Israel must protect innocent Gaza residents by distinguishing between Hamas militants and civilians in the Palestinian territory, the White House warned on Sunday. The Israeli army said earlier in the day that it will be increasing troop numbers inside the Gaza Strip and reiterated calls for civilians in Gaza to move to the south of the besieged enclave. The news came as internet and mobile services are gradually being reestablished after being cut off on Friday during intense Israeli bombardment. Follow our live blog for the latest updates. All times are Paris time (GMT+2).
- The Israeli army said on Sunday that it would be increasing its troop numbers inside the Gaza Strip and repeated calls for civilians to move to the south, where it said humanitarian aid efforts will be "expanding".
- Telephone and internet communications were gradually returning to Gaza after an almost complete communications blackout since Friday evening followed intense Israeli air strikes.
- The United Nations warned that "civil order" was starting to collapse in Gaza after thousands of people ransacked its food warehouses. The UN relief agency for the Palestinian refugees (UNRWA) said wheat, flour and other basic supplies had been pillaged at several warehouses.
- Tanks and infantry have been pushing into Gaza over the weekend in what Israeli officials described as a widening ground offensive. Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said in televised remarks on Saturday that the war in the Gaza Strip would be "long and difficult".
- The health ministry in Hamas-ruled Gaza has said more than 8,000 people have been killed since the eruption of war with Israel following the October 7 Hamas attack that killed at least 1,400 Israelis. FRANCE 24 has not been able to independently verify the number of casualties.
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Key developments of Saturday, October 28:
Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Saturday that fighting inside the Gaza Strip would be "long and difficult" as he announced that the military has opened a “second stage” in the war against Hamas by sending ground forces into Palestinian territory.
Israel expanded its ground operations and cut the Palestinian territory off from communications three weeks after Hamas launched the deadliest single attack in Israel's history.
Read our blog to see how the day's events unfolded.
(FRANCE 24 with AFP, AP and Reuters)
