Israel-Palestine war: First week ends with over 2,500 Palestinians, 1,400 Israelis killed
Live Updates
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and others have called on Palestinian civilians in Gaza to leave their homes to avoid Israeli attacks.
Netanyahu, during public remarks, told residents in Gaza to “leave now” because the Israeli military is going to “turn all Hamas hiding places into rubble”.
But critics have pointed out that Palestinians in Gaza, who live under siege in one of the most densely populated areas on earth, have no place to go.
“Wait: Is Israel lifting the 16yo blockade? Otherwise this is a joke. Palestinians in Gaza have nowhere to go,” Francesca Albanese, UN Special Rapporteur to Palestine, said in a post to Twitter.
Mohammed El-Kurd, a well-known Palestinian activist from Jerusalem, shared Albanese’s sentiment.
“Netanyahu telling Palestinians in Gaza to ‘leave now,’ because he’s about to bombard the besieged Strip, as if they can do anything to leave that open-air prison which is Gaza,” Kurd tweeted.
Meanwhile, Avichay Adraee, an Israeli army spokesperson, shared a video urging residents in Gaza to leave their homes and take shelter in city centres, but no such shelters exist.
Jordanian security forces have mobilised to prevent citizens from approaching the Palestine border in response to calls from activists to gather in the Jordan Valley in solidarity with Gaza's Operation Al-Aqsa Storm.
Good evening Middle East Eye readers,
It's almost the end of an unprecedented day in Israel and Palestine, marked by intense fighting and a large number of casualties on both sides.
It all began at around 6am local time, when Hamas fighters fired a barrage of rockets into Israel while launching an incursion from land, air and sea.
The Israeli army has responded by launching intense air strikes across the besieged enclave, bombing hospitals and residential buildings among other targets, as it vows to bring down a “mighty vengeance” on Hamas.
Various analysts speaking to Middle East Eye have said today’s attack on Israel may totally reshape the conflict. While it is difficult to ascertain how things will pan out, analysts believe Israel is still in a state of shock from the "unimaginable blow" the country has suffered.
Here are some of the key developments from this evening.
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Nearly 300 Israelis have been killed and 1,600 wounded while at least 232 Palestinians have been killed and nearly 1,700 wounded. The numbers are likely to rise for both sides
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Israeli commander of the Nahal Infantry Brigade, Col. Yonatan Steinberg, was confirmed as being killed during clashes
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Six Palestinians have been killed across various cities in the occupied West Bank, including a child
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Israel has called for tens of thousands of reservists to step up for a possible ground invasion into Gaza
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Gaza is still in total darkness after Israel cut electricity lines, and many have evacuated their homes anticipating an intense attack from Israel
Our live coverage will continue on throughout the night. You can follow our blog for updates, and keep an eye on our social media platforms on Facebook, X, Instagram and YouTube.
The total number of Israelis captured by the Hamas movement on Saturday was "several times greater" than dozens, a spokesperson for the movement said in a recording aired shortly after midnight on Sunday.
The spokesman said those taken captive were spread throughout all areas of the Gaza strip.
The veteran Israeli political analyst Meron Rapoport tells Middle East Eye that Israel has now entered a situation where it cannot control its own fate.
According to Rapoport, Israeli intelligence services are still in a state of shock and that faith in the Israeli army has been rocked to its core.
Rapoport also says that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has limited options to regain control of the narrative.
“If Israel’s armed forces go into Gaza, they will do so with a lot less self-confidence than before, and there is no certainty that they are capable of a military conquest of Gaza,” Rapoport says.
Read more: Israel 'can no longer control its own fate' after stunning Palestinian attack
At least 300 Israelis were killed in fighting with Hamas on Saturday, Israel's Kan news reported, adding that at least 1,590 had been injured.
Palestinians are searching for loved ones amidst ruins and total darkness, as night falls and Israel cut all power to the besieged enclave.
Earlier today, Israel’s energy minister announced plans to cut power to the Gaza Strip.
Health officials have raised concerns that this could have serious consequences on wounded individuals seeking treatment in hospitals.
Israel has continued to bombard Gaza in response to earlier exchanges of attacks today.
Israel has called up tens of thousands of reservists, with several divisions preparing for a possible ground invasion into Gaza, Israel's Haaretz news agency has reported.
The army is also prepared to recruit hundreds of additional reservists, an army spokesperson said.
Israeli commander of the Nahal Infantry Brigade, Colonel Yonatan Steinberg, was killed during clashes with the Hamas movement on Saturday morning.
At least 250 Israelis were killed and over 1,400 were wounded throughout the day.
Palestinian factions in the occupied West Bank have called for a general strike tomorrow.
The strike means that all ministries and commercial establishments, including businesses, will be closed.
Fans of Glasgow's Celtic FC, known for their long standing support of Palestine, waved Palestinian flags in a show of solidarity during today's Scottish Premiership match at Celtic Park.
The image of fans carrying a "free Palestine" banner has been widely shared online.
Other fans also held up a banner stating "victory for the resistance".
Israeli forces have shot dead a 19-year-old identified as Mahmoud Hamis near the occupied West Bank city of Hebron, the Palestinian health ministry has said.
Hamis was shot in the chest in the village of Beit Omer.
The Palestinian health ministry states that six Palestinians have been killed in the occupied West Bank today, including a child.
Palestinians are still holding a number of Israelis hostage inside the Be’eri Kibbutz in southern Israel.
Israeli security forces are attempting to free the undisclosed number of Israelis but have not yet proved successful.
According to Israeli media, large numbers of security forces have been deployed in the area.
More than 250 Israelis have now been killed since the attacks this morning, according to Israeli media, which cited medical officials.
The death toll is expected to rise. More than 1,450 people are reported as wounded.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has vowed to bring down a "mighty vengeance" against the Hamas movement, but also warned that the war would "take time".
"Hamas started a cruel and evil war. We will win this war, but the price will be heavy," he said during remarks on Saturday night, local time.
"What happened today hasn't been seen in Israel, and I will make sure that it does not happen again. The entire government stands behind this decision. The IDF will immediately use all its power to disable Hamas' capabilities," Netanyahu said.
"We will beat them to death, we will take revenge on them for the black day they have inflicted on the State of Israel and its citizens."
"This war will take time, it will be difficult, challenging days are ahead of us."
