Israel-Hamas War News Live Updates: Israel to step up Gaza strikes, says military spokesman

"We have to enter the next phase of the war in the best conditions, not according to what anyone tells us. From today, we are increasing the strikes and minimising the danger," spokesman Admiral Daniel Hagari told a press conference.

Israel to step up Gaza air strikes: military spokesman

Blinken reiterated importance of respecting interests of the Lebanese people, who would be affected by Lebanon being drawn into the conflict instigated by Hamas: US State dept spokesman

US secretary of state Antony Blinken spoke to Lebanon's caretaker PM and noted growing concern over rising tensions along Lebanon's southern border with Israel

A senior Hezbollah official warned that the movement stood ready to step up its involvement as Israel masses troops on the Gaza border, vowing to destroy Palestinian militant group Hamas in response to its shock cross-border attacks on October 7.

Casualties on Israel-Lebanon border as army trades fire with Hezbollah

Israel has carried out at least 250 attacks on medical staff and health facilities in Gaza and the West Bank since October 7: Palestine health ministry

The United States on Saturday welcomed the arrival of aid trucks from Egypt in the war-torn Gaza Strip, and urged all parties to keep the Rafah crossing open.

Hamas says it won't discuss fate of Israeli army captives until end of 'aggression' on Gaza

Israel defence minister Yoav Gallant said the main objective of the expected invasion of the Gaza Strip will be the destruction of the Hamas government and terror group.

Following the elimination of Hamas, Galant said there would be a new "security reality" in the Gaza Strip.

Thousands of pro-Palestinian demonstrators marched in London and other cities on Saturday to demand Israel stop its bombardment of Gaza, as the Israel-Hamas war entered its third week and its ripples spread around the globe.

IDF says an anti-tank missile was fired from Lebanon towards the border area of Margaliot.

Indian-origin doctor in Bahrain fired from hospital over anti-Palestine tweets

The West is increasingly using the influence of the small but gas-rich Gulf Arab state, a key global investor, in such situations, with the role of Qatar also crucial to the release last month of five Americans held by Iran.

French President Emmanuel Macron on Friday lauded the key role played by Qatar in the release by Hamas of two American hostages held since its attack against Israel on October 7, adding he was confident of further releases.

Boasting good relations with both Western governments and Hamas, the emirate of Qatar has emerged as the key power in efforts to release the hostages seized by the Palestinian militant group from Israel even as other states show readiness to help.

Gaza death toll rises to 4,385, 13,651 injured: Palestinian health ministry

The death toll in Gaza rose to 4,385 dead with 13,651 injured since the conflict between Hamas and Israel escalated on Oct. 7, the Palestinian health ministry said. The dead include 1,756 children and 976 women, the health ministry added.

UN Secretary-General António Guterres called for protection of civilians and the sparing of civilian infrastructure, including hospitals, schools, and UN premises, from the bombardment.

Speaking at a summit Egypt is hosting on the Israel-Gaza war, Guterres pointed to the 'the wider context' of war, saying that the two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict is 'the only realistic foundation for a true peace and stability.'

Hamas media: 13 killed in airstrike over a residential unit in Gaza’s Deir el Balah

At least 13 Palestinians were killed on Saturday from an airstrike in Gaza's Deir El Balah neighborood, Hamas' Al Shehab news agency reported. The incident happened over a single residential unit, Al Shehab said.

Trucks carrying humanitarian aid enter Gaza as Rafah crossing opens for first time.

Arab leaders denounce Israel attacks on Gaza as risks to region rise

Arab leaders condemned Israel's two-week-old bombardment of Gaza on Saturday and demanded renewed efforts to reach a Middle East peace settlement to end a decades-long cycle of violence between Israelis and Palestinians. Speaking at a hastily convened gathering dubbed the Cairo Peace Summit, Jordan's King Abdullah denounced what he termed global silence about Israel's attacks on the enclave and urged an even-handed approach to the Israeli-Palestinian dispute. (Reuters)

French foreign ministry commends opening of the Rafah border crossing, calls for a humanitarian truce

UN chief calls for 'action to end godawful nightmare' in Gaza

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas says 'We won't leave, we will remain on our land'

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas said "we won't leave, we will remain on our land" during his opening speech at the Cairo Peace Summit on Saturday.The summit is being held in Egypt as Israel prepares a ground assault on Gaza following Hamas' attack that killed 1,400 people. More than 4,100 Palestinians have been killed in Israel's counteroffensive, according to Gaza's Health Ministry, amid a growing humanitarian crisis. (Reuters)

At least 307 soldiers killed since October 7: Israeli military

Aid entering Gaza will go to southern areas, doesn't include fuel: Israel

The Israeli military said on Saturday that humanitarian aid entering the Gaza Strip would go only to southern areas of the enclave, where it has urged Palestinian civilians to congregate to avoid its fighting with Hamas. In a televised briefing, chief spokesperson Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari said the aid shipments would not include fuel. He gave 210 as the updated number of hostages held by Hamas since its Oct. 7 attack on Israel, and said around a fifth of Palestinian rockets launched since Friday had fallen short within Gaza due to misfires, causing fatalities. (Reuters)

Jordan's King Abdullah says forced displacement or internal displacement of Palestinians would be 'war crime'

Working with the Egyptian and Palestine Red Crescent Societies to ensure the safe passage of these critical supplies: WHO

"Avoid travel to Muslim countries...," Israel issues advisory for citizens

Israel on Saturday updated its travel advisory for its citizens to not travel to Muslim countries, security concerns amidst the Israel-Hamas war. "Avoid travel to Muslim countries for which travel alerts have been issued, including Malaysia, Bangladesh and Indonesia, as well as Muslim countries with no travel alert, such as the Maldives," a statement from Israel's Prime Minister's Office read.

First aid trucks enter besieged Gaza from Egypt: Report

13 Killed in Airstrike Over a Residential Unit in Gaza’s Deir El Balah: Hamas Media

At least 13 Palestinians were killed on Saturday from an airstrike in Gaza's Deir El Balah neighborood, Hamas' Al Shehab news agency reported. (Reuters)

Hamas media office: Expected aid 'will not change the catastrophic medical conditions in Gaza'

Hamas' media office issued a statement on Saturday saying that expected truckloads of aid 'will not change the catastrophic medical conditions in Gaza'. (Reuters)

Humanitarian aid starts entering Gaza from Egypt

Trucks carrying humanitarian aid from Egypt into war-torn and besieged Gaza started passing through the Rafah border crossing Saturday, a security source and an Egyptian Red Crescent official told AFP. Egyptian state television showed several trucks entering the gate on the 15th day of the war between Israel and Hamas, the militant movement which rules the Palestinian enclave of 2.4 million people.

Israel kept up heavy bombardment of targets throughout Gaza overnight on Saturday after Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu vowed to "fight until victory" following the release of the first two hostages by the enclave's ruling Hamas group. After Netanyahu signalled no pause in Israel's aerial onslaught and expected ground invasion, its military said fighter jets had struck a "large number of Hamas terror targets throughout the Gaza Strip" including command centres and combat positions inside multi-story buildings. Palestinian media said Israeli aircraft had struck six homes in the north of Gaza, a coastal enclave that is one of the world's most densely populated places, killing at least 19 people and injuring dozens.

US issues 'security alert' for citizens in Gaza ahead of Rafah border crossing opening

The United States Embassy in Jerusalem has issued a 'security alert' for its citizens ahead of the opening of the Rafah border crossing between Gaza and Egypt.The US Embassy has warned of a "potentially chaotic and disorderly environment" and asked its citizens to respond to the message with their current location. "We have received information that the Rafah border crossing between Gaza and Egypt will open on Saturday, 21 October at 10:00 AM local time," the Embassy stated. (ANI)

US, UK pushing Israel to delay 'ground offensive' in Gaza: Report

As hundreds of tanks and armed soldiers gather near the Gaza border, waiting for a nod from the political regime and the military top brass to begin a 'ground offensive', the US and Europe are quietly pushing Israel to hold off the mission, The Times of Israel reported on Saturday.

20 aid trucks that are supposed to enter today will include medicine, medical equipment and limited amount of food: Head of Hamas media office

UN agency says 17 staff killed since start of 'vicious' Gaza war

The United Nations agency for Palestinian refugees said Saturday at least 17 of its staff had been killed in the Gaza war, warning that the death toll would likely rise. "To date, 17 of our colleagues have been confirmed killed in this vicious war. Very sadly, the actual numbers are likely to be higher," UNRWA said in a statement. (AFP)

The Indian Embassy officials on Saturday met a few community representatives in Israel and assured them of all possible assistance amid the ongoing war with Hamas.

Israel calls on citizens to immediately leave Egypt, Jordan: statement

Israel calls on its citizens to immediately leave Egypt and Jordan, the national security council said Saturday as regional tensions flared over the war in Gaza."Israel's National Security Council raises its travel warnings for Egypt (including Sinai) and Jordan to level 4 (high threat): recommendation not to travel to these countries and for those staying there to leave... as soon as possible," the council said in a statement. (AFP)

US: Rafah crossing may open for foreigners to depart Gaza on Saturday

The US Embassy in Israel said the Gaza-Egypt border may open on Saturday, suggesting that such a move would enable foreigners to leave the besieged Palestinian enclave. In a social media post, the embassy said it had "received info" that the Rafah crossing would open at 10 a.m. (0700GMT). "We do not know how long it will remain open for foreign citizens to depart Gaza," it added. (Reuters)

Judith and Natalie Raanan, the mother-daughter duo from Chicago, were visiting family in Israel near the Gaza border when they were caught up in the conflict. The reason for the release of Judith and Natalie Raanan, as per a message on a Hamas-affiliated Telegram channel, was for "humanitarian reasons." US President Biden personally spoke with the two former hostages, assuring them of the government's full support.

Israel-Hamas war puts pressure on CEOs and companies to speak up

CEOs of major global companies are facing increasing pressure to issue statements regarding the Israel-Hamas conflict. Adena Friedman, CEO of Nasdaq Inc, denounced the violence and loss of innocent lives in a recent earnings call. Crisis communications experts are being sought out by CEOs to help calibrate their messages. Some employees have criticized their corporate leaders for not speaking up quickly enough, while others have expressed disappointment with the content of the statements.

Thousands in Australia join pro-Palestinian march over Gaza

Thousands took part in a pro-Palestinian march in Australia's biggest city, Sydney, on Saturday, getting last-minute approval amid concerns after some protesters at an earlier rally had chanted anti-Jewish slogans. In Sydney, Australia's biggest city, around 15,000 people attended Saturday's march, organiser Palestine Action Group said, with demonstrators chanting "Palestine will never die" and waving Palestine flags. Police, including officers on horseback, patrolled the event that closed city streets, and a police helicopter circled overhead. (Reuters)

Canadian Justin Trudeau booed in Canada mosque over Israel-Hamas war

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau was booed during his visit to a mosque in Toronto over his response to the Israel-Hamas war, The Toronto Sun reported.

Father of American teenage hostage freed by Hamas says she is 'doing very good'

The father of freed American teen hostage Natalie Raanan said Friday she’s doing well following two weeks in captivity after she and her mother were abducted in Israel by Hamas and held in Gaza. Uri Raanan of Illinois told The Associated Press that he spoke to his daughter Friday by telephone. “She’s doing good. She’s doing very good,” said Uri Raanan, who lives in the Chicago suburbs. “I’m in tears, and I feel very, very good.” The 71-year-old said he saw on the news earlier Friday that an American mother and daughter would be released by Hamas, and he spent the day hoping that meant his daughter and her mother, Judith Raanan. Knowing Natalie may be able to celebrate her 18th birthday next week at home with family and friends feels “wonderful. The best news,” her father said. (AP)

'Sliver of hope' as Hamas releases hostages, but Gaza aid stalled

Hamas released two American hostages held in Gaza on Friday, offering a "sliver of hope" to desperate families, as Israel pounded the densely-populated territory where millions are still awaiting promised aid deliveries. The Islamist group took more than 200 people hostage when it stormed into Israel from the Gaza Strip on October 7, and killed at least 1,400 people, mostly civilians who were shot, mutilated or burnt to death on the first day of the raid, according to Israeli officials. The fate of the hostages has been shrouded in uncertainty, so the release of mother and daughter Judith Tai Raanan and Natalie Shoshana Raanan offered a rare "sliver of hope", said Mirjana Spoljaric, president of the International Committee of the Red Cross. (AFP)