Israel-Gaza war latest updates: Israel strikes near Gaza's largest hospital after

Israel-Gaza war latest updates: Israel strikes near Gaza's largest hospital after accusing Hamas of using it as a base

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Israeli warplanes carried out air strikes early on Sunday near Gaza's largest hospital, which is packed with patients and tens of thousands of Palestinians seeking shelter.

Israel has said Gaza's militant Hamas rulers have a command post under the hospital, without providing much evidence.

The strikes came a day after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced a "second stage" in Israel's war on Hamas, and three weeks after Hamas launched a brutal incursion into Israel on October 7.

Ground forces pushed into Gaza over the weekend as Israel pounded the territory from air, land and sea.

Here are the latest developments:

Israel strikes near Shifa Hospital after accusing Hamas of using it as a base
Israeli warplanes carried out air strikes early on Sunday near Shifa Hospital, the largest in Gaza, as residents described the latest attacks as the largest and most intense bombardment of the war.

AP reports residents saying air strikes on Sunday destroyed most of the roads leading to Shifa Hospital in Gaza City.

The hospital is packed with patients and tens of thousands of Palestinians seeking shelter.

Gaza City is part of the northern half of the besieged territory, which Israel has told people to evacuate.

"Reaching the hospital has become increasingly difficult," Mahmoud al-Sawah, who is sheltering in the hospital, said over the phone to AP.

"It seems they want to cut off the area."

Another Gaza City resident, Abdallah Sayed, said the bombing over the past two days was "the most violent and intense" since the war started.

The Israeli military had no immediate comment when asked about reports of strikes near Shifa.

The army recently released computer-generated images showing what it said were Hamas installations in and around Shifa Hospital, as well as interrogations of captured Hamas fighters who might have been speaking under duress.

Israel has made similar claims before, but has not substantiated them.

Little is known about Hamas' tunnels and other infrastructure, and the claims could not be independently verified.

Hamas' government dismissed the allegations as "lies" and said they were "a precursor for striking this facility."

Gazans break into aid centres as 'civil order' starts to break down, UN says
Thousands of Gaza residents broke into warehouses and distribution centres of UNRWA — the United Nations Palestinian refugee agency — grabbing flour and "basic survival items", the organisation said on Sunday.

"This is a worrying sign that civil order is starting to break down after three weeks of war and a tight siege on Gaza," UNRWA said in a statement.

Egypt's Foreign Ministry said on Saturday "Israeli obstacles" including truck inspection procedures were also impeding the prompt delivery of aid to the Gaza Strip through the Rafah crossing.

"The trucks must be inspected at the Israeli Nitzana crossing before they head to the Rafah crossing on a journey that takes a distance of 100 kilometres before they actually enter the Rafah crossing, which causes obstacles that significantly delay the arrival of aid," a ministry spokesperson said in a statement.

Aid supplies to Gaza have been choked since Israel began bombarding the enclave, with the Rafah crossing, which is controlled by Egypt and does not border Israel, becoming the main point of delivery.

Before the conflict, about 500 trucks a day were crossing into Gaza, but in recent days, an average of only 12 trucks a day have entered, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said on Friday.

International Committee of the Red Cross president Mirjana Spoljaric took to X to decry "the intolerable level of human suffering" in Gaza and the "catastrophic failing" to solve the problem.

"It is unacceptable that civilians have no safe place to go in Gaza amid the massive bombardments, and with a military siege in place there is also no adequate humanitarian response currently possible," she said.

Early on Sunday, Israel Defense Forces (IDF) spokesman Daniel Hagari announced on X that Egypt and the United States "will be expanding" humanitarian aid to Gaza, without giving further details.

Israel says ground operation in Gaza is ongoing
Israel says its military's ground operation inside Gaza is ongoing, describing it as the "second stage" of the war.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu held a media conference on Saturday to update the nation on the latest developments.

"This is the second stage of the war whose goals are clear — to destroy Hamas' governing and military capabilities and to bring the hostages home," Mr Netanyahu told reporters.

"We are only at the start. We will destroy the enemy above ground and below ground.

"Our heroic fighters have one goal; to destroy this enemy and to make sure the existence of our country," Mr Netanyahu told reporters.

"Never again. 'Never again,' is now."

He vowed that every effort was being made to rescue the more than 200 hostages held by Hamas.

"We will win … we will prevail," he said.

Mr Netanyahu also defended his soldiers after Türkiye's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan accused Israel of war crimes.

Don't accuse us of war crimes … if you think that you can accuse our soldiers of war crimes that is hypocrisy. We are the most moral army in the world."

The IDF was taking precautions, he said, to protect civilians and he accused Hamas of committing crimes against humanity by "using their people as human shields".

Earlier, the Israel Defence Forces (IDF) said a number of troops were holding ground in the northern part of the Gaza Strip, while refraining from calling it a ground invasion.

"This is a war with multiple stages. Today, we move to the next one," chief of the general staff Herzi Halevi said.

"The best soldiers and commanders — well trained and prepared — are now operating in Gaza.

"In order to expose and destroy the enemy, there is no other way than to enter its territory with force."

Hamas's armed wing confirmed its militants had been fighting Israeli soldiers inside Gaza.

Internet and phone connectivity restored for many in Gaza Strip
Internet connectivity and communications in the Gaza Strip were being restored, the global network monitor Netblocks said on Sunday, almost two days after it was cut off during heavy Israeli bombardment.

"Real-time network data show that internet connectivity is being restored in the #Gaza Strip," the company wrote on X, formerly Twitter.

An AFP employee in Gaza City said shortly after 4am (1pm AEDT) that he could use the internet and had managed to contact people in southern Gaza by phone.

Several Palestinian media outlets also confirmed telephone and internet communications were gradually being restored.

The Palestinian Red Crescent said the communications blackout since Friday had blocked emergency calls and disrupted critical ambulance services.

A spokesperson for the agency said no aid trucks entered Gaza on Saturday because communications had been impossible and teams inside Gaza could not connect with Egyptian Red Crescent or the United Nations.

Before Saturday, a total of just 84 aid trucks were allowed into Gaza to assist the 2.3 million people in need of power, food, medical supplies and clean drinking water.

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Israel-Gaza war latest updates: Israel strikes near Gaza's largest hospital after accusing Hamas of using it as a base
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Israel's third ground incursion into Gaza marks "second stage of war".
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Israeli warplanes carried out air strikes early on Sunday near Gaza's largest hospital, which is packed with patients and tens of thousands of Palestinians seeking shelter.

Israel has said Gaza's militant Hamas rulers have a command post under the hospital, without providing much evidence.

The strikes came a day after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced a "second stage" in Israel's war on Hamas, and three weeks after Hamas launched a brutal incursion into Israel on October 7.

Ground forces pushed into Gaza over the weekend as Israel pounded the territory from air, land and sea.

Here are the latest developments:

Israel air strikes hit roads into Gaza's largest hospital
Gazans break into aid centres as 'civil order' starts to break down, UN says
Israel says it has entered 'second stage of war' as ongoing ground operation in Gaza continues
Internet and telephone connectivity restored for many in Gaza Strip
Israel warns Gazans to 'relocate south immediately' in online post
Palestinian death toll climbs above 8,000 under heavy bombardment
Palestinian president calls for urgent help to stop 'genocide'
UN chief Antonio Guterres surprised by escalation
Iranian president says Israel has 'crossed red line' which may force 'everyone to take action
Elon Musk offers Starlink internet to Gaza aid groups amid blackout
Hostage deal 'stalled', Hamas armed wing says
Lebanon, Australia issue precautionary guidance on Beirut airport
'Anxiety' racks Israeli hostage families as army assaults Gaza
Israel strikes near Shifa Hospital after accusing Hamas of using it as a base
Israeli warplanes carried out air strikes early on Sunday near Shifa Hospital, the largest in Gaza, as residents described the latest attacks as the largest and most intense bombardment of the war.

AP reports residents saying air strikes on Sunday destroyed most of the roads leading to Shifa Hospital in Gaza City.

The hospital is packed with patients and tens of thousands of Palestinians seeking shelter.

Gaza City is part of the northern half of the besieged territory, which Israel has told people to evacuate.

"Reaching the hospital has become increasingly difficult," Mahmoud al-Sawah, who is sheltering in the hospital, said over the phone to AP.

"It seems they want to cut off the area."

Another Gaza City resident, Abdallah Sayed, said the bombing over the past two days was "the most violent and intense" since the war started.

The Israeli military had no immediate comment when asked about reports of strikes near Shifa.

The army recently released computer-generated images showing what it said were Hamas installations in and around Shifa Hospital, as well as interrogations of captured Hamas fighters who might have been speaking under duress.

Israel has made similar claims before, but has not substantiated them.

Little is known about Hamas' tunnels and other infrastructure, and the claims could not be independently verified.

Hamas' government dismissed the allegations as "lies" and said they were "a precursor for striking this facility."

Gazans break into aid centres as 'civil order' starts to break down, UN says
Thousands of Gaza residents broke into warehouses and distribution centres of UNRWA — the United Nations Palestinian refugee agency — grabbing flour and "basic survival items", the organisation said on Sunday.

"This is a worrying sign that civil order is starting to break down after three weeks of war and a tight siege on Gaza," UNRWA said in a statement.

Egypt's Foreign Ministry said on Saturday "Israeli obstacles" including truck inspection procedures were also impeding the prompt delivery of aid to the Gaza Strip through the Rafah crossing.

"The trucks must be inspected at the Israeli Nitzana crossing before they head to the Rafah crossing on a journey that takes a distance of 100 kilometres before they actually enter the Rafah crossing, which causes obstacles that significantly delay the arrival of aid," a ministry spokesperson said in a statement.

Aid supplies to Gaza have been choked since Israel began bombarding the enclave, with the Rafah crossing, which is controlled by Egypt and does not border Israel, becoming the main point of delivery.

Before the conflict, about 500 trucks a day were crossing into Gaza, but in recent days, an average of only 12 trucks a day have entered, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said on Friday.

International Committee of the Red Cross president Mirjana Spoljaric took to X to decry "the intolerable level of human suffering" in Gaza and the "catastrophic failing" to solve the problem.

"It is unacceptable that civilians have no safe place to go in Gaza amid the massive bombardments, and with a military siege in place there is also no adequate humanitarian response currently possible," she said.

Early on Sunday, Israel Defense Forces (IDF) spokesman Daniel Hagari announced on X that Egypt and the United States "will be expanding" humanitarian aid to Gaza, without giving further details.

Israel says ground operation in Gaza is ongoing
Israel says its military's ground operation inside Gaza is ongoing, describing it as the "second stage" of the war.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu held a media conference on Saturday to update the nation on the latest developments.

"This is the second stage of the war whose goals are clear — to destroy Hamas' governing and military capabilities and to bring the hostages home," Mr Netanyahu told reporters.

"We are only at the start. We will destroy the enemy above ground and below ground.

"Our heroic fighters have one goal; to destroy this enemy and to make sure the existence of our country," Mr Netanyahu told reporters.

"Never again. 'Never again,' is now."

He vowed that every effort was being made to rescue the more than 200 hostages held by Hamas.

"We will win … we will prevail," he said.

Mr Netanyahu also defended his soldiers after Türkiye's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan accused Israel of war crimes.

WATCH
Duration: 1 minute 11 seconds1m 11s

Benjamin Netanyahu confirms that the "second phase of the war" is underway.
"Don't accuse us of war crimes … if you think that you can accuse our soldiers of war crimes that is hypocrisy. We are the most moral army in the world."

The IDF was taking precautions, he said, to protect civilians and he accused Hamas of committing crimes against humanity by "using their people as human shields".

Earlier, the Israel Defence Forces (IDF) said a number of troops were holding ground in the northern part of the Gaza Strip, while refraining from calling it a ground invasion.

"This is a war with multiple stages. Today, we move to the next one," chief of the general staff Herzi Halevi said.

"The best soldiers and commanders — well trained and prepared — are now operating in Gaza.

"In order to expose and destroy the enemy, there is no other way than to enter its territory with force."

Hamas's armed wing confirmed its militants had been fighting Israeli soldiers inside Gaza.

Internet and phone connectivity restored for many in Gaza Strip
Internet connectivity and communications in the Gaza Strip were being restored, the global network monitor Netblocks said on Sunday, almost two days after it was cut off during heavy Israeli bombardment.

"Real-time network data show that internet connectivity is being restored in the #Gaza Strip," the company wrote on X, formerly Twitter.

An AFP employee in Gaza City said shortly after 4am (1pm AEDT) that he could use the internet and had managed to contact people in southern Gaza by phone.

Several Palestinian media outlets also confirmed telephone and internet communications were gradually being restored.

The Palestinian Red Crescent said the communications blackout since Friday had blocked emergency calls and disrupted critical ambulance services.

A spokesperson for the agency said no aid trucks entered Gaza on Saturday because communications had been impossible and teams inside Gaza could not connect with Egyptian Red Crescent or the United Nations.

Before Saturday, a total of just 84 aid trucks were allowed into Gaza to assist the 2.3 million people in need of power, food, medical supplies and clean drinking water.

Gazans told to 'immediately' move south
Heavy bombardment on Israel-Gaza border.
In a video address in English posted to X, IDF spokesman Daniel Hagari warned people in northern Gaza and Gaza City to move south ahead of an invasion.

With internet and phone connections cut, Mr Hagari did not clarify how he intended to deliver this urgent message.

"For your immediate safety, we urge all residents to temporarily relocate south immediately," he said.

"Moving back to northern Gaza will be possible once the intense hostilities end."

Defence Minister Yoav Gallant said its Gaza operation would continue until a new order was put in place.

"We attacked above the ground and underground, we attacked terror operatives of all ranks, everywhere," he said.

"The instructions for the forces are clear: the operation will continue until a new order."

Palestinian death toll 'past 8,000'
The Palestinian death toll is now more than 8,000, according to the Gaza health ministry.

"The death toll linked to the Israeli aggression is past 8,000, half of whom are children," the ministry told AFP early on Sunday.

The previous toll, issued early on Saturday, was 7,703 dead.

More than 1,400 Israelis have died, most during Hamas's October 7 attack, while 229 hostages remain in Gaza.

Palestinian president pleads for help to stop 'genocide'

President Mahmoud Abbas called on the international community to put an end to the ongoing Israeli "aggression", which he described as "genocide".

Mr Abbas's Palestinian Authority governs parts of the occupied West Bank while Hamas rules Gaza.

"Our people in the Gaza Strip are facing a war of genocide and massacres committed by the Israeli occupation forces in full view of the entire world," he said in a speech on Saturday from Ramallah in the occupied West Bank.

"Israel responded to the UN resolution yesterday with more bombing and destruction," he said.

Mr Abbas wants the leaders of Arab nations to organise an emergency Arab League summit in response to Israel’s military operation in Gaza.

Three Palestinians were killed by Israeli forces in the occupied West Bank overnight, the Palestinian health ministry said early on Sunday.

UN chief surprised by escalation
Secretary-General Antonio Guterres repeated the call for an immediate humanitarian ceasefire for the delivery of aid as a worsening situation unfolds.

"A humanitarian catastrophe is unfolding in front of our eyes," Mr Guterres said in a statement.

"I was encouraged in the last days by what seemed to be a growing consensus in the international community … for the need of at least a humanitarian pause in the fighting.

"Regrettably, instead of the pause, I was surprised by an unprecedented escalation of the bombardments and their devastating impacts, undermining the referred humanitarian objectives."

Aid organisations have said a humanitarian catastrophe is unfolding for Gaza's 2.3 million people under an Israeli blockade.

The UN Security Council scheduled an emergency meeting on Israel’s ground invasion of Gaza on Monday afternoon at the request of the United Arab Emirates, the Arab representative on the council.

Meanwhile, EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell has demanded a "pause of hostilities" to allow humanitarian aid into the Gaza Strip, posting on social media.

Gaza is in complete blackout and isolation while heavy shelling continues," he wrote.

"Far too many civilians, including children, have been killed. This is against international humanitarian law.

"A pause of hostilities is urgently needed to enable humanitarian access."

Iran says Israel 'crossed red lines' may force 'everyone to take action'
Iran's President Ebrahim Raisi has taken to social media to warn Israel it had crossed a red line, while also taking aim at the United States for its support for the bombardment of Gaza.

"Zionist regime's crimes have crossed the red lines, which may force everyone to take action," Mr Raisi said on X.

"Washington asks us to not do anything, but they keep giving widespread support to Israel.

"The US sent messages to the Axis of Resistance but received a clear response on the battlefield."

According to Reuters, the Axis of Resistance refers to an alliance among Iran, Palestinian militant groups, Syria, the Lebanese militant group Hezbollah and other factions.

Musk offers Starlink service to Gaza
Elon Musk said SpaceX's Starlink will support communication links to internationally recognised aid groups in Gaza.

He said it was not clear who has authority for ground links in Gaza, but "no terminal has requested a connection in that area".

A telephone and internet blackout has isolated those in the Gaza Strip from the world and from each other.

Concerns are growing for international humanitarian organisations with the blackout impeding life-saving operations and disrupting logistics for staff on the ground.

Following Russia's February 2022 invasion of Ukraine, Starlink satellites were reported to have been critical to maintaining internet connectivity in some areas despite attempted Russian jamming.

Hostage deal 'stalled'
A spokesperson for Hamas' armed wing said an agreement between Israel and the Palestinian militant faction over hostage releases was nearly reached, but Israel "stalled".

Abu Ubaida, of the Izz el-Deen al-Qassam Brigades, also said the group would only release all the hostages it held if Israel freed all Palestinian prisoners.

He said Hamas may hold talks over a "partial" agreement over the captives".

Israel's military spokesman dismissed the reports, saying Hamas was "cynically" attempting to sway public opinion.

Mr Netanyahu, who met with hostages' families earlier on Saturday with his wife Sara, said contacts to secure their release would continue even during a ground offensive and that military pressure on Hamas could help bring them home.

"This effort not only has not stopped, it continues and it continues even harder,” Mr Netanyahu told the families.

Caution for travellers in Lebanon
Lebanon authorities issued precautionary guidance for travellers in the event that Beirut airport is forced to evacuate, while the Australian government issued an update to its "do not travel" advice for Lebanon.

As border tensions rise, Australia's smartraveller website warned of possible armed conflict affecting wider Lebanon.

It urged people to take commercial flights as the government may be unable to help if armed conflict arises.

The Israeli army and Hezbollah have exchanged fire on a daily basis since the start of the Gaza conflict.

In the 2006 conflict, runways at Beirut Rafic Hariri International Airport and other infrastructure was hit by Israeli air strikes forcing the airport to close.

Anxiety racks Israeli hostage families
The families of Israeli hostages held by Hamas in the Gaza Strip are filled with worry, as ground assaults ramp up.

"This night was the most terrible of all nights," lobby group Hostages and Missing Families Forum said in a statement.

It said families were racked with "anxiety" and "frustration" that the ground invasion will put them in more danger.

Hamas took more than 200 hostages back into Gaza during its raids. It has so far released four and said on Thursday that Israeli bombing had killed another 50 — a claim Reuters could not verify.

"The families are worried about the fate of their loved ones and are waiting for an explanation," the statement read.

"Every minute feels like an eternity."

Global condemnation of Israel grows
Russia
Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said Israel's bombardment of Gaza goes against international law and risks creating a catastrophe that could last decades, in an interview with Belarusian news agency Belta.

"While we condemn terrorism, we categorically disagree that you can respond to terrorism by violating the norms of international humanitarian law," Mr Lavrov said.

"[That] includes indiscriminately using force against targets where civilians are known to be present, including hostages that have been taken.

Russia has backed an immediate ceasefire and a two-state solution, despite criticisms of its actions in Ukraine.

"If Gaza is destroyed and two million inhabitants are expelled … this will create a catastrophe for many decades, if not centuries.

"It is necessary to stop, and to announce humanitarian programmes to save the population under blockade."

Saudia Arabia
The country's foreign ministry condemned any ground operations by Israeli forces that may threaten the lives of Palestinian civilians.

A statement released by the ministry warned "of the danger of continuing to carry out these blatant and unjustified violations of international law against our brotherly Palestinians."

Egypt
President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi said the region risked becoming a "ticking time bomb".

With drones intercepted in Egypt's air space yesterday, he said his country's sovereignty should be respected.

Israel had said it was the target of the drones and blamed Yemen's Iranian-backed Houthi movement.

Egypt's military said the drones, which injured six in the Egyptian towns of Taba and Nuweiba near the Israeli border, originated in the southern Red Sea. It did not say who launched the drones.

"Regardless of where it comes from, I have warned of the expansion of the conflict," he said.

"The region will becoming a ticking time bomb that impacts us all."

Britain
Thousands of pro-Palestinian demonstrators marched to Prime Minister Rishi Sunak's Downing Street office in central London to demand its government call for a ceasefire.

The government has supported Israel's right to defend itself but stopped short of calling for a ceasefire, and instead advocated humanitarian pauses to allow aid to reach people in Gaza.

Protester Camille Revuelta said the march was "not about Hamas [but] about protecting Palestinian lives."

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