Over 8,000 people have been killed in Gaza after another day and night of relentless airstrikes as Benjamin Netanyahu warned the “next stage of war” has begun.
The Gaza death toll includes over 3,000 children, according to the health ministry, as humanitarian groups and politicians increase calls for a ceasefire.
After Israel’s three-week blockade of food, water, electricity and fuel into Gaza, thousands of civilians broke into aid warehouses overnight, taking wheat flour and other basic survival items like hygiene supplies.
The UNRWA has warned this “is a worrying sign that civil order is starting to break down”.
But after a two-day cellular and internet blackout in the besieged strip, Palestinian media reported phone and internet services were gradually returning.
Meanwhile, residents in the north of the bombarded enclave were ordered to evacuate south as they were told their “window to act is closing”.
This comes as the Met Police reveal they have made a total of 100 arrests in pro-Palestine demonstrations over recent weeks.
Hezbollah says it downs Israeli drone in south Lebanon
Lebanon’s Hezbollah said on Sunday it shot down an Israeli drone over southern Lebanon with a surface-to-air missile, the first time it has announced such an incident, as clashes on the Lebanese border escalate.
The drone was hit near Khiam, about 5 km (3 miles) from the border with Israel, and was seen falling in Israeli territory, Hezbollah added. Two security sources in Lebanon said it was the first time Hezbollah had announced downing an Israeli drone.
“They have insinuated they have this capability but it is the first time they declare they have this kind of capability to shoot down a drone,” Mohanad Hage Ali of the Carnegie Middle East Center said.
The Israeli Defence Ministry was not immediately available for comment.
Earlier on Sunday, the United Nations’ Lebanon peacekeeping force UNIFIL said that one of its members was injured after shells hit its base near the village of Houla on the Lebanese-Israeli border on Saturday.
The Israeli army and the Iranian-backed Hezbollah group in Lebanon have been exchanging fire on a daily basis since the start of the Gaza conflict three weeks ago.
Israel warns Gaza’s Al-Quds hospital to evacuate immediately
The Palestinian Red Crescent said on Sunday it received warnings from Israeli authorities to immediately evacuate al-Quds hospital in the Gaza Strip, and said there had been raids 50 metres away from the hospital.
Pope Francis prays for a world in ‘a dark hour’ and danger from ‘folly’ of war
Amid the latest bloodshed in the Middle East, Pope Francis led special Friday evening prayers in St. Peter’s Basilica for a world “in a dark hour” and in “great danger” from what he described as the folly of war.
Francis delivered his remarks in the form of a prayer to the Virgin Mary and didn’t mention by name the conflict that exploded when Hamas militants attacked southern Israel on Oct. 7 and Israel retaliated by sealing off the Gaza Strip and battering the Palestinian territory with airstrikes.
He said he was praying for “especially those countries and regions at war,” and he pleaded with Mary to “take the initiative for us, in these times rent by conflicts and laid waste by the fire of arms.”
Pope Francis prays for a world in ‘a dark hour’ and danger from ‘folly’ of war
Pope Francis has led a special prayer service in St_ Peter’s Basilica for a world
‘Difficult to target Hamas without hurting innocent people’, says Tory minister
‘Difficult to target Hamas without hurting innocent people’, says Tory minister
Netanyahu and Biden speak after Israel expands Gaza ground incursions
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu spoke on Sunday with U.S. President Joe Biden, Netanyahu’s office said, after Israel expanded ground incursions in a Gaza war now in its fourth week.
The Israeli statement did not expand on the conversation.
Labour frontbenchers in revolt over Gaza stance as Starmer warned he could lose seats
Sir Keir Starmer has been warned Labour could lose seats over his stance on the Hamas conflict, as more frontbenchers defied his leadership by openly calling for a ceasefire in Gaza.
A host of shadow ministers broke ranks with Sir Keir on Saturday to voice their support for the move – either with express endorsements or by sharing a demand from the Labour Friends of Palestine group.
Shadow ministers Naz Shah, Paul Barker and Afzal Khan all challenged Sir Keir’s refusal to support a ceasefire. Shadow veterans minister Rachel Hopkins, shadow local government minister Sarah Owen and shadow domestic violence minister Jess Phillips, and Labour whip Kim Leadbeater all retweeted calls for a ceasefire on X/Twitter.
Labour frontbenchers in revolt over Gaza stance as Starmer warned he could lose seats
Labour leader warned of ‘existential threat’ in seats with large Muslim population – as more than a dozen shadow ministers back ceasefire call
Palestinians break into aid warehouse for ‘basic survival items’
Gazans stormed a warehouse of the United Nations Palestinian refugee agency (UNRWA) in Khan Younis, grabbing flour and “basic survival items” on Saturday (28 October) the organisation said. Aid supplies to the area have been choked since Israel began bombarding the enclave after Hamas’ attack on Israel on 7 October. Air strikes in Palestine have completely stretched UNRWA’s ability to help people in Gaza, the organisation added. UNRWA provides public services including schools, primary healthcare and humanitarian aid in Gaza, the West Bank, Jordan, Syria and Lebanon.
UN General Secretary calls for the ‘protection of civilians’
António Guterres, the UN General Secretary, said the “protection of civilians is paramount” as Gaza continues to be razed down by Israeli airstrikes.
Biden having conversations with Middle East leaders on Sunday
U.S. President Joe Biden is having conversations with Middle East regional leaders on Sunday, White House national security adviser Jake Sullivan said, though he did not specify which leaders.
“It’s something I was on the phone late last night working on. Something the president will be working on today in conversations he’s having with regional leaders and we will continue to pound away at this problem until we’ve gotten any American who wants to leave Gaza out,” Sullivan told MSNBC.
