Israel military ‘expanding' ground activity in Gaza tonight as air strikes intensify and internet cut
Israel has said its ground forces are "expanding their activity" in Gaza on Friday night amid heavy bombardment of the enclave by its air force and the cutting of internet and phone services.
A military spokesperson told a news conference that the army is prepared on all fronts to preserve Israel's security, as calls were renewed for people in Gaza to move south.
Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari, Israel's chief military spokesperson said: "In recent hours we have increased the attacks in Gaza. The air force widely attacks underground targets and terrorist infrastructure, very significantly."In continuation of the offensive activity we carried out in the last few days, the ground forces are expanding the ground activity this evening."
Meanwhile a Palestinian telecom provider said services in Gaza Strip have been cut off by Israeli bombardment.
Israeli forces backed by fighter jets and drones carried out a second ground raid into Gaza earlier on Friday.
The military also earlier accused Hamas militants of using the main hospital in Gaza as a shield for its tunnels and operational centres.
For updates see below
Key Points
Catch up on key points
Israel carries out 'targeted raids in the Gaza Strip'
Hamas official says hostages will only be released if there is a ceasefire
Israel updates number of hostages held in Gaza to 229
Get caught up
07:04 , Jordan King
Good morning and welcome to The Evening Standard's live coverage of the Israel-Gaza war.
Here are some important recent developments to catch up on:
Two US fighter jets hit weapons and ammunition facilities in Syria early this morning
The two targeted facilities were used by Iran's Revolutionary Guard Corps and militia groups
A missile launched as part of the fighting between Israel and Hamas reportedly struck an Egyptian resort town about
Israel said military raids into Gaza were preparing "the next stage of the operation"
It also said it had killed three senior Hamas commanders who played significant roles in the October 7 attacks
Hamas reportedly said 50 hostages held in Gaza had been killed by Israeli bombing
The latest Palestinian death toll is 7,028, according to Hamas
Israel says it killed three Hamas commanders who were part of October 7 attacks
07:14 , Jordan King
The Israel Defense Forces said it struck "three senior Hamas operatives in its Daraj Tuffah Battalion" early last night.
They were named as:
Batallion Commander, Rifaat Abbas
Batallion Deputy Commander, Ibrahim Jadba
Combat Support Commander, Tarek Maarouf
The IDF said: "The Daraj Tuffah Battalion is a battalion in Hamas’ Gaza City Brigade, which is considered the most significant brigade of the Hamas terrorist organization.
"The battalion's operatives played a significant role in the invasion and murderous attack against Israel on October 7th."
Israel carries out 'targeted raids in the Gaza Strip'
07:20 , Jordan King
The IDF said its ground forces, accompanied by IDF fighter jets and UAVs, conducted a raid "throughout the Gaza Strip" over the last this.
This morning, it said it "struck numerous terror targets, including anti-tank missile launch sites, military command and control centres, as well as Hamas terrorists" with no injuries to Israeli troops who have now exited the area.
United Nations to vote on ceasefire today
07:24 , Jordan King
As the plight of Palestinian civilians grows more desperate, the issue of whether to have humanitarian pauses or ceasefire agreements in the Hamas-run coastal enclave will come before the 193-member UN General Assembly today, in a draft resolution submitted by Arab states calling for a ceasefire.
Unlike in the Security Council where resolutions on Gaza aid failed this week, no country holds a veto in the General Assembly. Resolutions are non-binding, but carry political weight.
Gaza City after Israeli airstrikes yesterday
07:49 , Jordan King
Israel bombed parts of Gaza City yesterday.
Hamas official says hostages will only be released if there is a ceasefire
08:49 , Jordan King
The Palestinian Hamas group that controls Gaza cannot release hostages seized during its attack on Israel until a ceasefire is agreed, the Russian newspaper Kommersant quoted a member of a Hamas delegation visiting Moscow as saying.
It quoted Abu Hamid as saying Hamas needed time to locate all of those who had been taken from Israel to Gaza by various Palestinian factions in a Hamas attack on Oct. 7.
"They seized dozens of people, most of them civilians, and we need time to find them in the Gaza Strip and then release them," Hamid said, adding that a calm environment is needed to complete this task.
Yesterday, the same paper quoted him as saying Israeli strikes had killed 50 hostages.
Israel says there are 229 people held hostage in Gaza
08:53 , Jordan King
The Israeli military has updated the number of people it believes were taken during the October 7 attacks and held captive in Gaza to 229.
In pictures: Gaza this morning
09:00 , Jordan King
The Israeli military carried out several offensives in Gaza in the past few days.
US 'would not support a ceasefire that allows Hamas to continue operations'
09:08 , Jordan King
The US State Department spokesperson, Matthew Miller, said the US would not support a ceasefire which would give Hamas the opportunity to "rest and refit, and continue launching terrorist operations against Israel".
He told the BBC: "Hamas has launched rockets every day, they launch rockets today, they launched them yesterday, targeting innocent civilians in Israel.
"I would say we do support and do think that the parties ought to consider humanitarian pauses that would allow the delivery of aid.".
It comes after Hamas official Abu Hamid was quoted as saying that hostages kept in Gaza would only be able to be released if there was a ceasefire.
The UN General Assembly will vote on a draft resolution submitted by Arab states calling for a ceasefire later today.
Unlike in the Security Council where resolutions on Gaza aid failed this week, no country holds a veto in the General Assembly. Resolutions are non-binding, but carry political weight.
Iran starts two-day drill as part of 'confronting possible threats'
09:13 , Jordan King
Iran’s ground forces launched two days of exercises to test the flight readiness of more than 200 helicopters today, state television reported.
The drills, which had been planned earlier, are aimed at “confronting possible threats” facing the Islamic Republic, spokesperson Brigadier General Amir Cheshak told the TV. He did not elaborate.
He said troops and military equipment had been transferred from seven of Iran’s provinces for the drills in Nasr Abad in the central Isfahan province.
UK government wants Border Force 'prepared and ready' to help British hostages
09:17 , Jordan King
Gillian Keegan said the Government wants UK Border Force "prepared and ready" to help British citizens in the Middle East.
The Education Secretary told Sky News: "We've been in intense discussions with partners in the region, but we want the Border Force to be there to be prepared and ready if and when we can get the hostages out.
"So it's preparation so that we can be there, so we've got everything available if we can get them out.
"But right now we still need to agree that and it still needs to be facilitated."
Eight more aid trucks expected to enter Gaza today
09:26 , Jordan King
The UN Humanitarian Coordinator for the Occupied Palestinian Territory Lynn Hastings told reporters in Geneva: "We have gotten in approximately 74 trucks. We're expecting another eight or so today."
These trucks will be carrying food, medicine and water.
Gaza streets 'overflowing with sewage', UNRWA says
10:01 , Jordan King
The Commissioner General of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) Philippe Lazzarini said Gazan streets are "overflowing with sewage" at a press conference that has just ended.
He said: "Gaza is on the brink of a massive health hazard and the risk of diseases are looming. As we speak, people in Gaza are dying, basic services are crumbling."
Humanitarian aid 'will last no more than a few days', says UNRWA
10:05 , Jordan King
Mr Lazzarini said fuel shortages mean aid "can last" but "certainly no more than a few days".
He told journalists: "A few days ago, I warned that we would not be able to continue our humanitarian operation if we do not get fuel supplies. My warning still stands."
Israel does not want to allow fuel into Gaza to avoid inadvertently supplying Hamas, it also claims that Hamas has access to fuel it is not providing to civilians.
Aid being allowed into Gaza is 'nothing more than crumbs', says UNRWA
10:10 , Jordan King
The UNRWA's Mr Lazzarini said the "handful of aid convoys" crossing the border into Gaza are not enough to significantly help the millions of civilians suffering there.
He said that while the trucks were originally seen "as a glimmer of hope", they were "a distraction - nothing more than crumbs".
Sadiq Khan calls for ceasefire in Gaza
10:15 , Jordan King
The London mayor said a stop to the fighting between Israel and Hamas would bring a finish to the "killing and allow vital aid supplies to reach those who need it" in the besieged Palestinian territory.
Calling for a ceasefire is contrary to the Labour Party's official position, which has instead thrown its weight behind the "humanitarian pauses" many western allies of Israel have been supporting.
Mr Khan said: "Many Londoners like me have watched the absolute horror at the death and suffering in Israel and Gaza," Mr Khan said. "Londoners family members' killed, tortured and taken hostage. Lives changed forever, going through unimaginable trauma.
"The terrible situation in Gaza now looks set to deteriorate even further.
"Thousands of innocent civilians, men, women and children have already been killed, and it's becoming impossible for aid to reach the people who desperately need it.
"Substantial military escalation is now likely which will only deepen the humanitarian disaster."
The UN General Assembly will vote on a draft resolution submitted by Arab states calling for a ceasefire later today.
Unlike in the Security Council where resolutions on Gaza aid failed this week, no country holds a veto in the General Assembly. Resolutions are non-binding, but carry political weight.
At least 57 UNRWA staff members killed in Gaza
10:19 , Jordan King
The Commissioner General of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) Philippe Lazzarini updated the death toll at a press conference earlier today.
He said: "At least 57 colleagues of mine are confirmed killed. Wonderful people who have just dedicated their lives to their communities.”
'Hamas death toll figures have been accurate in past conflicts', says UNRWA
10:22 , Jordan King
Mr Lazzarini weighed in on the ongoing controversy about the truthfulness of Hamas' reported Palestinian death toll, which they have most recently said is at least 7,028.
The Commissioner General of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) said: “In the past, the five, six cycles of conflict in the Gaza Strip, these figures were considered as credible and no one ever really challenged these figures."
UNRWA boss 'has no idea if Hamas has fuel in Gaza'
10:43 , Jordan King
While Mr Lazzarini told reporters how desperately the UN wants to get fuel into Gaza, the BBC's Middle East correspondent Tom Bateman pressed him to respond to Israel's claims that Hamas has its own fuel which it is not giving civilians access to.
Mr Lazzarini said he has "absolutely no idea", adding "I don't know what Hamas has or doesn't have in Gaza".
He went on to say that theyhave managed to get "some fuel" from the 400,000 litres of it stored in a Gazan depot (from a deal made before the current October 7 conflict began) but explained that the UNRWA needs "deconfliction" agreements before it can retrieve more of it.
This would mean Israel giving guarantees that UN staff would be safe from bombing if they entered the area.
10 new aid trucks enter Gaza
10:54 , Jordan King
A medical team and 10 aid trucks entered the Gaza Strip via the Rafah crossing with Egypt, carrying water, food and medicine this morning, a Palestinian border official said.
This brings the total number of aid trucks allowed into Gaza since October 7 to 84.
There is still no agreement to get fuel into Gaza, and the UN. Palestinian refugee agency has said the absence of fuel was jeopardising life-saving humanitarian operations there.
Officials are also grappling with the issue of deciding how to distribute the scant aid.
"We are aware of the 1,000 patients that require dialysis and over 100 children and babies that are in incubators, so we do our best to try and make the prioritisation in accordance with the greatest needs," Lynn Hastings, the UN Humanitarian Coordinator for the Occupied Palestinian Territory told reporters in Geneva.
UN 'may have to stop providing emergency food aid'
11:57 , Jordan King
The UN food agency has said that "severe fuel shortages" may force it to stop supplying emergency food aid to thousands of displaced families in the Israeli-besieged Gaza Strip.
"Only two of our contracted bakeries have fuel to produce bread at the moment and tomorrow there might be none," World Food Programme (WFP) Representative Samer Abdeljaber said.
"This would be a terrible blow to the thousands of families living in shelters who have been relying on the daily bread deliveries," he added in a statement.
The Rome-based agency said it provides daily bread supplies, on average, for 200,000 people in shelters, but this fell to 150,000 on Wednesday due to the lack of fuel.
It also said that "essential food commodities are rapidly running out in Gaza's shops", as they are unable to restock "due to damaged roads, safety concerns and shortage of fuel".
Yesterday WFP chief Cindy McCain said that "insane bureaucracy" at the Rafah crossing from Egypt into Gaza was slowing the flow of humanitarian aid to a "dribble".
Russia defends hosting Hamas delegation in Moscow
12:03 , Jordan King
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov responded to criticism from Israel, which called its decision "deplorable".
He said the Hamas delegation had met with representatives of Russia's foreign ministry but not with President Vladimir Putin or Kremlin officials.
"We consider it necessary to continue our contacts with all parties and, of course, we will continue our dialogue with Israel," he told reporters.
Russia has ties to all the key players in the Middle East, including Israel, Iran, Syria, Hamas, and the Western-backed Palestinian Authority which exercises limited self-rule under Israeli military occupation in the West Bank.
It has repeatedly blamed the crisis on a failure of U.S. diplomacy.
Israel claims to have killed another Hamas commander
12:31 , Bill Mcloughlin
Israel's military has claimed to have killed another top Hamas commander.
The Israeli Defence Forces said Madhath Mubashar, commander of the western Khan Yunis battalion, was killed following an attack in an update on Friday.
Madhath Mubashar—Commander of Hamas' Western Khan Yunis Battalion—was eliminated by an IDF aerial strike.
Furthermore, the IDF struck 250+ Hamas targets including a terrorist tunnel network in Gaza that detonated the secondary explosions. pic.twitter.com/qaB5J0np2G— Israel Defense Forces (@IDF) October 27, 2023
Updated Gaza death toll figures
12:54 , Bill Mcloughlin
At least 7,326 Palestinians, have been killed in Israeli strikes on Gaza since October 7, the health ministry in Hamas-controlled Gaza said on Friday.
Of that number, 3,038 have been children.
Children leave teddy bears outside Foreign Office
13:14 , Bill Mcloughlin
Dozens of children laid teddy bears outside the gates of the Foreign Office to put pressure on the Government to withdraw military support for Israel.
Protesters accused the Government of being "complicit" in the deaths of children killed in Israeli airstrikes on Gaza after Hamas militants slaughtered more than 1,000 people in southern Israel.
They demanded an immediate ceasefire and called on the Government not to provide arms to Israel.
The demonstration was organised by a group of parents who said they felt compelled to act as they watched the scenes of destruction in Gaza.
They told the PA news agency they had been "overwhelmed" by support since they announced the protest two days ago.
Reports of three wounded after rocket hits building in Tel Aviv
14:01 , Jordan King
An Israeli medic said three people were wounded when a missile hit an apartment building in Tel Aviv this afternoon.
The Magen David Adom rescue service reports that these people include a 20-year-old man who is moderately injured and two others who are "lightly hurt".
Sirens have been sounding in the city of Tel Aviv, central Israel and the area surrounding the Gaza Strip.
Times of Israel military correspondent Emmanuel Fabien shared a video of what he said shows "the moment of the rocket impact in Tel Aviv".
Footage shows the moment of the rocket impact in Tel Aviv pic.twitter.com/BnyWYeDRgd
— Emanuel (Mannie) Fabian (@manniefabian) October 27, 2023
Israel 'expects long ground war in Gaza'
14:21 , Jordan King
Israel expects to launch a long and difficult ground offensive into Gaza soon to destroy Hamas, Defense Minister Yoav Gallant said today, describing a campaign that will require destroying a vast network of tunnels used by the territory's militant rulers.Mr Gallant spoke to a small group of foreign reporters in Tel Aviv after Israeli forces backed by fighter jets and drones carried out a second, limited ground raid into Gaza in as many days, striking the outskirts of Gaza City.
He said the ground invasion that follows weeks of airstrikes "will take a long time," and that it would lead to another phase of lower-intensity fighting, as Israel destroys "pockets of resistance."
IDF says a shooting was carried out from Lebanon in the past hour
14:34 , Jordan King
In a message posted to its Telegram channel, the military said: "In the past hour, terrorists carried out a shooting from Lebanon toward an IDF post in the area of community of Avivim and Kibbutz Misgav Am in northern Israel."
They added: "No injuries were reported. IDF tanks and artillery are currently striking the source of the fire."
Israel says Hamas is using hospitals in Gaza 'to wage war'
15:42 , Jordan King
Spokesperson for the Israel Defense Forces (IDF), Daniel Hagari, said Hamas "wages war from hospitals" at a press conference this afternoon.
He presented an illustration of Shifa Hospital which purports to show tunnels underneath it, with offices and rooms.
Mr Hagari said Hamas uses hospitals in this way because it knows the IDF differentiates between "terrorists and civilians".
Hamas operates within and hides beneath the largest hospital in Gaza.
Their priorities are clear—and the people of Gaza are not among them. pic.twitter.com/7M4ZqjFyYs— Israel Defense Forces (@IDF) October 27, 2023
IDF release '3D illustration of the Shifa hospital'
16:09 , Miriam Burrell
Israeli forces claim Hamas is using Gaza's hospital system and Al Shifa Hospital in particular to hide a variety of command posts and entry points into the extensive tunnel network under Gaza.
World reached 'perilous moment' in conflict
16:59 , Miriam Burrell
US Ambassador to the United Nations Linda Thomas-Greenfield has aid the world has reached a "perilous moment" in the conflict between Israel and Hamas in the Gaza Strip.
She also stressed: "The United States has made clear, in both public and private conversations, that as Israel exercises its right ... to defend its people against a terrorist group, it must do so in line with the rules of war."
WHO needs £60m to respond to humanitarian needs in Gaza, West Bank
17:40 , Miriam Burrell
The World Health Organization has said it urgently needs an estimated $80 million (£65.9m) to respond to humanitarian needs in the West Bank and Gaza and to undertake contingency planning for Egypt, Lebanon, Syria and Jordan through the end of 2023.
UN General Assembly to vote on 'humanitarian truce' in Gaza
17:46 , Miriam Burrell
The UN General Assembly has scheduled a vote on a resolution calling for a "humanitarian truce" in Gaza leading to a ceasefire.
Jordan's UN Ambassador Ayman Safadi, speaking on behalf of the UN's 22-nation Arab group which drafted the resolution, called for a Friday vote, before all 112 speakers get to the assembly's rostrum.
The Arab group is seeking action by the 193-member world body because of the failure of the more powerful 15-member UN Security Council to agree on a resolution after four attempts.
Unlike the Security Council, there are no vetoes in the General Assembly so the resolution is certain to be adopted.
But while council resolutions are legally binding, assembly resolutions are not. They do serve as a barometer of world opinion.
Israeli ground forces expanding operations tonight, military says
18:28 , Miriam Burrell
Israeli ground forces are expanding their operations tonight, a military spokesperson has said in a news conference.
The military is prepared on all fronts to preserve Israel's security, the spokesperson said, while renewing calls for people in Gaza to move south.
Israeli military 'acting with great force'
18:46 , Miriam Burrell
The Israeli military has said its ground forces are "expanding their activity" in the Gaza Strip, as the army moved closer to a full ground invasion of the besieged territory.
Daniel Hagari, the army's spokesman, said aerial attacks had been targeting Hamas tunnels and other targets.
"In addition to the attacks that we carried out in recent days, ground forces are expanding their activity this evening," he said.
"The IDF is acting with great force... to achieve the objectives of the war."
Israel air force 'widely attacking underground targets' in Gaza
19:03 , Matt Watts
More from Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari, the Israeli military spokesman, on an internsiying of air strikes in Gaza, where there are reports of large explosions this evening.
He said: "In recent hours we have increased the attacks in Gaza. The air force widely attacks underground targets and terrorist infrastructure, very significantly."It comes as the Israeli military says its ground forces are "expanding their activity" tonight in the Gaza Strip.
Israel 'expects long and difficult ground offensive'
19:06 , Matt Watts
Earlier, the country's defence minister said Israel expects to launch a long and difficult ground offensive into Gaza to destroy Hamas.
Yoav Gallant described a campaign that will require dismantling a vast network of tunnels used by the territory's militant rulers.
The defence minister spoke to a small group of foreign reporters in Tel Aviv after Israeli forces backed by fighter jets and drones carried out a second, limited ground raid into Gaza in as many days, striking the outskirts of Gaza City.
Mr Gallant said the ground invasion that follows weeks of air strikes "will take a long time", and that it would lead to another lengthy phase of lower-intensity fighting as Israel destroys "pockets of resistance".
People can't call ambulance with comms blackout in Gaza, Red Cross says
20:21 , Miriam Burrell
Aid groups say the communications blackout in the Gaza Strip means people cannot call an ambulance."It doesn't only mean that Gaza is isolated from the world but also it means people can't connect to each other. Our emergency line is down so people are literally not able to call an ambulance," said Nebal Farsakh, a spokesperson for the Palestinian Red Crescent.
"We are extremely worried because we are completely cut off from our teams."
The International Committee of the Red Cross also said it's currently unable to reach its staff in Gaza.
UK Foreign Office warns of 'increase in rocket attacks' in Gaza
20:25 , Miriam Burrell
The Foreign Office has warned Britons of an "potential increase in rocket attacks" across Gaza this evening.
On its website the office said: "Israeli Defence Forces have significantly expanded operations.
"You should be aware of a potential increase in rocket attacks and other incidents of violence across Israel and the West Bank.
"We recognise this a fast-moving situation that poses significant risks. The situation has potential to deteriorate quickly and without warning.
"This could disrupt air and road links out of the country. If your reason to remain in Israel and the OPTs is not essential you should consider leaving if it is safe to do so."
Pictured: Blasts in Gaza this evening
20:31 , Miriam Burrell
Explosions seen in Gaza City and northern parts of Gaza.
Hamas will pay for its crimes, Israeli PM adviser says
20:50 , Miriam Burrell
Hamas will pay for its crimes against humanity and Israel is starting its payback, Mark Regev, an adviser to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, has told MSNBC in an interview.
UN approves resolution calling for 'humanitarian truce'
20:54 , Miriam Burrell
The UN General Assembly has voted to approve a resolution calling for a 'humanitarian truce' in Gaza leading to a halt in Israel-Hamas war.
It passed with 120 votes in favor, while 45 abstained and 14 - including Israel and the United States - voted no. The General Assembly voted after the Security Council failed four times in the past two weeks to take action.
We reported earlier that Jordan's UN Ambassador Ayman Safadi, speaking on behalf of the UN's 22-nation Arab group which drafted the resolution, called for a Friday vote.
The Arab group sought action by the 193-member world body because of the failure of the more powerful 15-member UN Security Council to agree on a resolution after four attempts.
But unlike the Security Council, assembly resolutions are not legally binding.
'Phone lines cut so Hamas can be intercepted'
21:25 , Miriam Burrell
Military expert Sean Beal has told Sky News that Israel has reportedly cut internet and phone services in Gaza possibly to force Hamas onto other forms of communication that can be intercepted.
It comes as the Israeli military says it will expand activity in the enclave tonight.
Mr Paul said most military operations happen in darkness around 2 or 3am, but there are no signs of "any mass invasion" yet.
More explosions and flares seen across Gaza
21:37 , Miriam Burrell
Images show flares have been fired by the Israeli army to the east of Khan Yunis, on the southern Gaza Strip, this evening.
Explosions in Gaza this evening could also be seen from Sderot in southern Israel.
Live coverage ends
22:04 , Miriam Burrell
That's all for our live coverage today.
Please read our wrap of today's events here.
