Israel-Hamas War: Key developments and updates

US President Joe Biden cautioned against Israel's occupation of the Gaza Strip, calling it a significant error following a Hamas terrorist attack resulting in thousands of casualties. This warning came as Israel indicated its readiness for a potential invasion of Gaza. (Image: AP)

Wang Yi emphasized China's commitment to addressing the prolonged historical injustices against Palestinians, offering support alongside Saudi Arabia and other Arab nations to restore their national rights. (Image: AP)

Israel initiated its military campaign after the deadly October 7 Hamas attacks, resulting in 1,400 casualties. With over 2,600 fatalities in Gaza due to Israeli airstrikes, the situation remains dire. (Image: AP)

Protests across the Middle East, Asia, Europe and the US expressed support for Palestinians and condemnation of Israel's retaliation against Hamas attacks. Simultaneously, global Jewish communities rallied in solidarity with Israel, leading to diverse reactions from various countries and communities. (Image: AP)

International pressure is mounting on Israel and Egypt to address the humanitarian crisis in Gaza. US Secretary of State Antony Blinken is leading efforts to prevent the conflict between Israel and Hamas from escalating further. The UN agency for Palestinian refugees is advocating for humanitarian access through the Rafah crossing. While reports suggested Rafah border crossing might open, no official agreement has been reached between Israel and Egypt. Both Israel and Hamas have denied reports of a temporary ceasefire for aid delivery. Approximately 6,00,000 people in Gaza have already followed Israeli instructions to leave the main city for the south, facing dire conditions. (Image: AP)

The head of Gaza's media office refuted claims of communication from Egypt about the Rafah border's opening. Salama Marouf emphasized they had not received any official confirmation, stating that the information circulating in Israeli media was unsubstantiated. Reports of a five-hour ceasefire in southern Gaza for civilian evacuation have surfaced in Western media but without official confirmation. (Image: Reuters)

UN chief Antonio Guterres issued a call for Hamas to unconditionally release all hostages and urged Israel to permit swift and unhindered humanitarian aid access to Gaza's civilians. Gaza, controlled by Hamas and housing approximately 2.3 million residents, remains under a complete blockade, with Israel halting the flow of food, water and fuel amid the ongoing hostilities with the Palestinian militant group. (File Photo)