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| US deploys second aircraft carrier as Israeli ground invasion of Gaza nears | |
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| USS Eisenhower sent to region to deter anyone ‘seeking to escalate’ war after Hamas attack | |
| The United States has deployed a second aircraft carrier to the Mediterranean “to deter hostile actions against Israel or any efforts toward widening this war”, as residents of Gaza City fled south to escape an imminent Israeli ground attack in response to a murderous rampage by Hamas last weekend. | The United States has deployed a second aircraft carrier to the Mediterranean “to deter hostile actions against Israel or any efforts toward widening this war”, as residents of Gaza City fled south to escape an imminent Israeli ground attack in response to a murderous rampage by Hamas last weekend. |
| The US defence secretary, Lloyd Austin, said late on Saturday that the presence of the USS Eisenhower and its affiliated warships in the eastern Mediterranean signalled Washington’s “ironclad commitment to Israel’s security and our resolve to deter any state or non-state actor seeking to escalate this war”. | The US defence secretary, Lloyd Austin, said late on Saturday that the presence of the USS Eisenhower and its affiliated warships in the eastern Mediterranean signalled Washington’s “ironclad commitment to Israel’s security and our resolve to deter any state or non-state actor seeking to escalate this war”. |
| The Eisenhower joins the USS Ford carrier strike group, which arrived earlier in the week “as part of our effort to deter hostile actions against Israel or any efforts toward widening this war following Hamas’s attack”, Austin said. | The Eisenhower joins the USS Ford carrier strike group, which arrived earlier in the week “as part of our effort to deter hostile actions against Israel or any efforts toward widening this war following Hamas’s attack”, Austin said. |
| No rockets were fired into Israel from Gaza overnight by Hamas or other Palestinian factions, while Israeli strikes on the blockaded territory have continued. The Israel Defence Forces (IDF) said on Sunday that Ali Qadi, a commander in Hamas’s elite Nukhba unit who oversaw the attack on Kibbutz Nirim, was killed in a strike on the southern town of Khan Younis. | No rockets were fired into Israel from Gaza overnight by Hamas or other Palestinian factions, while Israeli strikes on the blockaded territory have continued. The Israel Defence Forces (IDF) said on Sunday that Ali Qadi, a commander in Hamas’s elite Nukhba unit who oversaw the attack on Kibbutz Nirim, was killed in a strike on the southern town of Khan Younis. |
| The IDF spokesperson, R Adm Daniel Hagari, repeated on Saturday night his calls for civilians to move south of the Gaza River; about half of the strip’s trapped population of 2.2 million people are now believed to have been displaced to the southern half of the territory. The IDF said on Sunday that a third road had been identified as a “safe route”. | The IDF spokesperson, R Adm Daniel Hagari, repeated on Saturday night his calls for civilians to move south of the Gaza River; about half of the strip’s trapped population of 2.2 million people are now believed to have been displaced to the southern half of the territory. The IDF said on Sunday that a third road had been identified as a “safe route”. |
| According to the UN, on at least three separate occasions in the last 48 hours, fleeing civilians have been hit by rocket fire, leaving some with the fear they will be killed if they try to move south. The world body has said such an exodus in a short period of time is “logistically impossible”. In Israel, orders were given on Sunday to completely evacuate the town of Sderot, less than a mile from Gaza, by nightfall. | According to the UN, on at least three separate occasions in the last 48 hours, fleeing civilians have been hit by rocket fire, leaving some with the fear they will be killed if they try to move south. The world body has said such an exodus in a short period of time is “logistically impossible”. In Israel, orders were given on Sunday to completely evacuate the town of Sderot, less than a mile from Gaza, by nightfall. |
| Early on Sunday, Iran’s mission to the UN warned of “far-reaching consequences” if Israel’s “war crimes and genocide” were not stopped immediately. “The responsibility of which lies with the UN, the security council and the states steering the council toward a dead end.” | Early on Sunday, Iran’s mission to the UN warned of “far-reaching consequences” if Israel’s “war crimes and genocide” were not stopped immediately. “The responsibility of which lies with the UN, the security council and the states steering the council toward a dead end.” |
| The Israeli prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, told troops massed in southern Israel that “the next stage is coming”, in a video shared by his office on Saturday. The Israeli military announced on Saturday evening that it was preparing “significant ground operations”. | The Israeli prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, told troops massed in southern Israel that “the next stage is coming”, in a video shared by his office on Saturday. The Israeli military announced on Saturday evening that it was preparing “significant ground operations”. |
| For Gaza’s 2.3 million residents, there are limited options to find safety after Israel’s order to evacuate the northern end of the territory. They are already running out of food, water, fuel and medical supplies, and face a terrifying escalation of bloodshed and misery if the fighting intensifies. | For Gaza’s 2.3 million residents, there are limited options to find safety after Israel’s order to evacuate the northern end of the territory. They are already running out of food, water, fuel and medical supplies, and face a terrifying escalation of bloodshed and misery if the fighting intensifies. |
| The World Health Organization (WHO) condemned Israel’s order to evacuate 22 hospitals in northern Gaza that are treating more than 2,000 inpatients. The organisation said the evacuation “could be tantamount to a death sentence” for patients who include newborns in incubators and people in intensive care. | |
| The UN’s under-secretary general for humanitarian affairs and emergency relief coordinator, Martin Griffiths, warned that the humanitarian situation in Gaza was “fast becoming untenable”. | The UN’s under-secretary general for humanitarian affairs and emergency relief coordinator, Martin Griffiths, warned that the humanitarian situation in Gaza was “fast becoming untenable”. |
| The evacuation directive covers an area of 1.1 million residents, or about half the territory’s population. The Israeli military said “hundreds of thousands” of Palestinians had headed south so far. It had given Palestinians a six-hour window to travel safely within Gaza along two main routes that ended on Saturday afternoon. | The evacuation directive covers an area of 1.1 million residents, or about half the territory’s population. The Israeli military said “hundreds of thousands” of Palestinians had headed south so far. It had given Palestinians a six-hour window to travel safely within Gaza along two main routes that ended on Saturday afternoon. |
| On Saturday, Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh said in a televised speech that “there will be no migration from Gaza to Egypt” in the wake of Israel’s order to evacuate, and that Egypt “welcomes the Palestinian people, but not on the basis of migration or an exodus”. Haniyeh met the Iranian foreign minister, Hossein Amir Abdollahian, in Doha, Qatar, on Saturday, with Hamas saying the two had agreed to continue cooperation to achieve Hamas’s goals. | On Saturday, Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh said in a televised speech that “there will be no migration from Gaza to Egypt” in the wake of Israel’s order to evacuate, and that Egypt “welcomes the Palestinian people, but not on the basis of migration or an exodus”. Haniyeh met the Iranian foreign minister, Hossein Amir Abdollahian, in Doha, Qatar, on Saturday, with Hamas saying the two had agreed to continue cooperation to achieve Hamas’s goals. |
| A Hamas rampage in which its fighters shot, stabbed and burned to death more than 1,400 people in Israel has sparked a week of deadly Israeli attacks on Gaza. Health officials in the territory said on Sunday that Israel’s response had killed 2,329 Palestinians and injured 9,714. As on the Israeli side, most of them were civilians. | A Hamas rampage in which its fighters shot, stabbed and burned to death more than 1,400 people in Israel has sparked a week of deadly Israeli attacks on Gaza. Health officials in the territory said on Sunday that Israel’s response had killed 2,329 Palestinians and injured 9,714. As on the Israeli side, most of them were civilians. |
| Aid flights have been arriving in Egypt’s Sinai peninsula with relief supplies for Gaza, amid diplomatic efforts to open humanitarian corridors into the territory. The US secretary of state, Antony Blinken, said during a tour of the region that the US was seeking agreement on establishing aid routes and safe zones. But by Saturday night, there was still no agreement. | Aid flights have been arriving in Egypt’s Sinai peninsula with relief supplies for Gaza, amid diplomatic efforts to open humanitarian corridors into the territory. The US secretary of state, Antony Blinken, said during a tour of the region that the US was seeking agreement on establishing aid routes and safe zones. But by Saturday night, there was still no agreement. |
| Egypt controls the Rafah border crossing into Gaza, but under an agreement between Israel and Egypt after Hamas seized full control of Gaza in 2007, supplies entering from the south require Israeli approval. Since the Hamas attack last Saturday, Israel has cut off electricity and water to the territory, actions the UN considers war crimes. Negotiations have been taking place to open Rafah to foreign and dual nationals fleeing Gaza, but the crossing remained shut as of midday on Sunday. | Egypt controls the Rafah border crossing into Gaza, but under an agreement between Israel and Egypt after Hamas seized full control of Gaza in 2007, supplies entering from the south require Israeli approval. Since the Hamas attack last Saturday, Israel has cut off electricity and water to the territory, actions the UN considers war crimes. Negotiations have been taking place to open Rafah to foreign and dual nationals fleeing Gaza, but the crossing remained shut as of midday on Sunday. |
| Blinken said he was also trying to ensure the conflict did not spread, on a day when Iran’s foreign minister warned that Israel would suffer an earthquake if his country’s ally, the Hezbollah movement in Lebanon, became involved. | Blinken said he was also trying to ensure the conflict did not spread, on a day when Iran’s foreign minister warned that Israel would suffer an earthquake if his country’s ally, the Hezbollah movement in Lebanon, became involved. |
| The IDF has also deployed in large numbers along the Lebanese and Syrian borders, and there have been several aerial attacks and infiltrations from Lebanese territory, claimed by both Hezbollah and Palestinian factions in Lebanon, with Israeli returning fire. Several deaths have been reported, including that of Reuters journalist Issam Abdallah on Friday, who was working on the Lebanese side of the boundary. | The IDF has also deployed in large numbers along the Lebanese and Syrian borders, and there have been several aerial attacks and infiltrations from Lebanese territory, claimed by both Hezbollah and Palestinian factions in Lebanon, with Israeli returning fire. Several deaths have been reported, including that of Reuters journalist Issam Abdallah on Friday, who was working on the Lebanese side of the boundary. |
| On Saturday night, the Syrian defence ministry confirmed that Israel had targeted its Aleppo airport, putting it out of action. It said there was “material damage” at the airport after the “air attack from the direction of the Mediterranean Sea, west of Latakia”. | On Saturday night, the Syrian defence ministry confirmed that Israel had targeted its Aleppo airport, putting it out of action. It said there was “material damage” at the airport after the “air attack from the direction of the Mediterranean Sea, west of Latakia”. |
| Blinken was due to meet Saudi crown prince Mohammed bin Salman on Sunday, US officials said. | Blinken was due to meet Saudi crown prince Mohammed bin Salman on Sunday, US officials said. |
| The US president, Joe Biden, spoke to the Israeli prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, on the phone on Saturday and “affirmed his support for all efforts to protect civilians”, the White House said in a statement, which did not specifically mention Gaza. | The US president, Joe Biden, spoke to the Israeli prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, on the phone on Saturday and “affirmed his support for all efforts to protect civilians”, the White House said in a statement, which did not specifically mention Gaza. |
| “President Biden discussed with prime minister Netanyahu US coordination with the United Nations, Egypt, Jordan, Israel and others in the region to ensure innocent civilians have access to water, food and medical care,” the White House said. | “President Biden discussed with prime minister Netanyahu US coordination with the United Nations, Egypt, Jordan, Israel and others in the region to ensure innocent civilians have access to water, food and medical care,” the White House said. |
| Biden also spoke to the Palestinian Authority’s leader, Mahmoud Abbas, for the first time since hostilities broke out a week ago and “condemned Hamas’s brutal attack on Israel”. “Hamas does not stand for the Palestinian people’s right to dignity and self-determination,” Biden told Abbas, according to a White House statement. | Biden also spoke to the Palestinian Authority’s leader, Mahmoud Abbas, for the first time since hostilities broke out a week ago and “condemned Hamas’s brutal attack on Israel”. “Hamas does not stand for the Palestinian people’s right to dignity and self-determination,” Biden told Abbas, according to a White House statement. |
| Biden in the call also pledged “full support” to the Palestinian Authority in its efforts to bring humanitarian assistance to Palestinians, “particularly in Gaza”, the statement said. | Biden in the call also pledged “full support” to the Palestinian Authority in its efforts to bring humanitarian assistance to Palestinians, “particularly in Gaza”, the statement said. |
| On Sunday morning, the IDF said 279 of its soldiers had been killed since 7 October, and that the number of confirmed hostages in the Gaza Strip was 126. | On Sunday morning, the IDF said 279 of its soldiers had been killed since 7 October, and that the number of confirmed hostages in the Gaza Strip was 126. |
| Hundreds of relatives of the missing gathered outside the Israeli defence ministry in Tel Aviv on Saturday to demand their release. | Hundreds of relatives of the missing gathered outside the Israeli defence ministry in Tel Aviv on Saturday to demand their release. |
| “This is my cry out to the world: please help bring my family, my wife and three kids,” said Avihai Brodtz of Kfar Aza. Many expressed anger toward the government, saying they still had no information about their loved ones. | “This is my cry out to the world: please help bring my family, my wife and three kids,” said Avihai Brodtz of Kfar Aza. Many expressed anger toward the government, saying they still had no information about their loved ones. |