Israel-Hamas War Highlights: Israel PM meets soldiers, says 'together, we'll do what's right'

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Israel-Hamas War Live Updates: Israel PM meets soldiers, says 'together, we'll do what's right'

Prime Minister Netanyahu visited the IDF General Staff Reconnaissance Unit base spoke with the soldiers and consoled them on the loss of their comrades.

"The entire country stands behind you, and you stand for each other. I know that together we will do the right thing. It will take time but in the end it is the frontline and the fighting," says Benjamin Netanyahu.

"This fighting will be conducted with great force in the coming days. I want you to know that we rely on you, believe in you and support you, and I know that you will do the work. Well done," says Netanyahu.

Israel-Hamas War Live Updates: Sirens sounding in central Israel, tweets IDF

Israel-Hamas War Live Updates: Eliminated senior Hamas operative Ayman Nofal, says Israeli Defence Forces

"We just eliminated Ayman Nofal, a senior Hamas operative. Nofal was the Commander of Hamas’ Central Brigade in Gaza and the former Head of Military Intelligence. Nofal directed many attacks against Israeli civilians and besides being one of the most dominant figures in the terrorist organization, he was involved in the planning of the abduction of Gilad Shalit. We won't stop until we eliminate Hamas," tweeted IDF.

Israel-Hamas War Live Updates: Israel's Foreign Minister asserts self-defense in conflict with Hamas, calls for international support

Israel's Foreign Minister Eli Cohen says, "We did not start this war. They forced us to enter this war. We expect the international community to support us as we fight Hamas...We will respect the guidelines of the international humanitarian law. And take maximum. Recursion in protecting innocent civilian population...Israel's war is just war. We are acting in self-defence eliminating threats and the enemy which aims to kill and destroy us..."

Israel-Hamas War Live Updates: IDF's offensive against Hamas focusing on Security, reconstruction, and striking terrorist infrastructure

Israel's Lieutenant Colonel Peter Lerner on the ongoing Israel-Palestine conflict:

-- We are on day 11 of our offensive against Hamas, destroying, degrading, and seeking out the leaders of the terrorist organization that launched the brutal massacre of our people on Saturday

-- The IDF is currently engaged in three core components - still securing the area surrounding the Gaza area, making sure that, the communities are, no longer threatened by terrorists that potentially could still be in Israeli territory.

-- The second component would be to rebuild and, reconstruct the barrier itself as it was destroyed in several places over 20 points of infiltration. We are concurrently doing that by increasing and, bringing and rebuilding across the frontier, we've positioned many forces at different points of breach as well and also physical barriers that will prevent easy infiltration again by terrorists that potentially could still come from the Gaza strip. And, of course, the potential escape of terrorists that may wish to move back to the Gaza Strip and escape to the Gaza Strip after conducting, attacks against our people.

--The third component of our efforts is indeed focused on striking the terrorist infrastructure, the Hamas terrorist organization that has built its hub terrorism. It the in the heart of Hamas, in the heart of the Gaza Strip, in Gaza City. And indeed, we are striking them. We are striking the organization we are striking its leaders. We are striking all of its components..."

Israel-Hamas War Live Updates: Israeli airstrike claims 6 lives in UNRWA school

UN Agency for Palestine Refugees said on X that an UNRWA school in the al-Maghazi refugee camp was struck this afternoon, resulting in the loss of at least six lives.

Israel-Hamas War Live Updates: IDF currently striking Hezbollah terrorist targets in Lebanon, tweets Israel Defense Forces

Israel-Hamas War Live Updates: Lebanese rocket targets Northern Israel, injuring 2 IDF reservists

"An anti-tank missile was fired from Lebanon toward northern Israel earlier today. 2 IDF reservists were injured, 1 lightly and 1 moderately. They were evacuated to a hospital to receive further medical treatment.

An Israeli civilian was injured as well, tweeted IDF on X.

Israel-Hamas War Live Updates: Hezbollah says four fighters killed in south Lebanon

Israel-Hamas War Live Updates: Hamas Military commander killed in Israeli airstrike in Central Gaza strip

Hamas' military wing says an Israeli airstrike in the central Gaza Strip has killed one of its top militant commanders

Israel-Hamas War Live Updates: German Ambassador announces regional initiative to address the conflict

German Ambassador to India Philipp Ackermann says, "The German Chancellor will travel to the region. I think today he met the King of Jordan, that was the first step in the regional initiative. I think the German Chancellor will pay respect to the victims of the horrific and despicable attacks Hamas did on Israeli soil. He will talk with Israeli leadership but also with neighbouring countries like Egypt, in order to develop possibilities to contain the situation...Our thoughts are with the Israeli victims, our position is very clear - we stand with Israel..."

Israel-Hamas War Live Updates: United States observes no escalation of Iran's involvement in the conflict

The White House sees no signs of a deepening engagement by Iran in the Israel-Hamas war.

Israel-Hamas War Live Updates: Deployment alert issued to 2,000 US troops
-The US military on October 17 ordered 2,000 personnel to prepare for deployment to the Middle East as a show of force amid the escalating conflict between Israel and Hamas in Gaza.
-Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said the deployment would allow the United States "to respond more quickly" to the crisis, while the White House stressed it did not intend to put US combat forces on the ground.
-National Security Council spokesman John Kirby said preparing the troops for deployment "is really about sending a signal of deterrence." "We don't want to see this conflict escalate and widen," Kirby said on CNN.

Israel-Hamas War Live Updates:Four more killed in shelling in South Lebanon says Reuters report
Israeli shelling killed four people in southern Lebanon on Tuesday near the village of Alma Al-Shaab, security sources in Lebanon said Further details were not immediately available.

Israel-Hamas War Live Updates: Joe Biden's Israel schedule
-The President of the United States Joe Biden is expected to spend a part of Wednesday in Tel Aviv where he will be in talks with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and other officials as Israel prepares a ground offensive aimed at eliminating Hamas militants in Gaza
-The US President will then fly to Amman for talks about accelerating humanitarian assistance to Gaza.
-He is also slated to meet Jordan's King Abdullah, Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi, and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas in Amman.

Israel-Hamas War Live Updates: Death toll of Palestinians in Southern Gaza rises to 80
-Eighty Palestinians have died in the last 24 hours due to the Israeli air strikes in southern Gaza, Hamas-run Government Media Office said on Tuesday.
-Palestinians described intense bombardments early on October 17 near two towns (Khan Younis and Deir al Balah) in southern Gaza, where Israel had ordered civilians to seek refuge.

Israel-Hamas War Live Updates: MoS Muraleedharan comments on Operation Ajay
-Minister of State (MoS) for External Affairs V Muraleedharan on October 17 said that if required, more flights will be operated on the basis of the upcoming situation, noting that five flights have already arrived in the last few days.
-"As of now, 5 flights have come and if required we will operate more flights on the basis of the situation that emerges," Muraleedharan said.
-"During the last, almost 4-5 days, we have flown aircrafts from Israel to India," Muraleedharan added.

Israel-Hamas War Live Updates: French President Macron set to visit Israel
-French President Emmanuel Macron announced on October 17 that he will visit Israel following the fatal terror attacks by Hamas terror group in Israel according to a report by The Jerusalem Post.
-Earlier today, Macron said the situation of hostages is “absolutely odious and unacceptable” after Hamas’ military wing released a hostage video showing a dazed woman having her arm bandaged.The woman identified herself as Mia Schem, 21, a French-Israeli national.

Israel-Hamas War Live Updates: Operation Ajay going strong
External Affairs Minister Dr S Jaishankar tweeted, "Operation Ajay moves forward. 286 more passengers are coming back to India. Also carrying 18 Nepalese citizens."

Israel-Hamas War Live Updates: 'Food running out in Gaza' says World Food Program
-The World Food Program said that Gaza is running out of food stocks with only a few days worth of supplies remaining in shops,
-Shops only have four or five days' worth of essential food stocks available, said spokeswoman Abeer Etefa.
-Etefa further informed that while there is enough food in warehouses to last about two weeks, but these are difficult to access because they are located in Gaza City, where Israel has ordered residents to evacuate.
-Out of five mills in Gaza, only one is operating due to security concerns and the unavailability of fuel and electricity. Etefa said the primary challenge for WFP is being able to get food to shops amid the constant bombardment.

Israel-Hamas War Live Updates: UN secretary-general Antonio Guterres likely to visit Egypt
United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres is likely to visit Egypt, according to a report by the Financial Times on October 17, the newspaper cited informed sources. The visit comes amid deteriorating humanitarian conditions in Gaza. Guterres is scheduled to land in Cairo as soon as October 17 and is set to hold meetings with various officials, including Egyptian President Abdel Fattah Al-Sisi, said the report.

Israel-Hamas War Live Updates: Israel illegally forced transfer of civilians in Gaza says UN
The United Nations human rights office said on October 17 that Israel’s siege of Gaza and its evacuation order there could amount to the international crime of the forcible transfer of civilians.

Israel-Hamas War Live Updates: No water, food scarce in Gaza as tensions escalate says report
-Israel's constant bombing on Gaza has left over a dozens dead. Left with machinery or electricity, Palestinians in Gaza use bare hands to search through rubbles in hope of an alive person.
-Gaza people are in desperate need of water and other basic necessities amid a total blockade of the enclave
-People have been forced to dig wells near the sea to fetch water as Gaza – home to 2.3 million people – is facing a shortage of water as well as food. Generators are powering hospitals after Israel cut electricity following the Hamas attack that killed 1,400 Israelis. The hospitals have few hours of fuel left, reports Al Jazeera.

Israel-Hamas War Live Updates: First US evacuation ship from Israel docks in Cyprus
-The first batch of evacuees from Israel made their way to Cyprus on a US-chartered cruise vessel, coinciding with the announcement by Cypriot authorities of a new twice-daily ferry service for those who sought to depart.
-The group of 159 evacuees, comprising elderly individuals, families with children, and tourists, disembarked from the Royal Caribbean cruise ship Rhapsody of the Sea. Departing from the port of Haifa in northern Israel, the ship arrived in Limassol, the island's second city, amid tight security measures involving armed police and sniffer dogs.
-At the port, US ambassador Julie Fisher extended a warm welcome to American evacuees who were part of the group.

Israel-Hamas War Live Updates: Iran's Guards commander warns of another 'shockwave'
A deputy commander of Iran's elite Revolutionary Guards was quoted as saying by Iranian state media on Tuesday that Israel will face another shockwave by the resistance front if its "atrocities" do not stop in Gaza

"The resistance front's shocks against the Zionist regimes (Israel) will continue until this 'cancerous tumour' is eradicated from the world map. Another shockwave is on the way, if Israel does not end atrocities in Gaza," said Ali Fadavi.

Israel-Hamas War Live Updates:Turkey's Foreign Minister says country in touch with Hamas to negotiate rescue of hostages
-Turkey's Foreign Minister announced that they had initiated discussions with Hamas concerning the release of approximately 200 Israeli and foreign hostages currently held in Gaza. These discussions were prompted by requests from several governments for the release of their citizens.
-Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan made this announcement during a press conference in Beirut, which he attended alongside his Lebanese counterpart, Abdallah Bou Habib.

Israel-Hamas War Live Updates: Joe Biden plans high-stakes Israel visit to de-escalate war
US President Joe Biden has planned a high-stakes Israel visit to keep the war from escalating. US President Joe Biden is set to visit Israel on October 18, White house said via a statement

Israel-Hamas War Live Updates: Israel's Gaza evacuation order could breach international law says United Nations
-The United Nations human rights office said that Israel's siege of Gaza and its evacuation order for the north of the enclave could amount to a forcible transfer of civilians and be in breach of international law.
-Ravina Shamdasani, spokesperson for the U.N. human rights office, told news agency Reuters that Israel seemed to have made no effort to ensure the civilians temporarily evacuated in Gaza were provided with proper accommodation, as well as satisfactory conditions of hygiene, health, safety and nutrition.
-"We are concerned that this order, combined with the imposition of a complete siege of Gaza, may not be considered as lawful temporary evacuation and would therefore amount to a forcible transfer of civilians in breach of international law," Shamdasani said.
-The term "forcible transfer" describes the forced relocation of civilian populations and it is a crime against humanity punishable by the International Criminal Court (ICC)

Israel-Hamas War Live Updates: Jordanian king Abdullah II warns of dire situation
-Jordanian King Abdullah II warned of a dire situation in the Middle East if the conflict between Israel and Hamas is allowed to spread to other countries.
-"The whole region is on the brink of falling into the abyss," Abdullah said after meeting German Chancellor Olaf Scholz in Berlin.
-He added,"All our efforts are needed to make sure we don't get there," he said.

Israel-Hamas War Live Updates:WHO urges for access to Gaza to deliver aid and medical supplies
-The World Health Organization said on October 17 that it needs urgent access to Gaza to deliver aid and medical supplies, as the UN agency warned of a humanitarian crisis in the Israeli-occupied Palestinian enclave.
-Speaking to media in a briefing, Dr Richard Brennan, regional emergency director of the WHO's Eastern Mediterranean regional office, said the WHO was meeting with "decision-makers" on Tuesday to open access to Gaza as soon as possible

Israel-Hamas War Live Updates: Israel's Gaza siege, evacuation order "breach of international order"

Israel’s evacuation order “may not be considered as lawful temporary evacuation and would therefore amount to a forcible transfer of civilians in breach of international law”, the UN rights council stated on October 17.

Israel-Hamas War Live Updates: Israel arrests over 700 Palestinians from occupied West Bank

Israeli forces raided a school in the north of Hebron from the occupied West Bank. More than 50 Palestinians were arrested during the overnight raid.

Groups of Palestinian workers from Gaza, who were unable to return home ever since the borders were sealed by Israel, had taken shelter in the school.

Israel-Hamas War Live Updates: 12th Palestinian journalist killed in Israeli airstrikes

Israeli air strikes on a residential building in northern Gaza reportedly killed the 12th Palestinian journalist today.

According to a report in the Al Jazeera, the deceased journalist, Mohammad Balousha, worked with a local digital news channel, Palestine Today.

Balousha was killed during an Israeli air strike on the Al-Saftawi neighbourhood in northern Gaza. Several others have also been reported injured, it is learnt from eyewitnesses.

Israel-Hamas War Live Updates: Hezbollah fires guided missiles towards Israeli tanks in Hanita

Hezbollah today claimed to have fired guided missiles towards Israeli tanks in Hanita - a kibbutz in northern Israel. Till now, it is not clear if there has been any casualties.

On the other side, the Israeli army has stated that it has received reports of a shooting inside an Israeli settlement in Metula, a town bordering Lebanon.

Israel-Hamas War Live Updates: New York Governor Hochul speaks ahead of Israel visit

“During these difficult times, it’s more important than ever for New York to show up in support of Israel," Hochul further added.

As per an AP agency report, New York holds the highest percentage of Jews among all US states, according to the American Jewish Population Project at Brandeis University.

Israel-Hamas War Live Updates: New York Governor Kathy Hochul to visit Israel today

New York Governor Kathy Hochul, on October 17, announced that she will be visiting Israel today on a “solidarity mission."

Hochul noted that she intends to meet diplomatic leaders and communities in the war-hit nation during her visit.

Israel-Hamas War Live Updates: Post-war Gaza status is a ‘global issue’, says Israeli military

The status of the Gaza Strip after Israel’s retaliatory assault would become a “global issue” that will require attention from Israel’s political circle as well as other countries, according to Israel’s top military spokesperson.

“We’ve had all kinds of end games,” Daniel Hagari told today in an interaction with the media, commenting about whether Israel’s military intends to stay and govern Gaza post-ground invasion.

Israel-Hamas War Live Updates: Blinken's Tel Aviv visit fails to confirm aid into Gaza

Antony Blinken, during his Tel Aviv visit, stated that the US is looking into laying out a humanitarian aid blueprint. He, however, did not commit anything concrete on the issue, hinting at the uncertainty on how the plan will work.

Israel-Hamas War Live Updates: Iran warns of ‘preemptive’ action against Israel

- The Iranian foreign minister has sent across a strong message on the Israel offensive on the Gaza strip, warning of pre-emptive actions by the Resistance Front against Israel.

Israel-Hamas War Live Updates: UN 'concerned' by risk of waterborne diseases in Gaza

The United Nations has expressed its concerns about the risk of waterborne diseases spreading in conflict-hit Gaza.
“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,” the United Nations Agency for Palestinian Refugees (UNRWA) noted in a statement on October 16.
It is learnt that parts of southern Gaza received water for three hours on October 16, and only 14 percent of the population in the Strip had access to it.

Israel-Hamas War Live Updates: At least 55 Israeli police officers killed since Oct 7

At least 55 Israeli police officers have been killed since the war started on October 7, the Al Jazeera has reported.

It is further learnt from the Israeli police that the latest officer to lose his life, Mumtaz Enin Sivan, was a member of the Bedouin community police unit in the Negev region of the country’s south.

Israel-Hamas War Live Updates: US Centcom chief Kurilla arrives in Israel for strategic defence talks

Michael Kurilla, the head of the US Central Command (Centcom), has made an official visit to Israel to engage in crucial meetings with Israel's military leadership, including Israeli Chief of Staff Herzi Halevi, Al Jazeera reported.

The main aim of this visit are to comprehensively grasp Israel's defence needs, delineate US support strategies aimed at preventing the escalation of the conflict, and reaffirm the unwavering "ironclad support" of the United States for Israel, as stated in a release by Centcom

Israel-Hamas War Live Updates: Japan to give $10 million aid to Gaza civilians

Japan will provide $10 million in emergency aid for civilians in Gaza, Foreign Minister Yoko Kamikawa said on October 17.

The aid will come "through international organizations," Kamikawa added.

“Japan will work with humanitarian groups to ensure that innocent civilians and Palestinian refugees receive food, water, medical care, and support they need," she said.

Israel-Hamas War Live Updates: Over 1 lakh Palestinians still in northern Gaza, says IDF

Israel Defence Forces (IDF) spokesman Jonathan Conricus has said around 600,000 Palestinians have so far fled northern Gaza in anticipation of an expected ground offensive. However, there are still 100,000 individuals who have yet to relocate, BBC reported.

Conricus emphasised the importance of these remaining individuals making the necessary move for their own safety, stating that they "need to - and should - go."

Israel-Hamas War Live Updates: Israeli army thwarts infiltration bid from Lebanon

The Israeli army has reported that they successfully thwarted an infiltration attempt from Lebanon, where a group of four fighters was attempting to breach the security fence and plant an explosive device, media reports said.

In a statement, the army mentioned, "A short while ago, IDF observation troops spotted a terrorist squad attempting to infiltrate the security fence with Lebanon and plant an explosive device. Four terrorists were killed."

Israel-Hamas War Live Updates: US involvement deterred Hezbollah from joining all-out war on Israel

The United States' deployment of two carrier strike groups, each comprising an aircraft carrier, accompanying planes, and multiple escort warships, seems to have deterred Hezbollah from launching a significant war against Israel, according to a report by The New York Times.

Israel-Hamas War Live Updates | Challenges persist in identifying victims of Hamas attacks in Israel

Dr Chen Kugel, the director of Israel's national institute of forensic medicine, has indicated that over a week after the Hamas attacks in Israel, the identification of over 350 bodies suspected to be civilian victims remains ongoing, the Guardian reported.

The identification process is complicated as some bodies were severely burned or had significantly decayed before being discovered, making identification difficult.

Israel-Hamas War Live Updates | Over 70 reported dead in Israeli overnight raids on Gaza

The death toll resulting from Israeli air raids overnight rose to to 71, with the attacks focusing on Rafah and three residences being bombed in Khan Younis.

US Secretary of State Blinken says Biden will emphasise that Israel has the “right and duty” to defend itself from Hamas.

Israel-Hamas War Live Updates | Israeli military expects Biden's visit won't impact Gaza ground incursion

The Israeli military has said that they do not anticipate US President Joe Biden's planned visit to complicate or delay any potential ground invasion of Gaza.

Lt. Col. Jonathan Conricus, an international spokesperson for the Israel Defence Forces, told CNN that he believes President Biden supports Israel's campaign to defeat Hamas.

Israel-Hamas War Live Updates | NY Gov. Hochul to arrive in Israel for solidarity mission

New York Gov Hochul says she will arrive in Israel on October 17 for a “solidarity mission”, aimed at expressing support during these challenging times, media reports said.

The visit is in response to the Hamas terror attack on southern Israel that occurred on October 7. Hochul plans to meet with diplomatic leaders and communities profoundly affected by the attack, showcasing New York's unwavering support for Israel in the face of adversity.

Israel-Hamas War Live Updates | IDF conducts extensive strikes on Hamas in Gaza

During the overnight operations, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) executed strikes on over 200 targets associated with Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad in the Gaza Strip.

These targets include a Hamas headquarters where a number of Hamas members lost their lives, as well as a bank utilised by Hamas. The IDF also confirmed naval involvement, with Navy vessels engaging in strikes targeting Hamas command centers and weapons storage sites within Gaza City, media reports said.

Israel-Hamas War Live Updates: Emergency EU meting seeks unified response to conflict

In response to the escalating conflict, an urgent meeting of EU member state leaders has been convened on October 17. The primary objective is to streamline and synchronise the European Union's collective response to the crisis following a week of internal discord and disarray, the Guardian reported.

As apprehensions mount regarding the potential for a broader armed conflict and a worsening humanitarian crisis in the region, EU member nations concede to their challenges in presenting a unified front, unlike their cohesive response witnessed in February 2023 during Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

Israel-Hamas War Live Updates | 'Even wars have rules': Canadian PM Trudeau

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has urged for the creation of a humanitarian corridor into Gaza amid the ongoing conflict in the region. A humanitarian corridor could facilitate the safe movement of people and the delivery of essential aid to those in need in Gaza.

Canada backs Israel's right to defend itself but "even wars have rules", he added.

"Terrorism is always indefensible, and nothing can justify Hamas' acts of terror. ... Hamas does not represent the Palestinian people nor their legitimate aspirations," he told parliament.

Israel-Hamas War Live Updates | ‘Nothing concrete’: Blinken’s talks with Israel on aid

There was “noting concrete” after US Secretary of State Antony Blinken's talks with Israeli leaders regarding humanitarian aid for Gaza and safe zones for civilians, according to a report in Al Jazeera.

‘Long talks’ with the Israeli war cabinet, the president, and also the prime minister and, at the end, he doesn’t have anything concrete, the publication said.

Blinken said: ‘We would look to find ways to deliver aid’.

Israel-Hamas War Live Updates: 25 reported dead in Israeli attack on Rafah

At least 25 people were killed in an Israeli attack in Gaza’s southern city of Rafah, according to Palestinian news agency Wafa.

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken says Biden wowill emphasise that Israel has the “right and duty” to defend itself from Hamas.

Israel-Hamas War Live Updates: Top US general makes surprise visit to Israel

In a surprise move, US General Michael Kurilla, in charge of the military's central command with oversight of American forces in the Middle East, has arrived in Israel, BBC reported.

The purpose of his unannounced visit is clear: to ensure that Israel possesses the necessary resources to defend itself, with a specific focus on preventing further escalation of the conflict involving other stakeholders.

Kurilla has planned meetings with Israel's military leadership, during which he is anticipated to detail the extent of US military support for the nation.

Israel-Hamas War Live Updates: About 500,000 Israelis displaced, says Israel Defence Force

- The Israeli military has reported that approximately half a million Israelis have been evacuated since Hamas initiated its aggressive assault on the country on October 7.

- "All the communities around the Gaza Strip have been evacuated as per government directives. We don't want civilians near the combat zone," Jonathan Conricus," BBC quoted a spokesman for the IDF as saying.

Israel-Hamas War Live Updates: Catholic patriarch of Jerusalem offers to be exchanged for hostages held by Hamas

- Catholic patriarch of Jerusalem offers to be exchanged for hostages held by Hamas
- Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa, the patriarch of Jerusalem and Pope Francis' representative in the Holy Land, has stated that he would be willing to exchange himself for the Israeli children who have been taken hostage by Hamas and are currently held in Gaza, Reuters reported.