Confusion over al-Shifa evacuation: The director of Gaza City's largest hospital, al-Shifa, said earlier that the Israeli military had ordered an evacuation there. Israel denied this, saying it had agreed to an evacuation request from the director himself.

People leave hospital complex: Hundreds left al-Shifa throughout Saturday, following days of the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) searching the facility for an apparent command centre that it says lies underneath. (It has shown pictures of an alleged tunnel shaft and weapons as evidence so far.)

Blast reported at UN school-turned-shelter: The IDF said earlier that it was investigating unconfirmed reports of deaths at a UN-run school-turned-shelter in Jabalia, northern Gaza. Footage, which BBC Verify has analysed, shows many people - including women and children - with severe injuries or lying motionless on the floor.

Wounded children reach UAE: The first flight carrying around 15 injured Palestinian children and their families landed in Abu Dhabi earlier. The United Arab Emirates (UAE) says it's planning to bring 1,000 women and children from the Palestinian enclave for treatment in its hospitals over the next few days and weeks.

March to Jerusalem: The families and supporters of the more than 200 hostages being held by Hamas marched today from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem. They carried flags and placards, some bearing images of the people who've been taken. One man - the brother of a hostage - told the BBC he believed more could be done to secure their return.

Yogita Limaye
Reporting from Jerusalem

Thousands of protesters shouted "now, bring them back now" at a march demanding the release of Israeli hostages, which we reported on earlier. It started in Tel Aviv and ended in Jerusalem.

Holding up photo placards of the more than 200 hostages being held by Hamas in Gaza, and flags of Israel, people marched towards the office of Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

Elay David’s 22-year-old brother, Evyatar, was taken hostage from the Nova music festival held in southern Israel. His family has since seen videos of him with his hands tied behind his back.

“It’s a nightmare for us. We have to keep doing something, protesting so we can continue living," he told me, adding:

Read more about the people being held hostage here.

A little earlier we reported on claims that a UN school-turned-shelter in Jabalia, northern Gaza, had been hit. (Our BBC Verify colleagues analysed some footage of the incident here.)

Since then the Israeli military has shared an operational update, describing how it's "continuing and expanding its operational activities" in parts of the Palestinian enclave.

The Israel Defence Forces (IDF) say that in the last 24 hours troops have "conducted activities in the Zaytun and Jabalia areas, during which they encountered terrorists who intentionally operated from civilian areas and attacked the troops using anti-tank missiles and explosives".

It adds that its forces "eliminated" a number of Hamas operatives in the process, "and struck a large number of terrorist infrastructure".

Earlier, IDF spokesperson Lt Col Peter Lerner said the force was investigating the reported school blast.

As evening sets in across Gaza, here's a small selection of images from the territory - taken throughout the day - six weeks since the conflict between Hamas and Israel erupted.

Image source, Reuters

Image source, Reuters

Image source, Reuters

Image source, Getty Images

In the UK, the new Foreign Secretary David Cameron says he's spoken to his Israeli counterpart, Eli Cohen, and made clear that "we are committed to preventing wider regional instability" in the Middle East.

He also says he shared his condolences for the civilians killed in Hamas’s "brutal 7 October terror attack" on Israel.

Cameron, a former UK prime minister, made a shock return to front-line British politics this week when the current PM Rishi Sunak brought him back as the new foreign secretary.

Before him, James Cleverly held the post - he's been to Israel since the war began. A visit by Cameron is yet to be announced.

Attempting to move many patients from al-Shifa hospital would be "highly problematic", a spokeswoman for the World Health Organization has said.

Speaking to the BBC earlier Margaret Harris said many of the patients at the hospital were "so severely ill, so injured, or such tiny babies, that you can only move them with actual transport, not on foot".

She went on to say doctors in al-Shifa knew moving the patients would not be possible “unless somebody was providing an intensive care ambulance.”

“We're also seeing in Gaza that the availability of hospital beds and services continues to shrink just as the need rises to proportions that would be impossible to deal with in the most normal circumstances," she said.

Earlier today the health ministry in Hamas-run Gaza said 120 patients were still in al-Shifa, along with an "unspecified number" of premature babies.

The BBC can't independently verify these figures.

What the footage from al-Fakhoura school showspublished at 15:43 Greenwich Mean Time 18 November 2023

15:43 GMT 18 November 2023

Footage has emerged online claiming to show the aftermath of a strike on the UNRWA-run al-Fakhoura School in Jabalia – which has been used a shelter for displaced people.

BBC Verify has geolocated the footage to the school.

The video, which is 1 minute 40 seconds long, begins at the western corner of the school building and tracks through various rooms and stairwells as the camera moves down towards the ground floor.

Many people – including women and children – are seen with severe injuries or lying motionless on the floor in different parts of the building. There are more than 20 such casualties visible in the footage, and around half of these are seen in one particular room on the ground floor, which also shows signs of considerable damage.

UN-run schools have been used as shelters for Gazans in the north. The weather conditions evident in the footage match the forecast from today and no previous versions of the video have been found online.

BBC Verify will continue review this and any other footage of the incident to establish further details.

The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) says it's investigating unconfirmed reports of dozens of deaths at a UN-run school-turned-shelter in Gaza.

Footage from the scene appears to show several casualties in the al-Fakhoura school, which is located in the Jabalia refugee camp and has been used as a shelter for displaced people.

IDF spokesperson Lieutenant Colonel Peter Lerner told the BBC: "I can’t confirm this incident is IDF, but we are seeing the images like you on social media. We are looking into it.”

Asked about the evacuation at al-Shifa hospital earlier, Lerner said the IDF has "been encouraging people to leave” for several weeks, and has been coordinating departures this morning.

He said the IDF has facilitated the flow of supplies into the hospital, and military doctors would be willing to offer medical support to injured people inside if requested.

The hospital director said the Israeli military had ordered an evacuation, but the IDF denied this.

Describing the military situation on the ground, he said: "It is a huge challenge for any professional military operating in such a hostile environment where terrorists use tunnels to come out and launch RPGs - and they do it from places like hospitals, schools, mosques, wherever they can take advantage of the humanitarian and civilian arena."

The Hamas-run health ministry in Gaza says more than 12,000 have been killed in the territory since Israel began its campaign against Hamas.

We are getting reports that a UN school-turned-shelter in northern Gaza has been hit, with many casualties.

The Hamas-run health ministry in the Gaza Strip told the AFP news agency that at least 50 people had been killed in an Israeli strike on the UN run al-Fakhoura school.

The IDF says it is looking into the incident.

The BBC cannot independently verify what has happened, but we have verified footage that shows many people injured at the site, which is located in the Jabalia refugee camp.

Image source, AFP

The AFP news agency has released pictures of columns of Palestinians fleeing al-Shifa hospital on foot.

Hundreds of people are reported to have evacuated the hospital, which Israeli forces have been searching for days.

The pictures filed by AFP show men, women and children walking down rubble-strewn streets as a military bulldozer drives in the background.

Its reporter says the crowds included the sick and injured and they were making their way to Gaza's seafront.

Earlier we reported that the Hamas-run health ministry in Gaza said there were 120 patients and an unspecified number of premature babies left in the facility.

The hospital director has accused the Israeli military of ordering an evacuation, but the IDF says it helped facilitate a request from the director.

Image source, AFP

The UN agency for Palestinian refugees says it has received a delivery of fuel, but much more is needed for it to continue its humanitarian operations.

Yesterday Israel's war cabinet said two fuel trucks would be allowed to enter Gaza each day, but UNRWA's statement, external says this is only half the amount needed for humanitarian operations.

Fuel is needed for ambulances, sewage pumps and hospitals as well as the telecommunications network.

We earlier reported that around 15 children in need of urgent medical care fled to the UAE after being evacuated from Gaza through Rafah crossing into Egypt.

Here is the moment when they have arrived at the airport in Abu Dhabi and been transferred to the ambulances:

Image source, epa

The families of Israeli hostages held in Gaza are continuing their march from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem to try to put pressure on the Israeli government to secure their release.

Thousands of people have joined the march, which will end in a protest outside the residence of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu later today.

Yuval Haran joined the march. He told Reuters news agency that seven of his family members had been kidnapped and taken to Gaza: his mother, sister, her husband and their children aged eight and three and a cousin aged 12.

"How can you put a price on a three-year-old girl? We need them back now at any price," he said.

"We are marching here today to Jerusalem, hundreds of families and thousands of people, come join us to Jerusalem, hear our shout, bring them back home now. The whole world shout with us - bring them back home now."

Negotiations have been taking place over the possible release of some hostages in return for conditions that could include a temporary ceasefire in Gaza and the release of some Palestinian prisoners held by Israel - but no deal has yet been agreed.

Read more about the hostages here

It's 14:30 in Gaza and Israel, and here is what we know about what's happening so far on the 43rd day of war:

• Hundreds of patients and most of the medical staff at Gaza's main hospital, al-Shifa, have left the building heading towards an unspecified destination in the south of Gaza Strip
• Hamas-run officials there say 120 wounded patients along with an unspecified number of premature babies have been left behind
• Doctors say Israeli forces ordered the evacuation - but Israel denies this, saying they had agreed to an evacuation request from the hospital's director
• The evacuation comes as Israel orders residents of Khan Younis, south of Gaza City, to leave the area by 16:00
• About 26 Palestinians were killed in an Israeli air strike near Khan Younis early on Saturday, according to a Palestinian health official
• Khan Younis is already struggling with the hundreds of thousands of people who fled from northern Gaza after Israeli orders
• A UN spokesman has told the BBC that Gaza has not received any fuel since Israel allowed deliveries

Yesterday Israel’s war cabinet said it would allow two fuel trucks a day into the Gaza Strip – but Gaza’s UN agency for Palestinian refugees says that as yet, none have arrived.

UNRWA spokesperson Juliette Touma spoke to the BBC earlier and said “we urgently need fuel for the humanitarian operations across the Gaza Strip.”

“None of the trucks that have been coming in since 21 October had fuel on them”, Touma said. “We need At least 120,000 litres of fuel every single day if UNRWA and other humanitarian aid organizations are to continue delivering assistance to people in need across the Gaza strip.”

Touma added that they need to distribute aid to 80,000 people in shelters that the agency manages. “UNRWA should not be pushed in the corner begging for fuel.”

Image source, Reuters

The first flight carrying injured Palestinian children from Gaza in need of medical treatment has landed in Abu Dhabi.

The plane carried around 15 children and their families, and arrived from Egypt after they were allowed to cross into the country from Gaza using the Rafah Crossing.

The UAE is planning to bring about 1,000 women and children from Gaza for treatment in its hospitals over the next few days and weeks.

The Emirati branch of the Red Crescent is also building a field hospital on the Egyptian side of the Rafah Crossing for those who are too sick to travel.

Hospitals in Gaza are experiencing significant challenges because of the Israeli siege, which has caused a lack of fuel, water and basic supplies.

Tom Bateman
Middle East correspondent, in Jerusalem

Piecing together what is happening at al-Shifa hospital has been challenging for days now, with the Israeli siege having caused rolling communications blackouts in Gaza.

The first indications of a further evacuation this morning came from the AFP news agency quoting one of its journalists at the scene. He said Israeli troops ordered the evacuation of the hospital “in the next hour" over loudspeakers.

Posts from social media users were suggesting similar; though not always clearly sourced. The journalist said the Israeli military had called the hospital's director, Mohammed Abu Salmiya, to instruct him to ensure "the evacuation of patients, wounded, the displaced and medical staff, and that they should move on foot towards the seafront”.

We’ve been trying to message and call our medical contacts in al-Shifa all morning, but we haven’t been able to reach them. Within 90 minutes of the AFP report, the Israeli military put out a statement denying the evacuation was an “order” and said medical staff could stay to look after patients who couldn’t get out.

It said it had “agreed” to “expand and assist evacuation” efforts for those who would like to leave following a “request” from the hospital director. With tanks and troops surrounding the hospital, however, much of the question over whether the evacuation is “requested” or an “order” may seem like just semantics.

The army said there would be a “secure route” to evacuate but didn’t say where to.

The Israeli military claims Hamas uses the hospital as a command centre, but Hamas denies this.

About 26 Palestinians were killed in a strike near Khan Younis early on Saturday, a health official in the city said.

The director of Nasser hospital in Khan Younis said it had received the bodies of 26 people, and 23 others with serious injuries, after an air strike on a residential building in Hamad town to the north-west of the city.

Most of those killed were children, news agency Wafa said.

The Israeli military has not yet commented on the report.

Palestinian news agency Wafa also reported deadly bombardments in Jabalia refugee camp in northern Gaza and Rafah near the border with Egypt.

Dr Ahmed El Mokhallalati, an Irish-Palestinian doctor working at al-Shifa, says he and five other doctors are staying at the hospital with 120 patients that remain there.

"Many patients can not leave the hospital as they are in the ICU beds or the baby incubators," he posted on X.

El Mokhallalati said the Israeli military had ordered everyone to leave the hospital. The IDF has denied this, saying it had agreed to an evacuation request from the hospital's director.