Israel-Gaza updates: Israeli forces preparing for 'wide range of offensive plans'
Fighting is ongoing after Hamas launched an attack on Israel on Oct. 7.
At least 1,400 people have died and 3,400 others have been injured in Israel after the militant group Hamas launched an unprecedented incursion from air, land and sea on Oct. 7, Israeli authorities said.
In Gaza, 3,000 people have been killed and another 12,500 were injured, according to the Palestinian Ministry of Health.
Tensions are high with the prospect of ground war and evacuation orders for Gaza after the Israel Defense Forces called for "all residents of Gaza City to evacuate their homes" and "move south for their protection" early Friday, saying residents should move "and settle in the area south of the Gaza River." The announcement was made, according to the IDF, because it plans to "operate significantly in Gaza City in the coming days" and wanted "to avoid harming civilians."
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Latest headlines:
- At least 500 killed in explosion at Gaza hospital: Gaza Health Ministry
- IDF preparing to implement 'wide range of offensive plans'
- 3,000 tons of aid with nowhere to go as Gaza-Egypt border remains closed
- Biden to visit Israel
- Hostages suffering from amputated limbs, severe injuries from rape: Israeli forum
Timeline: The Hamas attack and response
On the morning of Oct. 7, sirens echoed across Israel as Hamas terrorists began a full-fledged surprise attack from the air, sea and ground. Hundreds of armed Hamas fighters stormed into Israel from Gaza, charging into cities and gunning down citizens.
Israeli forces responded by sending wave after wave of bombs into Gaza, killing thousands, trapping civilians and raising fears of a wider conflict in the Middle East.
Click here for the full timeline
Ship for US nationals to sail from Israel to Cyprus
U.S. nationals in Israel were being directed to board a ship scheduled to leave Israel on Monday morning.
The hourlong boarding in Haifa, a port city in northern Israel, is expected to begin at 8 a.m., officials at the U.S. Embassy in Israel said in an alert on Sunday morning.
“Boarding will proceed in order of arrival and is on a space limited basis,” the alert said.
IDF says it's ceasing operations along evacuation 'route' for 3-hour window
The Israel Defense Forces urged residents of Gaza City and northern Gaza to continue evacuating Sunday morning
IDF initially ordered a 24-hour evacuation on Friday, which was met with criticism from some humanitarian organizations as well as the United Nations, which said it was informed just after midnight local time that the entire population -- more than 1.1 million residents -- of northern Gaza should be evacuated.
Strike kills Hamas commander behind Nirim attack, Israel says
The commander of a Hamas unit responsible for leading an attack on Kibbutz Nirim was killed in a strike overnight, Israeli military officials said.
Billal Al Kedra, the leader in the southern arm of Hamas commando forces, Khan Yunis Nukhba, was "neutralized" as fighter jets strafed areas of Gaza, officials said in a statement.
"The IDF also struck over one hundred military targets located in Zaytun, Khan Yunis, and west Jabaliya," Israel said. "These strikes impacted the capabilities of the Hamas terrorist organization, by targeting its operational command centers, military compounds, dozens of launchers, anti-tank missile launch posts and observation posts."
'Hamas is not letting people evacuate': IDF
Early Sunday morning, Israel Defense Forces Lt. Col. Jonathan Conricus went live on X and stated Hamas is blocking "the evacuation of civilians."
IDF said Hamas issued warnings to residents in Gaza to ignore Israel’s evacuation notice that was issued Friday morning. When civilians did try to leave, Hamas "stopped civilians” and “convoys of Gazan civilians trying to flee," according to Conricus.
Conricus said, "Through the night, rockets were fired at Tel Aviv and southern Israel" and combat is happening "in and around" the northern part of the Gaza Strip while the IDF is continuing to attack "different military targets belonging to Hamas."
"The next stage of operations will be enhanced operations against Hamas until we dismantle Hamas and its military capabilities," said the IDF spokesperson.
Lufthansa suspending flights to and from Beirut
Lufthansa is suspending flights to and from Beirut, Lebanon, "due to the current situation in the Middle East," the airline said in a statement on Friday.
Lufthansa and Eurowings flights to the region will be suspended through Oct. 16.