Summary: Israeli – Hamas Conflict
- Israel’s defence minister orders a “complete siege” of the Gaza Strip and the cutting off of food, fuel, electricity and water supplies
- It comes two days after shock attacks in Israel by Hamas militants left hundreds of civilians dead
- Nine US citizens are now confirmed dead, while more than 10 British citizens are feared dead, or missing
- Rocket attacks from Gaza targeting Israel continue, with explosions heard in Jerusalem
- Israel says it has regained control of its communities near Gaza – but some militants remain active
- More than 700 people have been killed in Israel since Saturday, including 260 people massacred by Hamas gunmen at a music festival
- Dozens of people were also kidnapped and Hamas claims four of the hostages were killed by air strikes in Gaza
- More than 500 people have died in Gaza since Israel began striking the area.
Israel Defense Forces carries out operation against targets in Lebanon
The Israeli military says it has deployed helicopters to attack targets inside Lebanon.
One video shared on social media appears to show a Hezbollah observation post being bombed, but the BBC has not verified this.
Small-scale attack launched from southern Lebanon
Reporting from southern Lebanon
For the second day in a row, a small-scale attack has been launched from southern Lebanon into Israel. A number of armed men crossed the border near the Lebanese town of Dhayra and were killed by Israeli troops, supported by helicopter gunships, according to the Israeli military.
As many as six men are believed to have been involved, two were killed, three wounded and one escaped back across the border to Lebanon, although there has been no official confirmation of their numbers. Mortars were also fired into Israel, which then shelled the launch sites in Lebanon.
The Iranian-backed group Hezbollah said it was not involved in today’s attack – Palestinian militant groups have also launched assaults on Israel from the volatile border area in the past.
A father-of-two has described the moment he realised his wife and daughters were in Gaza, thought to be taken hostage by Hamas.
Yoni Asher’s wife, Doron, and their children Raz, five, and Aviv, three, were staying with relatives close to the border with Gaza.
“Saturday, around 10.30 in the morning, was the last call when I spoke to my wife,” he said.
Quote Message: She told me that terrorists from Hamas had entered the house.
She told me that terrorists from Hamas had entered the house.
Quote Message: They were in the safe, secure room then the call got disconnected. Later on, I managed to locate her mobile and it was inside Gaza.”
They were in the safe, secure room then the call got disconnected. Later on, I managed to locate her mobile and it was inside Gaza.”
His worst fears were seemingly confirmed later that day when he saw a video of people being loaded onto the back of a truck.
He said: “In the video I recognised my wife and my two daughters, my two little babies.
“I don’t know in what terms or what conditions they are held but you know, the situation is getting much worse.”
Posted at 14:4114:41
Qatar mediating with Hamas officials – reports
Mediators from Qatar have been in contact with Hamas officials to try to negotiate the release of Israeli women and children seized by the militant group and taken into Gaza, the Reuters news agency reports.
A source briefed on the talks told Reuters that the Qataris proposed the Israelis be exchanged for 36 Palestinian women and children detained in Israel.
The source said the talks were being conducted in co-ordination with the US.
Neither Israel nor Hamas have directly commented on the reports.
