Yahoo News Israel-Hamas war: 5 key developments on Sunday 29 October
WHO 'concerned' by hospital evacuation; Israel begins 'second stage' attack; Civilians raid UN warehouse; Netanyahu decamps to luxury mansion; Met: Police will be 'ruthless'
Israel shared images and footage of its ground offensive in Gaza as it entered what it called the 'second stage' of its war on Hamas.
Photographs appeared to show IDF tanks moving along the Gazan coast while the IDF said the Israeli air force had hit Hamas military structures, as well as military infrastructure.
Amid the ongoing bombardment of Gaza, the World Health Organisation's (WHO) head said reports that Israel had ordered the evacuation of a hospital caring for more than 400 patients ahead of an anticipated bombing was "deeply concerning".
The Palestinian Red Crescent Society (PRCS) said it had received the warning but did not plan to comply.
Gaza's death toll has now passed 8,000, while more than 1,400 people have been killed in Israel, respective authorities said.
In the UK, Metropolitan Police Commissioner Mark Rowley said that his force would be "absolutely ruthless" in dealing with pro-Palestine protests.
His comments on Sunday came after two people were arrested after up to 100,000 people gathered for a march organised by the Palestine Solidarity Campaign.
Speaking amid calls from government ministers for a "stricter clampdown" on how extremism is policed, Rowley said there could only be prosecutions when the law is broken.
Here are the main stories from today:
1. WHO 'concerned' by hospital evacuation
The Palestinian Red Crescent said that it has received warnings from Israeli authorities to immediately evacuate al-Quds hospital in the Gaza Strip, saying: "PRCS has just received serious threats from the occupation authorities to immediately evacuate al Quds Hospital in the Gaza Strip, as it is going to be bombarded." It said there had been raids just 50m from the hospital.
The aid group's reports prompted a statement from the director-general of the World Health Organisation, who said he was "deeply concerned" by the report. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said:"We reiterate - it’s impossible to evacuate hospitals full of patients without endangering their lives. Under International Humanitarian Law, healthcare must always be protected."
Read more: Doctors 'told to evacuate' key hospital as WHO admits 'deep concern' for endangered patients (Evening Standard)
2. Israel begins 'second stage' attack
The Israeli military shared images and footage of its ground offensive in Gaza as it began what it calls its 'second phase' of the war. Photographs appeared to show IDF tanks moving along the Gazan coast.
In an update, the IDF said: "IAF aircraft, guided by IDF troops, struck Hamas military structures, some of which contained Hamas terrorists. In addition, anti-tank missile launching posts, observation posts and military infrastructure were struck. Terrorists who shot at the soldiers were killed, as well as terrorists who were identified on the coastline in the Gaza Strip near the area of Zikim."
Read more: Israel enters ‘second stage’ of war in Gaza with troops and tanks (Independent)
3. Civilians raid UN warehouse
Thousands of people broke into aid warehouses in Gaza to take flour and basic hygiene products, the UN agency for Palestinian refugees, known as UNRWA, which provides basic services to hundreds of thousands of people in Gaza, said on Sunday. Spokesperson Juliette Touma said the crowds broke into four facilities on Saturday. She said the warehouses did not contain any fuel.
Thomas White, Gaza director for the UNRWA, warned that the break-ins were "a worrying sign that civil order is starting to break down", saying: "People are scared, frustrated and desperate."
Read more: Thousands break into aid warehouses in Gaza (AP)
4. Netanyahu decamps to luxury mansion
Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his wife Sara have decamped to the luxury mansion of a billionaire friend amid a growing tide of public anger. The private mansion in Jerusalem, reportedly owned by the US duty free billionaire Simon Falic, is said to be equipped with a deep nuclear bunker.
Netanyahu’s popularity has sunk dramatically in recent weeks. His wife is also deeply unpopular, and has been blamed for a delay in the government response to the Hamas attack on 7 October.
Read more: Netanyahu and wife Sara decamp to luxury mansion amid growing public anger (Telegraph)
5. Met: Police will be 'ruthless'
Metropolitan Police Commissioner Mark Rowley said on Sunday that his force would be "absolutely ruthless" in dealing with pro-Palestine protests, but said there can only be prosecutions when the law is broken. His comments come amid calls from government ministers for a "stricter clampdown" on how extremism is policed.
On Sunday, the Met Police said five people had been charged with public order offences up to 100,000 people joined protests in London calling for a ceasefire in the Israel-Hamas war. Nine people were arrested during the mostly peaceful demonstration on Saturday - two on suspicion of assaulting police officers and seven for public order offences. A further two people were arrested on Sunday morning on suspicion of inciting racial hatred, the force said.
Read more: Met chief says police will be ‘ruthless’ at pro-Palestine marches in London (Guardian)
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.
