Over 8,000 people have been killed in Gaza in Israeli strikes
Israel-Hamas war live updates:
Israel today continued to bombard Gaza as its troops pressed into the enclave with a ground assault. Israel has been pounding Gaza after Hamas attacked Israeli towns on October 7 and killed about 1,400 people. The Hamas operatives also took at least 239 hostages.
According to the Israeli government, more than half the hostages held by Hamas have foreign passports from 25 countries, including 54 Thai nationals.
Medical authorities in the Gaza Strip on Sunday said that 8,005 people – including 3,324 minors – had been killed.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has vowed to “crush” Hamas operatives, who have an extensive tunnel network in and around Gaza City.
Here are the live updates on the Israel-Hamas war:
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US President Joe Biden on Sunday spoke with Egypt President Abdel Fattah Al-Sisi and expressed his appreciation for Egypt’s role in efforts to facilitate the delivery of humanitarian assistance to war-torn Gaza.
According to White House, the two leaders committed to the significant acceleration and increase of assistance flowing into Gaza beginning Sunday and then continuously.
“They also discussed the importance of protecting civilian lives, respect for international humanitarian law, and ensuring that Palestinians in Gaza are not displaced to Egypt or any other nation,” the White House said in a statement.
Mr Biden also briefed President Sisi on US efforts to ensure that “regional actors not expand” the conflict in Gaza and also on continuing efforts to secure the release of hostages.
Mr Biden and Mr Sisi affirmed their commitment to work together to set the conditions for a durable and sustainable peace in the Middle East to include the establishment of a Palestinian state.
The phone and internet cuts in Gaza have hampered rescue operations. The cuts appeared to ease on Sunday, but telecoms provider Paltel said that Israeli air strikes again had knocked out internet and phone service in parts of the enclave’s northern sections, where the Hamas group has command centres.
Two days after the Israeli government ordered expanded ground incursions, Israel on Sunday released a video showing its battle tanks in northern Gaza. According to Israel Defense Forces (IDF), IAF aircraft, guided by IDF troops, struck Hamas structures and killed “multiple terrorists”.
“Anti-tank missile launch posts and observation posts were struck,” the IDF said.
As we continue to expand our ground operations in northern Gaza:
🔴IAF aircraft, guided by IDF troops, struck Hamas structures.
🔴Anti-tank missile launch posts & observation posts were struck.
🔴Multiple terrorists were eliminated. pic.twitter.com/XMwKPKGZ1R– Israel Defense Forces (@IDF) October 29, 2023
Some pictures posted on social media platforms also showed Israeli troops waving an Israeli flag deep inside Gaza. NDTV could not verify the images.
With a motive to “crush” Hamas operatives for their October 7 attack on Israeli towns, Israel today pounded northern Gaza as its troops — backed by tanks — pressed into the enclave with a ground assault.
FACT: “The IDF is focused right now on one thing-victory and dismantling Hamas.”
This is how the Chief of the General Staff, LTG Herzi Halevi, fortifies the soldiers of the IDF Artillery Corps. pic.twitter.com/qGokguNue3
– Israel Defense Forces (@IDF) October 29, 2023
Clashes between Hamas operatives and Israeli forces were also reported in a border area east of the city of Khan Younis in Gaza’s south.