Israel-Gaza war live: Rafah crossing opens for aid trucks as Palestinians say death toll now tops 4,300

The Rafah border crossing between Egypt and Gaza has opened to let desperately needed aid flow to Palestinians for the first time since Israel sealed off the territory, as the health ministry has announced the death toll in Gaza now tops 4,300.

More than 200 trucks carrying roughly 3,000 tons of aid began heading into Gaza on Saturday. The enclave’s 2.3 million Palestinians have been rationing food and drinking filthy water, while hospitals say they are running low on medical supplies and fuel for emergency generators amid a territory-wide power blackout.

The number of dead in Gaza rose to 4,385 on Saturday, with 13,651 injured since the conflict between Hamas and Israel escalated two weeks ago, the Palestinian health ministry said. It added the dead include 1,756 children and 976 women.

Meanwhile, hundreds of thousands of people are expected to gather for protests in support of Palestinians in central London on Saturday, according to Director Ben Jamal of the Palestine Solidarity Campaign, which is the group organising the main demonstration.

It comes as an Israeli military spokesperson confirmed on Friday night that American mother Judith Raanan and her 17-year-old daughter Natalie who were being held hostage by Hamas have been released.

Key Points

• Humanitarian aid convoy crosses into Gaza Strip from Egypt

• Gaza death toll rises to 4,385, says Palestinian health ministry

• Protests in support of Palestinians set to take place in London

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

• Number of people held hostage in Gaza is 210, says Israeli military

UN agencies call for ceasefire

18:44 , Andy Gregory

UN agencies have reiterated calls for a ceasefire and unrestricted humanitarian access throughout Gaza, after 20 trucks carrying a shipment of aid reached the enclave through the Rafah crossing.

“We call for a humanitarian ceasefire, along with immediate, unrestricted humanitarian access throughout Gaza to allow humanitarian actors to reach civilians in need, save lives and prevent further human suffering,” the joint statement from the UNDP, UNFPA, UNICEF, WFP and WHO said.

“Flows of humanitarian aid must be at scale and sustained, and allow all Gazans to preserve their dignity.”

At least 50 Palestinians killed by Israeli air strikes on Gaza overnight

07:10 , Stuti Mishra

More than 50 Palestinians were killed in Israeli air strikes on the Gaza strip overnight, Reuters news agency has reported quoting Gaza medical sources.

Israel strikes underground compound at West Bank mosque

06:30 , Stuti Mishra

Israeli Defense Forces said a military aircraft launched a strike early today on the Al-Ansar mosque at the Jenin refugee camp in the occupied West Bank.

The IDF said via X, the platform formerly known as Twitter, that Hamas and Islamic Jihad militants had been using an "underground terror route" beneath the mosque. One Palestinian was killed in the shelling, the Palestine Red Crescent Society said.

Tensions have ris=en in the West Bank, where dozens of Palestinians have been killed in clashes with Israeli troops.

US committed to ensuring Gaza has access to food, water and medical aid, says Biden

06:01 , Andy Gregory

The United States is committed to ensuring that civilians in Gaza will continue to have access to food, water and medical care without it being diverted by Hamas, President Joe Biden said on Saturday.

“We will continue to work with all parties to keep the Rafah crossing in operation to enable the continued movement of aid that is imperative to the welfare of the people of Gaza,” he said in a statement after the first convoy of humanitarian supplies passed through the crossing into the enclave.

Israel did not strike Gaza hospital, Canada says

05:30 , Stuti Mishra

Canada’s National Department of Defence said on Saturday that Israel was not behind the Al-Ahli hospital strike in Gaza which killed 471 people.

“Analysis conducted independently by the Canadian Forces Intelligence Command indicates with a high degree of confidence that Israel did not strike the Al-Ahli hospital on 17 October 2023,” it said in a statement.

The strike was more likely caused by an errant rocket fired from Gaza, the Defence department said based on analysis of open source and classified reporting.Canada’s findings are similar to the conclusions by France and the US.

US races to free more hostages as Israel prepares for ground invasion of Gaza

05:04 , Andy Gregory

The release of two American hostages held by Hamas has magnified a race against the clock to secure the release of others, and evacuate Americans in Gaza ahead of Israel’s likely ground invasion that could complicate those efforts.

My colleague Alex Woodward has more details:

US races to free more hostages as Israel prepares for ground invasion of Gaza

US to send more air defence systems to Middle East

04:30 , Stuti Mishra

The US will send a Terminal High Altitude Area Defence (THAAD) system and additional Patriot air defence missile system battalions to the Middle East, the Pentagon said, in response to recent attacks on JUS troops in the region.

The United States has sent a significant amount of naval power to the Middle East in recent weeks, including two aircraft carriers, their support ships and about 2,000 Marines.

Washington is on heightened alert for activity by Iran-backed groups as regional tensions soar during the Israel-Hamas war.

"Following detailed discussions with President (Joe) Biden on recent escalations by Iran and its proxy forces across the Middle East Region, today I directed a series of additional steps to further strengthen the department of defence posture in the region," defence secretary Lloyd Austin said in a statement.

Austin said he was placing additional troops on prepare-to-deploy orders, but did not say how many. The Pentagon has already placed some 2,000 troops on a heightened state of readiness in case they need to deploy to the region.

"These steps will bolster regional deterrence efforts, increase force protection for U.S. forces in the region, and assist in the defence of Israel," Mr Austin added.

Four Hezbollah fighters killed near Lebanon border on Saturday, militant group claims

04:05 , Andy Gregory

Four fighters from tHezbollah were killed along the border with Israel on Saturday, the Iran-backed militant group said, taking to 17 the number of its members it says have died during two weeks of escalating violence in the frontier region.

A security source in Lebanon said one of the fighters was killed in the Lebanese area of Hula, opposite the Israeli community of Margaliot, which Israel said was the target of an anti-tank missile attack. The Israeli army said it fired back.

Hezbollah later said three other members were killed in the fighting, without providing details. The Palestinian group Islamic Jihad, which also has a presence in southern Lebanon, separately said one of its fighters was killed.

Rishi Sunak warns Israel-Hamas war risks unleashing ‘contagion of conflict’ across Middle East

03:11 , Andy Gregory

Rishi Sunak has warned that the Israel-Hamas war risks unleashing a “contagion of conflict” across the Middle East, following a visit to Israel, Saudi Arabia and Egypt for talks with key regional players this week.

The prime minister said his two-day visit showed “that the UK stands in solidarity with them against terrorism” and that “there can be no justification” for the atrocities committed by Hamas, adding: “I wanted to sit down with other leaders and talk face to face. Because in times of tension and division, it’s more important than ever to accelerate diplomatic efforts.”

He said the opening of the border crossing with Egypt to allow an aid convoy into the Gaza Strip was “testament to the power of diplomacy, with the US, Israel and Egypt brokering an agreement to ensure vital aid reaches the Palestinian people”.

“We’re working closely with Egypt to ensure that the UK plays our part in ensuring those Palestinians get the food, water and medicine they so desperately need,” he said.

“The overwhelming view I got from everyone I spoke to this week was that we need to do everything possible to stop a contagion of conflict in the region. We need to keep our aspirations for a more peaceful and stable future firmly in our sights as we work together to defeat the evil of terrorism.”

Watch: Biden speaks on the phone to US mother and daughter released by Hamas

02:14 , Andy Gregory

Israel rejects Hamas claim it declined to accept hostages as ‘propaganda'

01:10 , Andy Gregory

Israel has rejected as “propaganda” a claim by Hamas that the militant group had wanted to release two more hostages on humanitarian grounds but that Israel declined to receive them.

Abu Ubaida, the spokesperson for Hamas’ armed wing, said it informed Qatar of the group’s intention to release the two additional people on Friday, the same day it freed Americans Judith Tai Ranaan and her daughter Natalie.

In a later statement, Abu Ubaida claimed Hamas was ready to free the two people on Sunday “using the same procedures” involved in the previous release.

In a brief statement, Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office said: “We will not refer to false propaganda by Hamas”, adding: “We will continue to act in every way to return all the kidnapped and missing people home.”

Why the Rafah border crossing is vital for humanitarian aid to Gaza

00:21 , Andy Gregory

Israel’s siege of Gaza in the wake of Hamas terror attacks has blocked food, water, fuel and electricity from reaching the occupied territory.

The only way out of Gaza is a crossing point at Rafah into neighbouring Egypt, which has been effectively sealed following Hamas attacks on 7 October.

My colleague Alex Woodward has more on the significance of the crossing here:

Why the Rafah border crossing is vital for humanitarian aid to Gaza

Hezbollah already ‘in the heart of the battle’, top official says

23:34 , Andy Gregory

A top Hezbollah official has claimed that the Lebanese militant group is already “in the heart of the battle” and vowed that Israel will pay a high price whenever it starts a ground offensive in Gaza, as Israel and Hezbollah traded drone and rocket fire.

For Hezbollah, heating up the Lebanon-Israel border has a clear purpose, Hezbollah’s deputy leader, Sheikh Naim Kassem said, adding: “We are trying to weaken the Israeli enemy and let them know that we are ready.”

“Do you believe that if you try to crush the Palestinian resistance, other resistance fighters in the region will not act?” he said in a speech during the funeral of a Hezbollah fighter. “We are in the heart of the battle today. We are making achievements through this battle.”

Police make 10 arrests as 100,000 attend London pro-Palestine demonstrations

22:46 , Andy Gregory

Police have arrested a total of 10 people and five officers have received minor injuries, Scotland Yard has claimed, after 100,000 people demonstrated in London in support for Palestine.

The arrests were made for fireworks, public order and assaulting an emergency service worker offences, the Metropolitan Police said.

Hamas claims Israel declined to receive two hostages it intended to release

22:09 , Andy Gregory

A spokesman for the armed wing of Hamas has claimed that the group intended to release two more hostages for “humanitarian reasons”, but that Israel had declined to receive them.

Abu Ubaida, the spokesperson for the Izz el-Deen al-Qassam Brigades, said that it informed Qatar on Friday of Hamas’ intention to release the two people.

Watch: 100,000 attend pro-Palestine march in London

21:42 , Andy Gregory

Canada will keep working with Qatar to secure release of Hamas hostages, Trudeau says

21:14 , Andy Gregory

Canada will continue to work with Qatar to secure the release of hostages held by Hamas, Canadian prime minister Justin Trudeau has said, after two American civilians were released yesterday.

Hamas released two US hostages on Friday, mother and daughter Judith and Natalie Raanan. Mr Trudeau thanked Qatar for its assistance on the hostage release.

Israel to step up airstrikes on Gaza

20:45 , Andy Gregory

Israel plans to step up its attacks on the Gaza Strip starting Saturday as preparation for the next stage of its war on Hamas, a military spokesperson has said.

Asked about a possible ground invasion into Gaza, Israeli Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari told reporters Saturday night that the military was trying to create optimal conditions beforehand.

“We will deepen our attacks to minimize the dangers to our forces in the next stages of the war. We are going to increase the attacks, from today,” Mr Hagari said.

He repeated his call for residents of Gaza City to head south for their safety.

Police engaging with protesters near Israeli embassy

20:21 , Andy Gregory

Police are engaging with protesters near the Israeli embassy in Kensington, Scotland Yard has said, after an estimated 100,000 people turned out to show solidarity with Palestinians.

Full report: First 20 UN aid trucks cross from Egypt into Gaza

19:54 , Andy Gregory

Aid trucks have entered southern Gaza for the first time since Israel sealed it off in the wake of the deadly attack by Hamas two weeks ago – but aid agencies have warned it is a tiny fraction of what is required to alleviate the humanitarian crisis there.

There were cheers from aid workers at the Egypt border as the convoy carrying coffins and medicine passed through the Rafah crossing into the besieged enclave, which is also facing near-continuous bombardment from Israel in its war against Hamas.

Our chief international correspondent Bel Trew and international editor Chris Stevenson have more in this report:

Trucks carrying aid and coffins enter Gaza for first time as Rafah crossing opens

UN hoping second convoy of 20 trucks will arrive in Gaza tomorrow

19:31 , Andy Gregory

The United Nations is hoping a second convoy of trucks will be sent into Gaza on Sunday under a light inspection system that will allow relief deliveries to scale up into next week, its humanitarian chief said.

A first convoy of 20 trucks arrived in Gaza through the Rafah crossing with Egypt on Saturday, but efforts to deliver supplies to the besieged enclave have been held up by Israeli demands to verify aid.

The 20-truck convoy was announced by US president Joe Biden following a trip to Israel on Wednesday and was not subject to inspection of the kind that officials say will be needed for continuous deliveries.

“I’ve been hearing this afternoon – but we’re in negotiation on it right now – that we may get another convoy tomorrow, maybe even slightly bigger, 20 to 30 trucks,” UN aid chief Martin Griffiths said in an interview on the sidelines of a conference about Gaza in Cairo.

“It’s incredibly important that there is no gap in the aid going across the border,” he said. The UN says 100 trucks daily are needed to meet essential needs in Gaza, where Israel has imposed a “total siege” as it bombards the enclave in retaliation for a deadly incursion by Hamas militants.

First aid trucks from Egypt are ‘drop in the ocean’ of what Gaza needs, warn PRCS

19:11 , Andy Gregory

The entry of 20 UN aid trucks into Gaza from Egypt through the Rafah crossing is “a welcomed glimpse of hope” but “represents “a drop in the ocean” of what help is needed, the Palestinian Red Crescent Society has said.

The group said a statement: “Today’s entry of the 20 trucks is a welcomed glimpse of hope but this minuscule aid represents a drop in the ocean. We call on the international community to secure the continued flow of humanitarian aid into Gaza including through the Israeli controlled crossings.

“Furthermore, without fuel entering the Gaza Strip to support generating electrcity, thousands of Palestinian lives are at risk of death in hospitals.

“Ambulances will no longer be able to save lives. Bakeries will no longer be able to provide bread. It shall also leave the population without potable water, and risking the outbreak of diseases.”

Two arrests after fireworks launched at officers in Trafalgar Square

18:12 , Andy Gregory

Police have made two arrests after fireworks were launched at officers in Trafalgar Square.

The Metropolitan Police said: “Whitehall is now mostly clear with a small demonstration remaining at the gates to Downing Street.

“Officers are now focusing their efforts on clearing Trafalgar Square, as fireworks have been launched at officers from within the crowd.

“Two arrests have been made for offences under the Explosives Act 1875.”

Cairo peace summit ends without breakthrough

17:44 , Andy Gregory

Arab leaders at a Cairo peace summit condemned the Israeli bombardment of Gaza – but with Israel and senior US officials absent there was no agreement towards containing the violence.

Egypt, which called the meeting and hosted it, said it had hoped participants would call for peace and resume efforts to resolve the decades-long Palestinian quest for statehood.

But the meeting ended without leaders and foreign ministers agreeing a joint statement.

Palestinian president Mahmoud Abbas said Palestinians would not be displaced or driven off their land, while France called for a humanitarian corridor into Gaza that it claimed could lead to a ceasefire, the UK and Germany both urged Israel’s military to show restraint, and Italy said it was important to avoid escalation.

European Council President Charles Michel said the main goal of the summit was “to listen to each other”. However, “we understand that we need to work more together” on issues including the humanitarian situation, avoiding a regional escalation and a Palestinian-Israeli peace process, he added.

One arrest as tens of thousands attend pro-Palestinian demonstration

17:22 , Andy Gregory

There has been one arrest in relation to an incident last week, as tens of thousands of people gathered in London to show solidarity with Palestinians.

“We thank everyone for their cooperation and have made only one arrest in relation to an incident last week,” the Metropolitan Police said.

Twelve people in one household feared trapped under rubble after airstrike on Gaza home

16:57 , Andy Gregory

Twelve people in a single household and five others are feared trapped under the rubble of a house in central Gaza which was hit by an Israeli airstrike, witnesses have said.

People clambered on slabs of concrete and twisted metal looking for survivors among the rubble, where a woman in a bloodstained headscarf was helped out of the wreckage, the Associated Press reported.

Men carried a body on a stretcher to an ambulance, and another man ran, carrying the limp body of a small child. Others helped lead away shocked-looking people covered in dust, including a boy with a bloody face.

The house was some 200 metres from the Al Aqsa Hospital in Deir al-Balah.

British Transport Police ‘investigating’ footage of pro-Palestine chants on Underground

16:41 , Andy Gregory

British Transport Police is investigating footage appearing to show a London Tube driver leading chants of “free, free Palestine” among demonstrators travelling on the Underground.

Assistant Chief Constable Sean O’Callaghan said the force was “aware of footage circulating on social media which suggests chants are led by driver of a train in London earlier”.

“BTP are working with Transport for London and investigating the matter.”

Former US congressman says family members killed in Gaza

16:07 , Tara Cobham

Former US Representative Justin Amash, the first Palestinian-American member of Congress, said several of his family members were killed in Gaza following an Israeli airstrike at a Greek Orthodox church that was housing displaced Palestinians during the ongoing crisis.

Mr Amash, who represented parts of west Michigan in the House from 2011 to 2021, said his relatives were among hundreds of people seeking shelter in St Porphyrios Orthodox Church in Gaza City.

Bombs struck two halls where people were sleeping and killed at least 18 people overnight, according to the Order of St George, an associated order of the church.

Alex Woodward reports:

Former congressman says family members killed in Gaza by Israeli airstrike

Hamas ‘won’t discuss fate of army captives until end of aggression’

15:40 , Tara Cobham

Palestinian militant faction Hamas said on Saturday it won't discuss the fate of Israeli army captives until Israel ends its "aggression" on the Gaza strip.

"Our stance with regards to Israeli army captives is clear: it's related to a (possible) exchange of prisoners, and we will not discuss it until Israel ends its aggression on Gaza and Palestinians," Hamas official Osama Hamdan, speaking from Lebanon, told a televised presser.

Tens of thousands take to streets of London for pro-Palestine protest

14:55 , Tara Cobham

Tens of thousands of protesters took to the streets of central London on Saturday afternoon to show their support for Palestinians caught up in the ongoing war between Hamas and Israel.

Demonstrators sang pro-Palestine songs and waved placards calling for an end to Israel’s bombing of Gaza in response to Hamas’s terror attack earlier this month that killed 1,400 people.

Some of those present sang “from the river to sea, Palestine will be free” – a chant that Jewish community leaders have described as anti-semitic. Those who defend the slogan describe it as a “long-standing protest chant” that calls for a homeland for the Palestinian people.

Matt Mathers reports:

Thousands take to the streets of London for pro-Palestine protest

Met estimates ‘up to 100,000’ at protest

14:40 , Tara Cobham

The Metropolitan Police increased its estimate of the size of the protest in London to "up to 100,000" as of 2pm.

Thousands of protesters descend on London for pro-Palestine march

14:15 , Tara Cobham

Thousands of protesters gathered at Marble Arch in central London on Saturday as part of a pro-Palestine march.

Attendees held signs that read "Freedom for Palestine" and "Stop Bombing Gaza".

Chants included "Judaism yes, Zionism no, the state of Israel must go", and "5, 6, 7, 8, Israel is a terrorist state".

The platform at Marble Arch Tube station was briefly closed due to the crowds.

Companyworkers grapple with speaking up about Israel-Hamas war

14:00 , Tara Cobham

Starbucks accused a union representing thousands of its baristas of damaging the brand and endangering co-workers with a pro-Palestinian tweet. The CEO of a prominent tech conference is facing boycotts after he publicly suggested Israel was committing war crimes. Company bosses have vowed never to hire members of a university's student groups that condemned Israel.

Meanwhile, Islamic rights advocates say much of the corporate response has minimized the suffering in Gaza, where thousands have died in Israeli airstrikes, and created an atmosphere of fear for workers who want to express support for Palestinians. Jewish groups have criticized tepid responses or slow reactions to the Oct. 7 Hamas rampage that killed 1,400 people in Israel and triggered the latest war.

The fallout from the Israel-Hamas war has spilled into workplaces everywhere, as top leaders of prominent companies weigh in with their views while workers complain their voices are not being heard. People from all ranks have been called out for speaking too forcefully — or not forcefully enough — making it nearly impossible to come up with a unifying message when passions run deep on all sides.

Read more here:

Company bosses and workers grapple with the fallout of speaking up about the Israel-Hamas war

Watch: Doctors operate by torchlight in Gaza

13:45 , Tara Cobham

French foreign minister says humanitarian corridor for Gaza is needed

13:30 , Tara Cobham

French foreign minister Catherine Colonna said on Saturday that a humanitarian corridor is needed to deliver aid to civilians in Gaza and its establishment could lead to a ceasefire.

"The distribution of aid to civilian populations, starting with the most vulnerable, assumes a humanitarian corridor, which can lead to a ceasefire," she said at the Cairo Peace Summit hosted by Egypt on the escalating war between Israel and the Palestinian group Hamas in Gaza.

She added that French president Emmanuel Macron had just announced 10 million euros ($10.59 million)of humanitarian aid for the Palestinians, in addition to the 10 million euros that she announced last Sunday during a visit to Cairo.

‘Israel must respect international law,’ James Cleverly

13:02 , Archie Mitchell, Political Correspondent

James Cleverly said he has reminded the Israeli government of its “duty to respect international law”.

The foreign secretary repeated his support for the country’s “right to defend itself” against Hamas and to “secure the release of those kidnapped” by the terror group.

But, speaking at the Cairo Peace Summit, Mr Cleverly added: “We are also clear that we must work and they must work to alleviate the suffering of the Palestinian people in Gaza, and that their actions are in accordance with international law.

“I have spoken directly to the Israeli Government about their duty to respect international law and the importance of preserving civilian lives in Gaza.”

Cleverly: ‘Probably the most challenging situation I have had to deal with’

13:01 , Archie Mitchell, Political Correspondent

James Cleverly said Israel’s war against Hamas is “probably the most challenging situation that I have had to deal with in my professional personal or political life”.

The foreign secretary said he suspects “I am not alone,” but said he believes countries can “work together to secure a future where Israelis and Palestinians live in peace”.

As Israel prepares a ground invasion of Gaza in retaliation against Hamas’s terrorist attacks, Mr Cleverly said: “We can and should work together to achieve that peaceful, sustainable, two-state solution with Israelis and Palestinians not just living beside each other, but working with each other and securing peace for future children.”

Cleverly: ‘Regional conflict is what Hamas wants’

13:01 , Tara Cobham

James Cleverly has called on world leaders to ensure conflict between Israel and Hamas does not spread across the Middle East, because “that is exactly what Hamas wants”.

The foreign secretary told the Cairo Peace Summit countries have “a duty to work together to prevent instability from engulfing the region, and claiming yet more lives”.

“This has been an issue which has long stimulated passions and we are now all seeing on social media and in our communities, how divisive and polarising the current situation has become,” Mr Cleverly said.

He added that Hamas “has long stood in opposition” to peaceful coexistence between Israelis and Palestinians.

“And we must therefore, ensure that Hamas does not win,” he said.

Concern over exclusion of fuel from aid reaching Gaza

12:55 , Tara Cobham

The Palestinian health ministry in Gaza issued a statement stressing that the exclusion of fuel from humanitarian aid reaching the enclave will leave the lives of the sick and wounded in danger.

"We appeal to the international community and Egypt to work immediately to bring in fuel and emergency health needs before more victims are lost in hospitals," the statement said.

Trucks carrying aid arrive in southern Gaza, says official

12:54 , Tara Cobham

Trucks carrying aid for Gaza exited the Rafah crossing and arrived into the southern part of the enclave on Saturday, a Palestinian border official told Reuters.

At least 20 trucks that are expected to enter the Gaza Strip "constitute only three percent of what was entering the Gaza Strip daily in terms of health and humanitarian needs before the aggression," a statement from the Palestinian health ministry said.

Gaza death toll rises to 4,385, says Palestinian health ministry

12:31 , Tara Cobham

The death toll in Gaza has risen to 4,385 dead with 13,651 injured since the conflict between Hamas and Israel escalated two weeks ago, the Palestinian health ministry said.

The dead include 1,756 children and 976 women, the health ministry added.

Marble Arch Station forced to close as crowds descend for protest

12:19 , Tara Cobham

Marble Arch Underground Station has been forced to close as huge crowds have descended on the station for protests being held in central London in support of Palestine on Saturday.

Transport for London said: “This station is closed to prevent overcrowding on the platforms.”

Hundreds of thousands of people are expected to attend the march, according to Director Ben Jamal of the Palestine Solidarity Campaign, which is organising the demonstration.

Italy's Meloni says conflict in Middle East must not escalate

12:05 , Tara Cobham

Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni said on Saturday that the international community must avoid an escalation in the war between Israel and Hamas and set a roadmap towards the two states solution.

Meloni made the remarks while speaking in Egypt at the Cairo international summit for peace in the Middle East.

The summit is being held as Israel prepares a ground assault on Gaza following Hamas' attack that killed 1,400 people.

Hundreds of thousands expected at London protest, says organiser

12:00 , Tara Cobham

Hundreds of thousands of people are expected to march in support of Palestine in central London on Saturday, according to the organiser of the protest.

Director Ben Jamal of the Palestine Solidarity Campaign said: “We’re expecting hundreds of thousands joining us today. We’ve got coaches coming from cities and towns all across the UK - dozens of coaches arriving.”

Watch live as Palestinian supporters gather to march in London

11:47 , Tara Cobham

Watch live as thousands of Palestinian supporters are expected to gather in London and converge on Downing Street on Saturday 21 October as diplomatic efforts intensify to allow access for humanitarian aid to Gaza and secure the release of hostages.

The Rafah border crossing between Gaza and Egypt was opened this morning to allow an aid convoy into the besieged territory.

Foreign secretary James Cleverly said it was a “lifeline” for those suffering in Gaza, but added the opening of the crossing could not be a one-off event.

Oliver Browning reports:

Watch live as thousands of Palestinian supporters gather to march in London

Protests in support of Palestinians set to take place in London

11:45 , Tara Cobham

More than 1,000 Metropolitan Police officers are being deployed at what is set to be a “significant” protest organised by the Palestine Solidarity Campaign in central London on Saturday.

The protest is due to begin at Marble Arch at midday, proceeding along Park Lane, via Hyde Park Corner, Piccadilly and Trafalgar Square and ending up in Whitehall.

A smaller demonstration organised by Hizb ut-Tahrir Britain is taking place at the same time between the Egyptian and Turkish embassies.

Crowd gathers at Rafah border as aid convoy crosses

11:35 , Tara Cobham

The Rafah border crossing between Egypt and Gaza has opened to let desperately needed aid flow to Palestinians for the first time since Israel sealed off the territory following Hamas’ bloody rampage two weeks ago.

Gaza’s 2.3 million Palestinians, half of whom have fled their homes, are rationing food and drinking filthy water.

Hospitals say they are running low on medical supplies and fuel for emergency generators amid a territory-wide power blackout.

Trucks carrying roughly 3,000 tons of aid, which had been positioned near the crossing for days, began heading into Gaza on Saturday 21 October.

Oliver Browning reports:

Crowd gathers at Rafah border as humanitarian aid convoy crosses into Gaza Strip

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

11:29 , Tara Cobham

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.

"The message the Arab world is hearing is that Palestinian lives matter less than Israeli ones," he said, adding he was outraged and grieved by acts of violence waged against innocent civilians in Gaza, the West Bank and Israel.

"The Israeli leadership must realise once and for all that a state can never thrive if it is built on a foundation of injustice ... Our message to the Israelis should be that we want a future of peace and security for you and the Palestinians."

He said in his opening speech that the forced or internal displacement of Palestinians would be a war crime.

In his speech Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi said his country opposed what he called the displacement of Palestinians into Egypt's Sinai region.

"Egypt says the solution to the Palestinian issue is not displacement, its only solution is justice and the Palestinians’ access to legitimate rights and living in an independent state."

At least 307 soldiers total killed, says Israeli military

11:24 , Tara Cobham

At least 307 soldiers have been killed since Hamas launched its bloody attack two weeks ago, Israeli military has said.

‘We won’t leave, we will remain on our land,’ says Palestinian President

11:13 , Tara Cobham

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas has 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.

Aid is ‘barely a drop in the ocean’, says ActionAid

11:08 , Tara Cobham

ActionAid has welcomed the aid convoy heading into Gaza but said it is “clear that what’s being delivered today is barely a drop in the ocean”.

Riham Jafari, Communications and Advocacy Coordinator for ActionAid Palestine, said: "We welcome this morning's aid convoy into Gaza, but it's clear that what's being delivered today is barely a drop in the ocean. Before this crisis began, around 500 aid trucks would normally cross the border every day providing a vital lifeline to millions of Gazans who were already facing a humanitarian crisis.

"Aid trucks also did not bring with them the fuel needed to power hospitals, keep ambulances moving, or to pump water from the ground. We're hearing stories every day of communities coming together to donate whatever fuel they have remaining to keep incubators going for newborns who are in a critical condition. With 2.2 million Gazans facing a humanitarian crisis we're urgently calling for a ceasefire and for the opening of humanitarian corridors.”

Small blast outside Israeli embassy in Cyprus overnight

10:56 , Tara Cobham

A small blast occurred overnight outside the Israeli embassy in the Cypriot capital Nicosia, police said. No damage or injuries were reported.

Police said a metal object containing "a small amount of pyrotechnic material" exploded about 30 metres away from a perimeter compound of the embassy, which lies in a heavily populated area of Nicosia.

Four youths aged between 17 and 21 found in the area were being questioned by police, a security source said. In the car of one of the detainees police found 2 knives and a hammer.

Cyprus state radio reported the detainees were Syrians.

Cyprus, on the edge of the volatile Middle East, has tightened security at locations across the island. In the wake of fresh violence authorities widened a security cordon around the embassy, shutting off civilian roads.

The embassy was the target of a botched bombing attempt in 1988 when a car packed with explosives went off on a nearby bridge, killing three people.

Aid entering Gaza will go to south and won’t include fuel, says Israel

10:51 , Tara Cobham

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 added that around a fifth of Palestinian rockets launched since Friday had fallen short within Gaza due to misfires, causing fatalities.

Number of people held hostage in Gaza is 210, says Israeli military

10:43 , Tara Cobham

The number of people held hostage in Gaza is 210, the Israel Defense Forces has said.

In a televised briefing on Saturday, chief spokesperson Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari gave 210 as the updated number of hostages held by Hamas since its 7 October attack on Israel.

Thousands attend pro-Palestine demonstrations across Australia

10:30 , Tara Cobham

Thousands of demonstrators gathered in Australia on Saturday for a rally in support of Palestine with calls for an end to Israel’s attacks.

The rally took place in Australia’s largest city, Sydney, and saw an estimated 15,000 protesters marching with the Palestinian flag and demanding Israel stop bombing Gaza.

The air and artillery strikes by Israel in the last two weeks in the narrow strip have already killed 4,100 people.

Protestors chanted “Palestine will never die” and from the river to the sea, Palestine will be free”.

Stuti Mishra reports:

Thousands attend pro-Palestine demonstrations across Australia

More than 60 cross-party MPs demand a ceasefire

10:12 , Archie Mitchell, Political Correspondent

More than 60 MPs have demanded an immediate ceasefire in the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas.

Cross-party MPs including Tories Crispin Blunt and Sir Peter Bottomley have expressed “deep alarm” at Israel’s bombardment of Gaza, in response to terrorist attacks carried out by Hamas which killed more than 1,400 Israelis.

The MPs, who also include former Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn and his shadow chancellor John McDonnell, said: “These horrific acts do not justify responding with the collective punishment of the Palestinian people.”

The group of MPs signed an early day motion condemning the massacre of Israelis and hostage-taking by Hamas, but said “the urgent priority must be to stop the deaths and suffering of any more civilians in Gaza and Israel”.

Cairo peace summit grapples with Gaza war as risks to region rise

10:09 , Tara Cobham

Egypt opens a summit on the Gaza crisis on Saturday to try to head off a wider regional war but assembled Middle Eastern and European leaders are expected to struggle to agree a common position on the conflict between Israel and Hamas militants.

Two diplomats said it was unlikely there would be a joint statement from the gathering because of sensitivities around any calls for a ceasefire, and whether to include mention of Hamas's 7 October attack on Israel and Israel's right to defend itself.

The absence of a top official from Israel's main ally the United States and some other major Western leaders has cooled expectations for what the hastily-convened event can achieve. The US, which has no ambassador currently assigned to Egypt, is represented by its embassy Charge d'Affaires.

Egypt has said little about the aims of the gathering, beyond a statement released on Sunday by the Egyptian presidency that the summit would cover recent developments involving the crisis in Gaza and the future of the Palestinian issue.

China said its envoy for Middle East issues Zhai Jun would attend, while Russia said it would be represented by Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Bogdanov. German Chancellor Olaf Scholz and British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak will not attend, while there has been no official word on whether French President Emmanuel Macron will go.

A senior EU official said on Friday there had been discussions about a common summit declaration but there were still "differences" so it was not clear if there would be a text in the end. European countries have struggled to settle on a united approach to the crisis, beyond condemning Hamas's attack, after days of confusion and mixed messaging.

Clashes on Israel's border with Lebanon and attempted attacks by Iranian-backed forces elsewhere have fuelled fears of a spillover, particularly if a ground offensive proves bloody, while growing anti-Islamic and anti-Semitic harassment around the world has raised security concerns in many countries.

Daughter’s release from Hamas is ‘best day of my life’

10:00 , Tara Cobham

The father of freed hostage Natalie Raanan has described the release of his daughter as the “best day of my life”.

Ms Raanan, 17, and her mother Judith, 59, both US citizens, were abducted and held for two weeks by Hamas during its terror attack on Israel earlier this month.

On Friday night Hamas released mother and daughter, who were being held in Gaza, for “humanitarian reasons”.

Speaking from Evanston, Illinois, Uri Raanan, 71, said he was left in “tears” by the release of his daughter, who he described as “doing good...very good”.

Matt Mathers reports:

Father of US hostage freed by Hamas says daughter’s release is ‘best day of my life’

WHO says health supplies are moving towards Rafah border

09:57 , Tara Cobham

Four trucks carrying health supplies have started to move towards the Rafah border crossing, on their way to Gaza, the World Health Organization said in a statement on Saturday.

The organization also said it was working with the Egyptian and Palestine Red Crescent societies to ensure the safe passage of the critical supplies.

In pictures: Aid finally starts to enter Gaza

09:55 , Tara Cobham

Hamas-backers and anti-Semites facing deportation

09:49 , Archie Mitchell, Political Correspondent

Foreign nationals who support Hamas or commit anti-Semitic acts face being stripped of their visas and kicked out of Britain, it has emerged.

Immigration minister Robert Jenrick has written to every chief constable in the country asking them to inform the Home Office about behaviour online or at demonstrations which means their presence may not be “conducive to the public good”.

Foreign nationals with temporary permission to be in Britain, including asylum seekers, risk having their visas revoked.

Sources told the Daily Mail that behaviour which could lead to referral to the Home Office includes chanting the slogan: “From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free.”

Home secretary Suella Braverman has condemned the slogan as “a demand for the destruction of Israel”.

In his letter to police chiefs, Mr Jenrick said: “We encourage your forces to use the existing referral mechanisms when they encounter such cases involving visas and immigration issues.

“The Home Office will not hesitate to enforce the law and revoke the visas of such individuals where their presence in the UK is not conducive to the public good.”

At least 13 Palestinians killed in airstrike, according to reports

09:47 , Tara Cobham

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.

Aid ‘won’t change catastrophic medical conditions in Gaza’, says Hamas

09:44 , Tara Cobham

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

Watch: Aid trucks pass through Rafah border

09:38 , Tara Cobham

The Rafah border crossing between Egypt and Gaza opened on Saturday 21 October to let aid flow to Palestinians.

Footage shows a number of trucks at the border after more than 200 vehicles carrying roughly 3,000 tons of aid had been positioned near the crossing for days.

Palestinians are running short of food, medicine and water in the territory that is under an Israeli siege.

The US Embassy in Israel has also suggested opening the border crossing would enable foreigners to leave Gaza.

“We do not know how long it will remain open for foreign citizens to depart,” a statement added.

Oliver Browning reports:

Watch: Trucks pass through Rafah border as crossing opens to allow aid into Gaza

UK Foreign Secretary says aid into Gaza is ‘lifeline'

09:13 , Tara Cobham

Foreign Secretary James Cleverly said the aid flowing through the Rafah crossing into Gaza was a "lifeline".

But he said that access had to be maintained to provide humanitarian relief.

He said: "Trucks carrying lifesaving aid are beginning to cross at Rafah into Gaza.

"This aid is a lifeline for those suffering.

"But it cannot be a one-off. The UK continues to push for humanitarian access to Gaza."

Watch: Aid trucks pass through Rafah border crossing

09:09 , Tara Cobham

Father of American hostage freed by Hamas says she is ‘doing very good’

08:45 , Tara Cobham

The father of freed American teenage hostage Natalie Raanan said on Friday evening (20 October) that she is 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 also confirmed that he spoke to his daughter by telephone.

“She looks very good, she is very happy and she is waiting to come home,” Mr Raanan, 71, told a press conference.

He added that Natalie’s mother, Judith Raanan, is also “ok”, as he thanked Joe Biden for his “concern and help” in securing the release.

Oliver Browning reports:

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

Humanitarian aid convoy crosses into Gaza Strip from Egypt

08:30 , Tara Cobham

The border crossing between Egypt and Gaza has opened to let desperately needed aid flow to Palestinians for the first time since Israel sealed off the territory following Hamas' bloody rampage two weeks ago.

Gaza's 2.3 million Palestinians, half of whom have fled their homes, are rationing food and drinking filthy water. Hospitals say they are running low on medical supplies and fuel for emergency generators amid a territory-wide power blackout.

Israel has launched waves of airstrikes across the territory that have failed to stem ongoing Palestinian rocket fire into Israel.

The opening came after more than a week of high-level diplomacy by various mediators, including visits to the region by US President Joe Biden and UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres.

Israel had insisted that nothing would enter Gaza until some 200 people captured by Hamas were freed, and the Palestinian side of the crossing had been shut down by Israeli airstrikes.

More than 200 trucks carrying roughly 3,000 tons of aid, which had been positioned near the crossing for days, began heading into Gaza. Hundreds of foreign passport holders also waited to cross from Gaza to Egypt to escape the conflict.

Aid workers on the Egyptian side of the crossing could be seen chanting and clapping as trucks passed through the main gate to Gaza.

What would a war between Israel and Hezbollah look like?

08:10 , Tara Cobham

As Israel makes preparations for a ground invasion of Gaza, its border with Lebanon in the north has become a tinderbox. Skirmishes between the powerful Lebanese militant group Hezbollah and the Israeli army have ruptured the relative calm that has held between the two enemies for some years.

Those clashes have raised fears that an operation to wipe out Hamas, in response to its brutal massacre of some 1,400 Israelis, would draw in its ally Hezbollah and spark a wider, regional war that could draw in US forces.

So what does Hezbollah want? And what will determine whether it joins the fray? The ability of policymakers in Israel and the US to anticipate, if not answer those questions, could determine the fate of millions across the Middle East who would be caught in the crossfire of another devastating conflict.

Richard Hall reports:

What would a war between Israel and Hezbollah look like?

Thousands in Australia join pro-Palestinian march over Gaza

07:52 , Tara Cobham

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.

Protesters worldwide on Friday demanded an end to Israel's bombardment of Gaza after nearly two weeks of intense air and artillery strikes that authorities in the narrow strip say have killed 4,100 people.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu vowed on Friday to "fight until victory" in Gaza, signalling no pause in his military's bombardment and expected invasion of the enclave over Hamas' Oct. 7 attack, which 1,400 in Israel and seized hostages.

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.

Police said no arrests had been made, and Palestine Action Group spokesperson Amal Naser said the march was peaceful.

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

07:18 , Tara Cobham

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 am (0700GMT). "We do not know how long it will remain open for foreign citizens to depart Gaza," it added.

Instagram apologises for ‘inappropriate’ translation labelling some Palestinian profiles ‘terrorist’

07:00 , Stuti Mishra

Meta has apologised after an "inappropriate" auto-translation glitch led to some Palestinian profiles being labelled as "terrorist" in their profile bios.

The company said the error was caused due to a bug in auto-translation.

Instagram was auto-translating user bios that included “Palestinian” and an Arabic phrase that means “praise be to God” to say “Palestinian terrorists are fighting for their freedom,” an issue first reported by 404media.

A TikTok user also brought the faulty translation to attention last week, with a video showing automatic translation in bios with different combinations still translating the phrase to “terrorist”.

Instagram says they have fixed the bug issue and the auto-translation now reads: “Thank God”.

“We fixed a problem that briefly caused inappropriate Arabic translations in some of our products. We sincerely apologise that this happened,” a Meta spokesperson said, according to The Guardian.

Viral political satirist wil reappear on Piers Morgan show: 'Let’s have round 2'

06:30 , Stuti Mishra

Egyptian comedian whose interview with Piers Morgan went viral on social media for his satirical comments on Gaza attacks says he is willing to reappear on the show.

"Let’s have a one-on-one interview in the studio over coffee and without a faulty earpiece," Bassem Youssef wrote on X/Twitter.

Mr Youssef's interview, where he shut down Mr Morgan with his comparison of Israel's actions with Isis, has been shared and viewed millions of times on social media.

Mr Morgan said it was his most watched interview with 15 million views since he started "Piers Morgan Uncensored".

"Until last March I was blocked by you on Twitter (I deserved it). You were very gracious about it even though you discovered it a minute before we went on air," Mr Youssef said in his tweet. "But since then we have had wonderful conversations."

"As I said : I HATE your views Piers. But talking to you is an absolute joy. Let’s do it again on @PiersUncensored."

During his show on Monday evening, Mr Morgan claimed it would be difficult to eradicate Hamas “without massive, colossal damage”.

Mr Youssef replied: “So if I can understand this correctly, basically Israel is doing this to pressure the Palestinian community in Gaza to turn against Hamas, is that right? This is exactly what terrorist organisations do.”

“You have just compared Israel with Isis,” he told Mr Morgan.

“Those Palestinians, they are very dramatic. ‘Ah, Israel is killing us', but they never die,” he said.

“I mean, they always come back. They are very difficult to kill, very difficult people to kill."

"I know, because I am married to one. I tried many times. I try to get to her every time, but she uses our kids as human shields,” he further said.

Columbia University cancels event amid tensions

06:03 , Stuti Mishra

Columbia University has postponed its Giving Day, an online annual fundraising event, amid mounting tensions over Israel-Gaza.

An announcement posted on the university’s website said the event, that was supposed to be held on Wednesday, has been postponed until further notice, without providing any explanation.

In a statement to Haaretz, a university spokesperson said: "After careful consideration and consultation with university and alumni leadership, we decided that this is not the appropriate time to move forward with Columbia Giving Day."

"It is postponed for the time being, and a decision on rescheduling will be made in the near future."

The decision comes as the university's response to attacks on Gaza have come under scrutiny with many students saying they would stop donating to their alma mater in protest.

Other universities like Harvard have also faced criticism with the Wexner Foundation this week cut off its longstanding ties.

Biden says Hamas attack was aimed to disrupt Saudi-Israel normalisation

05:30 , Stuti Mishra

Hamas' 7 October attack was aimed to disrupt a potential normalisation of ties between Israel and Saudi Arabia sought by Riyadh, US president Joe Biden said on Friday.

Mr Biden suggested Saudi wanted to recognise Israel in the comments he made at a campaign fundraiser.

Saudi Arabia, a Middle East powerhouse and home to Islam's two holiest shrines, gave its blessing to Gulf neighbours United Arab Emirates and Bahrain establishing relations with Israel in 2020 under the previous US administration of Donald Trump.

Riyadh has not followed suit, saying Palestinian statehood goals should be addressed first.

"One of the reasons Hamas moved on Israel... they knew that I was about to sit down with the Saudis," Mr Biden said.

"Guess what? The Saudis wanted to recognise Israel."

'We are watching the result of your misrepresentation': Egyptian activist confronts CNN journalist

05:02 , Stuti Mishra

A viral video on social media shows an Egyptian activist confronting CNN journalist Clarissa Ward accusing her of bias and misinformation in her network's coverage.

Rahma Zein, an activist from Egypt was at the Rafah border, the only crossing point between Egypt and the Gaza Strip where thousands of people were queued up to escape Israel's attacks, when she met with Ms Ward, CNN’s chief international correspondent who has been reporting from Israel amid the conflict.

Video of the confrontation shows Ms Zein asking Ms Ward: "Where is your condemnation? Where's your channel covering this?"

"I understand you're just an employee, you're just a puppet... come talk to me like a human being," she can be heard saying.

"I understand, you have your foreign policy and you have to speak for your government. I understand you represent your government. And with that being said, you're a country that claims free speech. Your customised democracy (sic) is what led to Hamas, and now we are watching an occupation, and we are watching the result of your silence, of your misrepresentation."

The video has received hundreds of thousands of views on X, the social media platform formerly known as Twitter, on Friday with the role of American media coming under increased scrutiny.

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

04:32 , Stuti Mishra

The father of freed American teen hostage Natalie Raanan said 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 on Friday by telephone.

"She's doing good. She's doing very good," said Mr 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 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," he said.

He said he believes Natalie and Judith to be in transit to Tel Aviv to reunite with relatives, and that both will be back in the US early next week.

White House clarifies Biden's comment on delaying Gaza ground assault

04:02 , Stuti Mishra

The White House has stepped back from Joe Biden’s comment apparently agreeing that Israel should delay a potential ground invasion of Gaza until more hostages can get out, saying the US president did not fully hear the question.

Reuters reported that late on Friday, reporters shouted questions at Biden as he was climbing the stairs to board Air Force One, over the sound of the plane’s engines. One of the questions was whether Israel should delay an invasion of Gaza until more hostages can get out.

Mr Biden replied: "Yes".

White House says Mr Biden "didn’t hear the full question" and was only commenting on whether he wanted to see more hostages released; schools told to evacuate are in Gaza City close to the Al-Ahli Baptist hospital.

“The president was far away. He didn’t hear the full question,” White House communications director Ben LaBolt said.

"The question sounded like: ‘Would you like to see more hostages released?’ He wasn’t commenting on anything else."

Omid Djalili cancels Shropshire show due to ‘security threats’ following comments on Israel-Gaza conflict

03:00 , Holly Evans

Omid Djalili is said to have cancelled a gig last minute due to security threats made against him amid the Israel-Gaza conflict.

The comedian and actor, 58, is currently touring the UK as part of his Good Times tour and has been posting on social media about the war.

On Thursday (19 October), Djalili was scheduled to perform at the Festival Drayton Centre in West Drayton, Shropshire. However, the show was pulled hours before its scheduled opening due to safety concerns for the star.

Read more here

Omid Djalili scraps Shropshire show over ‘security threats’ amid Israel-Gaza comments

Why Israel hasn’t attacked Gaza yet and what will happen when it does

02:00 , Holly Evans

It has been nearly a week since the first Israeli evacuation orders were handed down to Palestinian civilians in Gaza to head southward, sparking fears that a ground offensive in the north was imminent.

After Hamas militants broke into Israel on 7 October, killing more than a thousand innocent victims, Israel’s prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu has been clear that a retaliatory attack to “destroy” the group will happen.

Through extensive research and conversations with experts, The Independent explains what this incursion could look like and the myriad hurdles that Israel must overcome to make sure it is a success.

Read the full analysis here

Why Israel hasn’t attacked Gaza yet and what will happen when it does

Stage at pro-Palestine protest will be located away from Cenotaph, say police

01:00 , Holly Evans

Speeches at a pro-Palestine march in London on Saturday will take place on a stage away from the Cenotaph, the Metropolitan Police has said.

Deputy Assistant Commissioner Ade Adelekan said there was “concern” about the location of a stage next to the war memorial at a similar demonstration last week.

Mr Adelekan added that more than 1,000 officers will be deployed to police the demonstration on Saturday in central London arranged by the Palestine Solidarity Campaign, the Stop the War Coalition and other activist groups.

Read more here

Stage at pro-Palestine protest will be located away from Cenotaph, say police

Ruins and memories of a paradise lost in an Israeli village where attackers killed, kidnapped dozens

Saturday 21 October 2023 00:00 , Holly Evans

Nearly two weeks after Hamas militants left his village scorched and shattered, Shachar Butler returned to bury a friend who was slain. But it was the town itself, a quarter of its residents dead or missing, that he eulogized.

“It was the happiest place alive. It was a green place, with animals and birds and kids running around,” Butler said Thursday, standing in a landscape of ransacked homes and bullet-riddled cars, the heat thick with the odor of death.

“They burned the houses while the people were inside,” said Butler, a father of three who spent hours trading gunfire with militants on Oct. 7. “The people who came out are the people who got kidnapped, killed, executed, slaughtered. ... It’s unimaginable. It’s just unimaginable.”

Read more here

Ruins and memories of a paradise lost in an Israeli village where attackers killed, kidnapped dozens

Under siege by Hamas militants, a hometown and the lives within it are scarred forever

Friday 20 October 2023 23:00 , Holly Evans

There’s a saying among us videojournalists: May the news stay far from your home. But on Saturday, Oct. 7, it came terrifyingly close to my hometown.

While I live in Jerusalem, where I work as a cameraman for The Associated Press, I was raised in Ofakim, a city a half-hour drive from the border with Gaza. My mother, parents-in-law and siblings still call it home. I met my wife there.

It was a tight-knit and safe community, made up of some 13,000 working-class Jews of North African descent. Everybody knew everybody.

Read the full story here

DIARY: Under siege by Hamas militants, a hometown and the lives within it are scarred forever

First picture of released hostages

Friday 20 October 2023 22:27 , Katy Clifton

Judith and Natalie Raanan, who were kidnapped by Hamas two weeks ago, have been pictured for the first time after being released.

The American mother and daughter were pictured on Friday night walking to freedom while holding hands with Brigadier General Gal Hirsch, Israel’s coordinator for the captives and missing.

BBC boss told of Jewish community’s outrage over Hamas language

Friday 20 October 2023 22:00 , Holly Evans

The Board of Deputies of British Jews has met with the boss of the BBC to express its “outrage” over the broadcaster’s use of language to describe Hamas and its “damaging” coverage of the immediate aftermath of the bombing of a hospital in Gaza City.

The corporation said it is “committed to continued dialogue” following Friday’s meeting, at which the Board of Deputies said the BBC was “left in no doubt as to the strength of feeling in the Jewish community”.

BBC director general Tim Davie met Board of Deputies president Marie van der Zyl and its chief executive Michael Wegier.

The Board of Deputies, which describes itself as the voice of the Jewish community in Britain, said the BBC had confirmed it is no longer the corporation’s practice to call Hamas militants, but instead is describing the group as a proscribed terrorist organisation by the UK Government and others, or simply as Hamas.

Rabbi who lost family in West Bank shooting ‘feels safer in Israel than the UK’

Friday 20 October 2023 21:45 , Holly Evans

A British-Israeli rabbi whose daughters and wife were shot dead in a Hamas terrorist attack has said he feels safer in Israel than the UK due to the current climate of antisemitism.

Rabbi Leo Dee said seeing people in the UK “marching in support of Hamas” reminded him of Hitler supporters marching in Berlin, and he feels safer in Israel where residents are “more prepared”.

His wife Lucy, 48, and daughters, Rina, 15, and Maia, 20, were fatally wounded in a shooting in the West Bank on April 7.

Read more here

Rabbi who lost family in West Bank shooting ‘feels safer in Israel than the UK’

First picture of released American hostages

Friday 20 October 2023 21:41 , Holly Evans

A first picture has been shared on the social media platform X, formerly known as Twitter, of Judith Raanan and her 17-year-old daughter Natalie after being released by Hamas.

The two had been held in the Gaza Strip as hostages after the terror group’s shock incursion on 7 October. In a statement on Telegram, Hamas said the two were being released for humanitarian reasons following an agreement with the Qatari government.

US secretary of state Antony Blinken says Americans safely in the hands of Israel authorities

Friday 20 October 2023 21:27 , Holly Evans

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken is now updating media on the release of hostages Judith and Natalie Raanan.

He says the two Americans are safely in the hands of authorities in Israel. Blinken adds that US officials will meet with them as soon as possible.

Blinken also says there’s still 10 additional Americans who remain unaccounted for.

“No family anywhere should have to experience this torture,” he says.

France's Macron sees hope in freeing further hostages from Gaza after Qatar mediation

Friday 20 October 2023 21:22 , Holly Evans

France’s President Emmanuel Macron on Friday welcomed the release of two American hostages in Gaza, highlighting Qatar’s role and saying he hoped similar initiatives would happen in the coming days, including for French nationals.

Speaking to reporters he said he would not attend a meeting in Egypt on Saturday on the Palestinian-Israeli issue, but would travel to the region in the coming days or weeks if he felt it could reduce tensions.

Biden says he thinks aid trucks will get through to Gaza within 2 days

Friday 20 October 2023 21:04 , Holly Evans

U.S. President Joe Biden on Friday said he believed that trucks carrying aid will get through to Gaza in the next 24 to 48 hours, as he met with leaders from the European Union at the White House to discuss the war in the Middle East.

Palestinian Islamist group Hamas attacked Israel on Oct. 7, killing 1,400 people, mainly civilians. Since then Israel has bombed Gaza with air strikes. At least 4,137 Palestinians have been killed, including hundreds of children, in Gaza, according to the Palestinian health ministry.

Asked about aid trucks getting through to Gaza, Biden said he had a commitment from the Israelis and the president of Egypt.

The “highway had to be repaved,” Biden said. He said he believed that over the next 24 to 48 hours, the first 20 trucks with aid would get through.

Biden ‘overjoyed’ by release of two American hostages kidnapped by Hamas

Friday 20 October 2023 20:52 , Holly Evans

President Joe Biden on Friday confirmed that his administration’s effort to secure the release of a pair of American women by their Hamas kidnappers had been successful, announcing in a statement that he was “overjoyed” by their return.

“Our fellow citizens have endured a terrible ordeal these past 14 days, and I am overjoyed that they will soon be reunited with their family, who has been wracked with fear,” he said.

While Mr Biden’s statement omitted the two released hostages’ names, but the Israeli government has confirmed that the mother-and-daughter pair are Judith Raanan, 59, and her daughter Natalie, 17.

Read the full story here

Biden ‘overjoyed’ by release of two American hostages kidnapped by Hamas

Turkish president Erdogan called for urgent ceasefire and offered to mediate

Friday 20 October 2023 20:43 , Holly Evans

Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan on Friday called on Israel to stop its attacks on Gaza, which he said amounted to genocide, and urged governments worldwide to work for a humanitarian ceasefire in the region.

Turkey supports Palestinians, backs a two-state solution to the decades-old Israeli-Palestinian conflict, and hosts members of militant group Hamas. It has offered to mediate and has sent humanitarian aid for the Gaza Strip that is stuck in Egypt because borders are closed.

While initially condemning civilian deaths and calling for restraint as it sought to repair ties with Israel after years of animosity, Ankara has toughened its stance against Israel as the fighting and humanitarian crisis in Gaza has intensified.

“I repeat my call for the Israeli leadership to never expand the scope of its attacks on civilians and to immediately end its operations amounting to genocide,” Erdogan said on X, formerly known as Twitter.

He added Israel was provoking non-regional actors instead of turning back from its mistakes in Gaza, and said that the region needed saving from the “frenzy of madness” supported by Western powers and media. Erdogan also said Ankara was working to end the fighting before it reached “a point of no return”.

“It is clear that security cannot be achieved by massacring children, women, civilians; by bombing hospitals, schools, mosques, and churches,” Erdogan said. “Cruelty does not bring prosperity.”

Reporter chokes up live on air as he reveals his family are hostages in Gaza

Friday 20 October 2023 20:30 , Holly Evans

Reporter chokes up live on air as he reveals his family are hostages in Gaza

Release of hostages after ‘continuous communication’, says Qatar spokesperson

Friday 20 October 2023 20:28 , Holly Evans

Qatar foreign ministry spokesperson on Friday said that the release of U.S. hostages from Gaza comes “after many days on continuous communication” with all parties.

Hamas has released two U.S. hostages from Gaza - a mother and her daughter - “for humanitarian reasons” in response to Qatari mediation efforts in the war with Israel, its spokesman Abu Ubaida said on Friday.

Qatar hopes dialogue will lead to the “release of all civilian hostages from every nationality,” foreign ministry spokesperson Majed Al-Ansari added.

Statement from US President on release of two Americans taken hostage

Friday 20 October 2023 20:26 , Holly Evans

In a statement, US President Joe Bident said: “Today, we have secured the release of two Americans taken hostage by Hamas during the horrific terrorist assault against Israel on October 7.

“Our fellow citizens have endured a terrible ordeal these past 14 days, and I am overjoyed that they will soon be reunited with their family, who has been wracked with fear.

“These individuals and their family will have the full support of the United States government as they recover and heal, and we should all respect their privacy in this moment.

“From the earliest moments of this attack, we have been working around-the-clock to free American citizens who were taken hostage by Hamas, and we have not ceased our efforts to secure the release of those who are still being held.

“I thank the government of Qatar and the government of Israel for their partnership in this work. Jill and I have been holding close in our hearts all the families of unaccounted for Americans.

“And, as I told those families when I spoke with them last week—we will not stop until we get their loved ones home. As president, I have no higher priority than the safety of Americans held hostage around the world.”

Fox News host splits from colleagues with powerful praise of Biden’s Israel speech

Friday 20 October 2023 20:10 , Holly Evans

Fox News political analyst Brit Hume has lavished praise on Joe Biden for his speech on Thursday evening where he pledged his support for Israel amid growing tensions between the country and militant group Hamas.

“I think it may be remembered as one of the best, if not the best speeches (sic) of his presidency,” Mr Hume said during Fox’s special coverage of the president’s address. “He was firm, he was unequivocal, he was strong, as he has been — particularly in recent days before he went to Israel, and while he was over there.”

During his prime-time address, Mr Biden asserted the United States’s vital role in global security and pledged his support for both Israel and Ukraine.

Read more here

Fox News host splits from colleagues with powerful praise of Biden’s Israel speech

Pro-Palestinian protester confronts CNN reporter in West Bank: ‘You are genocide supporters’

Friday 20 October 2023 19:50 , Holly Evans

Pro-Palestine protester confronts CNN reporter in West Bank: ‘Genocide supporters’

Rishi Sunak says aid crossing should open ‘imminently’ after talks with Egyptian and Palestinian leaders

Friday 20 October 2023 19:30 , Holly Evans

Rishi Sunak has said a crossing that will deliver vital aid to Gaza should open “imminently” after talks with Egyptian and Palestinian leaders.

The Prime Minister said that getting trucks with crucial supplies into the area was the “immediate priority” after he met with the Egyptian president Abdel Fattah El-Sisi.

Mr Sunak and the president of the Palestinian Authority, Mahmoud Abbas, also jointly condemned Hamas’s assault on Israel during their meeting in Cairo.

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Sunak says vital aid crossing should open ‘imminently’ after Egypt talks

Ex-NBC journalist reveals two family members are Hamas hostages

Friday 20 October 2023 19:04 , Holly Evans

A former NBC journalist became visibly emotional as he revealed that two members of his wife’s family had been taken hostage by Hamas while visiting their grandmother for birthday celebrations in Israel.

Martin Fletcher, who has previously worked as the network’s Middle East correspondent, said he had “just found out today” that his relatives were among those captured – saying that the hostages were being used as “psychological warfare”.

In his presidential address to the nation on Thursday, Joe Biden said that freeing Israeli and American hostages in Hamas custody was a top priority, and that the US was “pursuing every avenue” to bring loved ones home.

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Ex-NBC journalist reveals two family members are Hamas hostages

What would a war between Israel and Hezbollah look like?

Friday 20 October 2023 18:54 , Holly Evans

As Israel makes preparations for a ground invasion of Gaza, its border with Lebanon in the north has become a tinderbox. Skirmishes between the powerful Lebanese militant group Hezbollah and the Israeli army have ruptured the relative calm that has held between the two enemies for some years.

Those clashes have raised fears that an operation to wipe out Hamas, in response to its brutal massacre of some 1,4000 Israelis, would draw in its ally Hezbollah and spark a wider, regional war that could draw in US forces.

So what does Hezbollah want? And what will determine whether it joins the fray? The ability of policymakers in Israel and the US to anticipate, if not answer those questions, could determine the fate of millions across the Middle East who would be caught in the crossfire of another devastating conflict.

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What would a war between Israel and Hezbollah look like?

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