Evening recap: Gaza bombed while communication remains cut off, Israeli mobs attack Palestinians, Hamas ready for immediate prisoner swap

Good evening Middle East Eye readers.

Today marks the 22nd day since the war started on 7 October. 

Gaza is in an almost total media blackout, with only a few journalists and civilians sharing what is happening due to having international e-Sims. Israel's communications minister said he would fight any attempt to restore communications.

The death toll for Palestinians in Gaza, provided by the Ministry of Health on Saturday morning, stood at 7,700, and is expected to be much higher now.

The United Nations Relief and Works Agency commissioner described the situation in Gaza as "hell on earth". 

Israel has continued to heavily bomb Gaza, causing severe damage to hospitals and levelling entire neighbourhoods. Drones have been dropping leaflets on residents saying that Gaza is a "battlefield" and they must leave.

Here are some of the key developments from today.

- An Israeli settler shot and killed a Palestinian man, Bilal Muhammad Saleh, 40, in the occupied West Bank city of Nablus.

- Gaza's Christian community is carrying out mass baptisms for children who have not yet been baptised in case they are killed in Israel's bombing of the besieged enclave. 

- Hamas reiterated that the cost of freeing hostages is the release of all Palestinian prisoners.

- Netanyahu held a meeting with the families of hostages following growing discontent with his handling of the situation. Many called for him to agree to Hamas' terms of "everyone for everyone".

- Israeli mobs harassed and attacked Palestinian citizens of Israel who attend Netanya College, while shouting "death to Arabs".

- Hundreds of thousands gathered in a pro-Palestine rally in London, while protests were also held in New York and Washington.

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