V #BBC security corr Frank Gardner:
#Israeli officials deny reports that an #IDF major #general has been kidnapped.

#Hamas claims it has taken 53 "prisoners of war" - ie. hostages.

V Haaretz:
985 people confirmed wounded in #hamas attack on #Israel
Fighting ongoing in southern communities of Be'eri, Re'im and #Sderot
Hostages held in Be'eri and #Ofakim
_________________
Opp leader Yair #Lapid says he is willing to form emergency govt with #Netanyahu

#Biden offering support

V Reuters, Guardian:

In a speech on Saturday, #Hamas leader, Ismail #Haniyeh , told Arab countries that #Israel cannot provide them with protection.

Haniyeh added that 'armed #Palestinian factions plan to extend #Gaza ’s fight into the West Bank and Jerusalem'

V Haaretz:
#Israel 's Health Ministry said the 'number of #Israelis who were wounded and hospitalized reached 1,104 people, incl 17 in critical condition.

200 people seriously wounded, 226 people in moderate condition, 451 sustained minor wounds. In addition, 142 are currently undergoing medical evaluation.'

Rocket sirens in Tel Aviv and central Israel;

#IDF says it killed hundreds of Palestinian militants in southern border communities
Energy minister signs off disconnecting #Gaza
#hamas

V Haaretz:
#Netanyahu 's #Likud party says PM offered #Lapid , #Gantz to form #emergency govt

Other sources say unity govt will be badedon the current govt, incl #Smotrich and Ben Gvir

#Israel #hamas #Gaza

V Reuters, Guardian:
#Israeli planes bombed the house of #Hamas #Gaza chief Yehya Al-Sinwar in Khan Younis in the southern Gaza Strip, Hamas media said on Saturday, with no reports of casualties.

V Times of #Israel
Hamas-run health ministry says 232 people killed and 1,697 people wounded in the Gaza Strip.
#KhanYounis

A delicate dilemma: How to get the hostages back? By #BBC Frank Gardner
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/live/world-middle-east-67037895?ns_mchannel=social&ns_source=twitter&ns_campaign=bbc_live&ns_linkname=65219fcb3fc96e28602bfc1a%26A%20delicate%20dilemma%20-%20how%20to%20get%20the%20hostages%20back%262023-10-07T18%3A17%3A56.150Z&ns_fee=0&pinned_post_locator=urn:asset:f07b763b-7905-44f9-b679-af0d43e5fb5c&pinned_post_asset_id=65219fcb3fc96e28602bfc1a&pinned_post_type=share
#Israel #Gaza #hamas

Here is a short documentary about how #GiladShalit was returned:
https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/w3ct3c3v

#Israeli captives kept in secure places and tunnels, #Hamas says

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/live/world-middle-east-67037895?ns_mchannel=social&ns_source=twitter&ns_campaign=bbc_live&ns_linkname=652188fb3fc96e28602bfbb7%26Israeli%20captives%20kept%20in%20secure%20places%20and%20tunnels%2C%20Hamas%20says%262023-10-07T16%3A44%3A49.520Z&ns_fee=0&pinned_post_locator=urn:asset:d229d99e-aa21-4d1b-96c1-0ae3a654c6e1&pinned_post_asset_id=652188fb3fc96e28602bfbb7&pinned_post_type=share
#Israel #Gaza

Deepening risk of an explosion for months
Analysis by #BBC 's Jeremy Bowen

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/live/world-middle-east-67037895?ns_mchannel=social&ns_source=twitter&ns_campaign=bbc_live&ns_linkname=6521f7fd3fc96e28602bfcbb%26Deepening%20risk%20of%20an%20explosion%20for%20months%262023-10-08T02%3A02%3A05.636Z&ns_fee=0&pinned_post_locator=urn:asset:a74414de-9dd1-403b-943c-1f8e56633078&pinned_post_asset_id=6521f7fd3fc96e28602bfcbb&pinned_post_type=share
#Israel #Gaza #hamas

Deadliest day of violence since the Yom Kippur war
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/live/world-middle-east-67037895?ns_mchannel=social&ns_source=twitter&ns_campaign=bbc_live&ns_linkname=6521ed443fc96e28602bfcb6%26Deadliest%20day%20of%20violence%20in%20Israel%20since%20the%20Yom%20Kippur%20war%262023-10-08T00%3A15%3A13.038Z&ns_fee=0&pinned_post_locator=urn:asset:f3e4393e-3d46-4027-8fbc-c002fd2d8d14&pinned_post_asset_id=6521ed443fc96e28602bfcb6&pinned_post_type=share
At least 250 #Israelis have been reportedly killed following #Hamas 's ground, air and sea offensive. More than 1,000 people have been wounded - and more than 3,000 rockets have been fired into the Israeli territory, according to the #Israeli army.

More than 230 #Gazans were also killed when #Israel responded with retaliatory strikes, #Gaza officials have said.

V Times of Israel:
Some #hostages rescued in southern #Israel following unprecedented #Hamas assault

#IDF hits Hamas targets in #Gaza ; #rocket hits #Ashkelon hospital; relatives of missing persons rush to help with identification; forces take control of #Sderot police station
https://www.timesofisrael.com/liveblog-october-8-2023/?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=twitter

What could happen next?
By Yolande Knell, #BBC #MENA correspondent in #Jerusalem
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/live/world-middle-east-67037895?ns_mchannel=social&ns_source=twitter&ns_campaign=bbc_live&ns_linkname=6522195cf34eee40bb92ae8e%26What%20could%20happen%20next%3F%262023-10-08T08%3A17%3A04.851Z&ns_fee=0&pinned_post_locator=urn:asset:58b41f7a-7d2c-4acb-b9b0-386816377b09&pinned_post_asset_id=6522195cf34eee40bb92ae8e&pinned_post_type=share

#Israel undoubtedly sees the potential for a war that could open up on multiple fronts. A worst-case scenario is that it could draw in the powerful #Lebanese militant group, #Hezbollah .

Meanwhile, the Israeli military has ordered a massive reinforcement of troops. As well as its intense air raids on #Gaza, it has indicated that it is planning a ground operation there .

'Safe recovery of #hostages may call for ground operation'
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/live/world-middle-east-67037895?ns_mchannel=social&ns_source=twitter&ns_campaign=bbc_live&ns_linkname=65225b4102d73c280f4a91e6%26Safe%20recovery%20of%20hostages%20may%20call%20for%20ground%20operation%262023-10-08T07%3A48%3A03.196Z&ns_fee=0&pinned_post_locator=urn:asset:e08fec38-d5a2-4f48-b88b-1bb10618427b&pinned_post_asset_id=65225b4102d73c280f4a91e6&pinned_post_type=share
'Overnight, #Israelis have been watching social media posts of civilians dragged out of their homes at gunpoint, shipped into #Gaza and often humiliated on camera.

That is a searing shock to the country. The safety and recovery of those hostages will be at the forefront of everyone's minds.'

The Israeli military is mobilising thousands of infrantry and tanks are being brought on the road to Gaza.
#hamas #IDF

V WSJ:
#Israel Asks #Egypt to Help Negotiate Release of Israelis, say Egyptian Officials

https://www.wsj.com/livecoverage/israel-hamas-gaza-rockets-attack-palestinians/card/israel-asks-egypt-to-help-negotiate-release-of-israelis-say-egyptian-officials-4mGrUhbvOSbN1tPVInmC
#hamas #Gaza

V Times of #Israel :
The #Israeli military says it is evacuating civilians from towns adjacent to the border with the #Gaza Strip at this stage.

The towns include #Nahal Oz, #Erez, #Nir Am, #Mefalsim, #Kfar #Aza, #Gevim, #Or Haner, #Ibim, #Netiv Ha’asara, #Yad Mordechai, #Karmia, #Zikim, £Kerem Shalom, #Kissufim, #Holit, #Sufa, #Nirim, #Nir Oz, #Ein Hashlosha, #Nir Yitzhak, #Be’eri, #Magen, #Re’im, #Sa’ad and #Alumim

V Haaretz:
#Israel 's death toll reached 350

(Israeli TV has reported 400)

#Israeli Health Ministry reports 2048 injured - 20 critical, 330 serious, 396 moderate, 967 light injuries

V Times of #Israel :
The security cabinet voted last night to put the country officially at war, and it can carry out “significant military activities,” the PM Office announces.

#Netanyahu had already said the country was at war.

The security cabinet decision gives the declaration legal standing in keeping with Basic Law: The Government, which in its Clause 40 says that the country cannot go to war without a government decision.