Updates from day 11 of Israel's war with Hamas.
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Summary
- US President Joe Biden is expected in Israel on Wednesday
- Israel has reportedly bombed an area of Gaza to which civilians had previously been told to flee
- Some 600,000 Gazans have fled the north of the fenced-off territory following Israel's evacuation order. 100,000 are estimated to remain in Gaza City
- Iran's foreign minister says pro-Iranian groups in the region could soon attack Israel
- More than 2,800 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli attacks since they began more than a week ago. Overnight airstrikes killed dozens
- UN aid chief says hospitals in the Gaza Strip are collapsing
- The King of Jordan has said his country will not take in Palestinian refugees
Euronews's live blog coverage of the Israel-Hamas war has ended for today. Stay with us on air and online for further updates.
Israeli funerals continue after Hamas pogrom
With hostages abducted by Hamas still captive in Gaza, thousands of families in Israel are still mourning those they lost 11 days ago when Hamas militants stormed villages and kibbutzim in a killing spree.
In the picture below, mourners gather around the five coffins of the Kotz family during their funeral today in Gan Yavne. The family was killed by Hamas militants on October 7th at their house in Kibbutz Kfar Azza near the border with the Gaza Strip.
The death toll from the massacre now stands at around 1,400.
Hamas military leader killed in Gaza strike
A strike in the Bureij refugee camp in central Gaza killed a top Hamas commander, Ayman Nofal, the group’s military wing said — the most high-profile militant known to have been killed so far in the war.
Nofal was in charge of Hamas militant activities in the central Gaza Strip and was associated with the creation of the group’s “joint operations” room that coordinated between Hamas, the Palestinian Islamic Jihad and other militants in the territory.
(AP)
Hezbollah says its fighters killed in Lebanon
Hezbollah has said four of its operatives have been killed in south Lebanon.
This brings the death count among fighters belonging to the Iran-backed militant group to nine.
In statements, Hezbollah said its fighters had been killed “performing jihad”. The news came hours after Israel said it killed four infiltrators at the border from Lebanon.
Iran leader warns of uncontrollable Muslim reaction to Israeli attacks
The Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei warned on Tuesday that if Israel's strikes on Gaza continue nobody will be able to hold Muslim resistance forces back.
At a meeting in Tehran on Tuesday, he said Muslim nations were angry at Israel for bombing the Palestinian enclave.
“If these crimes continue, the Muslims and the resistance forces will become impatient, (and) no one would be able to stop them,” he was quoted as saying by the state Tasnim news Agency.
Gaza death toll tops 3,000 - ministry
At least 3,000 Palestinians have been killed in Gaza since 7 October, according to the Palestinian health ministry.
More than 12,500 have been wounded in the besieged coastal enclave, it added.
In the West Bank, 61 Palestinians have been killed, while more than 1,250 have been injured.
Update: Israel details strike on top Hamas commander
The Israeli airforce released information about its apparent killing of Ayman Nofal, a senior commander in Hamas.
It wrote on X: "By virtue of his duties, he directed many terrorist attacks against Israel and the security forces, and he directed the targets of Hamas' rocket fire, specifically targeting areas populated by uninvolved civilians."
"In the past, he was involved in the production and development of weapons, promoted and was a partner in many terrorist attacks," it added.
The Israeli airforce added Nofal was "one of the most dominant senior officials" in Hamas, which appears to have confirmed he was killed.
Saudi Arabia calls for immediate ceasefire
The cabinet of Saudi Arabia has demanded that Israel and Hamas stop fighting right away, according to state media.
It also urged Israel to lift its siege on the Gaza Strip, which is currently under intense bombardment, and criticised what it called the forced displacement of Palestinians.
Top Hamas commander killed by Israeli airstrike
Hamas’ military wing, the al-Qassam Brigades, said on Tuesday an Israeli airstrike on central Gaza killed its top militant commander, Ayman Nofal.
Nofal is most high-profile militant to be killed so far in Israeli bombardment on the Gaza Strip.
The Israeli military says it is targeting Hamas hideouts, infrastructure and command centres.
(AP)
'We failed': Israeli intelligence chief
The head of the IDF Military Intelligence Directorate says he bears "full responsibility" for the failures that enabled Hamas' onslaught on 7 October.
“In all my visits to Military Intelligence Directorate units in the last 11 days, I sat down and stressed that the beginning of the war was an intelligence failure,” Maj. Gen Aharon Haliva said.
“The Military Intelligence Directorate, under my command, failed to warn of the terror attack carried out by Hamas,” he continued. “We failed in our most important mission, and as the head of the Military Intelligence Directorate, I bear full responsibility for the failure.”
“What needs to be investigated, we will investigate, in the deepest and most comprehensive way, and draw the conclusions,” Haliva said. “But now, there is only one task, to fight back and to win.”
Haliva is the latest in a string of Israeli security officials to say they are responsible for Hamas's attack, which killed 1,400 people, in southern Israel.
The head of the Shin Bet security agency and IDF chief of staff have made similar remarks in recent days.
French death toll from Hamas attack increases
The number of French citizens killed in Hamas' shock assault in southern Israel on 7 October has risen to 21 dead and 11 missing, according to France's foreign ministry.
It previously stood at 19 dead and 13 missing.
The French ministry denounced a "vile" video shared by Hamas on Monday which showed a Franco-Israeli woman, Mia Shem, taken hostage in Gaza.
Her mother begged "world leaders" on Tuesday to free her daughter.
French President Emmanuel Macron has spoken of "intense discussions" about the release of hostages which are "advancing", though he said they were being "very cautious".
BBC hit by protests over Israel Hamas terminology
Around 250 people have gathered outside the BBC's main headquarters in London to demonstrate against the British broadcaster's decision not to refer to Hamas as terrorists.
Demonstrators at the event on Monday, organised by Jewish groups, chanted "Hamas, terrorists" and "Shame on You" over the broadcaster's editorial decision to refer to Hamas as militants.
In a statement, the broadcaster said: "The BBC, along with many other UK and global news organisations, does use the word 'terrorist', but attributes it. We have made clear to our audiences that Hamas is proscribed as a terrorist organisation by the UK and other governments."
Pro-Palestinian groups have also targeted the BBC, covering Broadcasting House headquarters in red paint last week and accusing it of having "blood on its hands".
Israel facing perhaps toughest period in history - president
Israeli president Isaac Herzog has said the current situation facing his country "is perhaps the gravest in the history of the state."
"But the people of Israel are facing it with courage," he continued.
“The people of Israel are one, the people of Israel are united. We will stand stand firm… and defeat the enemy. And with God’s help, we will bring the hostages home.”
An estimated 199 Israeli and foreign citizens are estimated to have been taken as hostages to Gaza, following Hamas's deadly assault on 7 October.
Foreign passport holders wait in vain for Egypt border to open
For a third straight day, dual Palestinian nationals' hopes to leave the Gaza Strip were dashed with the Rafah border crossing still closed.
Jameel Abdullah, a Swedish passport holder, said he had been told by his embassy to return to the border, but after waiting many hours he turned back toward Gaza where Israeli airstrikes continue to pound densely populated areas.
“We come to the border crossing hoping that it will open, but so far there is no information,” he said. “We plead with the Egyptian people to look at us with compassion because frankly we are in a very dangerous place. There is shelling all around us, and even if I wanted to return home [to Gaza}, I would be risking my life.”
(AP)
Gas prices keep climbing in Europe after Israel Hamas conflict
Natural gas prices in Europe have been climbing over the past week, as events in the Middle East bring uncertainty to the market.
But should the continent be worried about its gas supplies?
Photos: Day 11 of the Israel Hamas war
Here are some of the latest photos from the war between Israel and Hamas.
Jordan won't accept Palestinian refugees, says king
King Abdullah II of Jordan has said at a meeting with German Chancellor OIaf Scholz in Berlin that neither Jordan nor Egypt would be willing to take in any Palestinian refugees.
The Jordanian king told reporters on Tuesday that “this is a red line ... no refugees to Jordan and also no refugees to Egypt.”
“This is a situation that has to be handled within Gaza and the West Bank,” he said. “And you don’t have to carry this out on the shoulders of others.”
Abdullah also said that everything needs to be done to prevent a further escalation of the conflict between Israel and the Palestinians.
“The whole region is on the brink,” Abdullah said. “This new cycle of violence is leading us towards the abyss.”
Scholz, who is travelling to Israel later on Tuesday, stressed that the country has every right to defend itself and can count on Germany’s support.
Jordan hosts the largest number of Palestinian refugees. According to UNRWA, more than 2 million live in the country.
Update: Israeli soliders wounded in attack on Metula
Earlier Israel said it was responding after two anti-tank missiles were fired from Lebanon.
The army has no confirmed three Israeli soldiers and one civilian was wounded in the strike on Metula.
Two are in moderate condition and one was lightly wounded. A civilian was also lightly wounded.
Turkish official suggests Ankara could be 'guarantor' of two-state solution
Turkey and other regional powers should act as guarantors of a two-state solution between Israel and Palestinians to ensure peace, Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan said late Monday.
The international community must insist that Israel accept the creation of a Palestinian state, Fidan said in a briefing with the Turkish media.
“After an agreement is reached ... the guarantor countries should assume responsibility for fulfilling its requirements,” state-run Anadolu news agency quoted Fidan following a briefing with Turkish media.
He added: “Unless peace is guaranteed, the state of Israel and its people can never feel safe in the region.”
The minister did not provide further detail on the plan.
Turkey, along with the UK and Greece, has acted as a guarantor on the divided island of Cyprus since 1960.
Fidan has had a series of diplomatic meetings focused on Gaza in recent days and has others scheduled on Tuesday and Wednesday.
“The important thing is to realize the two-state solution by using this crisis as an opportunity,” Fidan said. “It is to bring permanent peace to the region.”
(AP)
Growing number of journalists killed in fighting
The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) says at least 15 journalists have been killed since 7 October.
This figure includes 11 Palestinians, three Israelis and one Lebanese, among the more than 4,000 dead on both sides so far.
It said journalists in Gaza face particularly high risks amid "devastating Israeli airstrikes, disrupted communications and extensive power outages."
Eight journalists have been injured, while three more are reported missing or detained.
“CPJ emphasizes that journalists are civilians doing important work during times of crisis and must not be targeted by warring parties,” said Sherif Mansour, CPJ’s Middle East and North Africa program coordinator. “Journalists across the region are making great sacrifices to cover this heartbreaking conflict. All parties must take steps to ensure their safety.”
Next stage of war might not be a ground offensive - Isreal
An Israeli army spokesperson has hinted the next phase of the war may not be a ground invasion of Gaza, despite massing its troops at the border.
“We are preparing for the next stages of war. We haven’t said what they will be. Everybody’s talking about the ground offensive. It might be something different,” said Richard Hecht during a press briefing.
'No humanitarian crisis in Gaza' - IDF
An Israeli army spokesman has denied there is a humanitarian crisis in Gaza.
Speaking to the BBC, Lt Col Richard Hecht insisted there was electricity and water in the besieged enclave.
Since the deadly Hamas attacks on 7 October, Israel has stopped supplying electricity, fuel and water to the Gaza Strip, as well as pounding it with airstrikes.
Fuel for hospitals expected to last 24 hours - UNRWA
The UN Palestinian refugee agency has said fuel reserves at all hospitals across Gaza are expected to last for only 24 hours after Israel put the already blockaded enclave under “total siege”.
Gaza death toll continues to climb
The number of people killed by Israeli attacks in Gaza has risen to 2,837, according to the Palestinian Health Ministry.
Dozens of deaths were reported this morning after bombs rained down on the southern part of the strip.
Outrage after UK ministers laugh during speech on Hamas attack
Calls for an apology have mounted after two senior Conservative politicians were seen laughing as UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak spoke about Hamas' deadly assault on Israel.
Defence Secretary Grant Shapps and Oliver Dowden appeared to share a joke and giggle, while Sunak answered questions in the House of Common about the terror attack that killed 1,400 Israelis.
Many social media users criticised their behaviour as “disrespectful” and “disgraceful”, urging the Tory ministers to apologise.
EU leaders to fine-tune joint position on war after week of mixed messages
The 27 leaders of the European Union will today attempt to fine-tune their joint position on the Israel-Hamas war after more than a week of uncoordinated, confusing and, at times, contradictory messages sent by high-ranking officials, both in person and on social media.
The emergency meeting, convened by European Council President Charles Michel, will take place at 17:30 local time today via video conference and will tackle a variety of issues, including humanitarian assistance, security risks, migration movements and engagement with regional actors to prevent a further escalation of violence.
The possibility of formally calling for a ceasefire will also be on the table, although this is not guaranteed due to divergences between member states.
The European Council takes decisions by consensus, meaning any one country can block a collective statement.
The meeting comes at a delicate moment for Ursula von der Leyen, the president of the European Commission, who will also join the video call. She has been criticised for waiting too long before explicitly calling on Israel to act in line with humanitarian and international law.
Her surprise trip to Israel on Friday, during which she met with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, has also come under scrutiny.
Read more about today’s emergency meeting here.
Status of Gaza after invasion a 'global issue' – IDF
A spokesman for Israel's army has said what happens to Gaza following Isreal's possible ground assault will be a question for the world.
Asked whether Israel’s military planned to stay and govern Gaza after its ground invasion, Daniel Hagari told reporters the country "had all kinds of end games".
“The cabinet is also discussing what that could look like … this is also a global issue, what the situation will look like in this region,” he said.
Hagari said the military had “presented an operational plan” to Israeli leaders, but he did not give further details.
“Gaza borders other countries … so when we say things on the final status, they will combine the orders of the political level and the military,” he is reported as saying.
'People will start dying without water' - UNRWA
The UN organisation for Palestinian refugees has said water "remains a key issue" in the Gaza Strip, warning that "people will start dying".
In its latest situation report, UNRWA said a detailed line of water was opened today for three hours only in the South of the Gaza Strip, feeding limited water to only half of the population of Khan Yunis (nearly 100,000 people).
"This does not solve the urgent water needs," it added, reporting only 14 per cent of the population in the Strip benefited from this three-hour opening of the water line.
Concerns over dehydration and waterborne diseases are high given the collapse of water and sanitation services, including today’s shutdown of Gaza’s last functioning seawater desalination plant, UNRWA explained.
Half a million people displaced within Israel's borders – IDF
An Israeli army spokesman has said nearly 500,000 Israelis have been internally displaced since Hamas' deadly attack on 7 October.
“We evacuated the entire south of Israel, all the localities near the Gaza Strip, following the government's directives... We did the same in the north where 20 localities near the border were evacuated," said Jonathan Conricus.
“Most of these people left on their own initiative,” he continued. "We do not want civilians near combat zones. Above all, we want to protect our citizens against the devastating effects of war."
“This is a significant population displacement in Israel and one that is very little talked about. The situation in Gaza is worse,” Conricus admitted.
A million Palestinians have fled northern Gaza, according to the UN.
(AFP)
Surgeons in Gazan hospital operating without painkillers
The international president of Doctors Without Borders (MSF) has said the situation in Gaza is "horrific and catastrophic".
Writing on X last night, Christos Christou said: "Hospitals and clinics that have not been evacuated are overwhelmed and are barely functioning."
He detailed that there was no electricity or medical supplies, while "surgeons in Al-Shifa hospital are now operating without painkillers".
Israeli army prevents infiltration from Lebanon
The IDF says it foiled an attempt by four militants to harm Israel from southern Lebanon, killing them in a strike.
It claimed the "terror squad" was approaching the border fence from the Lebanese territory to plant a bomb.
Israeli military spokesman Daniel Daniel Hagari posted a clip purporting to show the incident.
Euronews cannot independently verify this footage.
Palestinians say Israel shelling areas where civilians told to seek refuge
Palestinians in Gaza reported intense bombardments early Tuesday near the southern towns of Khan Younis and Rafah, where Israel ordered civilians to seek refuge.
Israeli bombs hit areas west and southeast of Khan Younis and west of Rafah, according to local reports.
Thousands of people trying to escape Gaza are gathered in Rafah, where the territory’s only border crossing to Egypt lies.
International mediators are pressing for a deal to allow aid in and refugees with foreign passports out, though the crossing remains closed.
Details of causalities were not immediately available.
(AP)
Thousands of US troops sent deployment notices
The Pentagon has asked 2,000 troops to prepare for possible deployment in response to the Israel Hamas war, according to two anonymous US officials.
The troops would cover a variety of support roles, such as medical role or explosive ordnance assistance, and providing additional security at gate crossings. They would not be sent to Israel but could be deployed to countries in the wider region, one of the officials said.
Biden to visit Israel tomorrow
The US president will travel to Israel on Wednesday to show support for his country's principal ally in the Middle East.
The announcement, made by US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, comes amid rising concerns that the fighting between Hamas and Israel could spill over into the region.
Biden will reportedly then go to Jordan to meet with Arab leaders.
Blinken's announcement followed hours of talks with Israeli officials, as well as an invitation from Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
As the humanitarian situation in the Gaza Strip grows increasingly dire, Blinken also said the US and Israel had agreed to develop a plan for bringing aid to civilians in the besieged enclave.
The plan is set to include the possibility of "creating areas to help keep civilians out of harm’s way".
“We share Israel’s concern that Hamas may seize or destroy aid entering Gaza or otherwise prevent it from reaching the people who need it,” Blinken said.
Iranian FM warns of 'pre-emptive action' in coming hours
Iran's foreign minister has warned of a preemptive strike against Israel in the coming hours.
He said Iranian-backed groups, such as Hezbollah in south Lebanon, will not allow Israeli forces to do what they want in Gaza without consequences.
Tensions along the Israel-Lebanon border have been high since Israel began its reprisals against Hamas in Gaza.
Hezbollah militants have fired on Israeli positions in limited skirmishes, while Israel has responded with shelling and strikes.
Fears are growing that this could become a new front in the war with the involvement of Hezbollah, though cross-border exchanges have currently been limited in scope.
Yesterday US President Joe Biden warned Iran not to get involved.