Israel-Hamas war live updates: Gaza ground operations, humanitarian crisis

Latest War Developments In Israel And Gaza At Night-Time

According to a group of writers from CNN, including Amarachi Orie, Zahid Mahmood, Ivana Kottasová, Kareem Khadder, and Lauren Said-Moorhouse, there is a current news story worth discussing.

Israeli troops have entered Gaza after infiltrating the area overnight. This had happened after Hamas carried out a terror attack on October 7th which resulted in the most intense round of airstrikes experienced by the Palestinians since Israel commenced its retaliation.

The increased military activity has caused immense worry for the families of over 200 hostages who were taken to Gaza. A group advocating for Israeli hostages' families expressed their distress during the IDF's expansion of the ground operation and labeled it as the worst night ever due to heightened emotions.

Check out the most recent updates regarding the ongoing conflict:

In the current phase of the conflict, Israel under the leadership of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is determined to undertake a long-term approach. Their primary objectives are to eradicate Hamas and retrieve the hostages who were abducted by the militants on October 7 and are still being held captive in Gaza. The Israeli leader expressed his solidarity with the hostages' families during his conversation with them and guaranteed that the government will explore every possible avenue to get them released.

At the same time, the Defense Minister of Israel, Yoav Gallant, declared that their nation has now moved into a new stage of the ongoing war. According to him, Israel has conducted offensive actions both on the surface and below it. They have targeted terrorist members at all levels and in all locations. Gallant also made it clear that their military will continue to carry out these operations until instructed otherwise.

More information about the increased ground operation: The Israeli military entered into Gaza and broadened the ground operation. Infantry, armor, engineers, and artillery units with powerful weapons are all participating, according to IDF spokesperson Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari on Saturday. He also stated that the soldiers were fighting but did not provide any additional information.

According to the words of Hagari, the military mission has grown in scope and size, following what was initially referred to as two "targeted raids" carried out on Wednesday and Thursday nights. Though both of these missions resulted in ground forces withdrawing after only a few hours, it does not seem like any major ground attack with the intention of capturing and maintaining control over a large portion of the area has started as of yet. The IDF has urged the inhabitants of Gaza to relocate towards the south, speaking of an operation that is about to take place.

People in Gaza are grieving and feeling sorrowful about their family members who passed away on Saturday after a serious airstrike from Israel. Many came together at Al Aqsa Martyrs Hospital located in the central area of Gaza, specifically Deir al Balah. CNN captured footage of various bodies that were wrapped in white sheets or heavy blankets, including children, that were laid out on the ground of the hospital yard. Additionally, a video documented a young man lying on the hospital floor receiving treatment from doctors while they operated on him.

Over 2 million individuals are currently residing in the enclave. Unfortunately, the individuals in the area have been under attack by Israeli airstrikes for several weeks now. As a result, the residents are now struggling to deal with a growing humanitarian crisis and are facing severe shortages of basic necessities such as water, food, and fuel. According to the IDF, Gazans who have relocated south of Wadi Gaza, a significant waterway dividing the central section of the strip, are now in a "protected space". The IDF has promised to provide additional food, water, and medicine to these individuals today, although they have not yet released any specific information regarding this.

Aid organizations are facing communication challenges as their ability to reach their staff on the ground has been severely impacted. Emergency services are also struggling to reach those in need due to the disruptions. The Director-General of the World Health Organization expressed concern in a post on social media, stating that the intense bombardment reports are distressing and that they're still unable to reach their staff and healthcare facilities. Similarly, various United Nations agencies have reported losing touch with their local staff in Gaza. The safety of these individuals remains a major concern.

Brooklyn Bridge Temporarily Closed For Pro-Palestinian Protest By Police

According to Jessica Xing from CNN: The article states that numerous high-tech companies, including Microsoft and Google, are now offering virtual reality training programs to improve workplace safety. These programs simulate real-life scenarios which employees might encounter on the job, helping to identify potential hazards and provide practice for responding appropriately. Virtual reality is an immersive tool that allows users to feel like they are actually experiencing a particular situation. Moreover, these programs can be customized to suit different industries and work environments, such as construction sites, factories or hospitals. They are also highly beneficial for employees who may not have practical experience in a particular field, allowing them to acquire valuable knowledge and skills in a safe and controlled environment. Overall, virtual reality training programs are an exciting innovation that have the potential to revolutionize workplace safety procedures, reducing accidents and injuries and increasing productivity and efficiency.

On Saturday, a sizable group of individuals supporting Palestine began moving towards the Brooklyn Bridge in New York City, prompting law enforcement to temporarily close all lanes of the bridge.

The local NotifyNYC service issued an alert stating that the bridge which links Manhattan and the borough has been shut down in both directions.

According to a post from Within Our Lifetime, which encouraged the demonstrations, the rally commenced at 3 p.m. ET in the vicinity of the Brooklyn Museum, proceeded to the Barclays Center arena at 4 p.m. ET, and concluded at the Brooklyn Bridge.

The New York City Police Department mentioned that the protest has remained peaceful so far and there have been no conflicts with the participants.

Over the weekend, numerous protests were held globally, including a "March for Palestine" in London that attracted thousands of individuals on Saturday. In addition, an assembly was held by a Jewish organization in New York's Grand Central Terminal on Friday evening urging for a ceasefire in Gaza, resulting in the detainment of roughly 300 protesters. Furthermore, a rally took place in the biggest city in the US.

Eruption Near Israel-Gaza Border: CNN Reporters' Description

CNN reporter Maija-Liisa Ehlinger wrote a blog post. Here's an alternative version: A blog entry was composed by Maija-Liisa Ehlinger, a journalist for CNN.

On Saturday, a CNN team reported from Sderot, Israel that they could hear fighter jets in the sky and observe big flashes on the horizon towards Gaza.

Robertson reported that, in addition to airstrikes, he is also able to hear the firing of artillery into Gaza and the intense sound of machine guns from where he is situated.

According to Jeremy Diamond of CNN, who was reporting from Ashkelon in Israel, the explosions that occurred on Saturday evening were the noisiest he has heard in several weeks.

During a live report, Diamond exclaimed that the whole room shook, and they were located at a distance of 6 miles from the Gaza border.

IDF Targets Hezbollah In Military Operation

According to Tamar Michaelis, a reporter for CNN, it has been discovered that several countries have varying levels of success in containing the spread of COVID-19. While some countries have managed to keep their case numbers low, others are struggling to control the virus. Michaelis goes on to explain that there are several factors that contribute to a country's ability to manage the outbreak, including their healthcare system, government response, and public cooperation. She highlights South Korea as an example of a country with a strong healthcare system and effective government response, which has allowed them to keep their cases under control. Michaelis also notes that countries like the United States are struggling due to a lack of a cohesive national response and politicization of the virus. This has led to a patchwork of different approaches across the country and a higher number of cases. Overall, Michaelis stresses the importance of a coordinated response and public cooperation in managing the pandemic. Without these factors, countries will continue to struggle to contain the spread of COVID-19.

The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) took action on Saturday by launching airstrikes on various Hezbollah targets. This came after missiles and rockets were fired into Israel from Lebanon. As stated by the IDF spokesperson Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari.

He mentioned that Hezbollah's malicious infrastructure was the prime target during the strikes, which include a military compound and observation posts.

Bear in mind that the conflict discussed here is focused on the northern region of Israel and southern area of Lebanon, which is separate from the fighting that involves Hamas in the southern region of Israel near Gaza. Nevertheless, there has been an increase in confrontations with Hezbollah, which has led to concerns about the powerful paramilitary group from Lebanon taking an active role in the conflict. While Hezbollah has openly supported the Palestinian militants and strongly criticized Israel's extensive airstrikes on Gaza, it has not yet intervened on behalf of Hamas.

On Thursday, a top Hamas leader stated that the involvement of Hezbollah and other supporters is anticipated to be more significant in the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas than it has been thus far.

Israel Withdraws Diplomats From Turkey

Rewritten: This blog segment is written by Pauline Lockwood of CNN.

Israel has summoned all of its diplomatic officials back from Turkey due to Turkey's condemnation of Israel's ongoing military actions in Gaza.

On X, formerly referred to as Twitter, Eli Cohen, the Foreign Minister of Israel, posted on Saturday to say that the relationship between Israel and Turkey will be reassessed.

Last Thursday, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan of Turkey remarked that the assaults conducted on Gaza are no longer an action of self-defense but rather an act of oppression, atrocity, massacre, and barbarism.

During the weekend, Erdogan gave a speech to a group of people who were supporting the Palestinian cause in Istanbul. He urged them to leave the gathering with the strong commitment to prevent the occurrence of new situations similar to Gaza.

Gul Tuysuz from CNN provided additional information for this blog post.

Families Urge "deal" With Netanyahu For Hostages

This piece comes from Tamar Michaelis in Jerusalem and Maija Ehlinger in Atlanta, as reported on CNN.

The relatives of captives who are being held in Gaza have communicated to Israel's leader, Benjamin Netanyahu, their requirement for an exchange deal that would guarantee the release of all detainees at once. They have requested an "everyone in return for everyone" deal to be made, which is the only proposal they are willing to accept.

The families organized a press conference right after their meeting with Netanyahu in Tel Aviv on Saturday. This happened just before the prime minister had his own media briefing, where he officially declared the start of the second phase of the Gaza conflict.

A potential agreement that benefits all parties would entail setting free more than 200 hostages detained in Gaza, in exchange for releasing around 6,630 Palestinian prisoners being held in Israeli jails. This proposal has been put forward by the Palestinian Prisoners Club, a non-governmental organization that monitors the situation of Palestinian detainees.

On Saturday, Hamas made an announcement stating that they were open to participating in a trade; however, if this exchange were to occur, it would generate a lot of debate and disagreement in Israel.

A representative from Hamas' military division, Al Qassam Brigades, named Abu Obaida, has stated that they are fully prepared to commence a thorough exchange of prisoners with Israel without delay. Abu Obaida elaborated on this, sharing that Hamas is willing to proceed with either an all-encompassing or segmented approach towards resolving the matter of prisoners depending on what suits Israel best.

Last Friday, Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari, the spokesperson for Israel's Defense Forces, described Hamas' latest proposal for a hostage exchange as a tactic of "psychological terror" intended to manipulate Israeli civilians.

During his news conference on Saturday, Netanyahu was questioned about the possibility of such an agreement and confirmed that he had conversed with the families about it.

Netanyahu expressed his belief that expanding on the topic would not contribute to reaching the objective. During the meeting with the families, he experienced a sense of emotional impotence.

While attempts to release the hostages continue, family and friends are also concerned that those captive to Hamas could be hurt during Israel's increasingly aggressive attack on Gaza.

"PA President Urges Arab League For Emergency Summit"

CNN journalist Eyad Kourdi reported on this particular topic.

Mahmoud Abbas, the President of the Palestinian Authority, has urged the heads of Arab countries to come together for an urgent summit of the Arab League as a reaction to Israel's actions in Gaza. He gave the statement on Saturday while speaking from Ramallah in the occupied West Bank.

Abbas declared that yesterday Israel reacted to the UN decision with further aerial attacks and devastation.

On Friday, the resolution proposed by Jordan to stop the fighting between Israel and Hamas was passed with a huge majority by the United Nations General Assembly. However, the resolution did not receive support from the United States, Israel, and 12 other countries that voted against it.

Abbas urged the swift response of the international community and Arab heads to halt the ongoing "hostility." He emphasized the importance of providing humanitarian assistance and putting measures in place to prevent more Palestinians from being displaced.

Keep in mind that Israel is currently engaged in a conflict with Hamas, a Palestinian extremist group who governs the Gaza Strip and was responsible for the tragic events on October 7th resulting in the loss of 1,400 lives and over 200 people being held captive.

Abbas leads the Palestinian Authority, which is a governing entity that has some autonomy in the West Bank. This organization was formed as a result of a peace agreement between Israel and the Palestine Liberation Organization in 1993.

Hamas is considered a terrorist group by several countries, including the US and European Union. They portray themselves as a different option than the Palestinian Authority, which has acknowledged the existence of Israel and has made several attempts towards peace that ultimately proved unsuccessful.

The Arab League members have expressed their opinions about the current situation. The United Arab Emirates has criticized Israel's decision to send troops into Gaza. They are worried about the consequences of this military action and the impact on the humanitarian situation. In the statement released by the UAE state news agency WAM, the country expressed their strong concern.

The UAE's foreign ministry has requested an urgent halt to all fighting in order to safeguard civilians and their institutions from being subjected to any sort of attack or harm. This statement was issued by WAM.

The foreign ministry of Saudi Arabia has made a statement condemning and strongly objecting to any Israeli forces' attempts to invade Gaza. The reason behind this objection is due to the adverse effects it has on the general public in the area. According to the ministry, the recent upsurge in hostilities has increased the chances of endangering innocent Palestinian civilians and subjecting them to further dangers and inhumane conditions.

In the meantime, Egypt expressed concern about the significant dangers and unparalleled humanitarian and security outcomes that would arise if Israel were to invade Gaza.

The foreign ministry of Egypt expressed that they are very worried about the results of the operation that occurred on the ground. They also warned that more and more civilians may suffer as a consequence.

This blog section was written with contributions from Benjamin Brown, Caroline Faraj, Chris Liakos, Jo Shelley, and Sarah Sirgany of CNN.

Israel Opposes Elon Musk's Gaza Satellite Aid Pledge

CNN reporters Eyad Kourdi, Celine Alkhaldi, Zahid Mahmood and Kyle Blaine wrote the following blog entry.

Israel made a commitment to oppose Elon Musk's promise to offer aid organizations in Gaza with Starlink satellite service because the blockaded strip is grappling with internet connectivity problems.

The Minister of Communications of Israel, Shlomo Karhi, mentioned on X (which used to be called Twitter) that Hamas plans on utilizing the platform for carrying out terrorist acts.

Karhi suggested that maybe Musk would agree to a certain condition. This condition would involve freeing every single person who has been kidnapped, including babies, children, and the elderly. If Musk were to agree to this condition, Karhi's office would no longer be affiliated with starlink.

On X, which is Musk's own platform, he made a statement following a comment from the US Democratic Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez. She expressed that the action of completely severing communication with a population of 2.2 million is not tolerable.

Musk responded to another user on X platform by stating that their satellite network has not received any communication attempts from Gaza terminals.

The ongoing attack from Israel in the Gaza Strip has resulted in significant interruptions to the region's communication systems. This has made it challenging for aid organizations to get in touch with their teams working in the area.

Previously, the World Health Organization expressed that they are not in touch with their employees in Gaza and the chief of the UN Relief Works Agency for Palestine Refugees sent a letter to the staff last Saturday, expressing their deep concern for their employees amidst the power outage.

Netanyahu Predicts Prolonged Gaza Conflict

According to Kyle Blaine at CNN

On Saturday, the Prime Minister of Israel, Benjamin Netanyahu, made a correlation between the present conflict with Hamas and the Arab-Israeli War that happened from 1947 to 1949. This war took place during Israel's declaration of independence.

Netanyahu proclaimed that the conflict in Gaza will endure for a significant period. He likened it to our nation's second struggle for independence, emphasizing our determination to safeguard our country.