Israel-Hamas war: 5 key developments on Thursday
Yahoo News runs down the latest important updates from the crisis in the Middle East
Troops have continued to mass at the border as Israel continues its "total siege" of Gaza.
With mains power out in Gaza and supplies running low, humanitarian groups have called for a de-escalation in the conflict as they struggle to help civilians stuck in a warzone.
The British families of Israelis kidnapped by Hamas have spoken of the horrors inflicted upon a kibbutz attacked by Hamas on Saturday, when armed militants reportedly snatched babies from their mothers armed and slaughtered entire families.
On both sides, the death toll have continued to rise, with at least 1,300 killed in Israel and 1,400 killed in Gaza.
Here are the main stories from today:
1. British relatives describe massacre
The London-based families of people taken hostage by Hamas during its attack on Israel have described the attacks, in which mothers and babies were murdered, as "a second Holocaust".
“In Israeli communities in south Israel they went door to door and snatched babies from their mothers and children from their beds, handcuffed them and brutally and cold bloodedly slaughtered them,” said a spokesperson for the British-Israeli families. “Whole families were butchered.”
Read more: Families of Israeli hostages say Hamas attacks are a ‘second Holocaust’ (PA)
2. Troops mass at border
Israeli troops have continued to mass at the border with Gaza, ahead of an anticipated ground offensive in the city.
"The purpose is to defeat the entire military capabilities and military apparatus of Hamas and that will demand a long operation," said an Israeli security source in an interview with Reuters.
Read more: Israeli army to confront resilient foe in anticipated Gaza invasion (Reuters)
3. Syria hit in airstrike
Aleppo International Airport in Syria has been hit by a suspected Israeli airstrike, with satellite pictures showing a number of craters on the runway.
The airport has previously been hit by suspected Israeli airstrikes amid an ongoing campaign believed to prevent Iranian weapons from being brought into the country.
Read more: Satellite photos - Likely Israel strike damages Syria airport (AP)
4. Wembley won't fly Israeli flag
The Football Association (FA) will not light up the Wembley arch with the Israeli flag during England's football match against Australia on Friday despite calls to do so.
The FA also suggested it would not be allowing Israeli or Palestinian flags in the venue. “Following discussions with partners and external stakeholders, we will only permit flags, replica kits and other representations of nationality for the competing nations inside Wembley Stadium for the upcoming matches against Australia and Italy," a statement said.
Read more: FA to hold silence for Israel-Palestine victims (The Guardian)
5. Easyjet update on flights
Easyjet has extended its suspension of flights to and from Israel, with chief executive Johan Lundgren saying he would like to resume services "as soon as possible" but "cannot say" when that will be.
"We are making our decisions (based) on a multiple number of sources. We are engaging with probably 10 or 12 different authorities, government authorities, security experts, alongside the expertise that we have within ourselves," he said.
Read more: Foreign Office warns against trips and airlines cancel flights (The Telegraph)
Where is Gaza?
Gaza, also known as the Gaza Strip, is a densely-populated Palestinian enclave on the eastern coast of the Mediterranean, north-east of the Sinai Peninsula.
Bound by the Mediterranean Sea to the west, Israel to the north and east and Egypt to the south, it is just 25 miles long and six miles wide.
Gaza is one of two Palestinian territories. The other is the Israeli-occupied West Bank.
