Israel-Gaza War Live Updates: Hours after Hamas attack, Israel urges evacuation of south Gaza town ahead of strike

Israel vows to take more land in Gaza to pressure Hamas into releasing hostages

Israel’s Defence Minister announced on Friday that he had ordered ground forces to advance further into the Gaza Strip and would continue to seize more territory until Hamas releases all remaining hostages. Defence Minister Israel Katz stated, “The more Hamas refuses to release the kidnapped, the more territory it will lose to Israel.”

Israeli troops, after reclaiming the strategic Netzarim corridor, moved towards Beit Lahiya in the north and Rafah in the south. The military also resumed enforcing a blockade on northern Gaza, including Gaza City.

Prime Minister Netanyahu’s Cabinet approved the dismissal of Ronen Bar, the head of Israel's Shin Bet internal security service, deepening tensions over accountability for the October 2023 Hamas attack, which triggered the current war. Critics argue this is a power grab by Netanyahu, with large protests supporting Bar taking place, including outside Netanyahu’s residence.

Since Tuesday, nearly 600 Palestinians have died following Israel's breaking of a truce, which had facilitated hostage releases and calm. Israel has vowed to escalate military operations until Hamas releases all remaining hostages and ends its control over Gaza.

The ceasefire negotiations between Israel and Hamas remain deadlocked, with Hamas demanding a full Israeli withdrawal in exchange for the hostages' release.

Israel orders troops to go deeper into Gaza as its top court halts sacking of security chief

Israel's Defence Minister announced on Friday that ground forces have been ordered to advance further into the Gaza Strip, intending to seize more land until Hamas releases all remaining hostages. Following the retaking of the strategic Netzarim corridor, Israeli troops moved toward the northern town of Beit Lahiya and the southern city of Rafah. The military also resumed its blockade of northern Gaza, including Gaza City.

In Israel, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu faced a setback in his bid to dismiss the domestic security chief, Ronen Bar. After Netanyahu’s Cabinet approved the dismissal, the Supreme Court intervened, halting the decision until an appeal is heard by April 8.

Meanwhile, Defence Minister Israel Katz vowed to intensify operations in Gaza until the hostages are released, warning that Hamas would lose more territory the longer it resists. Netanyahu's actions to sack Bar reflect a broader power struggle over accountability for the Hamas-led attack in October 2023 that sparked the war. Tens of thousands of Israelis have protested in support of Bar.

Israel minister orders army to 'seize more ground' in Gaza, threatens partial annexation

Israel's defence minister, Israel Katz, announced on Friday that the military has been ordered to "seize more ground" in Gaza. He warned of partial annexation if Hamas does not release hostages, stating that the more Hamas resists, the more territory will be annexed, with potential permanent occupation of buffer zones.

Appeal to supreme court over Israel intel chief sacking

Israel's opposition and an NGO said on Friday they had filed a petition against Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's decision to dismiss internal security agency chief Ronen Bar overnight.

The Movement for Quality Government in Israel denounced in a statement "an unlawful decision... posing a real risk to the national security of the State of Israel", while opposition leader Yair Lapid's centre-right party said it has filed an appeal with the Supreme Court, and denounced what it called "a decision based on flagrant conflict of interest".

Israel returns to war in Gaza with wider aims and almost no constraints

Israel's renewed military offensive in the Gaza Strip threatens to be even deadlier and more destructive than the last, as it pursues wider aims with far fewer constraints.
Israel resumed the war with a surprise bombardment early Tuesday that killed hundreds of Palestinians, ending the ceasefire and vowing even more devastation if Hamas doesn't release its remaining hostages and leave the territory.

President Donald Trump has expressed full support for the renewed offensive and suggested last month that Gaza's 2 million Palestinians be resettled in other countries. Iran-backed militant groups allied with Hamas are in disarray.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's coalition is stronger than ever, and there are fewer hostages inside Gaza than at any point since Hamas ignited the war with its Oct. 7, 2023, attack, which gives Israel's military more freedom to act.

Israeli hostage freed after 491 days asks: Where was UN, Red Cross, world?

Freed Israeli hostage Eli Sharabi, who was beaten, chained and starved while held for 491 days by Hamas, expressed his anger during an appearance at the UN Security Council on Thursday for having to suffer for so long and worry every day about being killed.

"Where was the United Nations? Where was the Red Cross? Where was the world?" Sharabi asked.

He challenged the UN's most powerful body: "If you stand for humanity prove it" by bringing home the 59 hostages still in Gaza, many of whom are believed to be dead.

The fate of the remaining hostages became more uncertain after Israel on Tuesday ended a six-week break in the fighting that had allowed for the return of some hostages in exchange for Palestinian prisoners.

Israel military says intercepted missile from Yemen

Israel's military said it intercepted a missile launched from Yemen on Thursday for the second time within a day, after air raid sirens sounded in several areas including Jerusalem.

"Following the sirens that sounded a short while ago in a number of areas in Israel, a missile launched from Yemen was intercepted by the IAF (air force) prior to crossing into Israeli territory," the military said in a statement.

AFP journalists in Jerusalem had reported air raid sirens wailing in the city.

In a statement on Telegram, Yemen's Iran-backed Huthi rebels claimed responsibility.

Israel's Cabinet votes to fire the head of country's Shin Bet internal security service

Israel's Cabinet has approved Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's request to fire the head of the country's Shin Bet internal security service.

The late-night decision to sack Ronen Bar deepens a power struggle focused largely over who bears responsibility for the Hamas attack that sparked the war in Gaza.

It also could set the stage for a crisis over the country's division of powers. Israel's attorney general has ruled that the Cabinet has no legal basis to dismiss Bar.

Israel expands Gaza ground operation as missiles intercepted

Israel's military on Thursday expanded ground operations across Gaza, after it reported missiles intercepted from Yemen and Hamas militants said they fired rockets towards Tel Aviv.
The rocket fire from Hamas was its first military response to the growing civilian death toll from Israel's resumption of aerial bombardment and ground operations in Gaza this week.

The offensive has drawn widespread condemnation and shattered a relative calm in the war-ravaged Palestinian territory where a ceasefire began on January 19. Talks on extending the truce reached an impasse, and Israel resumed intensive bombing of Gaza on Tuesday.

Late Thursday the military said troops had begun "conducting ground activity" in the Shabura area of Rafah, Gaza's southernmost city near the Egyptian border.

"As part of the activity, the troops dismantled... terrorist infrastructure," the military said in a statement, adding that "troops are continuing ground activity in northern and central Gaza."

Israel earlier said it had closed off the territory's main north-south route as part of expanding ground operations that resumed on Wednesday.

Trump fully supports Israel’s actions: WH

US President Donald Trump “fully supports” Israel’s resumption of air and ground operations in Gaza, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said Thursday, blaming Hamas for the violence. “He fully supports Israel and IDF and the actions they’ve taken in recent days,” Leavitt said when asked if Trump was trying to get a ceasefire back on track.

Air raid sirens are sounding in central Jerusalem after a launch from Yemen, Israel's military says

Israel says killed Hamas's internal security chief in Gaza strike

"Rashid Jahjuh, the Head of Hamas' General Security Forces and Ayman Atsalih, the Head of the Khan Yunis sector within Hamas' General Security Forces. This unit was responsible for exposing "collaborators", safeguarding senior Hamas members and assets within Gaza and abroad, and suppressing opposition to Hamas' rule. Additionally, it operates to produce intelligence assessments that enable senior Hamas officials to plan and execute terror attacks against the State of Israel," IDF said in a post on X.

UK foreign secretary says Israel's total blockade of Gaza is likely breaking international law

UK Foreign Secretary David Lammy stated that Israel’s total blockade of Gaza is likely violating international law, adding that denying humanitarian aid to civilians is incompatible with international humanitarian law. While acknowledging courts should decide, Lammy called Israel’s actions "appalling and unacceptable."

Israeli army warns residents of south Gaza town to evacuate ahead of strike

"To all those present in the area marked as Bani Suheila, this is an early warning before a strike. Terrorist organisations are returning to and firing rockets from populated areas... For your safety, head west toward the known shelters immediately," Israeli army spokesman Avichay Adraee said in a post on X.

Israel govt to vote on firing of internal security agency chief

Israel's government is set to vote late on Thursday on Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s decision to dismiss Ronen Bar, the head of the Shin Bet internal security agency, following growing opposition. Netanyahu cited a “lack of trust” as the reason for removing Bar, who was appointed in October 2021. The meeting, scheduled for 9:30 pm, aims to vote on terminating Bar’s duties before the end of his term.

This decision comes amid renewed Israeli air strikes and ground operations in Gaza, after a brief period of calm. On Wednesday, thousands of protesters gathered in Jerusalem, accusing Netanyahu of undermining democracy. Netanyahu’s letter to the government described a “persistent loss of professional and personal trust” between him and Bar, undermining the effectiveness of the Shin Bet and the governance of the state.

Bar’s relationship with Netanyahu soured following the October 7 Hamas attack, which exposed operational failures within Shin Bet. Bar had previously suggested he would resign due to the agency’s shortcomings in preventing the attack.

UN official bemoans 'endless' suffering in Gaza after renewed Israeli strikes

Philippe Lazzarini, head of the UN agency for Palestinian refugees (UNRWA), expressed deep concerns on Thursday, warning that "the worst is yet to come" for Gaza amid Israel’s renewed air and ground operations. Describing the ongoing bombardment as "endless," Lazzarini highlighted the severe suffering faced by civilians, especially as ground operations divide the territory between north and south.

The renewed Israeli assault began on Tuesday, with heavy air strikes resulting in at least 504 deaths, including over 190 children, according to Gaza’s civil defence agency. Further fatalities were reported on Thursday after a bombing near Khan Yunis. Lazzarini condemned the continued “inhumane ordeals” and the forced displacement of tens of thousands of people, calling it a "nightmare" for Gaza’s residents.

The Israeli army also imposed a ban on traffic along Gaza’s main north-south route and issued evacuation orders. Lazzarini criticised Israel’s blockade on humanitarian aid, which has been in place since early March, urging a return to a ceasefire, the dignified release of hostages, and unrestricted aid access.

Hamas fires at Tel Aviv in response to deadly Israel assault

Hamas claimed responsibility for firing rockets at Tel Aviv on Thursday, marking its first military response to Israel’s resumption of air and ground operations in Gaza. The Israeli army had resumed ground operations on Wednesday and closed Gaza’s main north-south route.

According to Gaza’s civil defence agency, over 500 Palestinians have been killed since the latest Israeli assault began, with more than 190 of the victims being children. The Ezzedine al-Qassam Brigades, Hamas's armed wing, stated that the rocket attacks were in retaliation for Israel's "massacres" of civilians.

The Israeli military intercepted one of the rockets and reported that two others fell in uninhabited areas. This escalation followed Israel’s resumption of its air campaign on Tuesday, ending a period of relative calm after a ceasefire took effect on January 19.

At the Indonesian Hospital in northern Gaza, grieving families mourned, calling for a ceasefire and an end to the violence. The Israeli army restricted movement along Salaheddin Road and increased its presence in key locations.

UNRWA head Philippe Lazzarini condemned the continued bombardment, describing the situation in Gaza as an ongoing "nightmare" for its people. Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei labelled Israel’s actions a "catastrophic crime" and criticised the US for its support of Israel. The war, which began with a Hamas attack on Israel in 2023, has resulted in over 48,570 Palestinian deaths, according to Gaza’s health ministry.

Hamas armed wing says fired rockets at Tel Aviv in response to Gaza civilian 'massacres'

Hamas's armed wing, the Al-Qassam Brigades, claimed responsibility for firing rockets at Tel Aviv on Thursday, citing "massacres against civilians" in Gaza as the reason. Israel's military intercepted one projectile, while two others fell in uninhabited areas. The attack targeted Israel's commercial hub in response to ongoing violence.

Israel army says three projectiles fired from Gaza, one intercepted

Israel's military announced that it intercepted a projectile fired from Gaza on Thursday, while two others fell in an uninhabited area after air raid sirens sounded in Tel Aviv and central Israel. The air force successfully intercepted one projectile, with the other two landing in open spaces.

Israeli strikes across Gaza hit multiple homes, killing at least 85 Palestinians

Israeli airstrikes on Gaza overnight killed at least 85 Palestinians, including men, women, and children, as they slept. The Israeli military later restored a blockade on northern Gaza, including Gaza City, and launched further ground operations in the region. Strikes also hit Beit Lahiya, killing dozens. The Israeli forces resumed heavy bombardment across Gaza after a ceasefire broke down, blaming Hamas for rejecting a new proposal. The ongoing war, which began with the October 2023 Hamas-led attacks on Israel, has claimed nearly 49,000 Palestinian lives. Despite the temporary ceasefire, many Palestinians have returned to destroyed homes, facing ongoing devastation.

Israel-Gaza War Live Updates: UN official deplores endless 'inhumane ordeals' in Gaza

The head of the UN agency for Palestinian refugees (UNRWA), Philippe Lazzarini, condemned the ongoing Israeli bombardment of Gaza, calling it "an endless unleashing of the most inhumane ordeals." Israeli airstrikes and ground operations continued for the third day, killing at least 58 Palestinians. The Israeli military also reinstated a blockade on northern Gaza, restricting movement and access.

Israel-Gaza War Live Updates: IDF warns Palestinians to avoid Salah a-Din road amid Gaza offensive

The Israeli military has urged Palestinians to stay off the Salah a-Din road, a key route in Gaza, as troops advance in the Netzarim Corridor. IDF Arabic-language spokesman Col. Avichay Adraee stated that forces are now positioned in the corridor’s center and warned against traveling between northern and southern Gaza via this road.

Instead, movement is only permitted along the coastal al-Rashid road. The warning comes as Israel expands its buffer zone near Khan Younis in the south and Beit Lahiya in the north.

Israel-Gaza War Live Updates: Hamas says mediation efforts ongoing, no breakthrough yet

A Hamas official told Reuters that mediators have intensified efforts to halt renewed fighting in Gaza, but no significant progress has been made, reported the news agency Reuters.

Despite diplomatic attempts, Israeli airstrikes continue to target areas across the Strip, according to local media reports. The situation remains tense as both sides show no signs of backing down, while humanitarian concerns grow amid the ongoing conflict.

Israel-Gaza War Live Updates: Israel investigates UN worker’s death in Gaza strike

Israel has launched an investigation into the death of a United Nations worker in Gaza, after denying any involvement in the blast that hit a UN building in Deir el-Balah.

The UN Office for Project Services (UNOPS) confirmed the fatality, stating that five others were injured. UNOPS chief Jorge Moreira da Silva called the incident a violation of international law. Israel’s foreign ministry expressed sorrow over the Bulgarian citizen’s death but insisted initial examinations showed no link to its military actions.

The UN says at least 280 of its staff have been killed in Gaza since the war began.

Israel-Gaza War Live Updates: 71 killed in Israeli strikes overnight, claims Gaza media

Gaza’s Quds News agency has reported that 71 people were killed in Israeli airstrikes overnight, bringing the death toll to over 540 since Israel resumed military operations on Tuesday.

The strikes reportedly targeted Khan Younis, Rafah, and other areas. The figures, however, remain unverified, with Israel stating that it only targets militants and blaming Hamas for civilian casualties, alleging they use human shields.

Israel-Gaza War Live Updates: Israel expands military presence in Southern Gaza

The Israeli military has increased troop deployment in southern Gaza, signalling an expansion of its ground operations. Military officials say the goal is to weaken Hamas’ hold in the region. This move follows intensified airstrikes, raising fears that fighting could soon spread further south, where thousands of displaced Palestinians have sought refuge.

Israel-Gaza War Live Updates: Israel pushes for total Hamas defeat

Israel insists its renewed offensive is aimed at eliminating Hamas' control over Gaza. Defence officials claim military operations will intensify until Hamas is forced to surrender.

However, Palestinian health authorities report that the civilian death toll continues to rise, with women and children making up a significant portion of casualties.

Israel-Gaza War Live Updates: Hamas accuses Israel of violating ceasefire agreement

Hamas claims Israel’s latest offensive proves it has abandoned previous ceasefire commitments. Spokesman Abdel-Latif al-Qanou said the military’s actions show Israel is not interested in a long-term truce. The collapse of the ceasefire comes after weeks of stalled negotiations and mutual distrust between the warring sides.

Israel-Gaza War Live Updates: Houthis claim responsibility for missile attack on Israel

Yemen’s Iran-backed Houthi rebels have claimed responsibility for the overnight ballistic missile fired at Israel, stating that their “Palestine-2” projectile was aimed at Ben Gurion Airport.

The Israeli military earlier reported intercepting the missile before it entered Israeli airspace, triggering sirens across central Israel and Jerusalem.

Israel Gaza War Live Updates: Israeli strikes kill 10, injure dozens in Gaza, say rescuers

Rescue teams in Gaza report that at least 10 people have been killed and dozens wounded in Israeli airstrikes, according to the news agency AFP.

"At least 10 civilians were killed and dozens more injured in Israeli air strikes that targeted six homes east of Khan Yunis, in the southern Gaza Strip," the agency's spokesman Mahmud Bassal said.

The latest wave of attacks comes amid escalating violence following the collapse of a ceasefire. Medical teams are struggling to reach the injured due to widespread destruction and limited resources.

Israel Gaza War Live Updates: Israeli Air Force intercepts missile from Yemen

The Israeli military confirmed that a missile launched from Yemen was successfully intercepted before entering Israeli airspace. The sirens across central Israel and Jerusalem were triggered as a precaution against potential falling debris.

While no direct injuries were reported, emergency services treated several people for anxiety and minor injuries sustained while rushing to shelters. There has been no immediate claim of responsibility, but the attack follows threats from Yemen’s Iran-backed Houthi rebels, who recently vowed to resume strikes against Israel in support of Hamas.

Israel Gaza war Live Updates: Missile from Yemen triggers sirens across central Israel

Air raid sirens sounded across central Israel and the Jerusalem area after the military detected a missile launch from Yemen, according to the news agency Reuters. The projectile's trajectory and potential impact remain unclear, but the alarm signals a widening regional conflict. Israel has previously intercepted missiles and drones from Yemen’s Houthi rebels, who have declared their support for Hamas in the ongoing war.

Authorities have not yet reported any damage or casualties.

Israel-Gaza war: Death toll rises amid renewed fighting

Since Israel resumed large-scale strikes on Monday night, at least 470 people have been killed, Gaza’s civil defense agency reported. The overall death toll in Gaza since October 7 now exceeds 48,570, according to the Hamas-run health ministry.

As tensions escalate, German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock warned that Israel’s strikes were “shattering hopes” for peace, while European Union foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas called the attacks “unacceptable.”

Israel-Gaza war: Protests in Israel demand hostage priority

Thousands of Israeli demonstrators gathered in Jerusalem, urging Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to prioritize hostage recovery over military operations.

“We want him to know that the most important issue is to get the hostages back,” said 67-year-old protester Nehama Krysler.

UN worker killed, international outrage grows

A UN employee was killed, and at least five others were wounded when a UN building in Deir el-Balah was hit. While Gaza’s health ministry blamed Israel, the Israeli military denied striking the compound.

UN Secretary-General António Guterres called for a full investigation. Israel’s foreign ministry expressed “sorrow over the death” and stressed “there was no connection to IDF activity whatsoever.”

British Foreign Secretary David Lammy condemned the attack, writing on X: “This must be investigated transparently, and those responsible held to account.”

Ceasefire talks stall as Hamas rejects Israeli demands

Despite the intensifying conflict, Hamas indicated a willingness to resume ceasefire negotiations. However, the group rejected Israel’s push to renegotiate the three-stage deal brokered by Egypt, Qatar, and the U.S.

Hamas official Taher al-Nunu told AFP: “Hamas has not closed the door on negotiations, but we insist there is no need for new agreements.”

Israel and the U.S. have sought to extend the first phase of the ceasefire, delaying the second phase, which includes an Israeli withdrawal and the release of Palestinian prisoners in exchange for the remaining hostages. Political analyst Ghassan Khatib suggested that Israel “doesn’t like the second phase because it involves ending the war without necessarily achieving their objective of ending Hamas.”

Israel-Gaza war: Israel’s ultimatum on hostages

Katz urged Gaza’s residents to heed US warnings and distance themselves from Hamas. He referenced a statement by former U.S. President Donald Trump, who had warned: “A beautiful future awaits, but not if you hold hostages. If you do, you are DEAD!”

Of the 251 hostages seized during Hamas’s October 7 attack, 58 remain in captivity, including 34 whom the Israeli military believes to be dead.

Israel-Gaza war: Deadliest airstrikes since truce

Israeli forces carried out their most intense wave of airstrikes since the January ceasefire, killing hundreds, according to Gaza’s health ministry. The Israeli military stated that its operations aimed to “expand the security perimeter and create a partial buffer” between northern and southern Gaza.

As the bombardment intensified, thousands of Palestinian civilians fled. Long lines of displaced families, many with young children, moved south, fearing for their lives after Israel designated parts of Gaza as “combat zones.”

Fred Oola, senior medical officer at the Red Cross hospital in Rafah, described the humanitarian crisis: “Now, we can feel the panic in the air... and we can see the pain and devastation in the faces of those we are helping.”

Israel resumes ground operations in Gaza, issues ‘last warning’ amid renewed strikes

Israel launched fresh ground operations in Gaza on Wednesday, escalating military action while warning Palestinian residents to return hostages and remove Hamas from power. Defense Minister Israel Katz declared, “This is the last warning.”