An Israeli airstrike on a residential building in the densely populated Jabaliya refugee camp in Gaza on Thursday killed at least 45 people and wounded dozens more, said Gaza health authorities. As Gazans braced for a likely ground offensive, the Israeli army said they had bombarded the besieged enclave with approximately 6,000 bombs containing 4,000 tonnes of explosives since Saturday's Hamas attack. Read our blog to see how the day's events unfolded. All times are Paris time (GMT+2).
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01:40am: More than 423,000 people displaced in Gaza, says UN
More than 423,000 people have now been forced to flee their homes in the Gaza Strip, the United Nations said, as heavy Israeli bombardments continue to hit the Palestinian enclave.
As of late Thursday, the number of displaced people in Gaza had risen by an additional 84,444 people and reached 423,378, the UN humanitarian agency OCHA said in a statement sent on Friday.
01:35am: Human Rights Watch says Israel used white phosphorous in Gaza, Lebanon
Human Rights Watch on Thursday accused Israel of using white phosphorus munitions in its military operations in Gaza and Lebanon, saying the use of such weapons puts civilians at risk of serious and long-term injury.
Asked for comment on the allegations, Israel's military said it was "currently not aware of the use of weapons containing white phosphorous in Gaza."
It did not provide comment on the rights watchdog's allegations of their use in Lebanon.
23:40pm: Continuation of crimes against Palestinians will receive response from 'the rest of the axis', warns Iran's Foreign minister
Iran's foreign minister Hossein Amirabdollahian said on Thursday upon his arrival in Beirut in a press statement on TV from the airport that the continuation of crimes against Palestinians will receive a response from 'the rest of the axis' and 'the zionist entity' will be responsible for that.
The displacement of tens of thousands of Palestinians and cutting off water and electricity is considered a war crime, he added through a translator.
23:35pm: France has banned pro-Palestinian protests and vowed to protect Jews from resurgent antisemitism
France’s interior minister on Thursday ordered local authorities to ban all pro-Palestinian demonstrations amid a rise in antisemitic acts since Hamas attacked Israel over the weekend. President Emmanuel Macron urged French people not to allow the war in the Mideast erupt into tensions at home.
Soon before Macron spoke in a televised address to the nation about the Mideast conflict, Paris police used tear gas and water cannon to disperse pro-Palestinian protesters who had defied a ban and demonstrated Thursday against the Israeli government.
’’Let us not bring ideological adventures here (to France) by imitation or by projection. Let us not add national fractures ... to international fractures,″ Macron pleaded. ’’Let us stay united.″
23:30pm: US will offer charter flights to help Americans leave Israel starting Friday
The US State Department will begin offering charter flights to Europe to help Americans leave Israel if they want starting Friday, the White House said, after extensive talks with U.S. airlines and pressure from Congress.
The US government will provide charter flights to cities in Europe, White House spokesman John Kirby said on Thursday.
23:30pm: US and Qatar agree to prevent disbursal of recently unfrozen Iranian funds as Israel-Hamas war rages
The US and Qatar have reached an agreement that the Qataris will not act on any request from Tehran for the time being to access $6 billion in Iranian funds that were unblocked as part of a prisoner swap last month, a US official said Thursday.
The move, which stops short of a full refreezing of Iranian funds in Qatar's banking system, follows the deadly attacks by Hamas on Israel and continued Republican criticism of the Biden administration’s deal with Iran, in which $6 billion was unfrozen in exchange for the release of five detained Americans. The official who outlined the understanding between the US and Qatar was not authorized to comment and spoke on condition of anonymity.
US officials have strenuously pushed back against the criticism, noting that the money had yet to be spent by Iran and can only be used for humanitarian needs.
23:15pm: Hollywood condems 'evil' of Hamas after Israel attack
Hundreds of Hollywood celebrities signed an open letter Thursday condemning the "barbaric acts" of Hamas fighters who murdered and abducted Israeli civilians in a shocking weekend assault.
"Wonder Woman" actress Gal Gadot, an Israeli, was among film and TV stars on the list, which also included Jamie Lee Curtis, Chris Pine, Mayim Bialik, Liev Schreiber, Michael Douglas and Jerry Seinfeld.
"Hamas murdered and kidnapped innocent men, women, and children. They kidnapped and murdered infants and the elderly," the open letter, released by Creative Community For Peace, said.
The letter, which was signed by over 700 people from the world of entertainment, came less than a week after Hamas gunmen killed 1,200 people in Israel and took about 150 hostages in a surprise onslaught launched from Gaza.
10:42pm: EU's von der Leyen and parliament chief will go to Israel on Friday
The presidents of the European Commission and the EU parliament, Ursula von der Leyen and Roberta Metsola, will visit Israel on Friday in the wake of Hamas's bloody assault.
A statement from the commission said the pair would "express solidarity with the victims of the Hamas terrorist attacks, and meet with Israeli leadership".
9:56pm: Palestinian death toll rises to 1,537, says Gaza health ministry
Gaza's Health Ministry said on Thursday evening that 1,537 Palestinians, including 500 children and 276 women, had been killed and 6,612 wounded in Israeli air strikes on the blockaded enclave since Saturday.
9:43pm: French police use teargas at banned pro-Palestinian rally as Macron calls for calm
French police used teargas and water cannon to break up a banned rally in support of the Palestinian people in Paris on Thursday, as President Emmanuel Macron urged the French to remain united and refrain from bringing the Israel-Hamas conflict home.
Macron's interior minister had earlier banned pro-Palestinian protests, saying they were "likely to generate disturbances to public order".
France is home to Europe's largest Muslim and Jewish communities. The Middle East conflict has often stoked domestic tensions in the past.
"Let's not pursue at home ideological adventures by imitating or projecting," Macron said in a solemn TV address. "Let's not add, through illusions or calculations, domestic divides to international divides," he said. "The shield of unity will protect us from hatred and excesses."
9:23pm: Gaza authorities say at least 45 Palestinians killed in Israeli strike on a refugee camp
Gaza’s interior ministry said that an Israeli airstrike on a residential building in the densely populated Jabaliya refugee camp in northern Gaza has killed at least 45 people and wounded dozens more.
Eyad Bozum, the interior ministry's spokesperson, told The Associated Press that a late afternoon airstrike hit the al-Shihab family house at the centre of the Jabaliya camp.
The al-Shihab house was packed with dozens of relatives at the time of the airstrike. Some family members had fled heavy bombing from other parts of the strip and taken refuge there.
Bozum said the death toll was likely to rise from that airstrike, because civil defence workers were still pulling bodies from the rubble and counting the dead.
9:15pm: First flight of French nationals arrives in Paris
The first plane carrying French nationals from Israel landed at Paris's Charles de Gaulle airport on Thursday evening, an airport source told AFP.
This first "special flight" arrived shortly after 9:00pm with 377 French passengers on board, including "vulnerable" elderly people, the source added.
8:55pm: French foreign affairs minister plans to visit Israel on Sunday
French Foreign Affairs Minister Catherine Colonna plans to visit Israel on Sunday, she told reporters Thursday evening at Paris's Charles de Gaulle airport, where French nationals were due to arrive from Tel Aviv.
"At the president of the Republic's request, I will be visiting the region on Sunday", she said, amid the Palestinian Islamist movement Hamas's bloody offensive against Israel that has left thousands dead. When asked to clarify, Colonna confirmed that she would be visiting Israel.
8:51pm: US Defence Secretary Austin to visit Israel on Friday to discuss military aid following Hamas attack
US Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin plans to visit Israel on Friday, the second high-level US official to visit Tel Aviv in two days, in a deliberate show of support and an effort to determine what additional military aid is needed in the war with Hamas.
Austin is expected to meet with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, said a US official, who spoke on condition of anonymity. Austin's visit comes just a day after US Secretary of State Antony Blinken visited and vowed US support for Israel in a meeting with Netanyahu.
Speaking to reporters on Thursday, Austin said the US is "working urgently to get Israel what it needs to defend itself, including munitions and our Iron Dome interceptors".
8:49pm: Gazans must 'remain on their land', says Egypt's Sisi
Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi said Thursday that Gazans must "stay steadfast and remain on their land", amid calls for Cairo to allow safe passage for civilians stuck in Gaza.
Residents of the Gaza Strip "must stay steadfast and remain on their land", said the president of Egypt, which has the only border crossing where the enclave is not controlled by Israel.
8:45pm: France launches terror probe into Hamas attack on Israel
French anti-terror prosecutors on Thursday said that they had opened a terrorism probe into the attack by Hamas on Israel, which has left 13 French citizens dead with several others feared held hostage.
The probe is into murder, attempted murder and kidnapping, including of minors, by a "terrorist organisation", National Anti-Terrorism Prosecutors (PNAT) said in a statement.
8:37pm: Lufthansa suspends flights to Israel until October 22
Lufthansa extended its suspension of flights to Israel until October 22 over security concerns, the company said.
The airlines of the Lufthansa group, which apart from Lufthansa include Swiss, Austrian and Brussels Airlines, are suspending flights to Israel for a longer period of time.
"Safety is the top priority for the Lufthansa group airlines," the company said.
The airline also said it was continuing to communicate with Germany's foreign office regarding possible additional flights to bring Germans home from Israel.
The first four repatriation flights left for Tel Aviv on Thursday, and four more are planned for Friday.
Lufthansa airlines normally have 17 flights to Israel per day in their schedule. Most other airlines have also suspended connections to the country in response to attacks by the Islamist organisation Hamas.
8:35pm: Macron says 13 French citizens killed by Hamas in Israel attack
French President Emmanuel Macron said on Thursday that 13 French citizens had been killed by Palestinian militant Islamists in an October 7 attack on Israel and he vowed to do everything to bring back 17 other French nationals who still have not been accounted for.
Speaking in a national television address, Macron said Hamas was a terrorist organisation which wanted the death of Israel's people and that the only way to resolve the crisis was security guarantees for Israel along with the creation of a state of Palestine.
8:31pm: Macron urges 'strong and fair' response by Israel to Hamas attack
French President Emmanuel Macron on Thursday urged Israel to show a strong but fair response to the attack by Hamas, while condemning the "blind murderous hatred" and "absolute cruelty" of the Palestinian militant group.
Macron said in an address to the nation that Israel had the right to defend itself "by eliminating terrorist groups, including Hamas, with targeted actions but preserving the civilian population", adding that the "only response to terrorism is one that is... strong but fair".
Macron also vowed that France would do everything to ensure the release of the dozens of hostages held by Hamas.
"I want to say that we will do everything to ensure that these hostages, whatever their nationality, are released", adding that France would work to this end both with "our partners" and the Israeli authorities.
Read moreMacron calls on nation to ‘stay united’ amid rise in anti-Semitic acts
8:12pm: Israel 'emergency government' sworn in
Israeli lawmakers on Thursday endorsed an expanded "emergency government", parliament said, a day after Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced a war-time partnership with a rival.
Benny Gantz and four members of his party were sworn in as ministers without portfolio, in parliament shortly after the 66-4 vote.
Netanyahu, dressed in black, told parliament ahead of the vote that "the unity we are establishing sends a message of great force", vowing to "destroy Hamas".
Opposition leader Yair Lapid, a former Gantz ally, said earlier on Thursday he would not join the government.
In a televised address, Lapid accused Israeli leaders of "unpardonable failure" for not preventing the brutal weekend attack by Hamas militants.
Netanyahu and Gantz announced in a joint statement Wednesday they had agreed to join forces for the duration of the fighting, and with a three-member "war cabinet" that would also include Defence Minister Yoav Gallant.
8:11pm: UK deploys force to east Mediterranean to back Israel, says PM's office
The British government will send two Royal Navy ships and surveillance aircraft to the eastern Mediterranean to support Israel, the prime minister's office said Thursday.
"Alongside our allies, the deployment of our world class military will support efforts to ensure regional stability and prevent further escalation," Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said in a statement.
The maritime patrol and surveillance aircraft will begin flying in the region from Friday, the statement said, to "track threats to regional stability such as the transfer of weapons to terrorist groups".
The military package includes P8 aircraft, two Royal Navy ships – the RFA Lyme Bay and RFA Argus – three merlin helicopters and a company of Royal Marines, the statement said.
The military deployments will be on standby to deliver "practical support" to Israel and offer "deterrence and assurance", the government said.
"Our military and diplomatic teams across the region will also support international partners to re-establish security and ensure humanitarian aid reaches the thousands of innocent victims of this barbaric attack from Hamas terrorists," said Sunak.
8:06pm: 'No desire by Israelis' for US troops on the ground, says White House
The United States has no plans to deploy troops in the war between Israel and Hamas, the White House said Thursday, adding that the Israeli government itself would not "welcome" such a move.
"There is no intention, no plan and, frankly, no desire by the Israelis for US combat troops to be involved in this conflict," National Security Council spokesman John Kirby told reporters.
8:05pm: Hungary evacuates 65 more Hungarian citizens from Israel, says foreign minister
Hungary has evacuated a further 65 of its citizens from Israel and they are en route by ship to Cyprus, from where they will be flown back to Hungary, Hungarian Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto said in a statement on Thursday.
Earlier this week Hungary had evacuated 325 people including 46 children from Israel by air. It said 15 of the 325 evacuees were foreign citizens.
7:59pm: Egypt's president says he is exerting every effort to contain escalation in Israel-Hamas conflict
Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi said in a speech on Thursday that Egypt is exerting every effort to contain the escalation in the Israel-Hamas conflict and is trying to reach a ceasefire.
"We are trying to alleviate suffering of Palestinian people in Gaza and our calls do not end. We are speaking to all the leaders and officials," he said in the speech.
7:56pm: US has not ruled out any option related to hostages held by Hamas, says White House
The United States has not ruled out any option related to securing the release of hostages being held by the militant group Hamas, White House national security spokesman John Kirby said on Thursday.
US authorities still do not have a lot of information about how many American hostages there are and who they are, he said.
7:53pm: Canada supports Israel's right to defend itself under international law, says PM Trudeau
Canada supports Israel's right to defend itself in accordance with international law, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said on Thursday, condemning Palestinian group Hamas for taking hostages during its incursion last weekend.
Trudeau though side-stepped questions about whether Israel's decision to seal off the Hamas-controlled Gaza Strip and cut off water and power supplies to the enclave was justified. Israel on Thursday said there would be no pause of its siege of Gaza until all hostages were freed.
7:52pm: Russia says Israeli strikes on Syrian airports a 'gross violation of sovereignty'
Russia condemned the Israeli strikes on Syria's two main airports on Thursday, saying they were a dangerous breach of international law.
"These actions by the Israeli side constitute a flagrant violation of the sovereignty of the Syrian Arab Republic and of the basic norms of international law," Russia's foreign ministry said, adding "such military actions are fraught with extremely dangerous consequences, as they could provoke an armed escalation throughout the region".
7:40pm: Japan condemns Hamas' 'terror attacks,' supports Israel's right to defend itself
Japanese Foreign Minister Yoko Kamikawa told her Israeli counterpart on Thursday the "terror attacks" by Hamas cannot be justified for any reason, and that Tokyo resolutely condemns the conduct, a statement by the Japanese Foreign Ministry said.
Kamikawa told Eli Cohen in their phone call that Israel has the right to defend itself and its people under international law, the statement said.
7:38pm: Gunman 'neutralised' after Jerusalem shooting wounds two officers, says police
Two officers were wounded Thursday in a shooting in Israeli-annexed east Jerusalem, police said, adding that the gunman was "neutralised".
An AFP photographer saw what appeared to be a dead body outside the Shalem police station near Jerusalem's Old City, with dozens of officers in the area.
One of the officers was in serious condition and the other was lightly wounded, police said citing medics.
7:35pm: US to arrange flights to help citizens leave Israel, says White House
The White House said Thursday it was working to organise charter flights to help US citizens leave Israel as the country reels from the massive attack by Hamas.
"Beginning tomorrow, (the) United States government will arrange charter flights to provide transportation from Israel to sites in Europe," said White House national security spokesman John Kirby, adding that officials were "still working through some of the details".
7:11pm: Biden, officials discuss safeguarding US amid Israel-Hamas conflict
President Joe Biden discussed on Thursday with senior officials, including the US homeland security secretary and national security adviser, the steps being taken to safeguard the United States amid the Israel-Hamas conflict, the White House said.
7:02pm: Two Jewish schools in London to close until Monday for children's safety
Two Jewish schools in London will close until Monday for the children's safety, Sky News reported on Thursday, after a spike in reported incidents of anti-semitism in Britain following the outbreak of war in Israel.
Torah Vodaas Primary School and Ateres Beis Yaakov Primary School, both in north London, had informed parents about the closure, Sky said.
6:49pm: Netanyahu shows Blinken horrific pictures of babies killed by Hamas, says PM office
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu showed visiting US Secretary of State Antony Blinken horrific pictures of babies killed by Hamas militants in Israel over the weekend, his office said Thursday.
The pictures were posted by the prime minister's office on X, formerly Twitter. One picture showed a dead baby in a body bag while the other showed the charred remains of another infant.
The White House later said it had no reason to doubt the authenticity of these gruesome pictures, saying the photos showed Hamas' "utter depravity."
"We have absolutely no reason to doubt their authenticity," White House spokesman John Kirby told reporters at a news briefing.
6:48pm: Blinken says he spoke to Israel about 'humanitarian needs' of Gaza
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said Thursday he raised with Israel the "humanitarian needs" of the Gaza Strip while defending the right to retaliate for the deadly Hamas attack.
"We did discuss ways to address the humanitarian needs of people living in Gaza to protect them from harm, while Israel conducts its legitimate security operations to defend itself from terrorism and to try to ensure that this never happens again," Blinken told reporters after talks with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and other top officials in Tel Aviv.
6:38pm: US working to arrange charter flights to help its citizens leave Israel
The US State Department is working to arrange charter flights to Europe to help Americans leave Israel if they want to, said sources briefed on the matter.
The charter flights are expected to include flights from Tel Aviv to Athens. An announcement is expected later on Thursday, the sources said. On Wednesday, United Airlines said it would fly two additional flights between Newark, New Jersey and Athens in the coming days to help Americans who are trying to return home from Israel.
6:36pm: Blinken says he will also visit Saudi Arabia, Egypt, UAE to discuss ensuing crisis from Hamas attack
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said Thursday he will visit Saudi Arabia, Egypt and the United Arab Emirates on a crisis tour.
Blinken announced the stops at a news conference in Tel Aviv. The State Department has already announced his travel to Jordan and Qatar.
6:32pm: Lebanon to file protest against Israel at UN Security Council, says caretaker PM
Lebanon will lodge an urgent protest against Israel at the United Nations Security Council, caretaker Prime Minister Najib Mikati said on Thursday.
"Lebanon is in the eye of the storm, feels deep concern over what is happening at its southern border, which is a result of repeated Israeli provocations and repeated Israeli violations of U.N. Resolution 1701," Mikati added in a statement.
6:31pm: G7 finance leaders condemn Hamas 'terror attacks' on Israel
G7 finance leaders on Thursday condemned "terror attacks" on Israel by Hamas and voiced "unwavering" support for Ukraine in its continuing struggle against the Russian invasion.
"We unequivocally condemn the recent terror attacks by Hamas on the State of Israel and express our solidarity with the Israeli people, the G7 finance ministers and central bank governors said in a joint communique after meeting on the sidelines of International Monetary Fund and World Bank annual gathering in Morocco.
6:28pm: UK boosts funding for security of Jewish community after anti-Semitism spike
The UK government announced Thursday £3 million ($3.7 million) of extra funding to help protect the Jewish community from anti-Semitic attacks, after a reported 400 percent spike in incidents since Hamas's weekend attacks in Israel.
The money will go to the Community Security Trust (CST), an organisation established to protect British Jews from hate attacks and related threats.
It said 139 anti-Semitic incidents were recorded in the last four days, a 400 percent increase on the same period in 2022.
The CST works closely with the police to secure Jewish community buildings and events. The new funding will enable it to place additional guards in schools it supports.
The organisation will also place additional security staff outside synagogues on Friday nights and Saturday mornings, according to a government statement.
"At moments like this, when the Jewish people are under attack in their homeland, Jewish people everywhere can feel less safe," Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said in a statement. "That is why we must do everything in our power to protect Jewish people everywhere in our country. If anything is standing in the way of keeping the Jewish community safe, we will fix it. You have our complete backing."
6:08pm: Italy foreign minister reiterates full support for Israel
Italy has reiterated its full support for Israel after the deadliest attack on civilians in Israeli history, the foreign ministry said on Thursday.
Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani told his Israeli counterpart Eli Cohen in a phone call that the Italian government would make every effort to prevent a widening of the conflict in the Middle East and ensure that no cooperation funds for the Palestinian population ended up in the pockets of Hamas.
6:07pm: Israel opposition leader Lapid accuses govt of 'unpardonable failure'
Opposition leader Yair Lapid accused the Israeli government Thursday of "unpardonable failure" for not preventing the brutal weekend attack by Hamas militants that killed more than 1,200 people in Israel.
"Saturday's failure is unpardonable," Lapid said in a televised address, adding that he would not join the emergency government announced by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu with his rival Benny Gantz.
5:52pm: Israeli military chief admits failures to prevent Hamas attack
The chief of staff for Israel’s military, Herzi Halevi, admitted Thursday that the military had failed to protect civilians around the Gaza Strip from Hamas’s unprecedented attack on the country.
“The IDF is responsible for the security of the country and its citizens, and on Saturday morning in the area surrounding the Gaza Strip, we did not,” Halevi said. “We will learn, we will investigate, but now is the time for war.”
5:45pm: France bans pro-Palestinian protests, says interior minister
France on Thursday said it was banning all pro-Palestinian demonstrations after the bloody attack on Israel by Hamas, on the grounds that such protests threaten public order.
Interior Minister Gérald Darmanin said in a note to regional prefects that the demonstrations "are likely to generate disturbances to public order", adding that organisers should face arrest.
Earlier Thursday, Darmanin said there were 24 arrests made for anti-semitic acts across France since Hamas attacked Israel on Saturday.
Speaking on France Inter radio, Darmanin said people were caught with knives near Jewish schools and synagogues. Security has been stepped-up around Jewish sites across the country, he added.
5:33pm: Palestinian PM working with Egypt to open aid corridors to Gaza
Palestinian Prime Minister Mohammad Shtayyeh said on Thursday that he was working with Egypt to open corridors to deliver humanitarian aid to Gaza and put an immediate end to what he called "crimes committed by the Israeli army and settlers", he said on Thursday.
"Closing all access to the Gaza Strip and preventing aid is a mass killing of our people in Gaza," Mohammad Shtayyeh said in a statement, as Israel pressed on with a siege of the enclave following a devastating Hamas attack on Israel from Gaza.
5:23pm: Jewish schools in Amsterdam will close Friday
Jewish schools in Amsterdam will close on Friday, Dutch press agency ANP reported on Thursday, citing the Jewish children's organisation Cheider.
FRANCE 24 could not immediately confirm the reason for the closure, but Dutch daily Parool reported the decision was taken with the safety of the pupils and teachers in mind.
5:17pm: Israel raises $200 million in diaspora bonds since war with Hamas began
Israel has raised $200 million in diaspora bonds since the war with Hamas began, Israel Bonds said in a statement.
The group, the government's vehicle for diaspora bonds, said that US state and local governments accounted for $150 million of the purchases.
"The response across many US states was immediate and demand exceeded the amount of Israel bonds that we were able to sell at that time," Dani Naveh, president of Israel Bonds, said in a statement.
5:11pm: Families of missing Franco-Israelis ask Macron to help
Struggling to hold back tears, relatives of Franco-Israeli citizens urged French President Emmanuel Macron on Thursday to help free and locate their missing children, siblings and partners.
Twelve French citizens are confirmed dead in Israel, and 17 are missing, according to the latest official tally.
"I want my sister back, I want everyone to find their missing family," Meitav Journo, sister of 24-year-old Karin Journo, told reporters in Tel Aviv, speaking alongside the relatives of other missing Franco-Israelis.
"President Macron, it's in your hands ... you have the powers to get them home."
Macron will address the nation on TV in the evening to call for unity and try to prevent any spillover of the conflict in France, where there has been a rise in anti-semitic acts.
5:06pm: Israel hits Gaza with 4,000 tonnes of explosives since Saturday, says army
The Israeli army said it has bombarded the Gaza Strip with approximately 6,000 bombs containing a total of 4,000 tonnes of explosives since Saturday when it began striking Hamas targets.
"Approximately 6,000 bombs have been dropped on the Gaza Strip with a total weight of 4,000 tonnes," the army said in a statement Thursday.
4:40pm: Hamas rockets continue to strike Israel's Sderot as local authorities call on civilians to evacuate
Israel has continued to carry out raids in Gaza and announced an emergency government for the duration of the conflict with Hamas. Local authorities in the southern Israeli city of Sderot, located just two kilometres from the border with Gaza, are calling on civilians to evacuate as a constant barrage of Hamas rockets has continued to fall in recent days. One of the rockets struck a clinic, wounding two people.
FRANCE 24's Luke Shrago reports.
4:35pm: ‘Release my son’: Thai families plea for help for loved ones kidnapped in Israel
Among the hundreds killed after the Palestinian militant group Hamas launched its unprecedented attack on Israel nearly a week ago were at least 21 Thai citizens, with a further 14 thought to have been kidnapped. Back in Thailand, bereaved families are struggling to come to terms with their loss, while those with missing relatives are desperate to see their family members released.
FRANCE 24 spoke with the mothers of two Thai nationals who moved to Israel to work as farm workers: one was killed in Israel while the other has been taken hostage by Hamas.
Click on the video below for the full report.
4:28pm: Jordan to transfer $4.23 million aid to UN Palestinian refugee agency
Jordan's King Abdullah has ordered the government to allocate 3 million dinars ($4.23 million) for a UN body working with Palestinian refugees, the Jordanian state news agency reported on Thursday.
4:26pm: Palestinian President Abbas condemns violence against civilians on both sides of the conflict
Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas condemned violence against civilians on Thursday in the wake of the devastating attack by Hamas gunmen on Israel and the relentless bombardment of the Gaza Strip by Israeli jets that followed.
"We reject the practices of killing civilians or abusing them on both sides because they contravene morals, religion and international law," the official Palestinian news agency Wafa quoted Abbas as saying.
4:22pm: US not placing conditions on security assistance to Israel, says Defence Secretary Austin
The US military is not placing any conditions on its security assistance to Israel, US Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin said on Thursday, adding Washington expected Israel's professional military to "do the right thing."
The United States has been rushing air defences and munitions to Israel to help bolster its fight against the Palestinian militant group Hamas in the wake of Hamas' devastating attacks on Israel over the weekend.
Austin, speaking at the NATO headquarters in Brussels, also said that the United States has also not seen any indications that Lebanon's Hezbollah was massing troops to potentially attack Israel, widening the conflict.
4:20pm: Belgium strengthening security of Jewish community, says PM De Croo
Belgium is strengthening the security of its Jewish community, Belgian Prime Minister Alexander De Croo said on Thursday on X, adding that there was "an increased vigilance for antisemitic attacks" following Hamas' assault on Israel last Saturday.
He also said Belgium will bring back stranded travelers from Israel.
3:52pm: German foreign minister to visit Israel Friday
German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock will travel to Israel on Friday, almost a week after Hamas launched its deadly assault on the country, a spokesman for her ministry said.
Baerbock will be making the "solidarity visit" to Israel as part of her efforts at "crisis diplomacy", the spokesman said on Thursday. The visit comes the day after Baerbock held talks in Berlin with the Qatari Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani, seen as a potential broker in the conflict.
3:39pm: Four children among the 17 French nationals missing, says Macron
French President Emmanuel Macron said that there were four children among the 17 French nationals reported missing since Saturday's Hamas attack.
Macron was speaking at a closed-door meeting with allies and opposition party leaders at the Elysée Palace on Thursday.
At least 12 French nationals have been killed, according to a new report by France's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, which also lists 17 French nationals as missing, most of whom are probably being held hostage by Hamas.
2:35pm: Blinken meets Israeli President Herzog
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken has met with Israeli President Isaac Herzog after his meeting with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
Blinken made a statement with Herzog that touched on the same themes as his earlier statement with Netanyahu.
“There really are two paths before countries in this region and in many ways, countries in this world. But here in the Middle East, there’s the path of integration, cooperation, normalisation and equal measures of justice, opportunity, dignity for all peoples, including the Palestinians,” Blinken said.
He added: “Or there’s the path that Hamas has shown to the world these last few days — terror, destruction, nihilism, a path that leads to nowhere for anyone except to the darkest places in our souls.”
2:22pm: Palestinian death toll rises to 1,417, says Gaza health ministry
The death toll of Palestinians killed by Israeli strikes on the Gaza Strip since Saturday has risen to 1,417, said the Gaza health ministry, with 6,268 wounded.
2:31pm: Iran accuses Israel of seeking 'genocide' by besieging Gaza
Iran's foreign minister accused Israel of seeking "genocide" by enforcing a siege against Gaza, according to Iranian state TV, before a visit to Iraq's capital on Thursday.
"Today, the continuation of war crimes by (Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin) Netanyahu and Zionists against the civilians of Gaza, besieging, cutting off water and electricity, and denying entry of medicine and food, has created conditions where the Zionists are seeking a genocide of all people in Gaza," Hossein Amirabdollahian said.
"The war we witness today in the Gaza Strip is not just the Zionists' war against Hamas, it is the Zionists' war against all Palestinians."
2:22pm: Macron to address nation amid rise in anti-Semitic acts in France
President Emmanuel Macron will meet with political party leaders on Thursday and address the nation on TV to call for unity and try to prevent any spillover of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict in France, where there has been a rise in anti-Semitic acts.
Antisemitic acts have risen in France since Hamas attacked Israeli towns on Saturday, killing more than 1,300 people, Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin said.
Israel has responded by launching the most powerful bombing campaign on Gaza, ruled by Hamas, in the 75-year history of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, killing more than 1,200 and destroying whole neighbourhoods.
Darmanin said France had seen a spike in online hatred but also more direct threats.
"Since Saturday and the terrorist massacres in Israel, there has been over a hundred antisemitic acts, mainly tags and swastikas," Darmanin told France Inter radio, "but also insults... and people arrested with a knife at the entrance of a school or synagogue ... and a drone flying over a Jewish place of worship."
Twenty-four people have been arrested. The government has assigned 10,000 police to protect some 500 sites.
Darmanin said intelligence services saw no specific terrorist threats against France's Jewish community, but that threats could come from individuals rather than organised groups.
To read the article in full, click here.
1:54pm: UK government to facilitate flights out of Israel for British nationals
Britain will facilitate flights out of Israel to help its citizens leave the country, with the first such flight due to depart Tel Aviv later on Thursday, the foreign office said in a statement.
1:38pm: India condemns Hamas 'terrorist attack', reiterates backing for independent Palestine
India views the strike by Hamas militants on Israel as a "terrorist attack", a foreign ministry spokesperson said on Thursday.
"There is a global responsibility to respond to terrorism in all its forms," Arindam Bagchi told reporters at a briefing while noting: "India has always advocated for an independent Palestine."
1:35pm: Blinken says at least 25 Americans killed in Hamas attack
At least 25 Americans have been killed in the attack by Palestinian Islamist Hamas militants in Israel, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said on Thursday, during a trip to show solidarity with Israel.
In a joint statement with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Blinken said Washington was working closely with Israel to secure the release of people taken hostage by Hamas.
1:32pm: No formal trace implicating Iran in Hamas attacks on Israel, France says
France has no formal trace implicating Iran in the Hamas attacks on Israel at the weekend, a spokesperson of the French foreign ministry said, reiterating similar remarks President Emmanuel Macron had made earlier this week.
1:29pm: Israeli attack targets Aleppo, Damascus airports, Syrian state TV says
Israeli strikes targeted Syria's two main airports on Thursday, Syrian state television said.
"Israeli aggression targets Damascus and Aleppo airports," it reported.
Both airports are out of service after the strikes, Damascus said.
1:27pm: Hamas must be 'crushed' like Islamic state group, Netanyahu says
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu vowed Thursday to crush Hamas, urging the world to treat the Islamist militants the same way as the Islamic State group.
"Just as ISIS was crushed, so too will Hamas be crushed. And Hamas should be treated exactly the way ISIS was treated," Netanyahu said as he met visiting US Secretary of State Antony Blinken.
1:13pm: Twelve French nationals killed in Hamas attack in Israel, 17 missing, says foreign ministry
The death toll of French nationals killed in the Hamas attack on Israel has risen to 12, said Anne-Claire Legendre, a spokeswoman for the French Foreign Ministry.
"We have to mourn a new death, which brings to 12 the number of French victims of the terrorist attacks" in Israel, said Legendre at a press briefing, adding that France had "not received any news about the 17 compatriots who have gone missing, which is very worrying".
She also announced that France's Foreign Affairs Minister Catherine Colonna would be arriving at Paris's Charles de Gaulle airport on Thursday evening to personally welcome the first French nationals to return from Israel.
12:57pm: Family of Frenchman reported missing in Israel brings action in Paris against Hamas
The family of a French citizen living in Israel brought an action in Paris on Thursday against Hamas, accusing the Palestinian group of kidnapping their loved one and calling for the movement to be prosecuted for crimes against humanity, his lawyer Nathanaël Majster announced.
"The complaint has been lodged with the National Anti-Terrorism Prosecutor's Office (Pnat)," he added.
On October 7, Marc Perez, a 51-year-old Frenchman born in Israel, "received a call" from his 20-year-old daughter, who was attending the Supernova music festival near the border with Gaza when Palestinian fighters burst in, killing 270 people according to authorities.
"Marc Perez immediately got into his vehicle and drove to the scene of the massacre to try to save his daughter," the action reads.
While the young girl managed to "flee the scene", the family has had no further news of her father. They suspect that he was abducted by Hamas, having not found his body in Israeli hospitals.
12:36pm: Israel-Hamas conflict is 'new cloud' darkening economic outlook, says IMF chief
International Monetary Fund managing director Kristalina Georgieva said on Thursday the "heartbreaking" Israel-Hamas conflict threatened to darken an already murky global economic outlook.
"We are closely monitoring how the situation evolves, how it is affecting, especially oil markets," Georgieva said.
There had been some fluctuations in oil prices and reactions in markets but it was too early to predict the economic impact, she added.
"Very clearly, this is a new cloud on not the safest horizon for the world economy, a new cloud darkening this horizon," she told a news conference at the annual meetings of the IMF and World Bank in Marrakech, Morocco.
Georgieva joined a growing chorus of financial leaders expressing concern about the sudden eruption of violence in the long-running Israeli-Palestinian conflict which has already claimed more than 2,500 lives.
12:29pm: Iran bears responsibility for Hamas attacks, says Germany's Scholz
German Chancellor Olaf Scholz said on Thursday Iran bore responsibility for helping Hamas grow to the point where it launched last weekend's attack on Israel, as he announced a crackdown on organisations that backed the Islamist movement.
"While we have no firm proof that Iran operationally supported this cowardly attack, it is clear to us all that without Iranian support, Hamas would never have been able to launch this unprecedented attack," he said.
"The jubilant statements from the top of the Iranian regime and some other government officials in the region are abhorrent. The leadership in Tehran shows its true colours without shame, and thereby confirms its role in Gaza."
The Islamic Republic has celebrated the Hamas assault but denied that Tehran was behind them.
12:25pm: UK PM Sunak speaks to Egyptian president on Gaza border crossing
British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak spoke to Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi on Thursday, to acknowledge the challenging security situation at the Rafah border crossing between Egypt and Gaza, Sunak's office said.
"He (Sunak) offered the UK's support to try to manage this situation and keep the route open for humanitarian and consular reasons, including for British nationals," the statement on Thursday said.
12:25pm: Israel prepares 'ground manoeuvre' against Hamas but no decision yet, army says
The Israeli army said Thursday it was preparing for a ground assault on Hamas militants in the Gaza Strip but that the country's political leaders had not yet taken a decision.
It said the military's campaign against the Islamists was also aimed at "taking out" the group's senior leadership including top government officials.
"We are waiting to see what our political leadership decides about a potential ground" incursion, army spokesman Richard Hecht told journalists.
"This has not been decided yet ... But we are preparing for a ground manoeuvre if it is decided."
The army has deployed tens of thousands of troops to the border with the Gaza Strip as it continues a withering air campaign it says targets Hamas infrastructure, commanders and operating centres in the enclave.
12:18pm: Egypt directing Gaza aid flights to northern Sinai, foreign ministry says
Egypt said on Thursday it was directing international aid for the besieged Gaza Strip to Al Arish airport in the north of the Sinai Peninsula, the foreign ministry said in a statement.
The nearby Rafah crossing between Sinai and Gaza remained open, the statement said, adding that Egypt had asked Israel to avoid targeting the Palestinian side of the crossing after strikes that prevented normal operations there.
11:57am: 1,354 Palestinians killed and 6,049 wounded in Israeli air strikes since Saturday, the Gaza health ministry says
The death toll in the Gaza Strip has risen to at least 1,354, the Hamas health ministry said, with dozens killed since Thursday morning following a massive Israeli bombardment of the enclave.
At least "1,354 citizens have been martyred and 6,049 suffered various injuries", the ministry said, updating an earlier death toll of around 1,200 that was announced at dawn on Thursday.
11:47am: Palestinians rush to buy food amid strikes as Israel readies possible ground operation
Palestinians lined up outside bakeries and grocery stores in Gaza on Thursday after spending the night surrounded by the ruins of pulverised neighbourhoods darkened by a near-total power outage. Israel launched new air strikes and said it was preparing for a possible ground invasion.
Gazans fleeing airstrikes could be seen running through the streets, carrying their belongings and looking for a safe place. Tens of thousands have crowded into UN-run schools while others are staying with relatives or even strangers who let them in.
Lines formed outside bakeries and grocery stores during the few hours they dared open, as people tried to stock on food before shelves are emptied. On Wednesday, Gaza’s only power station ran out of fuel and shut down, leaving only lights powered by scattered private generators.
A senior official with the International Committee of the Red Cross warned that lack of electricity could cripple hospitals.
“As Gaza loses power, hospitals lose power, putting newborns in incubators and elderly patients on oxygen at risk. Kidney dialysis stops, and X-rays can’t be taken,” said Fabrizio Carboni, ICRC’s regional director. “Without electricity, hospitals risk turning into morgues.”
11:42am: Turkey's Erdogan discusses Israeli-Palestinian conflict with UAE leader
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan discussed the conflict between Israeli and Palestinian forces with Emirati counterpart Mohammed bin Zayed in a call on Thursday, Turkey's presidency said.
"During the call, President Erdogan stated that ending the tensions between Israel-Palestine will be possible through the positive steps that the international community, namely regional countries, will take," the presidency said on social messaging platform X.
Ankara has offered to mediate the conflict, while a senior Turkish official said on Wednesday that Turkey was holding talks with the Palestinian militant group Hamas on securing the release of civilian prisoners.
11:35am: Gaza humanitarian situation will soon be 'unmanageable', ICRC says
The humanitarian situation in the Gaza Strip will become "unmanageable very quickly", Fabrizio Carboni, a senior official with the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) said on Thursday.
His comments came as Israel pounded the Hamas-ruled territory, home to 2.3 million people, following Hamas's attack on Israel on Saturday that killed more than 1,200 people. In Gaza, officials have reported more than 1,200 people killed in Israeli retaliatory strikes.
11:22am: UN experts slam 'horrific' Hamas attacks, Israel siege of Gaza
Dozens of the United Nations' rights experts on Thursday condemned Hamas's "horrific crimes" and said Israel's bombardment of the Gaza Strip "amounts to collective punishment".
"There is no justification for violence that indiscriminately targets innocent civilians, whether by Hamas or Israeli forces," said the experts in a joint statement.
"This is absolutely prohibited under international law and amounts to a war crime."
They denounced what they called the targeted and deadly violence directed at civilians in Israel.
But they also warned that Israel's "further tightening of the unlawful blockade" on the Gaza Strip would have devastating impacts on its entire civilian population.
11:21am: Gaza still has fuel but it could run out in a few hours, ICRC says
The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) said on Thursday that the blockaded Gaza Strip still had some fuel to operate generators, including in hospitals, but that it could run out in a few hours.
"Our understanding is that there is still fuel – but probably only for a few hours – to allow generators to work, including in hospitals," said Fabrizio Carboni, ICRC's regional director for the Near and Middle East, told reporters.
11:20am: UEFA postpones Israel's qualifying game in Kosovo over travel difficulties
UEFA has postponed Israel’s European Championship qualifying game against host Kosovo on Sunday.
The decision by European soccer's governing body – following Hamas’ surprise attack – adds to a fixture backlog.
UEFA said in a statement Thursday that the game in Pristina cannot be played “because the Israeli authorities currently do not allow their national team to travel abroad".
11:18am: Israel focusing on 'taking out' senior Hamas leaders in Gaza, army says
Israel's military assault against Hamas is focusing on "taking out" the Islamist group's senior leadership in the Gaza Strip, including chief Yahya Sinwar, the army spokesman said Thursday.
"Right now we are focused on taking out their senior leadership, not only the military leadership (but) also their governmental leadership, all the way up to Sinwar," Richard Hecht told journalists, referring to Hamas's chief in the enclave.
"They were directly connected" to the attack that Hamas launched on Israel over the weekend that left more than 1,200 people dead.
11:08am: UK withdraws families of embassy staff from Israel
UK said Thursday that it was "temporarily" removing the families of staff at its embassy and consulate in Israel from the country amid ongoing unrest.
"We are temporarily drawing down dependants of staff at our Embassy in Tel Aviv and our Consulate in Jerusalem as a precautionary measure," said a Foreign Office spokesperson.
"Our Embassy and Consulate remain fully staffed and continue to provide consular services to those who require assistance," it added.
The UK currently advises its nationals against all but essential travel to Israel.
11:05am: UNRWA say 12 colleagues killed in Israeli air strikes on Gaza since October 7
The number of UN staffers killed in the Israeli air strikes on Gaza has risen to 12, UNRWA reports.
10:44am: Israel's El Al to fly on Jewish Sabbath to bring back army reservists
Israel's El Al Airlines said it would operate flights this Saturday from the United States and Asia to bring back reservists to serve in the war with Hamas, breaking a 40-year policy of not flying on the Jewish Sabbath.
El Al has not flown on the Sabbath since 1982 but it received permission from rabbis who said that preservation of life overrides other religious laws.
The airline said it will operate two flights on Boeing 787 aircraft from New York and Bangkok to collect reservists who received military call-up orders.
The flights will be free of charge for soldiers and paid for by El Al and by large financial institutions in the United States, El Al said.
Israel has called up some 360,000 reservists to join its war against the Palestinian militant group Hamas, after Israel was caught off-guard on Saturday by a large-scale surprise attack by Palestinian gunmen who crossed into Israel and rampaged through communities. Israel's military has responded with massive air strikes on the Gaza Strip.
10:43am: Israel's strikes on Gaza amount to 'collective punishment', UN experts say
A group of independent United Nations experts on Thursday condemned violence against civilians in Israel and deplored that reprisal strikes against Gaza amounted to "collective punishment."
While condemning the "horrific crimes committed by Hamas", the group said that Israel had resorted to "indiscriminate military attacks against the already exhausted Palestinian people of Gaza."
"They have lived under unlawful blockade for 16 years, and already gone through five major brutal wars, which remain unaccounted for," the group, which includes several UN special rapporteurs, said in a statement.
"This amounts to collective punishment. There is no justification for violence that indiscriminately targets innocent civilians, whether by Hamas or Israeli forces. This is absolutely prohibited under international law and amounts to a war crime."
10:41am: Hamas holding at least 97 people hostage, Israeli military spokesperson says
Israel's military spokesperson said on Thursday that Israel was able to confirm the identities of 97 people taken hostage into Gaza during an attack by Hamas on Saturday.
The offensive Israel launched on the blockaded Palestinian enclave since was meant to eliminate the ability of the Islamist militant movement to govern, Daniel Hagari said in a televised press briefing.
"The military is preparing for the next stage of the war," he said, adding that 222 soldiers had been killed since Saturday.
10:36am: NATO urges Israel to respond with 'proportionality' in Gaza
NATO countries on Thursday told Israel's defence minister they stood by his country after the attack by Hamas, but urged his forces to respond with "proportionality", the alliance said.
"Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said that NATO condemned the terrorist attacks in the strongest possible terms, adding: 'Israel does not stand alone'," NATO said in a statement.
"Allies expressed solidarity with Israel, making clear that it has the right to defend itself with proportionality against these unjustifiable acts of terror."
NATO countries "called for Hamas to immediately release all hostages, and for the fullest possible protection of civilians. Allies also made clear that no nation or organisation should seek to take advantage of the situation or to escalate it."
10:31am: Iran calls on Islamic, Arab countries to confront Israel
Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi has called on Islamic and Arab countries to cooperate in confronting Israel as it wages a deadly war triggered by a surprise attack by Palestinian militant group Hamas.
"Today, all the Islamic and Arab countries and all the free people of the world must reach a serious convergence and cooperation in the path of stopping the crimes of the Zionist regime against the oppressed Palestinian nation," Raisi told his Syrian counterpart Bashar al-Assad in a phone call late Wednesday.
Raisi stated that in order to stop the "genocide of the Palestinians by the Zionists", Iran will coordinate with Islamic countries "as soon as possible", the Iranian presidency website said on Thursday.
Iran, which backs Hamas, on Saturday celebrated the assault in Israel, though it insisted it was not involved in it.
10:17am: Netherlands to continue Israel repatriation flights as long as necessary
The Netherlands will continue repatriation flights to get citizens out of Israel as long as necessary, Dutch news agency ANP reported on Thursday, citing the government.
A first Dutch military plane from Israel landed in the Netherlands on Wednesday evening and a second one flies to Israel on Thursday, after Dutch airline KLM retracted an offer to operate a repatriation flight due to safety concerns.
9:55am: Blinken to meet Palestinian, Jordan leaders in Amman Friday
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken will hold talks with the Palestinian and Jordanian leaders in Amman, a US official said as Blinken was on a solidarity visit to Israel Thursday.
"Tomorrow (Friday) in Amman, Secretary Blinken will have meetings with Palestinian president (Mahmud) Abbas and Jordanian King Abdullah II," the official told an AFP correspondent travelling with Blinken, whose visit followed Hamas's surprise weekend onslaught in Israel.
9:40am: Berlin to ban Hamas activities in Germany, Chancellor Scholz says
Berlin will ban Hamas activities and organisations linked to the terror group in Germany, Chancellor Olaf Scholz said Thursday following the shock attacks on Israel.
"The federal interior ministry will ban Hamas from operating in Germany. An association like Samidoun, whose members celebrate the most brutal acts of terror on the open street, will be banned in Germany," Scholz said in a speech to parliament.
9:18am: Germany halting aid to Palestinians pending review
Germany will suspend all development aid to the Palestinian Territories pending the completion of a review to ensure it best serves regional peace and Israel's security, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz told legislators.
"Our yardstick will be whether and how these projects best serve peace in the region and the security of Israel," he said.
"Until that review is complete we will not make available any new development cooperation resources."
He added: "Sadly, we can foresee the suffering of the civilian population in the Gaza strip likely growing further – but that too is the fault of Hamas and its attack on Israel."
9:14am: Three Chinese nationals killed in Israel-Hamas conflict, foreign ministry says
Three Chinese nationals have been killed in the conflict between Israel and Palestinian militant group Hamas, Beijing's foreign ministry said Thursday.
"To my understanding it has currently been confirmed that three Chinese nationals were unfortunately killed in the conflict," foreign ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin told a regular briefing.
9:12am: Blinken arrives in Israel in solidarity visit after Hamas attacks
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken landed in Tel Aviv on Thursday as part of a wider Middle East tour to display Washington's solidarity with Israel after the attack by Palestinian Hamas militants and to seek to quell the conflict.
The top US diplomat will also try to help secure the release of hostages kidnapped by Hamas – some of whom are Americans – and safe passage of Gaza civilians out of the densely-populated enclave ahead of a possible Israeli ground invasion.
9:08am: Israel will not supply water, fuel to Gaza until hostages freed, energy minister says
Israeli Energy Minister Israel Katz vowed Thursday his country would not allow basic resources or humanitarian aid into Gaza until Hamas released the people it abducted during its surprise weekend onslaught.
"Humanitarian aid to Gaza? No electric switch will be turned on, no water tap will be opened and no fuel truck will enter until the Israeli abductees are returned home," he said in a statement.
9:05am: Erdogan doesn't have 'enough influence with either Israel or Hamas' to negotiate hostage release
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has launched a negotiation process with Hamas for the release of Israeli hostages who were kidnapped by the Palestinian militant group on Saturday.
However, FRANCE 24's Jasper Mortimer believes that Erdogan doesn't have "enough influence with either Israel or Hamas" to successfully negotiate for the hostages' release.
Citing Turkish journalist Barcin Yinanc, Mortimer said Turkey may nevertheless help set up a humanitarian corridor into Gaza, allowing the passage of food, medical aid and civilians.
Click on the video below for the full report.
8:45am: Rockets fired at Tel Aviv after Israeli strikes on Gaza
Hamas militants on Thursday fired a barrage of rockets at Tel Aviv in response to Israeli air strikes that targeted "civilians" in two Gaza refugee camps, the Palestinian group said.
"Ezzedine al-Qassam Brigades fired rockets at Tel Aviv in response to (Israeli strikes) targeting civilians in Al-Shati and Jabalia camps," Hamas said, referring to its armed wing, in a text message sent to journalists.
AFP correspondents witnessed dozens of air strikes over 30 minutes on Thursday morning in the direction of Al-Shati camp and in the blockaded strip's north.
"The occupation (Israeli forces) committed massacres this morning in Al-Shati camp and Jabalia camp, leaving dozens of martyrs and injured," Iyad al-Buzum, spokesman for the Hamas interior ministry, told AFP.
8:42am: Israeli air strike kills 15 Palestinians in a Gaza refugee camp, Hamas media says
An Israeli air strike killed 15 Palestinians in a Gaza refugee camp, Hamas media said on Thursday.
Palestinians said the air strike was the third in the past few hours on residential buildings across Gaza, adding that residents did not receive any warning from Israeli security before their homes were bombed.
8:38am: Jordan says sending first aid to Gaza since start of latest conflict, state media says
Jordan on Thursday sent the first aid delivery destined for Gaza since the start of the latest conflict, state television said on social media platform X.
A Jordanian military source said a military plane would fly the aid to Rafah border crossing with Egypt, from which it would be transferred to authorities in Gaza if permissions were secured.
8:06am: Israel declines to publish number of Gaza rocket interceptions, unlike in previous wars
Israel's military indicated on Thursday that it would not publish the number of interceptions of Palestinian rockets that it has carried out in the Gaza war, citing concern that such information would help Hamas.
"I'm not going to tell the enemy the number of our intercepts," spokesperson Lieutenant-Colonel Richard Hecht told reporters, outlining what appeared to be a departure from past wartime policy.
Israeli officials have previously said they were planning for possible strains on their supplies of anti-rocket interception missiles in the event of especially heavy fighting.
8:05am: Israel-Lebanon cross-border strikes spark fear that conflict may escalate
Recent cross-border strikes between Israel and the Iranian-backed Lebanese militant group Hezbollah are sparking fears that the conflict may escalate and spread to neighbouring Lebanon.
"Every day we see some sort of artillery, air strikes, rocket fired towards Israel," said FRANCE 24's Rawad Taha, reporting from Beirut.
Hezbollah on Wednesday fired anti-tank missiles at an Israeli military position and claimed to have killed and wounded troops. Israel later retaliated by launching strikes on southern Lebanon.
"The situation is really tense ... this is worrying the Lebanese people," said Taha.
Click on the video below for the full report.
7:58am: Germany to support Israel in its defence efforts with two drones
Berlin will allow Israel to use two Heron drones the German air force has in use in the country, defence minister Boris Pistorius said on Thursday ahead of a NATO meeting in Brussels.
7:53am: Israeli army prepares for ground operation in Gaza
Israeli military says it is preparing for a ground operation in Gaza but the political leadership has not decided yet.
7:35am: No fuel or electricity in Gaza as Israeli strikes devastate enclave
A humanitarian crisis is unfolding in Gaza as residents run out of fuel and electricity amid Israeli air strikes.
Some 1,200 people have been killed according to the Palestinian health ministry. The toll could potentially be much higher as many are buried under the rubble of levelled buildings with little means of retrieval, FRANCE 24’s Jerusalem correspondent Irris Makler said.
Israel has cut off supplies of water, food and electricity to the Gaza strip following Saturday’s massive assault by Hamas fighters on southern Israel.
Click on the video below for the full report.
7:23am: Red Cross says in contact with Hamas, Israel over hostages
The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) is in contact with Hamas and Israel to try to negotiate the release of hostages taken into Gaza, the group said Thursday.
At least 150 Israelis and foreigners – including soldiers, civilians, children and women – have been held hostage in the Gaza Strip since Hamas's surprise Saturday attack on Israel.
"As a neutral intermediary we stand ready to conduct humanitarian visits; facilitate communication between hostages and family members; and to facilitate any eventual release," Fabrizio Carboni, the ICRC's regional director for the Near and Middle East, said in a statement.
Hostage-taking is forbidden under international humanitarian law, and anyone detained must be released immediately, Carboni added.
The ICRC urged "both sides to reduce the suffering of civilians".
7:15am: Israeli envoy says Japan should be 'vigilant' with its aid to Palestine
Israel's ambassador to Japan said on Thursday that his host country should be "vigilant" and look at what Hamas was doing with the aid it extends to Palestinians.
Hamas militants breached the border fence enclosing the Gaza enclave at the weekend, rampaging through towns and villages and killing 1,200 people while taking scores of hostages, the Israeli military has said.
Israeli jets have pounded Gazan targets for days in retribution, and the death toll there has risen to 1,200, Palestinian media reported, citing Gaza's health ministry.
"Japan should be vigilant and look at what Hamas is doing with the aid," Gilan Cohen said at a press conference. He commended Japan for acknowledging the Hamas attacks as "terrorism" and for saying Israel had a right to defend itself.
6:53am: Brazil calls UN Security Council meeting on Israel-Hamas war
Brazil, which currently holds the rotating presidency of the UN Security Council, called a Friday meeting of the body to discuss the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas, its foreign affairs ministry said Wednesday.
Brazilian Foreign Affairs Minister Mauro Vieira has interrupted an Asia trip to travel "to New York to participate in a meeting of the United Nations Security Council, called by Brazil ... to address the situation in the Gaza Strip", the ministry said in a statement.
Brazil previously called an emergency meeting of the Security Council on Sunday, the day after Hamas launched a surprise attack on Israel.
5:56am: Thai death toll in Israel-Hamas war rises to 21, PM says
Twenty-one Thai nationals have been killed in the conflict between Israel and militant group Hamas, Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin said Thursday, up from the previous toll of 20.
"The update from last night is bad news that one more Thai died, the number rises to 21," he said.
The war was triggered by a bloody attack by Hamas and has left thousands dead with around 150 hostages taken.
There are approximately 30,000 Thais in Israel, mostly working in the agriculture sector, according to Thailand's labour ministry.
05:50am: Trump says Israel's Netanyahu was not prepared for Hamas attack
Former US President Donald Trump on Wednesday criticised Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu over what he described as a lack of preparation for a weekend attack by Palestinian Hamas militants that killed at least 1,200 people in Israel.
Speaking to Fox News, Trump, the frontrunner for the 2024 Republican presidential nomination, said Netanyahu "has been hurt very badly" due to the attack.
"He was not prepared. He was not prepared and Israel was not prepared. And under Trump, they wouldn't have had to be prepared," he said.
Trump's comments came as Israel was still collecting its dead and reeling from one of the most devastating attacks in its history. It has retaliated with air strikes on Gaza that have killed at least 1,200 Palestinians.
One of Trump's opponents in the Republican contest, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, criticized the former president over the comments.
"(It) is absurd that anyone, much less someone running for President, would choose now to attack our friend and ally, Israel," DeSantis wrote on social media.
4:48am: Death toll in Gaza hits 1,200 people, Palestinian health ministry says
The death toll in the Gaza Strip has risen to 1,200 people, the Palestinian Ministry of Health said on Thursday, following an increase in Israeli bombardments on the sixth day since Hamas's surprise attack.
"The number of martyrs has risen to around 1,200, and the number of wounded to around 5,600," a spokesperson for the health ministry in Gaza said.
4:02am: More than 338,000 people displaced in Gaza, UN says
More than 338,000 people have been forced to flee their homes in the Gaza Strip, the United Nations said, as heavy Israeli bombardments continue to hit the Palestinian enclave.
"Mass displacement across the Gaza Strip continues," the UN humanitarian agency OCHA said in a statement sent on Thursday.
By late Wednesday, the number of displaced people in Gaza had risen by an additional 75,000 people from the figure given 24 hours earlier, reaching 338,934, it said.
The announcement came as Israel pounded Hamas targets in the Gaza Strip – a densely populated enclave of 2.3 million people – in response to the militants' surprise Saturday attack.
03:30am: Israel announces 'large scale strike' on Gaza
At around 4:30 am on Thursday, Israel's military said it was conducting a "large-scale strike" on targets belonging to Hamas in Gaza. It did not provide details.
01:35am: Biden warns Iran not to get involved in conflict
US President Joe Biden warned Iran against getting involved in Israel's conflict with Hamas amid fears of a wider regional conflict, while Israeli air strikes around the Gaza Strip drove hundreds of thousands from their homes.
Israeli jets have pounded Gazan targets for days in retribution for a weekend attack by Hamas militants who breached the border fence enclosing the enclave and rampaged through towns and villages, killing 1,200 people, injuring over 2,700, and taking scores of hostages, the Israeli military said.
12:15am: UN Mideast envoy in Cairo to rally aid for Gaza
The UN Mideast envoy is in Cairo working with other key regional and international partners and the Egyptian government on ending the Hamas-Israel conflict, preventing its expansion, and opening a humanitarian corridor to deliver fuel, food and water to access to Gaza which Israel has cut off, the United Nations said Wednesday.
Tor Wennesland is following up on Egypt’s offer to facilitate humanitarian access through the Rafah crossing and to make the El Arish airport available for critical assistance, UN spokesman Stephane Dujarric said.
Meanwhile, the UN humanitarian office reports that 263,000 people have been displaced in Gaza, a 40% increase since Tuesday, Dujarric said. More than 1,000 housing units in Gaza have been destroyed and about 560 severely damaged and rendered uninhabitable in the past day, the UN said.
Read yesterday’s liveblog to see how the day’s events unfolded.
Key developments from Wednesday, October 11:
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu vowed to wipe Hamas “off the face of the earth” in a late-night speech Wednesday announcing an emergency unity government.
In Gaza, the only power plant in the besieged enclave shut down after it ran out of fuel. Israel has cut off supplies of food, fuel, electricity and medicine into Gaza since Saturday’s attack.
The death toll on both sides mounted on the fifth day of the war, with 1,100 Palestinians killed in Gaza and 1,200 Israelis killed in the Hamas attack. Eleven French nationals were killed and 18 are missing in Israel, according to French authorities, including “several children”.
(FRANCE 24 with AFP, AP and Reuters)
