Israel-Hamas war Highlights: Hamas commander killed as Israel launches dozens of strikes on Gaza, says report

Sirens in Tel Aviv, warning of possible incoming rockets, Israeli military says

Pope Francis called on Sunday for humanitarian corridors to allow the delivery of essentials to the Gaza Strip, which is under heavy Israeli bombardment following a bloody attack by its rulers, Hamas.

Alarm has grown about a humanitarian crisis in Gaza, where Israel has cut off water, food and power, vowing to maintain the complete siege until all hostages taken by the Palestinian Islamist militant group are freed.

In the eight days since Hamas gunmen killed more than 1,300 Israelis in their surprise onslaught, Israel has responded with a devastating bombing campaign that has claimed over 2,300 lives in Gaza.

"Humanitarian law must be respected, especially in Gaza, where it is urgent and necessary to guarantee humanitarian corridors and help the population," said the Pope after his traditional Angelus prayer in Rome's Saint Peter's Square.

The Israeli army is awaiting a "political decision" on the timing of a major ground offensive on the Gaza Strip, military spokesmen said Sunday as civilians stepped up desperate efforts to flee northern Gaza.

Israel has told 1.1 million people in northern Gaza to leave for the south of the territory and thousands were still using safe routes designated by Israel to seek safety on Sunday.

Israel has faced pressure from the United Nations and its allies to hold back on any invasion until civilians have been given every chance to leave. The military has not said when the safe passage windows will close.

Israeli officials on Saturday claimed that their military forensic teams have found multiple signs of torture, rape and other atrocities on the bodies of those attacked by Palestine-based militant group Hamas on October 7, reported Reuters. Read more

Pope Francis on Sunday called for humanitarian corridors to help those under siege in Gaza and renewed his appeal for the release of hostages held by militant Islamist group Hamas.

"I strongly ask that the children, the sick, the elderly, women and all civilians do not become victims of the conflict," the Pope said during his weekly address to the crowds in St. Peter's square.

"Humanitarian right must be respected, above all in Gaza."

Israeli forces were Sunday readying for a looming Gaza ground invasion aimed at destroying Hamas, the Palestinian Islamist militant group that unleashed the bloodiest attack in the country's history.

In the eight days since Hamas gunmen killed more than 1,300 Israelis in their surprise onslaught, Israel has responded with a devastating bombing campaign that has claimed over 2,300 lives in Gaza.

Fear and chaos reigned in the 40-kilometre (25-mile) long strip that is one of the world's most densely populated areas, with no safe place for the large numbers of internally displaced Palestinians to flee to.

Entire Gaza city blocks lay in ruins and hospitals were overflowing with thousands of wounded in the besieged territory, but there were fears of worse to come.

Amid the Israel-Hamas conflict, AIMIM president Asaduddin Owaisi has urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to show solidarity with the Palestinian people saying the Palestine issue is not just of Muslims alone, it is a humanitarian issue and it is a matter of all those who want justice.

Addressing a gathering here on Saturday night, the Hyderabad MP citing media reports said the "zaalim" Israeli government has bombarded Gaza with 6,000 bombs in the last six days and due to which over 1,500 Palestinian people including children and women were killed and several thousands are injured.

He alleged that whatever is happening in Gaza is "ethnic cleansing" and wanted the Indian government and the country to condemn "the war crimes" Israel is doing.

British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has condemned the “horror and barbarism” unleashed by the Palestinian militant group Hamas and pledged continued support to Israel in restoring security as he marked one week of the conflict in the Middle East.

In a statement issued by 10 Downing Street and also on social media on Saturday evening, the British Indian leader also reiterated his commitment to the Jewish community in the country that all protective measures would be deployed.

His warning to anyone stirring up “shameful antisemitism” came as thousands of pro-Palestine protesters marched the streets of London chanting anti-Israel slogans and 15 arrests were made on suspicion of public order offences and criminal damage.

A famous Tel Aviv Beach, where people used to come for morning walks and jogging, now wears a deserted look due to the Israel-Hamas war.

The locals are scared of coming out due to the fear of rocket strikes or other forms of terror attacks.

In a major escalation on October 7, Hamas launched a "surprise attack" on Israel, firing a barrage of rockets into the southern and central parts of the country.

Speaking to ANI, an Israeli national said, "Terrible people (Hamas). They are the worst...devil people. We are speechless...I was born here before this country was born. This never happened before...everyone knows many people, friends, relatives, and this is a small country".

Medics in Gaza warned Sunday that thousands could die as hospitals packed with wounded people run desperately low on fuel and basic supplies. Palestinians in the beseiged coastal enclave struggled to find food, water and safety ahead of an expected Israeli ground offensive in the war sparked by Hamas' deadly attack last week.

Israeli forces, supported by a growing deployment of U.S. warships in the region, positioned themselves along Gaza’s border and drilled for what Israel said would be a broad campaign to dismantle the militant group. A week of blistering airstrikes have demolished entire neighborhoods but failed to stem militant rocket fire into Israel.

The Israeli army on Sunday ordered an immediate evacuation of civilians near its frontier with Lebanon after cross-border fire killed one person.

"In accordance with the situational assessment and the recent shooting incident in northern Israel, the area up to four kilometers (2.5 miles) from the northern border with Lebanon has been closed," the army said in a statement.

The Israeli military said on Sunday it would continue to allow Gazans to evacuate south and hundreds of thousands had already moved, as its troops readied for a ground assault on the Hamas-controlled Gaza Strip in retaliation for unprecedented attacks.

Israel has vowed to annihilate the militant group Hamas after its fighters rampaged through Israeli towns shooting men, women and children and seizing hostages in the worst attack on civilians in the country's history.

Some 1,300 people were killed in the unexpected onslaught, and graphic mobile phone video footage and reports from medical and emergency services of atrocities in the overrun towns and kibbutzes deepened Israel's sense of shock.

Britain remains supportive of Israel's right to defend itself but has urged it to show restraint in any military action against Palestinian militant group Hamas in order to minimise harm to civilians, foreign minister James Cleverly said.

Speaking to the media on Sunday, Cleverly said he had raised the need to minimise civilian casualties in conversations with the Israeli government.

"Restraint, discipline - these are the hallmarks of the Israeli defence force that I want to see," Cleverly told Sky News.

As Israel prepared on Sunday for a ground assault on the Hamas-controlled Gaza Strip, Palestinians who have lost numerous family members in air strikes were bracing for more destruction if Israel hits back on an unprecedented scale on its territory.

Um Mohammad Al-Laham sat next to her 4-year-old granddaughter Fulla Al-Laham, who lay in a Gaza hospital which like others is operating on low supplies of medicine and fuel.

She said an Israeli airstrike hit the family home, killing 14 people including Fulla's parents, siblings and members of her extended family.

“All of a sudden and without warning, they bombed the house on top of the residents inside. No-one survived except my grandchild Fulla. May God cure her and give her strength,” said the grandmother, who has witnessed many wars between Hamas and the Israeli army over the years. She says this is the toughest.

Hamas claimed responsibility Sunday for two infiltrations from Lebanon to Israel that killed three of its fighters, as war rages between the Gaza-based militants and Israel.

The Ezzedine al-Qassam Brigades, Hamas' armed wing, said its members were "able... to blow up the border fence and... go forth inside occupied Palestine," clashing with "the enemy", whose planes targeted the fighters, killing three on Saturday.

Israeli forces on Saturday had said they killed several "terrorists" trying to cross from Lebanon.

Germany's Foreign Ministry on Sunday warned citizens against travelling to Israel, the Palestinian territories and Lebanon, citing the risk of attack and possible further escalation of the Israel-Hamas conflict.

"Israel remains the declared target of Islamist terrorist groups," the Foreign Ministry said on its website.

Medics in Gaza warned Sunday that thousands could die if hospitals packed with wounded people run out of fuel and basic supplies, as civilians struggled to find food, water and safety ahead of an expected Israeli ground offensive in the war sparked by Hamas' deadly attack last week.

Israeli forces, supported by a growing deployment of U.S. warships in the region, positioned themselves along Gaza’s border and drilled for what Israel said would be a broad campaign to dismantle the militant group. A week of blistering airstrikes have demolished entire neighborhoods but failed to stem militant rocket fire into Israel.

The United States has organised a ship to take Americans out of Israel to Cyprus on Monday, the US embassy said.

With Israel moving toward an invasion of the Gaza Strip, the ship will leave from the Israeli port of Haifa for Limassol taking "US nationals and their immediate family members with a valid travel document", the US embassy said in a security alert Sunday.

Tens of thousands of US passport holders live in Israel and 29 have been confirmed killed in the Hamas attacks on October 7. Another 15 are missing and believed to be among hostages held by Hamas since the attacks.

The Israeli military on Saturday vowed to kill top Hamas commander Yahya Sinwar - who is said to be the mastermind behind the October 7 attack that killed over 1,300 Israelis. Describing him as “Palestine's Osama Bin Laden”, a spokesperson for the Israeli Defence Forces (IDF) said that he is the “face of evil”. Read more

Anti-tank missile fire from Lebanon killed a civilian and wounded several others on Sunday in a northern Israel border community, Israel's army said.

"The IDF (Israel Defense Forces) responded with fire and destroyed Hezbollah positions and the source of the fire," an army spokesman said.

The Israeli military on Sunday said that at least 279 of its soldiers have been killed since the deadly Hamas' attack on October 7. It added that the number of confirmed Gaza hostages currently stands at 126.

The Israeli army said it was striking inside Lebanon on Sunday after anti-tank missile fire towards a border community. "Following the anti-tank missile fire in the area of Shtula, the IDF (Israel Defence Forces) struck the origin of the fire with artillery fire," the army said.

The Israeli military said on Sunday it would continue enabling Palestinian civilians fleeing Gaza Strip fighting to relocate southward within the territory, adding that hundreds of thousands had already heeded Israel's evacuation order.

The Israeli military declared a zone within 4 km (2 miles) of the Lebanese border off-limits to public access on Sunday and said it was deliberately disrupting GPS services there and on the southern front with Gaza as part of its operations. The GPS disruptions could affect the functions of apps, chief military spokesperson Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari said.

Hezbollah’s Al-Manar TV said on Sunday that a missile fired from South Lebanon targeted the Israeli village of Shtula. According to the media, a guided missile was used in the attack.