Israel says it will increase Gaza strikes, telling more people to flee south

1. Daniel Hagari, spokesman for the Israel Defense Forces (IDF), says the Israeli military will "deepen" and "increase" its strikes on Gaza
2. At a press conference, he told reporters this would allow Israel to "minimise the risks to our forces in the next stages of the war" - and it would happen "from today"
3. Hagari also repeated a call for residents of Gaza City to move to the south of the region, saying it was for their own safety
4. The warning comes on the same day aid was allowed into Gaza, from Egypt, for the first time since the Israel-Hamas war erupted
5. Despite some leaders celebrating the move, the UN called the aid a "drop in the ocean" of what's needed
6. Meanwhile the father of freed US hostage Natalie Raanan - who was held captive by Hamas for almost two weeks - has spoken to the BBC
7. He said his daughter, 17, is a "tough girl" and that "it'll take time for her to get back to normal ... but she'll be fine"
8. It's two weeks since Hamas launched its assault on Israel, killing more than 1,400 people. Palestinian officials say more than 4,000 have been killed in Gaza since then

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Head here to follow the latest developments after Israel said it struck targets in the occupied West Bank, and issued a fresh warning about intensified air strikes in the separate Gaza Strip.

Earlier Israeli raid in West Bank refugee camp killed 13 people - UN

This latest news of an Israeli strike in the West Bank comes after a separate update on the territory from the UN.

Thirteen people - including five children - were reportedly killed in the West Bank during an Israeli security forces operation in the Nur Shams refugee camp, according to the UN's relief and works agency for Palestine refugees in the near east (UNRWA).

In a statement issued on Saturday, UNRWA said one Israeli soldier was also killed and "scores of others were injured".

The UN agency was forced to suspend services including schools, health and solid waste collection, it said in a statement.

The Israeli-occupied West Bank is home to three million Palestinians.

In the past 50 years Israel has built settlements in the West Bank and East Jerusalem, where more than 700,000 Jews now live. Settlements are held to be illegal under international law - that is the position of the UN Security Council and the UK government, among others - although Israel rejects this.

This year has been the deadliest year on record for Palestinians in the occupied West Bank and East Jerusalem. According to UNRWA, more than 270 Palestinians have been killed in the West Bank so far this tear - with at least 82 of those killings taking place after Hamas's attack in southern Israel on 7 October.

• Read more here

EPA-EFE/REX/Shutterstock

Palestinians mourn the death of relatives in the West Bank

IDF strike was on mosque

A subsequent post from the IDF's English-language account clarifies that the strike in Jenin targeted a mosque.

"Recent IDF intel revealed that the mosque was used as a command centre to plan and execute terrorist attacks against civilians," the posts says.

The Israeli-occupied West Bank is a separate territory to the Gaza Strip, where the IDF earlier vowed to intensify its strikes. It warned residents of Gaza City to move south for their own safety.

BreakingIsrael strikes West Bank

The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) says one of its aircraft has attacked an “underground terrorist route”, which it alleged included a Hamas cell, in Jenin in the West Bank.

According to Reuters news agency, citing Palestinian medics, two Palestinians were killed and an unspecified number of others were wounded when Israeli aircraft carried out a strike early on Sunday in the city.

It is unclear if the air raid referred to by Reuters is the same one that the IDF posted about on X, formerly known as Twitter.

Blinken thanks Qatar's PM in phone call

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken spoke to Qatari prime minister and minister of foreign affairs, Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani on Saturday, Blinken's spokesman has said.

In a phone call, Blinken thanked Qatar for its "important assistance" in ensuring the release of two US citizens taken by Hamas on 7 October.

Judith and Natalie Raanan were released in a Qatar-brokered deal on Friday, but Israel estimates that about 210 others are still held hostage in Gaza.

Blinken's spokesman said the pair discussed efforts to secure the immediate and safe return of all hostages.

• Read more about Judith and Natalie Raanan here

I'm talking to the Israelis, says Biden

Reuters

On Saturday, US President Joe Biden was asked if he was encouraging Israel to delay any ground offensive into the Gaza Strip.

In response, Biden simply said he was "talking to the Israelis".

Israel is widely expected to launch the offensive, but the timing remains unknown.

In the meantime, Israel has put Gaza under siege, cutting off essential supplies.

UK PM wants a stream of aid trucks into Gaza

Helen Catt

Political correspondent

In his latest comments, Rishi Sunak added that he made this week's trip to the Middle East to show the UK stood "in solidarity" with the region "against terrorism".

The PM said he wanted to talk "face-to-face" with other leaders because it was "more important than ever to accelerate diplomatic efforts".

And in a Sunday Telegraph article, he calls for all water supplies to be restored to Gaza wherever it is physically possible.

He welcomes the reopening of the Rafah crossing to allow aid to enter and calls for a "stream of trucks" to come rolling through.

Sunak also says the government is "working intensively with international partners" to allow trapped British nationals to use it to leave Gaza.

Meanwhile, Foreign Secretary James Cleverly has told the Sunday Times the government will only call British nationals forward when it's "confident there would be a long enough period for them to credibly, safely leave Gaza", and it's "not yet in that position."

Sunak warns of risk of 'contagion' across Middle East

EPA

The British prime minister met Egyptian President Abdul Fattah al-Sisi in Cairo this week

Here in the UK, Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has warned that the Israel-Hamas war risks unleashing a "contagion of conflict" across the Middle East.

Sunak, who visited Israel, Saudi Arabia and Egypt for talks this week, said the leaders have agreed they "need to do everything possible" to prevent the spread of war.

He added that "there can be no justification" for the atrocities committed by Hamas and the UK "stands in solidarity with them against terrorism". The PM went on:

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."

Israel warns of increased strikes after aid reaches Gaza

Sam Hancock

Live reporter

I'm now handing over the editing of our live coverage to my colleague James FitzGerald who, along with Malu Cursino, will be bringing you updates and analysis throughout the night here in London.

Before then, here's a quick reminder of where things stand:

• Israeli military spokesman Daniel Hagari has said strikes targeting Hamas will "deepen" and "increase" - and warned residents still in Gaza City to move to the south of the region for their own safety
• The BBC's Paul Adams reports that leaflets have been dropped over Gaza, telling those who remain in the north that they may end up being seen as an accomplice to Hamas

• Also today we saw the first trucks carrying aid into Gaza enter from Egypt, delivering Palestinians much-needed food, water and medical supplies - but not fuel
• The UN called the aid given a "drop in the ocean" of what's actually needed

• It's two weeks since Hamas launched its assault on Israel, killing more than 1,400 people. The Hamas-run health ministry says more than 4,000 have been killed in Gaza since then

Thanks for following along - that's it from me. Today's coverage - so far - has been brought to you by Dulcie Lee, Jacqueline Howard, Rosemary McCabe, Emily McGarvey and me.

My daughters beg for Gaza City return - but our old lives are over

Rushdi Abualouf

Reporting from Khan Younis, Gaza

BBC

The BBC's Rushdi Abualouf and his family have done what many Gazans have been told to by Israel - move from the north to the south

Two days ago, my wife and children nearly died.

They were on the ground floor of a four-storey building in Khan Younis, Gaza, near a hospital where I'm sleeping in a tent.

They were about to leave for the day to meet me when an Israeli drone attack punched through the top floor.

My nine-year-old twin daughters ran out into the street screaming, separated from their mother, who was struck in the head by a piece of rubble.

My wife's injuries were, thankfully, minor. But my daughters - who have had to leave behind everything they love in Gaza City and head south - were traumatised.

My family now spends their nights just a few doors down from the building that was struck, not knowing if they're safe as they close their eyes.

• To keep reading, head here

UN says more aid could enter Gaza tomorrow

EPA

We've an update now on what's next in terms of aid getting into Gaza. The UN's humanitarian chief says a second convoy of 20 to 30 trucks could enter the region tomorrow, and the UN and Israel are having "tough but fair" discussions about how trucks will be inspected.

"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," Martin Griffiths said - hours after the first trucks carrying food, water and medical supplies were allowed into Gaza from Egypt.

"We need from tomorrow to build up a light, efficient, random hopefully, inspection system that will not slow things down," Griffiths is cited by Reuterts as saying.

He compared the type of possible system to that used in Gaziantep to send aid from Turkey into Syria and said the Israelis "need to decide which agencies from their own government system are involved in the inspection, and we need to be able to persuade them that a light inspection system works".

Griffiths added that a system for tracking the use of fuel was also discussed, having not been included in aid deliveries to Gaza today. Fuel is needed for hospitals and water provision.

Why the Rafah border crossing is so important

The crossing that connects Egypt to the southern Gaza Strip opened today for the first time since the Israel-Hamas war erupted to allow 20 trucks to carry aid in. Two other border crossings from the strip go into Israel - both are shut.

Hamas and Egypt exercise control over who can pass through, but Egyptian media said the crossing was shut following three Israeli strikes on 9 and 10 October.

On 12 October, the Egyptian government asked Israel to halt strikes near the crossing but made it clear it would not reopen the passage without safety guarantees for staff and supplies.

On 20 October, around 175 of trucks with life-saving aid waited on the Egyptian side for entry. On 21 October, the first 20 trucks crossed.

Israel has refused to allow fuel to cross the border but aid leaders say fuel is essential to power water pumps, with water quickly running out in Gaza.

• For more on the Rafah crossing, head here

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Biden reiterates US commitment to get aid into Gaza

Reuters

In the US, President Biden says his administration remains committed to ensuring that civilians in Gaza will continue to have access to food, water and medical care without diversion by Hamas.

In a statement, he said:

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."

The first convoy of humanitarian aid since Hamas's surprise attacks on 7 October passed through the Rafah crossing into Gaza today.

Biden also says the US is working "around the clock" to facilitate US citizens and family members to leave Gaza safely.

Israeli military says it will increase attacks on Gaza

In the last few minutes we've heard from Daniel Hagari, a spokesman for the Israel Defense Forces (IDF), who says Israel's military plans to increase its strikes on Gaza, starting this evening.

"We'll deepen our strikes, minimise the risks to our forces in the next stages of the war and we're going to increase the attacks from today," he told a press conference.

Hagari urged residents of Gaza City "to continue moving south for their safety". (There's more detail on the mass evacuation from north to south Gaza in our previous post.)

The Israeli military began carrying out retaliatory airstrikes on Gaza following Hamas's surprise attacks on Israel two weeks ago, which killed more than 1,400 people.

Palestinian health officials say more than 4,000 people have been killed in Gaza since then.

Israel is widely expected to launch a ground offensive into the Gaza Strip soon, but the timing remains unknown.

How many people have moved to southern Gaza?

Israeli officials have repeatedly told all residents in the northern Gaza Strip to leave and move south of Wadi Gaza - a river valley in the centre of the territory. The evacuation order impacts around 1.1 million people.

Earlier, a spokesman for the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said 700,000 people in Gaza had so far made the move south.

The northern part of the Gaza strip, including Gaza City - which was home to around 775,000 people before the conflict began - is the most densely populated part of the region, as shown in the below graphic.

BBC

In a press conference earlier, translated by Sky News, the IDF spokesman added that some 307 Israeli soldiers had been killed in total since the attack by Hamas on 7 October.

As supplies of food, water and medication began to move across the Rafah crossing from Egypt, he claimed the humanitarian situation in Gaza was “under control”. But, as we've been reporting, humanitarian groups and the UN say the situation is desperate and much more aid is urgently needed.

Leaflets dropped over Gaza come with a sinister warning

Paul Adams

Diplomatic correspondent, in Jerusalem

For a moment this morning, celebrations broke out on either side of the Rafah crossing as trucks - stuck for more than two weeks on the Egyptian side - finally crossed into the Gaza Strip with their precious cargoes: food, water and medical supplies.

But with more than two million Palestinians facing increasingly dreadful conditions and Israeli warplanes obliterating whole neighbourhoods of the Gaza Strip in relentless, round-the-clock airstrikes, today’s aid delivery barely scrapes the surface of what’s needed.

And there are signs the situation could soon get worse.

Leaflets, dropped over Gaza City, come with a sinister warning: anyone who does not move south may end up being seen as what is described as an accomplice to a terrorist organisation.

In his daily press briefing, Daniel Hagari, Israel’s chief military spokesman, once again attempted to persuade those who remain in the north to move.

Humanitarian conditions are anything but under control, though. Aid agencies say vastly more help is needed - including fuel.

Hamas hostages: The people taken from Israel

BBC

As we reported earlier, the Israeli military believes about 210 people are currently being held hostage by Hamas.

Hamas said it's hidden them in "safe places and tunnels" within Gaza.

The Israel Defense Forces say the hostages include 20 children and between 10 and 20 over-60s. Two American hostages - mother and daughter Judith and Natalie Raanan - are the first to have been freed (you can read more about this in our previous post).

We're keeping a close eye on any updates about those being held - including the people confirmed by the BBC, or credibly reported, to have been abducted by Hamas from Israel.

• You can read their stories here

Father of freed hostage praises 'tough' daughter

Nomia Iqbal

North America correspondent

I’ve just chatted to Natalie Raanan’s father, Uri Raanan, in Chicago - he moved here from Israel 40 years ago.

“I did not lose hope. I spoke to my daughter for two minutes yesterday on the phone, she is feeling very good and looking forward to coming home," he told me.

He said it’s Natalie’s 18th birthday on Tuesday and he hopes she’ll be back by then.

Natalie and her mother Judith yesterday became the first hostages to be freed by Hamas. They were received by the Israel Defense Forces at the Israel-Gaza boundary, before being taken to a military base to be reunited with family members.

I asked Uri what his thoughts were when he saw the first pictures of his daughter and ex wife after they were held captive for nearly two weeks by Hamas.

“She looks very well, they look very well. I was so happy," he said, adding that his daughter is a "tough girl".

"It’ll take time for her to get back to normal after this, but she’ll be fine.”

POTUS

Hamas says Natalie (left) and her mother Judith were freed for "humanitarian reasons"

A quick recap of today's developments

EPA

Day has turned to night in Israel, where two weeks ago Hamas launched its surprise attack, prompting Israel to launch retaliatory air strikes. Here's where things stand at the moment.

Pro-Palestinian protests have been held in several countries around the world, including London in the UK, Rome in Italy and Mombasa in Kenya. The BBC's Dominic Casciani witnessed the march in London - here's his take.

Twenty trucks carrying humanitarian aid were allowed through the Rafah border crossing from Egypt into Gaza earlier - the first since the conflict began. The UN says the delivery of aid is a "drop in the ocean" of the amount that's needed.

Israel estimates that the number of hostages currently being held by Hamas in Gaza is 210. Yesterday, mother and daughter Judith and Natalie Raanan became the first people to be released. There's more on those being held here.

Egypt hosted a summit of global powers to discuss the Israel-Gaza war, though Israel, Iran and the US were not present.

The Hamas-run heath ministry says 4,385 people have died in Gaza in the last two weeks. Israel's military says at least 307 soldiers have been killed in that same timeframe, and the Hamas attacks in Israel have killed about 1,400 in total.

What leaders said at the Egypt summit

Reuters

As we've been reporting, representatives from countries around the world met at a summit in Egypt today and have been unified in calling for an end to the war between Israel and Gaza.

Here's a snippet of what some of the speakers said:

• UN Secretary-General António Guterres appealed for a humanitarian ceasefire

• Jordan's King Abdullah warned non-Arab countries to avoid sending the "very dangerous" message that "Palestinians lives matter less than Israeli ones"
• South African President Cyril Ramaphosa said South Africans could relate to the plight of Palestinians in the "struggle to achieve their freedom"
• UK Foreign Secretary James Cleverly said he had spoken to the Israeli government directly "about their duty to respect international law and the importance of preserving civilian lives in Gaza"
• Japan's Foreign Minister Yōko Kamikawa said the international community must not let the war "shut the windows of opportunity for Middle East peace"
• Brazil's Foreign Minister Mauro Vieira called on the world to avoid any possibility of regional spillover of the conflict
• Germany's Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock said the flames of hatred must not be fanned, "because that is exactly what Hamas and their sponsors want"