Israel launched an expanded ground operation on Saturday after cutting communications overnight and causing a near-total information blackout in the Gaza Strip with increased bombardment and artillery fire.
Israel’s defense minister said that “the ground in Gaza was shaking” and that the war against the Hamas rulers in the Palestinian territory had entered a new phase. Residents of the Gaza Strip described the massive nighttime bombardment from the sea and air as the most intense of the three-week Israel-Hamas war.
Other countries, United Nations officials and aid groups described a dire situation on the ground in Gaza as ambulances left without cell or radio connectivity resorted to blasting the sound of artillery fire to the wounded on the ground.
In the Hamas-ruled Gaza Strip, the Palestinian death toll since the start of the war has exceeded 7,700, according to the Health Ministry. More than 110 Palestinians have been killed in violence and Israeli raids in the occupied West Bank.
More than 1,400 people, including at least 310 soldiers, were killed in Israel in a surprise incursion by Hamas militants, according to the Israeli government. At least 229 hostages were brought to Gaza and four hostages were released earlier.
At the moment:
Here’s what’s happening in the recent war between Israel and Hamas:
UN human rights chief: Israel’s military action takes pain in Gaza to ‘new level’
CAIRO – The U.N. human rights chief said Israel’s intense air and ground bombardment overnight brought the crisis in Gaza to “a new level of violence and pain.”
UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Turk’s comments came in a statement on Saturday as Gaza remained cut off from the outside world following a communications blackout.
He said the communications blackout had increased the misery and suffering of civilians in the Palestinian territory as ambulances and civil defense teams were no longer able to locate the wounded.
The humanitarian and human rights consequences will be devastating and long-lasting,” Turk said. “Given the manner in which military operations have been carried out to date in the context of the 56-year occupation, I am concerned about the potentially catastrophic consequences of large-scale ground operations in Gaza and the potential for thousands more civilian deaths.”
LONDON DEMONSTRATORS demand a ceasefire in Gaza
Tens of thousands of pro-Palestinian protesters have taken to the streets of London for the second weekend in a row to demand a ceasefire in Gaza.
Huge crowds gathered on the banks of the River Thames on Saturday as fireworks and red and green flares were lit.
Mohammed Ullah, an engineer, said he was surprised that politicians and governments “are not stopping this genocide against the people of Gaza.”
“Yes, it was a Hamas crime. But at the same time, what the Israelis are doing is genocide. And these children should not be killed and murdered and they do not deserve to be treated like that,” Ullah said.
Thousands of others were expected to gather in other British cities including Manchester, Bristol and Glasgow.
There were also demonstrations in Pakistan and France on Saturday.
Head of the United Nations Palestinian Refugee Agency expresses concern for staff
JERUSALEM – The head of the U.N. agency for Palestinian refugees wrote a public letter to his staff in Gaza expressing “grave concern” for their safety amid a near-total communications blackout.
“I constantly hope that this hell on earth will soon end and that you and your families will be safe,” said Philippe Lazzarini, Commissioner General of the UNRWA agency. “You are the face of humanity in one of its darkest hours.”
He said his staff was working around the clock to secure his entry into the Gaza Strip, but because Israel had cut off communications there, he was only able to communicate with some of his staff via satellite phone.
“I constantly hope that this hell on earth will soon end,” Lazzarini said in his letter.
ISRAEL reports attacks on Hezbollah sites in Lebanon
JERUSALEM – The Israeli military says it is attacking Hezbollah’s military infrastructure in Lebanon.
It said the strikes were ordered Saturday after “several firings of anti-tank missiles and mortar shells from Lebanese territory toward Israel were detected,” including Israeli military posts along the Israel-Lebanon border.
There are concerns that the war between Israel and Hamas could spread to Lebanon and northern Israel if Hezbollah decides to join the conflict.
ISRAELI MILITARY once again advises Gazans to relocate south
JERUSALEM – The Israeli military again ordered Palestinians in northern Gaza and Gaza City to move south as its troops expand their ground offensive in the area.
“This is an urgent military recommendation from the Israel Defense Forces,” Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari, a military spokesman, said in a video message posted on X. “For your immediate safety, we call on all residents of the northern Gaza Strip and Gaza City to move south immediately. This is a temporary measure. A return to the northern Gaza Strip will be possible once intense hostilities have ended.”
World Health Organization calls for a humanitarian ceasefire
CAIRO – The World Health Organization has appealed to “the humanity of all who have the power to end the fighting now” in Gaza.
In a statement, the UN agency said health workers, patients and civilians were facing a total communications and power blackout due to intense overnight bombardment and ground attacks in Gaza.
“There are more wounded every hour. But ambulances cannot reach them due to the communications failure. Mortuaries are full. “More than half of the dead are women and children,” it said.
“WHO reiterates its calls for an immediate humanitarian ceasefire and reminds all parties to the conflict to take all precautions to protect civilians and civilian infrastructure,” the statement continued.
The WHO expressed “serious concern” about reported bombings near the Indonesia and Shifa hospitals in the northern half of the Gaza Strip.
GAZA MINISTRY OF HEALTH SAYS 377 HAVE KILLED THEMSELVES IN THE ISRAELI OPEN SINCE FRIDAY NIGHT
BEIRUT – The Hamas-run health ministry in Gaza said 377 people have been killed since Israel expanded its major ground offensive on Friday evening.
Ministry spokesman Ashraf al-Qedra told reporters on Saturday that Israel had “completely crippled” Gaza’s health network by cutting off internet and mobile phone services.
“Israel has torn Gaza to pieces,” al-Qedra said, adding that the bombardment was the most intense since Hamas’ deadly incursion into southern Israel three weeks ago.
Al-Qedra said the 377 people killed last day bring the total death toll in Gaza to 7,703 people, including 3,195 children and 1,863 women. He called on the people of Gaza to donate blood, called on the International Committee of the Red Cross to supply all blood types and urged the opening of the Rafah border crossing with Egypt to allow the entry of medical supplies and fuel as well as the evacuation of seriously injured people .
The Palestinian Red Crescent describes ambulances chasing the sound of artillery in Gaza
In Ramallah in the West Bank, the Palestinian health minister said the situation in Gaza had become worse since the bombing, which crippled telecommunications for most people, including hospital teams.
“What is happening in Gaza is a genocide,” Mai al-Kailah said at a news conference.
Thousands of people are trapped under the rubble of bombed-out buildings, al-Kailah said, adding that the disease is spreading rapidly among the 1.4 million displaced people crammed into shelters with unsanitary conditions due to a lack of water.
With communications networks largely cut, residents had no way to call for ambulances as Israel stepped up its bombing. Palestinian Red Crescent spokesman Nebal Farsakh said response teams were chasing the sounds of artillery fire and airstrikes to search for people in distress.
LEADERS OF EGYPT AND TURKEY are calling for humanitarian aid and an end to military action
CAIRO – Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi called on Saturday for humanitarian aid to be delivered to Gaza, saying the number of trucks allowed into the besieged area was far below the needs of Gaza’s population.
“The need is enormous,” he said in televised comments.
The Egyptian government is working to de-escalate the conflict through talks with the warring parties, including discussions on the release of prisoners and hostages, he said, without giving details.
Egypt’s Foreign Ministry warned of the “risks” of a large-scale Israeli ground invasion and criticized Israel for failing to respect Friday’s U.N. General Assembly resolution calling for a “humanitarian ceasefire.”
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan called on Israel to come out of its “state of madness” and stop military actions.
“The ever-increasing Israeli bombings on Gaza, which intensified last night, have targeted women, children and innocent civilians, exacerbating the humanitarian crisis,” Erdogan wrote in a message posted on X, formerly Twitter, on Saturday. “Israel must immediately come out of this state of madness and stop its attacks.”
Erdogan is expected to attend a mass rally in Istanbul on Saturday organized by his ruling party to show solidarity with the Palestinians. He said this rally would be used to “make this call louder and shout that we stand with the Palestinian people against Israeli oppression.”
Hamas calls Israel’s ground invasion a failure
CAIRO – Hamas has declared Israel’s overnight ground attack a failure.
Hamas said in a statement on Saturday that its military wing, the Qassam Brigades, used Kornet anti-tank missiles and mortar shells to repel the attack, claiming its fighters had caused casualties among Israeli troops. The militant group provided no evidence.
The Qassam Brigades announced late Friday that its fighters were clashing with Israeli troops in the city of Beit Hanoun in northwest Gaza and in Al-Bureij in central Gaza.
The Al-Quds Brigades, the military wing of the Palestinian Islamic Jihad movement, said it fired rocket fire at Kibbutz Kissufim, northwest of the Negev Desert, on Saturday morning.
Hostage families meet with Israeli defense minister
JERUSALEM – Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant said he will meet families of hostages held in Gaza on Sunday.
The families warned Saturday that they would begin protests if Gallant and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu did not meet with them.
Hundreds of family members of hostages held in Gaza crowded around a central square in downtown Tel Aviv opposite the Israeli Defense Ministry on Saturday. They wore T-shirts that said “Bring them back” and had their relatives’ faces underneath the words “kidnapped.”
The families said they wanted the meeting because concerns for their loved ones had increased after Israel stepped up attacks on Gaza overnight on Friday.
The military’s claim that it is targeting tunnel infrastructure has raised fears among families that military leaders are being reckless with the lives of hostages believed to be held in the tunnels.
“The families feel like they are being left behind and no one really cares about them. Nobody talks to them. Nobody explains what’s going on,” said Miki Haimovitz, a former lawmaker who serves as the group’s spokesman.
ISRAEL ANNOUNCES EXPANSION OF GROUND OPERATIONS IN GAZA
Israel is expanding its ground operations in Gaza with infantry and armored vehicles, supported by “massive” attacks from the air and sea, Israel’s military spokesman said on Saturday.
Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari said: “The armed forces are still on the ground and continuing the war.”
The troops previously conducted brief nighttime ground attacks before returning to Israel.
Earlier Saturday, the military released videos showing columns of armored vehicles moving slowly in open, sandy areas of the Gaza Strip – the first visual evidence of the presence of ground troops. The military said warplanes bombed dozens of Hamas tunnels and underground bunkers.
Journalists in Gaza who were able to communicate with the outside world said there was intense Israeli bombardment in northern Gaza overnight and early Saturday.
The Israeli military also announced Saturday that it had attacked and killed a senior Hamas naval operative, Ratib Abu Tzahiban, who allegedly staged an attempted naval attack in Israel on Oct. 24. Hamas divers were repelled after they attempted to to invade Israel on a beach north of Gaza.
WHO, WFP and Doctors Without Borders are losing contact with the teams, agencies say
CAIRO – The U.N. health agency and other aid agencies said Saturday they remained unable to communicate with their teams in the besieged Gaza Strip amid intense Israeli air and land bombardment.
Tedros Adhanom, head of the World Health Organization, said the power outage had made it “impossible for ambulances to reach the injured.”
“We are still not in contact with our staff and health facilities. I am concerned for their safety,” he wrote on X, formerly known as Twitter.
Cindy McCain, executive director of the World Food Program, said the organization was “extremely concerned” for aid workers and civilians in Gaza after the power outage prevented her team from communicating.
“As the conflict rages on, I am deeply concerned for the safety of all humanitarian workers and civilians,” she said on X. “We are at a turning point. “Humanity must win.”
UNWRA, the UN agency for Palestinian refugees, said 58 staff members had been killed by Israeli airstrikes in Gaza as of Friday.
Guillemette Thomas, medical coordinator for Doctors Without Borders in the Palestinian territories, said the aid group had not been able to reach her team for more than 12 hours.