Israel-Hamas war – live: Egypt to open Rafah border crossing for wonded as IDF defends Jabalia strike

Egypt is set to open the Rafah border crossing for a number of Palestinians who were injured in Gaza. The country will take 81 seriously wounded people from the besieged

Strip and treat them in Egyptian hospitals, reported the New York Times citing Gaza’s General Authority for Crossings and Borders.

The Israeli military admitted to launching a wide-scale airstrike on the densely inhabited Jabalia refugee camp where potentially “dozens” of civilians have been killed in the blast.

The Israel Defence Forces said it had targeted Hamas infrastructure in the area “that had taken over civilian buildings” and that tunnels under the buildings had collapsed in the strike.

During a briefing attended by The Independent, Israeli officials defended the attack as proportionate, saying the operation led to the killing of Ibrahim Biari, the commander of Hamas’ Central Jabaliya Battalion.

The “military objective was of high importance,” lieutenant colonel Jonathan Conricus, an IDF spokeperson, said at the briefing.

“Multiple Hamas operatives were killed,” he added.

Meanwhile, at least nine Israeli soldiers died in Gaza fighting, said IDF without immediately providing more details.

Key Points

• Egypt to open Rafah crossing for injured Gazans

• Israeli military admits striking Jabalia as ‘dozens’ killed in refugee camp blast

• Israeli military defends ‘high importance’ strike on Jabalia refugee camp

• Hamas to release some foreign captives in coming days, says spokesperson

• Strikes on refugee camp kill 50 and injure 150, according to reports

• ‘Nine soldiers killed in Gaza fighting’

Breaking: Qatar brokers deal between Egypt, Hamas and Israel for limited Gaza evacuations, say sources

07:02 , Namita Singh

Qatar has mediated an agreement between Egypt, Israel and Hamas, in coordination with the US, to allow for the movement of foreign passport holders and some critically injured people out of besieged Gaza, a source briefed on deal told Reuters today.

Report:

Qatar brokers deal between Egypt, Hamas, and Israel for limited Gaza evacuations

First injured Gazans arrive in Egyptian hospitals

12:15 , Barney Davis

The first injured Gazans were evacuated to Egypt through the Rafah crossing on Wednesday under a deal brokered by Qatar and were being examined by medical teams who were directing them to hospitals, an Egyptian medical source said.

Egypt has prepared a field hospital in Sheikh Zuweid, 15 km (9 miles) from Rafah, and also plans to direct some patients to a permanent hospital there, to one in the nearby town of Al-Arish or further afield in the city of Ismailia, depending on the seriousness of their condition.

Nahed Abu Taeema, director of the Nasser Hospital in the Gaza Strip, told Reuters 19 critically injured patients from his hospital would be among the 81 being evacuated to Egypt.

“Those require advanced surgeries that can’t be done here because of the lack of capabilities, especially women and children,” said Abu Taeema.

Injured people from Gaza cross Rafah border to seek medical aid in Egypt

12:02 , Barney Davis

Latest images emerging from the Rafah border crossing as injured people are allowed to enter Egypt.

The Rafah crossing is a critical passage, the sole point between Egypt and the Gaza strip, through which only a “handful of convoys” have been allowed to enter the besieged area with humanitarian aid, food and water.

Communication blackout impacting reports of second missile strike on refugee camp

11:46 , Barney Davis

Gaza was plunged into another communications blackout Wednesday, with internet and phone service cut for several hours as Israeli troops battled Hamas militants. Communications began to be restored after Gaza’s second such blackout in recent days, but aid agencies warned that the disruptions severely hamper their work in an already dire situation.

It came as new strikes hit apartment blocks in the Jabaliya camp for a second day in a row Wednesday, according to the Hamas-run government, which said many were killed or wounded, though the toll was not immediately known.

Al Jazeera television, which is still reporting from northern Gaza, aired footage of the devastation and of several wounded people, including children, being brought to a nearby hospital.

Viewers squirm as Elon Musk makes cringe Hamas Hummus joke

11:29 , Barney Davis

Elon Musk joined Joe Rogan for the fourth time on his podcast on Tuesday, talking all things X and monologing about a “zombie apocalypse.”

But when the conversation turned to the Israel-Hamas war, Mr Musk made an awkward joke that appeared to even make the controversial podcast host uncomfortable.

The pair were dressed up in Halloween costumes and smoking for the special episode. Mr Rogan donned a blond wig and a baseball jersey, while the business mogul wore a silk scarf and a jacket, describing himself as “half-dressed as the wizard of Australia”.

Amelia Neath reports:

Elon Musk stuns Joe Rogan with ‘hummus’ joke about Israel-Hamas war

Reports emerging of second air strike at Jabalia refugee camp

11:26 , Barney Davis

Al Jazeera are claiming a second Israeli airstrike on Jabalia the largest of the Gaza Strip’s eight refugee camps.

With telecommunications still knocked out in the region it is difficult for journalists to confirm the reports.

But the networks Wael Dahdouh reported a fatal blast at densely populated residential blocks on Wednesday.

He reported hundreds of people are feared to be trapped and buried under the rubble after Israeli fighter jets had earlier dropped leaflets urging civilians to leave the area.

Al Jazeera’s Safwat Kahlout, who is in Khan Younis in the south of Gaza, said: We are trying to contact sources and our relatives in Jabalia but because of the communications blackout we cannot get more information at this time.”

The attack on Jabalia refugee camp comes less than 24 hours after dozens of people were killed and wounded there in an Israeli air strike.

AFP witnessed at least 47 bodies being recovered from the scene yesterday.

Israel Foreign Ministry celebrates ‘hero’ female soldiers who captured and killed ‘terrorists’

11:00 , Barney Davis

Israel has released a video celebrating their female soldiers’ exploits in the war with Hamas

One Lieutenant Colonel named simply O’ was hailed for capturing 15 terrorists as others fought in tanks and police stations.

A montage released by the Israel Foreign Ministry on Wednesday shows women who fought in pyjamas, protected Israeli kibbutz from attacks and carried children to safety.

Campaigners project ‘Ceasefire Now’ onto Houses of Parliament last night

10:53 , Barney Davis

Campaigners beamed a message demanding a ceasefire in Gaza on to the side of the Houses of Parliament last night.

The message urged politicians to “Stop the war on children” in a powerful display.

It came as Palestinian music and chants including “ceasefire now” could be heard from as hundreds staged a sit-in protest at Liverpool Street station.

Transport Secretary Mark Harper said the protest would have “been of concern to many people”.

“I’ve been in contact with @BTP and will be meeting officers later this week. Everyone should feel safe when using our rail network,” he wrote on X, formerly Twitter.

Hundreds fleeing Gaza gather at border as Egypt opens Rafah crossing for first time since 7 October

10:45 , Barney Davis

Images and videos at the border showed crowds of people carrying their belongings and cars moving through the gates towards the Egyptian side, with ambulances carrying wounded Palestinians.

Until now no one has been allowed to leave Gaza through the Rafah crossing, except for four hostages released by Hamas militants since the Israel-Hamas conflict began on 7 October.

Arpan Rai reports:

Hundreds fleeing Gaza gather at border as Egypt opens Rafah crossing

More details released of Egyptian makeshift hospitals set up to welcome Gaza evacuees

10:38 , Barney Davis

Medical sources in Egypt’s Sinai region, which borders Gaza, said a field hospital of four tents, each containing 20 beds, and 12 medical caravans had been set up in Sheikh Zuweid, 15km (9 miles) from Rafah.

Hospitals in Sheikh Zuweid and Al-Arish, a town a little further away, were also preparing to admit Gazan patients, with more difficult cases expected to be sent further out to Ismailia, the sources said.

A source at the border said 40 ambulances were at the crossing to take part in the evacuation operations.

In addition, 70 aid trucks were in the Rafah area, going through the process of checks required before they can go into Gaza, under an existing agreement with Israel.

Deputy PM rejects ceasefire calls

10:19 , Barney Davis

Deputy prime minister Oliver Dowden has said Israel is fighting “a just war” in Gaza as he rejected calls for a ceasefire in the conflict.

The cabinet minister said the country was justified in trying to “eliminate” the terror group Hamas after it launched a devastating attack which killed 1,400 Israelis.

Mr Dowden said Israel’s air strikes on the Jabalia refugee camp – which Israel said had targeted a Hamas commander – are part of the “terrible nature” of the conflict.

Adam Forrest reports:

Oliver Dowden says Israel fighting ‘a just war’ and rejects ceasefire calls

Horror footage shows paramedics dodging bombs in Gaza

10:17 , Barney Davis

Terrifying footage depicts the dangers humanitarian workers face as they risk their lives to save people in the Gaza strip.

This video, released as part of the #notatarget campaign shows a glimpse of the terror that paramedics have been experiencing for over three weeks due to the continuous aggression on Gaza.

Since Oct 7, the bombing of the Gaza Strip has resulted in 73 healthcare workers being killed, with 57 healthcare facilities attacked.

Of these healthcare workers, 16 were killed while on duty.

Britons likely to leave Gaza 'in stages', says UK foreign ministry

10:07 , Barney Davis

British nationals will be evacuated from besieged Gaza in stages over the coming days, the foreign office has said.

“We understand the (Rafah) crossing will be open for controlled and time-limited periods to allow specific groups of foreign nationals and the seriously wounded to leave,” Britain’s foreign office said in a post on X.

“It is therefore likely the departure of British nationals from Gaza will take place in stages over the coming days.”

Victims of Hamas - Israel conflict allowed to cross into Egypt

09:59 , Barney Davis

The first group of injured evacuees from the Gaza strip entered Egypt on Wednesday via ambulances through the Rafah crossing, Reuters is reporting.

Egypt has agreed to bring in 81 of the most badly wounded to its soil on Wednesday, the border authority in Gaza said.

The death toll of Palestinians in the continuing Israel’s war on the region has reached 8,525, the Hamas-run health ministry in Gaza said.

More than 122 Palestinians have also been killed in the occupied West Bank in violence and Israeli raids, officials said.

Hamas claims 7 hostages killed in Jabalia refugee camp after Israeli strike

09:24 , Barney Davis

Hamas fighters the al-Qassam Brigades are claiming that seven civilian hostages were killed in Israeli strikes on Jabalia refugee camp, including three foreign passport holders, Reuters reports.

Hamas, an armed Islamist group that governs Gaza, has so far released four civilians among the 239 believed to be held.

The group said at least 50 people were killed and 400 wounded in the attack.

Iran’s Supreme Leader calls for Muslim countries to boycott Israel

09:20 , Barney Davis

Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei called on Muslim states to cease oil and food exports to Israel in order to stop the bombardment of Gaza during a speech on Wednesday, according to Iranian state media.

“The bombings on Gaza must stop immediately ... the path of oil and food exports to the Zionist regime should be stopped,” Khamenei said in a speech, according to Iranian state media.

Israel has vowed to wipe out Tehran-backed Hamas, which rules Gaza, in retaliation for an Oct. 7 attack that killed 1,400 people and saw hundreds taken hostage.

Shadow foreign secretary David Lammy says he hopes 200 British people can get out of Gaza today

09:16 , Barney Davis

David Lammy has spoken of Labour’s position on the Gaza crisis saying the party are still pushing for a pause in the bombing to allow people to leave.

He told BBC Breakfast he hopes that 200 UK nationals still in Gaza can get across the Rafah border crossing today.

Lammy said the UK was at the heart of negotiations and wants elderly, women and children particularly can get to safety to get the healthcare they need.

Netanyahu says Israel will press ahead to victory in a ‘tough and long war’

08:55 , Barney Davis

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Wednesday that Israel’s war in Gaza would be long but victorious, in a statement in which he also mourned mounting military losses.

“We are in a difficult war. This will be a long war. We have so many important achievements but also painful losses. We know that every soldier of ours is an entire world. The entire people of Israel embrace you, the families, from the depth of our heart.

“We are all with you during your heavy sorrow. Our soldiers have fallen in the most just of wars, the war for our home. I promise the citizens of Israel: We will complete the work – we will continue until victory.”

It came after Israeli airstrikes hit a densely populated refugee camp in the Gaza Strip on Tuesday, killing at least 50 Palestinians and a Hamas commander.

Hamas spokesperson Hazem Qassem denied any senior commander was there and called the claim an Israeli pretext for killing civilians.

Live: View of Gaza's Rafah crossing as injured expected to enter Egypt

08:50 , Barney Davis

This is a live stream of the Rafah crossing after after the Palestinian border authority said injured Gazans are to enter Egypt.

Live: View of Gaza's Rafah crossing as injured expected to enter Egypt

Palestinians who were injured in Gaza will complete their treatment in Egyptian hospitals, with the country taking in 81 seriously wounded people, according to reports.

The Israeli military has admitted to launching a wide-scale airstrike on the densely inhabited Jabalia refugee camp, where potentially “dozens” of civilians have been killed.

Around 500 foreign passport holders should cross into Egypt today after deal struck

08:45 , Barney Davis

Up to 500 foreign passport holders will pass the Rafah border crossing from Gaza to Egypt on Wednesday, an Egyptian security source said, after a deal was reached to open the crossing.

About 200 people were waiting at the Palestinian side of the border on Wednesday morning, the source told Reuters.

A second source with knowledge of the deal and evacuations said there was a list of up to 500 who would leave the Gaza strip but that not all were expected to make it out on Wednesday

First ambulances being allowed through Rafah crossing

08:43 , Barney Davis

We are now seeing the first images of a convoy of ambulances attempting to leave the Gaza Strip as the Rafah crossing opens for the first time since October 7.

But Al Jazeera are reporting from the scene that ambulances are still waiting and nobody has been allowed to leave Gaza just yet.

Aid trucks looking to carry life-saving supplies into Gaza are also waiting on the Egyptian side of the crossing.

First images of families and children in wheelchairs crossing from Gaza into Egypt

08:23 , Barney Davis

Dozens of foreign passport holders could be seen entering the Rafah crossing from Gaza to Egypt on Wednesday. It appeared to be the first time foreign passport holders have been allowed to leave the besieged territory since the start of the Israel-Hamas war more than three weeks ago.

An Associated Press journalist filming the crossing saw a stream of dozens of people move through the Gaza Strip side of the Rafah border crossing with Egypt. They dragged suitcases and carried backpacks.

A few cars drove through the gates as well, some with luggage pouring out of their open trunks. One group used a donkey pulling a cart with their possessions to enter the border crossing.

It wasn’t clear if they’d be immediately allowed through the Egyptian side of the crossing.

Other families waiting to cross flashed peace signs at cameras as they were briefly held in a waiting room.

Breaking: People start to walk Rafah crossing as it opens for first time since conflict started

08:07 , Barney Davis

The Rafah crossing has opened from Gaza to Egypt for the first time since the war began on October 7.

AFP images show long lines of ambulances and people in wheelchairs waiting at the Rafah border crossing.

Dozens of foreign passport holders could be seen entering the Rafah crossing from Gaza to Egypt on Wednesday. It appeared to be the first time foreign passport holders have been allowed to leave the besieged territory since the start of the Israel-Hamas war more than three weeks ago.

The video stream of the Rafah crossing between Gaza and Egypt shows people and cars beginning to move through on Wednesday morning.

Egypt has said it would let in 81 of the most seriously injured and announced foreigners could finally leave Gaza.

Deputy PM defends strike on refugee camp targeting Hamas commander

07:55 , Archie Mitchell

Israel’s air strikes on the Jabalia refugee camp, targeting a Hamas commander, are part of the “terrible nature” of the conflict in the Middle East, Oliver Dowden said.

Asked by Sky News whether Israel had broken international law with the strikes, the Deputy Prime Minister said: “This is the reality of the conflict with an organisation like Hamas.

“Hamas is a terrorist organisation that has murdered in cold blood over 1,000 innocent Israeli men, women and children, and now seeks to hide amongst the civilian population. This is a very difficult conflict.

“We continue to urge the Israeli government to abide by international law. I believe that the Israeli government is continuing to do so against an enemy that hides among civilians.

“It is the terrible nature of this appalling conflict.”

Foreign Secretary expects Rafah crossing to open today

07:50 , Barney Davis

British foreign secretary James Cleverly has said that the Rafah crossing is expected to open today for limited travel by foreign nationals.

Mr Cleverly said opening the crossing was vital to allow lifesaving humanitarian aid into Gaza as quickly as possible, Reuters is reporting.

It came after Qatar brokered an agreement between Egypt, Israel, and Hamas to facilitate movement of foreign passport holders and some severely injured people out of war-tornGaza, Reuters reported citing a source aware of the agreement.

The deal has been mediated in coordination with the US.

It is not immediately clear how long the vital Rafah border crossing will remain open for evacuation, the person aware of the agreement said.

Republicans’ Israel bill would strip money from IRS ability to crack down on tax cheats

07:31 , Namita Singh

House Republicans are proposing paying for an aid package to Israel by slashing money from the Internal Revenue Service from Democrats’ signature climate, taxation and health care law passed last year.

The proposal will come after Hamas engaged in a deadly attack on Israel on 7 October that left 1,400 people dead with another 230 taken hostage.

Congress hopes to pass an aid package to assist Israel. Republicans’ proposed aid package would provide $14.3m in assistance to Israel. But it would come at the expense of slashing money from the IRS that’s included in the Inflation Reduction Act, the climate and health care law that Democrats passed last Congress along party lines.

Report:

GOP Israel bill would strip money from IRS ability to crack down on tax cheats

IDF share pictures of missile boats arriving in the Red Sea

07:30 , Barney Davis

The Israeli Defence Forces has shared images proving it has deployed missile boats in the Red Sea.

The warships arrived the day after Israeli military said it intercepted a surface-to-surface missile and “hostile targets” in the Eilat region.

They shared footage of the boats on patrol after claims of an attack by Iran-backed Houthi rebels in Yemen, as fears rise the conflict could widen across the Middle East.

General Yahya Saree, a spokesperson for the Houthi forces, said that ballistic missiles and drones had been launched against targets in Israel in the third operation in support of the Palestinian people.

He added that there were plans for more strikes until the “Israeli aggression” ceased.

Israel calls Bolivia’s cut-off of ties ‘capitulation to terror’

07:12 , Namita Singh

Israel accused Bolivia on Wednesday of “capitulation to terrorism and to the ayatollah regime in Iran” after the South American nation cut ties in protest at civilian casualties from Israel’s war with Tehran-backed Palestinian militants in Gaza.

A statement by the foreign ministry in Jerusalem also sought to play down yesterday’s decision by Bolivia, saying “relations between the countries had been devoid of content anyway” since a government handover there.

Biden’s support among Arab Americans plummets over Gaza war

06:49 , Namita Singh

Muslim American leaders are threatening to mobilise their supporters to withhold votes and donations for president Joe Biden’s presidential campaign unless he pushes for a ceasefire in Gaza.

The National Muslim Democratic Council, a coalition of Muslim community leaders and activists within the Democratic Party, announced in an open letter that it would “withhold endorsement, support, or votes for any candidate who endorses the Israeli offensive against the Palestinian people.”

The letter criticised the Biden administration’s “unconditional support, encompassing funding and armaments” to Israel, which it argued has “played a significant role in perpetuating the violence that is causing civilian casualties and has eroded trust in voters who previously put their faith in you.”

Read the details here:

Biden’s support among Arab Americans plummets over Gaza war

How much money does the US give to Israel and is there more to come?

06:37 , Namita Singh

Following the attack by Hamas on 7 October, president Joe Biden sent extra military support to Israel, the largest recipient of US foreign aid.

He also sent an emergency budget request to Congress, requesting a national security package of more than $105bn in aid to Israel and Ukraine, as well as funding for the border and other issues. Newly elected Speaker Mike Johnson said he thinks a standalone aid bill – removing the commitment to Ukraine – could pass the House of Representatives sometime this week.

“We’re going to move a stand-alone Israel funding bill this week in the House — I know our colleagues, our Republican colleagues in the Senate, have a similar measure,” Mr Johnson told Fox News on Sunday.

Report:

How much money does the US give to Israel, and is there more to come?

Biden and Jordan’s King Abdullah discuss ‘shared commitment’ to increase Gaza aid

06:28 , Namita Singh

US president Joe Biden and Jordan’s King Abdullah II discussed their “shared commitment” to increase humanitarian aid for civilians in Gaza as Israel continues to pound the Strip.

The leaders spoke about the latest developments of the Israel-Hamas war and said it was critical to ensure that Palestinians were not forcibly displaced from Gaza, the White House said in a statement on Tuesday.

Mr Biden “reiterated the importance of protecting civilian lives and respecting international humanitarian law, as Israel defends its citizens and combats terrorism”, it said.

My colleague Alisha Rahaman Sarkar has more:

Biden and Jordan’s King Abdullah discuss ‘shared commitment’ to increase Gaza aid

Pakistan urges action after Israel’s attack on refugee camp

06:12 , Namita Singh

Pakistan’s interim prime minister Anwaar-ul-Haq Kakar today denounced the latest Israeli airstrikes on a refugee camp near Gaza City, urging the international community to play its role in ending such strikes.

“Yesterday’s air raid on Jabalia camp, where hundreds of lives were lost, including women and children, was a stark reminder of ongoing Israeli brutalities and war crimes in Gaza,” Mr Kakar said in a statement.

He said that “such reprehensible acts can never be condoned or forgotten. The world must act now to end this carnage.”

Three Arab states denounce Israel’s airstrikes on refugee camp

06:06 , Namita Singh

Three Arab states have strongly criticized Israel’s airstrikes on a refugee camp near Gaza City as its war on Hamas rages.

Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates each issued statements denouncing the strikes on the Jabaliya camp. The exact number of casualties was not immediately clear in the strikes, though one doctor said hundreds were killed and wounded.

Qatar, which as been mediating talks with Hamas over the more than 200 hostages it holds from its 7 October attack on Israel, described the strike as “a new massacre against the defenseless Palestinian people, especially women and children”.

The country warned that “the expansion of Israeli attacks in (the) Gaza Strip is a dangerous escalation in the course of confrontations, which would undermine mediation and de-escalation efforts.”

Gaza plunges into communication blackout

05:52 , Namita Singh

Communication has again been cut in Gaza, two providers said early today. Paltel and Jawwal reported a “complete disruption” of communications and internet services in Gaza, the second major cut in five days. Humanitarian aid agencies have warned that such blackouts severely disrupt their work in an already dire situation in Gaza.

A deluge of Israeli airstrikes yesterday on a refugee camp near Gaza City demolished apartment buildings, leaving gaping holes where they once stood, while ground troops battled Hamas militants across northern Gaza. Prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu has rejected calls for a cease-fire. Though more than half of Gaza’s 2.3 million Palestinians have fled their homes, several hundred thousand remain in the north, where Israeli troops and tanks have reportedly advanced on multiple sides of Gaza City.

The Palestinian death toll in the Israel-Hamas war has reached 8,525, according to the Hamas-run Health Ministry in Gaza. In the occupied West Bank, more than 122 Palestinians have been killed in violence and Israeli raids.

Hamas denies militant group's commander was at Jabalia refugee camp

05:32 , Namita Singh

Hamas spokesperson Hazem Qassem denied any senior commander was in the Jabalia camp at the time of an Israeli strike. Palestinian health officials said at least 50 Palestinians were killed and 150 wounded in the air attacks.

A Hamas statement said there were 400 dead and injured in Jabalia, which houses families of refugees from wars with Israel dating back to 1948. Reuters could not independently verify the reported casualty figures.

The blast left large craters surrounded by wrecked buildings. Israel repeatedly warned Gaza residents to evacuate northern areas and while many have gone south, many have stayed.

Israel besieged Gaza after the Hamas attack, and the UN and other aid officials said civilians in the enclave were living in a public health catastrophe, with hospitals struggling to treat casualties as electricity supplies petered out.

Israeli military jets strike Gaza camp, says Hamas commander killed

05:05 , Namita Singh

Israeli airstrikes hit a densely populated refugee camp in the Gaza Strip, killing at least 50 Palestinians and a Hamas commander, and medics struggled to treat the casualties in the enclave where food, fuel and basic supplies are running scarce.

Israeli tanks have been active in Gaza for at least four days following weeks of air bombardments in retaliation for an attack by Palestinian Hamas militants on southern Israeli towns on 7 October and the taking of more than 200 hostages.

An Israel Defense Forces (IDF) statement said the strike by fighter jets on Jabalia, Gaza’s largest refugee camp, had killed Ibrahim Biari, a Hamas commander it said was “pivotal” in the planning and execution of the attack.

Dozens of Hamas combatants were in the same underground tunnel complex as Biari and were also killed when it collapsed in the attack, IDF spokesperson Lieutenant Colonel Jonathan Conricus said, adding: “I understand that is also the reason why there are many reports of collateral damage and non-combatant casualties. We’re looking into those as well.”

Israel defends strike on Jabalia refugee camp thought to have killed dozens

Egypt to open Rafah crossing for injured Gazans

04:51 , Namita Singh

The Rafah border crossing will be opened today for a number of Palestinians who were injured in Gaza to complete their treatment in Egyptian hospitals, Egyptian medical and security sources as well as a Palestinian border official said on Tuesday.

The country will take 81 seriously wounded people from Gaza and treat them in Egyptian hospital, reported the New York Times citing Gaza’s General Authority for Crossings and Borders.

‘Hamas stranding 1,000 Americans and family members in Gaza’

04:37 , Namita Singh

Secretary of State Antony Blinken has offered some of the first in-depth remarks about the fate of hundreds of Americans stranded in Gaza by the Israel-Hamas war.

During testimony before the Senate Appropriations Committee in support of the White House’s request for $14bn in additional military aid to Israel, Mr Blinken said nearly 1,000 people with ties to the US, comprising American citizens and their family members, are still trapped in the bombarded Palestinian territory.

“We are working on every single day,” he testified on Tuesday, saying the State Department has sent 5500 communications including phone calls and WhatsApp messages to Americans stuck behind the siege line.

“I’m focused on this intensely,” he added. “My entire department is as well, both in the region and here, we are working with various parties to try to facilitate their departure from Gaza.”

Josh Marcus has more:

Hamas stranding 1,000 Americans and family members in Gaza: Blinken

Just in: ‘Nine soldiers killed in Gaza fighting’

04:36 , Namita Singh

Nine soldiers have been killed in Gaza fighting, Israeli mislitary has said in a statement today. There are more than 20,000 IDF troops in Gaza.

Protesters interrupt Blinken as he lays out US plan for Gaza after Hamas

04:18 , Namita Singh

Joe Biden’s top diplomat has laid out the White House’s vision for what Gaza should look like if Israel can accomplish its goal of destroying Hamas.

Secretary of State Antony Blinken was repeatedly interrupted by protesters calling for a ceasefire in Gaza as he told a US Senate hearing that the Palestinian Authority should retake control of the enclave from Hamas. The president has said that the militant group should be eliminated and that he supports a two-state solution in the region.

Mr Blinken and US defense secretary Lloyd Austin testified about the White House’s $106bn funding request for national security, including $14.3bn for Israel.

My colleague Graeme Massie has more:

Protesters interrupt Blinken as he lays out US plan for Gaza after Hamas

Amnesty International says Israeli forces wounded Lebanese civilians with white phosphorus

04:01 , Namita Singh

The human rights group Amnesty International yesterday said that civilians in southern Lebanon were injured this month when Israeli forces hit a border village with shells containing white phosphorus, a controversial incendiary munition.

The organization said it verified three other instances of Israel’s military dropping white phosphorus on Lebanese border areas in the past month, but Amnesty said it did not document any harm to civilians in those cases.

Human rights advocates say the use of white phosphorus is illegal under international law when the white-hot chemical substance is fired into populated areas. It can set buildings on fire and burn human flesh down to the bone. Survivors are at risk of infections and organ or respiratory failure, even if their burns are small.

Read the details here:

Amnesty International says Israeli forces wounded Lebanese civilians with white phosphorus

ICYMI: Israel defends controversial strike on refugee camp

04:00 , Josh Marcus

Israel is defending its decision to launch an airstrike against Jabalia, a densely settled refugee camp in northern Gaza, claiming the operation was necessary and proportionate to go after an important Hamas commander.

The attack, which levelled buildings and left a massive crater, killed over 50 people, according to separate estimates from the health ministry in Gaza and the director of the local Indonesian Hospital, Al Jazeera reports. Civilians are among the dead, according to the health ministry.

“It was not only a legitimate military target but an important military target to strike – and all things were factored in including the possibility of non-combatants being affected,” IDF spokesman Lieutenant Colonel Jonathan Conricus said at the briefing.

Some observers criticised the strike as an unacceptable attack on civilians.

“Egypt strongly condemns the Israeli inhumane targeting of an entire residential square in Jabalia camp northern Gaza and left hundreds killed and injured,” the Egyptian Foreign Ministry told Turkish state media.

Israel defends strike on Jabalia refugee camp thought to have killed dozens

France vows ‘merciless fight’ against antisemitism after anti-Jewish graffiti found in Paris

03:56 , Namita Singh

French prime minister Elisabeth Borne yesterday vowed a “merciless fight” against surging antisemitism after residents of the French capital discovered anti-Jewish graffiti on buildings in several districts.

The discovery comes weeks into the Israel-Hamas war in which thousands of Palestinians and Israelis have been killed and hundreds of Israelis have been taken hostage by the militants in Gaza.

“The situation in the Middle East does not justify antisemitism,” Ms Borne told the National Assembly during a regular questioning session. “Nothing ever excuses antisemitism ... my government is determined to wage a merciless fight against it.”

Report:

France vows a ‘merciless fight’ against antisemitism after anti-Jewish graffiti found

Photos reveal scale of devastation after deadly Israeli airstrike on Gaza refugee camp

03:35 , Namita Singh

More than 50 Palestinians have been killed and over 150 wounded in Israeli airstrikes on the Jabaliya refugee camp in northern Gaza, the director of Gaza’s Indonesian Hospital has said. He told Al Jazeera he feared the numbers would rise after several residential buildings were destroyed in the bombardment.

The Israel Defence Forces admitted carrying out the strikes saying it had targeted Hamas infrastructure “that had taken over civilian buildings” but claimed those killed were Hamas militants.

Hamas spokesperson Hazem Qassem denied the IDF’s claim, saying it was trying to justify “its heinous crime” against civilians, report Bel Trew and Maira Butt:

Photos show scale of devastation of deadly Israeli air strike at Gaza refugee camp

Communications, internet services completely cut off in Gaza

03:24 , Namita Singh

Palestine Telecommunication Company, or Paltel, today said in a post on messaging platform X that communications and internet services have been completely cut off in the Gaza Strip due to international access being disconnected again.

Paltel is Gaza’s largest telecommunications provider.

Senate confirms Biden ambassador to Israel as Hamas conflict continues

03:23 , Namita Singh

The US Senate has confirmed the Biden administration’s ambassador to Israel, a move that came after intense criticism from the White House charging Republicans with political obstruction in the face of war.

Jack Lew was confirmed by a thin margin yesterday but crucially saw no vocal Republican resistance to his nomination; the former Obama administration operative will be the US’s representative to Bibi Netanyahu’s government at a time when Israel is faced with responding to a brutal terrorist attack by Hamas and is the target of growing fury over the number of civilian deaths caused by its military in Gaza.

Mr Lew was never expected to see an easy path to being confirmed, thanks in large part to his work in the Obama administration as treasury secretary and head of the Office of Management and Budget (OMB); he was credited at the time as being a strong progressive who battled GOP efforts to cut Medicaid. But in the face of Israel’s conflict against Hamas militants in Gaza, Republicans found themselves unwilling to expend political capital to delay or thwart his nomination.

My colleague John Bowden reports:

Senate confirms Biden ambassador to Israel as Hamas conflict continues

Pro-Palestinian activists stage sit-in at London’s Liverpool Street station

03:17 , Namita Singh

A group of pro-Palestinian activists staged a sit-in at Liverpool Street station in London in protest at the Israel-Hamas conflict.

More than 500 people joined the protest at around 5.30pm yesterday to demand an immediate ceasefire to Israel’s attacks on Gaza and an end to arms exports to Israel.

Palestinian music and chants such as “ceasefire now” could be heard from the crowds at the sit-in, which was organised by direct action group Sisters Uncut.

More details in this report:

Pro-Palestinian activists stage sit-in at London’s Liverpool Street station

Israel defends strike on Jabalia refugee camp

03:09 , Namita Singh

Israel is defending its decision to launch an airstrike against Jabalia, a densely settled refugee camp in northern Gaza, claiming the operation was necessary and proportionate to go after an important Hamas commander.

The attack, which levelled buildings and left a massive crater, killed over 50 people, according to separate estimates from the health ministry in Gaza and the director of the local Indonesian Hospital, Al Jazeera reports. Civilians are among the dead, according to the health ministry.

At a briefing attended by The Independent, IDF officials said eliminating Hamas commander Ibrahim Biari justified the bombing.

Report:

Israel defends strike on Jabalia refugee camp thought to have killed dozens

Watch: Protesters calling for ceasefire in Gaza interrupt Blinken

03:00 , Tara Cobham

Bolivia severs ties with Israel over attacks Gaza

02:42 , Namita Singh

Bolivia yesterday said it had broken diplomatic ties with Israel because of its attacks on the Gaza Strip.

Bolivia “decided to break diplomatic relations with the Israeli state in repudiation and condemnation of the aggressive and disproportionate Israeli military offensive taking place in the Gaza Strip,” deputy foreign minister Freddy Mamani said at a press conference.

Israel’s foreign ministry did not immediately issue a statement.

Bolivia is among the first countries to actively break diplomatic relations with Israel over its war in Gaza, retaliation for the 7 October attack in southern Israel by Palestinian Hamas militants who Israel says killed 1,400 people, including children, and took 240 people hostage.

Bolivia cut diplomatic ties with Israel in 2009 under the government of leftist president Evo Morales, also in protest against Israel’s actions in Gaza.

In 2020, the government of right-wing interim president Jeanine Anez reestablished ties.“We reject the war crimes being committed in Gaza. We support international initiatives to guarantee humanitarian aid, in compliance with international law,” Bolivian president Arce said on social media on Monday.

Bolivia severs diplomatic ties with Israel over ‘disproportionate’ attack in Gaza

US cites progress on work to secure passage for Americans out of Gaza

02:00 , Tara Cobham

The United States has made "real progress" in the last few hours in negotiations to secure a safe passage for Americans and other foreigners who wish to depart the Gaza Strip, US State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller said on Tuesday.

"While I can't make an announcement today, we do think we've made very real progress on this as I said in just the past few hours," Miller told a news briefing.

The United States has been working with Qataris and Egyptians to open the Rafah border crossing into Egypt to allow American citizens inside Gaza to leave after Israel intensified its bombardment of the densely populated coastal enclave.

So far, traffic at Rafah has reopened one way allowing aid trucks to go slowly into Gaza.

"We would hope that any agreement to get any individuals out would also unlock the possibility of American citizens or their families and other foreign nationals coming out," Miller said.

Israel defends strike on Jabalia refugee camp thought to have killed dozens

01:02 , Josh Marcus

Israel is defending its decision to launch an airstrike against Jabalia, a densely settled refugee camp in northern Gaza, claiming the operation was necessary and proportionate to go after an important Hamas commander.

The attack, which levelled buildings and left a massive crater, killed over 50 people, according to separate estimates from the health ministry in Gaza and the director of the local Indonesian Hospital, Al Jazeera reports. Civilians are among the dead, according to the health ministry.

At a briefing attended by The Independent, IDF officials said eliminating Hamas commander Ibrahim Biari justified the bombing.

“It was not only a legitimate military target but an important military target to strike – and all things were factored in including the possibility of non-combatants being affected,” IDF spokesman Lieutenant Colonel Jonathan Conricus said at the briefing.

More details in our full story.

Israel defends strike on Jabalia refugee camp thought to have killed dozens

Watch: Keir Starmer says ceasefire in Gaza is not ‘correct position’

01:00 , Tara Cobham

Blinken to visit Israel on Friday and make others stops in region

00:00 , Tara Cobham

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken will visit Israel on Friday for meetings with members of the government there and then make other stops in the region, the State Department said on Tuesday amid the Israel-Hamas conflict.

Palestinian health officials said earlier that at least 50 Palestinians were killed when Israeli airstrikes hit a refugee camp in northern Gaza on Tuesday, as Israeli ground forces battled Hamas gunmen based in a sprawling tunnel network.

"Secretary Blinken will travel to Israel on Friday for meetings with members of the Israeli government, and then will make other stops in the region," State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller said.

Earlier this month, Blinken visited Israel, Jordan, Qatar, Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Egypt.

Israeli military defends ‘high importance’ strike on Jabalia refugee camp

Tuesday 31 October 2023 23:27 , Josh Marcus

The Israeli military is defending its decision to launch a series of strikes on Jabalia in the Gaza Strip, which is home to a large refugee camp.

The bombing is estimated to have killed more than 50 people, according to estimates from Gaza’s health ministry and a local hospital director.

The IDF, in a briefing attended by The Independent’s Bel Trew, said the strike was necessary and proportionate to go after Hamas commander Ibrahim Biari, who Israeli officials say was a “pivotal” part of the 7 October cross-border Hamas attack that killed numerous Israeli civilians.

Israel said the militant died in the strike.

The “military objective was of high importance - and we assess that dozen of multiple Hamas operatives were killed,” IDF lieutenant colonel Jonathan Conricus said at the briefing. “Once we know more and have confirmed information about other casualties, if there are others and what their extent will be, I will be able to answer that.”

“Any collateral damage that may have been caused was because of the nature of the target the fact that [Hamas] had embedded and built a large underground complex in the vicinity of civilians,” he added. “You can see we struck in-between buildings.”

Follow more of our reporting on the unfolding war.

Gaza map shows scale of destruction of tiny strip as Israel tanks advance

Women released on bail as police investigate Hamas paraglider images

Tuesday 31 October 2023 23:00 , Tara Cobham

Two women arrested after the Metropolitan Police shared pictures of protesters with images of paragliders at a pro-Palestine rally have been released on bail.

Social media footage of a protest in Whitehall on October 14 showed a pair of women with the image taped to their tops, while a third held a placard with it.

Two women, aged 29 and 44, came forward after recognising themselves in the pictures, which were widely shared, the Met Police said.

They were arrested on suspicion of inviting support for a proscribed organisation and have since been released on bail until November.

Hamas, which is classed as a terrorist organisation in the UK, used paragliders as part of its attack on Israel on October 7 which left more than 1,000 Israelis dead.

Police are still looking for the third woman seen with the image of a paraglider on her top, as well as a man seen waving a placard with the words "I fully support Hamas", during a protest on Bond Street on October 21.

Protesters interrupt Blinken as he lays out US plan for Gaza after Hamas

Tuesday 31 October 2023 22:16 , Tara Cobham

Joe Biden’s top diplomat has laid out the White House’s vision for what Gaza should look like if Israel can accomplish its goal of destroying Hamas.

Secretary of State Antony Blinken was repeatedly interrupted by protesters calling for a ceasefire in Gaza as he told a US Senate hearing that the Palestinian Authority should retake control of the enclave from Hamas. The president has said that the militant group should be eliminated and that he supports a two-state solution in the region.

Mr Blinken and US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin testified about the White House’s $106bn funding request for national security, including $14.3bn for Israel.

Graeme Massie reports:

Protesters interrupt Blinken as he lays out US plan for Gaza after Hamas

Biden’s support among Arab Americans plummets over Gaza war

Tuesday 31 October 2023 22:00 , Tara Cobham

Muslim American leaders are threatening to mobilise their supporters to withhold votes and donations for president Joe Biden’s presidential campaign unless he pushes for a ceasefire in Gaza.

The National Muslim Democratic Council, a coalition of Muslim community leaders and activists within the Democratic Party, announced in an open letter that it would “withhold endorsement, support, or votes for any candidate who endorses the Israeli offensive against the Palestinian people.”

The letter criticised the Biden administration’s “unconditional support, encompassing funding and armaments” to Israel, which it argued has “played a significant role in perpetuating the violence that is causing civilian casualties and has eroded trust in voters who previously put their faith in you.”

Richard Hall reports:

Biden’s support among Arab Americans plummets over Gaza war

Gaza health ministry pleads for fuel ‘to save wounded and sick'

Tuesday 31 October 2023 21:36 , Tara Cobham

The Gaza health ministry has made a desperate plea for fuel urgently needed “to save the lives of the wounded and sick” in the Strip.

Appealing to the international community in its latest statement on Tuesday, the Hamas-controlled ministry warned the main electrical generator in both the Shifa Medical Complex, the largest hospital in the besieged enclave, and the Indonesian Hospital are “hours away from shutdown”.

The ministry sent an “urgent distress call” for intervention to supply fuel to both hospitals, which are treating people wounded in the deadly Israeli air strike on Jabaliya.

It said: “We send a distress call to countries around the world to save 42 children under life support in incubators, 62 wounded and patients under artificial respiration, 650 patients with kidney failure, hundreds of operations in operating rooms, and other patients and wounded.”

‘Gaza is most dangerous place in world to be child, aid worker or journalist’

Tuesday 31 October 2023 21:29 , Tara Cobham

Gaza is currently the most dangerous place in the world to be a child, an aid worker or a journalist, according to Save the Children.

James Denselow, head of the humanitarian organisation’s conflict team, posted on X that so far 3,195 children have been killed in the Strip, alongside 62 aid workers and 31 journalists.

‘Screaming’ children ‘asking for parents’ at hospital after deadly Isreali strike

Tuesday 31 October 2023 21:23 , Bel Trew in Tel Aviv

A nurse treating people injured in the deadly Israeli air strike on Jabaliya has told of young children “screaming and asking for their parents” as they arrive at an overcrowded hospital with deep wounds and severe burns.

Speaking to The Independent, Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) nurse Mohammed Hawajreh said: “Young children arrived at the hospital with deep wounds and severe burns. They came without their families. Many were screaming and asking for their parents. I stayed with them until we could find a place, as the hospital was full with patients.”

Photos reveal scale of devastation after Israeli strike on Gaza refugee camp

Tuesday 31 October 2023 21:15 , Tara Cobham

More than 50 Palestinians have been killed and over 150 wounded in Israeli air strikes on the Jabalia refugee camp in northern Gaza, the director of Gaza’s Indonesian Hospital has said.

The hospital official told Al Jazeera he feared the numbers would rise after several residential buildings were destroyed in the bombardment.

The Israel Defence Forces admitted carrying out the strikes saying it had targeted Hamas infrastructure “that had taken over civilian buildings” but claimed those killed were Hamas militants.

Bel Trew and Maira Butt report:

Photos show scale of devastation of deadly Israeli air strike at Gaza refugee camp

No ceasefire in Gaza, no votes, Muslim Americans tell Biden

Tuesday 31 October 2023 21:00 , Tara Cobham

Some Muslim and Arab American groups are threatening to withhold donations and votes towards President Joe Biden's 2024 reelection unless he takes immediate steps to secure a Gaza ceasefire.

The National Muslim Democratic Council, which includes Democratic Party leaders from hotly contested states that can decide elections, such as Michigan, Ohio and Pennsylvania, urged Biden to use his influence with Israel to broker a ceasefire by 5 p.m. ET (2100 GMT) on Tuesday.

In an open letter entitled "2023 Ceasefire Ultimatum," Muslim leaders pledged to mobilize "Muslim, Arab, and allied voters" to "withhold endorsement, support, or votes for any candidate who endorses the Israeli offensive against the Palestinian people."

"Your administration's unconditional support, encompassing funding and armaments, has played a significant role in perpetuating the violence that is causing civilian casualties and has eroded trust in voters who previously put their faith in you," the council wrote.

Wildfires erupt in southern Lebanon that civil defence blames on Israeli shells

Tuesday 31 October 2023 20:23 , Tara Cobham

Firefighters in Lebanon were battling wildfires late on Tuesday that Lebanese civil defence said had been sparked by Israeli shelling, with the flames visible for miles as darkness fell.

The fires started around 1700 GMT and were caused by Israeli shells containing white phosphorous being launched across the border, Abdalla Mousawae, head of the Tyre Regional Center of Lebanese civil defence, told Reuters.

The Israeli military did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Border clashes between Israel and Iran-backed Hezbollah have escalated in recent weeks since Israel went to war with Hezbollah's Palestinian ally Hamas.

The flames near the Lebanese border village of Labbouneh could be seen from the coastal city of Tyre, some 25 kilometres (15 miles) north, a Reuters witness said. Reuters could not independently verify the cause of the fires.

Hundreds of pro-Palestine protesters stage sit-in at Liverpool Street station

Tuesday 31 October 2023 20:07 , Tara Cobham

Hundreds of pro-Palestine protesters staged a rush-hour sit-in at the fourth busiest station in Britain, London’s Liverpool Street, on Tuesday evening (31 October.)

Palestine flags littered the crowd and the hundreds sat on the floor of the bustling station chanting “Free Palestine”.

This comes as an Israeli strike on a Gaza refugee camp killed 50 and injured 150 on Tuesday (31 October), according to Director of Gaza’s Indonesian Hospital.

Tens of thousands also marched through London on Saturday (28 October) calling for a ceasefire in the conflict that has seen more than 8,000 killed in Gaza and 1,400 killed in Israel.

Hebe Campbell reports:

Pro-Palestine protesters stage sit-in at Liverpool Street station

Starmer battles to maintain Labour discipline over Israel-Hamas war

Tuesday 31 October 2023 19:49 , Tara Cobham

Sir Keir Starmer battled to maintain Labour discipline with members of his frontbench in open revolt about his stance on the Israel-Hamas conflict.

The Labour leader has resisted pressure from within his own party to call for a ceasefire, instead urging both parties in the conflict to agree to a humanitarian pause to allow aid in and people out of the war zone.

Shadow ministers are among senior Labour figures demanding a change in his stance, with frontbencher Alex Cunningham calling for an "immediate ceasefire" less than an hour before Sir Keir delivered his speech.

Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar also criticised Sir Keir, claiming he had made "hurtful" comments about the conflict and there was "repair work to do" to mend bridges with Muslim communities.

Sir Keir insisted he took collective responsibility - the principle that members of his frontbench team adopt a unified position - seriously, but he gave no indication he was about to sack those who had spoken out.

"It is for me to address collective responsibility, I recognise that," he said.

"It matters and I take that duty extremely seriously, but I put it in the context of understanding what is driving people in the call for a ceasefire, which is in my judgment not the call that we should be making as things stand."

US Senate confirms Lew to be ambassador to Israel

Tuesday 31 October 2023 19:47 , Tara Cobham

The US Senate on Tuesday backed President Joe Biden's nominee, former Treasury Secretary Jack Lew, to be the next US ambassador to Israel, despite Republican objections over his past dealings with Iran.

The Senate voted 53 to 43, largely along party lines, with Biden's fellow Democrats backing Lew and most Republicans opposing him. Lew needed only a simple majority in the 100-member Senate to win confirmation.

Democrats had pushed to fill the vacancy at the embassy in Israel quickly in the aftermath of the 7 October attack on Israel from Gaza by Iran-backed Hamas militants.

Republicans sharply criticized Lew over the 2015 Iran nuclear deal sealed during former Democratic President Barack Obama's administration. They criticized Lew's work while in Obama's cabinet to implement the agreement with a country that is a sworn enemy of Israel.

Supporting Lew, Democratic Senator Ben Cardin, who chairs the foreign relations panel, noted Lew's qualifications and said Israel had welcomed his nomination.

"I would hope my colleagues would vote for his confirmation recognizing that we could not have a more qualified individual representing America as our ambassador to Israel," Cardin said.

Israel says two of its soldiers killed in fighting in Gaza

Tuesday 31 October 2023 19:43 , Tara Cobham

Israel said two of its soldiers were killed in fighting in northern Gaza, the first military deaths reported since the ground offensive into the tiny Mediterranean territory accelerated late last week.

Jordan’s king urges Biden to push for ‘immediate humanitarian ceasefire’

Tuesday 31 October 2023 19:42 , Tara Cobham

Jordan's King Abdullah told US President Joe Biden there was a need for an "immediate humanitarian ceasefire" that allows uninterrupted aid convoys to the devastated Gaza enclave.

In a royal palace statement, the monarch was quoted as saying he told Biden efforts should be intensified to bring a halt to the war and pave the way for a political solution based on a two-state solution.

Relative of Hamas hostages accuses Israeli government of ‘not prioritising’ their safety

Tuesday 31 October 2023 19:41 , Tara Cobham

A family member of seven Hamas hostages accused the Israeli government of ‘not prioritising’ the safety of those kidnapped by Hamas.

“I feel the priority should be first to bring back the hostages, before anything else. It should be the only thing on the table”, said Ayelet Sela bin Nuna, who lost three family members in the attack perpetrated by Hamas on 7 October while seven more were kidnapped.

“I am sure the Israeli government is doing a lot in its power, there are many things I guess are confidential (...) But I do know publicly what the Israeli government is stating is not prioritising the hostages first. That is something that is unacceptable in my eyes”, Ayelet concluded.

Francesca Casonato reports:

Israeli government of ‘not prioritising’ hostages safety, says family

Bolivia severs diplomatic ties with Israel citing ‘crimes against humanity’

Tuesday 31 October 2023 19:39 , Tara Cobham

Bolivia's government is breaking diplomatic ties with Israel, the Bolivian foreign ministry said on Tuesday, accusing Israel of committing crimes against humanity in its attacks on the Gaza Strip.

Bolivia in 2009 cut diplomatic ties with Israel in protest of its attacks on the Gaza Strip.

In 2020, the government of President Jeanine Anez reestablished ties.

Hundreds of pro-Palestinian protesters at London’s Liverpool Street station

Tuesday 31 October 2023 19:36 , Tara Cobham

A group of pro-Palestinian activists have staged a sit-in at Liverpool Street station in London in protest at the Israel-Hamas conflict.

More than 500 people joined the protest at around 5.30pm on Tuesday to demand an immediate ceasefire to Israel's attacks on Gaza and an end to arms exports to Israel.

Palestinian music and chants such as "ceasefire now" could be heard from the crowds at the sit-in, which was organised by direct action group Sisters Uncut.

Members from other activist groups including the Palestinian Youth Movement and International Jewish Anti-Zionist Network also spoke at the demonstration.

It comes after more than 200 people staged another sit-in on the concourse at London Waterloo station on Saturday.

Earlier on Tuesday, Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer resisted pressure from within his own party to call for a ceasefire in the conflict.

He instead urged both parties to agree to a humanitarian pause to allow aid in and people out of the war zone.

Palestinian border authority says 81 injured Gazans to enter Egypt

Tuesday 31 October 2023 19:34 , Tara Cobham

The General Authority for Crossings and Borders in Gaza said Egyptian authorities told it that 81 Gazans who were severely wounded will be allowed to enter Egypt on Wednesday to complete treatment.

Israeli military admits striking Jabalia as ‘dozens’ killed in refugee camp blast

Tuesday 31 October 2023 19:15 , Tara Cobham

The Israeli military has admitted it launched a wide-scale strike on Jabalia as a hospital director said dozens were killed in a refugee camp blast.

The Israel Defence Forces said it carried out air strikes in Jabalia on Hamas infrastructure “that had taken over civilian buildings” and that tunnels under the buildings collapsed.

The director of Gaza’s Indonesian Hospital told Al Jazeera that more than 50 Palestinians were killed and 150 wounded in the air strike in a densely populated area of the Jabalia refugee camp in northern Gaza.

The Israeli military said the strikes killed a large number of Hamas militants, including Ibrahim Biari, who it said oversaw operations in the northern part of the strip.

The Hamas-run Interior Ministry said at least six air strikes destroyed a number of apartment blocks in Jabaliya, and it reported a large number of casualties but did not immediately provide details.

UK supporting diplomacy to protect civilians, Sunak tells Palestinian President

Tuesday 31 October 2023 19:05 , Tara Cobham

Rishi Sunak told Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas he would continue to support diplomatic actions to protect Palestinian civilians and prevent wider escalation in the Middle East, the Prime Minister’s office said on Tuesday.

A Downing Street spokesperson said: “The Prime Minister set out the intensive diplomatic and practical efforts the United Kingdom is making to rapidly increase the delivery of life-saving aid to Gaza, following the announcement that the UK will double aid funding for Palestinian civilians.

“The Prime Minister emphasised the importance of making progress on the peace process to ensure that Palestinian civilians in both Gaza and the West Bank can live in security and prosperity.

“He said the UK would continue to support diplomatic action to protect Palestinian civilians, prevent wider escalation and secure a peaceful and lasting resolution to the crisis.”