaza since the Hamas terrorist attack on Israel, Israeli military spokesperson rear admiral Daniel Hagari said.

“We are striking our enemies with unprecedented might. I emphasise that this is only the beginning,” Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu said.

“The IDF conducted raids in Gazan territory to eliminate the threat of terrorist cells and infrastructure. Soldiers collected evidence that will aid in locating hostages,” Israel Defense Forces posted on X.

‘Top secret’ plans show Hamas mission to target schools and youth centre: report

03:35 , Josh Marcus

Hamas intentionally targeted elementary schools and a youth centre at the Israeli kibbutz of Kfar Sa’ad, with the goal to “kill as many people as possible” and seize others as hostages, according to battle plans obtained by NBC News.

The alleged plans, labeled “top secret” in Arabic, reportedly were recovered from the bodies of dead Hamas militants.

The Gaza-based militant and political group has been condemned worldwide for its attacks on civilians.

‘Wiped off the map’: Palestinian civilians describe life under bombardment

03:00 , Josh Marcus

“Oh my God. It’s another attack. Oh my God.” The sound of an Israeli air strike overhead was followed by a choking silence.

The tremors in Motee’ Masbah’s voice momentarily settled as the Israeli plane continued to fly over him in Gaza. This air strike did not kill him, but he is fearing the worst.

“No one would believe what is going on unless they live in the Gaza Strip,” the father-of-four told The Independent. “Even now as I’m talking to you, any place could be hit.

“What I am seeing is abysmal. Entire neighbourhoods have been entirely and completely wiped off the map. It’s not just about targeting particular houses or constructions.”

Maryam Zakir-Hussain reports on the Palestinian civilians caught in the Israel-Hamas war.

‘Wiped off the map’: Palestinians fight to survive Israeli bombardment of Gaza

Activists occupy Elizabeth Warren’s office in call for ceasefire

02:15 , Josh Marcus

On Friday, members of IfNotNow, an activist movement seeking to end what it deems Israel’s “apartheid” regime, occupied the office of US Senator Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts.

The group argued that Israel, with US support, was about to “ethnically cleanse over 1 million Palestinians from Gaza,” a reference to Israel’s recent urging that numerous civilians, many with nowhere to escape to, evacuate northern Gaza as fighting continues.