Israel-Hamas war highlights: Israel denies responsibility for Gaza hospital blast that killed at least 500

The 13,000-strong staff working with the UN agency for Palestinian refugees is “terrified and tired” and described the situation in the Hamas-run Gaza Strip as a “hellhole”, a spokeswoman for the agency said, reported ANI. The UNRWA staff in Gaza includes teachers, doctors, nurses, pharmacists, warehouse workers, logisticians, technicians and drivers.

Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Monday told the Israeli parliament to “prepare for a long battle”. “Now we are focused on one target: to unite forces and charge forward to victory. This requires determination because victory will take time,” he said.

“And I have a message for Iran and Hezbollah, don't test us in the north. Don't make the same mistake you once made. Because today the price you will pay will be much heavier,” Netanyahu added.

The UN Security Council has rejected a Russian resolution that condemned violence and terrorism against civilians but made no mention of Hamas, Reuters reported.

Only four countries joined Russia in voting for the resolution – China, United Arab Emirates, Mozambique and Gabon. Four countries voted against it – the United States, Britain, France and Japan. The other six abstained.

US President Joe Biden's White House is wrestling with thorny security and political challenges as officials consider a potential trip to Israel that may hold longer-term diplomatic advantages for Biden.

Such a trip would be a rare and risky choice, showing American backing for Israel's Benjamin Netanyahu as the US tries to avert a broader regional war. Dig deeper.

The Israeli Air Force is saying that it struck terror targets and military infrastructure of the Hezbollah terrorist organization in Lebanon. This was in response to the firing on Israeli targets yesterday, it adds.

US President Joe Biden says that he will travel to Israel tomorrow to stand in solidarity in the face of Hamas's brutal terrorist attack.

“I'll then travel to Jordan to address dire humanitarian needs, meet with leaders, and make clear that Hamas does not stand for Palestinians' right to self-determination,” he says.

Last night, the Israeli Prime Minister's Office outlined that Israel's battle is against Hamas and not against the people of Palestine.

“And I urge you to ask your sources in Gaza why Hamas is exploiting innocent Palestinians and is using them as human shields,” Spokesperson Tal Heinrich said. More details here.

Former US President Donald Trump has vowed to bar refugees from Gaza and immediately expand his first-term Muslim travel ban if he wins a second term following the deadly attack on Israel last week.

“No longer will we allow dangerous lunatics, haters, bigots, and maniacs to get residency in our country,” he said. “If you empathize with radical Islamic terrorists and extremists, you’re disqualified... If you want to abolish the state of Israel, you’re disqualified…" he says. Read on.

National Security Council Spokesperson John Kirby says that the decision for the US president to travel to Israel was "not taken lightly".

"It's a very short trip," he says, without elaborating further, according to the BBC.

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken says that Israel has the right and a duty to defend its people from Hamas and other terrorists.

"Biden will hear from Israel what it needs to defend his people as we continue to work with Congress to meet those needs," he says.

President Joe Biden will travel to Jordan on Wednesday to meet with Arab leaders following his trip to Israel, the White House has said.

White House National Security Council spokesman John Kirby says that Biden will meet with King Abdullah, Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sissi and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas during the visit.

Antony Blinken says that the United States and Israel have agreed to develop a plan that will enable humanitarian aid from donor nations and multilateral organizations to reach civilians in Gaza, who are facing an acute shortage of water, food and fuel.

“It is critical that aid begin flowing into Gaza as soon as possible,” Blinken says during a briefing in Tel Aviv.

Announcing US President Joe Biden's visit to Tel Aviv on Wednesday, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken says that it comes at a critical moment for Israel, for the region, and for the world.

“President Biden will reaffirm the United States' solidarity with Israel. President Biden will again make clear, as he's done unequivocally since Hamas's slaughter of more than 1,400 people, including at least 30 Americans, that Israel has the right and indeed the duty to defend its people from Hamas and other terrorists and to prevent future attacks,” he says.

Palestine-based militant group Hamas on Monday night released a video showing one of the hostages taken from Israel, reports BBC.

In the video, the woman identifies herself as 21-year-old Maya Shem and says that she was kidnapped from a party in Israel and pleads for her release.

US President Joe Biden will visit Israel on Wednesday, Secretary of State Antony Blinken has announced, reports CNN.