Israel-Hamas War HIGHLIGHTS: 'Growing Hunger And Desperation', Says UN World Food Programme On Warehouse Break-Ins
Israel-Hamas War HIGHLIGHTS: Follow this space for all the live and latest updates on the ongoing war between Israel and Hamas.
In a news release issued Sunday, the United Nations World Food Programme reported that some of its food supplies had been plundered in Gaza and warned of "growing hunger and desperation."
According to diplomatic sources, the United Nations Security Council will conduct an emergency meeting Monday to discuss Israel's ground assault of Gaza, CNN reported.
The Israeli military claimed Sunday that its fighter planes attacked Hezbollah facilities in southern Lebanon in response to fire into northern Israel by a "terrorist cell," CNN reported.
The strike occurred in the Har Dov neighbourhood, and Israeli aircraft destroyed weaponry that may have been utilised for additional shelling, according to the Israel Defence Forces via Telegram.
The Israeli military claimed it intercepted two of the three missiles from that region in southern Lebanon, while the third fell in an open area.
Thousands of people broke into several UNRWA warehouses and distribution centres in the middle and southern areas of the Gaza Strip, taking wheat flour and other basic survival items like hygiene supplies, according to UNRWA News Release.
One of the warehouses, in Deir al-Balah, is where UNRWA stores supplies from the humanitarian convoys coming from Egypt.
“This is a worrying sign that civil order is starting to break down after three weeks of war and a tight siege on Gaza. People are scared, frustrated and desperate.
Tensions and fear are made worse by the cuts in the phones and internet communication lines. They feel that they are on their own, cut off from their families inside Gaza and the rest of the world,” said Thomas White, Director of UNRWA Affairs in the Gaza Strip.
Massive displacement of people from the north of the Gaza Strip southward has placed enormous pressure on those communities, adding further burden on crumbling public services. Some families received up to 50 relatives taking shelter in one household.
“Supplies on the market are running out while the humanitarian aid coming into the Gaza Strip on trucks from Egypt is insufficient. The needs of the communities are immense, if only for basic survival, while the aid we receive is meager and inconsistent,” added White.
To date, just over 80 trucks of aid crossed into Gaza in one week.
On Saturday, 28 October, there was no convoy due to the blackout in communications. UNRWA - the main actor for the reception and storage of aid in the Gaza Strip - was not able to communicate with the different parties to coordinate the passage of the convoy.
“The current system of convoys is geared to fail. Very few trucks, slow processes, strict inspections, supplies that do not match the requirements of UNRWA and the other aid organizations, and mostly the ongoing ban on fuel, are all a recipe for a failed system.
We call for a regular and steady flow line of humanitarian supplies into the Gaza Strip to respond to the needs especially as tensions and frustrations grow,” concluded White.
Meanwhile, UNRWA teams in Gaza have reported that internet services and connections were restored.
They will reassess the situation with the aim of resuming convoys and distribution of assistance this morning.
According to a CNN analysis of video supplied by an Israeli media site, Israeli forces appear to have moved nearly two kilometres inside Gaza.
The Palestinian Ministry of Health in Ramallah said on Sunday that the death toll in Gaza had increased to 7,960, citing sources in the Hamas-controlled territory, CNN reported.
The Palestine Red Crescent Society (PRCS) claimed it got a warning from the Israeli military on Sunday to evacuate Al Quds Hospital, Gaza City's second biggest hospital, immediately due to impending shelling, CNN reported.
The main UN agency in Gaza has issued a warning that civil order is deteriorating, claiming that "thousands" of Palestinians had stormed into some of its warehouses, "taking wheat flour and other basic survival items like hygiene supplies," CNN reported.
According to CNN, the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) Representative and Country Director for Palestine, Samer Abdeljaber, 40 additional assistance trucks are planned to reach Gaza on Sunday as the humanitarian situation worsens.
Thousands of people have broken into several warehouses and distribution centres of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency, the organisation has said. It added that it all happened in the middle and southern areas of the Gaza Strip where people took wheat flour and other “basic survival items”. This is a worrying sign that civil order is starting to break down after three weeks of war and a tight siege on Gaza, said Thomas White, the director of UNRWA affairs in the Gaza Strip.
People are scared, frustrated and desperate. Tensions and fear are made worse by the cuts in the phones and internet communication lines, he added.
They feel that they are on their own, cut off from their families inside Gaza and the rest of the world, Thomas said.
Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu has deleted his statement after it sparked a row. The PM blamed the security and intelligence services for the devastating October 7 attack, reported the Times of Israel.
He was criticised by war cabinet member National Unity leader Benny Gantz, as well as Opposition Leader Yair Lapid, for writing a post insisting that he never received any warnings of Hamas “war intentions” at any stage.
The Israeli army spokesperson has issued new evacuation warnings for residents of Gaza City and northern Gaza. He asked them to move south of the Wadi Gaza river to “safer areas”.
He added that they would receive humanitarian aid, including water, food and medicine there.
EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell has urged a “pause of hostilities” to allow humanitarian aid into the Gaza Strip after Israel intensified overnight aerial bombardment.
“Gaza is in complete blackout and isolation while heavy shelling continues,” Borrell said, reported Times of Israel.
Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi has said that Israel had “crossed the red lines” in Gaza. In a post on X, he said: Zionist regime’s crimes have crossed the red lines, which may force everyone to take action. Washington asks us to not do anything, but they keep giving widespread support to Israel. The US sent messages to the Axis of Resistance but received a clear response on the battlefield.
Thousands of people are gathering for a pro-Palestine in Melbourne, Australia, Al Jazeera reports citing organisers.
Israel Defence Forces spokesman Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari said: Israel wants to “increase the urgency” of its warning to Gazan civilians in the northern part of the Palestinians to move south, as the military is “moving to the next phase” of the war with Palestinian terror group Hamas in Gaza and “expanding its operations”.
The Palestine Telecommunications Company has said that landline, mobile and internet services are now gradually being restored.
In a post on X, the company said its technical teams "are diligently addressing the damage to the internal network infrastructure under challenging conditions".
According to Reuters, telephone and internet connectivity are returning gradually to the Gaza Strip.
Israel-Hamas War: Health ministry in Hamas-run Gaza says the death toll has passed 8,000, reported AFP.
Police in New York have temporarily closed down all lanes of the Brooklyn Bridge after a large group of pro-Palestinian demonstrators started heading in that direction. Reports of mass pro-Palestine protests coming in from different corners of the world.
The armed wing of Hamas, known as the Izz el-Deen al-Qassam Brigades, has revealed that an agreement regarding the hostages held by the Palestinian militant faction was close at hand, but negotiations have encountered delays on Israel's part, Reuters reported.
In a video statement, Abu Ubaida, the spokesperson for the Izz el-Deen al-Qassam Brigades, outlined the group's position, indicating that they would consider releasing all the hostages in their custody, contingent upon Israel's release of all Palestinian prisoners. He emphasised that such a move would be the sole path to securing the release of the captives, as per Reuters.
However, Abu Ubaida also mentioned that Hamas remains open to discussions concerning a "partial" agreement concerning the captives, potentially paving the way for further negotiations in this complex and sensitive matter.
Israel's Netanyahu says Gaza war will be 'long and difficult', AFP reported
Saudi Arabia condemned "any ground operations" carried out by Israel "which would threaten the lives of Palestinian civilians and result in inhumane dangers".
Netanyahu says Israel will use 'every option' to free Gaza hostages, AFP reported.
Israel ground forces still 'operating in northern Gaza' Saturday, AFP reported citing army.
Israel says recalling envoys from Turkey after Erdogan's Gaza remarks, AFP reported.
Israel's war with Palestinian militant group Hamas "entered a new phase" with the intense overnight bombing of the Gaza Strip, Defence Minister Yoav Gallant said on Saturday. "We will continue to be strong and precise. And hunt down every terrorist", AFP reported.
UN Secretary-General António Guterres on X: "I came to Doha to express to Prime Minister @MBA_AlThani_ our full gratitude, appreciation and support for Qatar’s tireless mediation initiatives, namely for the release of the hostages kept in Gaza."
Humanitarian aid to be sent to Gaza by Red Crescent workers in Arish, Egypt.
The World Health Organization (WHO) sounded the alarm on Saturday, describing a harrowing situation in Gaza as health workers, patients, and civilians grapple with darkness and fear due to a widespread communications and electrical blackout across the Gaza Strip. The WHO posted on its official channels, stating, "During a night of intense bombardment and ground incursions in Gaza, with reports of hostilities still continuing, health workers, patients, and civilians have been subject to a total communication and electrical blackout."
The WHO reiterated its call for an "immediate humanitarian ceasefire." The organisation insists that safe passage must be guaranteed for the desperately needed influx of medical supplies, fuel, water, and food into Gaza.
"PM Narendra Modi had a telephonic conversation with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi. They exchanged views on the updates of Israeli military operations in the Gaza Strip, and the danger of the ongoing escalation either for its devastating effects on civilian lives, or the threat it poses to the security of the region as a whole..., "posts Spokesman for the Egyptian Presidency on Facebook
The health ministry in Hamas-ruled Gaza on Saturday stated that at least 7,703 people were killed in the war with Israel. More than 3,500 children were among the dead, the ministry added, as per AFP.
The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) have launched strikes against Hezbollah targets in Lebanon, responding to rocket attacks by the militant group aimed at Israeli territory on Friday.
According to the IDF, on Friday, Hezbollah attempted to fire rockets towards Israeli territory, but the rockets ended up falling in Syria. In retaliation, during the overnight hours, an IDF fighter jet targeted Hezbollah's military infrastructure within Lebanese territory, as stated in an IDF press release, as per CNN.
In a subsequent development on Saturday morning, the Israeli military disclosed that they had deployed an Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) to engage a "terrorist cell" in Lebanon. This operation transpired after the aforementioned "cell" made an attempt to launch anti-tank missiles towards Israel.
The IDF issued a statement, detailing the incident: "A short while ago, a terrorist cell attempted to launch anti-tank missiles from Lebanon toward northern Israel, near Kibbutz Hanita. An IDF UAV swiftly engaged and neutralized the cell."
Hamas says trying to find eight Russian-Israeli hostages to free them, AFP reported citing Russian news agencies
Israeli tanks reach the Gaza border for a planned ground invasion.
WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus took to X and said, " Reports of intense bombardment in Gaza are extremely distressing. Evacuation of patients is not possible under such circumstances, nor to find safe shelter. The blackout is also making it impossible for ambulances to reach the injured. We are still out of touch with our staff and health facilities. I’m worried about their safety. @WHO appeals to all those who have the power to push for a ceasefire to act NOW."
Israel pounded the Hamas-run Gaza Strip with air and artillery strikes on Saturday after an intense night of attacks when it said 150 "underground targets" were hit. More air raids and shelling were reported after daybreak but less intense than the night, as reported by the news agency AFP.
Israel Embassy said, "Last night, on October 27, a cruise missile was launched towards Israel by the Houthis, an Iranian Proxy terrorist organization based in Yemen. The missile hit Taba in Egypt near the border with Israel and 6 Egyptian security personnel were injured as a result," as quoted by ANI.
"Overnight, IDF fighter jets struck Asem Abu Rakaba, the Head of Hamas' Aerial Array. Abu Rakaba was responsible for Hamas' UAVs, drones, paragliders, aerial detection and defense. He took part in planning the October 7 massacre and commanded the terrorists who infiltrated Israel on paragliders and was responsible for the drone attacks on IDF posts," IDF said in a post on X.
"The UN Security Council has to take the General Assembly resolution in order to maximise the political pressure on Israel to stop this war and to save Palestinian civilians. We are grateful to a great majority of European countries who either voted in favour of the resolution or abstained from voting," said Riyad Mansour, Palestinian Ambassador to the UN, as quoted by PTI. This comes after the UN General Assembly approved a resolution calling for a 'humanitarian truce' in Gaza.
People in the northern Gaza strip are “panicking” because of the communications blackout and intensifying Israeli bombing, as reported by Al Jazeera. The people are very fearful, and they are panicking because they are unable to communicate with others who have been displaced.
After the United Nations Security Council failed on four occasions to reach a consensus on any action. the United Nations General Assembly on Friday adopted a resolution calling for an "immediate, durable and sustained humanitarian truce" between Israeli forces and Hamas militants in Gaza.
The Gaza Strip is down with all kinds of communications with UN and WHO staff losing contact with volunteers there and the Hamas-controlled enclave facing a 'total or near total' internet blackout. The internet monitoring service Netblocks said on X that there had been a "collapse in connectivity".
Amid the escalation of Israeli actions, its military told news organisations that it cannot guarantee the safety of journalists reporting from Gaza, according to Reuters.
The Israeli military on Friday again asked the Gaza residents to move south after announcing the expansion of its operations.
US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin reiterated “the importance of protecting civilians during the Israel Defense Forces’ operations” in a call Friday with the Israeli Minister of Defense Yoav Gallant, CNN reported, citing a Pentagon statement. The Pentagon said that Austin further emphasised the urgent need for “humanitarian aid delivery for civilians in Gaza” and for Hamas to release all hostages.
This comes as the Israel Defense Forces said it is "expanding ground operations" in the Gaza Strip and "operating forcefully" on all fronts to fulfill its goals in the war with Hamas, CNN reported.
India abstained from voting on the UN General Assembly resolution on the "protection of civilians and upholding legal and humanitarian obligations" on the Gaza crisis. The resolution was adopted at the UN General Assembly. India voted in favour of a Canada-led amendment condemning 'terrorist attacks by Hamas'. This draft resolution failed to pass at the UN General Assembly as it did not achieve a two-thirds majority.
Background
Israel-Hamas War HIGHLIGHTS: Hello and welcome to the live blog on the Israel-Hamas War. Follow this space for all the live and latest updates.
The war between Israel and Hamas entered its 22nd day on Saturday. Gaza braces for further intense actions as the Israeli military prepares to "expand its operations" in the Gaza Strip. Palestinian Health Ministry has released the names of more than 6,000 "documented deaths" in the enclave since Israel launched its offensive, reported CNN. It said 7,028 Palestinians were killed, including 2,913 children. Here are the top developments in the conflict.
The heaviest bombardments on Gaza since October 7 Hamas's attack has ripped apart the region, reported BBC. The Overnight visuals show the Gaza skyline with air strikes as Israel "expands ground operation". The Israeli military on Friday again asked the Gaza residents to move south after announcing the expansion of its operations.
Amid the escalation of Israeli actions, its military told news organisations that it cannot guarantee the safety of journalists reporting from Gaza, according to Reuters.
The Gaza Strip is down with all kinds of communications with UN and WHO staff losing contact with volunteers there and the Hamas-controlled enclave facing a 'total or near total' internet blackout. The internet monitoring service Netblocks said on X that there had been a "collapse in connectivity".
"Live network data show a collapse in connectivity in the #Gaza Strip with high impact to Paltel, amid reports of heavy bombardment; the company is the last remaining major operator to supply service as connectivity declines amid ongoing fighting with Israel," it added.
It is the biggest communication and internet blockage in the region since the onset of war earlier this month. According to BBC, the Palestinian Red Crescent said it could not speak to its teams in Gaza.
"We are deeply concerned about the ability of our teams to continue providing their emergency medical services, especially since this disruption affects the central emergency number '101'," they wrote on X.
Several United Nations agencies stated they have lost contact with their local staff in Gaza. World Health Organization Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said on X that the UN body has lost touch with its "staff, health facilities, health workers and the rest of our humanitarian partners on the ground."
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