Israel bombs Gaza, settlers kill four Palestinians in West Bank

Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan says Israel's blockade and bombing of Gaza is a disproportionate response amounting to a "massacre," but repeated Ankara's offer to mediate.

Erdogan, speaking to his ruling AK Party in parliament, said even war has a "morality" but the flare-up since the weekend "very severely" violated that.

"Preventing people meeting their most fundamental needs and bombing housing where civilians live - in short, conducting a conflict using every sort of shameful method - is not a war, it's a massacre," he said, referring to Israel cutting off electricity and water to Gaza and destroying infrastructure.

As Gaza war rages, Israeli forces kill 27 Palestinians in West Bank

As Israel declared war on Hamas and relentlessly pounded Gaza following Saturday's devastating attack by the Palestinian movement, violence has risen in the occupied West Bank, risking further escalation after more than a year of continuous Israeli raids and violence.

Israeli security forces have killed at least 27 Palestinians during clashes in the West Bank since Saturday, as Palestinian factions called on people in the Palestinian territory to join the fight against Israel's occupation.

On Wednesday, three Palestinians were shot dead by Israeli security forces and masked Jewish settlers in Qusra village near the northern West Bank city of Nablus, the Palestinian Foreign Ministry said, after the Israeli army said it was supplying licensed citizens with thousands of firearms "to bolster defence systems" across the country.

The Israeli military has said it is prepared for an escalation in the West Bank and its forces have been on high alert, carrying out arrests and thwarting possible attacks.

"Anyone who challenges us in Judea and Samaria will be met with huge force," military spokesman Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari said this week, using Jewish biblical names for the West Bank.

By Wednesday, military checkpoints remained closed and roads in several parts of the West Bank were blocked with mounds of dirt, restricting movement.

(Reuters)

11 UN staff killed in Gaza since Saturday: spokesperson

Eleven UNRWA staff members have been killed in Israeli airstrikes on the Gaza Strip since Saturday, Deputy Director Jenifer Austin said.

"We are very saddened to confirm that 11 UNRWA colleagues have been killed since 7 October in the Gaza Strip," the UN agency wrote on X.

It said that some were killed in their homes with their families.

"UNRWA mourns this loss and is grieving with our colleagues and the families."

It said earlier Wednesday that nine had been killed.

Blinken heads to Israel on solidarity mission

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken headed Wednesday to Israel in a show of solidarity after the large-scale surprise attack by Hamas, with Washington closing ranks with its ally as it unleashed a massive bombardment on the Gaza Strip.

Blinken was set to arrive Thursday in Israel for a lightning visit in which he is likely to see Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who has vowed an unrelenting response.

President Joe Biden said Wednesday that he had just made another phone call to Netanyahu and he reiterated "unshakeable" US support.

The State Department, meanwhile, said that the known death toll of US citizens in the violence had risen to "at least 22." A so-far unspecified number of American hostages are also believed to be in the hands of Hamas.

UN chief says spillover of conflict in Israel must be avoided

United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said on Wednesday that a spillover of the conflict in Israel must be avoided and that he is concerned about reported attacks on Israel from southern Lebanon.

"I appeal to all parties, and those who have an influence over those parties, to avoid any further escalation and spillover," he told reporters.

(Reuters)

British Airways suspends flights to and from Israel

British Airways said on Wednesday it was suspending its flights to and from Tel Aviv amid safety concerns.

The move came hours after the UK airline turned around one of its flights from London's Heathrow Airport to Tel Aviv in mid-air, citing fears over the security situation in Israel and the region.

Israel maintained its bombardment of the Gaza Strip on Wednesday while also striking targets in southern Lebanon, as armed wings of Palestinian militant groups continue to fire rockets.

"Safety is always our highest priority and following the latest assessment of the situation we're suspending our flights to and from Tel Aviv," British Airways said in a statement.

"We're contacting customers booked to travel to or from Tel Aviv to apologise for the inconvenience and offer options including a full refund and rebooking with another airline or with British Airways at a later date.

"We continue to monitor the situation in the region closely," it added.

British airline Virgin Atlantic continues to fly between London Heathrow and Ben Gurion airport, however.

Rockets fired from Lebanon into Israel

More rockets were fired into northern Israel from southern Lebanon Wednesday evening, The New Arab (TNA) correspondent told us, as earlier reports said drones were seen over Israeli settlements in the Galilee.

He told us that he could hear sirens sounding in Israel as the rockets flew overhead, adding that the Lebanese army rushed journalists away from the Israeli border region.

Other reports said a drone from Lebanon reached Dimona in southern Israel's Negev desert, but TNA could not verify this.

Sirens also went off in the northern Israeli coastal city of Haifa after rockets were fired from Gaza. Scenes shared on Alaraby TV showed people running in the city as sirens were sounded.

Gaza death toll reaches 1,100: health ministry

Gaza's Hamas-run health ministry announced the death toll from Israel's bombardment has reached 1,100, with 5,340 injured.

Qatar press body condemns killing of journalists

The privately owned Qatar Press Centre (QPC) has condemned what it described as Israel's "deliberate targeting" of journalists and civilians in Gaza.

The QPC called in a statement on Tuesday for "the need to immediately put an end to these serious crimes and hold their perpetrators accountable."

This comes after six journalists have been killed in Israeli air strikes on Gaza, the Doha News website reported today.

Drones infiltrate northern Israel from Lebanon: reports

Israel's Channel 13 said a suspected 15 drones entered Israeli airspace from Lebanon Wednesday evening, as sirens sounded in multiple Israeli towns and settlements near the Lebanese border.

Reports said earlier that a drone was seen over the Israeli settlement of Avivim.

Egypt warned Israel three days before Hamas attack: senior US lawmaker

Israel received a warning from Egypt of potential violence three days before Hamas caught Israeli forces off-guard with a large-scale attack, the chairman of the powerful US House Foreign Affairs Committee said Wednesday.

"We know that Egypt has warned the Israelis three days prior that an event like this could happen," Republican Michael McCaul told reporters following an intelligence briefing for lawmakers on the crisis.

Israel PM announces wartime 'emergency government' with Gantz

Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced Wednesday an "emergency government" with an opposition party leader, Benny Gantz, for the duration of the war with Gaza militants.

"Following a meeting ... held today, the two agreed on establishing an emergency government and war cabinet," said a joint statement by the premier and Gantz, a former defence minister and army chief.

The three-member "war cabinet" would include Netanyahu, Gantz and Defence Minister Yoav Gallant.

Gadi Eisenkot, also a former army chief from Gantz's party, and Strategic Affairs Minister Ron Dermer will serve as observers, according to the statement.

Opposition leader Yair Lapid has not joined his former ally Gantz, but the statement said a seat would be "reserved" for him in the war cabinet.

Netanyahu's extreme-right and ultra-Orthodox Jewish allies would remain in government.

The premier has agreed to freeze the hardline government's divisive judicial overhaul, which had triggered mass street protests - the biggest in the country's history.

"During the war, no bills or government-sponsored motions that are unrelated to the war would be advanced," the statement said.

Palestinian fighters infiltrate Zikim, clash with Israeli military

Rockets were fired from Gaza on the Israeli kibbutz of Zikim while heavy clashes erupted between Palestinian fighters and Israeli forces.

Israeli media had reported earlier that Palestinian militants infiltrated Zikim from Gaza via sea, and Hamas' military wing spokesman said that elite units in the brigade stormed the Zikim military base.

⚡️#BREAKING Hebrew Channel 13: Reports of armed men infiltrating the Eshkol Settlement Council. Settlers were asked to lock themselves in their homes. Clashes are also taking place in Zikim in the Ashkelon Beach Council.

— War Monitor (@WarMonitors) October 11, 2023

A number of Palestinian fighters died in the clashes as military helicopters flew over the area and fired at them, Israeli media said.

It was not immediately clear how many Palestinian fighters died.

At least three Israeli soldiers were injured, Haaretz newspaper said.

Hamas, Islamic Jihad say firing heavy rocket barrage at Israel

The armed wings of Palestinian groups Hamas and Islamic Jihad said they were targeting southern and central Israel with rockets, as sirens sounded in areas surrounding the Gaza Strip.

Al-Quds Brigades, the armed wing of Islamic Jihad, said it was targeting the Israeli cities of Tel Aviv, Ashdod and Ashkelon as well as communities near the Gaza border with "heavy rocket fire".

Ezzedine Al-Qassam Brigades, the armed wing of Hamas, said it had fired a rocket at Ben Gurion airport, where Israeli officials reported no hit.

First plane carrying U.S. ammo lands in Israel, military says

The Israeli military said on Tuesday that a first plane carrying American ammunition had landed in Israel, after the U.S. said it would send new supplies of air defenses, munitions and other security assistance to its ally to battle Hamas.

(Reuters)

Israel bombs Carmel Tower in Gaza near hospital

Israeli jets struck the residential Carmel Tower neighouring the Al-Shifa Hospital in Gaza City.

Eyewitnesses told Alaraby TV that the residential building was empty at the time of the strike, but some injuries were reported and rushed to hospital.

Live scenes showed extensive damage in the side of the building.

3 Palestinians killed by settlers in West Bank

Three Palestinians were killed and 11 were wounded when radical Israeli settlers attacked the village of Qusra in the northern occupied West Bank on Wednesday, Alaraby TV reported.

Armed Israeli #settlers attack the village of Qusra, southern Nablus. #مستوطنون مسلحون يهاجمون قرية قصرة جنوب نابلس. pic.twitter.com/KHTkoUyums

— State of Palestine - MFA 🇵🇸🇵🇸 (@pmofa) October 11, 2023

Countries evacuate citizens as Israel-Hamas war rages

Thousands of foreigners find themselves stuck in Israel and across the occupied Palestinian territories. With the violence having already claimed thousands of lives on both sides, several countries have launched operations to repatriate their citizens, while others plan to do so in the coming days.

Here is an overview of ongoing and planned evacuations, according to official sources.

Argentina

Argentina on Tuesday started evacuating more than 1,200 of its citizens from Israel.

Three air force flights a day will take the 1,246 Argentines who have asked to be evacuated to the Italian capital Rome, Defence Minister Jorge Taiana said.

From there, state-owned airline Aerolineas Argentinas will fly them to Buenos Aires.

Brazil

Brazil's government plans to mobilise at least six planes in a bid to rapidly repatriate any of its citizens who wish to leave Israel and the Palestinian territories.

It said that about 14,000 Brazilians live in Israel and 6,000 live in the Palestinian territories.

Some had already left on commercial flights, it said.

Nigeria

Nigeria has airlifted more than 300 of its citizens back home after they fled to Jordan from Israel, where they were on a Christian pilgrimage, the Lagos state government said.

The group was travelling from Bethlehem to Nazareth when they heard news of the attack in the south of Israel.

With the war erupting, the group and the Nigerian Christian Pilgrims' Commission organised for them to travel by road to Jordan and then take a chartered flight to Lagos.

Switzerland

Swiss International Air Lines repatriated 220 Swiss nationals on Tuesday.

A second special flight with a capacity of 215 seats is planned for Wednesday, requested by the Swiss Federal Department of Foreign Affairs.

A third flight is scheduled for Thursday, expected to land in Tel Aviv in the afternoon, also with a capacity of 215 seats.

Around 28,000 Swiss citizens and their families are officially registered as living in Israel and the Palestinian territories.

Spain

Spain organised a flight from Tel Aviv overnight to Wednesday with 200 people on board, its foreign ministry said.

South Korea

A flight carrying 192 South Korean citizens took off from Tel Aviv and landed at the Incheon International Airport near Seoul early Wednesday, the foreign ministry said.

Another 30 South Korean nationals will be evacuated later in the week by commercial flights, it said, adding that 27 others, who were in Israel on a Christian pilgrimage, will go by road to neighbouring Jordan.

Canada

The Canadian government said it would organise special flights from Tel Aviv later in the week for Canadian nationals, with help from the Canadian military.

France

French Foreign Minister Catherine Colonna announced on Tuesday that her ministry's crisis unit was organising a special Air France flight from Tel Aviv on Thursday to help repatriate any French nationals who have been unable to leave.

Germany

Germany said it was working with Lufthansa to organise "several special flights" on Thursday and Friday to repatriate German citizens.

"Around 4,500 German citizens" have registered on a list seeking help to return home, a foreign ministry source said.

Iceland

The Iceland government announced it will send a plane to repatriate around 120 of its nationals stuck in Israel.

Norway

Norway has organised a flight for Wednesday evening for its citizens stuck in Israel and Palestinian territories. There are around 500 Norwegian nationals in the region.

Portugal

Portugal repatriated 152 of its nationals Wednesday morning, as well as 14 other Europeans, in a Portuguese military aircraft.

Finland

Finland says it will organise the repatriation of its nationals from the region.

Putin says U.S. has failed to resolve Israeli conflict

Russian President Vladimir Putin accused the United States on Wednesday of sidestepping an established process of settling the Israeli-Palestinian crisis and of trying to take matters into its own hands without resolving the fundamental issues.

Describing the violence in Israel as terrible, Putin said the conflict could not be resolved without addressing issues such as the establishment of a Palestinian state.

(Reuters)

UK foreign minister Cleverly visits Israel after Hamas attacks

British foreign minister James Cleverly travelled to Israel on Wednesday to show solidarity with the Israeli people following the Hamas weekend attack, the British foreign office said.

"The Foreign Secretary has arrived in Israel today to demonstrate the UK's unwavering solidarity with the Israeli people following Hamas’ terrorist attacks," a foreign office spokesperson said.

"He will be meeting survivors of the attacks and senior Israeli leaders to outline UK support for Israel’s right to defend itself."

Britain, along with its Western allies, has expressed steadfast support for Israel and condemned the attacks by Hamas.

Israel bombed Gaza overnight ahead of a potential ground assault against Hamas, while U.S. President Joe Biden condemned the Palestinian militant group's surprise attack as "sheer evil".

The BBC had earlier reported that 17 British nationals were dead or missing in Israel.

(Reuters)

Gaza on brink of true humanitarian disaster: official

The Gaza Strip is on the brink of a true humanitarian disaster, the head of the Hamas-run government media office said Wednesday.

He warned of the potential spread of diseases in the enclave due to intense Israeli bombardment. The health sector has reached full capacity.

Israel strike on Gaza kills 4 paramedics: Palestinian Red Crescent

The Palestinian Red Crescent announced on Wednesday that four ambulance workers were killed as a result of Israeli aircraft bombing an ambulance belonging to the association in the northern and eastern Gaza Strip.

The association said in a statement that three paramedics were killed inside a vehicle that was on its way to transport wounded people from the northern Gaza Strip to Al-Shifa Hospital in Gaza City, when it was hit by Israeli bombing.

The organisation added that the fourth died while performing their humanitarian work at the Karni crossing, east of Gaza.

They are Khalil Al-Sharif, 26, Yusri Al-Masry, 29, Ahmed Dahman, 24, and Hatem Awad, all of whom are residents of Gaza City.

The association condemned the attack as a "heinous crime," and stressed that targeting ambulance workers constitutes a violation of international humanitarian law.

It called on the international community to "take immediate action to stop the Israeli aggression against the Gaza Strip and protect civilians and humanitarian workers."

Gaza's sole power plant out of fuel, shuts down

The only power plant in the Gaza Strip, which is under Israeli bombardment and siege, shut down Wednesday after it ran out of fuel, said the Palestinian enclave's electricity authority.

"The only power plant in the Gaza Strip stopped functioning at 2:00 pm (1100 GMT)," the authority's head Jalal Ismail said in a statement, having earlier warned that it was running short of fuel.

Civilian injuries, damage in south Lebanon from Israeli shelling

Two boys and a girl were injured in the village of Dhayra in southern Lebanon on Wednesday as a result of Israeli bombing.

Another 20 suffered panic attacks as a result of the bombing, Musaa Shaalan, a member of the local emergency services, told The New Arab (TNA).

The village came under Israeli shelling after rockets were launched from the Lebanese border into Israel Wednesday morning.

Civil defense personnel went from house to house, assessing damages and calling out for anyone trapped in the rubble. Fires were still burning amid scattered debris of homes hit by the shelling.

"What do we have to do with anything? My house is destroyed. They hit houses, not fighters. We were hiding in our houses," Ali Mustafa, a state employee who was off duty, told TNA.

Mustafa was covered in soot as he spoke, telling TNA that his sister and brother were injured in the shelling.

"Both of my sister’s legs were hit, but thankfully I was able to stop the bleeding until the ambulance arrived," Mustafa said.

A Lebanese army officer present during the bombing said that machine gunfire, sniper fire, and shelling came from the Israeli side. He denied that any shots or rockets were fired from Dhayra, but instead came from Marwahin, a Lebanese border village about 5 km to the east.

TNA was independently unable to verify his account.

Israeli jets were still heard overhead even after the shelling had stopped.

UNRWA says 9 of its workers killed in Gaza

United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) Communications Director Juliette Touma said on Wednesday that nine UN staffers have been killed in Gaza since Saturday, the Associated Press reported.

She said they were killed in their homes across the Gaza Strip.

9 of our @UN staffers have been killed in airstrikes in📍#GazaStrip since Saturday.

“The protection of civilians is paramount, including in times of conflict. They should be protected in accordance with the laws of war.” @JulietteTouma @AP https://t.co/Bt87Djf4GM pic.twitter.com/Vxy170Y3pH

— UNRWA (@UNRWA) October 11, 2023

Touma added that 18 UNRWA schools have been damaged, without causing casualties. The schools are serving as shelters for thousands of internally displaced Palestinians.

"The protection of civilians is paramount, including in times of conflict. They should be protected in accordance with the laws of war," she told the AP.

Hamas denies Western media reports about targeting children

Hamas said in a statement on Wednesday that it does not target children, and that "Western media must be accurate and not blindly side with the Zionist narrative, which is full of lies and slander."

The movement added: "Western media outlets are biased towards the Zionist narrative and cannot help mentioning the extent of the Zionist crime against our people in the Gaza Strip."

The statement continued: "Al-Qassam and the resistance targeted the [Israeli] military and security system, which is a legitimate target. The video clips from the field and the testimonies of settlers confirm that civilians and children were spared."

Several media outlets - particularly in the West - have claimed Hamas killed children during their surprise attack in Israel on Saturday.

Egypt foreign minister discusses Gaza aid with UN

Egypt's top diplomat Sameh Shoukry hosted talks with the head of the UN agency for Palestinian refugees on Wednesday as spiralling violence in neighbouring Gaza displaced more than 263,000 people.

Shoukry's talks with UNRWA chief Philippe Lazzarini focused on "how to provide protection for civilians and ensure regular access of services and relief aid to Gaza," the foreign ministry said in a statement.

The UN special coordinator for the Middle East peace process, Tor Wennesland, also attended the meeting.

Shoukry warned of the "dangerous humanitarian situation in the Gaza Strip" and said Egypt "fully supports UN agencies" in ensuring the delivery of humanitarian aid.

The only entry point to Gaza not controlled by Israel is the Rafah crossing from Egypt, which Israeli aircraft bombed three times between Monday and Tuesday.

Shoukry warned of "the consequences of policies of collective punishment, starvation and siege, in violation of international humanitarian law".

UN human rights chief Volker Turk too has said that the siege is "prohibited" under international law and has called for the establishment of "a humanitarian corridor".

60% of Gaza injuries are civilians, including children

The Hamas-run health ministry in Gaza said that around 60 percent of injuries from Israel’s heavy bombardment of Gaza were civilians, including women and children.

The ministry confirmed that hospitals in the enclave were at maximum capacity.

It added that a doctor and her daughter were among those killed in airstrikes on the Bureij camp Tuesday night.

Scottish first minister calls for Gaza humanitarian corridor

Scotland's First Minister Humza Yousaf says he has written to UK Foreign Secretary James Cleverly in support of calls for the establishment of a humanitarian corridor in Gaza to allow civilian evacuation.

I have written to the Foreign Secretary James Cleverly in support of calls for the establishment of a humanitarian corridor in Gaza to allow civilian evacuation.

📄 Full text: https://t.co/c34mIQevjA pic.twitter.com/mxzFDzUcim

— Humza Yousaf (@HumzaYousaf) October 10, 2023

Jordan's king says no stability in region without emergence of Palestinian state

Jordan's King Abdullah said on Wednesday no peace was possible in the Middle East without the emergence of an independent Palestinian state alongside Israel.

The escalating violence showed the region would not "enjoy stability, security or peace" without the emergence of a Palestinian state with sovereignty on land that Israel had captured in the 1967 Arab-Israel war.

A two-state solution was the only option, the monarch told deputies in a speech at the opening of a new parliamentary session.

(Reuters)

Hamas fires barrage of rockets onto Ashkelon

Hamas said it has fired another salvo of rockets onto the Israeli city of Ashkelon as a result of Israel's bombardment of the Gaza Strip, where more than 1,000 people have died.

At least two people were reported wounded in Ashkelon, which came under heavy rocket fire from Hamas on Tuesday.

Videos shared online showed the damage caused by the missile attack.

وسائل إعلام إسرائيلية: تسجيل إصابات بقصف صاروخي على مدينة عسقلان. pic.twitter.com/ubDbNRLMhj

— Arab-Military (@ashrafnsier) October 11, 2023

🛑مصادر عبرية:

سقوط صاروخ في عسقلان قبل تفعيل صافرات الإنذار. pic.twitter.com/11karfgY7Z

— رؤى لدراسات الحرب (@Roaastudies) October 11, 2023

Israel not acting 'like a state' in Gaza: Erdogan

Israel is not conducting itself "like a state" in the Gaza Strip, Turkey's president said on Wednesday, as Israel pounded the territory after a Hamas onslaught.

"Israel should not forget that if it acts more like an organisation rather than a state, it'll finish by being treated as such," Recep Tayyip Erdogan said, attacking "shameful methods" of the Israeli army in the densely-populated Gaza Strip.

"Bombing civilian sites, killing civilians, blocking humanitarian aid and trying to present these as achievements are the acts of an organisation and not a state," he said.

Erdogan usually uses the word "organisation" when he refers to the Kurdistan Workers' Party, which is listed as a terror group by Ankara and its Western allies.

"We think that a war should have an ethic and that both parties should respect it. Unfortunately, this principle is gravely violated in Israel and in Gaza," he said, denouncing the "murders of civilians on Israeli territory" and "the blind massacre of innocents in a Gaza subjected to constant bombardment".

3 civilians wounded in Israeli shelling in south Lebanon hospitalised

The Lebanese-Italian hospital in the southern coastal city of Tyre told The New Arab they have three civilians in their emergency ward, who were injured in clashes today at the border with Israel.

The hospital said they are not in critical condition.

Our Beirut correspondent reported seeing at least three ambulances rushing from the border region on the western side of southern Lebanon to the city of Tyre.

Many residents from the villages targeted have fled their homes, Alaraby TV reported.

Lebanese army dismantles rocket launcher in south: Alaraby TV

The Lebanese army has reportedly dismantled a rocket launcher in the south Lebanon town of Qlaileh close to the Israeli border, Alaraby TV reported.

The Israeli army and the Lebanese Hezbollah militant group traded fire Wednesday morning after missiles were fired into northern Israel. Israel responded by shelling a number of villages along the frontier.

Alaraby TV reported injuries in south Lebanon as a result of the shelling. Homes were also damaged.

The New Arab's correspondent in Beirut said it was unclear whether the rocket launcher belonged to Hezbollah or Palestinian groups, which have both claimed responsibility for rocket fire into Israel in recent days.

China seeks to work with Egypt on Israel-Hamas war

China is seeking to work with Egypt to help ease the Israel-Hamas war that erupted after a deadly attack by the Palestinian militant group, its Middle East envoy has said as he urged a ceasefire.

Zhai Jun spoke by phone on Tuesday with Egypt's assistant minister for the Palestinian territories, according to a readout of the conversation published by Beijing.

"China is willing to maintain communication and coordination with Egypt, push both parties of the conflict to cease fire and stop violence as soon as possible," Zhai said.

He also urged "the international community to form a joint force and provide humanitarian support to the Palestinian people".

Zhai added that the "fundamental solution lies in the implementation of a 'two-state solution'", calling on key players in the conflict to "make practical efforts" towards this end "with the greatest sense of urgency".

At least 169 Israel soldiers killed in war with Hamas: Israeli army

At least 169 Israeli soldiers have been killed in fighting with Palestinian group Hamas after its militants launched a shock cross-border attack, the Israeli army said on Wednesday.

"As of this morning, we've informed the families of 169 fallen IDF (army) soldiers," military spokesman Daniel Hagari told reporters, adding that the families of 60 people abducted and taken to Gaza have also been contacted.

International community should maintain aid to Palestinians, Norway says

The international community should continue to provide financial aid to the Palestinian people and institutions, Norway's Foreign Minister Anniken Huitfeldt told Reuters on Wednesday.

"As chair of the international donor group (to the Palestinians) AHLC, Norway encourages the international community to continue its financial assistance to the Palestinian people," Huitfeldt said in a statement.

Several countries, including Sweden and Denmark, have said they will halt, or are considering whether to halt, aid to Palestinian territories following the surprise attack by Hamas on Israel over the weekend.

But the situation in the area will only deteriorate if aid is suspended, the Norwegian foreign minister said.

"Humanitarian assistance to the people of Gaza should be a key priority," she added.

(Reuters)

Israeli air force strikes Gaza port

Israeli jets bombed the Gaza City port Wednesday again after striking it a day earlier.

The death toll continues to climb in the coastal enclave.

Gaza death toll reaches 1,055, hospitals at full capacity

The death toll in the Gaza Strip has reached 1,055, the enclave's Hamas-run health ministry has said.

More than 5,180 people are also wounded.

The ministry said Gaza's hospitals have reached full capacity with no more available beds.

Sweden, Finland offer to evacuate citizens from Israel, Palestinian territories

The Swedish government will offer to evacuate Swedes from Israel and occupied Palestinian territories, news agency TT reported on Wednesday, citing foreign minister Tobias Billstrom.

Finland will also offer to evacuate its citizens and holders of permanent Finnish residency from Israel and occupied Palestinian territories, daily Iltalehti reported on Wednesday, citing foreign minister Elina Valtonen. 

(Reuters)

Israel kills two Palestinians in occupied East Jerusalem

Two Palestinian men were shot and killed in occupied East Jerusalem by the Israeli police late Tuesday night, 10 October, as protests erupted in various parts of the city over Israel's bombardment of the Gaza Strip.  

Abdel Rahman Faraj, 18, and Ali Abbasi, 24, were killed during clashes in Silwan near the Old City.

شهيدا سلوان
-الشهيد علي العباسي.
-الشهيد عبد الرحمن فرج https://t.co/zHIvZv1xn7 pic.twitter.com/StNv1XuFgf

— Raghad🇵🇸 (@Raghadm_48) October 10, 2023

No confirmation on Israeli use of phosphorus in south Lebanon: UN peacekeepers

A UNIFIL spokesperson tells The New Arab that it has "no confirmation" on the use of white phosphorus in south Lebanon yet.

Reports of Israel using white phosphorus near the occupied Shebaa Farms in southern Lebanon circulated on Tuesday, but have not been confirmed.

White phosphorus carries a higher risk for mortality than other munitions, as it burns at a high temperature and can cause respiratory problems in certain cases.

Israel killed at least 1,000 Gaza infiltrators, reinforcing nationwide: Israeli army

Israeli troops have killed at least 1,000 Palestinian gunmen who infiltrated from Gaza in incursions that began at the weekend, and have reinforced all communities in Israel as hostilities spread to other fronts, the Israeli military claimed on Wednesday.

In quotes carried by Israel Hayom newspaper online, chief military spokesperson Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari also said that among Hamas targets destroyed in a Gaza counter-offensive was an advanced system for tracking aircraft.

(Reuters)

Gaza power authority says sole plant to run out of fuel 'in hours'

The Gaza Strip’s power authority said the enclave’s sole power plant plant will run out of fuel in hours, leaving Gaza with no electricity after Israeli cutoff.

Pope urges hostages freed, worried about Gaza siege

Pope Francis called Wednesday for the immediate release of hostages taken in fighting between Hamas and Israel, and expressed his concern over the siege of Gaza.

"I ask that the hostages be released immediately," he said at the Vatican, adding that "it is the right of those who are attacked to defend themselves, but I am very worried about the total siege in which the Palestinians live in Gaza, where there have also been many innocent victims".

More than 260,000 people displaced in Gaza: UN

Over 260,000 people have been forced to flee their homes in the Gaza Strip, as heavy Israeli bombardments from the air, land and sea continue to hit the Palestinian enclave, the United Nations said.

"Over 263,934 people in Gaza are believed to have fled their homes," said UN humanitarian agency OCHA said in an update Tuesday, warning that "this number is expected to rise further".

It said that around 3,000 people had been displaced "due to previous escalations", prior to Saturday.

The bombing campaign has destroyed more than 1,000 housing units, and 560 have been so severely damaged they are uninhabitable, OCHA said, citing Palestinian authorities.

Among the displaced, nearly 175,500 people sought shelter in 88 schools run by the UN agency supporting Palestinian refugees, UNRWA, it said.

Latest on the situation in the📍#GazaStrip

🔺Nearly 175,500 people sheltering in 88 @UNRWA schools

🔺Two @UNRWA schools now affected by airstrikes

🔺16 people sheltering at our school were injured - two critically - as a result of nearby airstrikehttps://t.co/slfsBTZO44 pic.twitter.com/ZGLIz35iiK

— UNRWA (@UNRWA) October 11, 2023

More than 14,500 others had fled to 12 government schools, while close to 74,000 were estimated to be staying with relatives and neighbours or seeking shelters in churches and other facilities.

The number of displaced people inside of Gaza "represents the highest number of people displaced since the 50-day escalation of hostilities in 2014," it said.

"Meeting basic needs is becoming increasingly challenging for those who have not been displaced," OCHA warned.

Israel has imposed what it called a "complete siege" on the already blockaded Gaza Strip, cutting off food, water, fuel and electricity - a move that UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres warned would worsen an already dire humanitarian situation.

Lebanon's Hezbollah, Israel trade cross-border fire

Rockets were launched into Israel from southern Lebanon Wednesday morning as the Israeli army responded by shelling border villages, The New Arab's Beirut correspondent William Christou has reported.

Christou said the Lebanese, Iran-backed Hezbollah group was behind the rocket attack, adding that an Israeli tank was hit.

Alaraby TV reported injuries after the Israeli tank was targeted.

بالفيديو | مشاهد من الحدود اللبنانية الفلسطينية بعد تعرض موقع عسكري للعدو الصهيوني حدودي لإستهداف بصاروخ موجه#جنوب_لبنان #طوفان_الاقصى pic.twitter.com/6XV2GsGxg9

— قناة المنار (@TVManar1) October 11, 2023

Translation: Scenes from the Lebanese-Palestinian border after a Zionist enemy military site at the border was targeted by a guided missile.

Hezbollah released a statement, saying:

"In a resolute response to the Zionist aggressions on Monday, October 9, 2023, which led to the martyrdom of several brave fighters, the martyrs: Hossam Ibrahim, Ali Fatouni, Ali Hodroj, the Islamic Resistance fighters targeted the Zionist Girdah site near the Dahira area this Wednesday, October 11, 2023, with guided missiles, resulting in a large number of confirmed casualties among the occupation forces, both dead and wounded."

"The Islamic Resistance reaffirms once again that it will be decisive in responding to Israeli aggressions targeting our country and the security of our people, especially when these aggressions lead to the martyrdom of our heroes."

Aid convoy forced back to Egypt after Israel hits Rafah crossing

The Israeli air force has bombed the gate to the Rafah crossing between Gaza and Egypt, the Palestinian interior ministry in Gaza said.

Qatar-owned Al Jazeera's Jerusalem correspondent said an aid convoy was forced to return back to Egypt after crossing the border with Gaza after coming under Israeli fire.

Israel on Tuesday had warned Egypt that it would bomb any convoys carrying aid to Gaza.

An Egyptian media outlet said the border crossing had been closed, while other reports said a big aid convoy was being prepared to be dispatched to Gaza upon President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi’s directives.

Arab League meeting today to discuss Gaza war

Arab foreign ministers will hold an extraordinary meeting on the developments in the Gaza Strip today upon a Palestinian request to discuss "political moves at the Arab and international level to stop the Israeli aggression."

This was reported by Egyptian Sada el-Balad TV and Lebanese Al-Mayadeen website yesterday.

Israel death toll surpasses 1,200

More than 1,200 people have died in Israel since the fighting erupted, Israeli media reported. Thousands more are wounded.