Israel-Hamas war: Rafah border crossing with Egypt to open on Friday, say Egyptian media sources

That's our live blog coming to a close today. Read below to see how events unfolded on Thursday.

We're back Friday morning with all the latest overnight developments at 08:00 CET. Thanks for reading.

Deal agreed to open Rafah crossing, officials say 

Officials said that an agreement has been reached to open the Rafah border crossing to let trucks carrying humanitarian aid enter Gaza from Egypt. 

The details of the deal, which was brokered by the UN, are not immediately unknown, and it's unclear when much-need food, water and medicine will reach Palestinians.

Israel confirms receiving US armored vehicles

The Israeli Minister of Defence confirmed receiving a US shipment of armoured vehicles on Thursday, which it said will be transferred to the Israeli Defence Forces. 

The Pentagon said that, as of Tuesday, five shipments of weapons and equipment have already been sent to Israel since Hamas' attack. 

US authorities warn citizens to exercise caution worldwide

The US State Department has issued a warning calling for American citizens to "exercise increased caution" due to "increased tensions in various locations around the world, the potential for terrorist attacks, demonstrations or violent actions against US citizens and interests".

WHO says its trucks are 'loaded and ready to go' to Gaza

The World Health Organization's (WHO) trucks are "loaded and ready to go" to Gaza as soon as the Rafah crossing is opened, Director General Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said on Thursday during a briefing. "Hopefully tomorrow", he added.

Tedros condemned the deadly strike on a Gaza hospital on Tuesday night, saying that "the loss of life it caused, regardless of who was responsible, cannot be tolerated." He called for an immediate humanitarian ceasefire on behalf of the WHO, as well as the immediate and safe release of hostages seized by Hamas.

EU urged to help stop Gaza massacre as MEPs call for 'humanitarian pause'

Pressure increased on Thursday on the European Union to help find practical solutions to spare lives in Gaza, as the European Parliament adopted a resolution calling for a "humanitarian pause".

The resolution, which carries no legal weight, comes after the United States vetoed a similar text by the UN Security Council calling for humanitarian pauses to deliver lifesaving aid to millions in Gaza.

Read more here.

Egypt and Jordan condemn Israel's siege of Gaza

King Abdullah II of Jordan and Egypt's president Abdel Fattah el-Sisi have issued a joint statement condemning Israel's "collective punishment in the siege, starvation or displacement" of Palestinians in Gaza.

The statement was released ahead of the meeting between the two leaders in Cairo.

US and UK embassies urge citizens to leave Lebanon

The US and UK embassies in Beirut have called on their citizens to leave Lebanon while commercial flights are still available, as tension grows between the country and Israel.

In a statement released on Thursday, the US Embassy in Beirut "urged US citizens in Lebanon to plan their departure as soon as possible". 

"We recommend that American citizens who choose not to leave prepare contingency plans," the embassy added.

The UK embassy told its citizens: "If you are currently in Lebanon, we encourage you to leave now while commercial options remain available".

Saudi Arabia urged its citizens to leave Lebanon already on Wednesday, while countries including France, Germany and Australia have discouraged travelling to the country.

Photos: Mourners attend funerals of Israeli and Palestinian victims

At least 3,748 Palestinians killed since 7 Oct., said Gaza authorities

At least 3,748 Palestinians have been killed since Hamas' attack on Israel on 7 October and 12,493 others have been wounded in Israeli strikes on Gaza, according to the Health Ministry in Gaza.

During a press conference, ministry spokesman Ashraf Al-Qudra said that 1,524 of the total killed were children and 1,000 were women. 

UK 'proud' to stand with Israel in the country's 'darkest hour'

UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak expressed his country's support for Israel during his meeting with his Israeli counterpart Benjamin Netanyahu on Thursday. 

"I am proud to stand here with you in Israel's darkest hour as your friend," he said. "We will stand with you in solidarity, we will stand with your people and we also want you to win."

Sunak also met with the family of two British citizens believed to be among the hostages taken by Hamas on 7 October. According to UK authorities, 7 British citizens were killed during the attack and a further 9 are still missing. 

Death toll of French citizens killed in Hamas' attack rises to 28

A total of 28 French citizens were killed in Hamas attacks against Israel, according to an update by a spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Thursday.

"France deplores the tragic deaths of new French nationals, which brings the toll of French victims to 28," said Anne-Claire Legendre. She specified that "seven compatriots (were) still missing", some of whom were hostages of Hamas. 

Support for a two-state solution drops among Palestinians

Only 24% of Palestinians now support a two-state solution, down from a majority of 59% in 2012, according to a newly released Gallup poll.

The survey was conducted between July and September and ended the week before Hamas launched a surprise attack on Israel on 7 October.

According to the same poll, a majority of 84% of Palestinians have little to no trust in US President Joe Biden being able to help negotiate a fair peace treaty between Israel and the Palestinian Territories.

Head of Hamas-led national security forces killed in Israeli strikes - report

An Israeli strike has killed Jehad Mheisen, the head of the Hamas-led national security forces, as well as members of his family in their house in Gaza, according to a Reuters report based on information from a Hamas-aligned news agency. 

Scholz condemns Putin's "cynical" concern over loss of civilian life in Gaza

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz has criticised Vladimir Putin for lamenting the loss of life in Gaza, accusing him of being cynical.

"It makes me more than furious to hear the Russian president repeatedly warning that there could be civilian casualties from an armed conflict," Scholz told the German parliament on Thursday. "It doesn’t get more cynical than that."

Last week, Putin warned that civilian casualties in case of an Israeli ground operation in Gaza would be "absolutely unacceptable."

Jordan's king on his way to meet Egypt's president

King Abdullah II of Jordan has left his country for a short visit to Cairo, where he'll meet Egypt's president Abdel Fattah el-Sisi "to discuss means of ending the Israeli aggression on Gaza", according to a post on X (formerly known as Twitter) published by the royal court.

First and only woman in Hamas political bureau killed, say Palestinian media

Palestinian media reported that the first and only woman in Hamas's political bureau, Jamila al-Shanti, has been killed in an air strike. 

Al-Shanti, the widow of Hamas co-founder Abdel Aziz al-Rantisi, founded the women's movement in Hamas and became the first woman elected to the political bureau in 2021.

Media reports contained no information about the location of the strike that allegedly killed al-Shanti.

Xi Jinping calls for a ceasefire in Gaza

China's leader Xi Jinping has called for a ceasefire in the Israel-Hamas war, saying that Beijing was willing to help find a "comprehensive, just and lasting solution" to the conflict that followed the Palestinian militant group's attack on 7 October.

Xi, who has not directly condemned Hamas' attack on Israel, made the remarks during a meeting in Beijing on Thursday with Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly of Egypt.

He said that it was "crucial to prevent the conflict from expanding or even losing control", as reported by the New York Times' China correspondent David Pierson.

Risk of conflict expanding 'very real', warns UN

The UN's Mideast envoy has warned that the chance of the Israel Hamas war expanding is “very real and extremely dangerous.”

Tor Wennesland told the UN Security Council that recent events “have served to reignite grievances and re-animate alliances across the region.”

Meanwhile, UN humanitarian chief Martin Griffiths told the council that the deadly destruction of a hospital has heaped further pressure on Gaza’s crumbling health system, depriving the territory of a facility that cared for 45,000 patients every year.

Speaking in a video briefing from Qatar, Griffiths also said the Al Ahli hospital was previously struck on 14 October. 

He also said the death toll in the 11 days since Hamas' surprise attack inside Israel has already exceeded what was seen during seven weeks of Israeli-Hamas hostilities in 2014.

Israeli hostage count increases 

Israel's military has just said at least 203 people are being held hostage in Gaza, following Hamas' surprise attack on 7 October. 

Previous estimates had put the number of those kidnapped and held captive at 199.

The hostages include children, festival-goers, peace activists, elderly people and soldiers. 

UK PM lands in Israel

British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has arrived in Israel on a two-day diplomatic trip to the region to try and stop the bloodshed. 

"Above all, I’m here to express my solidarity with the Israeli people. You have suffered an unspeakable, horrific act of terrorism and I want you to know that the United Kingdom and I stand with you," he told reporters, after landing in Tel Aviv around an hour ago.  

Ahead of his visit, Sunak’s office said he will meet Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and President Isaac Herzog on Thursday.

The prime minister will also press for a route to allow humanitarian aid into Gaza "as soon as possible," they detailed. 

Sunak said in a statement that Tuesday's explosion at the al-Ahli hospital in Gaza “should be a watershed moment for leaders in the region and across the world to come together to avoid further dangerous escalation of conflict.”

After Israel, he will also visit “a number of other regional capitals,” Downing Street said, without providing details.

The British leader’s trip follows a visit to Israel on Wednesday by US President Joe Biden.

UK Foreign Secretary James Cleverly is also on a regional visit beginning with talks in Egypt on Thursday. He will also visit Qatar and Turkey.

Photos: Israeli air strikes devastate Gaza 

Egypt agrees to open Rafah crossing for Gaza aid - Biden

The US President said on Wednesday his Egyptian counterpart had agreed to open a border crossing into Gaza to allow in 20 trucks with humanitarian aid.

Joe Biden said he spoke with President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi after his visit to Israel, where leaders there agreed to allow the aid in.

Biden was speaking to reporters on Air Force One during a refuelling stop in Germany on his way back to the US from Tel Aviv.

Israel sealed off the Gaza Strip, stopping all entry of food, water, medicine and fuel to its 2.3 million people following the Hamas attack on 7 Oct.

White House officials said the aid would flow in the coming days. Biden said if Hamas confiscates the aid, “it will end.”

Earlier in the day, the United States promised $100 million (€95m) in humanitarian assistance for displaced Palestinians or otherwise affected by conflict. 

(AP)

Israeli forces reportedly kill Palestinians in occupied West Bank, arrest dozens

Four Palestinians have reportedly been killed across the occupied West bank in separate circumstances. 

Al Jazeera report one was killed after Israeli settlers attacked a Palestinian village near Ramallah, while the others were killed in multiple raids, including in the Nur Shams refugee camp. 

The Qatar-based outlet reported that more than 80 Palestinians have been arrested so far. This number is is expected to increase as people are still counting those who have been taken by Israeli forces, it added. 

Rights groups in the occupied West Bank say Palestinian security forces have also arrested dozens of Palestinians protesting the deadly explosion at al-Ahli Hospital in Gaza.

The protests late Tuesday devolved into skirmishes with Palestinian security forces, who fired tear gas, stun grenades and live fire to disperse stone-throwing demonstrators, wounding several.

The Palestinian Red Crescent meanwhile reported that Israeli soldiers using live rounds and rubber bullets shot and wounded 10 Palestinian protesters in the southern city of Hebron and 21 people in the northern city of Nablus.

(AP)

Global anti-Israel protests continue

Thousands demonstrated outside the consulates of Israel and the United States in Istanbul late Wednesday. Many waved Palestinian flags and called for revenge against Israel a day after the deadly explosion at a hospital in Gaza.

“Humanity is dying” in Gaza, Betul Balcik, a 22-year-old student, told AP, adding that she and friends were protesting “war crimes committed by Israel”.

Large protests also erupted in Tunisia and Morocco, with demonstrators outraged by the blast at the hospital in Gaza.

Protesters gathered outside the Parliament in Rabat chanting “Down with America” and demanding that Morocco reverse its 2020 decision to normalise relations and deepen security ties with Israel.

In Tunis, protesters gathered outside the US and French Embassies to condemn those nations’ support of Israel and demand that their ambassadors be removed from Tunisia.

The demonstrations were among the largest since the Arab Spring more than a decade ago, observers said.

There was also a march by an estimated 10,000 pro-Palestinian demonstrators in Athens, Greece, that was quelled by riot police who fired tear gas. Earlier in the day about 100 people took part in a pro-Israeli gathering.

Demonstrators in Amman, Jordan; the Palestinian refugee camp of Ein el-Hilweh in south Lebanon; and Tokyo directed some of their criticism at the U.S. and Biden for their support of Israel.

(AP)