Yahoo News Israel-Gaza - latest: 5 key developments on Monday 16 October
Civilians gather at the border between Gaza and Egypt, Sunak announces deaths of six Britons in Hamas attacks
Civilians in Gaza are continuing to flee south ahead of an anticipated ground offensive by Israeli troops, with many people gathering at the Rafah border crossing into Egypt in the hopes of leaving the enclave.
Despite rumours that the crossing would be open for aid and dual nationals to cross into Egypt, it has thus far remained closed, while the situation for civilians in Gaza continues to deteriorate.
As Rishi Sunak announced more aid for civilians affected by the conflict, he told Parliament that six Britons were killed in Hamas' attacks on Israel, adding that a further 10 were missing.
Here are the main stories from today:
1. Civilians try to leave Gaza
Civilians have gathered at Gaza's Rafah border crossing with Egypt in anticipation after US media reported that the crossing would open for dual nationals and aid. However, thus far there has been no movement at the crossing.
It was expected that the crossing, whose operations have been disrupted by air strikes in the past week, would be temporarily opened during a ceasefire in the area - but both Hamas and Israel denied any such ceasefire was in place.
Read more: Humanitarian aid is stuck at Gaza-Egypt border as Israeli siege strains hospitals (Associated Press)
2. Ground invasion anticipated
Israeli troops have continued to mass at the border with Gaza ahead of an anticipated ground invasion into the enclave. Civilians were told on Friday to evacuate the area north of the Wadi Gaza and head south.
“We started the offensive from the air. Later on, we will also come from the ground,” Defence Minister Yoav Gallant said. The announcement prompted aid agencies to renew calls for Israel to open a humanitarian corridor into Gaza to allow aid supplies and civilians to pass through.
Read more: Urban battle offers glimpse of what ground offensive might look like (Associated Press)
3. Six Britons killed by Hamas
At least six Britons were killed in Hamas’s “pogrom” in Israel and a further 10 are missing, Rishi Sunak told MPs on Monday. “The elderly, men, women, children, babes in arms, murdered, mutilated, burned alive,” he said. “We should call it by its name: it was a pogrom.”
Sunak said the “terrible nature of these attacks means it is proving difficult to identify many of the deceased” but at least six Britons were killed. Of the further 10 missing, he said some are feared to be among the dead as the UK works with Israel to establish the facts and support the families through their “unimaginable pain”
Read more: At least six Britons killed in Hamas’s ‘pogrom’ in Israel, Sunak says (PA)
4. Biden warns Israel
Joe Biden has said he believes the Hamas militant group must be eliminated but there should be a path to a Palestinian state amid warnings from top US officials that the war between Israel and Hamas could escalate.
The US President warned it would be a mistake for Israel to occupy Gaza but that "taking out" Hezbollah and Hamas was a "a necessary requirement." He said "It would be a mistake to ... for Israel to occupy ... Gaza again."
Read more: Biden says Hamas must be eliminated (Reuters)
5. Glorifying Israeli deaths 'despicable'
A UK minister has condemned protesters who glorify the loss of life in Israel and Gaza amid a police hunt for two women who wore stickers appearing to feature Hamas attackers.
Armed forces minister James Heappey said: "I think that that celebration and glorification of what happened last Saturday is despicable."
Read more: Sunak warning to Hamas supporters in UK stirring up religious hatred (PA)
Where is Gaza?
Gaza, also known as the Gaza Strip, is a densely-populated Palestinian enclave on the eastern coast of the Mediterranean, north-east of the Sinai Peninsula.
Bound by the Mediterranean Sea to the west, Israel to the north and east and Egypt to the south, it is just 25 miles long and six miles wide.
Gaza is one of two Palestinian territories. The other is the Israeli-occupied West Bank.
Read more: Where is Gaza and who lives there? (Yahoo News UK)
