NATO countries on Thursday told Israel’s defence minister they stood by his country after the attack by Hamas, but urged his forces to respond with “proportionality”, the alliance said. Their statement came as Hamas militants on Thursday fired a barrage of rockets at Tel Aviv in response to Israeli air strikes that targeted “civilians” in two Gaza refugee camps, the Palestinian group said. Follow our live blog for all the latest developments. All times are Paris time (GMT+2).

10:44am: Israel’s El Al to fly on Jewish Sabbath to bring back army reservists

Israel‘s El Al Airlines said it would operate flights this Saturday from the United States and Asia to bring back reservists to serve in the war with Hamas, breaking a 40-year policy of not flying on the Jewish Sabbath.

El Al has not flown on the Sabbath since 1982 but it received permission from rabbis who said that preservation of life overrides other religious laws.

The airline said it will operate two flights on Boeing 787 aircraft from New York and Bangkok to collect reservists who received military call-up orders.

The flights will be free of charge for soldiers and paid for by El Al and by large financial institutions in the United States, El Al said.

Israel has called up some 360,000 reservists to join its war against the Palestinian militant group Hamas, after Israel was caught off-guard on Saturday by a large-scale surprise attack by Palestinian gunmen who crossed into Israel and rampaged through communities. Israel’s military has responded with massive air strikes on the Gaza Strip.

10:43am: Israel’s strikes on Gaza amount to ‘collective punishment’, UN experts say

A group of independent United Nations experts on Thursday condemned violence against civilians in Israel and deplored that reprisal strikes against Gaza amounted to “collective punishment.”

While condemning the “horrific crimes committed by Hamas”, the group said that Israel had resorted to “indiscriminate military attacks against the already exhausted Palestinian people of Gaza.”

“They have lived under unlawful blockade for 16 years, and already gone through five major brutal wars, which remain unaccounted for,” the group, which includes several UN special rapporteurs, said in a statement.

“This amounts to collective punishment. There is no justification for violence that indiscriminately targets innocent civilians, whether by Hamas or Israeli forces. This is absolutely prohibited under international law and amounts to a war crime.”

10:41am: Hamas holding at least 97 people hostage, Israeli military spokesperson says

Israel‘s military spokesperson said on Thursday that Israel was able to confirm the identities of 97 people taken hostage into Gaza during an attack by Hamas on Saturday.

The offensive Israel launched on the blockaded Palestinian enclave since was meant to eliminate the ability of the Islamist militant movement to govern, Daniel Hagari said in a televised press briefing.

“The military is preparing for the next stage of the war,” he said, adding that 222 soldiers had been killed since Saturday.

10:36am: NATO urges Israel to respond with ‘proportionality’ in Gaza

NATO countries on Thursday told Israel‘s defence minister they stood by his country after the attack by Hamas, but urged his forces to respond with “proportionality”, the alliance said.

“Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said that NATO condemned the terrorist attacks in the strongest possible terms, adding: ‘Israel does not stand alone’,” NATO said in a statement.

“Allies expressed solidarity with Israel, making clear that it has the right to defend itself with proportionality against these unjustifiable acts of terror.”

NATO countries “called for Hamas to immediately release all hostages, and for the fullest possible protection of civilians. Allies also made clear that no nation or organisation should seek to take advantage of the situation or to escalate it.”

10:31am: Iran calls on Islamic, Arab countries to confront Israel

Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi has called on Islamic and Arab countries to cooperate in confronting Israel as it wages a deadly war triggered by a surprise attack by Palestinian militant group Hamas.

“Today, all the Islamic and Arab countries and all the free people of the world must reach a serious convergence and cooperation in the path of stopping the crimes of the Zionist regime against the oppressed Palestinian nation,” Raisi told his Syrian counterpart Bashar al-Assad in a phone call late Wednesday.

Raisi stated that in order to stop the “genocide of the Palestinians by the Zionists”, Iran will coordinate with Islamic countries “as soon as possible”, the Iranian presidency website said on Thursday.

Iran, which backs Hamas, on Saturday celebrated the assault in Israel, though it insisted it was not involved in it.

10:17am: Netherlands to continue Israel repatriation flights as long as necessary

The Netherlands will continue repatriation flights to get citizens out of Israel as long as necessary, Dutch news agency ANP reported on Thursday, citing the government.

A first Dutch military plane from Israel landed in the Netherlands on Wednesday evening and a second one flies to Israel on Thursday, after Dutch airline KLM retracted an offer to operate a repatriation flight due to safety concerns.

9:55am: Blinken to meet Palestinian, Jordan leaders in Amman Friday

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken will hold talks with the Palestinian and Jordanian leaders in Amman, a US official said as Blinken was on a solidarity visit to Israel Thursday.

“Tomorrow (Friday) in Amman, Secretary Blinken will have meetings with Palestinian president (Mahmud) Abbas and Jordanian King Abdullah II,” the official told an AFP correspondent travelling with Blinken, whose visit followed Hamas’s surprise weekend onslaught in Israel.

9:40am: Berlin to ban Hamas activities in Germany, Chancellor Scholz says

Berlin will ban Hamas activities and organisations linked to the terror group in Germany, Chancellor Olaf Scholz said Thursday following the shock attacks on Israel.

“The federal interior ministry will ban Hamas from operating in Germany. An association like Samidoun, whose members celebrate the most brutal acts of terror on the open street, will be banned in Germany,” Scholz said in a speech to parliament.

9:18am: Germany halting aid to Palestinians pending review

Germany will suspend all development aid to the Palestinian Territories pending the completion of a review to ensure it best serves regional peace and Israel’s security, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz told legislators.

“Our yardstick will be whether and how these projects best serve peace in the region and the security of Israel,” he said.

“Until that review is complete we will not make available any new development cooperation resources.”

He added: “Sadly, we can foresee the suffering of the civilian population in the Gaza strip likely growing further – but that too is the fault of Hamas and its attack on Israel.”

9:14am: Three Chinese nationals killed in Israel-Hamas conflict, foreign ministry says

Three Chinese nationals have been killed in the conflict between Israel and Palestinian militant group Hamas, Beijing’s foreign ministry said Thursday.

“To my understanding it has currently been confirmed that three Chinese nationals were unfortunately killed in the conflict,” foreign ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin told a regular briefing.

9:12am: Blinken arrives in Israel in solidarity visit after Hamas attacks

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken landed in Tel Aviv on Thursday as part of a wider Middle East tour to display Washington’s solidarity with Israel after the attack by Palestinian Hamas militants and to seek to quell the conflict.

The top US diplomat will also try to help secure the release of hostages kidnapped by Hamas – some of whom are Americans – and safe passage of Gaza civilians out of the densely-populated enclave ahead of a possible Israeli ground invasion.

9:08am: Israel will not supply water, fuel to Gaza until hostages freed, energy minister says

Israeli Energy Minister Israel Katz vowed Thursday his country would not allow basic resources or humanitarian aid into Gaza until Hamas released the people it abducted during its surprise weekend onslaught.

“Humanitarian aid to Gaza? No electric switch will be turned on, no water tap will be opened and no fuel truck will enter until the Israeli abductees are returned home,” he said in a statement.

9:05am: Erdogan doesn’t have ‘enough influence with either Israel or Hamas’ to negotiate hostage release

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has launched a negotiation process with Hamas for the release of Israeli hostages who were kidnapped by the Palestinian militant group on Saturday.

However, FRANCE 24’s Jasper Mortimer believes that Erdogan doesn’t have “enough influence with either Israel or Hamas” to successfully negotiate for the hostages’ release.

Citing Turkish journalist Barcin Yinanc, Mortimer said Turkey may nevertheless help set up a humanitarian corridor into Gaza, allowing the passage of food, medical aid and civilians.

Click on the video below for the full report.

8:45am: Rockets fired at Tel Aviv after Israeli strikes on Gaza

Hamas militants on Thursday fired a barrage of rockets at Tel Aviv in response to Israeli air strikes that targeted “civilians” in two Gaza refugee camps, the Palestinian group said.

“Ezzedine al-Qassam Brigades fired rockets at Tel Aviv in response to (Israeli strikes) targeting civilians in Al-Shati and Jabalia camps,” Hamas said, referring to its armed wing, in a text message sent to journalists.

AFP correspondents witnessed dozens of air strikes over 30 minutes on Thursday morning in the direction of Al-Shati camp and in the blockaded strip’s north.

“The occupation (Israeli forces) committed massacres this morning in Al-Shati camp and Jabalia camp, leaving dozens of martyrs and injured,” Iyad al-Buzum, spokesman for the Hamas interior ministry, told AFP.

8:42am: Israeli air strike kills 15 Palestinians in a Gaza refugee camp, Hamas media says

An Israeli air strike killed 15 Palestinians in a Gaza refugee camp, Hamas media said on Thursday.

Palestinians said the air strike was the third in the past few hours on residential buildings across Gaza, adding that residents did not receive any warning from Israeli security before their homes were bombed.

8:38am: Jordan says sending first aid to Gaza since start of latest conflict, state media says

Jordan on Thursday sent the first aid delivery destined for Gaza since the start of the latest conflict, state television said on social media platform X.

A Jordanian military source said a military plane would fly the aid to Rafah border crossing with Egypt, from which it would be transferred to authorities in Gaza if permissions were secured.

8:06am: Israel declines to publish number of Gaza rocket interceptions, unlike in previous wars

Israel’s military indicated on Thursday that it would not publish the number of interceptions of Palestinian rockets that it has carried out in the Gaza war, citing concern that such information would help Hamas.

“I’m not going to tell the enemy the number of our intercepts,” spokesperson Lieutenant-Colonel Richard Hecht told reporters, outlining what appeared to be a departure from past wartime policy.

Israeli officials have previously said they were planning for possible strains on their supplies of anti-rocket interception missiles in the event of especially heavy fighting.

8:05am: Israel-Lebanon cross-border strikes spark fear that conflict may escalate

Recent cross-border strikes between Israel and the Iranian-backed Lebanese militant group Hezbollah are sparking fears that the conflict may escalate and spread to neighbouring Lebanon.

“Every day we see some sort of artillery, air strikes, rocket fired towards Israel,” said FRANCE 24’s Rawad Taha, reporting from Beirut.

Hezbollah on Wednesday fired anti-tank missiles at an Israeli military position and claimed to have killed and wounded troops. Israel later retaliated by launching strikes on southern Lebanon.

“The situation is really tense … this is worrying the Lebanese people,” said Taha.

Click on the video below for the full report.

7:58am: Germany to support Israel in its defence efforts with two drones

Berlin will allow Israel to use two Heron drones the German air force has in use in the country, defence minister Boris Pistorius said on Thursday ahead of a NATO meeting in Brussels.

7:53am: Israeli army prepares for ground operation in Gaza

Israeli military says it is preparing for a ground operation in Gaza but the political leadership has not decided yet.

7:35am: No fuel or electricity in Gaza as Israeli strikes devastate enclave

A humanitarian crisis is unfolding in Gaza as residents run out of fuel and electricity amid Israeli air strikes.

Some 1,200 people have been killed according to the Palestinian health ministry. The toll could potentially be much higher as many are buried under the rubble of levelled buildings with little means of retrieval, FRANCE 24’s Jerusalem correspondent Irris Makler said.

Israel has cut off supplies of water, food and electricity to the Gaza strip following Saturday’s massive assault by Hamas fighters on southern Israel.

Click on the video below for the full report.

7:23am: Red Cross says in contact with Hamas, Israel over hostages

The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) is in contact with Hamas and Israel to try to negotiate the release of hostages taken into Gaza, the group said Thursday.

At least 150 Israelis and foreigners – including soldiers, civilians, children and women – have been held hostage in the Gaza Strip since Hamas’s surprise Saturday attack on Israel.

“As a neutral intermediary we stand ready to conduct humanitarian visits; facilitate communication between hostages and family members; and to facilitate any eventual release,” Fabrizio Carboni, the ICRC’s regional director for the Near and Middle East, said in a statement.

Hostage-taking is forbidden under international humanitarian law, and anyone detained must be released immediately, Carboni added.

The ICRC urged “both sides to reduce the suffering of civilians”.

7:15am: Israeli envoy says Japan should be ‘vigilant’ with its aid to Palestine

Israel’s ambassador to Japan said on Thursday that his host country should be “vigilant” and look at what Hamas was doing with the aid it extends to Palestinians.

Hamas militants breached the border fence enclosing the Gaza enclave at the weekend, rampaging through towns and villages and killing 1,200 people while taking scores of hostages, the Israeli military has said.

Israeli jets have pounded Gazan targets for days in retribution, and the death toll there has risen to 1,200, Palestinian media reported, citing Gaza’s health ministry.

“Japan should be vigilant and look at what Hamas is doing with the aid,” Gilan Cohen said at a press conference. He commended Japan for acknowledging the Hamas attacks as “terrorism” and for saying Israel had a right to defend itself.

6:53am: Brazil calls UN Security Council meeting on Israel-Hamas war

Brazil, which currently holds the rotating presidency of the UN Security Council, called a Friday meeting of the body to discuss the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas, its foreign affairs ministry said Wednesday.

Brazilian Foreign Affairs Minister Mauro Vieira has interrupted an Asia trip to travel “to New York to participate in a meeting of the United Nations Security Council, called by Brazil … to address the situation in the Gaza Strip”, the ministry said in a statement.

Brazil previously called an emergency meeting of the Security Council on Sunday, the day after Hamas launched a surprise attack on Israel.

5:56am: Thai death toll in Israel-Hamas war rises to 21, PM says

Twenty-one Thai nationals have been killed in the conflict between Israel and militant group Hamas, Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin said Thursday, up from the previous toll of 20.

“The update from last night is bad news that one more Thai died, the number rises to 21,” he said.

The war was triggered by a bloody attack by Hamas and has left thousands dead with around 150 hostages taken.

There are approximately 30,000 Thais in Israel, mostly working in the agriculture sector, according to Thailand’s labour ministry.

05:50am: Trump says Israel’s Netanyahu was not prepared for Hamas attack

Former US President Donald Trump on Wednesday criticised Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu over what he described as a lack of preparation for a weekend attack by Palestinian Hamas militants that killed at least 1,200 people in Israel.

Speaking to Fox News, Trump, the frontrunner for the 2024 Republican presidential nomination, said Netanyahu “has been hurt very badly” due to the attack.

“He was not prepared. He was not prepared and Israel was not prepared. And under Trump, they wouldn’t have had to be prepared,” he said.

Trump’s comments came as Israel was still collecting its dead and reeling from one of the most devastating attacks in its history. It has retaliated with air strikes on Gaza that have killed at least 1,200 Palestinians.

One of Trump’s opponents in the Republican contest, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, criticized the former president over the comments.

“(It) is absurd that anyone, much less someone running for President, would choose now to attack our friend and ally, Israel,” DeSantis wrote on social media.

4:48am: Death toll in Gaza hits 1,200 people, Palestinian health ministry says

The death toll in the Gaza Strip has risen to 1,200 people, the Palestinian Ministry of Health said on Thursday, following an increase in Israeli bombardments on the sixth day since Hamas’s surprise attack.

“The number of martyrs has risen to around 1,200, and the number of wounded to around 5,600,” a spokesperson for the health ministry in Gaza said.

4:02am: More than 338,000 people displaced in Gaza, UN says

More than 338,000 people have been forced to flee their homes in the Gaza Strip, the United Nations said, as heavy Israeli bombardments continue to hit the Palestinian enclave.

“Mass displacement across the Gaza Strip continues,” the UN humanitarian agency OCHA said in a statement sent on Thursday.

By late Wednesday, the number of displaced people in Gaza had risen by an additional 75,000 people from the figure given 24 hours earlier, reaching 338,934, it said.

The announcement came as Israel pounded Hamas targets in the Gaza Strip – a densely populated enclave of 2.3 million people – in response to the militants’ surprise Saturday attack.

03:30am: Israel announces ‘large scale strike’ on Gaza

At around 4:30 am on Thursday, Israel’s military said it was conducting a “large-scale strike” on targets belonging to Hamas in Gaza. It did not provide details.

01:35am: Biden warns Iran not to get involved in conflict

US President Joe Biden warned Iran against getting involved in Israel’s conflict with Hamas amid fears of a wider regional conflict, while Israeli air strikes around the Gaza Strip drove hundreds of thousands from their homes.

Israeli jets have pounded Gazan targets for days in retribution for a weekend attack by Hamas militants who breached the border fence enclosing the enclave and rampaged through towns and villages, killing 1,200 people, injuring over 2,700, and taking scores of hostages, the Israeli military said.

12:15am: UN Mideast envoy in Cairo to rally aid for Gaza

The UN Mideast envoy is in Cairo working with other key regional and international partners and the Egyptian government on ending the Hamas-Israel conflict, preventing its expansion, and opening a humanitarian corridor to deliver fuel, food and water to access to Gaza which Israel has cut off, the United Nations said Wednesday.

Tor Wennesland is following up on Egypt’s offer to facilitate humanitarian access through the Rafah crossing and to make the El Arish airport available for critical assistance, UN spokesman Stephane Dujarric said.

Meanwhile, the UN humanitarian office reports that 263,000 people have been displaced in Gaza, a 40% increase since Tuesday, Dujarric said. More than 1,000 housing units in Gaza have been destroyed and about 560 severely damaged and rendered uninhabitable in the past day, the UN said.

Read yesterday’s liveblog to see how the day’s events unfolded.

Key developments from Wednesday, October 11:

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu vowed to wipe Hamas “off the face of the earth” in a late-night speech Wednesday announcing an emergency unity government.

In Gaza, the only power plant in the besieged enclave shut down after it ran out of fuel. Israel has cut off supplies of food, fuel, electricity and medicine into Gaza since Saturday’s attack.

The death toll on both sides mounted on the fifth day of the war, with 1,100 Palestinians killed in Gaza and 1,200 Israelis killed in the Hamas attack. Eleven French nationals were killed and 18 are missing in Israel, according to French authorities, including “several children”.

(FRANCE 24 with AFP, AP and Reuters)

Originally published on France24