US Secretary of State Antony Blinken called for "calm and stability" in the West Bank in a call with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, the state department said.

It comes after violence broke out in the West Bank, with six Palestinians killed in clashes with Israeli police and settlers

Blinken reiterated the US' "unequivocal condemnation of the terrorist attacks by Hamas against Israel" and called on "all leadership in the region to condemn them", a spokesperson said.

A Hamas spokesperson earlier told the BBC that the militant group had backing from its ally, Iran, for its surprise attacks on Israel, saying it was a source of pride.

Ghazi Hamad told the World Service's Newshour programme that other countries had also helped Hamas, but he did not name them.

Earlier, a senior adviser to Iran's supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, confirmed the Islamic Republic supported the attacks, but did not go into any details.

The Hamas spokesperson also claimed the violence was in response to attacks by Jewish settlers.

"Every day they are building settlements, taking our lands, killing our people, entering our cities. Through the mediators, [the Egyptians, the Qatari or the UN] we tell them to stop but they didn’t listen to anyone."

Image source, EPA

Hamas says said it has fired 150 rockets at the central Israeli city of Tel Aviv this evening, in retaliation for an Israeli air strike that took down a high rise building in Gaza City.

A residential building collapsed and two wounded people were pulled from the rubble, Israeli media quote the fire and rescue service as saying.

Videos on social media show a barrage of rockets over Tel Aviv. Local media reports at least 10 people wounded.

Image source, .

A lot has happened in the past few hours, so here's a summary of where things stand:

• Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu has said the attacks carried by the Palestinian militant group Hamas today have never been seen before in his country - and he warned he would take "mighty vengeance" for what he described as a "black day"

• US President Joe Biden gave brief but forceful remarks, saying: "Let there be no mistake, the United States stands with the State of Israel"

• Richard Hecht, spokesman for the Israeli army, confirmed a "severe hostage situation" is ongoing in kibbutz Be'eri and the city of Ofakim
• Hecht also said fighting was ongoing at 22 locations within Israeli territory
• Israel says about 250 people have been killed in the attacks by Hamas, which has been firing rockets from Gaza and sending fighters into Israel.
• A Palestinian health official has told the BBC more than 230 people have been killed in Israel's retaliatory air strikes on Gaza. One Israeli air strike hit a high rise tower block in Gaza City
• The violence has also reached the West Bank, where six Palestinians have been killed and 120 injured in clashes with Israeli police and settlers

Hours after gunmen from Gaza infiltrated Israel and the Israeli army started bombarding the Strip, violence has also spread to the West Bank, including Israeli-annexed East Jerusalem.

Six Palestinians, including a child, have been killed and more than 120 wounded in clashes with Israeli forces and settlers, Palestinian medical services said.

Ahmad Abdel Nasser Rabi, 13, was killed by Israeli soldiers in Qalqilya, the Palestinian Ministry of Health said.

The Palestinian Red Crescent Society says there have been clashes at least six separate locations around the West Bank.

Yolande Knell
BBC Middle East correspondent

There were initial pictures of celebrations in Gaza where snatched Israeli military vehicles were driven through the streets.

“I am happy with what Hamas has done so far, taking revenge for Israeli actions at al-Aqsa,” a young man in Gaza City told the BBC, referring to the recent rise in Jewish visitors to the compound in Israeli-annexed East Jerusalem during the high holidays.

The al-Aqsa Mosque is the third holiest site in Islam and is also the holiest place for Jews, known as Temple Mount.

Still, the man who was leaving his apartment after warnings that the Israeli miltary was set to hit nearby, expressed fear for what would happen next.

“We’re worried, already my family lost our shop when the Shorouk Tower was hit by Israel in the war of 2021,” he said.

“The action Hamas has taken this time is far bigger, so there will be an even bigger Israeli response.”

Read more from Yolanda here

The number of people killed in Israel since the Hamas militant attack began early this morning has risen to at least 250, Israeli media report.

The health ministry has said that another 1,452 people have been taken to hospital, with 18 in a critical condition and another 267 described as severe.

Hospitals in both southern Israel and Gaza have been inundated with casualties. Palestinian health officials say 232 people have died in Gaza and another 1,790 are wounded.

Kayla Epstein
US reporter

There is growing debate among different branches in America's Democratic Party over the matter of Israel and the Palestinians and how the US should involve itself.

But today the country's top Democrats from across the party spectrum have been unified in condemning the attacks and supporting Israeli security.

Congressional leaders offered firm condemnations of the attack by Hamas.

"The US stands with Israel in its unwavering right to defend itself. I stand ready to ensure Israel has the support to do so," Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer wrote on X.

House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries condemned the "violent, unprovoked and despicable terrorist attack".

A coalition of rank-and-file Jewish lawmakers in Congress also issued a statement declaring: "Our alliance with Israel is unbreakable; our commitment to Israel’s security is ironclad."

Some prominent voices on the left also voiced their support.

Bernie Sanders, an Independent who caucuses with the Democrats and has harshly criticised Israel's government, wrote on X that: " I absolutely condemn the horrifying attack on Israel by Hamas and Islamic Jihad.

"There is no justification for this violence," he continued, "And innocent people on both sides will suffer hugely because of it."

Image source, Getty Images

More now from Netanyahu.

The Israeli PM says Israel will "reach every place Hamas is hiding" and he tells "Gaza's people to leave those places now", according to Reuters.

He says Hamas is responsible for the wellbeing of captives.

"Israel will settle the score with anyone who harms them," he adds.

In his statement, the Israeli PM says what has happened today has never been seen in Israel, and Israel will take "mighty vengeance for this black day", news agency Reuters reports.

Israel's PM Netanyahu is now making a statement. We'll bring you the latest here.

Israeli army spokesman Richard Hecht has given reporters an update on the situation in southern Israel.

Fighting is still going on at 22 separate locations on Israeli territory after Hamas militants attacked early on Saturday.

He says a "severe hostage situation" is going on at Kibbutz Be'eri and Ofakim. Earlier, we reported that Hamas militants have taken both Israeli soldiers and civilians hostage, in an unprecedented situation.

Israeli media report that Hamas militants are still fighting the army at the police station in Sderot. However, a number of other towns and communities have been secured, reports say.

Biden continues by saying his administration has been speaking to allies to make sure Israel "has what it needs and they can continue to defend themselves", without giving details.

As he describes the events in Israel, he says what is happening is a "tragedy on a human level... it's heartbreaking".

"Jill and I... grieve for those who've lost their loved ones," he says.

Kayla Epstein
US reporter

Biden is now at the White House podium flanked by his secretary of state.

"Israel has the right to defend itself and its people, full stop," he said.

Biden reaffirmed the US's full support for Israel, saying its support is "rock solid and unwavering".

"This is not a moment for any party hostile to Israel to exploit these attacks, to seek an advantage," he said. "The world is watching".

Ece Göksedef
Live reporter

Said Shoaib lives in Bureij Camp - a camp for Palestinian refugees in the Gaza strip - with his family of 12.

As I was speaking to him, the conversation was cut a few times because of power cuts.

"The Israeli army has been bombarding us non-stop”, he said. “I might even be killed by an Israeli rocket as I am speaking to you.”

When I asked him what was his reaction to Hamas' action, he said "We are the owners of the land."

Kayla Epstein
US reporter

We're waiting for US President Joe Biden to deliver remarks on the situation very shortly.

Earlier today, the White House announced that Biden "spoke with King Abdullah II of Jordan following his call with Prime Minister Netanyahu".

"The president continues to receive regular updates on the situation in Israel from his national security team," the statement said.

Earlier on social media, the president condemned the "appalling Hamas terrorist attacks" and expressed his administration's "unwavering commitment to Israel's security".

Biden is due to speak any moment now. You can watch his statement by pressing play at the top of this page.

Frank Gardner
BBC News, Security Correspondent

This is an exceptionally difficult tactical situation for Israel.

The presence of Israeli hostages held at gunpoint in at least two locations close to the Gaza-Israel border presents Israel with a delicate dilemma where there are no easy options.

A rescue operation by Special Forces is an obvious choice and the IDF - Israel Defence Forces - have said they are already deployed in more than one location.

The risk here is that the captors kill the captives before the rescuers can reach them.

Negotiation is the other option but it’s hard to see this happening in such a febrile atmosphere where the death toll on both sides is still mounting by the hour.

It’s also worth noting that when the Israeli serviceman Gilad Shalit was kidnapped by Palestinian militants in a cross-border raid in 2006 it took five years of tortuous negotiations.

Read more from Frank.

A Palestinian health ministry official has told the BBC that at least 232 people have been killed in Gaza since Israeli strikes started this morning.

At least 1,790 people were injured, according to the ministry.

Israel's PM Netanyahu has invited opposition leaders - Yair Lapid and Benny Gantz - to form an emergency national government, according to a statement from his party Likud.

Earlier, Lapid told Israeli media that he is willing to form an emergency government with Netanyahu.

Public broadcaster Kan says Lapid and Gantz are meeting now to discuss the conditions for them entering government.

Palestinian militants have taken dozens of Israelis captive, both military and civilian, in an unprecedented development.

Some are thought to be being held in some of the small towns near the Gaza Strip, while others have been taken back into Gaza.

Video has emerged showing the moment a woman, believed to be an Israeli hostage, is pushed into a car, which is then driven away.