More than 100 bodies recovered from kibbutz as Hamas makes Israel hostages death threat

More than 100 bodies have been recovered from a small farming community that was the scene of a hostage standoff during Hamas’s attack against Israel, accoding to the rescue service Zaka.

The mass casualties uncovered at the Beeri kibbutz - which had a population of 1,000 - are among 900 people killed in the lightening, multi-pronged attack launched by Hamas from the Gaza Strip at the weekend.

Forces have re-established control of communities near the Gaza Strip that had been overrun by Hamas gunmen, the military said on Monday, as the death toll continues to climb.

The military wing of the militant Hamas group said it would kill one Israeli civilian captive any time Israel targets civilians in their homes in Gaza “without prior warning”.

The threat came as the death toll in from retaliatory Israeli strikes in Gaza climbed above 500.

Israel’s defence minister earlier ordered a “complete siege” on the Gaza Strip, saying authorities will block the supply of food, electricity and fuel.

Speaking to officials on Monday, Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu reportedly said that “what Hamas will experience will be difficult and terrible”.

He added: “This is only the beginning... we are all with you and we will defeat them with force, enormous force”.

Biden: Hamas attack is ‘sheer evil ... we stand by Israell’

19:34 , John Dunne

President Joe Biden said his government would help in the efforts to release hsotages kidnapped by Hamas.

He said: “Our hearts may be broke but our response is clear.”

He said Hamas had killed babies and victims of all ages in an act of “sheer evil.”

The President said: “We condemn the indiscriminate evil.”

Monday 9 October 2023 18:44 , John Dunne

Protesters are taking take part in a Palestine Solidarity Campaign demonstration near the Israeli Embassy in Kensingston as the death toll rises amid ongoing violence in Israel and Gaza following the attack by Hamas.

The demonstrators are calling for the halt to air stikes by the Israelis in retaliation after Hamas gunmen targeted civilians. Many of the demonstrators brandished placards with the slogan ‘Free Palestine’.

Hamas warns the groups will kill an Israeli hostage every time Israel targets Gaza citizens

Monday 9 October 2023 18:35 , John Dunne

A Hamas military spokesman has said the group will kill a civilian hostage every time Israel targets Gaza citizens without warning.

UN Secretary-General “deeply distressed" over Israel siege on Gaza Strip

Monday 9 October 2023 17:54 , John Dunne

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said that he was “deeply distressed” by Israel’s imposition of a total siege on the Gaza Strip following Hamas’ assault on the country.

“The humanitarian situation in Gaza was extremely dire before these hostilities,” Guterres told reporters. “Now it will only deteriorate exponentially.”

He also condemned the attack by Hamas which has claimed hundreds of lives.

UK backing Israel after Tel Aviv announces ‘siege’ of Gaza strip

Monday 9 October 2023 17:51 , John Dunne

Foreign Secretary James Cleverly said the UK will “continue to support Israel” after Tel Aviv announced a “complete siege” on the Gaza strip following Hamas’ attack.

Speaking after an emergency Cobra meeting chaired by Prime Minister Rishi Sunak to discuss the situation in Israel, Mr Cleverly said Hamas fighters were “shielding themselves among the Palestinian people”.

It comes after Israeli defence minister Yoav Gallant said he had ordered a siege on Gaza that would halt the supply of electricity, food and fuel to 2.3 million people living in the Hamas-ruled territory, while Israel’s forces pound the strip with retaliatory waves of airstrikes.

Leaders of Germany, France, UK and US to discuss Middle East conflict

Monday 9 October 2023 17:46 , John Dunne

Germany’s Chancellor Olaf Scholz has said he expects to discuss the conflict in the Middle East with his counterparts from the UK, France and the US on Monday evening.

Scholz was speaking at a news conference with French President Emmanuel Macron ahead of a joint meeting of their countries’ cabinets in Hamburg.

Oil prices surge amid Middle East conflict

Monday 9 October 2023 17:36 , John Dunne

Oil prices have surged higher as Hamas’s attack on Israel deepened tensions across the Middle East and raised worries over crude supplies.

Brent crude jumped more than 5% at one stage to 89 US dollars a barrel, before settling 3.97% higher at 87.94 US dollars (£72.04) when markets closed in London.

Swissquote Bank’s markets expert said the attack “sent a panic wave into financial markets”, although London’s blue chip share index was boosted by gains from defence stocks and oil giants.

The FTSE 100 Index was higher for most of trading on Monday but edged 0.03%, or 2.37 points, lower to finish at 7,492.21 at the end of the session.

While Israel is not an oil producer, there are concerns that the conflict could spark uncertainty across the entire Middle Eastern region and in particular affect major producers Iran and Saudi Arabia.

Thousands of targets hit in Gaza as Israel hits back after Hamas attack

Monday 9 October 2023 17:34 , John Dunne

The Israeli Air Force has carried out one of the “largest ever air strikes against Hamas in Gaza”, Israel’s military has said.

In a post on social media the Israel Defense Forces said it struck at least 2,400 Hamas targets on Monday.

This was more than double the number hit between Saturday and this morning - and included weapons storage and manufacturing sites and command and control centres, the IDF added.

Angela Rayner asks delegates at Labour conference to stand in silence in memory of Israel dead

Monday 9 October 2023 17:15 , John Dunne

Labour deputy leader Angela Rayner asked delegates to stand for a moment’s silence in memory of those killed in Israel.

She said: “I know you will all be appalled by the shocking situation and events in Israel where over 1,000 people, including at least 10 British citizens, are feared to have lost their lives.”

Labour party conference holds minute silence for Israel

Monday 9 October 2023 17:14 , Rachael Burford

A minute silence has been held for Israel at the Labour party conference in Liverpool.

All shadow cabinet members were told to attend the main hall where Angela Rayner led the remembrance for “all of the victims and sympathy for their bereaved”.

Everyone in the hall stood and the silence was impeccably observed.

UN says conflict in Gaza could ‘spell doom for world peace'

Monday 9 October 2023 17:09 , John Dunne

The conflict in Gaza has the potential to spread beyond the region, the head of the UN’s Refugee Agency has warned.

Filippo Grandi said the war would inevitably cause more suffering for both Israeli and Palestinian civilians.

He added it risked “bringing grave instability to a region already plagued by tensions” and represented “another very dangerous piece in a growing mosaic” of global crises.

Grandi added that if these crises were not addressed with courage then it would “spell doom for world peace”.

Netanyahu: ‘Our response to Hamas attack has only just begun'

Monday 9 October 2023 17:07 , John Dunne

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has said that his country’s reponse to an attack by Hamas ‘has only just begun’.

He told visiting officials from southern Israel, according to the AFP news agency, that “what Hamas will experience will be difficult and terrible”.

Netanyahu went on to say that “this is only the beginning... we are all with you and we will defeat them with force, enormous force”.

More than 700 people have been killed in Israel since Hamas launched its incursion into Israel on Saturday. At least 560 have been killed in Gaza after Israel launched strikes in response to the attacks by Palestinian militants.

Norwegian Air joins others in cancelling flights to Tel Aviv amid Middle East turmoil

Monday 9 October 2023 16:47 , John Dunne

Norwegian Air is cancelling its flights from Copenhagen and Stockholm to Tel Aviv this week, the company has said.

Return flights to the Denmark and Swedish capitals have also been suspended.

The statement said: “Due to the current situation in Israel, Norwegian has decided to cancel all its flights to and from Tel Aviv up to and including Sunday 15 October.”

Several other major international air carriers have cut flight services to or from the Israeli city following Hamas’s surprise attack over the weekend.

Meanwhile Israel’s national carrier El Al has added more flights to bring reservists back from around the world to assist in the country’s biggest mobilisation in living memory.

Man from Scotland confirmed as victim in Hamas attack on Israel

Monday 9 October 2023 16:33 , John Dunne

A man from Scotland has been confirmed as being among those killed in Israel.

Bernard Cowan, who lived in Glasgow, died on Saturday.

A family statement said: “We are grieving the loss of our son and brother, Bernard Cowan, who was horrifically murdered on Saturday during the surprise terrorist attack on Israel by Hamas.

“We ask for privacy at this time while we process this huge loss to our family, both at home and in Israel, and to the Jewish community in Glasgow where he will be sorely missed.”

EU freezes development aid to Palestinians after Hamas attack

Monday 9 October 2023 16:28 , Sami Quadri

The European Commission said on Monday it was putting all of its development aid for Palestinians, worth 691 million euros (£596 million), under review and immediately suspending all payments following Hamas' attack on Israel.

Germany and Austria earlier on Monday said they were suspending bilateral development aid to Palestinians, while others such as Italy had said suspending aid was not up for discussion.

Europe is one of the main sources of aid to the Israeli-occupied Palestinian territories where the United Nations estimates that around 2.1 million people need humanitarian assistance, among them 1 million children. It is unclear whether the suspensions in development aid will also apply to such assistance.

UK will ‘continue to support Israel'

Monday 9 October 2023 15:57 , Sami Quadri

The UK will “continue to support Israel as it seeks to defend itself”, the Foreign Secretary said, after being asked for his reaction to Tel Aviv’s response to the Hamas attack.

Asked whether it was “proportionate” for Israel to cut off water, electricity and food from people after ordering a “complete siege” on the Gaza strip, James Cleverly said: “Israel has a right to defend itself against attack.

“The UK completely supports Israel’s right to defend itself proportionately.

“The truth of the matter is that this was a terrorist attack, perpetrated by Hamas who are embedded in Gaza, shielding themselves among the Palestinian people in Gaza.

“And we will continue to support Israel as it seeks to defend itself against this brutal terrorist attack initiated by Hamas.”

Monday 9 October 2023 15:50 , Sami Quadri

Foreign Secretary James Cleverly said he would not be providing a figure for the number of British citizens caught up in the conflict in Israel and Gaza.

Speaking to broadcasters after a Cobra meeting, he said: “Because of Israel’s, I think unique status, there are a large number of British-Israeli dual nationals.

“Of course, many of those people will regard Israel as their home. Many of them will be members of the Israeli Defence Force and many of them of course will be planning to stay in Israel. We have made consular numbers available for any British nationals who are seeking to leave. Flights are still available so there are opportunities to leave Israel if people want to do that.

“And of course, as the situation develops we will remain in very, very close contact with the Israeli government to make sure that we’re providing the support that they need to defend themselves against this terrorist attack.

He continued: “This is a fast moving situation, and therefore I’m uncomfortable speculating about the nature or the numbers of people involved. But this is unprecedented. We recognise this as an incredibly difficult time for the people of Israel. Our thoughts are with them and we will continue to work with the government of Israel to bring about peace and security to their country and the people there.”

Qatar in talks with Hamas in bid to free hostages

Monday 9 October 2023 15:49 , Sami Quadri

Qatari mediators have held talks with Hamas in a bid to negotiate freedom for Israeli women and children seized by the militants.

Qatar's foreign ministry confirmed to Reuters its involvement in mediation talks with both Hamas and Israeli officials, including over a possible prisoner swap.

A source close to the discussions said talks are “moving positively”.

“We are in constant contact with all sides at the moment. Our priorities are to end the bloodshed, release the prisoners and make sure the conflict is contained with no regional spillover,” foreign ministry spokesperson Majed Al-Ansari said.

Pictured: Site of Hamas missile strike in Ashdod, Israel

Monday 9 October 2023 15:43 , Sami Quadri

Israel ‘puts Gaza hospital out of service'

Monday 9 October 2023 15:15 , Miriam Burrell

Gaza’s Ministry of Health said Israeli forces have put Beit Hanoun Hospital “out of service as a result of repeated targeting in the vicinity of the hospital”.

“This led to the impossibility of the entry and exit of staff, in addition to damaging large parts of it and stopping it services”, the ministry wrote in a post on X, formerly known as Twitter.

The hospital is the only one in the city, it added.

British photographer and girlfriend killed after hiding in bunker, say her family

Monday 9 October 2023 15:11 , Miriam Burrell

British photographer Danny Darlington was unaccounted for since he went into hiding in a bunker in Nir Oron, a kibbutz in the south of the county close to the border with Gaza on Saturday.

Mr Darlington, who lived in Berlin, had been travelling with German partner Carolin Bohl. The couple were seen happily posing for snaps on Instagram shortly before they vanished.

Ms Bohl’s heartbroken sister Anja Pasquesi said on Sunday night the family had now received news of their deaths from a friend “on the ground” in Israel.

Read more here.

Charity meets with security minister over pro-Palestine graffiti in London

Monday 9 October 2023 14:58 , Miriam Burrell

A charity that supports British Jews, Community Security Trust (CST), says its members met with the security minister near “Free Palestine” graffiti that had been sprayed in London overnight.

The graffiti was seen on a railway bridge in Golders Green.

CST says its members, along with the Jewish Leadership Council, met with Tom Tugendhat on Monday.

“The Security Minister shared his views that no form of harassment or intimidation of Jewish people would be accepted. We appreciate his ongoing commitment and the support of the authorities in this difficult and worrying time,” CST said in an update.

Read our story on the graffiti here.

Israel death toll rises to 800

Monday 9 October 2023 14:47 , Miriam Burrell

At least 800 people have been killed in Israel since the Hamas attack on Saturday, Israel’s Kan TV reports.

Hamas gunmen took Israelis hostage and shot at cars near Gaza border, military says

Monday 9 October 2023 14:37 , Miriam Burrell

Footage of abandoned cars with bullet holes and children’s clothes strewn on the side of the road five minutes from Gaza has been livestreamed by Israel’s military.

In a video posted to X, formerly known as Twitter, Israel Defence Force spokesperson Major Doron Spielman showed cars left in the ditch with windows and windshields smashed, near one of the first entry points into Israel from Gaza.

Plastic cable ties left on the road were used by Hamas gunmen to take Israelis hostage, Major Spielman said.

They “wrestled people out of their cars and children”, he explained.

He added: “The road ahead is going to be a long road ahead. The IDF is now engaged in a war against Hamas terrorists. It’s either Hamas destroy us, or we destroy Hamas.

“There is no actual choice in this situation.”

Police and ministers arrive for Cobra meeting

Monday 9 October 2023 14:27 , Miriam Burrell

The Metropolitan Police deputy commissioner has arrived at the Cabinet Office ahead of a Cobra meeting hosted by Prime Minister Rishi Sunak.

Dame Lynne Owens, Security Minister Tom Tugendhat, Transport Secretary Mark Harper and Defence Secretary Grant Shapps are among attendees.

The Met said it will deploy more police officers on the streets of London as the conflict in Israel continues.

Hezbollah denies any incursion into Israel

Monday 9 October 2023 14:07 , Miriam Burrell

A Hezbollah official said the Lebanon-based Shia terrorist group group has not mounted any operation into Israel.

It comes after the Israeli military said soldiers killed at least two gunmen who crossed the border from Lebanon on Monday.

Artillery shelling and gunfire were heard at Lebanon’s southern border with Israel, a correspondent for Hezbollah’s Al-Manar TV said in a post on social media.

In a statement, the Israeli military said its soldiers “killed a number of armed suspects that infiltrated into Israeli territory from Lebanese territory”. It did not elaborate on the number.

Military helicopters “are currently striking in the area,” the statement added.

Israel’s Army Radio gave the location as being near Adamit, across from the Lebanese border towns of Aalma El Chaeb and Zahajra.

‘More than 10 Britons feared dead or missing’

Monday 9 October 2023 13:47 , Miriam Burrell

The BBC and Sky News are reporting that an official source said “more than 10” British citizens are feared dead or missing in Israel.

It comes after Briton Corporal Nathanel Young, 20, who was serving in the Israeli army, was killed in an attack by Hamas militants.

Read more here.

Israeli troops gather against 'incursion’ from Lebanon

Monday 9 October 2023 13:39 , Miriam Burrell

Israel’s military said its troops, backed by helicopters, have killed a number of gunmen who infiltrated from Lebanon on Monday.

A Hezbollah official said the Lebanon-based Shia terrorist group has not mounted any operation into Israel.

Israel’s Army Radio gave the location as near Adamit, across from the Lebanese border towns of Aalma El Chaeb and Zahajra.

UK could provide intelligence support to Tel Aviv, Sunak suggests

Monday 9 October 2023 13:17 , Josh Salisbury

Rishi Sunak has described the UK as “one of Israel's strongest allies" as he suggested Britain could provide intelligence support to Tel Aviv.

Speaking to Jeremy Vine on BBC Radio 2, Rishi Sunak said he had told Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu that the UK would be “fully supportive of Israel and their efforts to defend themselves against what are appalling acts".

Mr Sunak said: "We stand ready to support them any which way we can, whether that is diplomatically with intelligence or security things."

He said Monday's Cobra meeting would “discuss the situation further".

Qatar ‘seeking deal’ to secure release of Israeli hostages from Hamas

Monday 9 October 2023 12:59 , Josh Salisbury

Qatar is said to be trying to negoiate a deal with Hamas for the freedom for Israeli women and children seized by the militant group and held in Gaza.

According to the Reuters news agency, the deal would involve the release of 36 Palestinian women and children from Israel's prisons.

The Islamist group stormed into Israeli towns on Saturday, killing more than 700 Israelis, and escaping with dozens of hostages.

The exact number of Israeli hostages Hamas is offering in the exchange is not clear, while it is also not clear how many hostages were taken.

‘Every’ Jewish family affected by attack on Israel

Monday 9 October 2023 12:42 , Josh Salisbury

Every Jewish family in the UK has been affected “in one way or another" by the events in Israel, the Chief Rabbi of the United Hebrew Congregations of the Commonwealth said.

Sir Ephraim Mirvis told Sky News: “The first question we are asking people when giving them a call in the UK is 'how is everyone in your family?'

“Because there certainly isn't a Jewish family in the UK which hasn't been affected in one way or another by this.

“And also, I have been inundated with so many messages of support and solidarity from so many people throughout Britain, and I sense that there is no civilised person who can be unmoved, who can't be deeply shocked by these scenes, by seeing what has transpired.”

‘Despicable’ for anyone to use Israel attack to threaten Jewish community - No10

Monday 9 October 2023 12:31 , Josh Salisbury

It is “utterly despicable” for anyone to use the attack on Israel to threaten the Jewish community in Britain, No10 has said.

The Met Police has already stepped up extra patrols in Jewish areas, while pro-Palestinian graffiti in Golders Green has been condemned by Jewish communal groups.

The Community Security Trust said it had already seen “incidents of racist antisemitism against Jewish people” in the wake of the attack.

“We take any threat to the Jewish community extremely seriously,” said the PM’s official spokesperson.

“It would obviously be utterly despicable for this weekend's attacks to be used as some kind of pretext to threaten or to attack communities in the UK.”

'No plans to redeploy UK military assets to Israel’

Monday 9 October 2023 12:16 , Miriam Burrell

Britain does not plan to redeploy military assets to the Middle East following events in Israel, No 10 has said.

It comes after the US announced it would be sending a carrier strike group to the eastern Mediterranean to support Tel Aviv.

The Prime Minister’s official spokesperson said: “There are no plans to redeploy UK military assets to Israel.

“We do have assets already in the region. HMS Duncan is deployed in the Mediterranean under Nato command.

“We have our permanent maritime presence in the Gulf and a base at Akrotiri (Cyprus) as well.

“We do have a broad defence and security relationship, and we stand ready to offer humanitarian support as well.”

Sirens sound in northern Israel

Monday 9 October 2023 12:13 , Miriam Burrell

Sirens have sounded in northern Israel warning of possible incoming rockets, Israel’s military said.

It was not immediately clear what had triggered the sirens. Warning sirens have been sounding throughout the day in other areas of the country including Jerusalem.

Pictured: Attack on Ashkelon, southern Israel

Monday 9 October 2023 12:10 , Miriam Burrell

Israel ‘to unleash ground war within 48 hours’

Monday 9 October 2023 12:05 , Miriam Burrell

Israel is said to be preparing for a major ground offensive against Hamas as fighting continues inside the country for a third day.

New hostages are reported to have been taken.

US officials said thousands of Israeli soldiers are reported to be getting ready to launch a ground assault within the “next 48 hours”.

Lt Col Jonathan Conricus from the Israeli Defence Forces warned that “the situation inside Israel is a dire one”.

Read our wrap here.

Aftermath of Israeli music festival

Monday 9 October 2023 11:58 , Miriam Burrell

Hundreds of abandoned cars were captured in drone footage following a massacre at an Israeli music festival, while a video was released of a gunman leading a man away.

Hamas gunmen killed 260 people and took captives back into Gaza after the attack at the festival on Sunday, close to Gaza.

“It was just a massacre, a total massacre,” said Arik Nani, 26, who escaped from the dance party, attended by thousands.

Video footage on social media shows the gunmen descending in paragliders on the gathering in the Negev Desert, while some of those taken captive from the party were led away by gunmen.

Read more here.

Airliners cancel Tel Aviv flights

Monday 9 October 2023 11:41 , Miriam Burrell

Wizz Air and Virgin Atlantic have cancelled flights to and from Tel Aviv as a result of the intense ongoing conflict in Israel.

British Airways has also made changes to its flight schedule as airliners try to grapple with the violent situation in the country.

BA said it was continuing to monitor the situation in Israel “very closely” and had also introduced a flexible booking policy for customers.

Virgin Atlantic said its VS453 service from London Heathrow to Tel Aviv had been cancelled on Monday and Tuesday, while the return VS454 flight would also not fly on both days or Wednesday.

Met Police increase patrols across London

Monday 9 October 2023 11:34 , Miriam Burrell

Police patrols have been increased in London following reports that people have been celebrating Hamas’ attack against Israel.

The Metropolitan Police said it had been made aware of a number of incidents in the capital in connection with the Israel-Gaza conflict, while a number of protests have been planned for the coming days.

Countdown presenter Rachel Riley said it was a “dangerous and terrifying time” for Jewish people after witnessing people flying Palestinian flags in west London.

Read more here.

Dozens of Palestinians killed at refugee camp, Gaza health officials say

Monday 9 October 2023 11:27 , Miriam Burrell

Gaza’s health ministry says there were dozens of Palestinians killed and wounded in Israeli air strikes on the Jabalia refugee camp on Monday.

At least 493 Palestinians had been killed in Israeli bombardments since Saturday, according to a ministry death toll published earlier.

Pictured: Israeli soldiers close to border with Lebanon

Monday 9 October 2023 11:24 , Miriam Burrell

‘Free Palestine’ graffiti spotted in London

Monday 9 October 2023 11:10 , Miriam Burrell

“Free Palestine” graffiti has been scrawled onto a railway bridge near Golders Green, northwest London. It appeared overnight on Sunday.

Read more here.

Rishi Sunak says Govt working to find UK nationals in Israel

Monday 9 October 2023 10:50 , Miriam Burrell

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said the UK is working with Israeli authorities to establish the status of any British nationals who may be affected.

Speaking on a visit to a business in Nottinghamshire Mr Sunak said: “I know it will be an anxious time for many families who have loved ones in the region.

“It’s a quite complex situation on the ground, so we are working very closely with our Israeli counterparts to establish the status of any British nationals on the ground.

Rishi Sunak said that he will hold a Cobra meeting later on Monday.

‘Complete seige’ on Gaza Strip ordered

Monday 9 October 2023 10:44 , Miriam Burrell

Israel’s defence minister has ordered a “complete siege” on the Gaza Strip, saying authorities will cut electricity and block the entry of food and fuel.

It comes as sirens sounded in Jerusalem and across Israel, according to the defence ministry.

Israel steps up Gaza strikes as death toll nears 1,200

Monday 9 October 2023 10:36 , Miriam Burrell

Israeli tanks and drones are guarding openings in the Gaza border fence to prevent more invasions, a military spokesperson has said.

Fifteen of 24 border communities have been evacuated, with the rest expected to be evacuated in over the next 24 hours.

Hamas fighters continue to battle outside Gaza and had captured more Israelis as recently as Monday morning, spokesperson Abdel-Latif al-Qanoua told AP.

Hamas and the smaller Islamic Jihad group claim to have taken captive more than 130 people from inside Israel and moved them into Gaza.

The United Nations said more than 123,000 Gazans have been displaced by the fighting.

Pictured: Devestation in Gaza

Monday 9 October 2023 09:57 , Miriam Burrell

At least 73 Israeli soldiers killed

Monday 9 October 2023 09:51 , Miriam Burrell

At least 73 Israeli soldiers are among some 700 killed in the Hamas attack that began on Saturday, the country’s military said in an update on Monday.

The military said it had re-established control communities near the Gaza Strip but some Palestinian gunmen remain in Israeli territory, causing isolated clashes.

A spokesperson said there is no fighting in the north of Israel, and the military is ready for any scenario.

Grandmother taken hostage by Hamas is Holocaust survivor

Monday 9 October 2023 09:22 , Miriam Burrell

An elderly Holocaust survivor in a wheelchair was among more than 100 people taken hostage by Hamas over the weekend, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said.

Shocking footage has circulated online showing sobbing Israeli children and their mothers being dragged from their homes and loaded into vehicles by heavily armed men before being taken to Gaza.

Mr Blinken suggested an elderly Holocaust survivor was among those dragged across the border into Gaza.

Read more here.

Israel ‘re-establishes control of communities on Gaza border’

Monday 9 October 2023 09:20 , Miriam Burrell

The Israeli military says it has re-established control of communities on the Gaza periphery, according to reports.

Some palestinian gunmen remain in Israeli territory, causing isolated clashes, a military spokesperson has said.

At least 493 Palestinians killed in Israeli strikes

Monday 9 October 2023 08:55 , Miriam Burrell

Gaza’s health ministry said on Monday that at least 493 Palestinians have been killed and 2,751 wounded in Israeli air strikes on the blockaded enclave since Saturday.

More than 2,300 injured in Israel

Monday 9 October 2023 08:37 , Miriam Burrell

A total of 2,382 people are wounded in Israel, the country’s ministry of health said in an update on Monday morning.

Twenty-two are in critical condition and 345 in severe condition, the update posted by the State of Israel’s official X account, formerly known as Twitter, said.

US moves warships closer to Israel

Monday 9 October 2023 08:28 , Miriam Burrell

The US is moving an advanced aircraft carrier, ships and jets to the eastern Mediterranean after the unprecedented Hamas attack on Israel.

US Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin said on Sunday that he had ordered a large deployment including the USS Gerald R Ford with its deck of warplanes, alongside cruises and destroyers, to the eastern Mediterranean in a show of support with Israel.

US President Joe Biden called an “unprecedented and appalling assault”.

Read more here.

A recap: What’s happening today?

Monday 9 October 2023 08:21 , Miriam Burrell

Israel has intensified its bombardments of the Gaza Strip on Monday as Israeli soldiers fight Hamas gunmen in “seven to eight” places in southern Israel.

Palestinian militant groups claimed to be holding more than 130 captives from the Israeli side.

The Israeli Defence Forces said 70 additional militants infiltrated the Be’eri kibbutz, which the military has been unable to wrest from Hamas, overnight.

Israel hit more than 1,000 targets in Gaza, its military said, including air strikes.

The Irsaeli army has called up around 100,000 reservists, and said Israel would aim to end Hamas’s rule of Gaza.

Pictured: Destruction in Gaza

Monday 9 October 2023 08:07 , Miriam Burrell

‘We’re fighting for the safety of our civilians'

Monday 9 October 2023 08:02 , Miriam Burrell

An international spokesperson for the Israel Defence Forces dismissed questions about Israeli intelligence failures and said he is hopeful “other parties will come” into the conflict with Hamas.

Asked if the Israeli security services had failed by not pre-empting the attack, Mr Hecht told BBC Breakfast: “I’m sure this is going to be talked about...but] right now Israel is fighting, we’re fighting for the safety of our civilians.

“That’s a big question which is an important one, but we’ll get to it at some point.”

He added: “The Americans have sent a battle group, a carrier, towards Israel. We are now focused on the south but we are looking up north.

“There’s been some friction on the Lebanese border, so that American statement of sending that battle group here into the Mediterranean is a big thing for us.”

UK advises against all but essential travel to Israel

Monday 9 October 2023 07:43 , Miriam Burrell

The Government has updated its travel advice for Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territories, advising against all but essential travel.

The UK already advised against all travel to Gaza, but on Sunday also added several areas in Israel close to the border with Gaza to that recommendation, and changed its advice for the country as a whole.

The British Foreign Office also asked all Britons in Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territories to register their presence there, so they can be kept updated of further changes to travel advice.

A declaration of war and what prompted it

Monday 9 October 2023 07:40 , Miriam Burrell

Declaring war against Hamas gives Israel the green light to take “significant military steps”.

Hamas officials cited long-simmering tensions, including a dispute over the sensitive Al-Aqsa Mosque sacred to both Muslims and Jews, for its attack on Saturday.

Hamas also cited the expansion of Jewish settlements on lands Palestinians claim for a future state.

The eruption of violence comes at a difficult time for Israel, which is facing the biggest protests in its history over Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s proposal to weaken the Supreme Court while he is on trial for corruption.

260 bodies recovered from Israeli music festival

Monday 9 October 2023 07:36 , Miriam Burrell

More than 260 bodies have been recovered from a music festival in southern Israel after a Hamas attack.

The bodies were recovered from the site of the Supernova festival, held in the desert in southern Israel to coincide with the Jewish festival of Sukkot.

One of the partygoers Ortel said sirens went off at around dawn, warning of rockets, before gunmen opened fire “in every direction”.

Read more here.

Pictured: Residents inspect damage in Israel

Monday 9 October 2023 07:26 , Miriam Burrell

Israeli residents inspected damage to their building in the southern city of Ashkelon on Monday after it was hit during the night by a rocket from the Gaza Strip.

‘We will make sure that Hamas cannot govern the Gaza Strip’

Monday 9 October 2023 07:19 , Miriam Burrell

Israeli military has said it will aim to end Hamas’ rule of Gaza.

“Our task is to make sure that Hamas will no longer have any military capabilities to threaten Israel with this,” said spokesperson Jonathan Conricus in a video tweeted by Israel’s military on Monday.

He added: “We will make sure that Hamas is no longer able to govern the Gaza Strip.”

It comes after the Israeli military estimated 1,000 Hamas fighters took part in Saturday’s initial surprise attack.

What happened overnight?

Monday 9 October 2023 07:11 , Miriam Burrell

• Israeli military says fighting continues in at least seven locations near Gaza and Hamas fighters continue to cross into Israel on Monday

• Israel has called in around 100,000 soldiers, a military spokesperson said

• Fighter jets, helicopters and artillery struck over 500 Hamas and Islamic Jihad targets in the Gaza Strip overnight on Sunday

• Oil prices were up on Monday as the violence deepened and raised concerns about supplies from Iran

• Several international air carriers have suspended flight services with Tel Aviv in light of the Hamas attack

• In southern Israel, Hamas gunmen are still fighting Israeli security forces